So is anyone else getting compulsive about counting calories?? I'm sitting here and figuring out all my fav recipes - how many cal, how to modify...

I wouldn't call it compulsive.. More like being aware! :) I just did this with a recipe that my mom used to make. I use Mastercook software so I just entered the recipe into the program. I did have add in a couple of specific ingredients. How's this for going to the extreme... I just got done putting this casserole together. I first weighed the baking dish and then I weighed each ingredient as I put it in to get a total weight. Then I divided the total weight (in grams) by eight because this casserole serves eight. Why? Well I like to weigh my food instead of measuring because it is more accurate.

Anyhow.. ALL of the recipes that I use have been entered in Mastercook. I like having everything in one spot (the software program). I do this even if the recipe is in a cookbook. Why? Organization purposes. That and I have a BAD memory and can't remember what cookbook the recipe is found in.

Kimberly

Wow!! That sounds like cool software! Gotta look into thay. I weigh everything also. Do you do lots of modifications? Like to reduce fat? Do you bake? I love to bake--but of course haven't done so since the 5th! Too scared!

The latest version of Mastercook is version 9. Amazon.com has it for $18.99. :) I don't really modify the recipes too much. I only use the extra lean 96% ground beef - only 4.5 grams of fat per 4 oz. I also have just about all of Joanna Lund's cookbooks (www.healthyexchanges.com). All of her recipes are low-fat and use ingredients that anyone can find in their local store. I LOVE to bake, but neither of us can have it in the house. However when the baking bug really gets to me, I'll bake a pan of brownies and send them all with my husband when he goes to work.

Good idea! My DH could care less about chocolate or sweets in general, so it'd be no problem for him to be the delivery boy!! Thanks for the tip on the software.

Good Morning! Yes, Nori ... I'm obsessive about counting calories. But ya know what? This is our health we're talkin' here .... I can't think of anything else that it might be worth being a bit obsessive about.

I had a 908 cal deficit yesterday. Probably the first awesome day I've had in a few. Feels much better to have that under my belt.

Well, I've been aiming for 40/30/30 days and today is the closets I've made it!! It is 46/27/27 and so far (meaning I probably will have a small balanced snack this evening) I'm at 1238 calories. I did not get in my full amount of veggies though.

I've figured that to meet my weight loss goal I have to have at least a deficit of 750 calories for right now. I'm usually around 1,000.

Today I'm at a 1,457 deficit.

I had a deficit today of 935...I bought some new dvd workouts today and a ddr...I will be trying them all soon

I forgot about this yesterday. So, my deficit two days ago was 537 and my deficit yesterday was 617.

I was sitting drinking my coffee this morning (after having stepped on the scale, of course) thinking about having been somewhere between 130 and 133 for what feels like a very long time. My husband is home this morning and we got to talking, so I was showing him some of the reports I can get with fitday. Including averages over the last month.
I thought I was in a rut but fitday tells me I've lost an average of 2.12 lbs a week. My nutrients are good. My percentages are OK. I'm averaging a calorie deficit .....
The moral to my story is that when in doubt, reassess. What seems to be might not necessarily be. I found it pretty encouraging.

Good Morning.

I've had a very busy couple of days so haven't been able to post much!

Yesterday my deficit was 544.

I saw my trainer at the gym yesterday and we've made a new plan for me.

Circuit training. 3 times a week. Cardio on the 4th day. I can feel my body hurting already :D.

I'm currently eating around 1300 cals a day, I weigh 188 and am looking to lose around 40lbs this year. Should I think about upping my calorie intake seeing as I'm going to be spending more? My fitday is below for inspection if need be!

LynneA ... I'll have a look at your fitday in just a sec here. I forget if I've ever read how tall you are? I'll go see.

As for me ... I had a 1000 cal deficit yesterday but I'm tired to day so that may be too much. I'll have to dicker a bit.

Nice work gals!

LynneA ... so far my favourite day in your fitday is Jan. 21. Veggies, protein ...

As for raising your calories ... listen to your body for clues. Are you hungry, weak, fatigued?

Well, I kind of had a bad today. My daughter had a little friend round for tea and she asked if we could do some baking.

Well, I had good intentions. I found a recipe for chocolate chip cookies with sweetener, not sugar and I said I would only have one, which was only 92 calories.

But . . . they were SO nice that the one stretched into three.

BUT - I only had a yoghurt for my lunch so altogether I have still only had 1271 calories today - which is pretty good.

And all the cookies are gone now. Which is good. i sent some home with Lauren (the little friend).

The kids had a fabulous time, which is the main thing.

You know I've noticed a funny thing - I did my workout yesterday and this morning I had not lost anything. I don't know why, but whenever I do my workout I don't lose anything the next morning. I thought it was just coincidence but it's happened every time.

I'm putting it down to the whole losing fat/gaining muscle thing.

But on the plus side, overall I am losing a helluva lot more than when I tried to lose weight last time without the exercise. So it must be working.

My deficit yesterday was 1632.

Are your muscles sore? I notice that when I work-out real hard, or add something difficult or up the intensity and get sore muscles that often I gain? I've read that sore muscles do retain water? I try to drink TONS of water, but it doesn't seem to matter. I added weigh training this week and am very sore. Don't know why I gave into the urge to weigh myself when I know my history with soreness. I had gained 1.5 pounds. Oh well, I KNOW I didn't gain any FAT. So I have to put the scale out of my head and just go on doing what I know is right to do.