Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Carbs
Look, I’m gonna be honest with you. I’m not some health guru. I’m not gonna tell you I’ve got it all figured out. I’m just a guy who’s tried alot of things and failed more times than I can count. (See what I did there?)
It was about three months ago. I was sitting in my kitchen at 11:30pm, scrolling through yet another fitness influencer’s post about how they lost 20 pounds by eating nothing but kale and sadness. And I thought to myself, “Marcus, this is bullshit.”
Let’s call him Marcus because that’s my name. And I was tired. Tired of counting calories, tired of obsessing over macros, tired of feeling guilty for eating a damn donut.
So, I decided to try something different. I stopped counting calories. I stopped tracking macros. I stopped worrying about whether my avocado was toasted or not. And you know what? It was liberating.
But First, a Word About My Friend Dave
Now, Dave—let’s call him Dave because that’s not his real name—Dave is one of those people who’s always on a diet. He’s tried everything from Paleo to Keto to the Cabbage Soup Diet (which, frankly, sounds like a form of torture).
I asked him once, “Dave, why do you do this to yourself?”
He said, “Because I want to be healthy, Marcus. I want to live a long life.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough. But here’s the thing, Dave. You’re not gonna live a long life if you’re miserable. And if counting every calorie and worrying about every macro is making you miserable, then maybe it’s time to try something else.
The Science Behind Why Counting Calories is Overrated
I’m not saying calories don’t matter. They do. But they’re not the be-all and end-all of nutrition. There’s this thing called “metabolic adaptation”—basically, your body gets used to a certain calorie intake and starts to resist changes. So, if you’re constantly cutting calories, your body might just get better at storing fat.
And let’s talk about the latest news updates today summary on nutrition. It’s always changing. One day, eggs are bad for you. The next day, they’re a superfood. It’s enough to make your head spin.
So, I decided to focus on something simpler. Something that doesn’t change every time a new study comes out. Something like… donuts.
Donuts: The Secret to a Happy Life
Now, I’m not saying you should eat donuts for every meal. But maybe, just maybe, you should stop feeling guilty about enjoying them once in a while.
I remember the first time I had a donut after quitting my calorie-counting committment. It was a glazed one from the place on 5th. And it was delicious. I didn’t feel guilty. I didn’t feel like I’d failed. I just felt happy.
And that’s the thing about food. It’s not just about fuel. It’s about pleasure. It’s about enjoyment. It’s about sharing a meal with friends or treating yourself to something sweet after a long day.
A Tangent About My Mom’s Cooking
Speaking of food and pleasure, I have to talk about my mom. She’s the best cook I know. And she doesn’t measure anything. She just cooks from the heart. And her food is always delicious.
I asked her once, “Mom, how do you do it? How do you cook without measuring anything?”
She said, “Marcus, food is about love. It’s about putting good things into your body and sharing that with the people you care about. It’s not about counting calories or worrying about macros.”
And she’s right. Food is about love. It’s about connection. It’s about enjoying life.
But What About Health?
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Marcus, this is all well and good, but what about health? What about fitness? What about all those things you’re supposed to care about?”
Look, I’m not saying you should ignore your health. I’m not saying you should eat donuts for every meal. I’m just saying that maybe, just maybe, you should stop obsessing over every little thing.
Focus on eating whole foods. Focus on moving your body. Focus on getting enough sleep. Focus on enjoying life. And if that means having a donut once in a while, then so be it.
Because at the end of the day, health isn’t about perfection. It’s about balance. It’s about doing the best you can and not beating yourself up when you fall short.
And honestly, that’s what I’ve learned. That’s why I quit counting calories and started counting donuts. Because life is too short to spend it feeling guilty about food.
So, go ahead. Have a donut. Enjoy it. And don’t feel bad about it. Because you deserve it.
About the Author: Marcus is a senior magazine editor with 20+ years of experience. He’s also a guy who loves donuts and hates counting calories. He lives in Austin with his cat, Whiskers, and spends his free time eating donuts and writing about food.
