Tips to lose without counting

Leana93412

Okay I seriously love these forums and will probably never leave..or stop stalking you all... I LOVE YOU MEANIES!!!! :smooched:

Now that I'm done disgusting you all... :bigsmile:

I'd always stick around here, but seriously, counting is making me seriously OCD-ish! And it's irritating the heck out of me. I'm more focussed on the number than my own hunger cues.

So I'd like some tips on how to lose weight (and maintain) without counting. Has anyone got any?

The only obvious one I can think of would be to eat whole food...because lets be honest, it's hard to eat 1000 calories of most vegetables...I'd automatically be in a deficit if I ate healthy most of the time.

Any other ideas?

shabaity

I've heard about people having success with the palm measurement thing. From the looks of it in comparison to the counting it could work well though I guess with low calorie vegetables and fruitsyou'd do like a double palm maybe?

Meerataila

You might have more luck not having to count with plant based than with other eating styles, but I know there are plants I can overeat easily: Beans, potatoes, rice, and all nuts and seeds come to mind. I'm sure I could overdo on fruit, too. I just haven't. Yet.

I'm sure as I go along I'll find more.

Francl27

For me, the only way to lose weight without counting would be to stick to low calorie foods. And I'd never be able to maintain that.

So, no help, I'm not sure how people do it. But to be frank, I don't think listening to your hunger cues when you've had weight problems is a good way of doing it either.

scarletrayne19

For me, I'm doing the whole counting thing right now which is great for me (I almost make it a game), but I pay attention to learn what a "portion" of something is so that I can re-train my body and brain to learn to be fuller on less food. In high school I had no problem wolfing down an entire footlong sub by myself, or an entire Little Caesar's pizza but now I struggle to finish a 6" sub sometimes. That's what I think is the most important thing here and it's the purpose of using the calorie calculator: to learn what a portion of food is so we don't overdo it.

I hope someday I can maintain without having to count every single calorie. That's why the healthiest people maintain their weight; to them this isn't a diet but a lifestyle change. Learning to not gorge ourselves on every meal is the key. I've been shocked lately by how much I ate in the past and how little comparatively I'm eating in recent days and still feel full.

WBB55

You could try just eyeballing food now that you've gotten some practice weighing and measuring. You can't lose without being in a deficit. How you achieve that deficit is up to you. 100% raw vegan, Paleo, Keto, fasting 2 days per week, only eating between noon and 4 pm every day, drinking only juice and protein shakes early in the day and eating 1 "meal" per day, etc.

I was fat for so long, I've learned that I can't trust my hunger cues. I can maintain without counting calories by eyeballing food and watching the clock. If I think I'm hungry, I look at the clock and ask myself when the last time I ate was. If it wasn't long enough ago, I just ignore my brain telling me to eat. My brain lies to me about hunger.

But to lose, I personally have to track as accurately as I can, because if I'm in too much of a deficit, my performance greatly suffers. And if I'm not in a deficit, I don't lose.

Leana93412

I've heard about people having success with the palm measurement thing. From the looks of it in comparison to the counting it could work well though I guess with low calorie vegetables and fruitsyou'd do like a double palm maybe?

I've memorized hand portions and do plan on using it, but I also need some more...structure?... Just to make double sure I don't overdo it.

zenalasca

My tips are

- Eat very healthily most of the time, but make sure you have nice seasonings (many of which are calorie free!!) for your meats/protein.
- If you're busy and need quick meals, go for canned legumes that you can have with deli meat or leftover meat. Baked beans even, are actually pretty good!
- Allow yourself ONE really good treat every day. Having had a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner, even a 400 calorie snack won't make too much of a dent and you'll probably still have a deficit esp. if you walk a lot or exercise

Leana93412

drinking only juice and protein shakes early in the day and eating 1 "meal" per day, etc.

shabaity

I've heard about people having success with the palm measurement thing. From the looks of it in comparison to the counting it could work well though I guess with low calorie vegetables and fruitsyou'd do like a double palm maybe?

I've memorized hand portions and do plan on using it, but I also need some more...structure?... Just to make double sure I don't overdo it.

Then I'm no help I'm still working on not eating that pint of chocolate ice cream in the freezer from before the number on the scale smacked me in the face.

Leana93412

drinking only juice and protein shakes early in the day and eating 1 "meal" per day, etc.

This piques my interest for the losing part...

JoanaMHill

Get various sized Tupperware? I've seen basically that sold as a "fix" for people with portion control problems. Designate a size for a type of food and only eat what you can fit in the container.

Leana93412

I've heard about people having success with the palm measurement thing. From the looks of it in comparison to the counting it could work well though I guess with low calorie vegetables and fruitsyou'd do like a double palm maybe?

I've memorized hand portions and do plan on using it, but I also need some more...structure?... Just to make double sure I don't overdo it.

Then I'm no help I'm still working on not eating that pint of chocolate ice cream in the freezer from before the number on the scale smacked me in the face.

Hahaha yeah me too. I've said now I'm not buying anything sweet...not so much as a granola bar..in bulk. Just single serve when I really want it. I think another key might be to keep one eye on the scale always. To catch anything before it gets too out of control.

maidentl

I've heard about people having success with the palm measurement thing. From the looks of it in comparison to the counting it could work well though I guess with low calorie vegetables and fruitsyou'd do like a double palm maybe?

I've memorized hand portions and do plan on using it, but I also need some more...structure?... Just to make double sure I don't overdo it.

Have you fallen into any sort of pattern? For example, I have fallen into the habit of three meals and and afternoon and nighttime snack. So I know now that I would need to continue something like that rather than just eating whenever the mood strikes.

Leana93412

Get various sized Tupperware? I've seen basically that sold as a "fix" for people with portion control problems. Designate a size for a type of food and only eat what you can fit in the container.

I luckily don't have too much trouble with portions anymore after 2 years of counting. I just eat too often I think. I should cut out snacks and eat at set times.

Warchortle

Portions and simple foods.

It's pretty hard to overeat on oatmeal and chicken breast.

JoanaMHill

A meal plan might help, then. Pick what you're going to eat the next day, get it down either written or in a place like MFP's food diary, and stick to it. It can be hard since life likes to throw things at you, but seeing those entries there could be helpful in not just randomly grabbing something.

Leana93412

^^ This is one of the things I plan to use.

AglaeaC

The only way I'd be sure I get enough but not too much of what I need is to make portions, count for the first one, put in fridge or freezer the rest, and copy from the first batch. Boring perhaps but so is cooking for one. At least I'd get the right stuff that way.

Topsking2010

I don't calories and lost 50 pounds. Life is good.

I eat healthy 80% of the time and anything I want 20% of time.

I also have a cheat meal once a week including dessert.

Counting calories does not help to maintain permanent weight loss.

chelseytyann

The 21 Day Fix program uses containers instead of worry about counting. Then eventually you get used to "sizing" up your portions and you don't have to worry about counting: http://www.beachbodycoach.com/CHELSEYTHALL

Leana93412

Well wether you all believe it or not I have actually gotten some tips from here. and you've given me some good ideas.

You guys are awesome !

[__] [__] [__] [__] [__] [__] [__]

^^ ice cream for everyone!

darkguardian419

To oversimplify it, fill up on veggies, then have your protein and carbs.

JoanaMHill

The 21 Day Fix program uses containers instead of worry about counting. Then eventually you get used to "sizing" up your portions and you don't have to worry about counting:

<a href="http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping_category/Fitness Program/21 Day Fix?referringRepId=430787&amp;tracking=AD_COACHREP_BANNER_21DAYFIX&quot; _fcksavedurl="http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping_category/Fitness Program/21 Day Fix?referringRepId=430787&amp;tracking=AD_COACHREP_BANNER_21DAYFIX&quot;&gt;
<img src="http://images.beachbody.com/tbb/coo/ad_banners/21_Day_Fix/2448-21_Day_Fix_COO_728x90option3.jpg&quot; _fcksavedurl="http://images.beachbody.com/tbb/coo/ad_banners/21_Day_Fix/2448-21_Day_Fix_COO_728x90option3.jpg&quot; width="728" height="90" border="0" alt="">
</a>

That's what I was thinking of. But if you were going that way, there's absolutely no reason to pay what BB charges for a few containers, exercise DVDs you could easily replace with free workouts on cable or online and info you can find for free on the internet.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do, OP!

Kotuliak

I'd automatically be in a deficit if I ate healthy most of the time.

I'm afraid meanies are going to come out in droves and point out just how completely wrong you are...

Leana93412

I'd automatically be in a deficit if I ate healthy most of the time.

I'm afraid meanies are going to come out in droves and point out just how completely wrong you are...

You will if you eat the correct portions. I didn't say you should eat a truck of potatoes Lol

WalkingAlong

Get various sized Tupperware? I've seen basically that sold as a "fix" for people with portion control problems. Designate a size for a type of food and only eat what you can fit in the container.

I luckily don't have too much trouble with portions anymore after 2 years of counting. I just eat too often I think. I should cut out snacks and eat at set times.

I think that's a great idea. I use it.

There are many books on intuitive eating, with a lot of great ideas.

You don't need to turn off your intellect to incorporate eating intuitively. If you know pizza is something you can really only have a slice of, even if you want a second, have a side salad instead. Your mouth wants a second. If your body is really hungry for more food, a salad will cure that. Save the pizza for your next meal time, if you really must have more of it.

One thing I've started doing is instead of expecting my body to shout "I'M FULL!" I stop eating as soon as the thought crosses my mind, "Could I possibly be satisfied now?" Or when the food no longer tastes great. I find I keep eating somehow hoping that 20th bite might be as good as the first one when I was really hungry, but it never is. Just stop. It takes practice but you can learn it. I tell myself, "It's not like I can't eat more in an hour if I truly did stop too soon."

I think people have a lot of fear over hunger and undereating, especially here. Look at all the threads about it. It's ironic, given overeating is the real epidemic.

adorable_aly

I'd suggest reading nia shanks.com, she has a great approach to nutrition if you don't want to count calories. Try the archive section of the website.