Calorie Counters KISS
 

KISS ... keep it simple, right?
It's calories in vs calories out, right?
For one week I'm going to make sure my calories eaten are less than my calories burned. I use fitday but any old counter would work if you'd like to join me.
Maybe next week I'll try for a certain number of deficit calories but just for this week ..... eat less and move more.

Is anyone with me? We can report back each day and see how we did. Cheer each other on.

Susan,
I'm with you! I have already sighned up with fitday but it has been sooo long ago and I have to find my log-in info to get started again. So for now I will just post what I am eating and my workouts. Everything will get back to normal on Tuesday....My DD will be back at school and I will be back to work, so thats when I will start for real. To get myself in the mood I will post what I eat today and tomorrow anyway. May not be calorie friendly though.
TJ

I can do this also, I use a different diet program to track cals, but it shows me the deficit also...sooo wooohooo, im in.

Joined the Fitday......how in the heck did you get your page up there..to say my fit day?..I've looked and Can't figure it out.......

I think it's good if people can see it........then if I don't lose then maybe someone can point out what I'm eating that's wrong...........

You figured it out Sassycat! Usually the directions for that sort of thing are in the top section of the main board, somewhere like ' frequently asked questions'

Well, we've got a nice little group gathered here! Very good.

How's everyone?

I'm pretty happy with yesterday. I had a deficit of over 400 cals. Now mind all I did all day was sit here, watch TV and knit. Now all I have to do is keep going. I'm always plowing ahead trying to lose weight but this time I need to learn how to keep it off. In that vein, I'm really trying to find my basal need for a day. That means being even more anal about numbers than I usually am. But if it means that I can stay a decent weight for more than a couple of months it'll be worth it.

I am doing great, I had a 474 cal deficit yesterday

I had a 1300+ deficit.........is that bad?? is that too much?? i'm still checking out the forums.......i know that you should only look at losing between a pound and 2 pounds per week............i know that a certain caloric deficit makes one pound.............geesh...........it's been a while.....still checking out 'stuff'................

Sassycat? can I have a look at your fitday? Will you mind if I make some suggestions?

Susan any suggestions will be welcomed........I noticed that i made a mistake and corrected it for yesterday.........and a friend told me that I had my Lifestyle calories too high........still learning............any help will be appreciated...........i put up my 'log' so people would help.........thanks

I agree with the friend. I set mine at sedentary and put in anything I do 'on purpose' that is otherwise. It may give you a number that seems too low but you'll lose weight. And you're right about learn as you go. If day after day after day, your calories burned is 2500, you'll know you can just set it there and forget it. Ya know?

I love trail mix too! tsk tsk.
Fruit?
What are your percentages like? protein/carb/fat?

Your calories look pretty good - keep up the good work!!

I try to aim for my calories to break out to 40% carbs, 30% each of fat and protein. This is especially important when you are exercising...I wasn't getting enough protein before, I was tired and hungry but I didn't know why...

I love fitday for the pie charts and reports and so on. The one part I don't trust is the Basal calories burned part....IMO it's way off. According to Fitday I could eat like 3000 calories a day and maintain... I generally ignore that part when it comes to calories burned as far as if I have created a deficit for the day. I just count calories eaten minus activities...everyone is different but it works for me.
Another suggestion for Fitday - it's more work up front, but I find it helpful and more accurate to enter custom foods of stuff I eat frequently.

:welcome: !!!!

Heya Ladies ... Have room for another counter?? :D

When I first started I was simply writing everything down ... which seemed to be working pretty good - but when I found 3FC I also learned about Fitday so I decided to open an account. I started out pretty strong and I was really into researching my foods and logging my info - but then something happened ... can't really say for sure 'what' but I just stopped keeping track. Maybe b/c I'd platued?? *shrugs* I don't know ... the one thing I do know is that, that was THEN and this is NOW and I'm ready to go again!
I still have LOTS to learn about the ins and outs of counting cals ... But as I said I'm so ready - I've tried many plans before but counting cals (and MOVING MORE) has been the only thing that has worked for me.

Well, that's all I have for now ... be back later to check in - Can't wait to get to know each of you!

Hi Stacye and welcome. There's always room for one more .... some more ... bring friends.

Gina, I'm going to agree with you again. Custom foods can be a pia but they always there when you need 'em. And not too difficult because you just copy the info off the label. I do find that it's much easier to use plain foods. A hunk of chicken, an apple, one grapefruit. Much easier than trying to find a pretty close recipe.

We must be doing something right, girlfriend!! :D

this is my percentages today.......so i'll go and change to the least for lifestlye.........i really don't want to think that at the end of the week i 'should have' lost 3 lbs and i lost none:)

oh and i've already found that i've had to customize a few things..........who eats a cup of mashed potatoes?? geesh a 1/2 cup is too much :D

Average Calories
source grams cals %total
Total: 1376
Fat: 35 317 24%
Sat: 9 80 6%
Poly: 13 115 9%
Mono: 9 85 6%
Carbs: 176 627 47%
Fiber: 19 0 0%
Protein: 95 381 29%
Alcohol: 0 0 0

29/47/24 is not bad, not bad at all! Good for you!

See... THIS is what I mean when I said I have LOTS to learn!

I understand these #'s are protein, carb & fat ... but how do I know what's a good range to stay in? :?: Is there like a handbook you're handing out?? LoL

No handbook but I love to give advice, even if nobody is asking. Ask anyone. I talk toooooo much.

But seriously Stacye ... ask anything. Generally if we don't know, someone else does. I just love this place. It's such a blessing.

And the percentages ... opinions vary ... greatly ... I try for 40-40-20 but seldom hit it. Ask ten different people and you'll probably get ten different answers. You'll soon find what percentages work for you ... keep you full feeling, energetic, remove fat, build muscle .... you will.

Joined Fitday
 

Hi, I am Debra and I just posted my intro in the introduction area. I just joined Fitday, January 1. I would like to lose 50 pounds. I am staying in the 1500 to 1700 calorie range. I would like some accountability, so I think I will make my food diary public.

Hi Debra! Welcome! I have to go watch Medium but I'll be back. Glad to have you with us!

Hiya Debra - Welcome to 3FC & and altho I'm new to the group too - Welcome!

Susan :: Thanks for the advice - I'll definitely play around with Fitday a little more! *btw* I talk alot too! *wink*

*waves* to the rest of the gang - Hope you're all having a wonderful Monday night!

SUSANB,

Hi there! Long time no see! Where have you been? I have been emailing and everything... haven't heard from you since I stopped doing calorie counting. Hope your doing ok.

Hi Tracy! I'm fine. I just took one of those absences because life is busy and I wasn't doing anything healthy :) It's good to see you too.

Stacye ... if we have some folks who all talk alot, we'll have a nice active thread! And that's a good thing if you're looking for support instead of candy :)

I did not come back last night, I went to bed! I kinda forgot I had to get up this morning for work, sorry. But I will see you all a little later today.

I had a deficit of over 400 cals again yesterday. I'm pretty happy with that.

I had a 700+ deficit yesterday........still figuring it out :D

Does anyone remember how many calories it takes to lose a pound? Is it
1000,1500, or 3000.........I have a feeling it is 3K but am hoping for 1K ;)

It takes a 3500 calorie deficit to loose 1lb.

I had a 250 calorie deficit yesterday

:fr: YIKES!!! worse than I thought

Relax Christine, It's not as bad as it sounds. There's a couple of ways you can do this. Let's start simple by saying that you want to lose one pound a week. That's 3500 cals ... seems like a lot but it's only 500 a day.
You can either .... eat 500 cals less ..... or move 500 cals more:eek: .... or you can eat some less and move some more until you have a 500 cal deficit.

Good Morning everyone! I have a very small deficit for yesterday, about 50 calories. Which tells me I still don't have my basal figured out yet. I woke this morning because my stomach was grumbling. So I obviously haven't got it right yet.

Hi everyone... I would like to join your group..I'm 36 with 50lbs to lose...
I also use fitday and still trying to learn how it works too..But how are you getting your deficit from? Is it calories in vs calories burned? I'm lost..

Yes! dgpebbles, it's calories in vs calories out. when your calories burned are more than your calories eaten, you have created a deficit. Kinda like having your bank account in the red. In simple terms, these are the calories your body will take creating a weight loss.

I don't know what I'm doing........I know what I'm eating and still i have a huge deficit.........I've checked the scales............which i said I WOULD NOT do except once a week............i know the first week you're cleaning out the ol' system and may lose alot more than usual but right now...........my scales are saying i've Lost 3 lbs.............i think i may need to pick up more calories?? or just wait and see what next week does?? i'm not feeling deprived YET! hum............well...............NO wine makes me feel deprived :)

Hi sassy. I got an email notice about this thread, you sound a bit upset. But I was talking to my daughter on the phone. But I'm here now so let's see ...

It seems to me from my own experience and from listening to others that when we start a new way of life (diet and exercise & really do it) there is an initial plunge in weight. I think it's because we are fluffy. You know? sedentary and full of terrible foods? salt retaining water?

Don't be alarmed. You are not going to continue at that break neck speed. There is no chance that you'll disappear into dust any time soon :)
What will happen is that you will level out soon. Weight loss is not as nice and gradual as we hope. You'll have drops like that and you'll have some plateaus along the way. That's all perfectly normal.

Your calories look fine to me. You're being active. If you're not extra tired and your stomach is not grumbling, don't worry about it.

Stay tuned and we'll see what's happening next week, OK?

I had a good day yesterday. Again I had about 400 calorie deficit. I did resistance, cardio and my food was fairly good.
I hadn't changed my tracker yet because I'm skeptical of losses :) But it's been down for three days now, so I'll take that.

I only had a 100 cal deficit yesterday

I don't think my calories burned is right...It shows I burn 2956 daily with out any exercise added..I have my lifestyle level set at standing work(housework) because for my job I stand up and walk around nonstop all day...That would make my deficit at 1500 daily but my weight is not moving..What am i doing wrong?

http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJ...wner=dgpebbles

I simply do not like th activity calculator at fitday. Try setting your lifestyle to sedentary bedridden and see what happens.

That changed it to 1917 for the day...1598 basal and 320 lifestyle....Doesn't it still seem high...

Nope, sounds good. Are you short like me?

yes I'm short :( 5'2" and age 36
I also think I have not been eating enough calories..I've been averaging 1100...Some days I'm alittle higher and some days I'm lower...What do you think would be a good number to try for everyday...I know everyone is different but I really have no idea what I should be around..

Donna

Totally went off the deep end yesterday........geesh..........hardly any movement and eat, eat, eat...............geeshhh.........

Today is a new day!!