Great work, everyone.

I have resolved to turn over a new leaf and become a strict Calorie counter to break out of my current plateau.

10,500 Cal deficit for the work week and 3# of bodyweight lost. This weekend's target is a further deficit of 1,500 Cal to bring my total to -12,000 Cal for the week. According to fitday I need to average a loss of 3.3#/week to achieve my goal weight by my target date of September first.

hello everyone...sorry i went missing again...anyway...I went to see my trainer wed and when I got there the told me that he broke his ankle that morning so I'm waiting now to find out how long he will be out to see if i need to get a new trainer...the thing with the food is I filled out a survey picking like 4 of my favorite things from each cat like veg, carbs etc...after that he entered it in the computer and from there I had to mark things that I would and would not eat...he then put in my BMR results and the amount/type of exercise I do.....the computer will make a meal plan from all the info....I still haven't got it yet cause he was not there...

I'm doing great on the eating with alot of low calorie days but I'm still struggling to get in the exercise...one more week and then graduation will be over and hope I can get back on track...I will try to get on here more..

everyone keep up the great work..

I know we were all chatting last week about Steel Cut Oatmeal. Well, I bought some last week and finally got around to trying it today. I wrote up my impressions here ---> Steel Cut OatMess... I mean Oatmeal. It's on the Food section of the boards. :)

Yesterday's calories came in at just under 1,650, so I guess it was another moderate day. Deficit was about 650, bringing the weekly deficit so far (not including today) to 4,263.

Hehe Donna, isn't that just the way? How DARE he break his ankle now? :lol: Hope he's on the mend soon. And I know how you feel about not getting in the exercise. I thought I was finally back semi-on-track when the mouse got in. Haven't been back to exercise since! I have to overcome this... ((shudder))

Susan, I assume it wasn't one of the 100-cal bags but the full blown big bag? Oooo so tasty! Can't blame you for that -- so hard to stop once you open the bag!

Valerie, you still had a very nice deficit even with a high-cal day! Good for you!

One of the things I like about moving, Miles, is the opportunity to re-stock an entirely new kitchen! Last time we moved, I dumped virtually everything from our old pantry. Started fresh. Of course, over time some of the not-so-great stuff has slipped back in, but I don't think it's as bad as if it had just piled on, year after year.

Heck, maybe we should move again so I can stock a fresh pantry!

Hi, Michelle! Another neat thing about using your notebook method is you can capture your feelings at the moment they are occurring. With a computer program, you have to wait until you get back to the computer, and by then the feelings may have changed, for better or for worse.

Good luck!

:wave: :yes: Hi Lena ~ You are so right about that. I think that's another thing I hadn't thought about, but you definitely gave me a good idea now...thank you!;)

Hello, everyone!

Well, finished up my first week of CalCycling. I had one hi cal day (2,100 on Mother's Day), one low cal day (1,200 on Mouse Day... I mean Wednesday) and the rest mid-cal days (about 1,500-1,700). Average in for the week was 1,600 per day.

Deficits were also cycled. I had one break-even day (deficit of 13 for Mother's Day), three hi def days (900-1200) and the rest mid def days (500-600). Total def for the week was just about 4,700, or average 670 per day.

Given that, I should be looking at about a 1.25 pound loss. Obviously I'm not expecting it to happen instantaneously. I'm planning to continue cycling the cals in and the deficits for a few weeks and try to identify a trend.

I will say this much. I was planning to have at least one more hi cal day, but just couldn't get it! I don't want to resort to Big Macs and fries to get my hi days. I'd prefer to get my hi days with bigger or more frequent portions of "healthier" foods (and more protein, yum!). But I found I just wasn't hungry enough to do that, and I didn't want to shovel more food in or make myself uncomfortably full just to get a hi day.

Weird, eh?

Hope you're all having a comfortably full day!

Lena, I'm impressed with the careful thought you've put into the reassessment of your weightloss journey. You're a fine example, to others, of how we should be mindful of how we want to eat and how we do eat ... find our own path.

I'm doing a bit of thinking too. Strangely enough, even tho' I'm always telling others to mix things up and tweak ... I'm sadly slack in that department. I've even got into the habit of eating foods that I know don't agree with me, just because they serve a purpose. And I eat them several times a day, everyday.
So, I'm experimenting this week. I don't know about reporting deficits and I do know I won't like my percentages ... however ... healthy is good right?
I wonder if I can be as good about this as Lena has been about her readjustments :)


Hi newbies! How're ya doin' today?

Susan ~ I really enjoy reading your posts and find you very inspiring! I also read your journal entry blog today with Fitday, and I think you're doing very well with yourself!:hug:

Lena ~ You are SO on track and doing SO good ~ WAY TO GO GIRLIE!!!:cheer:

Thanks Michelle! :hug: That's so nice to hear, when I'm having a kind of self-doubting day. Boy, I'm not sure I realised that folks would read my blather at fitday :o

Susan ~ I have a Fitday account I have set up, but never used yet. When I see that someone has Fitday, I always love to look at it and see how they're doing. How long have you been using Fitday and do you really like it? I felt as though they set my calorie range way too high. I have been using another online calorie tracker, but just recently decided to write everything down in a little notebook I have. I was just curious on your opinion with Fitday...thanks!:hug:

I love fitday but I've been fooling with it for about 3 years. It's where I want it now but it took some work. The settings for lifestyle are a nightmare!
I read your posts about journalling with pencil and paper and quite agreed with you and Lena's suggestions.
I have a computer almost to myself at home and am on it often during the day. I only work part-time but I have easy access to one there too. If I didn't, I'd probably use pencil and paper too. Keeps you on your toes if you write things down right away.

Susan ~ Thank you for that info! I don't work outside of the home so I always have access to a computer, so I may give Fitday a try. I guess I could just set up my own calorie range and not go by theirs.:)

Michelle? Did you try that 8 times and 12 times your weight thing that was mentioned in that post of Nadia Rivera's??? It's pretty interesting.

Susan ~ I did try that, but the calorie numbers are so high! I don't eat that much each day when I'm trying to lose weight. The whole calorie range thing is SO confusing to me, and the deficit theory is also.:?:

Aha! Michelle, you've come to the right place. We can help you with all that.
I don't think 1900 or so is a bad starting place for you. What were you thinking?

Susan ~ On the other site, since I'm not doing any exercise at this moment, or even when I do my WATP 30 minutes, 4x a week, it assigns me a calorie range of 1200-1550 to lose 2 pounds a week by 5-26-07. What do you think? I'm not hungry enough to eat 1900 calories a day at all, and then I'm afraid I won't get the weight off very easy.:( :?:

Another new calorie counter here--I am just recording on paper at this point. Haven't started adding in any calories burned yet. Just getting in the habit of writing everything that has been measured. Hubby asked me if I was counting points again--I said no calories and he said good because he wants to lose too. It's actually easier since it's just me and him though suffering from empty nest syndrome has not been fun. Though I have to say I am adjusting.

Welcome to the group Michelle & Jules!

Lena I'm so inpressed with how well you're doing. Being organized makes it so much easier for me!

My weekend eating wasn't that good but at least I still had deficits, even though small. I didn't get any exercise in except for walking.

Saturday: 2219 calories, 235 deficit
Sunday: 1910 calories, 531 deficit, 30 minute walk

Weekly deficit - 5738

Hi Jules and welcome!
Good work Valerie! especially over a weekend!

Michelle, no don't change a thing! If you are satisfied and feel good and are able to do all the things you need to do and exercise, you're doing just fine!

Susan ~ Thanks for the info and I will just stay the same for now and then see as time goes on.:^:

Valerie ~ Thanks for the warm welcome to the group!:hug:

morning...I haven't put in my food for yesterday yet so I don't know how I did...I'm still struggling to get in exercise...only got in 1 day last week....I did weigh-in today and I'm down 1.6lbs..I'm happy with that and surprised with no exercise...

Even tho' I've switched up my foods some, I have a 488 deficit for yesterday.

Good work on the loss Donna!

I'm kinda glad I haven't put my plan in the planning thread for today yet, my darling Dh brought me a lovely muffin for my coffee this morning. I'll have to rethink my food for the day now :)

Susan what a sweet husband!

Welcome all you new ladies :D

Didn't make the best choices over the weekend, but came out pretty even I think. I think Friday and Saturday just about cancelled each other out and a deficit of about 188 yesterday :lol: Going to try out the new fitness center in my complex Tuesday hopefully, supposed to be having dinner with my future in-laws tonight so won't have the time to go out and work out. Might try some WATP, tried some Dance Dance Revolution yesterday and it's clear to me I have gotten badly out of shape! Take care ladies, I will try to be around more often when work isn't crazy and when I have net at home.

I keep saying I'm going to get a DDR, Miles! DS and I used to do it loooooong ago at the arcades. Yes, I was brave enough to do DDR in public around a bunch of adolescents! And I was good enough so they didn't fall over laughing at the "old lady" :lol:. I used to love watching the pros go at it -- you know, the ones who used feet AND hands!

We haven't been to an arcade in ages, ever since home-systems started getting as good or better than the arcade games.

I should put a DDR in the basement, but then I'd have to get another PS2 -- don't think DS will let me relocate his!

Hope you enjoyed that muffin, Susan! Muffins = good!

Hey, Donna! Nice one! Congratulations!

I think you did splendidly over the weekend, Valerie! Were you happy with your food choices?

Welcome to the group, Jules! I've seen you around the boards, happy you've found your way here! I think you'll find the counting gets easier as you go along -- at least, if you're like me and eat a lot of the same things over and over!

Michelle, I use Fitday, too, but I use the PC (paid) version. One of the good points is it allows you a bit more control over setting your Calories Expended than does the online version. One of the bad points is you can't link it here. And you can't access from ANYwhere, like you can with the online version. That said, I'm still tweaking the Calories Expended parts. I think that's probably harder for ANY program to determine, because there are so many variables to consider.

Like you, I now find it tough to get to 1,900+ calories in a regular day (whodathunk I'd ever say that???). Do you think you can hit 1,600? You're right, it's a bit daunting first starting out -- so many balls to juggle at once. It's easier if you just concentrate on getting one thing going, then slowly add another and another. Less overwhelming.

Ah, geez. I've rambled on again... I need to go on a word diet! 100 max words per post... :lol:

:wave: Lena ~ I was thinking that a good amount of calories to start out with for me would be somewhere between 1500-1600, but some days I can barely get over 1400. I never would have thought I would have a problem getting calories in LOL! I still may try Fitday out since I have the account set up and also do my notebook, and just see which one I like better. What I'm still having a hard time understanding is the "deficit" numbers all of you talk about?:?:

Easy, peasy, m'dear! A "deficit" occurs when your Calories Expended exceeds your Calories Ingested. Let's say you do manage to eat 1,600 calories today. If you expend 1,700 calories, you have a 100 calorie "deficit". Simple as that!

Chances are, you probably expend at least 1,700 calories just breathing and swallowing and blinking! That's those "basal" calories you've heard tell about. Add to that calories for just walking around the house or office, driving the car, doing laundry... normal movement during the day (as oppsed to bedrest). on top of all THAT, you can add any deliberate "activity", such as weight lifting or running a mile or swimming 10 laps. All of that mushed together would be your Calories Expended for the day.

if you use a weight management journal (like Fitday or Nutridiary or Myfooddiary or the like), a lot of those calculations will be done for you. Thank goodness! Otherwise you'd need a CPA to keep track of it all! But you can do it via pen 'n' paper, too! It may just take a bit more initial set up to determine all the variables.

I like your idea of trying both methods. That's the best way to see what will work FOR YOU. Have fun! Questins? Just post 'em! Lots of answers here!

Oh! I forgot the real purpose in figuring out a deficit in the first place ((smacks self on forehead))

If 3,500 calories equals a pound (we all agree to that, yes), in theory, when your deficit reaches 3,500 calories, you should have lost a pound!

Say, for example, you have an average deficit of 500 calories every day for a week. At the end of that week (7 days), you'll have a 3,500 calorie deficit, which should translate to about a pound loss! 1,000 calories a day should come out to about 2 pounds lost!

Of course, it's not instantaneous, so don't get discouraged if it doesn't fall off exactly on schedule ((reminds herself to not get discouraged)). It's kind of a cumulative effect (and there are other bio factors that affect it, too, so keep that in mind). But those are the basics.

HTH!

Thank you Lena ~ I think I'm finally starting to understand it now.:dizzy:

See Lena! I told you that you are a valuable asset to our little thread. Imagine ... Lena once took a few days away because she thought she was a downer!
I think NOT!

Awwww gee, thanks, Susan! :hug:

Aww, did not know that, you certainly cheer me up Lena! :hug: I'll bet you showed those young punks on the DDR! I run it off my PC, with a converter for the normal PS2 pad. It's not the "fitness" version it's just some (probably illegal) version of a majority of the collections. I don't quite have the guts to do it in public, even when I get "okay" with it, so tucked away with my PC in a back room is a nice place. Fiance and I had DDR as a part of the motivation in demanding a first floor apartment too! Of course, WATP was on my mind as well...

Hi everyone!

I had a good day today. I'm still adjusting to having to wake up early for work. I have definetly been eating more calories since I started.

Monday: 1655 calories, 1032 deficit, 45 minutes curves

I had a deficit of over 800 cals yesterday. Very busy just fussing around ... and I guess to busy to eat extras :)

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!;)