Counting/measuring food

ndj1979

Eliminate sugars, white flour, white rice, and full fat dairy from your diet. You will be fine if you are conscientious.
I lost the needed 25 lbs slowly and kept it off for 5 years. Recently gained back 5 lbs when I started eating sugar again.
The trouble with counting calories is it doesn't account for the quality or nutritional value of food. It's a good guide line to
help you be aware of how much you are consuming, but it is not the end all, be all.

LOLZ …and the sugar and white flour/rice fear mongering continues…

so you are saying I can eat all the brown rice I want and I will not gain weight? What about wheat bread, is that negative calories..??

jimmmer

Eliminate sugars, white flour, white rice, and full fat dairy from your diet. You will be fine if you are conscientious.
I lost the needed 25 lbs slowly and kept it off for 5 years. Recently gained back 5 lbs when I started eating sugar again.
The trouble with counting calories is it doesn't account for the quality or nutritional value of food. It's a good guide line to
help you be aware of how much you are consuming, but it is not the end all, be all.

You reintroduced carb sources that you had been restricting? Probably led to an increase in glycogen storage which in turn led to an increase in water storage. It's not really a bf issue.

3-5lbs gain rather rapidly wouldn't be out of the way. It is not reflective of 5lbs of fat gain though - unless you have something like before/after dexa scans to back up your assertion that you managed to gain 5lbs of fat rapidly without being in a surplus (if that is indeed your claim) due to sugar being present in your diet.

Of course this is assuming people care about fat gain and loss when they speak of weight gain and loss. If they are concerned purely with scale weight, then fluctuations in this could be down to any number of things.

dq_14

I have been thinking about this for the past two weeks -- and I'm in the "losing weight" stage, not even "maintaining."

When I gained about 15 pounds two years ago, I started logging everything I ate using a calorie counter app, and without even exercising much, I went back in shape. With a busy schedule and too much stress, however, I gave up what had become a habit for a few months. After I gave up counting calories, I started gaining weight and after a few unsuccessful attempts to log my food again, I gained much more than I had lost back then -- now I have about 25 lbs to go!

This time, I decided to change my lifestyle once and for all. The main goal is losing weight, but I want to have a healthy life more than anything. Rather than starving myself with diets that don't last more than a few weeks, I eat healthy, home-cooked food and exercise. To see if I've been on the right track, I saw a nutritionist two weeks ago. I told her I stopped logging every bit of my food, but rather I started watching what I ate. (I'm already familiar with the calorie count of the food I eat after months of logging calories and measuring food -- I try not to have a breakfast over 400 calories, for example.) As I was telling the nutritionist about my diet routines (how I eat 3/4 cup of cereals, with half a cup of skim milk and a tablespoon of honey -- which is about 250 calories), she stopped me and said, "you say you don't count calories anymore, but you still do." According to her, I should never ever count calories, because if I do, I will gain more weight than ever the minute I stop -- and she says, I, like everyone, will stop at some point because my body will start to crave the essential fats, sugars and proteins it's been missing. She, as an expert (and quite a skinny person), may have a point but I'm confused. How can I lose 25 pounds if I completely omit tracking my calories and measuring my food? What do you think about what the nutritionist said? Could calorie counting be a mistake?

(Sorry about the long post. I'd really appreciate your comments!)

jimmmer

I have been thinking about this for the past two weeks -- and I'm in the "losing weight" stage, not even "maintaining."

When I gained about 15 pounds two years ago, I started logging everything I ate using a calorie counter app, and without even exercising much, I went back in shape. With a busy schedule and too much stress, however, I gave up what had become a habit for a few months. After I gave up counting calories, I started gaining weight and after a few unsuccessful attempts to log my food again, I gained much more than I had lost back then -- now I have about 25 lbs to go!

This time, I decided to change my lifestyle once and for all. The main goal is losing weight, but I want to have a healthy life more than anything. Rather than starving myself with diets that don't last more than a few weeks, I eat healthy, home-cooked food and exercise. To see if I've been on the right track, I saw a nutritionist two weeks ago. I told her I stopped logging every bit of my food, but rather I started watching what I ate. (I'm already familiar with the calorie count of the food I eat after months of logging calories and measuring food -- I try not to have a breakfast over 400 calories, for example.) As I was telling the nutritionist about my diet routines (how I eat 3/4 cup of cereals, with half a cup of skim milk and a tablespoon of honey -- which is about 250 calories), she stopped me and said, "you say you don't count calories anymore, but you still do." According to her, I should never ever count calories, because if I do, I will gain more weight than ever the minute I stop -- and she says, I, like everyone, will stop at some point because my body will start to crave the essential fats, sugars and proteins it's been missing. She, as an expert (and quite a skinny person), may have a point but I'm confused. How can I lose 25 pounds if I completely omit tracking my calories and measuring my food? What do you think about what the nutritionist said? Could calorie counting be a mistake?

(Sorry about the long post. I'd really appreciate your comments!)

Well, don't cut out essential fats, sugars and proteins - just reduce the amount you eat to put you in a modest deficit.

You need to retrain yourself that healthy isn't cutting something out. Lots of healthy people eat all kinds of things and they still lose weight.

stealthq

...
How can I lose 25 pounds if I completely omit tracking my calories and measuring my food? What do you think about what the nutritionist said? Could calorie counting be a mistake?

(Sorry about the long post. I'd really appreciate your comments!)

If you are able to reduce your portions and therefore your calories enough, you can lose the weight without calorie counting. Lots of people find that very difficult, though. Calorie counting, if done accurately, is a guarantee for at least the input side of the calories in/calories out equation. It also lets you know where you are in case you want to make adjustments later.

My opinion is that your nutritionist is only giving you one side of the story. If you quit counting calories and never monitor your weight, then sure. You're likely to fall back into old habits and regain the weight, though if you're good at eyeballing portions that should take a good while. BTW - this is what happens on every diet, which is why most people regain the weight they lose no matter what they try.

But, you can stop counting calories, keep an eye on your weight and if you gain, say, 5 lbs over your goal weight then start counting again until you're back where you want to be.

Oh, and the bit about craving fats, etc? No. You just tend to backslide to old habits. Kind of an 'I've reached the finish line, so it won't hurt if I ...' mentality. Like I said, happens on every diet.

Blokeypoo

she says, I, like everyone, will stop at some point because my body will start to crave the essential fats, sugars and proteins it's been missing.

(Sorry about the long post. I'd really appreciate your comments!)

I don't see the link. I have counted cals for the last 2yrs but don't see why my body would be "missing" the things you mention above. If you do it gently on a sensible cal limit (I did 1400 to lose my wt) then there is plenty of room for the essentials listed plus a few other things too!

Dietitians here in the NHS still often push the food pyramid which most people have long abandoned. I'd ignore that line from her and just use the stuff which suits you. People might get fed up of cal counting but it's not because they lack nutrients unless they do comedy low cal in which case they will reap what they sow.

craftywitch_63

Maybe if you allowed yourself NOT to measure one thing but measured everything else, it would help. Force yourself to measure everything EXCEPT non-starchy vegetables. The vegetables are your "freebie." Since you have something that doesn't need to be measured, weighed, etc., you might be more likely to weigh, measure the rest of the food.

Wish you the best! :flowerforyou:

craftywitch_63

Eliminate sugars, white flour, white rice, and full fat dairy from your diet. You will be fine if you are conscientious.
I lost the needed 25 lbs slowly and kept it off for 5 years. Recently gained back 5 lbs when I started eating sugar again.
The trouble with counting calories is it doesn't account for the quality or nutritional value of food. It's a good guide line to
help you be aware of how much you are consuming, but it is not the end all, be all.

LOLZ …and the sugar and white flour/rice fear mongering continues…

so you are saying I can eat all the brown rice I want and I will not gain weight? What about wheat bread, is that negative calories..??

You mentioned brown rice but you forgot about

dq_14

Maybe if you allowed yourself NOT to measure one thing but measured everything else, it would help. Force yourself to measure everything EXCEPT non-starchy vegetables. The vegetables are your "freebie." Since you have something that doesn't need to be measured, weighed, etc., you might be more likely to weigh, measure the rest of the food.

Wish you the best! :flowerforyou:

That sounds great! Thanks!

nxd10

I do log everything, but I only weigh and measure periodically now.

If you google 'portion size' and click in 'images' it will give you pictures you can stick in your wallet to keep you honest. Besides, 80% of what I eat is stuff I've eaten before, and I know what it is and approximate portion sizes.

---

Also, as someone says, setting your diet on autopilot helps. I eat one of four or five things for breakfast and lunch. I drink milk or juice in JUICE glasses (5 oz) not water tumblers. I skip cheese and butter and sugar most of the time. I rarely eat bread and use low carb tortillas instead (50 calories). I eat ice cream in a Chinese tea cup (1/4 cup). I drink water, never soda.

If I do that, I can treat myself to whatever I want in reasonable portions and have calories left over without worrying about it much. Even though my maintenance is only 1440 calories and I don't exercise much.

FraggleRockerFitnessLover

OK, you obviously know how to do it, it's intake and exercise, and portion control You most likely know calories by looking at your plate after logging for some time. Don't weigh it or log it, just be aware of what you put in your mouth and keep moving is my recommendation. Good luck! :bigsmile:

jodycoady

I just can't lose weight any other way but to log....

It's time-consuming, but no reward comes easy

missyhut714

i have this problem i am in school fulltime and work 12 hour shifts. I have about 20lbs to go does anyone have somegood ideas for food measuring i feel like i either eat to much or way to little and if i am working out 60 min 3 times aweek should i be taking in more than 1200 cal.

WestCoastJo82

I actually never measured my food - while losing and now while maintaining - but I cook a lot and thought I was a good eyeballer. I lost weight at a pace that suggests my eyeballing was accurate, so I never felt the need to be more tight about my intake. If was having problems losing though, I would have caved and gotten a scale. So, now that I'm maintaining (about 6 months after a 20 pound loss) I don't log anymore either, but I do weigh myself everyday, and if my weight creeps out of the range of normal then I'll log again. Since you are working on strength goals now, I'm not sure that would be the best strategy - ideally you will gain weight during a recomp. So maybe keep logging but stop weighing/measuring your food?

nxd10

A nice site linked to by the UNC dining halls to help you make good choices in the dining hall:

http://www.dining.unc.edu/PortionSizesandConversions

einzweidrei

Eliminate sugars, white flour, white rice, and full fat dairy from your diet. You will be fine if you are conscientious.
I lost the needed 25 lbs slowly and kept it off for 5 years. Recently gained back 5 lbs when I started eating sugar again.
The trouble with counting calories is it doesn't account for the quality or nutritional value of food. It's a good guide line to
help you be aware of how much you are consuming, but it is not the end all, be all.

Interesting. I'm maintaining on eating/drinking:
-White bread/pasta/etc. (Yuck @ the whole wheat/other stuff.)
-Any kind of rice
-Plenty of candy and snacks
-Mm whole milk ONLY. Okay maybe half and half if whole milk isn't around.

That is not all I eat but they are a constant in my diet. Just had a bowl of chocolate cheerios (with whole milk) and two cups of coffee (1/4 cup of whole milk/3 sugars per cup) so I'm good.

3proud

I have realized that the only way to maintain or lose without calorie counting is to either restrict a particular food group or limit portion size and not snack. The problem is that the only real reason I don't want to calorie count is that I want to just eat without thinking about what I am eating and when. It also usually means I want to overeat.

The only way I can really deal with this is to let myself overeat I maybe on saturday and sunday) and try to input those calories as best I can after the fact and then eat at a deficit sometime over the next week.

When I go on vacation I don't count but I stick to eating at meals only and limit my portions. I will still put on a few (probably because of the unlimited alcohol and salt) so I have to go back to counting and it comes off within a week. But I can never really go more than a week or so not counting without having to return and get back on track.

FWIW, it gets worse if I exercise because I get hungrier and feel like I deserve to eat more. I also find that counting is more satisfying because I can indulge while still being at a deficit or within maintenance calories.

I have found that the fitbit has made it more fun to get my NEAT calories higher so I can eat more throughout the day. Just running around town and taking a short walk will give me 200-300 more calories to eat.

lizzyclatworthy

I keep hearing about phones that can scan the bar codes of food and add it that way. Sometimes I wish I was better with technology. (I guess his doesn't help with homemade but if I am measuring to cook it's not a big deal to log)
I also find now I am down to a nice weight the logging helps people not to make comments like 'how can you eat that and be slim' because they can see it's not a thoughtless eating but a balance of food and exercise.
I think about what I eat so logging it isn't an issue

Treadmillmom1st

I was going to say the same thing, only about wiping my @ss :laugh:

It's not FUN, but it's the best/cheapest/most efficient/sustainable way of losing and maintaining weight. Suck it up. We all have to, no one's special.

What????? Wiping your bum is the best/cheapest/most efficient/sustainable way of losing and maintaining weight? Why the hell did no one tell me this 3 years ago!