I am a Calorie Prisoner

Gemini this is a great article. Calorie counting is one of the many things, I think, that can become an obsession. For me there was a similar compulsion with making sure I was up on time in the morning. I remember some nights not being able to go to bed without checking the alarm clock about ten times, and even reading it back to myself to reassure myself that I was not going to oversleep. It's not as serious as obsession over weight I suppose, but it's just an example.

I'm glad that you found your real working method for making sure you maintain a healthy weight. I think what you've found is that using your natural sense of balance will keep you on track, because usually if you're eating way too much you can tell when your wheels upstairs start turning and you think, "Hey I've eaten a lot of jelly donuts recently. That natural sense of balance, like other natural senses, can be really useful if ya pay attention to it. :) I have the same type of worries as you. Ever since I got out of high school, where I played basketball, I've been conscious of the little fluctuations of the gut. I'm sure you'll be beautiful no matter what though, so keep on keeping on and don't beat yourself up over it :)

I avoid calorie counting. I simply try to eat healthy foods.

Nice article.

One thing that tends to cause weight gain in women that is totally underestimated is stress. I am a stress gainer. I was one of those that could eat pretty much to my hearts content, until my early thirties. I started gaining weight, and had repeated failures, gaining, losing a few pounds, gaining more. The literature on weight loss and following the usual "eat less, exercise more" thing really wasn't helping.

Two and half years ago, we were hit by Katrina, and I gained thirty pounds in the year following. (Didn't help that fruits and veggies were scarce for a long time) This past year it finally clicked for me that my weight gains for the past ten years have occured during or after stressful times. About a year ago I concentrated on reducing stress, saying no, making more "me" time, having quiet time at home, working less, and focusing on work I enjoy (I mostly work freelance and intermittently now), growing a garden (good for fresh veggies) and made that the first part of my "new" healthy life.

What happened is immediately my weight stabilized, and I stopped gaining everytime I ate. I counted calories for about a month, just to get an idea of healthy food counts, learn how they add up, it helped me get rid of processed foods. Without focusing on stress, I was doomed to fail.

I wish physicians would attach more significance to this factor, I am not sure if it equally applies to men, but I wouldn't doubt it does.

In my days immediately after the military I gained about 30lbs. Now I can't eat anything good. This weight just won't come off.
My youth and my active lifestyle are fading as office chairs and gray hair hold me hostage from the food I love.
I don't have the time to workout and healthy food can be very expensive. Carb-counting seems to be the only effective and economical solution.

I've just recently started counting calories. For me it works. I don't say no to anything (last week my supervisor passed out candy bars for National Library Week and I ate mine--and counted the calories!), but also try to stay withing the healthy eating parameters. I went to the Mayo Clinic site and did some calculations and found 1200 calories a day will let me lose weight slowly. One day a week I have a no count day. I've found that this is working for me much more than any limiting certain foods diet and I haven't been hungry at all. In the past, I would just keep eating at night because there was food around--cheese, crackers, cereal, extra helpings of dinner. Now I know when to stop.

I have 'found' all the weight you people were so worried about and lost so diligently. I promise I will keep it and not let you find it again... You can 'count' on me!!

Love Calorie, formerly known as------->Andrea A

I would implore anyone who counts calories as a tool for managing their health to learn more about nutrition instead. And I don't mean nutrition according to the food pyramid or anything like that, but real honest to goodness nutrition. People in the Western world have become so far removed from the fuel that they put into their bodies, and if we want to breach that gap, learning the basics of things like anatomy and nutrition are both good places to start. At least, that's what worked for me.

Thanks for the interesting article, Geminisunset. :)
Oh btw, I'm an ascending Gemini.