Counting calories is an exercise in shock and awe.

One thing Cathy has me doing is writing down what I eat. Being a geek, I decided to use FitDay, because then I also get the calorie counting and nutrition information at the same time. Also, it’s free, which is a major bonus.

if you want to really change your habits, use this tool, or one like it. You’ll be shocked at how many calories you’ve been taking in. I know I was. For instance, at least three times a week, I would go down to Starbucks¹ and grab a large mocha and a cookie.

Large Mocha: 346 calories
Chocolate Chip Cookie: 192 calories
Total: 538 calories

If you figure that, when trying to lose weight, a man is suppose to cut back to 1500-1800 calories, and a woman should be between 1200-1500…that’s a lot of calories. And that’s just a mocha and a cookie. Consider the other food you might have when going out to lunch…

1. I wish there was a Phoenix nearby, but alas, there is not[back]