Anyone else here hate counting every single calorie?

MynameisChester

I counted calories initially which I think is great for educational purposes. I just count macros now and focus on food quality. Better adherence, lost 33 pounds so far (220-187) and much more manageable. Anyone else feel the same?

zyxst

I hate counting calories, but I know myself well enough that I will have to keep counting unless I want to weigh 300+ pounds again.

If counting macros works for you, awesome. Keep it up.

ThunderZtorm

I've always used MFP as a rough guideline. I don't weigh everything exactly etc.

Like, at work, I usually grab a mix of salads, some corn, cucumber, peppers, peas, beans etc, whatever's there on the day in the canteen. I tend to just write that down as 150-200g "mixed greens". I get a rough estimate which is close enough for my purposes.

jandsstevenson887

That's part of why it works for me. I don't want to make another entry so I change my mind about eating things.

MommyL2015

No, counting calories is easier because there's no guesswork involved. Guesswork for me leads to failure. Just like when I drive, if I have to guess which way to turn, I always guess wrong and get lost. lol

ReaderGirl3

I maintained my 50+ pound loss for over two years without counting and things were going well. However, the further away I got from the weight loss phase the easier it was to lose focus. I've learned my lesson and have started tracking again, and will do so for the rest of my life, which will probably be 40+ years.

It kind of sucks, but being overweight and a T2 sucks way more (when I was at my highest weight I was flirting with prediabetes). Most people fail at keeping the weight off long term, I will be one of the few who do succeed at this. Tracking/counting goes a long way towards making that happen (for me).

jemhh

I think calorie counting is pretty easy and don't mind doing it. I do think that people should learn to estimate/eyeball serving sizes though.

Gisel2015

Yes, I don’t like weighting, counting and logging; that is why I take breaks quite often. I don’t log much or not at all when I am on vacation, and sometimes I just don’t log during the weekends or holidays or if I am eating out (unless I had access to the nutritional information). If I don’t take counting and logging breaks I would go insane. I even canceled my account a couple of years ago and I did good on my own.

I am not a big eater, don’t care for sweets, and I don’t binge or have cravings so all of that works in my advantage. I have been maintaining for over five and half years, so it is working for me. But I do keep an eye on portion control and on the type of foods that I like to eat.

I know that I am not the only one because many people in MFP are not longer logging consistently anymore.

85Cardinals

Sometimes it seems like a fun game, and sometimes it seems like a huge pain. So yes, sometimes I hate it.

But it is vaguely satisfying to know exactly how many calories you're eating. Knowledge is power, as they say. Or some people do, I think.

sunnybeaches105

I hate it, but it keeps me honest during periods of weight loss.

BoomstickChik

Nah, because I've lost 50 lbs doing this. It's tedious to weigh and measure every little thing, but clearly, it's paying off.

MynameisChester

ReaderGirl3 wrote: »

I maintained my 50+ pound loss for over two years without counting and things were going well. However, the further away I got from the weight loss phase the easier it was to lose focus. I've learned my lesson and have started tracking again, and will do so for the rest of my life, which will probably be 40+ years.

It kind of sucks, but being overweight and a T2 sucks way more (when I was at my highest weight I was flirting with prediabetes). Most people fail at keeping the weight off long term, I will be one of the few who do succeed at this. Tracking/counting goes along way towards making that happen (for me).

I have no doubt you will succeed. You've done it before and you could do it again! If I may ask though, what factors caused you to lose focus in the first place?

jenfitnessmama

Oh, I absolutely hate it! But, I know if I don't then I over eat and end up gaining, so even though I hate doing it, it works for me.

Francl27

Better than the alternative.

ogmomma2012

I don't hate it. I need it. Can't eyeball things and right now I'm not very active. That's awesome you don't need to count calories.

trjjoy

You just need to adult up and log them calories. Or else... It's like brushing your teeth. Who actually enjoys doing it? And yet we all do it.

VintageFeline

I don't find it to be a big deal. Better than being fat. And because of technology it really is super easy. Had I been trying to do it 20 years ago i might find it a lot more tedious. I wouldn't find tracking macros easier, actually harder but different strokes.

MynameisChester

I'm seeing the trend that it's either count calories or get fat. Part of also what I do is just make sure my pantry is stocked with whole food. Sure I may indulge in some processed foods once in a while but I don't keep it in my home too often. I'd say my fridge and pantry is stocked with like 85% whole nutrient dense foods, and 15% processed food (Doritos and chocolate sometimes as I enjoy these every one in a while). Anyone else consider this method instead?

MynameisChester

^^

edit*pantry and fridge stocked with whole food

2snakeswoman

OMG, yes: Ihateitihateitihateit! BUT nothing else works for me. I'm 62 and have tried every trick in the book to eat intuitively or eat only certain foods or ... But if I keep track and don't eat more calories than I need, I lose fat. Otherwise I blow up like a fat balloon.

lisawinning4losing

I hear you, that's why I'm also going the route of being more focused on macros and the quality of the food I'm eating (avoiding refined carbs and highly processed foods, eating more quality meats and vegetables, etc), because counting calories does get quite tiresome. Calories count, but not everyone has to count calories. Before all this processed garbage, people didn't count calories, and obesity was rare. Intuitive eating seems like the easiest way to live, but, different things work for different people. Now that you can just use a phone app, some people find it easy to do, whereas I still think it's a pain, but that's just me. Keeping carbs down is pretty easy, because you just don't eat food that's high in carbs.

perkymommy

I don't mind counting them at all. I've lost 20 lbs so far and want to lose more so I don't mind. It's about a new lifestyle for me and I don't ever want to go back to being miserably huge again. Once I get to my goal weight and start maintaining I will likely stop tracking quite as much because by then I will probably know about how much to eat without measuring and weighing it every single time.

snowflake954

I look at it this way--alot of people over the years are posting "Hi, I'm back calorie counting, since I gained the weight back". Since this happens very frequently, I hope to avoid it by continuing to count. I also like to watch my protein levels and it's impossible to do without counting. I do take breaks, especially during the summer while on vacation--I always gain at least 4 lbs. So, I'm not great shakes when I get off the wagon.

nvmomketo

I was counting calories more in the first few months. Now I just do it periodically to see where I am at, especially if I add in new foods. I need to know how new foods and recipes fit into the calorie counts and macros.

That being said, I am flexible with my counting. My calorie count can vary by a few hundred calories each day but it all seems to work out in the end.

Gisel2015

trjjoy wrote: »

You just need to adult up and log them calories. Or else... It's like brushing your teeth. Who actually enjoys doing it? And yet we all do it.

Or else what.....? Many people, myself included, are not longer logging "them calories" all the time and everything is fine and dandy. Since when adulthood is determined by logging calories in a website?

By the way, I like brushing my teeth more than counting and logging calories

shadowfax_c11

I don't always like cleaning house but I do it anyway because living in a dirty house sucks.
I don't always like going to work but I like having money to use for things like food and rent so I get up and go to work anyway
I don't ever like paying bills but I like having a roof over my head, a car to drive, running water, heat electricity and my horse, so I pay them anyway.
I don't always like logging and paying attention to my calories but I also don't like being overweight, out of breath and in pain. I like that I feel better and move better as I lose the weight. So I count calories anyway.


In life you don't alway do things because you like to. Sometimes you do them because you have to in order to enjoy the benefits. If counting calories was something I could do only if I liked doing it I think I would not need to lose weight.

nbalan2014

shadowfax_c11 wrote: »

I don't always like cleaning house but I do it anyway because living in a dirty house sucks.
I don't always like going to work but I like having money to use for things like food and rent so I get up and go to work anyway
I don't ever like paying bills but I like having a roof over my head, a car to drive, running water, heat electricity and my horse, so I pay them anyway.
I don't always like logging and paying attention to my calories but I also don't like being overweight, out of breath and in pain. I like that I feel better and move better as I lose the weight. So I count calories anyway.


In life you don't alway do things because you like to. Sometimes you do them because you have to in order to enjoy the benefits. If counting calories was something I could do only if I liked doing it I think I would not need to lose weight.

Couldn't have been said any better. Thank you for putting it in perspective

jemhh

I don't understand how counting macros is easier than counting calories. There are 3 macros (4 if you count alcohol) and just one calorie number.

endlessfall16

ME. I start to hate counting every little thing. I'm applying my own strategy now.

I need to be consistent with making & taking my coffee, my morning breakfast, and give them a rough estimate. Example, 100 for coffee, 300-400 for breakfast.

I don't count green vegetables.

I count the "major" foods such as as meat, pasta, brown rice, orange juice, milk.

It is OK to eat just 1200 or less calories some days.

charlieandcarol

jemhh wrote: »

I don't understand how counting macros is easier than counting calories. There are 3 macros (4 if you count alcohol) and just one calorie number.

I was thinking this too, besides the nutritional aspect, isn't counting macros effectively counting calories? Maybe it feels different (and better for some people?) to do it that way?

moto450

Been counting for over 500 days. Ill continue another 500. It works and although tough at times I ultimately enjoy being healthy now. Well worth it! I've lost 70 lbs and an working on muscle and toning now. I love this app for what it has helped me accomplish with increased awareness.