It’s been a solid week since I switched from Weight Watchers to Calorie Count.

Guess what happened? I lost three pounds. I suppose all those points-free fruit and vegetable portions were adding up, because other than eating a little bit less of everything, I haven’t changed my general eating habits.

I started the week around 127 and ended it a little above 123. I like that trend line -- it keeps things real on days I gain a little or lose more than usual, and it's probably what I'll pay closer attention to until it falls more in line with my daily weight figures.

Beyond the scale, I’m physically feeling good, if “suffering” the side effects of eating (appropriately) fewer calories than I burn each day — I’ve spent most of my days feeling faintly hungry.

It’s a bit like an unscratchable itch … annoying. It annoyed me when I first lost weight several years ago, and it was often what made me feel (mentally) miserable — “Why can’t I eat more? It’s so unfair!”

But I found myself questioning that feeling this week. I wondered if this isn’t hunger so much as a different kind of equilibrium. I mean, my stomach doesn’t hurt. I don’t have a headache. I have plenty of energy. The foods I’m eating are nutritious. Maybe this new feeling is simply what it is to be less full.

Because you know what funny thing happened this weekend? Twice I stopped short of cleaning the plate in front of me because I was getting too full.

Notable, folks. Notable.

For one thing, neither meal was terribly large (a sweet potato with greek yogurt for the one; the other, a crab cake sandwich with small sides of coleslaw and broccoli). For another thing — I rarely stop eating when there’s food left on the plate, even when I’m past being satisfied.

But I was feeling full, and I used that as my cue. “I’ll feel miserable if I finish this (delicious, wonderful, I-wanna-eat-it) sandwich. I better stop!” Of any change I could hope for, this is the most encouraging: me, listening to my body instead of to what I “want” to eat.

What about you? Do you find it hard to listen to your body when you’re eating? Have you started listening? How does it feel different? I want to know!

Now for some numbers

Decidedly different numbers, but good ones. These are the charts/graphs I get through analysis on Calorie Count …

Calories in, calories out
I spent most days eating fewer calories (blue) than I burned (purple).

Eating fewer calories than I burn. It works!

What is it about those line graphs that motivates me? I love seeing that I’ve worked hard and eaten well. Maybe this is the measure that stands in until I can fully appreciate how good those things feel in my life.

Nutrition breakdown

Calorie Count recommends food values based on the National Academy of Science’s Dietary Reference Intakes, and this is the information that will send me to the books more than any other. I’m curious how to best meet my daily nutritional needs; how to keep my meals diverse; how to satisfy my sweet tooth and fat tooth without (consistently) pushing the bad numbers over the edge.

Damn you, calcium and potassium! Damn you!

Same info, straight numbers:

I want to see more green. (Click the image to make it better)

So far the calcium, fiber, and potassium are the hardest numbers for me to hit. I need to create an action plan to tackle them; I hope to write about that tomorrow.

My workouts

I feel like I did less working out this week, though my calories burned come to more than 2,400 (yay!). Maybe it felt like less work because I didn’t do any weight classes …

Hey look! I did exercises!

Highlights
» My three-mile runs were hard, but I felt good finishing each one. My times ranged wide. My Tuesday run came in at about an 11:45-minute pace. Thursday was an indoor run, and I pushed it hard to get a 9:30-minute pace. Sunday was another outdoor run and I brought it down to a 10:30-minute pace. The goal is a ten-minute mile in the out-of-doors by Thanksgiving Day, and I feel like I can do it!

» My hike Wednesday was swift — I think I cut about five minutes off the initial climb (from 37 minutes to about 32 minutes). I’m headed out with Miss Dawgface again today and I’m wondering if we can shave even more time.

» Saturday’s Body Flow class did two things: It kicked my ass (I’m still sore); and it made me feel like a rock star. It was the first class I was able to do every track in full (even abs!), and my form was excellent (the instructor even called me out for it during one of our poses!). I felt so strong during that class. So of course I’m looking forward to more this week. Maybe I can finally drag that husband o’ mine to class with me …

I officially love starting out my weeks this way — celebrating what good things I did in the week past. Happy Monday, all!