Have you noticed a pattern this week of finding it difficult to wake up in the morning? I’ve found I need another weekend just to fully recover from this time change!
Not sure why I still haven’t changed the clock in my bedroom yet, but waking up and seeing 4:30 every morning has not been easy this week. I need to remember to change that clock (or I should say figure out how to change that darn clock) or I’m afraid my brain will never get use to this whole daylight savings time thing.
I managed to press snooze for the fourth day in a row this week and once again made it out the door later than planned. 🙁
This morning I had plans of a speed session on the treadmill and a swim in the pool, but when I got to the gym a quarter after 6:00 I knew there wouldn’t be time. Instead I stuck with the 30 minute speed session and did a quick watered down version of Sarah’s lower body strength plan.
Even with cutting the swim, I was still a tad late to work. Oh well. Maybe I just need to start setting my alarm 10 minutes earlier until my body gets used to the change of time?
I was more than ready for breakfast when I got to my desk this morning.
I<3 my breakfast chiller!!
My cereal portion contained
- 1/2 cup Kashi Honey Sunshine
- 1/2 cup Shredded Wheat
- 1/2 cup Honey Puffs
- One Lucky Duck Cocoa Crispies
Fresh cut strawberries
Plain yogurt
All together
I assembled and ate my breakfast while chatting with a co-worker. I think I impressed him with my nifty bowl. 😉
A dark chocolate nut cluster may have made it in my mouth after breakfast as well. Whose to say? 😉
Calorie Counting…
There has been some debate on the blog recently concerning how many calories I take in during the day. I’ve never been one to count calories and I wouldn’t even know where to start.
I thought about trying to count the calories in my breakfast, but without knowing the exact amount of strawberries or yogurt I’m not sure I could have an accurate count. I pretty much gave up trying as soon as I started.
Calorie counting is not for me, instead of focusing on calories on a daily basis I focus on making sure I get all the nutrients my body needs in a day. I aim for lots of fruit and veggies, healthy fats, some protein and a hefty amount of carbs with some sweets thrown in there for fun.
I am not perfect. Some days I eat more, some days I eat less, but I know in the end it balances itself out. The way I eat works for me and it has helped me maintain my weight loss for 2 years and fueled me through three marathons and will take me through my upcoming 50k in a couple of weeks.
Maybe one day I will do a week of calorie counting just to see where I stand, but for now I just don’t have the time. 🙂
*edited to add – the calorie counting would be to make sure I’m eating enough calories, not to see if I’m eating too much. Sorry if that wasn’t explained.
Ugh I am having SO much trouble adjusting!! I wake up too early, but I want to stay up later at night…it’s such a gross feeling.
i dont’ know why people are so critical of everything you eat Meghann you are active and healthy, what more could they want. i wouldn’t even know where to start with calorie counting!
I think your approach is the best and that you shouldn’t start counting calories if you are already happy with the way you are fueling your body and it works for you. I would love to not know how many calories are in my food. I try to ignore it but it’s just automatic now…engrained in my noggin’. I say don’t start if there’s no reason to.
i was having trouble adjusting, but I think I”m used to it by now.
if you don’t like calorie counting, why would you do it for a week? if you know this works for you, why even experiment with it? It seems like your healthy eating plan works perfectly for you and your lifestyle 🙂
I don’t think you of all people should worry about calories – the amount you work out, you don’t need to! I’d say you only need to worry if you start getting UNDERweight. I think you look and exercise like a very fit and healthy person – why change?? Don’t count, I say 🙂
Have a great day!
Hey you get points in my book for even getting up in the AM to go to the gym! I’m really bad about it so usually just go after work, but it’d be so much better to get it out of the way in the morning.
Don’t count calories if you don’t need to. People who have dieted at any point in their life would kill to have “intuitive eating” down like you seem to have. If you suddenly start counting and trying to reach a specific calorie count, you risk losing the hunger signals that you naturally listen to.
I vote no calorie counting and just enjoy your food!
I agree with this completely. I have worked SO HARD to listen to my body and get all of those silly numbers out of my head. And honestly, Meghann, reading your blog has definitely helped me do that. You really seem to know what works for your body, and your go-with-the-flow attitude toward food and exercise is really inspiring. I think I’d be a bit disappointed if I logged on to your site and saw calorie counts…
I’m having SO much trouble getting up too. I haven’t adjusted at. all. I don’t remember ever having this struggle with the time change before…
I agree with you on the calories. Calorie count is a hard habit to break. Once you start.. it’s almost impossible to stop. I try to just focus on getting the nutrients that I need, like you said.
Please don’t start counting calories…even for a week. It can become very obsessive and dangerous once you start.
You don’t need to since you obviously eat good, healthy food.
To be honest, I think you should just STOP caring so much about what people comment in regards to your food intake or anything else. If your happy in your life that’s all that should matter to you. Not what some jackass commenter on the internet thinks.
Calorie counting also made me obsessive. I didn’t see the comments, but I don’t think your readers have a right to tell you what/how much to eat…after all you know your body best!
Ya gotta do what works for YOU! We love you, and we all know calorie counting is used for a lotta different reasons!
I seriously need to get one of those containers for work!!
I love that little bowl!!!
and yes, the alarm has been going off, and I am in complete amazement that it is time to wake up. Barely crawled to the gym today @ 6:30!
I think that people have just been concerned when it occasionally seems like you aren’t eating enough to “fuel” for your intensive cardio workout and races. I do think that it seems like you eat more in the mornings/afternoons than evenings, so if you have a light dinner, people sometimes forget that you ate a lot of breakfast, or whatever. I don’t know how much someone is supposed to eat if they are exercising as much as you are, but I think there’s just general concern about that. I hope you don’t take it as outright criticism!
if you’re looking to build muscle you should definitely increase your calories. otherwise, you’re fine eating the way you are.
I always go through phases of trying to count calories…and quitting by lunch! I’m just not a counter type of gal!
Definitely change your clock– seeing 4:30 every morning would give me such a mental block!
Counting calories is so hard when you’re not eating prepackaged foods. I feel like it’s always a guestimate as to what exactly you’re getting.
Dude, I thought I was having a grand time adjusting this weekend, then the work week hit and I can’t get to sleep for the life of me, yet wake up bright eyed and busy tailed only to crash in the afternoon. This ain’t right.
Why are you listening to people who criticise your calorie intake? Why do you care so much what they think and feel the need to justify it by counting your calories? If you don’t want to don’t do it. If you think you eat enough, rock on. But I’ll be honest with you, sometimes I feel like an oinker when I see what you eat compared to me (yes comparing is bad, but we all do it/have done it). BUT you do what’s best for you, and I do what’s best for me so it really doesn’t matter, right? Right.
Along with the majority of the other replies, I too agree that you should not try to count calories. Why mess with a good thing when obviously what you are doing now WORKS?! I would love to be able to have the balance that you do.
Calorie counting is such a hard thing to break! I have moved from calorie counting to simply weighing certain foods to make sure that I am not exceeding a serving size or eating 3 servings, especially nut butters. I do love my scale for baking purposes, though. It ensures that my recipe comes out the same every time.
What we have to remember is that everyone’s body is different and responds differently to certain situations. What works for you may not work for the next person. If someone comments on your calories or making sure that you are eating enough, I think that it is the voice inside them that is jealous that you are lucky enough to have found a balance and way of life that works for you. Too bad for them that they choose to focus their energy on worrying about YOUR calorie intake and not on something more important!
I tried counting calories for a week just to see how many I was taking in and if I should modify my diet in any way. Yeah…I quickly found out how hard it was to do that, so I gave up. I say, if you feel full after you eat and know that you are eating healthy foods, then why worry? I’ve never read your blog and thought, “Uh-oh, she’s not eating enough!” You eat 3 healthy meals a day, with very nutritious snacks throughout. You work out a healthy amount and look great! As long as YOU feel fine, then I wouldn’t worry! Keep doing your thang, lady!
ps – I’ve been calorie counting for freaking ever. it’s super hard to stop so that’s another reason not to do it.
I’m definitely having trouble adjusting, darkness is just not welcoming for a morning run. I’ve been opting for the lunch hour run instead, thank goodness my work place has a locker room and showers!
I try to calorie count every once in awhile, just to see where I am at. I do it not only to see where I am at with my calories but also nutrients. I use Sparkpeople as its relatively easy and provides me with info on protein, carbs, calcium, iron, etc.
If you are happy with the results of how you eat and have enough fuel for all the training you do I don’t see a problem with not counting calories. Somedays I overeat and somedays I undereat. And that is NORMAL. Keep at it!
I’m totally with you. I have struggled to get out of bed every day this week. I can’t wait for my body to adjust to that earlier hour.
I can’t calorie count either. It’s just too much work.
I think I’ve just got acclimated to the time change…it kind of kicked my butt the first part of this week. I can’t calorie count…it makes me crazy. I just try to get fruits, veggies, protein and carbs and that’s the extent of watching my diet.
I admire and applaud you for sticking with what works for you and your body! As you wrote, your body is a powerful machine, and it seems like you’re doing a great job of feeding it. Plus you look great :)! Thanks for all of your inspirational words!
I need to get one of those great bowls! I can’t count to save my life. You seem to have a great handle on listening to your body, as long as you aren’t restricting or obsessing (which you certainly don’t appear to do), I am not sure why people are so concerned!
Happy Thursday Meghann!
I was never one to count calories until I started marathon training. I use SparkPeople.com to figure it out because most of what i eat is already entered in there so all I have to do is say at which meal or snack I ate it. I quickly found out I was only eating about 1400-1600 calories a day…eeek. Way too little for my activity level. I also wasn’t getting nearly enough protein, iron or calcium. I now have to consciously make myself eat more, at least 1800 calories every day…up to around 3000 or so on the days I do super long runs like last weekends 19 miler.
I’d say as long as you have energy, you’re not dropping weight and you’re not denying yourself food, then you’re probably fine. But if you decide to track for a little while to make sure you’re getting enough, I’d definitely recommend SparkPeople.
I think calorie counting is frustrating and sometimes very consuming. I think it can really hender the purpose of eating well and eating what you need to eat. I know it works for a lot of people trying to lose weight, and for those who can do it – rock on! I could never do it! I think your approach is just right!
I am having such trouble with sleep patterns this week too. Ah, eventually my body will catch on!
I count calories to make sure I am getting enough calories in not to guard myself from ‘eating too much’ or to ‘obsess over a number.’ I do not think you should count them! Like everyone else who commented.. why change something that is working on account of other people!
Why do people focus so much on what you eat? you are obviously healthy and athletic….which is great!!
Because this is a food blog…..
my thoughts exactly…..if you post pictures of all your food everyday, people are definitely going to be interested.
personally, i think meghann is not eating enough, seeing as she has lost weight recently, not “maintained” as she states
I think you eat just fine Meghann – wish I could do the same, but since I am insulin diabetic, I have to be exact, and that means weighing most everything I put in my mouth. 🙁
I think you should do whatever is right for you. Don’t let others’ opinions/comments dictate what you eat, ya know? If you feel like you are nourished and have enough energy to fuel you through your workouts (which it seems like you do?) then that’s great! I know I definitely eat more than you, but everyone is different and their needs are different. Just because I say I eat more than you doesn’t mean you need to eat more hehe. Just do what feels right!
And I gotta get me one of those fit & fresh containers!!! So in love!
Sometimes I spend a couple weeks with mismatched clocks until I finally decide to stop being lazy and run around the apartment to get them all changed.
And it’s messed me up more than once in my car (since that’s one yet to be changed). I should probably fix that soon…
I love that fit & fresh container! I’m going to have to find those for my breakfasts!
I think counting calories is good for someone who is trying to loose weight or is struggling with completing their workouts…but if neither of those are of concerns for you I say listening to your body is what is best. I counted calories when I was loosing weight but now I just make sure that what I eat is healthy and try to mentally keep track of the food groups I’m consuming. I couldn’t imagine having a family, career, active lifestyle and count calories. But in truth it all depends on your personal lifestyle choice.
I don’t think it’s weird that you wanted to try counting calories for a week. It would be interesting to know, but you obviously have a good handle on what sort of food your body needs and how much, so it’s not a big deal. I count calories to make sure I’m eating enough. Since I started eating healthier foods, there aren’t as many calories to go around, so counting helps make sure I get enough.
Calorie counting definitely works for some, but doesn’t for others.
You’re obviously doing fine without counting calories – I don’t understand why other people would spend their time counting them up for you. Um, I have a few papers that need writing if they have the time.
I think your fine as long as you are eating when you are hungry and your energy levels are good. I sometimes count calories to make sure I am getting enough. I am suppose to eat around 3800 calories a day to maintain my weight!
That is such a cool container and I’m so glad it works for you! I’ve tried a few similar ones and they always leaked or got warm, but I’m going to have to give the Fit and Fresh a try…
I used to count to lose weight, but it was just so incredibly innaccurate and time consuming and eating disorder inducing I had to quit. Not that i have an eating disorder, but I felt like it was making my eating very disordered if that makes sense. hehe.
I counted calories for two years in order to lose 20 pounds. I really, REALLY wanted to lose another 10 pounds but after it just wouldn’t happen for over a year I gave up calorie-counting. Now I’m eating intuitively and weighing occasionally to make sure that my weight is in check and I feel much better with my body and my choices. Calorie counting can just be so restrictive!
I tried counting calories a while back it and it was just HORRIBLE. I would pick processed food over more natural items just because it was easier to count! Plus, I found out that the calorie number was less than what I read I was supposed to eat. Calorie counting = not for me either 🙂
I haven’t been having a problem at all with daylight savings. Then again, I don’t wake up at 5:30 in the morning or even 6:30 in the morning lol. I’m pretty sure I saw a post by you REALLY late at night the other day, maybe making yourself go to sleep earlier would help?
I plan on doing the same, for the same reason, next week. Probably not for a whole week though, I’d have to put my lunches together the night before so I don’t waste time measuring in the morning and I’m not sure I’m that organized.
I wish my gym had a pool to swim in!
I completely agree about the calorie counting. I used to be OBSESSED with counting my calories but realized that made me binge even more. I now don’t count calories at all and really wouldn’t know where to begin because there are so many fruits, veggies, carbs and healthy fats in my diet. When the only things I ate were processed food, it was simple to count because it was printed right on the bag. Now I just pay attention to my body and what it’s telling me. If I’m hungry then I eat. If I’m not hungry than I try not to eat just because I’m bored, emotional, etc. All about moderation.
It’s taken me until this morning to adjust to the time change and now I’m waking up naturally right around when my alarm goes off. I’m sure it won’t take long now for you, but definitely change that clock!
I use Sparkpeople to enter my foods, to count calories but also to make sure I’m hitting my target for fat, protein, vitamins, etc. Your meals seem pretty balanced so it doesn’t seem like you would benefit from keeping track of cals and nutrients.
dude, i hear ya on the time change. i’m hating it. means i start work later and end later. and i can’t have any personal time. yuck.
and i totally think you eat enough cals. people are just jealous they can’t balance eating like you do. i know i envy how you eat; i wish i didn’t calorie count and know all the numbers! it makes eating so horrible sometimes…
i love honey sunshine cereal its so yummy! the time change is killing me as well!
i USUALLY ADJUST WAY BETTER THAN YHIS
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