Last year from Jan 2011 to the end of Sept, I lost 50lbs on a low carb diet, started with IP then just low carb on my own.....
In Oct seemed I just stopped losing and lost my motivation so from Oct to Jan, I've regained 15lbs .

Since Jan 1st, I've tried restarting the low carb....but it just seems I can't get with it, haven't lost or gained anything since Jan. 1st .....

I was wondering, can I try calorie counting or now that I've done the low-carb I should stick to low-carb .....or does it not really matter.

It's a bit confusing and a bit scary when you go for a full year with barely eating any carbs, to try calorie counting which would allow me to eat carbs .

Probably silly/stupid questions to some.

Any input would be greatly appreciated .

Yes you can start calorie counting. With the experience you have with the low carb dieting you should do well. I started out counting calories and as I got to know my body I included limiting carbs and I loose even better. So hop on in and let's have some more losses!!

You do whatever works and find that sweet spot that seems to make it easy to follow.

I do a combo of lower carb and calorie counting. I don't do super low carb, but try to keep it around 100 net carbs a day because if I go higher, I might have sugar issues or craving issues. But I also count calories and try to keep it around 1450 (plus one hour of exercise a day). However, there are days I'm hungrier, so I eat a bit more,just making wise snack choices (high protein).

It has taken me awhile to figure out what works for me. What foods are triggers. What foods are good standbys, etc. and I'm sure I'll be forever tweaking it. No one says one program is the be all and end all and for many of us here, a true program is too restrictive, so experiment and see what works for you!

I lost the majority of my weight just calorie counting. I didn't pay attention to my carbs, protein, etc.

Near my goal weight I switched to my own form of low-carb, high protein while still counting calories. Now that I'm at goal I continue this, just with a higher calorie count.

I switched with little difficulty. I didn't actually lose weight any faster or slower because I still stuck with the same amount of calories, but I did notice that I had more energy and made more progress weight lifting in two months than I did in the previous six (I believe the increased protein intake had something to do with that).

The most important thing is finding a plan that works for you. You found that you couldn't do low-carb long term so perhaps trying a new plan (and giving it some serious time before you switch to another) will yield results and not make you feel deprived or burnt out.

I think that you will find it's really not all that different. Things high in carbs are often also high in calories (1/2 cup of pasta is 200 calories! Who eats 1/2 a cup of pasta?). I tend to avoid pasta and most breads because the calories are too high for me to eat enough to fill up. Although I do eat a lot of diet bread. Sara Lee has bread that's 45 calories a slice and half the carbs of regular.

If you think you'd like to try calorie counting, give it a shot. In fact, it might be good for your body to change things up a bit. Sometimes our bodies get used to what we are doing and stall. Making a change can shock your system into losing again.

In addition, it's entirely possible to gain weigh while doing low carb diets if you eat more calories than you burn. If you can stick with counting calories (it drives some people nuts, I personally love it!), you will lose because you will know exactly where you stand. Just be sure to find out how many calories you need to be eating and stick around there. I took a guess at your age and gender (I put 25 and female) and came up with 2600 calories a day to maintain your weight if you are lightly active (exercise 1-3 times a week). Reduce that by 500 to lose 1 pound a week and by 1000 to lose 2 pounds. Adjust as you lose and be sure not to go below 1200.

I did do carb and was successful but found it tedious to keep track of carbs. I swithced to calorie counting with no problem, I still try to limit carbs, somewhat and sodium , as well.

Hey Debbie!!

I'm from QC too. Maybe we can be motivational buddies!!

As for making the switch. I think shouldn't be a problem since calorie counting involves planning out your meals and being conscious of what you're eating. By sticking to your calorie goals each day and to eat enough to stay full you will be cutting down your carbs regadless. Maybe not as low as low carb but it's inevitable to cut out empty carbs to make room for bulkier low cal options like non-starchy veggies!!!

Actually, everything I've read indicates that a cup of pasta is 200-210. Pasta isn't really that high in calories.

To the OP, I've never done low-carb for any substantial length of time because I love carbs too much, but from what I've heard, if you were switching directly from low-carb to calorie counting, you may initially gain a bit due to increased water weight (carbs tend to make us hold on to water a bit more). However, it will level out. Besides, according to your post, you stopped watching your carbs so much in October, so you should be fine with the switch.

I just switched from low carb to calorie counting, too. Compairing to past experiences with counting calories, the low carb diet got weight off the fastest for me, but I was totally miserable. What basically happened was I'd go low carb for a week or two and loose several pounds, and then have a carb feast for a few weeks and not loose anything. It's great being able to loose 5 pounds in a week, but the deprevation isn't worth it for me, and I always end up caving in and eating bread and sweets. Not to mention I would feel sick during the second week of low carb and that would turn me off to the diet.

I've only been doing low calorie for a few days (1500 calories per day), but I definitely don't feel deprived anymore! I'm still trying to limit starchy carbs like bread and potatoes, but I let myself eat sugary things if I'm craving it. I'm also focusing on high fiber to help keep myself full.

As for the actual counting, it's not much different than carb counting. I have an app for my android phone that I can log what I'm eating and it has a pretty big database of foods, including restaurant food. I highly recommend finding a calorie counting website (or phone app) that you like, because it really makes counting easier!

I think what I'm going to find hard is actually writing everything down and counting the calories..... I never really counted my carbs, I just knew what I was eating so there was no need to count.

This was basically my menu for the last year.

Breakfast: 2 eggs (0 carbs) OR 1 Protein Shake (2 carbs) OR
1 Protein oatmeal (13 carbs)

Lunch: 1 cuccumber (0 carbs)
1 Protein shake (2 carbs)

Supper: Meat Protein - chicken or pork or beef (0 carbs)
1 salad (0 carbs)
2 Tbsp Mayonnaise (6 carbs) OR green beans (5 carbs)

Evening: Protein Bar (26 carbs) didn't have that often
Bag of pork rinds (0 carbs)
Diet jello (0 carbs)

Anytime I was hungry I would have an extra Protein Shake.

Yes I know hard to believe I ate that from Jan to Oct.......... since Oct I've still eaten the same during the week but on the weekends just can't seem to stay on track.

So now I'll need to write everything down and check calories....

Debbie, do you have a smartphone? If so, you might try downloading one of the many apps that are available. I use Calorie Count, and I can honestly say that using an app to track my calories has made the process SO much easier than the paper-and-pencil process I used in the past. I'll bet I spend no more than 5 minutes a day--at most--inputting my food and exercising. And I even find it inspiring to enter my exercise. It's sort of motivation to do it, believe it or not!

Hmmm, maybe I need to check packages next time I'm in the store. The kind we had a home was 200 for 1/2 cup, but I'm sure there are better kinds out there.

You can do whatever you want and it is not in the least stupid to ask those questions!

I think you should do what works, what you can easily stick to and that is healthy.

Low carb allows you to eat some carbs.

Eventually - maybe while you are losing - you need to consider how you will maintain your hard earned weight loss. Will it be by eating low carb? By managing calories?

Food for thought : )

I totally believe you ate it...why? I did IP 100% on plan from Sept of 2010 to February of 2011 and lost 60 pounds and then I followed a modified IP until May and lost another 25 or so. I have maintained since then....until...the HOlidays...from Thanksgiving to NYE...I gained about 10 pounds! After maintaining so long...that was a bummer.

So I am calorie counting and exercising and hope to lose the 10 and another 10 by summer. So far I have gained another pound...great. I am eating around 1400 a day (below what Fitness Pal recommends). I exercise about 45 to 90 minutes a day...circuit training, elliptical, and running.

But the best...my size 8's (all my pants are 8's) are nice and loose again...maybe I will get back into a 6.

I plan to stick with it and hope to see the results by the end of June.

Good luck and keep it up.

Typically pasta calorie is about 200 calories for 3/4 cup dry or about a cup cooked....depending on the shape of pasta...best way to measure is a scale when dry for grams.