Calorie Counters ~ Need Your Thoughts
 

Good morning. Of course today is my weigh in day. And it appears I have done something wrong. I know the pizza was not a good idea last week! I learned that after I ate it. But I do think I have figured something out here and I wanted to know what all other calorie counters thought about it. I think I remember everyone saying to play around with the calorie intake and see what is a good number of calories to eat each day to lose weight. So here I am.

I went through my fitday journals to get all of my daily calories so I could see where I went wrong. I think I found it!!! I can't figure out the averages each week though... I never was good at math.

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Here is a legend to the diagram I am sharing...
___ = New week (weigh in day)
+ = Above 1600 calories (my doc said 1600 calories a day)
- = Below 1600 calories

Start Weight.... 192.4
8/26............... - 1199
8/27............... + 1709
8/28............... + 1632
8/29............... + 1759
8/30............... + 1731
8/31............... - 1192
Total Calories... 9222 (1 day short of a full week)
Weigh In......... 193.8
_____________________________________

9/01............... - 1441
9/02............... + 1626
9/03............... - 1253
9/04............... + 1845
9/05............... - 1220
9/06............... - 1493
9/07............... - 1477
Total Calories... 10355
Weigh In......... 193.2 (showed weight loss on scale)
_____________________________________

9/08............... - 1310
9/09............... + 2278 (pizza)
9/10............... - 1210
9/11............... - 1439
9/12............... - 1481
9/13............... - 1260
9/14............... - 1530
Total Calories... 10508 (highest calorie week)
Weigh In......... 194.8 (weight gain on scale)

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I am thinking if my calorie intake was lower everyday I might see a loss on the scale each week. I mean for example if you look at week 1 and add in the 7th day.. an average daily calorie (about 1550) it equals around about what my 3rd week ended up at... which I gained. But the 2cd (middle) week I had less calories and saw a loss on the scale.

So instead of eating 1400 to 1800 calories a day I thought I should go to 1400 to 1600 a day. However, now that I look at it... maybe I should go lower???? If I could figure out the average daily calories for each individual week that might help me see what would be better.

Anyway, I would like to know what you all think. I have been exercising everyday... a minimum of 2 miles I beleive is the least I have done. Thanks in advance for your input. :)

Tracy ... in your fitday in the left hand column. there is a selection called reports. In reports there is a choice called Calories Eaten. In the pull down menu choose Past Week ... that'll give you averages.
Play with that reports page. There's lots of wonderful info there.
If you want to choose a different week ... you'll need to go back in time and I'll have to think about that a minute ... it has to do with picking a calender.

Cool! Thanks Susan. I think I figured it out to tally up the averages for each week! :) That wasn't as hard as I thought lol. Once you said calendar it was easy to figure out. :) Thanks.

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8/25 - 8/31 = 1537 Gained weight.
9/01 - 9/07 = 1479 Lost weight.
9/08 - 9/14 = 1501 Gained weight.

It looks like I should stay between 1200 and 1400 maybe. But, this past week it averaged out to be 1501 a day. So that is not far off... but it was a big gain.

I think I should have payed more attention in math (maybe spelling too lol) because I stink when it comes to numbers. Lol.

I'm gonna have a closer look at your menus, if that's OK with you.
Did you have any thoughts as you reviewed or were you just fiddling with the numbers?

Thanks Susan! Please do. I am looking at everthing and anything to figure this out. I don't think it is just what I eat though. I have been eating 99% better then ever lol. I think it has to do with the numbers/calories in. But do check it out and let me know what you think to. I appreciate it. :)

It's never just what we're eating :)
I'll have a look.

Let me see .... Tracy I apologise in advance if some of this sounds stern or brusque. However, you seem very determined to do this effectively and efficiently so here goes ... shooting straight from the hip ... forgive me ...

The coffee mate has got to go. If you want to be slimmer and still drink light coffee start using low fat milk.

Less noodles, more beans.

Peel the breading off your proteins and throw it out or better still buy fish and chicken without breading. Natural is much better.

I got tuna for 50 cents a can yesterday. I mix it with ultra low fat miracle whip. Delicious and protein rich.

Do a little surf around the internet and look up "Volumetrics". I hear people on these boards talk about big food. I can have a chocolate (say one cubic inch) for about 80 calories or I can have cups of strawberries and a salad. Study for food that fills your eyes as well as your stomach with the least calories. Did that make sense?

And Tracy, dear, you do worry alot! Something else you should keep in mind is that weight loss, while scientific is not linear. There are natural ups and downs. Don't worry if one week is up some. When was your period? That can easily account for quite a few pounds.

Be blunt!! That is what is needed so I can make changes. And yes, I am very determined. :)

I was thinking the same thing with the coffee mate. I did cut it back... but it does not seem to be helping much. It is worse then I thought. I used to use 2% milk. I am beginning to think that, that would be better. I am thinking however of just having black coffee with 1 splenda instead. I have to taste that and see how it tastes. It has been a long time since I have done that.

I was afraid of the noodles last night! They have been in my cabinet for over 5 months. So I decided to use them. I had to get up and leave from the table because they were so good... but cost a lot in calories.

Not being rude... but I don't remember breading on anything recently? I know I used to eat a lot of fried chicken. But I have not had that recently. My chicken has been boneless, skinless, breasts cooked according to a recipe in the american heart associations cookbook.... cornflake crust. Is that what your talking about?

The tuna is funny because I made that this morning and had that for lunch! Lol. All I had was regular Miracle Whip though. The worst part of this though was the wheat bread.. it cost me more then the 2 oz. of tuna mix! I will have to find something else to eat this on I think.

I have seen stuff on this site about that book! 3FC recommends it I think. I will read what they said about it again. I kept thinking about that.

And yes, I think some of my problems is my worrying! I have to kick that out of my lifestyle and just keep moving! :)

Thanks for looking at my menu. I sure appreciate it. It helps when others can peek and see what your doing because they most of the time can find more problems they we can ourselves for some reason. :)

Sorry Tracy ... I was looking at this *Fish stick, patty, or fillet, NS as to type, breaded or battered, baked* I guess I misunderstood.
I love pasta too. A half cup is just a taste. I want the whole pan!
I use tuna like veggie dip or dump the whole thing on salad instead of dressing.
I know about worrying because I do it. ya know they say "I takes one to know one"?
What are your protein percentages like?

What became of Oprah? I can watch her at two.

Lol... I forgot I had a couple fish sticks!! The fillets were not breaded though.. those were fresh and sprayed with oil spray and baked. But I forgot about the fish sticks. :(

I hear ya with the pasta! That is the worst. I love it. I grew up on it. A plate full is the italian way!! Not anymore. :( I normally don't have anymore then 1 cup though now. But those noodles we had.. egg noodles.. they were 2 oz. servings. :(

I never thought of tuna being used that way! That is a thought. I might have to try that! I can't see it as being bad... everyone has lettuce and cheese on sandwiches with tuna.. it has to be yummy! :)

Lol... it takes one to know one lol. To funny... but so true at the same time lol.

Protein %'s: are between 16% (only once a bit ago) to 31%. Average I would guess at maybe 23%.

I missed the rest of the show. I exercised and ran down the street to a neighbors house because the school called and said her child was sick and her phone wasn't working so they called me to get the mom. By the time I got done with everything... Oprah was long over. :(

Hi Tracy

I took a quick look at your fitday too, hope you don't mind. I can't believe you walk so much - I'm jealous!

Anyway, the weight issue - it could be normal weight fluctuation - maybe you ate more salt or carbs the day before weigh-in? They tend to bind water and thus putting on an extra pound or two that will hide an actual loss. Lots of other things affect you weight I just don't remember right now:)

By the way did you notice any change like the way your clothes fit? Maybe it would be a good idea to measure your waist every week too? I know lots of people who some times don't see any change in pounds but discover that they're ½ inch smaller!

Remembering that you have a pretty high daily calorie expenditure I personally think that the 1500-1600 your doctor suggested is fine. Just keep up the exercise and you'll see the results and please don't worry so much!:)

Tracy-I think that right now the 1500-1600 is just fine. What you have to realize, is that one slip per week can stall your weight loss-like the pizza night this week.

The key is to try as hard as you can not to have that large slip every single week. We all slip now and then, buta slip once a month, or every 6 weeks is a lot better (an more conductive to weight loss) than every week.

I am NOT saying that you do this-I am just saying that you are only 3 weeks into the game, and you are really stressing yourself out. :lol: You don't need to worry so much about all of these little things like adding up the calories of every single week and averaging them out. As long as you are pretty close to 1500-1600 a day, and are actively exercising-it will happen. It is fine to have 1400 calories one day...and 1500-1600 the rest of the week. It is fine. Don't stress about the exact numbers though.

Rather, change the focus to making healthier food and drink choices, and kicking your exercise into high gear.

Aphil

Snow White,

Thanks for your message. I don't mind you looking. :) I like that people look because it helps to hold me accountable and it helps me see if I mess up some where.

My clothes fit the same... a little tight. I always forget to measure. But it doesn't help that I can't never seem to measure correctly either. My husband and I were just talking about this too. I might have him measure me. It would be intesting to see the changes there.

I didn't even think about what I ate the day before. I had egg noodles for the first time in a long time! Glad we don't have anymore of them!! They are to easy to eat just one more... and so on lol.

Thanks for your reply. :) Gives me some ideas.

I was thinking this too! I kept thinking back to my pizza night!! I was worried that might hurt me! My family has been wanting pizza! I keep saying NO! Lol. I think I am going to have to find something good for me so they can have there pizza. That shouldn't be to hard.

I have been eating Healthy Choice meals for lunch. How do you feel about these? I didn't have one today. I used to think they were very bad for you. But I have been buying them because they have had a great sale on them at the store for awhile now. But I am wondering what others felt about those?

You know me way to well already! And your right! I jump right into counting everything up this morning to find the error and make a change! I should have skipped the numbers and just looked at the food = PIZZA! That was probably my biggest issue for this weigh in! Well, my coffee ad-ins were not great either. But I did cut back on the coffee and splenda. And as of lunch today I have not been using the creamer! Hopefully I will be able to just have the creamer here for hubby and company and not use it for myself.

Your such a doll! Sometimes I wonder if you know me better then I do lol. :) Thanks Aphil! I sure appreciate your help again. If you ever get tired just tell me to shut up and chill or something lol.

There's really no need to mix tuna with anything if you're going to eat it on bread or crackers. I often have, as a snack or part of lunch, one of those little 3 oz cans of tuna with one or two WASA Light Rye Crispbreads (only 25 calories each!). Just scoop a little out with a fork (so the water drains off) and plop it on the bread or cracker.

I never was able to eat tuna without miracle whip. It is just really fishy or something to me. I am not sure what it is. I just have never been able to do it.

But... I got heartburn from it the other day really bad!! So I am not sure I will be able to have it that often anyway.

Hi Tracey, I just read you post because I count calories too. You ae doing great. I know we are always in a hurry to see results, but it took time to put on and it will take time to get off. So in the mean time, just think about how much healthier you are getting! If you continue to do what you're doing you will loose the weight.

Can I make one suggestion? Seems like, from reading your posts, you haven't cleaned your kitchen yet! I mean gotten rid of all the stuff that you shouldn't have and added the good stuff! Like low fat or fat free mayo/miracle whip. I know I had a hard time getting down to skim milk too, but now the regular tastes like cream! YUCK! and do you like flavored coffee? There is a bottle flavoring "divinvhi'" or something like that. They make different flavors, from chocolate to french vanilla to rasberry. I bought mine at TJ Maxx but i've seen it other places too. 0 calories.
The next time you go shopping look around the grocery store. Think health!

Thanks for the uplift! Sometimes that is just the kick needed to get your thoughts flowing 100% positive again. ;)

Lol, I had to laugh when I started reading this. :lol:

I hardly ever eat maricle whip or anything like that anymore. But tuna sounded good and that is what was left. It is all gone... there was 1 tbs. left of it and that was it.

Most of the un-healthy foods are gone already. No more chips... except for pretzels for the kids (bought in a regular chip bag and re-packaged in zip locks for individual serving sizes) snacks, and I do have the fat free pop corn here.

My hubby will never go less then 2% on the milk. We did that before and NO ONE not even the kids used it. It went to the trash. :( But we really don't use milk except for cereals anymore anyway though. The drink it sometimes but that is about it.

I am not personally a flavored coffee drinker. I just like plain old columbian. I have tried flavored coffees because my hubby likes them sometimes but I couldn't stand it! The smell of them make me blah lol.

Thanks for all of the info. though! I am sure I will be able to put it to use as I get more healthier and get healthier choices instilled into my families taste buds. :D

I walk for exercise and I lift hand weights. I'm a calorie counter too, with the emphasis on "healthy calories". Cleaning up my kitchen was a chour because i kept saying "it's for the kids". Well, it wasn't them that eat it, it was me. How we can kids ourselves. I finally got serious and realized that the "kids" didn't need it either. I was buying it for myself. I just like regular coffee most of the time too, but sometimes in the evening I will have a flavored one. Kind of like a dessert.

I've come to realize that it's going to take time to lose the weight, but I don't have to like it!

Keep up the good work, Freda

Freda,

I agree, completely! But, the pretzels are really for the kids lol. I can't chew them lol. But I do understand and agree with what you are saying.

Right! About the time it is going to take to lose the weight! It really seems like it takes a lot longer to lose it then it did to gain it!

Takes longer to lose than to gain!! You are soooo right. I can gain so easily, but it's a struggle every day to lose.

Pretzles are ok, actually anything is as long as you calculate it into your daily calories. But I try to eat heathier. I try to remind myself that I am putting fuel into my tank. Put crappy fuel in you get crappy preformance. A car will run so long on bad fuel, it will sputter around and stop. Same with our bodies.

You are setting a good example for your kids. We eat what we learn to eat at home. If you give them good choices they will learn to eat that way. Kids watch us. If we think it's a treat, that's what we teach them. Enjoying the good foods teaching them that they are good. If we offer then ice cream for a treat they start to realize that as a comfort food. A big, juicy peach is just as good. If we offer than as a treat they learn that is a comfort food.

My granddaughter is 2. I keep the bottom of the refrigerator stocked so she can get thigns for herself. Her treats are single containers of applesauce and yogurt.She gets to pick which ones she wants. They make applesauce in lots of different flavors now. Hopefully she won't grow up with the weight issues her grandma has.

slim me,

I love those individual packages of things for the kids!!! I would touch the different flavors of applesauce myself lol, but my kids sure do love them! You are right though... they learn to eat what they watch others eat! So hopefully I will lead a good example! Heck we had spinach last night and I ate it (for the first time!) without fuss thinking they would eat it.. they ate some... but not much... but I hope they will eat more (in salads) later again. :)

I eat frozen lunches every day at work...(not on weekends, tho) I like them because they are easy to toss in the lunch box every morning. I never have the urge to go out for lunch anymore. I buy whichever is on sale - my only rule is that they must be 300 calories or less (and taste good). I usually also bring a small salad, a diet soda and a piece of fruit...I'm lazy - too lazy to make a sandwich in the morning - and I like something hot for some reason. Why would you think they were bad for you? Just curious...

Those frozen entrées are full of sodium, this is why they are not really that good for you and should be only used in a pinch...IMHO

I am totally lost Gina lol. I must have been off of here for awhile because I am confused lol.

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Ilene, I noticed that too. I eat Healthy Choice for lunch often because I normally don't eat lunch and that is easy. I am going to look for other meals like that though to see what else is available like that. I do find them easier to eat then anything else sometimes though.

I eat a lot of the frozen dinner also. Lean cusisine, healthy choice, WW. I buy what's one sale. Those with a salad, fruit make a pretty good lunch. I usually take them to work. I don't always have time to go down to the cafateria and when I do sometimes their choices aren't great either. wouldn't you think a hospital would offer healthy choices? They do have excellent salads, though, and I do get those. But I do take my own salad dressings. Most people don't have a problem with na. And yes, most prepackaged food does have too much, but if your health is good otherwise it shouldn't be a problem. Even high blood pressure isn't a problem for MOST people. Some are na sensetive. And they are making some things a little better also. cambels soup offer a low na choice now. the only soda I know that doesn't have na is diet right. I like it better anyway. I love all the flavors, especially the tangerine and white grape.

It just took me a while to reply... :doh:

Hi guys! This is my first time on here and I've decided to count calories. I have tried everything from Atkins, South Beach, Mayo Clinic, Grapefruit, just to name a few for th epast four years. Now Im tired of the yo-yo dietng and ready for a lifestyle change. I'm supposed to get between 1200-1400 calories a day. But I was wondering. Should I keep count of my sugar intake as well?What exactly should be counted? Im a little confused. :)

the slim me...

What are you talking "na"? I am not awake yet and can't seem to figure that out lol.

Girl4Christ-

I am going to make this easy on you. :) Count the calories that you eat each day, and eat the 1200-1400 that you are supposed to each day. I wouldn't worry about counting your "sugar intake" as in counting sugar grams or anything-just make smarter choices, such as avoiding sweets and having fruit instead, eating baked or grilled chicken instead of fried, and those basic choices.
While you are just learning calorie counting-just count CALORIES. At first don't worry about counting how many protein grams vs. carbohydrates or anything else.

Girl4Christ,

Aphil came in here!! Now you have a great person with great knowledge here to help you! She is awesome! She has helped me more then I know! She is right too! If you do have a craving for something sweet... eat some strawberries!! I found them to be an awesome "sweet" treat and the calories were not bad for those.

And please do take her advice about ONLY counting calories!!! If you worry about counting everything else to you are just going to confuse yourself and make things harder. It took me a couple of weeks to finally hear/read that!! Aphil was great at opening my eyes to this as well.

Mmmmm..... fried chicken.... I am drueling lol. I used to eat this A LOT thinking its chicken.. it has to be good for me!!! Man, I am learning that if it tastes that good it ain't that good for me hahaha. It took me a while to slow down on this.. but now I am down and don't have it as much. I can't say that I don't have it at all because that just is not true. But I try not to have it to often.

If you look on my web site there are some recipes on there that might help you. I have included the nutritional information with each recipe.

A good book on calorie counting is: The American Heart Association No-Fad Diet. It is very good! I also bought the cookbook to go with it. I learned a bit from that book about calorie counting though too. There is a lot of information in there and recipes too.

Anyway, good luck!!! :)

HI, NA is sodium. Sorry for the confusion. I know I do tend to talk "nurse" talk sometimes, unaawarre.

Counting calories is just that, calories. Anything you eat has a calorie value. Chosing to use those calories for healthy food is another thing. Yes, you will lose weight eating anything as long as the calorie count is below what you need to maintain your weight, but you won't feel good or be healthy. There are plenty of think people out there that are not healthy.

the slim me,

Thanks! You can speak "nurse" lol. It is intersting! If we get confused we will ask lol. ;)

Tmunday
 

Good Morning Tmunday, I Just Ran Across Your Post This Morning And Was Quite Interested In Your Calorie Count. I Have A Problem Meeting My Daily Calorie Goal Since I'm Such A Big Vegetable Eater. I Would Be Very Interested In What You're Eating, Could You Copy/paste Your Daily Menu, How Much You Eat And What You Eat On This Site. We Could All Help You Stay Within Your Calorie Goal By Seeing What You Eat!
Bobbi

Thanks Bobbi. I stay between 1400 to 1600 calories a day pretty well now. I had learn that some of my food choices (fried chicken, pizza, etc) were not great choices!

If you would like to look at my food intake click the link below in my signiture titled "My Fitday Journal". In there you can see what I have eaten each day and also see my exercise too.

I am doing better now I think then I was when I first started this board. Like someone on these boards told me, I worry to much about everything. I need to stop that and just concentrate on healthier eating. I have realized that it takes time to see results. I have to just keep going.

You can look at my food journals and stuff though if you want. I do have some bad choices in there lol. But it is hard to cut everything out. But I am trying to keep everything in moderation.. which I think helps too.

I Didn't Know About The Fitday Site, Haven't Had The Time To Look Into Everything Yet. I Would Love To Use It Myself.
But I Am Dying To Critique Your Menus, I See Places Where You Can Cut Calories Even More, Using Lower Calories Replacements. Would You Be Offended If I Made Some Suggestions? Are You A Stay At Home Person? What Does Ns Mean? What Does Basal In Calorie Breakdown Mean? I Have More Questions, I'll Get Back To You.
Bobbi

Hi again. No, I don't mind at all. I am always open to suggestions and to learn more. ;)

Yes, I am a stay at home mom. NS in fitday I am not sure on... but I always thought it was for not sure. As for Basal... I have no idea. Some of the stuff in fitday is still quite confusing to me. I just started using it not to long ago so I still have a lot of learning to do. But I try to focus more on my calories then anything at the moment.

Feel free to ask away. If I can't answer something maybe someone else can on here. I am always open to learning new things. :)