Actually, I never intended to calorie count! I was just at the point of jumping back on the bandwagon a few weeks ago (after getting down to 165 from 245, and now back up to 187), when I was looking around this forum and saw a link to Fit Day. I started using the site, and got addicted! I like knowing that I can splurge a little bit sometimes as long as I cut back in other areas to get to that goal number. I actually really enjoy calorie counting, it's helping me get an idea of what I'm eating and know that I'm assuredly heading in the right direction...hopefully. which is why I'm here.

Using Fit Day, I have determined that my calories I can eat in order to meet my goal of 115lbs by August of next year, is 1706 per day. According to Fit Day, I have been doing so well that actually for the past two weeks I've been averaging 1502 per day. So, I am meeting and exceeding my 840 calorie restriction. I have also been taking a brisk walk a few days a week for about half an hour, doing stretches and sit ups, and a bit of jogging in place.

And I have seen absolutely no results at all, I mean NOTHING. My scale is a bit poor quality, it will tell me a 3lb difference depending on what time of day I use it, but it's basically been bouncing around the 186-190 range. I only bought a scale recently, when I did weight loss before I was just going by the way my clothes fit, and I did not count calories I just focused on eating better and less.

Everytime I have started to diet previously, I would notice an immediate change, usually in less than a week I would start to look a bit slimmer and feel lighter. I'm losing faith! It's been two weeks and I'm not noticing any change, if anything I feel heavier. Even though I've definitely been eating less and healthier!

Will this calorie counting really work for me do you think? How accurate is this Fit Day calculator, can I actually achieve 115 with just calorie counting?

Just on the calorie counter...I never liked FitDay myself. I tried it at first and found it to be confusing. You may try Sparkpeople.com. I've been using it for a long while now and like it a LOT.

Try the new calorie counter and log EVERYTHING you eat. Every single bite. Measure things out into servings, etc. Keep track of it for a week and keep up your exercise habits and then re-evaluate...

I like fitday and have been using it since I started. The only thing I dont like is the fact that when I search for food alot of the time I cant find what Im looking for and end up just creating custom foods for everything.

Maybe you should increase your workouts? I eat between 12 and 1500 calories a day but also exercise for a hour (sometimes more) 6 days a week. Even with working out and counting my calories Ive only been losing about 2-3 pounds a week.

You could always try to stay around 1500 instead of the 1700 and see if that helps. What kind of foods are you eating? Are you eating really healthy foods to get in your calories or are you eating high fatty foods? That would make a difference...

Also I have found that my body DOES NOT like sodium. If I have too much my weight jumps up over night. Do you know what triggers you? Are you getting enouh water? Im a strong believer that drinking alot of water really helps move the scale!

I would keep with it a couple more weeks and try and if you're staying on plan you should def see a difference! Good luck!

Personally - I think if it is recommending 1700 and you are consuming 1500, you may be going to low. Try eating the 1700 for a couple of weeks. I'm one that has a "magic number" for burn that I have to hit. Take into account that you are exercising as well. I think an 800 calorie restriction is too much and will send your body into starvation mode. Your body will think you are starving and hold on to every blessed calorie you consume. Sounds crazy - but try eating MORE.

Everyone is different and the calorie recommendations are just that. Also, there could always be variables in measurement of food, actual calories consumed, etc. If you are not losing weight eating your current calories, I would either add more exercise or reduce calories by 100 per day until you start losing.

Personally I am 260 lbs and eating around 1500-1700 calories and not losing that great. I seriously doubt I need to raise my calories which leads me to believe you might need to lower it.

Also, all calories aren't created equal. Could you be carb sensitive?? I know I am. I try to stick to 40% carbs, 30% protein and fat. Honestly I like dailyplate best for tracking food. They have a bigger database and I like the feedback I get from them on my macros.

I agree

Don't worry so much about your scale, it's just background noise anyway, no need to get into screaming matches with it. But try to only weight yourself at the same time each day. Most people weigh themselves first thing in the morning after they've used the bathroom. If I weighed myself at all different times of day I would get different numbers as well, we all do.

Do you ahve a food scale? If you don't have a food scale you really are not counting calories, but guesstimating. Diet experts agree, that most calorie counters severly underestimate the amount of calories they eat because they don't measure out their servings properly. I invested in an inexpensive digital food scale I found on Amazon and I've been very pleased, and surprised, to see that what is considered a serving (say 2 tblspoons of peanut butter) is much smaller than you would think when you weigh it out.

Here is an excellent example of what I"m talking about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY

Interesting video, though many of the comments are a little nasty. I agree that it's more accurate to weigh your food, and for things like pasta it's much better than trying to measure it.

Where in Alaska are you? I'm in Palmer.

Ya, it's crude. I only had so much time for the you tube search, I was looking for a different one, but this one was shorter and served the same purpose.

I never have purchased a food scale and DO use measuring spoons and cups and count my nuts. I always try to err on the side of caution when measuring foods and counting calories. The ultimate judge is the scale and my measuring tape. Over the longterm, they don't lie.

Ok, so you weigh less when you first get up than you do in the evening because you have drank liquids and consumed food. I don't think your scale is broken.

As for why it's not moving at all, I'm not entirely sure unless you are miscalculating what you are eating. I use Fitday too, and sometimes their calculations are higher for some foods. I usually google "calories in XYZ" and see what comes up and adjust my Fitday acoordingly. Annoying, yes, but I'm too obsessed with keeping the records from the past to switch which counter I use.

Thanks for the video...I should def start watching my "measuring". I def go way over with my PB. A scale would be grand too.