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.
I've also found that I need to weigh or measure pretty much everything (down to the craisins and soy nuts added to my salads). I don't make very accurate "guesses" when it comes to serving sizes. Heck, I don't even know what a "split chicken breast" is. My mother-in-law asked me if the chicken breasts added to my recipe for white chicken chili were split or whole. What?! What does that mean?? LOL I told her I just added four chicken breasts from one of those bags of flash frozen breasts. Split? Whole? I don't know... I do know they were boneless! Well, back to the weighing and measuring............. it also makes the calorie count more accurate. Time-consuming yes. Worth it? Yes!!
LOL, that is me too. I read all the labels and do a double check with the tracking program. Then just keep going. I don't find it hard to count calories at all. I will after a few weeks have to do better with my shopping, planning, and cooking to keep from getting bored. But that is with normal not on a diet times too.
I use CalorieKing.com and track my calories. I imagine once I get a bit lower I will have to pay more attention to carbs, fat, etc. I try not to eat a lot of processed things to cut sodium as well.
I count calories and carbs. I try not to go over 2,000. I've been over it at some points. Like most people I don't weigh myself everyday or every week. I weigh myself at the end of each month. That way I don't get all mad at myself or get stressed out. In 1 month at the end of January I lost 7 lbs. Then at the end of February I only gained 1 lb back. I've been doin good. I just decided to have one goody out of each month that way I'm not dieing to have a sweet.
Right now, I'm pretty much just counting calories, I try and not go over 1400 but depending on the circumstance it would be ok to go as high as 1600 calories a day. 1600 calories is still under the amount of calories that my body will need to maintain my goal wieght of 140. The book that I've enjoyed reading so much "Calorie Queens" has helped me to understand so much about calories and food.
I'd like to better understand other things in food, i.e., carbs, proteins etc so I can eat healthier so that is something I'm striving for in my eating. I try to eat 3 to 4 fruits daily, and 2 to 3 vegtables. That helps me know at least I'm going in the right direction. I'm hoping by contining to read and research and by the time I reach my goal weight of 140, I will be more educated on all of the things I need to keep my diet balanced out.
I count calories and carbs. I try not to go over 2,000. .... I just decided to have one goody out of each month that way I'm not dieing to have a sweet.
I'm not so sure I could hold out and have a sweet treat only once a month. I'm at 1800 calories and if I want a candy bar, I have one. (No more than ONE a day, however.) As long as I count it, I can have it. Actually, I did find that dark chocolate really ISN'T as nasty as I thought it was. I bought a bag of Dove dk. choc. easter eggs and had one a day. One egg has 37 calories, 2.3 fat grams, .5 fiber gram. I kept them in the freezer and made a point of letting the egg melt on my tongue. Mmmmmm!
I just can't eat very many sweets in my range...I consume a lot of chocolate protein pudding, no fat/no sugar jello pudding, and have a daily starbucks mocha frappucino (in a bottle) which at least while not being particularly healthy is caffeinated so it doesn't leave me with the same sugar-craving hunger following a normal candy bar. I used to treat myself every weekend but I found I just can't stop myself once I get going, so now it has to be far less often. I think I had a twix bar last weekend (or was it the one before?) anyways the next day we were at a convenience story and I was picking up a diet soda with my fiance and nearly thoughtlessly grabbed myself a candy bar but he held back my hand and said I'd regret it if I bought it. He was right, I didn't crave it or anything when I got home, and was much better off.
I eat my sugarless peppermint patty, I only eat one, and it works to about 37 calories per. I don't have one everyday. But my other trick I use to curb the chocolate or Peanut Butter, I buy the South Beach Chocolate and Peanut butter bars and will eat them for lunch or Breakfast. It serves as a meal, plus really puts that craving to bed, and you get a lot of crunch. I use the peppermint patty when I've not eaten the bars during the day and want just a taste.
I also eat a lot of the sugar free/fat free chocolate pudding, but I also love the Weight Watchers Fudge Bars at 110 calories it is a good no fat milk product plus you get that treat.
Been reading the posts for a while now and thought i would just ask this question, i was doing WW but i found it so slow, i started counting calories begining of Feb and have managed to lose 10lbs, its been hard work and i have been having an allowance of 1500 cals a day, do you think i should be eating more??????? when i start reducing my cals how much should i reduce them to when i have reached my first 14lbs?????
Hi Paula! And welcome to calorie counting. I can't tell you how much I believe in it!
Can I have a bit more info? height, weight, maybe a food plan for one day?
Are you doing anything special for increased activity?
You are eating correctly with your calories. I keep mine at 1400 that is best overall from what I've read, but 1500 is ok too, depending on how much weight you need to lose and what your goal weight is. Also, getting the most nutrious bang for your calroie is something that is very important. The average for weight loss is 1 to 1.5 pounds a week and sometimes as high as 2, but if you are losing more than that a week it can harm you by lowering your metabolism, and putting your body into hibernation. One of the best books I've read so far is Calorie Queens, you can buy it used from amazon.com and it does a great explaination as well as some great recipes.
The key not only losing the weight, but focusing on life style changes that will help you keep it off. Anyone can starve themselves or lower their calories to lose weight, but the real test comes when you are at your weight loss and understanding and maintaining how to keep it off.
it's a big job and one I'm determined to do, I have about 25 lb to lose now and I'm at a point where I don't care how long it takes me to get it off as long as I make the changes in my life to eat healthy and keep it off.
Well, back to the weighing and measuring............. it also makes the calorie count more accurate. Time-consuming yes. Worth it? Yes!!
Help With Calories
