My main thing is how do you keep track of all the calories you eat? Also, how do you know how many calories certain things are (that don't come prepackaged like fruits and stuff)? Any tips on getting started. I read the intro threads on it and it looks like I need to start at about 1500 a day. Any and all advice is welcome.

Ok, you must, MUST try fitday.com .... It's free and you can add your own custom foods ... there are other sites but I can't remember them. I've tried them and preferred Fitday...

i calorie count and estimate a lot... too lazy to be exact

I use calorieking.com you can also get a book, pocket size from calorie king has calorie counts for everything you can imagine including restaurants and fast foods, I like the book because I can use it when I am not on line, It is slightly smaller than a pocketbook, easy to carry around with you,

I have an exchange plan that I use, but when I need counts for odd things I go to fitday.com , it's an awesome site and they've got everything on there.

Fitday for me too. Folks speak highly of dailyplate as well. Calorieking has counts for a tremendous assortment of foods. I use it to make custom foods in fitday a lot. It'd be my choice if I was using pencil and paper.

I love the dailyplate! I've only just started calorie counting maybe a couple of weeks, but I like it a lot. I just measure foods that are not prepackaged.
Good luck to you!

It really depends on how high tech you want to go with it...you can count calories online with Fitday or something similar, and basically have a log for each day. You can put in foods that you have the packaging for, etc. and if you don't, they have a list of foods that you can get estimates from.

If you don't want to count online, buy a small notebook tablet-the mini size. I do this, and use a page for each day, and just date the top. I travel a lot, so I don't have internet access when I do-and the tablet is easier because of that. You can buy a book at the bookstore which has calorie information, there is a foods list here at 3FC, and most large restaurants have information if you want the calories of their dishes before you go out to eat, to plan ahead.

Also, be sure that you space your calories out throughout the day-don't eat 100 calories for breakfast, and save the rest for a huge dinner.

Good luck!

Initially you need to use a book or website to learn how many calories things have in them, and what normal serving sizes are. Over time, you get good at knowing how many calories are in things and if you want you could just keep a running tally in your head.

I like to write things down. I tried fitday and I don't like it at all. I prefer having everything where I can see it and pull out at will.

This is me exactly...which is why I use a journal. I can't take Fitday to the restaurant/movies/camping/etc.

I write everything down, too, I prefer being able to do it without being online. Like Aphil I like to have it front of me,mine is usually on the table where it is handy.I would reccomend calorie.king ,book or online it is jammed full of information much more than calorie counts.

I've used Fitday in the past, but now I use the Calorie King book. I keep it on my kitchen counter along with a calculator, a notebook and pen and a digital scale. Everything's at my fingertips as I am cooking/preparing my meals.