Calorie Counting and What Else?
 

I'd like to have an idea of what the typical Calorie Counters diet looks like.

Me, I Calorie Count plus go low carb, and low fat. I also eat low to no glycemic because my hubby needs to eat low glycemic for his rheumatoid arthritis and intestinal issues.



I'd really like to find out if anyone is losing on a less than healthy diet by calorie counting alone. My DD would calorie count if she didn't also have to eat too healthy or spend a lot on food. :p

I calorie count and go high protein. Ultimately though it's just calories in calories out for me.

I don't believe in Calorie counting. I saw a trainer that helped me change that mind set and I am 80lbs down in the last 9months.

I'm pretty much just a calorie counter... well... sorta..

I try to eat heavy veg, low white stuff. I try to take in reduced fat dairy (for the calcium) and try to take in 100 calories a day in fruit. I aim for 13-1400 cals per day. I try not to drink my calories (wish I could learn to like black coffee...). I also have a bad habit of finding something new and different to eat and then sticking with that until I'm so tired of it, that I can't eat it anymore. I've found some success with forcing myself to vary my meals so I don't get too tired of anything.

Easy, right?

Eh. Not so much.

But, for now, it's working!

Best wishes to us all.

Calorie counting and make sure I'm getting enough protein so I don't get hungry as much. Especially in the morning, I try to eat something higher in protein and it seems to help me a lot! Plus going to the gym lol

I eat what ever I want as long as its in my calorie range. I log with my fitness pal on my phone and I will sometimes check my fiber and protien levels but not often.

I calorie count and eat high-ish fat and protein, low carb.

Today's menu:
Breakfast: 2 hardboiled eggs, 1/2 serving of wheat thins.
Snack: rest serving of wheat thins, 1 oz cheddar cheese.
Lunch: 2 hard corn tortillas, 1/2 cup low fat refried beans, 3 oz pulled pork, 1/2 avocado
Dinner: 5 oz rump roast with bbq sauce (like pulled pork, but with lean beef), 1/2 a cantaloupe.

That's 1300 calories. I have another 300 to play with for the day if I want wine or rice with dinner. (I know its low on veggies. I have to limit those due to intestinal issues.)

re:
 

Calorie counting and nothing else. No carb, fat, or protein counting. I am mindful of sodium, but don't necessarily count it.

.

I calorie count and try to eat lean protein, fresh fruits and vegs, whole grain and lowfat dairy. Unfortunately I also have a sweet tooth and many of my calories in my budget are "wasted" on sugary things. If I could get off the sugar I would probably do a lot better with the weight loss.

I track my fat, fiber, protein and carb intake along with calories. In general, I eat a high protein, low fat diet. I kind of wish I could incorporate more fats, but they're just so caloric that I've tended to restrict them while losing weight. Not severely, but I probably average only 20% calories from fat. I'm hoping to change this as I move from losing into maintenance (have the added calories come from good fats).


Calorie counting hasn't made me afraid of food. On the contrary; it has made me eat a LOT better, and I enjoy a much greater variety of foods now than I did before. After 16 months of calorie counting (and losing 145 lbs in that time), my diet is a complete 180 from where I started. Calorie counting may not be right for you (and that's fine), but it works for a whole lot of people - and not just for weight loss, but as a way to eat mindfully and change habits and attitudes toward food.

Thanks for the input everyone. :)

It's good to see that calorie counting can be very flexible and fit most anyone's needs.

I hope this thread continues for awhile. :)



chickadee32,

I too try new foods and eat things I would not have tried if not for Calorie Counting. What makes me afraid of food is uncontrolled eating and the results of that.

Calorie counting actually is making me less afraid of food. I feel like I can have more of a variety of foods and have what I want as long as I am within my calories. You learn to control yourself while not depriving yourself.

I only count calories and I don't follow a strict healthy diet 100% of the time. I will still have pizza or pasta and other foods that are typically thought of as bad foods. I just measure it all out now so I'm eating the correct portion sizes and I make sure I have enough calories for that day to eat the food I eat.

I do eat a lot more fruits and veggies every day and I have cut back on my alcohol consumption as well.

Once you start paying attention to the number of calories in foods, you start wanting to eat better and some of the crappy stuff just doesn't even seem worth it anymore.

I calorie count with no other "restrictions", though I certainly lean toward low-fat, low-carb, high protein and veggie heavy solely because it gives me the most food for my calorie budget :)

My D21 is a full-time college student living in an apartment with 5 other girls and has been really successful calorie counting.

I'm new to calorie counting but I'll be doing it on a vegetarian diet so I'll be eating a lot of beans and eggs for protein. Since I'm just starting out I'll also be using some Slim Fast products until I feel more comfortable making meals.

I calorie count and that's about it. I've found that I've adjusted what I will eat based on this. So I know that I can eat more fruits and veges and I will. While I can't eat that cup full of Mac n cheese that I so desperately want, because it just won't fill me up.

Yes, this seems to be what I am heading towards. I suppose most of what I eat tends to be low GI, when I look at it, and I always like to have protein with my meals as it fills me up. I find some things that are supposed to fill me up just don't - whoelmeal pasta, for example - so I just avoid those.

Mostly just calorie counting here, and using MyFitnessPal to keep accountable and check nutritional levels, fiber, protein/fat/carb proportions etc. Meat as a condiment with lots of veggies (homemade soup works well here for me). Things that are already portioned out, because I'm busy with work plus 3 other people in the family to cook for, who eat all differently...so I do like Fiber One bars, popsicles, yogurts - and of course apples and grapefruits (natural portion control!) ;)

Oh, and I try to walk or run/walk 3-4 times a week, at least. I was a dedicated runner a few years ago and am easing back into what I can do as a slightly arthritic 49 year old (which is a surprising lot, really)...

Calorie counting is pretty much it! I do try to get fruits and veg in there, because I know if I wasn't mindful of that it'd be carbs all day long.

I only really count calories, but I keep a casual eye on fat and carbs via MyFitnessPal, just to make sure neither ends up at obscene levels.

I only calorie count, I think that if I try to count too many things I will get tired of it and just won't count anything. I do try to eat foods that are lower in sodium just because I don't want the water retention. But basically, I eat whatever as long as it's within my range.

It's really helpful to see the various calorie counting diets. As I said, my diet is pretty strict and limited but it works for me. However, I know my daughter can't follow a strict plan so I'm happy to see many doing well on a more causal plan. :)

Keep on truckin' everyone! :carrot:

I calorie count but I am mindful of protien, fiber and sodium but my fitness pal keeps up with it so I just attempt to meat those goals.

I do Weight Watchers and also keep track of my calories on My Fitness Pal.
I don't count carbs or anything else, just calories and points.

High protein, high fat. I'm toying with the idea of going Paleo or maybe Paleo + dairy, while still tracking overall calories.

I did primal eating for a while, then I went the total opposite direction and became a vegetarian lol. A great primal/paleo resource is Mark Sisson's website/forum, marksdailyapple.com

I just started calorie counting and it has truly opened my eyes to how much I was eating ( I mean over eating). I have found measuring my food and counting great. It feels satisfying to know exactly what and how much I am eating. I am focusing on trying to include as many healthy foods into my day as possible. I feel good enough that I am eating about 200 calories below my goal per day. I think the "good" foods are very filling and satisfying, but there is no denying that my sugar tooth calls to me late at night!

So far just calorie counting and it is working well. May start watching the carbs to not sure tho. I haven't been at this long.

I get the crazy hunger with pregnancy and have gained 80 pounds with each of my first three pregnancies-and lost the weight after each one. I'm currently working on my fourth journey down the scales, older and wiser about food choices and exercise, BUT...

The first couple times were strictly calorie counting smaller amounts of unhealthy food and no exercise. I'm sure I was starving! Ha! One Taco Bell burrito, grilled cheese, lean cuisine. Subway was eaten a lot. It can be done.

That is sooo impressive! I'm simply amazed!!!

It's sad actually that this last gain was before my fourth pregnancy and I didn't get the crazy appetite while pregnant (my only girl after three boys??) so now I know it's going to be a life long struggle and I can't blame it on pregnancy.

You mean, for you it doesn't? :?: