I started on the Hacker's Diet a couple of months ago (it's a calorie counting diet, basically) but quickly gave up counting every single thing that went into my mouth in favour of eating according to some general guidelines that I figured would keep my calorie totals down.
The guidelines were:
- Have 2.5 meals, and only eat at meal times.
- Meals are what fits onto a plate without stacking or going up the sides.
- No drinks more energy dense than coffee.
- Nothing too sweet or salty - I fail at moderation when I have sweet or salty things in the home.
I've also developed some of my own 'sensible defaults':
Breakfast: A coffee (a cup of warm full cream milk + a shot of espresso), sometimes a bowl of puffed wheat and milk.
Lunch: A few slices of bread + spread, fruit. Before going in to work every Monday I pick up a loaf of bread and about 5 pieces of fruit.
Dinner: Meat and 3 veg. Veg is nearly always frozen, and one of them is nearly always potato.
I still use the weight monitoring system of the Hacker's diet, but found this to be a much better way to limit what I eat.
Anyway, cheers! I'm really enjoying Everyday System.