Calorie Counters - November Counting Calories Chat

I can't believe it is November already... where did the year go?!?!
Let's make this a great month!:carrot::carrot:

Yes, let's make it a great month.

I count calories pretty much everyday. It helps, let me tell you. I start each morning at work with a small post-it where I track every calorie that goes in and every calorie I burn on my walking breaks. I've found that just writing down the number of calories helps me out more then writing down the type of food I ate.

Today hasn't been bad so far. I raked leaves for 1 hour or so and took the dog for a walk - but I ate 2 cookies and we are having bean and ham soup for supper with biscuts. Not heathly by any means, but tomorrow I'll do better

Yay! Got the first round of raking the leaves done today :) It was a gorgeous day here.

I did my raking yesterday and let me tell you, my shoulders were burning this morning! I did a lot of stretching and drank a lot of water today and they are feeling much better!
The sad thing about it is, DH and I own a townhouse so our yard is real small! I can't even imagine having to rake a large yard!

Gorgeous here as well. I'm loving my morning walks this time of year. I'm happy I stayed on track yesterday. Today is going well also. I've figured out I need a small low calorie snack between meals, just something to munch on. This morning it is pickles and tea. We can make this month count towads our weight loss. No need to give up around the holidays!

No need to give up around the holidays!

Totally agree here. :) I don't typically loose a lot of weight around the holidays, but even a couple pounds each month is better than gaining 10 lbs or so around the holidays. :) Hope you ladies are having a great day.

I've been keeping a homemade (hearty) soup in the fridge to keep me on track no matter what the kids eat and they are so yummy! I used to be scared of soup recipes and wouldn't make one unless it was in the crockpot. hehe! But I'm finally getting the hang of it.

A "plain lentil soup" has been a good one for low cal. I made myself a mixed bean soup last night and just tried it. It is delicious! But when I added up the cals it's a lot more than I thought.

Fitday says just 1.5 cups of beans is over 300 calories. Add in the bit of other ingredients and a dollop of light sour cream and sprinkle of cheese and I'm nearly at 500 calories for one bowl of soup. eeek!

I'm leaving the cheese off next time for sure.

I'm finally starting to feel more like myself today. I had the stomach flu last week and jumped into "normal" eating too soon. Well I went back to the BRAT diet yesterday and have felt so much better since. Nervous to start eating normally again now though.

Hello all, I cannot believe it is November already!

I've been rocking a sinus headache for over a week now. I just convinced my GP to give me antiobiotics because I know its an infection, I do not get these often but when I do I know what it is. The headache has really be screwing with my cardio, I cannot do it. I tried, but the resulting severity of my headache is not worth it.

I'm going to have to rely on calorie counting alone to make my deficits at least this week. Hopefully not longer. I've got a big ol' bag of salad in the fridge, lots of lemons and vinegar for dressing, and some chicken breasts to throw on the foreman. Low cal here I come. When I don't work out, my weightloss is nada. I'm hating this.

Coolmom75, I like to make an all veggie tomato based soup and keep that around also. And with the cold weather, this is sounding really appealing right now.

Absolutely stunning day here--ran my four miles. I am feeling good. I have a shrimp/salmon dish planned for tonight. I cannot believe what I am eating with it--white baked potatoes! I was in the mood for the things! I am going easy on the toppings of course--but yum all the same. The SpLuRgE is fact they are white--not sweet like we normally eat on the rare occasions we eat potatoes. Hope all you chickies are doing well! :)

The kids wanted to go to the zoo today so it was a great way to get in some walking. Yay! Gorgeous day and stayed on plan.

I'm curious about what the BRAT diet is? ...just looked it up:)

The BRAT diet is Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast. It's what they recommend you ease back into eating after a stomach virus. When I called the doctor about my son having the stomach bug, that's the diet they told me to put him on to ease him in. I did it for him and he got well quickly. I didn't do it for myself and my sickness lingered and lingered! Started doing it about 48 hours ago and I feel GREAT now!

My bloat currently is ridiculous. I've been sick a week now and am finally on the upswing. Drinking my calories and my weight times 50 in sodium between the sprite and gatorade that has been keeping my tummy pain at bay. Feeling better now though and ready to get rid of this BLOAT. So back on the wagon as of right now.

This morning was not good.

So far I've polished off at least 3 servings of pretzels, 2 huge cups of gatorade and a sprite. I also ate some chocolate candy and a handful of Kix. *sigh*

But I'm not starting over tomorrow. I'm starting today. With a focus on healthful foods. I might go over my calorie allotment for the day due to overeating this morning, but as long as the rest of the it's with healthy foods I'll take it.
I'm thinking about easing into some exercise today as well. Nervous though. It was a really tough 2 video exercise session a week ago today that set off my stomach bug last week (realistically I know the exercise didn't make me sick, but it's like when you eat something and throw up...you know it wasn't that food that made you sick but you are nervous about it the next time you eat it nonetheless!).

Good idea. Might as well start over today and save those extra calories you might have spent by waiting until tommorrow!

Soups...I love 'em but can't have much sodium or I bloat like a balloon. I make clear broth soups with some veggies and meat in them. Eat them often as an evening or noon meal.

I've been doing low carb for about 2 years. Still am but I've always counted my calories as I think that is the most important factor in losing weight. So here are my low calorie/low carb staples. The soups I mentioned. Salads! Love those with some no cal dressing or mustard even. Something I'm loving right now is these bran crackers. Lots of fiber and only 12 calories each. I top them with a protein item or low cal jelly. Sorry if I made anyone hungry. Have a great day! The weather has been absolutely stellar here lately.:cb:

Sickies take care and get well soon!:hug:

Today I'm going to stay on plan. I swear. I'll even work out, dangit, if my butt promises me I can fit into my cord skirt and tights this weekend...lol! Just say NO to the muffin top!

LOL Mango! You can do it!

I've been doing low carb for about 2 years. Still am but I've always counted my calories as I think that is the most important factor in losing weight.

I never knew you could low carb AND count calories.

Me too. Staying on plan today or else!

I never knew you could low carb AND count calories.

Yes, and it requires that you eat tons of veggies and lean protein. Last year I did it for about 3 months, counting calories and low carbing it and I lost a lot of weight very rapidly. I don't recommend it though...it takes iron will.

So, today I am starting a cleanse. Well, I started last night before bed with an herb concoction and 20 oz of water and OOOOOooohhh boy did it do its thing. I was up at 4am. So today will be a lot of water and high fiber vegitables only. Tomorrow after the magic herbal concoction stops working I can start adding in lean protein. But no carbs till Friday, and then, only whole grains.

The point of the cleanse is to cut sugar cravings. The herbal stuff is from my mom, who is an herbalist. The cleanse is suggested by my Chiropractor, but he had some other colon cleansing system he was hocking and I'm not a buyer when it comes to anything that claims to do, for $80, what I know I can do for myself for free.

*wonders if popcorn is a "whole grain"*

Yes, and it requires that you eat tons of veggies and lean protein. Last year I did it for about 3 months, counting calories and low carbing it and I lost a lot of weight very rapidly. I don't recommend it though...it takes iron will.

I was thinking of having my calories at 2000 (I weigh over 400 pounds at present) and eating non-starchy lowcarb-ish veggies, meats, fish, eggs, chicken,etc. That way I can also use butter and olive oil too but in measured amounts.

What I am doing currently (nothing as I fell off the wagon and got run over by it) is not working.




*wonders if popcorn is a "whole grain"*

I think it might be.

I never knew you could low carb AND count calories.

Really the only way I'm able to lose weight.

Canadian woman...Sounds like that shoulD work for you. My advice is try to only eat when hungry. This is still hard for me by the way. Also watch the fats by measuring them carefully as they are very high in calories. I generally avoid fats myself because I must get my calories a good bit lower than you need to at the moment. I did lose most of my 110+ pounds eating lean proteins, low carb veggies and keeping the calories between 1,200 and 1,500 but I'm in my fifties and did not exercise most of the time.
Good luck! You can do this!

I am a genius. No, really, I am. Last night I steamed asperagus for dinner, and wanted a bit of olive oil to splash it with, so I got out those syringe things they give you with your kids medicine, loaded it with 5ml of olive oil (1/3 of a serving), and sprayed it on the aperagus. I love myself right now...lol!

The question about low carbing and calorie counting yesterday sparked something in me. When I was on plan and really doing it and paying attention I felt great and I was losing upwards of 3 lbs a week, really, three lbs a week, and I got down to 158 lbs doing it last year. I'm begining to discover that I just don't tollerate carbs well at all, if I eat them, like, over 50g a day, my weightloss stalls, and if I don't pay attentino at all, I gain. I think I'm going to give the low carb calorie counting a try again. Plus, I miss steak...lol!

Mango..I love steak done on the barbeque. :hun:

I'm not eating much beef lately. Yesterday went to the dentist was told it's no big deal so I'm relieved. I didn't eat much yesterday though 'cause a the mouth. Today it's getting better. Maybe this will get me back to my siggy weight.:D

Is it still November...oh yeah...it is...

Reviving this thread...lol!

I've been doing okay, staying on plan as far as # of calories goes, but not making the best choices for what those calories are. I've had pizza. I've had booze. but I've also had some salads too so, there ya go.

I got my new shoes in from Zappos last night to I'm ready to kick butt and take names on the treadmill tonight.

I am a genius. No, really, I am. Last night I steamed asperagus for dinner, and wanted a bit of olive oil to splash it with, so I got out those syringe things they give you with your kids medicine, loaded it with 5ml of olive oil (1/3 of a serving), and sprayed it on the aperagus. I love myself right now...lol!



Yes.....you *are* a genius. Actually that is a very good idea. :)

Mango..I love Zappos for shoes. I got very quick delivery. :)
Canadianwoman..Hope you're doing well. I'm hanging in and not losing but also not gaining.
Have a good one!

Canadian woman...Sounds like that shoulD work for you. My advice is try to only eat when hungry.

I try to eat only when hungry. Unfortunately for me that leads to only twice a day.


watch the fats by measuring them carefully as they are very high in calories.

I have been doing that.



I generally avoid fats myself because I must get my calories a good bit lower than you need to at the moment. I did lose most of my 110+ pounds eating lean proteins, low carb veggies and keeping the calories between 1,200 and 1,500 but I'm in my fifties and did not exercise most of the time.
Good luck! You can do this!

I just turned 48 and am not fond of exercise either but that is because I am so heavy that any exercise at this point in my life physically hurts. I am hoping this will change as my weight goes down and my stamina goes up. (fingers crossed here)

Thank you for the advice, the luck and excuse the lateness of my reply. I was having trouble with my laptop and had to fix the whole thing.

Mango..I love Zappos for shoes. I got very quick delivery. :)
Canadianwoman..Hope you're doing well. I'm hanging in and not losing but also not gaining.
Have a good one!

I have not been doing well at all the last week and a half. My oldest son's girlfriend moved in with us and it was a nightmare since the first day. It was bad enough when she literally took over my kitchen and my house but when she and my son had a huge fight and he told her to leave, she ended up lighting a plastic bucket filled with her old papers on fire under my kitchen bay window. My oldest son was at work at the time and luckily a neighbour came over (I was asleep as it was after midnight) and knocked on our door. My youngest son was up and went to the door and the neighbour told him we had a fire under our kitchen wiondow (The GF had taken off after she lit it). My youngest son put the fire out. He told me it took 7 pitchers of water to get it out and I never found about the fire until the next morning. My youngest son thought since the fire was out that there was no need to wake me up......and the girl had the b*lls to show up here the next morning AFTER I (and my oldest son who was then home from work) found out about the fire
wanting to get her stuff.

I will simply say her stuff went out the door pretty fast.:smug:

With all that stress, I was eating a lot of carbs ( rice and potatoes from takeout places) just to keep from starving. I literally could not get near my kitchen for a week and a half. She was *constantly* cooking all these gluten foods (I am celiac btw) that I cannot eat and I could not get near a pot to even boil a frikken egg.

I am back on track today but still seriously stressed. Fortunately I kept from bingeing on chips. In fact, I never binged once but I wanted too badly. Very badly.

Canadianwoman..At least she's out of the house now and so hopefully the drama will diminish! I hope so!

Yeah I didn't exercise because of the difficulty of it at my weight and with stiff joints,too. Now after losing 113 pounds I do a modest walk but never push it too hard. I've read that losing weight is at least 80% what we eat and not exercise.

I'm still trying to get under 200 pounds. I really want to do this by the end of this year. I'll have to keep my resolve up!

On bingeing...I still do sometimes. I do find that the lower carb I keep my eating the longer I go between binges. Also when I binge for a day, that pretty much kills my good efforts for the rest of the week or even month so it is critical for me to control bingeing. My body counts every calorie even if I don't!