Calorie Counting and What Else?

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  • I'd like to have an idea of what the typical Calorie Counters diet looks like.

    Me, I Calorie Count plus go low carb, and low fat. I also eat low to no glycemic because my hubby needs to eat low glycemic for his rheumatoid arthritis and intestinal issues.



    I'd really like to find out if anyone is losing on a less than healthy diet by calorie counting alone. My DD would calorie count if she didn't also have to eat too healthy or spend a lot on food.
  • I calorie count and go high protein. Ultimately though it's just calories in calories out for me.
  • I don't believe in Calorie counting. I saw a trainer that helped me change that mind set and I am 80lbs down in the last 9months.
  • I'm pretty much just a calorie counter... well... sorta..

    I try to eat heavy veg, low white stuff. I try to take in reduced fat dairy (for the calcium) and try to take in 100 calories a day in fruit. I aim for 13-1400 cals per day. I try not to drink my calories (wish I could learn to like black coffee...). I also have a bad habit of finding something new and different to eat and then sticking with that until I'm so tired of it, that I can't eat it anymore. I've found some success with forcing myself to vary my meals so I don't get too tired of anything.

    Easy, right?

    Eh. Not so much.

    But, for now, it's working!

    Best wishes to us all.
  • Calorie counting and make sure I'm getting enough protein so I don't get hungry as much. Especially in the morning, I try to eat something higher in protein and it seems to help me a lot! Plus going to the gym lol
  • I eat what ever I want as long as its in my calorie range. I log with my fitness pal on my phone and I will sometimes check my fiber and protien levels but not often.
  • I calorie count and eat high-ish fat and protein, low carb.

    Today's menu:
    Breakfast: 2 hardboiled eggs, 1/2 serving of wheat thins.
    Snack: rest serving of wheat thins, 1 oz cheddar cheese.
    Lunch: 2 hard corn tortillas, 1/2 cup low fat refried beans, 3 oz pulled pork, 1/2 avocado
    Dinner: 5 oz rump roast with bbq sauce (like pulled pork, but with lean beef), 1/2 a cantaloupe.

    That's 1300 calories. I have another 300 to play with for the day if I want wine or rice with dinner. (I know its low on veggies. I have to limit those due to intestinal issues.)
  • re:
    Calorie counting and nothing else. No carb, fat, or protein counting. I am mindful of sodium, but don't necessarily count it.

    .
  • I calorie count and try to eat lean protein, fresh fruits and vegs, whole grain and lowfat dairy. Unfortunately I also have a sweet tooth and many of my calories in my budget are "wasted" on sugary things. If I could get off the sugar I would probably do a lot better with the weight loss.
  • I track my fat, fiber, protein and carb intake along with calories. In general, I eat a high protein, low fat diet. I kind of wish I could incorporate more fats, but they're just so caloric that I've tended to restrict them while losing weight. Not severely, but I probably average only 20% calories from fat. I'm hoping to change this as I move from losing into maintenance (have the added calories come from good fats).


    Quote: I was told that calorie counting makes us afraid of food.
    Calorie counting hasn't made me afraid of food. On the contrary; it has made me eat a LOT better, and I enjoy a much greater variety of foods now than I did before. After 16 months of calorie counting (and losing 145 lbs in that time), my diet is a complete 180 from where I started. Calorie counting may not be right for you (and that's fine), but it works for a whole lot of people - and not just for weight loss, but as a way to eat mindfully and change habits and attitudes toward food.
  • Thanks for the input everyone.

    It's good to see that calorie counting can be very flexible and fit most anyone's needs.

    I hope this thread continues for awhile.



    chickadee32,

    I too try new foods and eat things I would not have tried if not for Calorie Counting. What makes me afraid of food is uncontrolled eating and the results of that.
  • Calorie counting actually is making me less afraid of food. I feel like I can have more of a variety of foods and have what I want as long as I am within my calories. You learn to control yourself while not depriving yourself.
  • I only count calories and I don't follow a strict healthy diet 100% of the time. I will still have pizza or pasta and other foods that are typically thought of as bad foods. I just measure it all out now so I'm eating the correct portion sizes and I make sure I have enough calories for that day to eat the food I eat.

    I do eat a lot more fruits and veggies every day and I have cut back on my alcohol consumption as well.

    Once you start paying attention to the number of calories in foods, you start wanting to eat better and some of the crappy stuff just doesn't even seem worth it anymore.
  • I calorie count with no other "restrictions", though I certainly lean toward low-fat, low-carb, high protein and veggie heavy solely because it gives me the most food for my calorie budget

    My D21 is a full-time college student living in an apartment with 5 other girls and has been really successful calorie counting.
  • I'm new to calorie counting but I'll be doing it on a vegetarian diet so I'll be eating a lot of beans and eggs for protein. Since I'm just starting out I'll also be using some Slim Fast products until I feel more comfortable making meals.