Thanks for the warm welcome--extremly busy at work this week--worked ot yesterday and didn't even get on the computer last night!! I will try to be back tonight when I get home. Just wanted to say that I have lost one pound since starting to count calories--I had been at a big zero loss/gain for four months!!

Would someone please explain what a deficit is and how to figure exercise into the counting? Thanks!!

Arrrrgh had a full-blown "Attack of the Munchies" last night! Grabbed a snack baggie of almonds, intending to have just one... yeah, right. 170 calories, which is about 160 more than I wanted :lol:. And about an hour later, got hit again! Went for an apple this time. Another 80 calories. ((groan))

Yesterday's deficit should have been a little over 850. Instead, it was only 600ish.

Oh well, at least I'm making good choices for Munchie Madness! And thank goodness I pre-bag the almonds in 1-serving size baggies. I shudder to think what might have happened if the whole can had been in front of me!

Today is *supposed* to be a low cal/hi def day for me. But I'm also hoping to get in 9-holes. If I do, I may have to bump up the calorie intake to fuel the additional calorie expenditure (but only if I feel extra hungry afterwards). We'll see...

FORE!!! :lol:

Jules, for an explanation of deficits, look back about 6 posts on this thread :). It's about half way up on the page just before this one.

Say, Counters, since "What is a Deficit" comes up frequently, should we write up a little FAQ about it and see if we can get it stickied? I'd be happy to work on getting it written up. I'll write up a rough draft and post it later this afternoon, then we can tweak it to death :lol:.

What do you think?

Lena ~~ YES I would appreciate it if you would do that!;)

Hi Vanessa and welcome. You sound like you're off to an excellent start! We're glad you're here.

Valerie - sounds like you've still got some pretty impressive deficits considering all the extra work you're doing.

Susan - 800, very nice!

Jules - way to go on the pound loss, that is great! Even if you haven't gained/lost still means you are doing a good job of maintaining

Lena - 600 ain't bad. How is the cycling going? Your body handling it okay?

:welcome2: Vanessa, congrats on the loss so far! I struggle with the portion sizes too. And sweets. And sometimes salty foods. Okay, maybe just about everything :lol: But it's a learning process!

Deficit of about 275 for me yesterday. Not very good at all but I ate a healthy dinner (let's not talk about breakfast :o) and FINALLY got back to my WATP :running: so I feel good about that. Going to check out the fitness/cardio thingy in my appartment complex tonight, take my ipod over and see if it's not too packed. We can see it from our bedroom window so I could actually plan ahead to see if anyone's there. Anyways, it is a start. After several weeks (not sure how many) of not doing WATP I did one of the easier for me 30 minutes and BOY did I feel it. Not doing it for a couple weeks certainly got me out of shape fast. The good thing is, I know it will be a good workout for me for a few weeks to come. Got to think up some good exercise goals so I can stick with it better. Take care ladies!

deficit for me yesterday was 719...still not back into the exercise much but I did do a few crunches and some hand weights at home..

Everyone is so helpful--I just want to say thanks--next ?--how many calories daily/weekly??

Hi Vanessa! Welcome to the group.

This board is hopping! After all the fad diets people are finally realizing it comes down to the calories.

Well I've had my 3rd straight week w/o a loss. I'm figuring I have a whoosh coming!

I had an ok day calorie wise. I did eat at couple of white castles at my dogs birthday party.

Tuesday: 1619 calories, 1017 deficit, 35 minutes cardio, 20 minutes weights

If I go to bed right away, I'll have had another good day ... around 750 cals deficit!

Vanessa? Are you sure you want to hang around here? A dog's birthday???? Just kidding.

Oops got my posters mixed up ... Jules? How did you lose the 15 lbs? and how long did it take?

Ilene is being brilliant again. See it here .... http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=85213

well no exercise again for me....now I just can't get motivated again...deficit yesterday was 934...had a low calorie day of 856..just wasn't hungry....anyway my trainer called last night and said he ws back to work so I'm still on for today..hopefully he will give me my meal plan today..

Valerie - I agree that calorie counting is the only way to go and It's so easy..

I have been slack in the journaling dept. of counting calories and the results is that the scale hasn't budged. Writing it down keeps me out of the box of wheat thins crackers and the other little extras that add up and destroy my deficit calories. so....back to writing it down!!

Welcome Vanessa - calorie counting does work and it also makes you think about what you eat. When I go for a snack, I try to eat something that will tide me over and not cause a binge.

Valerie Joy - I hang out a lot at mostlylabs.com and doggy birthday parties are just as popular as kids parties over there. Complete with cakes, hats, pictures and lots of doggy friends.

Susan - I just started posting over at the Featherweights and I recognized you as being a calorie counter as well.

Gotta go and get my journal updated. Bye!