Skinny is just Math.

OMG not MATH! I thought I left that stuff in Highschool!!!!

The first thing I learned was how to figure out how I have to FEED my body to keep it functioning. I mean, more specifically, how many calories I have to eat to maintain my weight. There is a neat little formula that can determine this for you - which is of course an approximation, but nonetheless a very handy piece of information.

Its called your Basal Metabolic Rate. Pretty much, how many calories you would burn if you pulled a Brian Wilson (just layed around in bed). Id give you the equation but its annoying and so much easier to have a little gadget do it for you! So, go to this link here and it will help you calculate your BMR. Now, one thing you have to remember is that as you lose weight, your BMR will change, so you have to remember to regularly recalculate.

Basal Metabolic Rate

For example, when I weighed 300lbs, my BMR to MAINTAIN my weight was 2611. I weighed this morning and I'm at 297, which means my BMR has changed slightly and is now at 2590 to maintain.

Now, the BMR basic calculation is pretty basic, as it doesn't take into account lean muscle mass etc. However, its a pretty straightforward place to start.

Knowing is half the battle!

So, that was pretty interesting, but here's where the fun stuff starts. Remember what our BMR was? Good, we're gonna need it for the next part. But before we start we need to understand fat - in a calorie sense.

One pound of fat is 3500 calories. Wow, seems like a lot right? Not really, not if you spread it out over a week. 3500/7 = 500/day! That's not so bad, seems so much less challenging.

Now, we know that 500x7 days = 3500. The question is, what do we do with this information? Well, if we were to take your BMR and add 500 calories to it, we would GAIN 1lb a week. Alternatively, if we reduce our intake by 500 calories a day then we would LOSE 1lb a week.

Surprised? I was. That's pretty easy. I mean, how easy is it to plow down 500 calories in potato chips on a Friday night? Oh, remarkably easy I'm sure. We're all guilty of those choices now and then. But if its that easy to eat them - then we have to make it easy to say no.

I have to admit, I HATE counting calories. I think its obsessive. However, I think it is partly required. I don't want a diet. I want a long term lifestyle change, and that could take some time to adjust to. I need to try things to see how they fit and watching the calories I consume is going to help me make smart decisions; at least until they start come naturally or I develop a nice mental library of them. I've been keeping a diary of my intake, with a goal of creating at minimum a deficit of 500 calories a day.

One piece of advice that I have to share is to NOT restrict yourself. We all know that when we had a curfew as teenagers the first thing we wanted to do was break it. So, if you really want to have something - ice cream, chocolate, pretzels - HAVE IT. Just have less of it. Only take a small bowl with you to the TV. If you have a problem with portion control, go and pick up the 100 calorie snacks. (Be careful of the sugar in them though).

I hope this has introduced all of you to my plan, and maybe some of you can use it!

However, sitting here and blogging isn't helping me get exercise so I'm off for a walk!

Ciao Bellas!