[wantochange]

I started using a calorie counter (there are so many of them out there) and it's amazing how many calories are in the foods you eat.

I wish I had started one earlier. It'll definately help out.

[berryblondeboys]

yes, it can be very eye opening. I'm always amazed at how many more calories beef is than chicken. And while I'm a nutrition label reader and have been since I was a kid, I was still blown away at how many calories are in cookies - even fig newtons!

[Slashnl]

It is amazing, isn't it? I was reading on another forum and people were posting about what they used to eat and how many calories there were. Pretty scary to think what happens when you aren't being mindful about it and not keeping track. I added up some of my previous pitfalls and it is mind blowing.

[gigantosaurus]

Yeah, it can totally be jarring. I used to be so confused as to why I was gaining weight because I wasn't eating a lot (as far as portions and quantities go), but once I learned about calories, I realized I was eating upwards of 3000 calories a day sometimes! I wasn't eating a huge amount of food, but the food I was eating was incredibly dense in calories. Makes me a little sick to think about it now!

[novangel]

Originally Posted by wantochange

I started using a calorie counter (there are so many of them out there) and it's amazing how many calories are in the foods you eat.

I think this is crucial for everyone starting a weight loss journey. They need to SEE exactly what they're eating per day to understand how they got to where they are. Most people truly believe their eating habits are not the problem but once the numbers are in front of them it becomes more clear.

I myself had no idea how many calories we're in certain things that I would've swore we're low calorie. Once I added everything up for the day it was very eye opening.

[LRH]

Looking at a restaurant menu that lists the calorie content is also shocking!

[k823127]

Counting calories has opened my eyes beyond belief!
I used to think that i didn't eat that much, but blimey i must have been piling it on.
I am now a constant calorie counter, which some people find frustrating...i actually enjoy!
So far i have lost 21lbs in 7 weeks, so i will stick to my way for the time being.

[Psychic]

Its amazing how many calories people consume without even realizing it. When you start counting calories, its shocking. Now I'm like... I can't believe I used to eat a platter of fried appetizers as a meal at restaurants. That's more calories in one meal than I need in a whole day!

[SkylarLeeDixon]

For that very reason I dont do calorie counting. It scares the crap out of me!

[Olivia7906]

^LOL!

I used to calorie count. But now that I have the hang of things and really only eat my own food anyways, I concentrate more on quality of food and portion control. It's been working great