Hi everyone. I've never been much of a calorie counter and usually just use Richard Simmons weight loss plan. I have had great success with it in the past but I find it a bit restrictive. I know that I shouldn't eat junk and I'm working really, really hard on that but I'd like to know that if I would like some a junk occasionally, I can put it into my diet. Also, I don't like how it limits me to x amount of veggies or x amount of protein per day. If some days I am a little hungrier for meat than usual, I don't want to feel like I'm throwing my whole plan into the garbage or that I'm 'cheating.'
With all that said, I know that people have had great success with myfitplan. I tried it a few days, though, and found it too time consuming and awkward to use, especially since I don't eat a lot of packaged goods so scanning isn't a quick option most of the time for me.
Does it get easier to use as time goes on? How beneficial has it been to helping you lose weight?
I have tried many diet plans , successfully but like you, found some of them too time consuming, restrictive and expensive.That is why I went to calorie counting, less restrictive, less time consuming and free. When you get used to it , it becomes automatic, I still measure/weigh everything and still log every bite I take. I find that less difficult than having to wear extra size clothing again or trying to cllimb stairs without resting after each step.
If I try to follow any of those restrictive diets, I would surrender after just one day. With calorie counting, you'll have much more freedom but at the same time you'll be more conscious about what you eat. It won't tell you "you can't eat this or that" or "only fruits and vegetables today" but more like "okay...you can eat whatever for lunch but is it healthy? Will you have enough calories left to actually eat anything for dinner?"
It's actually a bit fun and shocking. I found out today that the calories from 5 pieces of my favorite chocolate snack is the same as 100 grams of chicken breast fillet. I'll take the chicken any day.
The thing I like about Richard Simmons is that he wants you to eat a balanced meal so that is why you should eat x oz. of protein and x servings of fruits and veggies a day. But then there are times you just want a big fat burger and with that program, you would end up starving the rest of the day. I guess the moral of that story is that I shouldn't be eating big fat burgers because they are the reason I am in the situation I am in now.
I do think I could make it into some sort of game, though. It'll be interesting to see how well I do with calorie counting because it is has literally been at least 2 decades since I did that. Did I just say that? lol
It's really up to you to decide what's going to work. Technically speaking any diet plan will work, as long as you're consistent.
Personally the only thing that I've ever stuck to longer than a week was calorie counting. I get to eat whatever, but I often choose healthier options knowing how I'll feel later. If I get home and I have 200 calories left and I'd really like a cookie, I have a cookie. If I had a cookie yesterday, I migth opt for a healthier evening snack like almonds or something.
It's flexible. If I know I'm going to Starbucks with friends in the afternoon I might save some calories for a snack, but if I have no calories I just get black coffee.
You learn how many calories are in things, or at least roughly how much. Bananas are roughly 100, unless it's particularly small or big. Eggs are usually 70 cals. Also, I buy the same types of food a lot of times. I buy canned pumpkin and I know half a cup is 50 cals. I know 1 cup of unsweetend almond milk is 45 cals. I know each slice of the bread I buy is 120. My favorite cereal is 110 cals per cup.
I just use these things often and eventually I remember the calories and the serving size..
I don't find it time consuming to google the calories in something I'm not sure about. It's worth it to me.
Yes, it's better to eat healthier options but with calorie counting you don't always have to be so restrictive. I personally hate diet plans that give me specific foods I can eat. My body does okay on carbs. I don't have to avoid them to lose weight. Some people do, but you can count calories and watch your carbs at the same time. Many calorie counters will count macronutrients.
Anyways, I think calorie counting is awesome and fairly simple but it's different for every person. If you genuinely can't stand counting calories and you'd rather follow a plan then go for it.
I like the variety, the flexibility, the accountability and the overall results. I know my ticker doesn't show a big loss, but that weight was put on by not counting calories. I tried other diets, I tried to eat mindfully and quit when I was full, I tried eating only unprocessed...I tried a lot of stuff and it didn't work for me. I eat too much, healthy or not, and that's where calorie counting keeps me in check.
I find it extremely easy and I cook with a lot of freshfoods so I just look them up and don't scan. It just depends, any diet you do will require some effort to achieve success the most amount of effort with calorie counting will be well calorie counting, but I actually enjoy it, even more so when my fitness pal says I've logged for 180 days in a row, makes me feel good
The thing I like about Richard Simmons is that he wants you to eat a balanced meal so that is why you should eat x oz. of protein and x servings of fruits and veggies a day. But then there are times you just want a big fat burger and with that program, you would end up starving the rest of the day. I guess the moral of that story is that I shouldn't be eating big fat burgers because they are the reason I am in the situation I am in now.
I love Richard Simmon's old Deal A Meal plan but I also found it quite restrictive, especially when it came to protein options so I bought a couple extra decks of the cards on EBay and tailored his plan to my needs while keeping my calories where I wanted them. It took a bit of math to get it to work to my required 1400 to 1500 daily calories but I eventually worked it out and I am happy on it.
With that said, why don't you have a cheat meal once a week so then you know at this one meal ( and only ONE meal) you can have anything you like, such as that fat burger you want. Then you might not feel so deprived. You can even make it lower calorie by wrapping it in lettuce leaves instead of using a bun and piling on the other veggies and extras (a thick tomato slice, some onion slices or some avocado and a nice slice of exotic cheese from your fav deli). The choices are endless and you can spend all week planning it.
Last edited by canadianwoman; 09-13-2012 at 08:29 AM.
Reason: because my spelling sucks before a cup of tea
With calories, is it really true that you should eat 1000 a day if you want to see any noticeable weight loss? Apparently I would only lose a pound a week if I ate 1500 calories a day and I would lose 2 pounds if I ate 1000 calories a day. In your experiences, is 1500 a day ok for weight loss? I don't think I can maintain 1000 a day! I will end up binge eating!
With calories, is it really true that you should eat 1000 a day if you want to see any noticeable weight loss? Apparently I would only lose a pound a week if I ate 1500 calories a day and I would lose 2 pounds if I ate 1000 calories a day. In your experiences, is 1500 a day ok for weight loss? I don't think I can maintain 1000 a day! I will end up binge eating!
You need to eat atleast 1200 calories a day more if you plan to be doin any exercise, good luck
Hi everyone. I've never been much of a calorie counter and usually just use Richard Simmons weight loss plan. I have had great success with it in the past but I find it a bit restrictive. I know that I shouldn't eat junk and I'm working really, really hard on that but I'd like to know that if I would like some a junk occasionally, I can put it into my diet. Also, I don't like how it limits me to x amount of veggies or x amount of protein per day. If some days I am a little hungrier for meat than usual, I don't want to feel like I'm throwing my whole plan into the garbage or that I'm 'cheating.'
With all that said, I know that people have had great success with myfitplan. I tried it a few days, though, and found it too time consuming and awkward to use, especially since I don't eat a lot of packaged goods so scanning isn't a quick option most of the time for me.
Does it get easier to use as time goes on? How beneficial has it been to helping you lose weight?
Thank you for your advice and/or information.
Michele
If you are consistent in the beginning with My Fitness Pal or similar apps it does get easier as you are building up your database of the foods you eat. You can adjust the plan to fit your needs too.
I find that if I'm tracking consistently then I often will choose to forego junk food because of not willing to give up my calories for non nutritious foods. However, if I want something badly enough I track it and adjust my calories in other meals.
One thing I did and do is to utilize the recipe feature. I went to the website and typed up a bunch of the combo foods I eat regularly so that I can just go and add it to the diary when I eat it. I just type in the ingredients to get the calories.
Apparently I would only lose a pound a week if I ate 1500 calories a day and I would lose 2 pounds if I ate 1000 calories a day.
What's wrong with losing a pound a week? In 2011 I lost 55 pounds eating 1,500 calories per day. It may not be noticeable from week to week, but it's certainly noticeable over time. IMO it's the ideal balance between achieving a decent rate of weight loss and eating enough so you don't feel deprived.
Counting calories (myfitplan)
