Tag: Healthy Habits

Some days I get plenty of movement. I cook, clean, take care of the chickens, walk around the house, and generally stay busy.

Then there are other days.

Those are the days when my chair starts calling my name. My lounge dress gets involved. Before I know it, the two of them are working together against me.

Some days I just don’t want to move.

But I’ve discovered something important. I can adjust calories on sedentary days and still stay on track with my weight loss.

And now I have a weapon to use against that chair.

Not Every Day Is Going to Be an Active Day

I’ve been paying much more attention to my activity lately.

I’ve learned how much of a difference ordinary movement can make. Cooking, cleaning, walking, and doing chores all count.

But I’ve also learned something else.

I’m not going to be equally active every day.

Sometimes I’m tired. Sometimes I don’t feel like doing much. The weather may be bad. I might not feel well. Or I might simply have one of those days when my chair seems unusually comfortable.

That doesn’t mean my weight-loss plan has to go out the window.

I Can Change the Calculator Instead

Our Weight Loss Calorie Calculator lets me choose my activity level.

So, if I’ve had a sedentary day, I can set the calculator to sedentary.

Then I can see approximately how many calories I can eat while still working toward my weight-loss goal.

That’s a big deal for me.

Before, I tended to think mostly about how many calories I planned to eat each day. Now I’m looking at both sides of the equation.

How much am I eating, and how active am I?

If my activity changes, my calorie needs change too.

A Sedentary Day Doesn’t Mean I Failed

This may be the most important thing I’ve learned.

Having a sedentary day doesn’t mean I’ve failed.

I don’t have to look at the clock late in the afternoon, realize I haven’t done much, and decide the whole day is ruined.

Instead, I can make an adjustment.

I can put my information into the calculator, choose sedentary as my activity level, and look at my options.

Maybe I still want to aim for my usual rate of weight loss. Or maybe I decide that a slightly smaller calorie deficit makes more sense that day.

Either way, I’m making a conscious decision.

I’m still in control of my plan.

My Weight-Loss Plan Can Bend Without Breaking

I’m beginning to realize that flexibility may be one of the things that helps me stick with this long term.

I don’t need every day to look exactly the same.

On an active day, I may have more room in my calorie budget.

On a sedentary day, I may need less food because I’m burning fewer calories.

The important thing is that I have a way to adjust.

That’s much better than expecting myself to be perfectly active every single day.

The Chair Has Finally Met Its Match

For quite a while, I’ve joked that my chair and my lounge dress have been conspiring against me.

I still don’t entirely trust either one of them.

Some days I win. Some days the chair wins. And some days I suspect my lounge dress is working for the chair.

But now the balance of power has shifted.

I have the Weight Loss Calorie Calculator.

If the chair wins the activity battle for one day, that doesn’t mean it gets to win the whole war.

I can adjust my calorie intake and keep going.

And tomorrow?

Tomorrow I’ll get up and try again.

Calorie Crusaders Tip

Don’t use a sedentary day as a reason to give up on your plan. If your activity is lower than usual, recalculate your calorie needs for that activity level. You may find that a small adjustment is all you need to stay on track.

Calorie estimates are only estimates. Individual calorie needs can vary based on metabolism, body composition, health, medications, and other factors. The Calorie Crusaders calculators are intended for general informational purposes and are not a substitute for medical or nutritional advice.

I have found a really good weapon for my Calorie Crusader arsenal.

When I first started intermittent fasting for weight loss, I wasn’t sure how well it would work for me. I knew the idea was simple. Eat during a certain number of hours each day and fast during the remaining hours. But would I enjoy it? Would I be hungry all the time? Could I actually stick with it?

As it turns out, I love it!

In fact, intermittent fasting has become one of my favorite tools for managing my calories. It feels so natural that I can see myself eating this way for the rest of my life.

My 16/8 Intermittent Fasting Schedule

I follow what is commonly called the 16/8 method. That means I have an eight-hour eating window followed by a 16-hour fast.

Most days, I don’t even think about eating until around 11:30 a.m. or noon. Then I close the kitchen around 7:30 or 8:00 p.m.

And that’s it!

I don’t spend my mornings watching the clock or wishing I could have breakfast. I’m simply not hungry.

The surprising thing is how quickly I adjusted. I expected that skipping breakfast might be difficult. Instead, this schedule felt natural almost immediately.

My Calories Stretch Further

This is probably my favorite thing about intermittent fasting.

I have a daily calorie budget. Whether I spread those calories across 12 hours or eight hours, the total is still the same.

But here’s the difference.

When I eat during a shorter window, I have fewer hours to divide those calories between. That gives me more room for satisfying meals and even a snack or treat.

I’m not trying to make my calories disappear. I’m simply making them work better for me.

And believe me, when you’re trying to lose weight without giving up the foods you love, that makes a difference!

I’m Not Fighting Hunger

One of the biggest surprises has been how comfortable I feel during my fasting hours.

I don’t get hungry during that 16-hour period. I don’t wake up thinking about breakfast. And I don’t feel deprived.

That doesn’t mean everyone will have the same experience. Some people may find fasting uncomfortable or difficult.

But for me, it has been remarkably easy.

I think that’s one reason I enjoy it so much. I’m not spending my days fighting against my appetite.

Instead, I’ve found a routine that seems to fit the way I naturally want to eat.

My Kitchen Has Business Hours

Now, this part makes me laugh.

I’ve always had a kitchen that was open whenever I wanted something to eat. Morning, afternoon, evening, or late at night, the refrigerator was ready to serve.

Not anymore!

These days, my kitchen has business hours.

Around 8:00 p.m., we’re closed!

The refrigerator may still be running, but I’m officially off duty.

And the funny thing is, I don’t mind a bit.

Once I’ve finished eating for the evening, I don’t feel the need to wander back into the kitchen looking for something else.

Apparently, even my refrigerator can learn to respect a schedule!

I’m Flexible When I Need to Be

I don’t believe a weight-loss plan should make everyday life unnecessarily difficult.

Some mornings, I have several hours of heavy housecleaning ahead of me. That’s a lot of physical activity, and I may need breakfast before getting started.

On those days, I eat breakfast.

I’m not going to ignore my body’s needs just to keep a perfect fasting schedule.

The next day, I can return to my usual routine.

To me, that’s part of making this a lifestyle rather than another strict diet.

Intermittent Fasting Isn’t Magic

I want to make one thing clear.

Intermittent fasting doesn’t make calories stop counting.

I still pay attention to what I eat. I still measure portions and use my calorie calculator. And I still work toward staying within my daily calorie budget.

For me, the benefit is that intermittent fasting makes those things easier.

I have fewer hours available for eating, and I’m more satisfied with the meals I enjoy during that time.

It’s also important to remember that intermittent fasting isn’t right for everyone. Some people need regular meals because of medications or medical conditions. Anyone considering fasting should make sure it’s appropriate for their health.

I Think I’m Here to Stay

When I started Calorie Crusaders again, I wanted to find a way to lose weight that I could actually live with.

I didn’t want to give up all my favorite foods. I didn’t want to be miserable. And I certainly didn’t want another plan that I would abandon after a few weeks.

Intermittent fasting has turned out to be a wonderful fit for me.

I enjoy my meals. I feel satisfied. And I don’t spend my fasting hours wishing I could eat.

Most importantly, I don’t feel like I’m enduring something temporary.

I feel like I’ve found a way of eating that I can happily continue for years to come.

And that’s a pretty wonderful feeling.

So, if you’re looking for me before noon, I’ll probably be enjoying my morning coffee.

The kitchen doesn’t open until lunchtime!

Another weapon for my Calorie Crusader arsenal.

Happy crusading!

Calorie Crusaders Reminder: This article shares my personal experience, not medical advice. Intermittent fasting affects people differently and may not be appropriate for everyone. Talk with your healthcare professional before starting, especially if you have a medical condition or take medication that may be affected by fasting.

Well, apparently the Calorie Crusade is contagious. Glenn has joined me, and now we’re losing weight together.

I mentioned in my article about Cronometer that Glenn had started using it too. That was worth a sentence then, but I think it deserves a little more attention now.

I’m no longer the only Calorie Crusader in this house.

It Started With Cronometer

I’ve been using Cronometer to keep track of my calories and nutrition, and Glenn decided to give it a try too.

Now we’re both entering our food and keeping track of what we’re eating.

I think that’s going to be a good thing.

When only one person in a household is trying to pay attention to food, it can sometimes feel like you’re doing your own separate little project.

Now we’re doing it together.

We’re Still Two Different People

That doesn’t mean Glenn and I need to eat exactly the same amount or have exactly the same goals.

We don’t.

We’re two different people.

But we can still support each other while each of us follows the plan that works for us.

We can eat many of the same meals. We can talk about what we’re learning. We can compare notes about Cronometer. And when one of us discovers something useful, we can share it with the other.

That makes the whole process a little more interesting.

It Makes Cooking Easier Too

There’s another practical advantage to having both of us paying attention.

We live in the same house and eat a lot of the same food!

When I make one of our regular recipes, I can enter it into Cronometer and figure out the calories and nutrients per serving.

Then we’re both working from the same information.

I’m already paying more attention to portions and what’s actually going into our meals. Now that information can be useful to both of us.

I’m Not Going to Be the Food Police

There is one thing I don’t want this to become.

I don’t want to spend my days watching what Glenn eats, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want to spend his days watching what I eat.

We’re adults.

We’re each responsible for our own choices.

If Glenn wants something, that’s his decision. If I want something, that’s mine.

Supporting each other doesn’t mean policing each other.

I’d much rather have someone beside me saying, “Okay, let’s keep going.”

Two Calorie Crusaders

I’m glad Glenn decided to join me.

Losing weight and changing habits are still things each of us has to do for ourselves. Nobody else can make those choices for us.

But that doesn’t mean we have to do everything alone.

We can encourage each other.

We can laugh about the occasional ridiculous serving size.

We can share recipes.

We can celebrate the good weeks.

And when one of us has a not-so-good week, maybe the other one can help remind us that one week isn’t the whole journey.

When I brought Calorie Crusaders back, I thought I was restarting my own journey.

It looks like I’ve picked up another crusader along the way.

Welcome aboard, Glenn.