Extra kilos always seem to come with a bonus helping of guilt, repulsion and self-pity.  For many people this is of course a vicious cycle - a higher weight than expected on the scale results in pity relieved by excess consumption, which results in guilt and there we go all over again.

Those feelings are normal for many but they're not constructive.  Bashing yourself over the head with a sugary stick, no matter how delicious, is not going to motivate you.

photo credit: Christi Nielsen

I weighed myself today for the first time in a long time.  I have to admit to an "oh shit" moment and bashing the scales about a bit (just to make sure they were operating properly, you understand).

However, I've decided that I'm not going to cut out the food I love, I'm going to cut out the guilt.  Today is the first day of an awesome attitude to food.  Eating for pleasure, not sorrow, eating for sustenance, not boredom and enjoying every minute of it.

I have a lifetime of fabulous food ahead of me - I'm not going to waste it on rubbish. Scott from Life Spotlight wrote The Zen of Real Food: Keeping Eating Simple over at Zen Habits and I think this concept is key.  You can't go wrong eating fresh, whole foods. Is this perhaps the easiest diet in the world?

photo credit: just.K

I am going to stuff up sometimes. I'm going to pick up a pack of kfc chips in a moment of weakness every now and again.  I'll realise I didn't enjoy it all that much and that the calories weren't worth it.  I'm going to allow myself not to be perfect - I'm going to accept it and move on.  But I'm not going to eat a block of chocolate to make myself feel better for eating chips.

So here we go. I'm not going to make any excuses about water retention or the fact my ringletty hair is almost down to my waist and weighs an awful lot.  Today I weigh 67.9 kilograms.  That gives me a BMI of 24.9 which means I'm in the healthy bracket by the skin of my teeth. That also gives me plenty of room for improvement on my small frame.

I'm using free website Calorie King to track my weight and progress.  It also has useful features to check the calorie and nutrient values of a range of foods (including commercial products).  I'll also check in here every week to keep myself accountable.  You're welcome to join me.

Check in soon for some low calorie, minimally processed, healthy meal ideas, or offer your own suggestions in the comments.

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Tags: calorie, calorie king, chocolate, eating, excess consumption, fabulous food, guilt, healthy, idea, kilograms, kilos, life, meal, nutrient values, repulsion, rubbish, scales, self pity, sugar, sustenance, vicious cycle, weigh