Started Counting Calories - Weight Loss Message Board

KittyLove · 03-16-2006, 05:37 PM

I know I've said that I don't believe in calorie counting (obsessive thinking about food) but I've reconsidered. I'm still following a low-yeast diet (allergic), and although my weight fluctuates between 127 and 133...I still want to lose some weight, so I've decided to count calories and see what happens.

I started Friday 3-10 weighing 133. I went out and bought a small note book and have been writing EVERYTHING down. So far I've noticed that just the simple act of acknowledging and writing everything down eliminates my mindless munching and gives me a new perspective and control of the amount of calories I'm consuming in a day. I'm beginning to see that weightloss isn't a big mystery at all, and that I CAN in fact control my weight. I've been keeping my intake to 1200 a day and within one week, I have lost 3 pounds!

I was enlightened by an article I read about that how for awhile everyone was counting fat grams, and then everyone was counting carb grams, meantime, everyone forgot to count calories! I know I did. ( I refused to focus on food and calories!! yuck, obsessive). It has truly been an eye opener to actually count calories...no wonder I gained weight. I wish I did this long ago, it would have saved me the trouble and aggravation! Right now, I have to say this is the most logical, easy, and noticeable move I've made towards weight loss.

I can see how counting calories can become an obsession though, and I do have a fear that "this is how it starts" or "I'm becoming obsessive", but what I hope to gain from this is an understanding of calories and portion control...and to leave it at that. I hope that in the future I can quickly summize what 1500-1700 calories a day is and maintain my weight, and that I will memorize portion size and calorie. For anyone perplexed by weight gain...start looking at calories, and I mean EVERYTHING you eat...the "why am I not losing weight" misery and agony will quickly end. Studies show people counting calories don't always include EVERYTHING...and those ignored calories add up! One little bite of something can add up to 100 calories! I know it sounds rigid and a pain in the butt to count calories...but try it for one week and you will TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY GET AND UNDERSTAND WEIGHT LOSS. I'm seeing the light here.

I found a good formula online: Your current weight x 13 = The calories you are now eating right now, daily to maintain your weight. Subtract 500 from that and aim for that new total daily to lose weight.

I will post my progress. I'm 5'4, 130 right now and my goal is 118.

slimseeker · 03-16-2006, 06:03 PM

Kittylove,

Good job. I agree with you in counting calories. I've noticed that when you count the calories..the fats..etc.. all are within range of what we shoud eat. It's ALL in the calories and exercise.

Good luck. I'll be anxious to see your progess. I have been counting calories now for two weeks. I have lost 5 lbs. already. I also do 60 min of exercise.

Slimseeker

KittyLove · 03-16-2006, 06:49 PM

Thank You Slimseeker,

I feel like I'm going back to the "tried and true" method here...I've tried everything else, now it's back to the basics...count calories. Wow!! It really works!!

bluejbirdie · 03-16-2006, 07:28 PM

Way to Go....I have been preaching this for a long time....I have lost almost 60lbs that way.
And Really it doesnt become obsessive....Eventually you get to know what the calorie counts are for the Foods you eat. you get to know the serving sizes and eventually you just know instinctively what to eat. you begin to make better choices since you know that for 100 calories you can X amount of this or Y amount of that, and the X amount of this will fill you up more then the Y.

You look at something like 200 Calories of Oatmeal and you realize that it will fill you up much more then 200 calories of rice cakes or a 200 calorie chocolate bar!

southjerseymom · 03-17-2006, 04:18 AM

I just started to keep a food and exercise diary. Wow! It all does add up! I have always been an avid exerciser and healthy eater, but I'm realizing now that it's the QUANTITY of food that brought on an extra 10 pounds over the course of 2 years! Plus the fact that I'm pushing 38, metabolism is changing. My gyn told me last year, that it's all a matter of calories. I'm beginning to see how true that is. Thing is I'm afraid of consuming too few calories, because that can mess up your metabolism and weight loss efforts. I'm 5"7 and 144 (yikes!) at the moment(it's all in my mid section complete with love handles!). I feel my best when I'm 130-135. Healthy, fit, slender, but not celebrity-emanciated looking. So I'm going to continue keeping the diary and see what happens. If I'm "stuck", than I guess I'll try Weight Watchers to learn better portion control. I, too, will post periodically. It's going to be bathing suit weather soon and I'm determined to feel better about myself this year! Good luck everybody!