Why I (sometimes) Count Calories

 One of the best part of the paleo diet is that unlike the Zone, tracking your food is not a requirement of the diet. Paleo is about foods rather than numbers. But sometimes I actually do track my intake. Not often, but it's a good check up. I use a freeware tool called Cron O Meter every so often and it's often very interesting. For awhile I had issues with fatigue, but when I did a Cron O Meter check in I realized I wasn't getting enough calories! That's actually an easy mistake to make on paleo because of all the foods we aren't eating. Often when I eat at restaurants my meal is a normal one with the bread or pasta subtracted. Sadly, it's not like they are giving me more meat to make up for it. It's a great way to accidentally undereat yourself into tiredness and irritability. 

Also it's a good reality check on hard to get nutrients like calcium. I realized last year that I simply wasn't getting enough and that was a major motivator to start eating stock and bony fish. It's also a reality check on cheats! Putting in that slice of cake and seeing your numbers mess up really makes you question whether it was worth it.