Calorie Queens!
 

I am starting this thread for anyone using the Calorie Queens plan.

The Calorie Queens plan is based on the book, Calorie Queens: Living Thin In A Fat World, written by Jackie Scott and Diane Scott Kellum, a mother daughter team who lost 100 and 200 pounds respectively.

The Calorie Queens plan is based on eating your maintenance level of calories to both lose and maintain your desired weight.

You take your desired weight, multiply by 12 and the resulting number is your calories (example: for a desired weight of 135, you would eat 1620 calories per day). This may have to be adjusted according to your individual body.

Please share in this thread how you are doing with the plan!

I picked up this book at my local Borders. After, I read the general premise and saw the amazing success Jackie and Diane had I just knew it was the right plan for me.

I have been following the plan using the Calorie King website to track calories. My goal is 135 so my calorie allotment is 1620. I generally try to eat a little bit less than that and bank the extra for one night where I have a few glasses of wine and a richer dinner.

Over the years I have tried many weight loss methods, but they have all been either too loose (eat as much as you want so long as you don't eat this or that) or too restrictive (too few calories).

I love this plan! I am finding it easy to record online with Calorie King and because I eat plenty of calories I am not hungry.

I am waiting on my copy to arrive, I ordered it through Amazon

Great! Let me know what you think. I have tried so many different things and not been successful. I am losing slowly but surely. This is something I can do. Likely because I have enough calories to play with..whereas other plans were to low calorie for me. So far I have lost 5 pounds. That may not seem like alot..but I never lose weight with anything cus I cant stick to it!
I just have that feeling that this is really it for me. I have stopped reading other diet books and given away quite a few of my diet books.....it's such a great sense of freedom!

Thank you for starting this thread! I'm going to use KimmyKat's idea: count WW points instead of calories. (I really like the fact that I won't have to measure Crystal Light, coffee, tea, etc.) I always suspected that WW point levels eventually got too low. Will enjoy seeing how everyone is doing. Thanks again!

I tried WW and failed miserably at it. I think if you like the points system its fine..and you can easily convert to that if its easier for you. For myself I learn more with calories. It's more real to me when I use calories..ie I recognize for example that 7oz of a Tostito chips is almost 1,000 calories! So I am more likely to choose popcorn where I can have a lot more.
So I think its all what you feel comfortable with.
Definitely one of the reasons I failed on WW was because there was hardly any play in the points. At X amount of points it worked out to 1200 cals for me..that meant hardly any goodies! Not doable for a chocoholic who enjoys wine on weekends.
But if I had upped the points it may have worked.
Regardless I like the Calorie King for counting and Love the Calorie Queens method. I am so happy with this. Its like being at peace with the diet wars!

Hi. Hope everyone had a nice Christmas.

Slimcharm - Thanks for telling us about this book. I really like it, too. Now that Christmas is over, I am really going to try to follow this approach. It makes a lot of sense to me.

I was down to my lowest weight in quite sometime Christmas Eve. Then on Christmas day I allowed myself a free day..and gained a little - hope its temporary..but for my weigh in today I was still down a pound. Which is amazing for me over the holdays.

BTW where did you come up with name wormtown?

Sounds like you did really well - that's great. I struggled, but today is much better.

Wormtown is a nickname for the city where I live - Worcester, MA. I think it came from some of the local music scene. Some of the locals think it is kind of insulting, but I think it's kind of :cool: .

What do you all think? Opinions... .Nothing has worked for me for weight loss except Calorie Queens.
I have a bunch of books like Body for Life (original) BFL for women, etc etc.

I keep thinking I will lose my weight and then or at some point use these programs to get pretty buff...(at one point I did workout for 2 years no misses..never got buff though cus I didnt eat right)

I was thinking about what the Calorie Queen ladies say..they say if you cant keep up or wont keep up with whatever it is..you wont do it.
I got to thinking I was not planning to do the BFL eating just exercise..but thats in doubt.

Do you think I should just once and for all give up the dream of that totally toned bod..and do Calorie Queens and walk and some exercise and enjoy a fit though not buff bod and get rid of all my diet/exercise books except that one?

well my book showed up yesterday, so I am going to start reading it today

Its pretty basic. You figure out the calories for your desired weight..multipy by 12 if you are inactive and stick to it. No secret.
But it was kinda like a light bulb for me. I mean bottomline if I cant stick to that calorie amount I am not going to suceed no matter what plan.
I do think the CQ ladies should have discussed a few other things more like how protein helps keep you on track..and some work on emotional eating. But they didnt and I knew all that anyway and so the book has been fantastic for me!

BTW cute cows!

HI Slimcharm. Good question about the exercise.

I had been walking this past summer and fall, and doing pretty well. I love to walk. I was thinking this is it. But once winter came, I just didn't get out, and I haven't been active.

I'm planning on getting back to the gym next week. I don't really like it; especially getting up and going out first thing in the am. I would much rather have a little time to get my thoughts together and have a good breakfast before work. BUT, if I don't do it first thing, the chances of me getting out later in the day are pretty slim.

I gave up on buff a long time ago :D . But, I'm at an age where I am getting worried about health issues. Like, I squat down, and it's hard to get back up without grabbing onto something :( . I don't want to get knee problems, and other health issues related to aging, that are made worse by extra pounds and inactivity.

Calorie Queens don't really talk much about exercise in the book. But, it is mentioned at times, in a way that sounds as though they spend a lot of time at the gym.

Eating well and getting enough exercise takes a lot of time and dedication. That might be my only gripe with the book....I think she makes it sound a little too easy.

"Like, I squat down, and it's hard to get back up without grabbing onto something ".....Ahh..I am sorry to hear that but starting to know what you mean!

Yes she does make it sound easy. She assumes that we are going to follow the plan for x amount of protein and x amount of carbs etc that she lists and does not take into consideration that many of us will just count and thats that.
She definitely should have mentioned in the book that protein helps one stay in control and focused more on exercise.

I guess I will never be buff either and thats ok..maybe I should just get rid of the books cus I feel they are bogging me down ..keep the CQ one and maybe a couple others and just walk and do a little weight lifting a few times a week.

hmmm...

I was able to find this book at the local Barnes & Noble. I had planned to order it at Amazon, but once shipping was figured in, it cost just a tish less to buy it locally. Anyhow, I was just obsessed with finding this dang book! (Do you ever get that way with stuff?) I bought it last Thursday before our Christmas trip to Iowa. I needed a book to read anyhow, so why not this book?!

I am in the nutrition chapter right now. I get very sleepy when I read, so I haven't read too much. BUT, what I've read so far is great! What I like about the book is that it isn't into all of that scientific mumbo-jumbo. On our 8+ hour drive home on Wednesday, my hubby and I were talking about the fact that we both need to "get with it" on losing weight. That was a perfect lead in to telling him about this book. He said he'd like to be 160-165. I looked up this weight on the table and it said he can eat something like 2300 calories. (Okay, I think it's a little more or a little less, I don't have the chart handy.) He thinks that is WAY too many calories. He has gained about 70 pounds since we started dating/got married. He used to be quite heavy (before I knew him) and he'd lost a LOT of weight by barely eating. He estimated that he ate about 800 calories a day! BUT.. he also used to be a little more active because he'd been a mechanic for big tractor things. Now he's in the corporate office at a desk job. Instead of climbing all over machines, he's sitting at a desk. I mentioned that once he gets the TV in the basement hooked up to DirecTv, we could spend 30 minutes a night exercising on the recumbent bike and treadmill. (At least in the winter or inclement weather.) We have a nice neighborhood and two dogs who LOVE to go for walks.

Anyhow, I'm glad that we had that long trip and the same ideas as far as needing to lose weight. We're hoping to start working on starting a family in April so I also mentioned that we need to lose weight if plan on being able to chase after our kids. :) (My rheumatologist just took me off all meds, including methotrexate - so we have to wait three months for that to get out of my system. Two+ years of being in remission from rheumatoid arthritis!!)

Whew! So where was I? LOL

Even though this book really does cover what a lot of other books do, I like the style of this book. Don't spout the mumbo jumbo, just give it to me in layman's terms.

Kimberly

I compared the calories it gave (which are for an inactive woman) to the calories that Body For Life for Women would give the same inactive woman and it came out the same except she had you doing a bunch more multiplication!

I do love the book and it is working for me. One thing as I said earlier is I wish she had mentioned the need for protein..that really helps me stay in control.
But I can appreciate the simple way its laid out.

I have lost weight over the holidays thanks to the book!

BTW your hubby may be surprised if he ever actually counted to see the calories he is eating and what he can eat.

I was stunned yesterday to add up the calories in a "healthy" cookie I made ..first off I used the splenda baking mix..(didnt realize that the mix has the same amount of cals as sugar!) then it has Peanut butter and oatmeal etc.
I got the recipe out of a fitness magazine. Well the cookies were not very tasty but I figured I was saving my waistline and getting a hit of chocolate.

The due to the QUEENS I added the calories. Each cookie was 164 calories and they are TINY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was in shock!

Slimcharm: yes, yes, yes! I've gotten so caught up in "diet plan du jour" that I really lost sight of calories. I mean I went thru several different "purist" stages (low fat, low carb, etc.) but it never reduced my total input. So I just kept gaining weight. Those approaches may work for some people, but didn't for me.

I've been doing good the past couple days. Need to get thru New Year's - but I don't think it will be too difficult.

You should have seen me Somersizing. I gained about 14 pounds eating fat...one reason was because I ate the carbs too..but fat was my friend. LOL!

Happy New Year Everyone!! :D

Well I was in Florida yesterday doing a bit of shopping and when I went into a bookstore I found the "Calorie Queens" too...so yep, I just had to buy after flipping through some of the pages. I've gotten to the "Evil Empire of Exercise" portin of the book. So far what I have read sounds really good to me and it does give me a sort of motivation. In flipping through some of the recipes in the back....it sounds like something I could follow. Have any of ya'll tried the recipes yet???

My husband was just a dear and hooked up the TV down in the basement so I can watch satellite television while exercising! Our basement is full of our combined household spillover stuff -- but there IS a section that is cleared away and I've got my treadmill and bike set up. (And stereo.) YAY!!

Kimberly

I have been reading it, but it is slow going for me as far as getting into it. I hope to read some more tonight. I had bought 2 books at the same time and started this one, then picked the other up...well the other isnt what I thought it was going to be so I wont be finishing it.

I made my New Years Resolution for this year and instead of the same old same old lose weight. I selected DECLUTTER! Bottomline if I follow the calorie queens program I will lose weight and if I dont I wont..
And in past years I always pick lose weight and never do..so new goal, new year and I know that weight loss will happen if I stick to my calories. So far I have NOT gained any weight over the holidays..havent lost either..but ...not gaining is good enough at this time of the year.

Good for you on the exercise Kimberly..I have a bike set up in front of the TV and it helps alot. I have been trying to do more interesting stuff like dancing etc ...and just moving more.

Outwithold..I have not tried any of the recipes. I have the Eating for Life Cookbook by Bill Phillips and just LOVE it..I use it all the time.

I took back two diet books to the bookstore and got some other stuff.

I am down now to about oh say 12 diet books. LOL..they are The Thin Commandments (which I like) Volumetrics..(excellent excellent..but I know it so perhaps should get rid of it) The Popcorn Diet..(ok I like popcorn) Pritikin Principle..(just have it cus it goes with Volumetrics) The Insulin Resistance Diet...Body for Life, Body for Life for Women, Fight Fat after 40, and a few others ...

I got rid of French Women dont get fat, and the new york plan for the body.

I will slowly get rid of them all I think..cept maybe Gullo.

Am reading 30 days to a simpler life..Today I was supposed to fill up a bag with stuff and get it out of the house. I didnt do that but I did clean my candy drawer does that count?

BTW GonnaLoseit...if you dont want to read..figure out your desired weight. Multiply by 12 and eat that many calories. Thats all you have to do. And of course try to move a bit. Make sure that you eat enough protein or you may not do as well.
I find the more carbs I eat the more I want!
I have been buying the prepackaged 100-150 cal snacks..but occasionally eat too many and I know I need to up protein.

I like to read, I am halfway through the book now. I am not really following their plan, but I am implementing some ideas they have. But thanks for the tip.

Can anybody tell me what you would multiply your goal weight by if you're moderately active, very active, etc? Would it be 13 for moderately active?

Also, does this book mention fat or fiber at all? Any limit on fat or recommended amount of fiber, or do you just ignore all that and focus simply on calories?

THANKS!!! :)

Hi TatianaHdz.

She considers 12 X desired weight for women; 14 X desired weight for men and estimate; a place start. 13 sounds reasonable if you are active. There are probably lots of places (including 3FC :D ) with information to help you figure out more exact info for your level of activity.

There isn't much guidance on fat or fiber. There is some info, mostly on food groups (e.g 3-5 servings of grains, 2-3 dairy, etc.) that we all know.

If you google Calorie Queens - she has a web site which provides a fair amount of info if you don't want to buy the book or can't find it at your local library

I just finished the book night before last, it was pretty good, a lot of it makes sense. I dont know if I totally agree with some of their logic, but overall I am glad I bought the book!

Tatiana and Gonnalooseit: Wow! You both have done great.

Maybe you guys should think about writing a diet book :D .

Thanks wormtown. I would love to write a book, but I am not the book writting type. I do share what I learned by being fat and loosing weight with others who show interest. I was 250lbs 13 years ago, I lost a bunch of weight and got to 135, then my thyroid slowly went out and I regained most of it up to 215lbs, that is where I was when I started this time, I got my thyroid under control and started paying close attention to portions and types of foods I eat. Since there is no magic formula to lose weight except eat less move more, that is all you can do.

Slimcharm....does the "Eating for Life" book have low cal recipes in it? and yep...I am the same way....it seems like the more carbs I eat the MORE I want to eat......grrrr

Kimberly, that was sweet of your husband..... If me & my husband could ever get out there in the garage and pick our stuff up and arrange things we could use the boflex that is sitting there collectint dust! lol. It is amazing how much STUFF you store! whewww.... One of my favorite things to do is to dance with my kids....I love music and we just turn up the stero and dance around alot lol That future woman of my sons better watch out he is getting good (and he is only 12) lol

Thanks for the info, wormtown! And thanks for the kind words. I did great for awhile. Was steadily losing and very active everyday. Then, in November, I found out I was pregnant after 7 years of trying (weight loss works wonders), so of course I stopped trying to lose and I was also put on bedrest due to some spotting, so I also stopped exercising. Now, I found out last week that the baby's heart stopped. :( So, I'm going to get back on plan so I can try again. But it's been slow going and hard to get up the motivation. I think this Calorie Queens book could be just what I need to get started again. I plan on buying it this weekend. I hope this thread stays open and other people join! :)

Calorie Queens Math
 

Just my opinion, but I think this is where their approach gets a little fuzzy because they don't talk about exercise and how it figures in as much as I had hoped to read. I think you just have to try a level and see how it works for you. So...here goes my attempt at logic:

Your current weight x 12 = Number1 (calories theoretically to maintain your current weight)
Your goal weight x 12 = Number2 (cals eating & needed for goal weight)
(Number1-Number2)*7 = Number3 (your weekly caloric deficit)
Number3/3500 = Number4 (expected pounds you should lose per week)

I figure if you track a couple weeks (allowing for things like monthly cycles screwing up your system! ) and average, you should be able to tell how your metabolism stacks up with the expectations. Remember, you need to recalculate the Number1 and pull it through the figures each week.

If your actual weight loss is consistently LESS than Number4, then your activity level and metabolism run somewhere under 12/cals per pound. So...maybe start adjusting downward (say 11 cals/pound and then adjust back up or down more depending).

If your actual weight loss is consistently HIGHER than Number 4, then between your metabolism and activity level you're burning more than 12 cals/pound. You could either take the accelerated weight loss, or eat a bit more and continue to monitor.

Does this make sense to anyone else?

The Eating for Life is not focused on low calorie, it is focused on eating a healthy balance of proteins and carbs. The recipes are DELICIOUS! One caveat is they dont give the calories. I had to go to the Eating for Life website and download the calorie information. The recipes in the book are designed to be BETWEEN a man and a woman for portion size and they dont tell you that.
Otherwise its fabulous!

LOOKING FOR CALORIE QUEEN ONE ON ONE BUDDY! I am interested in a one on one to email several times a week at my regular addy Calorie Queen buddy.
I have about 40 pounds to lose and am 49.
If anyone is interested please PM me.

This thread sparked my interest so I ordered the book from amazon. It arrived today and I really like what "mom" has to say thus far. I was really pleased to see the recipes included and they don't seem so over the top like some lowcal/lowfat recipes I've encountered (with ingredients I would have to travel 40 miles to find). The only thing that I can't settle myself with is what's my "normal" weight. That's nothing new really. I don't agree with my normal weight range on any of those calculators/equations. What I think would be a good weight is classified as overweight. :p Oh well, I'll just keep an open mind to it.:)

TatianaHdz: I am so sorry for your loss!! I can't imagine the stress and sorrow you must be going through, especially after trying for seven years! Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Kimberly

A few questions
 

I was browsing through the sites, trying to find a magic solution for the weight loss and this peaked my interest. I tried to search it at my local library but no such luck, I calculated my desired weight of 185 X12 and came up with 2200!! This seems like a lot of calories for someone who only now weights about 217. Does this seem right? Also, I try to alternate days of weight training and cardio so would this have to be adjusted?
Any suggestions would be helpful to get me going on this.

Hi everyone!

Tatiana: I'm so sorry. I hope things work out. Sometimes life is so hard....

Slimcharm: I *thought* I sent you a pm about being a buddy...but I'm not very good with a lot of this computer stuff. I am interested...so check and see if there is something from me; and if not, I'll try again :dizzy:

Cutieshirl: Yes, the calories allowed/recommended by this plan probably seem like a lot. That's kind of the point. You are eating more; BUT it's trying to find a place where you are comfortable AND can live with it for the rest of your life. You will lose more slowly; but from day 1 you are trying to find a comfortable and realistic way of eating. I must admit, altho it 2000/day (I have a high goal weight), it's still difficult. And I'm having a hard time writing everything down every day. I hate to do that but I know I need to.

I'm back to the gym tomorrow!