Counter
 

I have lose alot of weight by just counting calories. I have just recently been eating foods very high in protein such as salmon.. I looove smoked salmon and would tell you all to go out and buy some. Chicken of the sea makes a $2.30 pack of smoked salmon in a foil pouch just like the tuna and its great and ready to eat anytime of the day. I eat it at work and the whole package is 120 calories and 21 grams of protein to help u feel full. Its a greta snack plus its loaded with omega 3. I have found that eating foods like tuna and salmon and eating lower call breads susch as Lite 35 100% wheat has trimmed my calrioes and my figure.....Carbs who cares its all about calories in vs calories out. I cant be 100% sure because i have been eating less carbs as i find they are empty calories. Id rather have a nice slice of pacific smoked salmon then 2 slices of white toast. If you eat toast go low cal kind. I have had great loss doing the calorie counting

had enough, just keep plugging away at it, your body may be just adjusting and if possible hold off on weighing for two weeks to a month if you can. Just keep doing what you are doing and it will come out, but don't let a emotional barrier get in your way by watching the scales too close.

I know we all get caught up in it, but try not to. It can be such a emotional roller coaster.

Cassie and Tank, I wish I could count everything else the way you guys too. Right now, I'm got all I can handle to track calories and watch the eating. The program I use does track everything else, and when I put in new food I try and put in all of the other componets. I try and eat reasonably and in moderation sticking to no fat to low fat and watch all of my portions.

Is there a place I can find all the numbers for daily things like how much protein, fat, etc that is reasonable.

Quiltmama? do you mean averages of protein, fats and carbs that work for people?

Yes, or maybe better said what the daily requirements are that a body needs to sustain itself.

oooo, you'll get several different answers to that. It kind depends on what you're shooting for. Healthy is probably 33%/33%/33%
Sites that advocate muscle building call for higher protein. Folks who seek to lower their fat intake go for less than 25% ....
You see? What did you have in mind?

I guess to just have a base of good nutrition and to try and keep it balanced while I was dieting. Of course, while dieting I'm leaning to low fat or as close as no as I can get. My software program tracks and I like that but I'm not sure what the good balances are.

I'm glad you're here this morning. I should be doing housework but talking to you is a lot more fun :)
What kind of percentages do you have already?

I think if you're just looking "in general" for that kind of information (and you can adjust for yourself accordingly), you might find it helpful to start with the USDA food pyramid info, which talks some about tailoring foods for each of us based on age, sex, and physical activity level: http://www.mypyramid.gov/.

It's not geared to weightloss and does not take current weight into account, but you get a sense of the kinds of foods and they give a calorie suggestion (for maintenance).

And here's a link to the USDA dietary guidelines for healthy eating for the general population: http://www.health.gov/dietaryguideli...mendations.htm

For instance, they recommend keeping fats between 20 and 35% of overall intake, and keeping saturated fats less than 10% of total intake.

These are good places to start getting some information. You may decide that your own goals require modification from these.

I count calories and watch carbs, protein, and fat all at the same time.
I try to keep my calories at 1380 - 1730 and my carbs at 155 - 281 my fat at 31 - 67 and my protein at 34 - 151. So I do count everything else besides calories and I have lost 30 pounds so fat and still working on losing more. But, I just watch what I eat and keep up with just sticking to smaller meals. Try my hardest to take in alot of water daily and I workout daily. Its just not by counting I have to workout also.

Out For The Count
 

I dont use fitday or any other tracker based programs. I just count them in my head. It used to be hard but know i can remember everything i had that day and count in my head. Its easy when you shop by calorie count you remember say what the cals are in that ff cour cream and so on...

Thanks wyllean, I'll check those sites out, I just wanted a base to help me know as I travel along that I'm at least getting close to good nutrition levels.

I am counting just calories only but watching the other things looking for a base starting point.

I track my foods and calories because I have a problem learning when to say no! I'll eat even when I'm not hungry and keep on until I'm stuffed. Tracking helps me learn and be aware of what I'm eating, how much, and learning to space out my calories and needs. Hopefully this is all helping to prepare me for one day maintaining my goal wieght for life.

I need to become better motivated to exercise. My mind is ready but my body is in revolt. I have at least started some free weights and do that every other day, I've set a goal to work towards this week to get on my treadmill.

I feel I have so far to go, not just in losing the weight, but in changing my attitude, which is the real problem here.

I try and keep my calories at 1400 but can go as high as 1680, some days I don't make 1200 and then the others days I'm working hard to keep it at the 1400. Yesterday was one of those days. It ended up just a bit over 1400. I still wanted to eat even though my body was full. One minute I'd think I'll get something else to eat, but I wouldn't get right up and go get it, then the next time I'd think about it, I'd say what for? Your full now, why eat more.

I know there is a trim and toned woman in here, I just got to get her to surface more.

Originally Posted by TANK:
I dont use fitday or any other tracker based programs. I just count them in my head. It used to be hard but know i can remember everything i had that day and count in my head. Its easy when you shop by calorie count you remember say what the cals are in that ff cour cream and so on...

I can't even keep a running total for items in my shopping cart! Hmmm.. or remember what is going on as far as my calendar goes. I think it is hereditary. Well, and I have food amnesia if it isn't tracked on the computer or pda. I do call my pda my "other" brain. I would be lost without it.

Kimberly

ohhh Kimberly, you hit the nail on the head. Me too! I didn't track my food before, then I wasn't losing weight and I was so sure I wasn't over eating. Then I started tracking and realized I was about 200 calories from what I should have been and then I clearly saw why tracking was important.

But that is me. I've also noticed now, if I'm carrying something in my head to put down in my food tracking program, it is a bother to try and remember it so at my first opportunity I put it in there just so I know I've gotten it off my mind.

Everybody drops weight in a different method. I'll stay within the same pound range for 3 weeks and then during the forth or fifth week I'll drop like 5 pounds. So I'll average about 5-6 pounds a month, but the scale will take a few weeks to some me. It's very frustrating to bounce back and forth everyday from 135-137 but I know that if I'm staying on track and exercise, eventually it's got to fall off.

It really comes down to calories in and out. I've never counted carbs or even fat. That said, I do try to pick foods that are less processed and rich in fiber and nutrients because they make me feel better and fuller. Which is not to say I eat totally "clean" I eat my fair share of sugary goodness too, just in moderation.

1-2 lbs a week is a good rate of loss for most people. It's hard to tell much from any particular 2 week period because of water weight fluctuations. You just have to keep plugging and see how it goes over the long term. Sometimes it's helpful to zig zag your calories a bit when you stall out. But since you're still losing a pound a week I wouldn't really call you stalled :)

As someone who lost weight slowly over the course of a few years, I can tell you that your body will go at it's own pace. I had lots of months where I stayed the same for 3 weeks and then dropped 4 lbs.

I know it's hard not to get impatient, but really, as long as you're moving in the right direction try not to worry too much about the pace.