Hi all! I'm new here. My first week, and I noticed a lot of people mention calories intake. Now I have never been one to count calories...even though I know that's what produces fat. But I've lost weight before, 30-45 lbs (when I was around 19/20 yrs old) with out doing it. All I did was watch my carb intake. Basically Atkins. Calories weren't even an issue.

Has anyone else experienced this? OR can someone explain how that happened? Is there basic rules to counting calories? How quickly to you see weight loss?

Now that I'm 24 I have that weight back, and then some, but I noticed it's HARDER to get back to Atkins. I noticed personally, I do better with plans that are drawn out in crayon for me, although I do get bored. BUT If calorie counting really does work, maybe I can try that and not really feel like I'm DIEting. hehehe.

Right now I am doing the 6 WBMO. Kinda. LOL. I do modify it a little to fit my lifestyle.

Thanks for your wisdom!!

For me, I've found that calorie counting is the ONLY thing that works. Most diet plans are a form of calorie counting -- they just do the counting for you when they set out the requirements. I would rather figure out what I want to eat that fits in my calorie intake instead of having someone else tell me what to eat, because I know I'll never stick to anything that outrules certain foods. I tried Atkins a couple of times a few years ago and lasted oh um...less than a day, maybe. I just have no interest in that kind of plan.

I don't know what the "6 WBMO" thing is that you mentioned, so I can't comment on that, but I strongly urge you to look into basic calorie counting. It seems to be the plan that works for the most people here -- it's easy to stick to, it's not terribly restrictive, and it's something you can do forever. Also, it just makes sense. You lose weight when you burn more calories than you consume (through both normal daily activity, being alive, and working out), so if you limit your calories to a level that causes weight loss, you'll be successful. Finding that level is the only tricky part -- you may need to do a bit of research and then some trial and error and always be ready to change your intake when you need to.

Here's a little science. A calorie is simply a measure of energy, the energy your body uses to function. All calories are not created equal in your body's eyes. It burns the calories from carbs first, then it burns calories from fat as it's second choice. When there aren't enough calories taken in it starts burning the reserves...basically stored fat in your body. So when you create a calorie deficit (meaning you burn more than you take in) you lose weight.

In my opinions (and people's opinions vary GREATLY on this subject) a low carb diet isn't as good because it's less likely that you can eat that way for the rest of your life....so usually you go off the diet and gain the weight back. Low calorie (which is what I follow) doesn't necessarily restrict any specific group of foods, so it's more likely that I will stick with it in the long haul. I don't see myself on a diet, I see myself making a permanent change in the way I eat. Smaller portions and healthier choices automatically mean fewer calories, meaning I'll lose weight and keep it off.

I really can't say how quickly you would lose weight by restricting calories, everyone is different. However there are a few things that seem to hold true for pretty much everyone, for example you will lose faster in the beginning....then the weight loss will slow down and level off, but don't get discouraged and don't give up! Also, regardless of which plan you choose you must eventually exercise! Often you will lose weight without exercise just by modifying your diet, but after a bit you will have to exercise to keep the weight coming off, plus it's just damn good for you!

Anyhoo I've droned on long enough, good luck with whatever you choose and I hope you keep coming back here, this is such a fantastic place for support, advice and friendship!

I've tried so many diets lately, and calorie counting has brought some weight off for me. I started really simple - I ate whatever I wanted and limited how many calories I could have in a day. Within a few days, I learned super quickly that eating just one or two high-cal meals or sweets wouldn't work. My body was grateful when I spread the calories out through the day and monitored all my meals and snacks.

Basically, I read the serving size on the package and don't eat any more than that of any one thing. I try to not eat any single item that contains more than 200 calories - like chicken patties have 250 or so, so I won't touch those. I'd rather make an omelette - which ends up having more calories, but is more filling and probably less fat.

I haven't watched fat yet, but that's the next step. I'm trying to eat healthier in general and finding I can do more with my calorie budget that way. It's been the best for me and the one thing I've stuck to and gotten results from.

Although calorie counting can be a pain at first (because you have to figure out the calories of everything), as you get to know the calories in the foods you normally eat, it becomes easier. I can now mentally calculate my calories for the day (rather than looking them up). It took me a while to get to this point.

Although counting calories has some downsides, IMHO, it's one of the best ways to lose weight because you have more freedom with what you eat. If you choose to splurge and eat a piece of cake, you can just make up for it by cutting some calories elsewhere. You'll soon realize, though, that eating nutritious food is more satisfying in the longterm.

HERE is a great article about what exactly a calorie is, how our bodies burn calories, etc. It's scientifically based but an easy read, it's not too technical.

Yup, it works. But as others have mentioned it, even in plans that don't make you count, they're usually counted. Atkins, for instance--most people will have a harder time eating a lot of meat than eating a lot of cupcakes, and the sweets would anyway add up more quickly for a lowest quantity than meat. So it all falls back to a lower calories count at the end of the day.

All in all, whether you count or want to follow a specific plan, it all amounts in the end to what works for you, both in your 'way of thinking', so to say, and in the constraints of your life. A plan that restricts certain types of foods may be hard to stick to in certain circumstances that you can't control (let's face it, there will *always* be circumstances we can't control), but in which calories counting could still allow you to save the day. In both cases, anyway, if you eat too many calories, they'll be packed in unwanted places.

I'm not going to lie here- we have sweet tooth lovers in my house. Sure, we love eating healthy, too- that's never been a problem, but take away our sweets permanently, and well, you've lost us as dieters, lol.

To satisfy ours, I buy a variety of fun snack packs and fun sized candies, and we lock them all up in our pantry, along with all the breads, cereals and starches. This helps remind us that we're counting calories and need to find something else to do or fill up on water while waiting for our next meal or snack. My youngest daughter has an awful time staying away from breads, cereals, and sweets- hence, why I lock them up. She's getting better at portion control, but she's still a kid, and when temptation is there, she will take it, lol, like the rest of us.

If we stick to our diets for the day, saving the last 80-90 calories for our sweet treat, then we allow ourselves this luxury. We don't always eat them every day, but it sure is nice to know we can have them, if we wish!

As a family, we have lost a total of 56 pounds in five weeks time, counting calories.

Atkins made me sick. My kidney just could not handle all that protein. I tried several times, and each time, by the third day, looking at anything with protein in it made me nautious. It just wasn't worth the health risk.

Counting calories is the only way to go, for myself, anyway. Good luck with what ever diet you chose!

In my opinion, every diet comes down to calories. Just most of them are round-about ways to get people to reduce their calorie intake, and thus lose weight. Even Atkins. If you lost weight on it, you were cutting calories. Every structured diet is just someone saying "Eat like this and you will reduce your calories!" Personally, I prefer just to get to the heart of the matter and track the calories directly. That way I don't have to mess around with all the little odd rules and restricted foods of a structured diet and can eat just exactly what I want as long as I stay in calorie limits. Works for me!

Calorie counting has definatelly worked for me. i've been on this diet 4 days and have lost 9 lbs. By the end of each night i'm ready to give up and have a big mac, but the numbers keep dropping, so i'm staying with it.

Thanks SO much for explaining it to me-it's shed some light. From the things you have said- I can see how calorie counting and the way your body burns calories play a major role in my diet plan.... It seems its a good back to basics kinda deal. Thinny thighs! WOW on the 9 lbs in 4 days!! Congrats!! I'm used to counting carbs- so calories shouldn't be much more difficult. and Steelslady awsome! 56 lbs as a family. it's great you all are doing it together!! I'll keep loking into it. And wisher- thanks for the article. I haven't read it yet... but I will as soon as I'm done typing this. I'll do more research and read a few more forums on it! Thanks All!

Thinnythighs, how many calories a day are you eating? If you're hungry at the end of the day, and you're counting calories, you're either, a. not eating enough calories (which is likely given your weight loss in 4 days) or your not choosing to spend your calories wisely. Even when my plan was 1200-1300 calories a day, I was not hungry.

4thebigday: calorie counting is the best. It's efficient, it works and it doesn't forbid you from eating foods that you like to eat. It's also the most, imho, sustainable way of eating/maintaining/dieting.

Hmmm... thinnythighs, 9 pounds in 4 days at your weight is highly unusual. Care to share with us how many calories you eat in a day? There are many reasons NOT to go too low...

Jay

i would love to share how many calories i'm consuming and what i eat...but because i have an eating disorder i do not give advce to others. i want all of you to be healthy and not get trapped where i am at. Sorry.

I believe in counting calaries 100 percent . It has an added benefit I haven't seen mentioned . it is free!