Hi, I'm new to the board and I was doing the low carb diet, but it wasn't for me. Now, I'm now counting my calories, and I feel good about it. How successful have you any of you been? And how many calories do you eat?

I got to goal counting calories!

I love it. I was able to eat anything I wanted as long as it fit into my calorie count. I generally stuck to 1200 calories, but would go up to 1400 or 1500 if I was hungry or something like that.

I mostly ate healthy foods though. I can't eat too much processed stuff or I will feel sick.

I'm slowly eating up to my maintenance level now which I believe is around 1600-1800, but I think I'll have to play around with that number. I plan to count calories to stay in maintenance

I've lost 78 pounds counting calories! At first, I just ate low-fat foods. But, now I'm eating more "whole foods" (veggies, fruits, dairy, whole wheat, oatmeal, beans, tuna, salmon, etc.). I started at 1800 calories and now consume around 1500 calories, although I sometimes eat up to 1700 calories. Although weight loss has been slow by some standards/success on these boards (:wink, I've never hit a plateau and I've been comfortably chugging along with 1 lb/week loss. Good luck on your own CC adventures. Like others have noted on these boards, its free, easy, and 100% successful (when the counter is honest).

I see things like you, I feel the same way of eating 1200 calories per day, but I told myself like you did, that if I get hungry I will go up to 1500 calories. Congrats on your weight loss!! That is so inspiring, and it confirms what I now feel and that's counting calories.

Princessgina, I appreciate you sharing and you're so right, it is free

I'm basically passionate about calorie counting! Seriously, I've lost 80 pounds, calorie counting the whole time. I had lost 60 pounds before my last pregnancy, and when I gained about 50 back during pregnancy (yikes! I know, I know...) I was so terrified about losing again. But here I am, the baby was born in at the end of April, I started calorie counting again July 1st... he's going to be 8 months old at the end of this month, and I've not only "re-lost" those 50 pounds I gained back during the pregnancy, I've lost 20 beyond that. Again, 80 pounds from my HW--and all of it was FREE I LOVE CC!

ETA: I eat 1200-1500/day, depending on the amount/intensity of the exercise I get on a given day.

I'm so excited. I've lost over 100 lbs. counting calories before. I fell off and gained back all the weight. That is behind me now, and I'm focused on getting this weight off. I don't know why, once I think about it, on why I didn't go back to CC. I just stopped counting and the weight piled back on, and I continued eating without a care in the world. Congrats to all of you on your individual weight loss. I'm really excited about things now!!

CC is the only thing that has ever worked for me. I started calorie counting at 1700 and lost the first batch of pounds relatively quickly (I am somewhat active, 30 yrs. old). Now I have reached sort of a plateau, I'm seeing if it resolves itself by trying a few other little tricks up my sleeve (calorie cycling, extra exercise, and low-carb dinners). I'm going to give it a few months. From what I read on this site, plateaus are not an exception, but more of a norm. Stinks, but better to know the truth.

Welcome!

I've only been CCing for a few weeks now, but I've lost an average of 3 lbs per week since I've been doing it. I know it'll probably slow down a bit, but I'm sure I can lose at least 1-2 lbs per week if I keep honest and stick to it.

Its really been keeping me accountable on not only how much I'm eating, but WHAT I'm putting into my body. When its all put down in black and white it really helps me to make better decisions. It makes me a more mindful eater!

At the moment I'm trying to keep my calorie intake below 1600. My online counter automatically adjusts my limit when I lose a pound so right now its set at 1598. I usually end up being somewhere between 1300 and 1600...and it feels so good at the end of the day to see that I made it through with calories to spare!

I love it, and I know that this is something that I can do forever...and something that I actually WANT to do forever!

Unna, I understand where you're coming from about the plateaus, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve too when it happens and more protein I believe will be a saving grace.
ArtyKay, I'm loving this too!! And its easy to just count instead of saying I can't have a particular food. This is a lifestyle.

I do a little of CC and weight watchers at home. I can't afford to join those meeting and I am finding that just using this form and myfitnesspal I am doing pretty good. 15lb down since the start of September, not fast but mostly steady.

I like the guidlines given by weight watchers and I make better food choices while still eating those foods I love. And using myfitnesspal shows me where I should be getting more protien, fat, fiber and my calorie intake which averages between 1100-1500 a day depending on my hunger and exercise level

Good luck to you

Well i do count EVERYTHING, not just calories. I do eat 1700-1800 cals per day. Also eat 60 carbs or less per day. I just don't believe you can eat whatever you want on a low carb diet ... is non sense.

I've lost 35 pounds counting everything.

I count calories, too. I have tried many other ways to lose and maintain and find calorie counting works best for me.

I started counting calories in September. I've lost 32.2 pounds since Sept 12. Very exciting stuff.

Hi and welcome to 3FC! I also wanted to say I started CC in Sep and have lost 30 lbs in three months. I aim for 1200 per day and track through livestrong.com, it's free! I relax on the weekends and usually have 1800+ but it hasn't stalled my loss yet.

Congrats Everybody for your weight loss!! And its so nice to meet all of you.