I don't seem to be able to say anything "the short way" so I'll apologize in advance for the length. If it's any consolation, this is the "short" version.
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Originally Posted by RndmCandle
, I've realized that I should probably invest in getting a scale so that I can weigh food and know exactly how many calories I'm taking in...but this seems SO tedious!
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A scale will give you more precise numbers, but you still won't know "exactly" how many calories you're taking in, it will still be an estimate. But that's ok, for most people, ballpark estimation works just fine.
My suggestion (for everyone, including myself) is to use the easiest, least restrictive plan that works. That way, you're never dealing with more boredom or restriction than you absolutely have to.
While a scale allows you to be more precise, that's only a help if you want and need to be that precise (you probably don't).
It's really common in weight loss "culture" to believe that diets are like soulmates. There's only one "out there" for you, and you will fail by absolutely every other method until you find your one, true soulmate.
You don't need "Mr. Perfect diet," you just need "Mr. Good Enough." Mr. Perfect may not exist. There may be two or twenty Mr. Perfects, and there may be thousands of Mr. Good Enoughs.
Remember you're not going to lose weight at a decent clip at 1700 calories and lose nothing at 1800. Your body isn't that precise. There's lots and lots of room for trial and error.
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Originally Posted by RndmCandle
Does anyone have any suggestions with this calorie counting business? Because I'm confused, and worried that I'm still eating way too much.
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You don't have to get it absolutely, perfectly, right, because there is no such thing. Experiment, your body can handle it.
After a few weeks on plan, your scale will tell you if you've got the wrong calorie level for you, but it can't tell you that in one day, one week, or probably even two or three weeks. Don't let normal fluctuations (like monthly TOM water gain) convince you that you're on the wrong plan. Learn what "normal" is for your body.
I'd recommend you think calorie range rather than calorie target. At least that works best for me.
I personally do best and enjoy best, exchange plans for counting calories because I need the extra restriction/structure to insure a balanced diet. I get in plenty of fruits and veggies, but I tend to short-change myself on protein and calcium-rich dairy and tend to overdo starch and fruit. I learned that a person can gain weight on too-much fruit (even fresh, raw fruit).
Also, I find it easier to memorize exchange plan values than calorie counts (so while it's less restrictive in the beginning, it's easier in the long-run), because most of the portion sizes are similar. For example almost all veggie exchanges are 1 cup raw, or 1/2 cup cooked. There are exceptions, so you still may have to look up unfamiliar or new foods.
Some people don't consider exchange plans calorie counting. I consider them calorie counting plus. You may not need the plus (remember, least restrictive plan that is effective).
The biggest advice I can have is don't stress it. Go in with the calm attitude that you are going to learn what works best for you (not only in terms of weight loss results, but in terms of a plan you like and can tolerate without feeling overly deprived or bored, and in terms of feeling the best mentally and physically).
Remember you don't have just one chance to get this right (we sometimes tend to treat weight loss this way, as if our very lives depended on getting it perfect from day one). You can lose weight on a dozen plans or variations of a plan just as easily on one.
You're not going to destroy your metabolism, your weight loss or your body by experimenting. Even though there's some research evidence suggesting that yoyo and starvation dieting can have negative health consequences - mostly those effects occur over the long-haul (many years or even decades) not over the course of several weeks or even months.
Be open to the experimenting and you'll be fine. Anything you don't like, and anything you don't find effective, you can tweak and change until you find the balance that best suits you (and you can change it, if your needs change).