Count Your Calories

Three years ago I lost 20 pounds. I managed to stay within three pounds of that low but this winter those three pounds welcomed back two more. Unacceptable! I struggled to get rid of them but they refused to budge. Something had to change. Then my sister told me about a website she uses to count calories eaten and burned. It's working for her so I decided to try it too. 

Logging everything I eat makes me think before I just pop something in my mouth. How many calories are in this? Do I want to see them on my account? One day I ate too much for supper and took an extra walk to burn off the excess calories before they stuck to me. I wouldn't have done that if the program hadn't told me I had exceeded the calorie limit for the day. It's working! I've lost four pounds in three weeks. 

If you need to lose some weight and don't know where to find the willpower, try www.livestrong.com. To further encourage yourself, it might help to sing this to the tune of Count Your Blessings.

Count Your Calories

When upon the scales you're weighing every ounce,

When you're stepping off and feel your belly bounce,

Count your many calories, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the food has done.

Count your calories, don't forget a one,

Doughnuts, cakes, and cookies seemed like lots of fun,

Count your french fries . . . Did you eat a ton?

Count your many calories, see what food has done.

When you think of others who are lean and slim,

Does your heart grow heavy as you think of them?

Count your Mr. Goodbars, every single bite,

And you'll know the reason that your clothes fit tight.

Count your Hersheys, count them every one,

Extra cheese and chili on your hot dog bun.

Count your Snickers, don't forget the Mars,

Count your Milky Ways and other candy bars.

So amid the dress shop as you try on clothes,

Polyester stretches everybody knows;

Searching in your closet, garments hanging there,

All those pretty dresses that you used to wear.

Count your blouses. How your wardrobe grows!

Count the dollars spent on queen-size hose.

Was it chocolate? Was it rich desserts?

Count the many reasons you can't wear your skirts.

Are you ever burdened with a load of guilt?

Looking at the body that your food has built?

Scrounging in the kitchen, see the foods you chose.

And you'll know the reason you can't see your toes!

Count your calories, praying as you eat

Vegetables and milk and lots of lean fresh meat.

Count your calories, you'll start feeling great.

Keep on counting calories, you'll start losing weight!