Simplified this whole process for counting and diet with startling results

gregc50

It is a pain to use an app to track calories. But it taught me how to accurately measure calories and where secret calories get into my daily diet. Without a doubt the app makes it easy. But even easier is doing it not at all.

First round I was aggressive 1600 calories + whatever exercise in calories, a large deficiency. Certainly I lost the weight, but I couldn't keep it going and gained it all back + MORE.

This time I went with 2000 calories, around 85% of my basic need, no more though I only do a light 30 min walk per day.

I split my calories into 3 meals, 500 calorie breakfast (10am or so), 500 calorie lunch (2pm or so), and a 1000 calorie dinner.

Then I made my meals as simple as possible, one or two ingredients e.g.
- 6 eggs or just bran flakes and milk for breakfast
- 2 slices bread + ham or cottage cheese and leafy greens for lunch
- meat such as steak or pork tenderloin or chicken breast 700 calories for dinner then the balance in whatever (mixed veg, baked fries).

With all this I lost 6 pounds in the first week! and just kept shedding weight from there on, every day.

What made this good was that I was not overly hungry every day, if I got a little hungry I would have a piece of fruit or two.

The calories were far more accurate but easy to calculate. I do use a kitchen scale, so I would grab two slices of bread (170) and then figure out the balance in peanut butter for example and that was it. Sure the food was blander but I think easier to process through my system, more back to cave man basics.

TheMrWobbly

I am very happy you found a method that works. You are still counting calories and tracking what you eat. Impressed you can do it in your head however it doesn't mean tracking is a bad idea for most and I would encourage people to keep weighing and tracking.

There are no specifics on your history and, at least under your current username, you have only been on MFP for 4 and a bit months. My specifics for the last 14 weeks have been lose between 1-3 lbs per week, more initially, the same as you, then regularly afterwards, the same as you, though I log and track as I eat a variety of foods or I am travelling and cannot guarantee what I will get.

Your regimented approach on what you eat is to be admired, for most people this is not an option with families, other commitments, or even that they don't want to get bored of food and honest logging of consumption is important.

Good look for the future, it looks like you have found the formula for you and the lbs should keep on shedding.

gregc50

TheMrWobbly wrote: »

mpressed you can do it in your head

Thats because I split it into 1/4, 1/4 and final meal 1/2 of the daily calories, so I never forget where I am at and don't snack in between meals. [/quote]

cupcakesandproteinshakes

Good for you to have lost weight. I would encourage you to think about the long term though. Is it a plan you can sustain once you have met your weight loss goal?