I'm new to counting calories, and have quite a few questions. I've tried this in the past and have found it to be VERY tedious. What does everyone do to keep this from being so stressful? My other question is if everyone does a "no count day" a week when they're counting calories. I've seen it referenced a few times on this site and didn't know if everyone did it, or just those maintaining.
I have a "no count" meal, but I still count it and it's on my high calorie day. I've found that I go crazy with a whole day, so one meal a week is better for me.
I've been counting calories for months and months and months!! LOL I have to tell you that I have not found it to get too stressful. Matter of fact I know it is something I have to do for the rest of my life. I'm 43 years old and have been yo-yo dieting for far too many years. When I quit smoking I decided I can never let a cigarette touch my lips again. If I did, I would become a smoker again...and both my parents died at a very young age , (50 for each) from a smoking related disease. I can't, and I won't.
Food was my first true love, and if I have no counting days, or cheat days, every day would soon become a cheat day. I have days I allow myself more calories, but I am still cautious and I still log every thing, (even cough drops and gum) and I plan. I don't want to have to lose this much weight again. It is hard work and gaining weight back is the worst most devastating feeling there is. I can't do it to myself again. I can't torture myself. A cheat day is not a reward for me, it's a punishment. I have always over eaten to punish myself for something, and a cheat day is just that, (for me) like a punishment for being good all week. I don't understand cheat days. Does anyone feel good after a cheat day? Does it rejunivate them, make them feel thin and fit? Give them motivation to move forward? The way I see it is it's like I don't deserve to feel good, so I must cheat to make myself feel like crap once a week. (Oh geeze sorry, rant over!!) My ultimate goal is to reach my goal weight and maintain it until the day I die. No cheat/free day. Nothing is free.
I have a no-count meal once a week, but it's not entirely "no count". I tend to keep track mentally and estimate. I really try to avoid going hog-wild (although there are times that it happens).
Calorie counting shouldn't have to be monotonous though. You should be able to work a lot of variety into your diet and keep things interesting. That's the best part about calorie counting.
I count using Calorie King and it's very simple (but would be much more difficult if I ever ate out, I'm sure.) I tend to go out for dinner once a week and let myself order what I want, but make sure to stop eating when I'm full and to keep my choices moderate.
I write everything down that goes in my mouth. I have a little notebook that goes everywhere with me. I count the calories as I go. The cool thing about this is that I can look back on different days to get any ideas of what to plan for. Planning for me is key! I pretty much know what the calorie content is by now.(2 months) I can also judge when I go out on how much to have and what is lower calorie. I also keep track of exercise in my little book. I add anything else to it...such as who is with me and what I am doing. I don't always include that though...just special days. I do not take a "no-counting" day. For me ...I feel that I would just end up saying well this could be a no-counting day for about 10 days in a row. I am going to be doing this for life (literally). I don't want to tempt myself into unhealthy eating ever again. I am on 1400 calories and some days I hit 1200 and some days I hit 1400. I try for the 1400 though.
So far so good. It is working for me and I guess that is the point. Whatever works...
I'm a little more liberal with my eating when the occasion calls for it, and that about once a week, but it's not a formal thing. My only inviolable rule is not to eat until I'm stuffed. So portions are still smallish. This means I can go out to eat with family or friends, or eat my sister's homecooking , without worrying about it. I don't do desserts during the week (except a square or two of dark chocolate, or sometimes a few little ginger snaps), so I'll have one (in a smallish portion) with no guilt, but only if it's really good stuff (in other words, usually home made).
Calorie counting can be a little tedious, but for the first many months, I did it anyone, because it was what I needed. I haven't now for about a month and a half or so. But that's only possible because of the months I spent calorie counting .
Location: Southern California, about an hour outside LA.
Posts: 75
S/C/G: 168/115/110 Now: 129/129/105
Height: 5'2"
I don't think there's been a single day where I didn't count. It stresses me out when I think of all the work I've put into cutting back, then just letting myself go without knowing the calories involved feels like walking across a street blindfolded.
Personally, I couldn't 'successfully' do a no-count day. I find it hard to stop overeating/overindulging once I've started. It's best for me if I try to stay on the straight and narrow all the time.
I have one planned day a week when we have a family dinner with dessert. I still count but my calories are usually higher or even over my limit on those days. Some refer to these days as "cheat" days.
Since I started counting in January I have had one day a week where I don't count but still try not to go overboard. This means I eat my cheese burger or something I enjoy that is out of my calorie range but this is usually my bis hooray for the day!! Of course, if I had a bad week, I don't get the count free day. Also, don't be too hard on yourself if your counting is a little high on certain days... just pick yourself back up and get going again. We all have good and bad days and I know that I have had my share of bad days. My key to success is not depriving myself of things I enjoy, like ice cream, etc. I still have it but not every night... maybe once every two or three weeks.
I don't have a no count day. Sometimes I purposely go over my allowance, but I still count and track everything. I found counting to be very tedious at first, but I don't eat a huge variety of stuff, so after a couple of months or so, I know the calories (and serving sizes) of just about everything I normally eat.
The Daily Plate has been a great help for me. I especially like the "meal" section, where you can permantely group certain things together so you don't have to look up each item individually. For instance, chicken and rice casserole. Instead of adding so much onion, rice, etc, each time I have it, I simply added all the ingredients for the meal, divided it by the servings, and it is ready to be dropped on my plate with total ease. Plus, the total calorie count for each meal is right beside it, so you can just look down your list of meals, and see each one's "price".
Does everyone do a "no count day"?
, without worrying about it. I don't do desserts during the week (except a square or two of dark chocolate, or sometimes a few little ginger snaps), so I'll have one (in a smallish portion) with no guilt, but only if it's really good stuff (in other words, usually home made).
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