Calorie counting was a challenge in the beginning and I quickly became overwhelmed and sick of it. It does get better with time. I would suggest sticking with it for another month and seeing how you feel about it then. I agree with others that it can be freeing because no food is actually off limits. It has really helped me become accountable and responsible for my food choices. Just seeing all my foods logged and totaled for the day has helped me say no to tempting items many times. I don't like seeing really high totals and I know if I eat too much or a bad food choice, I will have to look at a high number that I don't like seeing. For me, it's all about being accountable.

If I stop calorie counting I start gaining weight. Which is better ? 3 guesses!!

It's my accountability, and also helps me to keep track of general nutrition (am I getting enough fiber? sodium getting high? how about vitamins?).

I do have a pretty good feel these days for portions and such, but, no, I don't really get sick of it, primarily because I am SO happy that we have such excellent tools to help keep track of things. It's much easier since FitDay and TDP came around.

No I don't, especially since I started eucalorics (from the Calorie Queens book).

I used to hate calorie counting, but I don't anymore, because I eat a sufficient number of calories to lose slowly and no longer starve myself.

If I don't do this I gain weight. Period. IMHO, calorie counting, in whatever form one chooses, is the easiest most reliable path to portion control.

Oh, and I count calorie points (NOT Weight Watchers points), which makes it a lot easier and game-like for me.

I guess where I'm getting frustrated is if I eat somewhere that doesn't have the nutritional imformation posted. Like Sunday afternoon we took our kids to chinese and I got my usual stuff. I had a rough estimate on how many calories were in it but not an exact number. At the end of the day I kind of felt like if I can do it exactly then why do it at all.. I got over that and counted the last 2 days and kinda enjoyed it. Some days it feels like a chore while other days not so much.....

zephyr I know what you mean. I have learned that calorie counting is not an exact science anyway, and even a ballpark figure is better than chucking it all! You did good!

When I'm eating out, I basically give up on the cc. I try to remember that the portion sizes are way more then 1 and divide the plate into about 1/3 and only eat 1/3 of the entre and ask for a box. And eat most of the veggies unless they are those really good green beans at the chinese places. I learned that they throw them in oil and fry them before they cook it with the seasonings. Boo-hoo. I really liked those too.

unfortunately, I think that unless it's a restaurant that is specifically focused on healthy food, pretty much every restaurant cooks with WAY more fat and salt than home cooks imagine. Even so-called plain grilled items are often coated with oil and/or butter before grilling.

You can ask for things to be steamed, grilled without added fat, sauces on the side, etc. or some places with have a small selection of foods that are specifically prepared that way, but otherwise, things off the menu are almost always going to have more calories than you think they will.

I just had my one year anniversary with calorie counting, and I get really sick of it. I've lost 25 pounds in that time, though, so it works for me.

I went through one period of almost no weight loss. I was being really faithful with my calorie counting - almost never going over. Now, I don't count on the weekends, and I've started losing again. That really helps me to not mind counting during the week - I know that soon I'll get to be a little freer.

Counting really changed my relationship to food - in good ways and bad. The bad is that almost never do I get to just enjoy food - it's always a dance of how many calories is this, would this satisfy me more for the same number? Will this solve my craving within my allotted points? I spend a lot of time worrying about that, which is really irritating. On the other hand, restricting my calories has taught me tons about proper portion sizes, about how much food I should eat to feel good, versus how much I'd like to eat.

Since starting tracking, almost every day I feel good. Before, I usually just ate whatever I wanted, then felt bloated, fat, overly full, headachey, whatever. Food didn't feel good. Now it does, and that's way worth the hassle of counting. Also, the weight loss is great too! But it can be hard, for sure.

Sure. But I keep coming back to it, because when I don't... I gain. That is why I'm back at 3FC again. I need to count, and I need to be in a community of support.

It it what it is.

I take Saturday or Sunday off for dinner out. That helps. One day isn't going to set me so far afloat that I regain. But I appreciate the mental break and the cooking break.

A.

I will always have my days That i wanna have more calories But Calorie counting has changed my life & I am forever thankful for the weight loss secret that is free & WORKS!THING is that we Must keep it up to maintain one we reach our goal or we will more than likely gain it all back. I am so happy with my results that I will never get tired of it.I think you may just have to still get use to it. The change is super though~& the results well worth it!! HANG IN THERE!

It is in the same category as balancing my checkbook and brushing my teeth. I like my money in order and a healthy smile. Same with CC. I like my healthy weight. Everything has a price.

I think I was tireed of it before I started. But I was more tired of being fat. I am still more tired of being fat. I had originally thought I would only have to count uhtil I got to goal, but I'm sorting of getting it that I will have to count at least to some degree for the rest of my life if I want to stay at my goal. And I know how hard I've worked just to lose these first 18 lbs and I can't even imagine how agonizing it would be to have to start over.

I do like counting because it gives me the freedom to choose what I want to eat. Even if that was 1300-1600 calories every day in chocolate or chips. I'd rather eat the nutritious stuff or modify the junk a bit so I am not starving all the time.

I am a really finicky eater, so I don't think I could ever lose weight on a delivered meal system or someone else's menu plan. I wouldn't last a week if I had to eat fish or peas! LOL!

I AM looking forward to the day when I can have an occasional off plan meal...like Long John Silver's with oodles of malt vinegar...the only fish I like. But I'm pretty sure if I ate fried food every day, I would go right back to being a at chick again. I think something must happen to our bodies once we become overweight that makes them think they can just keep being fat and if we disagree, then our bodies try to make us get fat all over again. Maybe it's just age, or maybe it's a change in metabolism...whtever it is, I will deal with it.

Barb

I feel like I'm in control when I calorie count. I can pick and choose what I want to eat and feel great about it. I've even had sort of healthy snacks (like pop corn or frozen yogurt). When I count calories, I don't feel guilty. I know what I'm doing. When I go out to eat (usually lunch), I merely eat half and take the rest home for dinner. I try to eat as healthy as I can, though.

Barb (Angelskeep), maybe Long John Silver's has nutritional information regarding the fish you like. Most restaurants do. I always look up info before I go to Taco Bell or Starbucks. Good luck to you! You can do this!

Tyla

Barb~I have lost 101 Pounds in a little over 16 months~never had a month of gain~I too love Long John silvers But I eat there just from time to time.Maybe 3 to 4 times since counting calories~& only because I am a penny pincher~there fish isn't real bad on calories so Check them out online & see what you can eat thats calorie friendly there cause we can still eat out too~Just take a water or diet drink to help with the drink...And Maybe 2 pieces of fish & 2 hushpuppies or so~Just keep it in moderation~we do not have to give up everything we love to eat just eat in smaller portions~HUGS & GOODLUCK