Just started counting calories this week, could not continue weight watchers due to financial constraints. I was on weight watchers for about 2 years, this time. I have been reading the post for a while and I am greatly encouraged, everyone here is so nice and helpful.

My goal is around 1500 calories a day, I use calorie king software to track.
What should be my fat, carb and protein goals? So how does 1500 calories sound?

When I was doing weight watchers I figure I was at 1400 claories and was always hungry I did eat alot of whole foods and tried to have 3 meals and 2 snacks a day.

Thanks

Hey everyone!! It has been a couple of months since I posted. I was doing really good and met goal in June I also held study until August. Then it seemed like all heck broke loose. I got a new job, my father passed, took a vacation, and had to find a different babysitter. And that all happened within a two week time. So I ended up gaining back about 4-5 lbs. Now I have been kinda holding steady around 135, but I have noticed that my eating is slowly going back to old ways ie. pop, candy and mickey d's. So here I am back trying to get back down to the 130 I was a couple of months ago.

SusanB! I thought of you (and others) while I was gone/slacking I guess complacency kicked in and well, wasn't holding myself to the rules I know I need to, though I missed sticking around here.

Tinky you were in my neck of the woods. If you were there over the weekend sorry about the clouds, that was believe it or not our "storm of the decade". That was about as cloudy/rainy as it gets here!

Well it looks like I knocked off another lb, so down two total, which is just excellent. My one-week calorie average is 1528, so pretty good for what I am aiming for. Also walked or lifted weights four times in the last week so that is excellent. I feel like such a long road is ahead of me. My uncle finally sent me the wedding video he took LAST October. The weight gain isn't obvious when I see myself in the dress as was rather poofy, but the photos from the rehearsal dinner make me just wince. It's funny how you don't even see it coming on! Like a boiling frog! Anyways, thinking positive thoughts and moving along okay here.

eeek! I totally fell off the wagon for a month. But, today was back on plan after I gained a total of 8 pounds at my TOPS weigh-in. Yikes!

Anyway, I had started my son's 1st grade public at-home school and absolutely hated the curriculum. We quit and are unschooling for now. Things are a lot less stressful.

oh boy, it is so hard the first few days of restriction.

The evenings are the hardest, and I did go a wee bit higher and allowed myself 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1/2 cup pickled beets and now drinking tea. NO MORE today!

Hey all, I am back, been MIA due to illness. I hope everyone is doing well, things are crazy here with TOM, a bad cold, homeschooling, soccer, work and some odd stomach issues the doctor can't figure out that left me in pain anytime I moved for like 4 days! Argh so anyway I completely stopped calorie counting and anything else for a day or two and now I am back.

I am up a little but I am thinking that is water retention due to illness (both the cold and my stomach thing) so I will wait to change my ticker til mondays weigh in.

Welcome back tinky hope you liked your vacation, sad news for you socal girl is that its fall in the northwest so get our your rubber boots! or in the case of the natives, the sandles and socks lol.

Have a great weekend everyone, I am excited because tomorrow I am going to the Y for the free fitness consultation, they will evaluate my fitness and goals and set up a workout program for me, yeah! I have not been working out at all up to now so I am hoping to see some results.

Coolmom - I know exactly how you feel, evenings are hardest for me too. Not sure why. I just plan to eat most of my calories then (which I know is a bad strategy) but at least it lets me stay on track for the most part.

Edzard - sounds pretty hectic, but hope the fitness evaluation goes well, let us know what they say.

Doing okay here, been on plan this week so far. Pants feel a little loser today but I think it is honestly since I said goodbye to TOM yesterday, so probably not a real weight loss yet. I'll check again on Sunday. My classes start today, so not looking forward to that, but hopefully mean a little bit more unforced walking in my week, and usually too busy to snack extra or anything. We'll see how it goes. I've been trying to walk a couple times a week, but I don't feel any more fit or in shape yet, of course I'm sure it takes a while.

Welcome back edzard. Sorry about the illness.

Miles, I should do like you and save up more calories for evening too. I just set myself up for failure if I don't. Getting back on board means feeling hungry all day at first. I hope I hit that comfort zone soon.

Hi, I used to come on here but didn't post much now I'm back! I guess I just needed to really start losing weight before I had anything to talk about. I'm Kym and it's nice to meet you all.

edzard I'm glad you're feeling better.

Hi Ladies ~

This seems like a nice group and I'd love to join you.

My weight loss efforts began July 1, 2007. So far I've lost 25 lbs., my nurse practioner OK'd be going off meds for high blood pressure & high cholesterol. I'm hoping to prevent aching knees & hips that cold weather brings by losing weight. My blood sugar level was slightly elevated ... an indicator of possible future development of diabetes.

www.fitday.com, the calorie tracking site, has helped me big time. I had NO idea of the calories in some of the "good" (?) foods I was eating a lot of (pasta). The site breaks cal's down into carbs/protein/fat and further breaks down into types of fat. I log in everything I eat.

I began walking 20 minutes three times a week, now I'm up to walking 50-60 minutes four times a week. To my big surprise, I've found that the more I walk, the more I WANT to walk ... it makes me feel so good!

I hope to make new friends, share support and encouragement, and ... go back and print out that roasted lentil recipe!!! Ooooh, that sounds like maybe a healthier version of stuffing?!

Hope everyone is on track and having a nice week end!

welcome Ladiibbug

welcome ladiibbug.

its usually more active in this thread! It must be the time of year. The lentil roast is delicious (and an inexpensive dish!)

I can't believe it took me this long to discover (i mean really discover) the bulk foods at the grocery store. Flour, cereals, spices, etc. So much cheaper. I probably shouldn't mention this part, but I've had a recipe for "Monster cookies" the kids want me to make, that includes M&Ms and chocolate chips. I got those in bulk too!

Now if I could wean myself from the individual yeast packets, I could buy that in bulk too.