Hello. I am new here, my intro is in the intro forum.

I have successfully lost weight in the past simply by counting calories. I think its a wonderful weight loss 'program'. I believe one should be able to eat all things in moderation and counting calories allows that.

HOWEVER, my problem is I always get tired of counting calories and I slowly start eating more and more. It's like I have to police myself or something. If I'm not counting it I don't realize how much I'm eating or I forget I eat it? I don't know what my problem is. I think my internal 'i'm full' sensor doesn't work.

Anyway, I was just curious if anyone else ran into this roadblock and if they had any strategies for overcoming it. I'd like to just do calorie counting again, but I'm still sick of it from last time (which was 4-5 years ago).

Thanks for any comments!

I think when you say 'policing', that's about right. In the past I've lost weight very successfully, first by portion control, then by calorie counting. When I got nearly to goal, it had become so second nature that I stopped counting, believing genuinely that I would just carry on eating properly.

And here I am.

It took me 4.5 years to get back on plan again, and the only way I'm being successful with it is through having become calorie obsessive: well, obsessive about logging them, anyway. For me, I don't think I'm ever going to be able Not to count them.

I count carbs too and keep to between 100 and 110g.

Yesterday was a case in point. I was out with a friend, and had, for the first time since May 23rd, a milky latte. I checked with the cafe and yes, it ws 2% milk. Mentally, I planned it in, although it hadn't been in my head when I got up and reviewed what I'd eat that day. It was lovely! My friend tried very hard to persuade me to a scone and butter, which I refused without effort or angst. When I got home, I had my counted portion of corn pasta with bolognese sauce. By the time I checked my carbs on that, the latter and breakfast, with a salad for my prawns at night to come, I was up to 104g carb - that's kind of it for the day, so I stopped eating at 997 calories. Not ideal but I'd nothing in the house that wouldn't have added carbs as well as cals.

So yesterday was a lot of water/unmilked drinks from evening meal onwards! What I'm saying is - counting and ACcounting is always going to be the way to go, for me.

Good luck with your efforts!

I think frustration with any diet plan comes from believing things should be different - thinking "I shouldn't have to do this forever."

I don't get sick of washing my face, brushing my teeth, and combing my hair every morning, so why do I find diet and exercise so frustrating?

I know the answer is that I see hygeine as normal (and easy) and calorie counting (or other food plans) as weird, abnormal, or difficult.

I use an exchange plan to count calories, and created a journal page based on one I found on the tops.org website (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly)

http://www.tops.org/TOPSTools/TOPSTo...dFoodDiary.pdf

The checklist makes journaling easier (if I'm really feeling lazy, I check off the boxes, and don't document the actual foods).

I really believe my success is going to depend upon making my food journaling as just another natural habit (one I wouldn't consider not doing) just like combing my hair or brushing my teeth.

I'm not there yet, but I think I will be eventually.

For me, it helps to make the process fun - making little games and wagers with myself. Planning little rewards for sticking to my plan.

I get bored easily, so being creative helps. Variety and adventure keep things interesting. Every month I try to choose at least a couple fruits or vegetables that are new to me, even if it's just a variations on something familiar such as tiny, fingerling bananas or a variety of apple I haven't tried before.

Essentially though I have to invent a new normal. If I were good at it, I wouldn't be losing so slow, but I'm getting better and I think it really boils down to thinking of it as entirely normal to write down what I eat. I've been counting calories and/or exchanges for so long, I really don't have to look many foods up (though I love my Exchanges for All Occasions book). It's not really much different than using a checkbook register, writing a grocery or to do list... at most it's 20 minutes out of my day. What's so terrible about doing anything for 20 minutes. It used to take me longer to do my makeup every day. I rarely wear make-up anymore due to allergies, so that's an extra 20 minutes I have to use for calorie counting. I also don't have to shave my legs and arms as often, because as I grow older, my body hair grows slower - again more time I can use to calorie count.

Perspective really is half the battle.

I fell on and off diets for so long but something struck me in about May and since then (minus a month vacation in Italy "no carb/calorie left behind diet") it's become second nature. I'm at my goal weight and am so happy.

I still track calories to the extreme (i count the calories in chewing gum, even the calories in my artificial sweetners) and there are times when I wish I could let go and enjoy a day without thinking about it, but I'm so much happier now that I'm at a healthy weight and am eating controlled amounts of food.

I think frustration is normal and I hope to find a balance soon between extreme calorie counting and being able to just make healthy choices, but for weight loss, overall, calorie counting has helped me reach my goal while still eating the things I love. I could never stick with no carbs or other diets so calorie counting gave me the most dieting freedom. If I wanted a certain food I could have it, just make better choices for the rest of my day.

Don't be discouraged. It works out! But also give yourself room to have slip ups, each day is a new one and a chance to stay on track!

Also, my calorie counting has all been done on LoseIt! iPhone app, so most of my typical foods are already programmed in which makes it less time consuming! I recommend an application for your phone or iPod if you have one!

kaploids, I love the chart you made. I`m doing my own thing with my diet but I need a chart to keep me focused.....it`s so easy for me to go off. I`m going to print it out now.

Thanks for sharing that¨

Instead of creeping- thought I would chime in--- thanks for all the tips-- I am inspired to get back on the wagon with counting.... ur right-- it needs to be like combing hair, etc., to take the time to count. Thanks!

I've found that planning all my meals in advance makes the whole process seem less tedious. On Saturday or Sunday, I plan out the whole week using sparkpeople.com to calculate the numbers. Then I go to the grocery for the foods I need. Usually during the week I have to do some tweaking or adjusting; I rarely stick to the plan 100%. But I find it's much easier to at least have a guide to work with instead of having to think about numbers at every single meal.

I agree about planning ahead and I also agree about if you mess up....just move forward. My husband did not take a vacation this year. Last week we went out of town and had a wonderful day. We took in a museum, went shopping, ate at a fancy place and later in the day had an unbelievable dessert (got home and found out my dessert was 1000 calories)....but my point is...that was one day. So what? Back on track. I know I can't eat like that very often. In fact. we decided that would be a nice once-a-year treat. And guess what, I really, really enjoyed it, but I don't want another one any day soon

I think part of the problem we have with calorie counting is there is always that little voice saying " But other people don't live like this." True, but I have to be aware of what I eat or I will get fat. I simply know this.

I have only lost 5 pounds and already my clothes in my closet fit so much better. Do I wish I was smaller? Oh Yeah! But I know I have to keep pushing forward. I sure am not gonna let one day of calories make me give up.

It's all good, you know? How wonderful that we are at this point where we recognize we need to lose weight? Remember when we didn't "admit" to being fat
I do!!!

I have days where Im feeling sorry for myself and thinking, why cant I just be like everyone else and eat what I want, but at the same time Im watching those people blimp out and become heavier and heavier, and I do not want that!

I got sick of being fat.

Actually, I got sick of losing large amounts of weight only to regain it.

I've not been calorie counting for long compared to many here - since October 31, 2009. But it takes no more time than when I was doing WW and counting points - maybe less. And since I do it on my phone, it really just adds a few seconds to each meal.

Do I love recording the food I eat? Nah. But I don't love brushing my teeth or shaving my legs, either. I just do it.

Is it fair? No. Life's not fair. Life just is. I remember back in high school, I was valedictorian and honestly . . . I rarely cracked a book as it got in the way of my busy social life. I remember the salutatorian, who was a much more serious student than I but had a slightly lower GPA, complained to the dean that it wasn't fair. It probably wasn't.

Thanks everyone! Glad to know I'm not alone in thinking that "other people don't live like this"

kaplods - I like your page! I may give that a try.

Meanwhile I don't have a smart phone but I do use Spark People (i used to use Fitday and before that just an excel document).

Where else do people track calories?

Thanks for all the comments!

I track my calories at the daily plate on livestrong.com! it's been my savior! I've also used spark people and fit day in the past both good programs but I love the daily plate now! it makes calorie counting so much easier. i can't imagine how hard it is for those who carry around their pens and papers and calorie counting books.. I have a friend who does this she doesn't like computers so she manually tracks everything write it down adds it up herself and looks of each individual thing she eats in her book that would drive me bonkers!

I originally made a little booklet and looked things up online, recorded in my book. Now....it is more just in my head. I am doing okay with that. I did not lose this week...actually gained...but did have that day where I at least ate 2500...probably more.

On work days, I count out 1000 calories the night before and eat that food from 7-4 (work). Then I can eat 600 calories for dinner/snack. I sort of just do the 600 in my head because I never know what I am doing in the evenings. Other than this past week, I have lost 1 pound a week doing this.

I had not been exercising, but decided this week that I should think of it as brushing my teeth and JUST DO IT. So I have....I either walk on my wiifit while I watch t.v. or walk my dog.

It can definitely be frustrating, especially as nobody else I know in real life tracks their calories, but for me - it's the only way. I have an ipod app also (track and tap), and it really makes tracking very easy. I've seen people on this forum talk about tracking calories until they get to their goal weight, then backing off on the tracking and only tracking 1 day a week to make sure they're on target - that's my plan, I think, but I still have a ways to go.