Calorie Counters Keep It Simple - September!
 

I started zig-zagging this week to see if I could jump start my metabolism. I ate a ton yesterday, but still managed a 1450 day (which is a LOW day for me) plus 300 calories burned off at the gym.

My calorie goal is to average 1650 a day and to burn at least another 1000 calories per week at the gym.

I believe I pretty much do the zig-zaging as I usually have a couple days a week with higher calories. Do you do it for any specific length of time, staying low say for a week and then change?

Didn't do Fitday yesterday but I ate some ham and I am up 1.5 lbs. this a.m. from the SALT!!!! But calorie wise I was around 1400.

Phyllis

I'm back after 2 MONTHS!!! I was working part time in a store, so I used the excuse that I didn't have time for me!! What a fool-I'm up 4 lbs. so here I am again. I started my daycare again yesterday for the school year so hopefully I will be back on track with my exercise and calorie counting. No more excuses. I was soooo tired this morning for no particular reason so I forced myself off the couch and put in my Walk Away the Pounds for Abs video. Boy was I in for a rude awakening!! I did the 45 minutes, but it was hard to keep up. Amazing how quickly we can get out of shape. Anyhow, I feel much better now and am looking forward to getting back on track--and staying!! I will have to check out My Fitday and see if I remember what to do. Take care all. Keepin' the faith...Dawn

My Birthday Month!
 

Well, my bday is September 18th so my goal was to be at 150lbs by then. However, that is impossible given that I am 157 today. :dizzy: SO, my new goal is to be at 155 by my bday! :p I am going to be extra strict with the calories (and drop them by about 100-200 per day for the next week or so) in order to jump-start my metabolism. :cool: Hopefully I'll drop 2-3lbs by then! That's my goal! :carrot:

Good luck to everybody else and their respective goals. :hug:

Decided to COUNT after all
 

After much thought....I have to believe Counting Calories is the best way to go. It's the only thing that makes sense to me.
I WAS going to go back to counting points..but after a few hours I realized......no can do!
So I hope I can stay...
That being said, will one of you PLEASE, in laymen's terms explain, one more time to this very newbie @ calorie counting, the calorie deficiet thing.

Thanks....I need to be here, among this great support board.

Any advise will really be appreciated.....soooooooo, I can I stay :D

D2S....what caloric range do you use??
Will your 100-200 calories less be with exercise?? How do you figure your deficiet??

Thanks

Everyone...is zig zagging just uping or lowering your calories each day?? One day high, one day low??

Hi ladies, been busy so haven't been doing the every day thing here. Weekend was either at or slightly below maintenance, same for Tuesday. Yesterday a little better, deficit of 520. Need to start lifting again, my wedding is a little over two months away and need to get my arms going in the right direction :D

L.J. do you use Fitday to record your food? If you use it or one like it you can get the number easily. Add up the calories you had for the day, let's say 2000. You burn calories everyday automatically (lifestyle) and you add your excercise to that number. Lets say 2400. So you have a deficit of 400.

On fitday when you sign in it asks about your lifestyle and it will then give you the number (Basil) and you add the exercise points to it. It is suggested to say you are not exercising to get a low number (as it seems high).

I hope this makes sense, even if you don't want to use Fitday that is a good place to go to get your daily calories your burning so you know and then work from that figure each day.

Phyllis

Phyllis,
I was following another thread about zigzagging that kinda explained it. I'm no expert as I JUST started doing that. I'm doing an average of 1650 for each day. So to figure my daily intake, I calculated the total for the week which is 11550. Then I just kinda decided what I wanted each day to be - either a high day, low, or average. So I have a couple of 1400-1500 days, a couple of 1800-1900, and a few in between those ranges. I just wanted to give it a try for a couple weeks and see if I like it.

I also excercise about 1000 calories off per week, but I'm not figuring that into my calculations.

I hope that made sense. :)

Phyllis... THANK YOU so much......I have *visited* fitday, but have not attempted it.
I guess I am only taking into consideration exercise burned calories that the treadmill counts electronically...I can't even imagine how many are burned *lifestyle* Who knew!!!!!!!!!!!!
I may have to check out fitday this weekend...what the heck :D
I really am loving the counting calorie way....seems so natural and sooo much easier, plus I seem to be making better choices!!
Stops me in my tracks.....like....oh no that has THAT many calories....nope, bad choice :D and move on...........
I'll get this yet....

Also do you or anyone else reading this, journal on paper as well as fitday and or spread sheet....Just curious.

Journaling
 

I actually journal right here on 3FC. If you look at the top of this page, you'll see a link for Journals (you can also get there from the main 3FC page, where you click on forums, there is another link there for Member Journals). I try and journal about once or twice a week, some people do it everyday, some several times a day. What I like about it, is that other people can read and leave comments / encouragements, etc. Like the rest of 3FC, its a very positive place to hang out and see that there are tons of people out there just like you!

Tinabinab..........Oh wow..I didn't know that or realize it....Thanks. I guess I just kind of come right to the messages board.....

I'm going to check that out as well.....Thank you so much!!

Hi Everyone! I finally found my way over to September. I still am at a 2 month plateu. My weekend wasn't great but I was back on track today

Sunday: 1756 calories, 638 deficit

It sounds as if everyone is so diligent. I dont count every single calorie I just kind of add it up in my head as I go. I have done very well at not snacking and if I do I keep to the 100 calorie snacks so that I can keep track. This has been working for me and makes me feel as if I can live with this as a lifestyle. I am not sure I would stick to it if I had to count every single calorie. Is that what you all do? My biggest problem has been exercise. I like exercising at the gym but it is finding the time that I have trouble with. I was doing so well over the summer but now that school has started (I am a teacher) I only made it to the gym twice this week (although I did do a workout video one day). Any tips on staying motivated through the week to work out?

I too log 'everything' it's the only way I can do it....otherwise it makes me second guess myself...As for exercise...I HAVE to...it's the only way I have learned that will boost my losses, you know Calories IN Calories OUT thing... I am enjoying it actually....and kind of look forward to it at the end of my work day.
I had a great day yesterday....not so great Saturday...but I am still int he ballpark...
Still very much enjoying counting calories....the one thing I don't do, is count the *lifestyle* calories mentioned, like for sitting watching tv, or any other little one we may burn during our day. I figure those will be taken by the 10 calorie Vitamins I take or the fiber pill with calories or cough drop :D If I did that, I'd be even more :dizzy: ... I DO count what I know I can actually look up..like x amount of calories burned for 30 Minute Step tape or 45 minutes on a treadmill, etc.. and I use that. I works for me so that is what I have to and need to do.
I felt successul up until last week when I did that, then got side tracked with something I read and thought, OH NO!!! all that for naught....but NO more, I am back and it FEELS good!!!

Have a wonderful, wonderful day everyone....

Newbie here
 

Hi Ladies,im new to the site and trying to find my way around.I was wondering if you ladies could explain to me this calorie counting and calorie deficit thing to me.And whats zig zagging.Please qny help would be great!Take care and good luck,holly

Getting ready to leave for a 2 week vacation, didn't lose my 20 lbs. but close to 10 so I will gladly take that.

My goal for the trip is to maintain......wish me luck. Y'all be good now!

See you when I get home, Phyllis

Deficit of 730 yesterday!:D

Had a lovely workout, didn't feel hungry even once.

Progress is sweet. Just hope the scale agrees friday:carrot:

Mommyofthree, please check the other threads under calorie counting for discussions on zig zagging and how a calorie deficit work.

Mommyofthree....there are several posts here about deficits....try to go back and check those out, if you still don't get it then post your question again and someone will help you.

Good to see you joining us.

Phyllis

I've been sick for the last few days, so exercise is out of the question. I have been keeping up with my calories though. At least I can say that much.

I am a calorie counter/food journal keeper and have just discovered FitDay.com. That's a pretty cool website! Trying for an average deficit of at least 600-700/cal day with exercise almost daily. We shall see...

Hi Everyone!

I hate to admit it but I had a terrible day yesterday. Over 3000 calories and no exercise :(

I was back on track today though.

Tuesday: 1402 calories, 1164 deficit, 35 minutes Tae Bo

Hi Everyone, I had a good day today. I got my exercise in and at well.

Wednesday: 1307 calories, 1372 deficit, 45 minutes curves

Hello everyone! The move went very well. The only glitch was replacing my computer ... and over eating :) I missed this site sooo much and apparently compensated by eating. But I'm back at it now.
Sometime later or maybe tomorrow morning, I'll have a chance to read a bit and see what everyone is up to. Just wanted to say Hi!

Welcome back Susan!

I had another bad day today. My mother was back in the hospital after a fall. She broke her wrist and is scheduled for surgery. I was so busy taking her for xrays and such today I didn't get in my exercise.

I was definetly doing some emotional eating but it could have been worse. I was very high on calories but did keep from totally binging.

2453 calories, 105 surplus, no exercise

I'm not sure I've found the flattest spot in the bathroom floor yet. I don't think I've lost 4 pounds since yesterday (pretty dream tho huh?)
I had about a 500 cal deficit yesterday but it's hard to calculate painting and stripping and such. We'll see I guess.
Be good today gals and keep that strength going over the weekend.

Good Morning, I am back!! :carrot:

My mum's visit went brilliant and our wedding blessing couldn't have been more perfect. I felt like a princess all day, the ceremony was wonderful, we had the best minister, the sun shone all day. Everyone we wanted there was present and there was lots of bubbly at the reception. I might even post a picture when I get them! It was perfect.

I feel like a weight is off my shoulders now I don't have to think about planning, planning and more planning. Mum went home on Tuesday which was very sad but I'm going home next Christmas so will get another holiday with them. I'm back on plan as of yesterday, speaking of which my deficit for yesterday was 600.

Valerie: I hope your mum recovers and will be thinking of her.

Talk later.

I have just under a 500 cal deficit for yesterday. It feels good to be back on track.

Great job everyone! Nice deficits.

I was high on saturday since thats my cheat meal out. Otherwise I've been doing just ok.

I've been really busy. I managed to work on Saturday while my hubby watched my mom. I worked an adoption show today which was very disappointing no dogs or kitties adopted all day!

Friday: 1477 calories, 1202 deficit, 45 mintues curves
Saturday: 2608 calories, 147 deficit, 45 minutes cardio
Sunday: 1972 calories, 376 deficit, no exercise

No deficit for the weekend because I didn't count.

Not much of a deficit today. Maybe 60 or 70 cals. I keep wracking my brain hoping I did some vigorous activity that I just can't remember ... no luck ;)
I've joined the Featherweights Challenge for this week and am hoping walking regularly and keeping my cals down will get me back into some kind of routine.

I had a busy day today. I spent 8 hours at the hospital with my Mom while she had her surgery and then was admitted to the hospital.

Monday: 1809 calories, 670 deficit, 45 minutes curves