Need helps guys an gals

JMann191
JMann191 Posts: 121 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So I just posted a topic today about weight loss via walking an ppl were saying it all basically comes down to calories an what I eat Etc.
My issue is this!: I can never seem to stick with counting calories, I use to use the "Lose It" App on my iPhone but I just stop after a bit...

My main issue is not only not being able to stick with calorie counting, but its hard to count calories with certain foods such as homemade meals, going out to eat Etc.

I need some serious help an advice, what should I do? Few weeks back I weighed 234lbs(Embarrassing to me...) I am a male around 6'1 or so. I am not lazy, I just cant seem to stay committed when it comes to counting calories.....

Replies

  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    There's this awesome website, you may have heard about it... it's called myfitnesspal.

    Use it. It's pretty awesome and easy to use. :)

    Step 1. Eat whatever you want, just keep it in your calorie goal.
    Step 2. ????
    Step 3. Profit.
  • JMann191
    JMann191 Posts: 121 Member
    There's this awesome website, you may have heard about it... it's called myfitnesspal.

    Use it. It's pretty awesome and easy to use. :)

    Step 1. Eat whatever you want, just keep it in your calorie goal.
    Step 2. ????
    Step 3. Profit.
    LOL yes I know haha, But its still hard to track certain foods, like if my Dad or Mom makes lets say...Like homemade burritos with rice, re-fried beans an cheese. Not all things come up on my Lose It App...
  • kimosabe1
    kimosabe1 Posts: 2,467 Member
    eat it all!

    but work out! screw calories-
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Paleo might be up your alley.
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    eat it all!

    but work out! screw calories-

    Lol, no.
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    LOL yes I know haha, But its still hard to track certain foods, like if my Dad or Mom makes lets say...Like homemade burritos with rice, re-fried beans an cheese. Not all things come up on my Lose It App...

    Just search for something in the database that's similar and estimate your intake. Sure it won't be 100% accurate, but it'll get you in the general area. :) I do this for family dinners. Works fine. As long as you don't go hog wild, chances are you'll still be in a deficit.
  • TX_Rhon
    TX_Rhon Posts: 1,549 Member
    Going out to eat is harder than homemade meals for me. I enter my homemade meals into the recipe section of MFP and know the calorie count. I've used this for my spaghetti and red beans. I also freeze these meals for quick lunches at work later and I already know the calorie count.

    As far as out to eat, I try to stick to places that have nutritional information on their website so I can pre-plan my eating out. Don't get me wrong, sometimes that all goes to hell in a hand basket when I'm sitting with the chips and queso in front of me, ha!

    Counting is what works more than anything for me. Is it a pain sometimes? Yes. But the end result has been worth it. I use my phone app for alot of stuff as I can use the barcode scanner.

    It comes down to whether or not you really want a change. Are you ready? Then do it!! Good luck :flowerforyou:
  • mungowungo
    mungowungo Posts: 327 Member
    Paleo might be up your alley.

    Or LCHF.
  • Love4fitnesslove4food2
    Love4fitnesslove4food2 Posts: 711 Member
    Paleo might be up your alley.

    seriously?!?
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    There's this awesome website, you may have heard about it... it's called myfitnesspal.

    Use it. It's pretty awesome and easy to use. :)

    Step 1. Eat whatever you want, just keep it in your calorie goal.
    Step 2. ????
    Step 3. Profit.
    LOL yes I know haha, But its still hard to track certain foods, like if my Dad or Mom makes lets say...Like homemade burritos with rice, re-fried beans an cheese. Not all things come up on my Lose It App...

    If you use the MFP app, you can enter the ingredients as a recipe. You could ask your mom or dad how they made things, enter it in, and then serve yourself.

    Or switch to a diet like Paleo, which is a bit more forgiving.
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Paleo might be up your alley.

    seriously?!?

    Yes, seriously.
  • gramarye
    gramarye Posts: 586 Member
    If I eat homemade things at someone else's place, I just try to find something "close enough" and err on the side of things with more calories. That said, this is such a pain that it motivates me to cook as much of my own food as possible. It helps that I'm the cook in the social group. :D

    That said, getting involved and seeing what/how other people in your household are cooking is a good first step. (In my case, it was realizing, "Oh man, there are some serious flaws in eating the way we did growing up.")
  • amyk0202
    amyk0202 Posts: 666 Member
    I keep track of my homemade meals by entering them into the recipe calculator. If your parents are cooking, try helping out & entering it into the calculator to get the calories per serving. I like that I can play with the recipe right then to see what I can do to make it fit easier in my goal--changing out ground beef for ground chicken, adding cheese after the main dish is cooked so I can weigh out the actual amount I'm eating, etc. MFP has a free app that you can use as well. When I eat out, I try to stick with dishes that I know I can find similar foods on MFP--lean meat with no sauces, veges, salad with measured dressing. It is a lot of work, you just have to do it in the end.
  • salladeve
    salladeve Posts: 1,053 Member
    Well if you want to take the time you can enter recipes for your home made meals, then once that is done it is easy to enter it in your diary, but it does take some time the first time. I guess it depends on how bad you want to track your calories.

    Also many restaurants have nutritional information on their websites.
  • Love4fitnesslove4food2
    Love4fitnesslove4food2 Posts: 711 Member
    Paleo might be up your alley.

    seriously?!?

    Yes, seriously.

    I find it interesting that that was your recommendation. That is all.
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Paleo might be up your alley.

    seriously?!?

    Yes, seriously.

    I find it interesting that that was your recommendation. That is all.

    Typically I do not recommend diets that are restrictive, but if someone is unable to keep counting calories, a diet such as Paleo would be more forgiving as much of it is lower in calories. He would just have to exercise portion control.

    However, calorie counting and eating whatever you wish in moderation is still my go-to.
  • MorgueBabe
    MorgueBabe Posts: 1,188 Member
    Um homemade foods are the easiest. You know exactly what's in it.
  • nmcknny
    nmcknny Posts: 479 Member
    You can google "calories in home made" whatever and recipes come up often (or you can go to recipe sites on purpose) and find something pretty similar to your own meal. They usually include a nutritional count at the end of the recipe. Sparkpeople is a good place to look for nutritional figures for dishes (pot roast, or rice, for examples).
  • nmcknny
    nmcknny Posts: 479 Member
    I had trouble using the recipe calculator--guess I need to try again.
  • DamePiglet
    DamePiglet Posts: 3,730 Member
    Also, people who don't know what is in a dish ask about it in the forums asking "what's in this?" Lol
    I've helped people with that before. Like others have said, sometimes it's best guess.
  • teabeeten
    teabeeten Posts: 15 Member
    It's pretty rare that I don't find something that's at least close to what I'm eating in the MFP database. Even my mother in law's homemade Indonesian food has similar foods that I can log. It may just be an estimate some days, but consistently logging everything you eat will definitely help you reach your goals.
  • fruttibiscotti
    fruttibiscotti Posts: 986 Member
    Paleo might be up your alley.

    seriously?!?

    Yes, seriously.

    I find it interesting that that was your recommendation. That is all.

    Typically I do not recommend diets that are restrictive, but if someone is unable to keep counting calories, a diet such as Paleo would be more forgiving as much of it is lower in calories. He would just have to exercise portion control.

    However, calorie counting and eating whatever you wish in moderation is still my go-to.

    ^^^^^ this. Thank you, Reality.
  • JMann191
    JMann191 Posts: 121 Member
    LOL yes I know haha, But its still hard to track certain foods, like if my Dad or Mom makes lets say...Like homemade burritos with rice, re-fried beans an cheese. Not all things come up on my Lose It App...

    Just search for something in the database that's similar and estimate your intake. Sure it won't be 100% accurate, but it'll get you in the general area. :) I do this for family dinners. Works fine. As long as you don't go hog wild, chances are you'll still be in a deficit.
    I've thought about that as well lol, just didn't know if it would count :(. But I think I shall :)
  • JMann191
    JMann191 Posts: 121 Member
    PS!: Thanks everyone else for all the kind replies, Think Ill just go with the "get as close as possible" route when it comes to logging calories. Ill re-download my "Lose It" App :)
  • sloth3toes
    sloth3toes Posts: 2,212 Member
    PS!: Thanks everyone else for all the kind replies, Think Ill just go with the "get as close as possible" route when it comes to logging calories. Ill re-download my "Lose It" App :)

    With the "get as close as possible" route.... you want to watch trends. If you 'think' you're eating the right amount, by your logging, but you're not losing what you're set to lose, then you're probably 'guestimating' wrong ( too low ) and need to start logging things as higher calories. I've never logged that accurately, but it works OK for me.

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