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Losing Weight without Counting Calories

February 17, 2017

February 17, 2017

Life

Visit Scaled Nation Training for more information on the Working with Larger Bodies Seminar! 

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Athena 

Perez 

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I'm Athena, "Bean," a dedicated advocate for training larger-bodied athletes. Since my first CrossFit story in 2018, I've become a CFL2, owner of Scaled Nation Training, and creator of "Working with Larger Bodies" seminar. I've also written "Lifting the Wait," with sequel "Waitless" coming soon.

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meet athena

Welcome to my digital den! Raw stories, real talk, and CrossFit banter—all about building consistency, healing, and an unshakable mindset for lasting transformation.

hey, friends!

Morning with Bean, how exciting. I don’t get to post in this category that much. So, our discussion this morning is based on a conversation I had yesterday. Someone asked me how I was losing weight. I will share a secret with you: I’ve done it without counting a single calorie. Hard to believe but honest to god.

One of the things I decided that early week in January when I started this new lifestyle was I knew I would be unwilling to be a slave to measuring cups and precise portioning. It’s boring, and long term, not fun. Now I know what you’re thinking; calories in, calories out. This still rings true. However, there is such a thing as bad calories, calorie rich, good calories, and negative calories.

bad calories weight loss blog athena marie bean thereThe first thing I did was weed out bad calories. Pizza, (Although, ugg, I do dream about this in my sleep) cakes, cookies, sugars, pasta, white rice, cream based sauces, pie…… cookies….. mmmm peanut butter cookies, ohhhhhh yes and those creamy cookies with the…… *cough* sorry, getting off topic. You get the picture. Shit foods.

The second thing I did was I got rid of calorie rich foods. Although good, and I will be reintroducing some of them in the future, not good for me right now. Flours, dairy, red meats, rice (all types), oils, saturated fats, things like this.

Next – your body needs calories, so I kept good calorie foods. Fish (Pacific Salmon, Halibut, White fish, Albacore Tuna and various) chicken, eggs, avocados, nuts and seeds, peanut or almond butter, beans and legumes, bananas, dried fruit (with no added sugar), starchy vegetables (sweet potatoes, yams).

low calorie foods weight loss blog athena marie bean thereFinally – I made sure that 95% of my diet were negative and low calories. The best way to stock up on negative and low calories is to stay in the vegetable and fruit section of the grocery store. I stay on the outside of the store and don’t go down the center aisles. If it comes in a box, a can has preservatives or sugars, I don’t buy it.

I eat 90% of my day in the negative and low-calorie food and the other 10% in the good calorie food. When I keep these percentages, I don’t have to count calories. I eat all day, eat till I’m full and I’ve never had to measure anything. Sure I’m going to have critics, but it’s working, and success is hard to argue with.

Also, two other secrets I will share. I only eat in a 9-hour window. For me, it’s 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Lastly, water is your friend. You must drink 64 oz or more each day.

There you have it. I’m walking on sunshine and I never felt better. <3

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Love,

athena bean

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this is me | Be Courageous, Be Myself.

True Colors Part Deux | Drawing Those Parallels

Currently Trending

search the post index

meet athena

Welcome to my digital den! Raw stories, real talk, and CrossFit banter—all about building consistency, healing, and an unshakable mindset for lasting transformation.

hey, friends!

Since 2011, I've been on a mission to rewire my own self-limiting beliefs and patterns that were holding me back because I believe an unshakable mindset can be our #1 life hack.

In these parts I not only share my own journey but also lend a hand to others to create a life filled with genuine resilience, purpose, and grit. I'm a big fan of a good cup of joe, chalk, and teaching folks like you how to 'lift the wait'. Let’s get weird. 

Welcome, Friends!

so glad you're here

i'm athena Perez

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