[Pulchra]

Okay...so this was my first real day, since I said enough is enough. I decided to count calories. So glad I did. I ate pretty good. For breakfast and lunch I had brown rice with my meals, and skipped the carbs at dinner. Anyways, if I had just been guessing or kind-of adding it in my head, I would have said I ate around 1200 or maybe 1300 calories. Nope....I ate 1500 calories. So, for right now, I am going to count calories.

[Rosinante]

It's an eye-opener, isn't it!!?

Don't start too low, though, it doesn't speed things up in the long run. I'm losing just over 2lbs a week on 1400, and there will be others along to tell you that they're losing well on even higher.

Well done on your first day - and for the calorie lightbulb moment!

[rockinrobin]

Yes - calorie counting... Why guess with something so vital???

Quite an eye-opener.

Stick with it. It will get easier as you become more familiar with more foods. It will also make you more choosy. You've got a budget to stick with and you'll want to get the most for those said calories. It's a great way to educate yourself and be healthy.

I look forward to hearing more good things from you.

[krampus]

Isn't it awful when you count up and realize you were off by ~500 calories?!

[gvntofly]

Since I just started on Monday, I haven't begun counting calories, yet. Hubby and I have cleared the cabinets of any thing that won't fit into the new way of eating. We are going grocery shopping Friday. I am also going to pick up a journal just for counting calories.

When I start to count I am going to give myself some leeway. Each day will be different as long as I stay between 1200 and 1600 calories each day. As long as I have stayed good with eating and exercising I will allow myself 1 day every 2 weeks of 1800 calories. If I want to.

[4star]

Foods are deceptive as far as calories are concerned. Calorie counting is like magic key that unlocks the weight loss door(for me anyway). It's nice to know it works so I don't have to do gimmicky plans that cause me worse problems than I had before.

I am a little taller and like to do around 1200 but it seems a little low once I do that for a few days so I do some calorie cycling. I have found out how to get more food for less calories and that helps. My average right now is around 1500 a day and I am losing 3-4 lbs a week so I am not stressing sticking to a firm 1200. You may find that your magic number isn't exactly 1200 but it's a good place to start. Docs put you on a 1200 calorie diet when you claim you can not lose weight b/c if you honestly can't lose weight on 1200 calories and you are at an average height, you need metabolic testing. If you work the plan long enough you'll see trends and you can find you magic number that allows weight loss and optimal energy.

[AZ Sunrises]

I absolutely swear by the calorie counter for Droid. LOVE that thing.

[beerab]

Just remember don't go too low or you won't lose. I started the P90X over two weeks ago and I'm eating so much more than I used to because I'm burning over 2300 calories per day! My body already needs around 2000 to function so if I eat less than 1600 a day I'm RAVENOUS. I'm currently averaging 1650-1800 per day (when I count- I do random counts now to make sure I'm not going overboard).

I always say it's 75% of what your body needs to live to comfortably lose weight. And if you work out you really don't want to go below that number.

For you it'd be 205 X 10 X .75 = 1538 calories per day.

Then re-assess every ten lbs

[Pulchra]

Rosinante: Yes, quite an eye-opener. Great job on your weight loss. I would be very happy with 2 lbs a week.

Rockinrobin: Thanks for the encouragement. Glad it gets easier. The other day I read a lot of your posts to get that motivation, and you are an inspiration.

Krampus: Just glad that I wasn't planning on the 1200 calories. I was just eating healthier yesterday and thought it would be a great idea to check myself. Glad I did.

gvntofly: Good luck. It sounds like you have a good plan. I too want to calorie cycle a little, and not do an exact number every day.

4Star: Yes foods are soooo deceptive. I was a little shocked at what one of my meals had come up to even though I thought I had done great.

AZsunrise: Never heard of that one. I am using Fitday.

Beerab: Thanks for crunching those numbers. I agree, that sounds like a great number to cycle around. By the way, how do you like the power 90? I need something telling me what to do, but I need to do it at home since I have my 3 kids at home.

[Pulchra]

I did count my calories today....I actually had to get in an extra couple of 100calories just to make it to 1300 calories. I believe the calorie cycling will work for me. I will try to keep it above 1200 and start out by averaging out for the week using 1400. Once I start exercising more, I will consider increasing this.

This is actually a huge jump for me considering that I am coming from a mindset that my body does not lose weight unless I eat less than 900 calories. But, I know eventually it will come off if I can eat clean and start cardio and get some weight training in.

I am also trying to read up and learn more about eating healthier. I plan on eating non-processed foods mostly and lean protein. I want to get fruit in, but I am still stuck with the thought that I should not eat too much fruit while trying to lose weight....because of this, I am going to probably keep most of my fruit consumption to berries. I love berries and their are such a variety in these. I also am going to try to keep my last meal of the day mostly protein, veggies, and berries. I will try to not eat the brown rice, etc. at my last meal.

Feeling really good about this. Have a great night everyone.