Calorie counting is BLOWING my mind...
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That's why I love this site, it makes you be accountable and once you see the numbers you think twice about having that again and try to find a better option. I keep telling myself that when I hit a maintenance phase I can perhaps splurge but right now while I'm trying to lose I need to stay focused and not blow my whole day with a grand slam at dennys (which is like 1000 or more calories by the way). As they said at fitness camp, "It's okay to have a 'cheat meal' but not a 'cheat day'." Because a day turns into 2 days then a week and you have just blown a lot of time eating whatever the heck you wanted.0
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Yep I have these "are you serious?" moments (frankfurters!!!!!), mind you I also I have the complete opposite: "Are you serious? I can eat this, I love it and it fits well in my diary?" (Tuna, Salmon, Chicken, mushrooms...).
Well said! Case and point.... take a Fiber One Brownie (90 calories), heated up and half Skinny Cow Caramel Cup (about 75 calories for the half) and you have an absolutely delicious TREAT!
My "are you serious" moments are... seriously? I have to eat all dang day to get in the calories that I was getting in, in one meal before! Better choices mean more food! LOL0 -
This is why most of us are overweight. It is because we have no idea what we are putting into our bodies. We have to educate ourselves about nutrition.0
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The 100 cal snack packs. I know they say 100 cal right on them...but then I realize, those are a lot of calories for what you get out of them! I agree with one of the other posters saying that they treat their cals like money - that's a good way to look at it. I'm always thinking about how far I can stretch my money and get the most of it (being a student and all) so thinking of calories that way makes a lot of sense! What surprises me the most are meals at restaurants. Earlier in the summer I went to Applebee's with a friend and I ordered a honey bbq chicken sandwich and gave her the bacon and the stupid thing (sandwich alone) was still almost 800 cals! 800 CALS for a GRILLED chicken sandwich... definitely sticking to the under 550 cal menu if I go back there again...0
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I used to worry about how many calories things were. A meal in a recipe book would be 450 calories, and I'd stay away from it. I would prefer to eat my day away in 50 and 100 calorie increments. And I obsessed about food. All. The. Time. I'm not so obsessive anymore. If I want it, I have a serving. I mean, 23 almonds are 160 calories, and that isn't a whole lot of almonds, but if I chew them slowly and thoroughly, by the time I am done, I feel full.
This, along with 'diet' foods is a trap I've fallen into. You get so obsessed with saving calories, you don't eat any nutrition and end up starving all of the time0 -
I have them all the time. My mom will say do you want an oreo or something like that and I say no, they're too expensive. She looks at me like I'm crazy. She doesn't realize I'm talking expensive in calories and not $. But I kind of treat it like money, get the most out of what little calories i have!
that's a really good way to look at it, like money and you're on a budget. Some things are too expensive and we can't afford it!0 -
This is all a learning process. It is amazing how many calories can be in a food you have been used to eating for years and the portion is so much smaller than you thought. However, if you're eating healthy, and getting exercise, eating that ice cream, having that glass of wine - anything in moderation is okay. This is not a diet to cut out foods, but to learn to eat better and be more active. My problem used to be that if I wanted something, but trying not to eat it, I would eat "around" it until I ate more calories than if I just ate that food and got it out of my system. This continues to be a life education. Eat to live, don't live to eat. Take care.0
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Does anyone else feel this way? I mean, sweet Jesus, its getting depressing!! Everytime I consider drinking a coke, Im like, good God man, that's another 140 calories Im throwing away... Lucky me, Ive got a hankering for unsweet tea, but there are some things I was quite surprised to see how much they are "worth". Bananas are 110 each? WOW! ITS A FRUIT RIGHT?? Lol I had a glazed donut and a glass of milk one day, and it still cost me more calories than my eggs, bacon, and fried potatoes (and unsweet tea) the following day ~ and that other meal filled me up longer (until I needed something crunchy to snack on ~ enter the ever-loving and forgiving pretzel!!). Just wondering if anyone else has had any "ARE YOU SERIOUS??" moments... Im sure I cannot possibly be the only one...
Pretty much everything I used to eat made me react like that.0 -
Oh yeah! Of course! haha, I went shopping the other day, and instead of doing all the math to see what COSTS more per seving/oz/lb, etc, I was looking at all the calories. Did you know there is such crazy calorie differences in HOMINY brands? Ok, so I don't know about other people, but I usually grab the generic, cheaper brands of stuff... (I'm a poor 22yr married gal, so sue me! ha!) that was until I was reaching in my cupboard the other day and pulled out a Walmart Yellow Hominy and a Bushes Yellow Hominy side by side to compare. They are nearly the same exact thing, but the difference per serving was 20cal! Now, I know that's not a ton, but.... seriously?! I totally chose the Bushes Hominy for less cal! Yummy. I find it fascinating at the calories I must have regularly consumed without a thought. I kinda miss the days when I could eat something without obsessively looking at the back! baha!0
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I feel like this a lot, and muffins are my downfall (420 calories in a big one, YIKES). But that is also how we learn to make better choices, right? and, as shocked as I am about how many calories are in some foods, I am also surpised by how good some foods are for you (light soups have only 80 calories YES PLEASE).
and as far as drinks go, all I ever drink anymore is water and diet coke, because I hate wasting calories on anything that doesn't fill me up.0 -
I used to worry about how many calories things were. A meal in a recipe book would be 450 calories, and I'd stay away from it. I would prefer to eat my day away in 50 and 100 calorie increments. And I obsessed about food. All. The. Time. I'm not so obsessive anymore. If I want it, I have a serving. I mean, 23 almonds are 160 calories, and that isn't a whole lot of almonds, but if I chew them slowly and thoroughly, by the time I am done, I feel full.
This, along with 'diet' foods is a trap I've fallen into. You get so obsessed with saving calories, you don't eat any nutrition and end up starving all of the time
It took me 3 different uphills on the roller coaster before I had the "aha" moment! I think because I was on weight watchers, I would see points and anything above about 3 points would freak me out. When you only get 20 points to spend for an entire day, 3 points is a lot for a single thing! So I would buy the diet foods that were 1 - 2 points each and chow on them all day. They weren't fulfilling, and most of the time it caused me to crave more food. So, I just started shopping the outside of the grocery store (for the most part, anyway... I buy peanut butter and things like that from the middle, but I definitely stay away from things like crackers, cookies, and potato chips... all those empty calories), and if I want to have a hamburger, I have it! There is nothing wrong with having one! I just make sure that I add a couple tomato slices and some lettuce, and maybe have a side of broccoli with it so that I'm getting plenty of nutrition and getting plenty full.0 -
Are people really this disconnected with how many calories/fat/sodium/etc is in their food?
I gained weight knowing full well what I was eating was bad. I just can't imagine being so in the dark that you're actually surprised.
*facepalm*0 -
I have them all the time. My mom will say do you want an oreo or something like that and I say no, they're too expensive. She looks at me like I'm crazy. She doesn't realize I'm talking expensive in calories and not $. But I kind of treat it like money, get the most out of what little calories i have!
I totally do this too. I always say that I "can't afford" something - I mean in calories, not in money. I try to get the most bang for my buck, calorie wise.0 -
I get excited to see how fast I can redline my calories for the day. That's what I use a calorie count for. If a Fuddrucker pound burger by itself isn't enough to be over my calorie goal, I'm doing it wrong.0
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Are people really this disconnected with how many calories/fat/sodium/etc is in their food?
I gained weight knowing full well what I was eating was bad. I just can't imagine being so in the dark that you're actually surprised.
*facepalm*
For me, it was more about seeing how things really add up. I would see individual calorie counts and know that some things weren't the best for me, but until I saw a whole days worth all added together, I didn't realize just quite how bad I was eating. I think that seeing it all there in black and white and added up together is a great tool for making a change. And obviously that is something that helps a lot of people, or else we wouldn't all be at a website like this that has tools specifically devoted to tracking food and exercise. I think it's funny that you're so shocked people find tools that help count their calories so helpful and revealing, given the fact that you're here too.0 -
Yes. Beef tongue. I couldn't believe how many calories are in it, and I love it. Fortunately, I am still at a higher calorie count, so I can continue to enjoy it for a while longer.
Ewww!0 -
Yes. Beef tongue. I couldn't believe how many calories are in it, and I love it. Fortunately, I am still at a higher calorie count, so I can continue to enjoy it for a while longer.
Ewww!
Don't like eating something that can taste you back?0 -
Yes. Beef tongue. I couldn't believe how many calories are in it, and I love it. Fortunately, I am still at a higher calorie count, so I can continue to enjoy it for a while longer.
Ewww!
Don't like eating something that can taste you back?
That and I have seen cows pick their noses with their tongues.0 -
Yes. Beef tongue. I couldn't believe how many calories are in it, and I love it. Fortunately, I am still at a higher calorie count, so I can continue to enjoy it for a while longer.
Ewww!
Don't like eating something that can taste you back?
That and I have seen cows pick their noses with their tongues.
I thought that was a side dish? No?0 -
I love this thread!!! I know?!?! 110 for a banana??? I also try to convince myself that sometimes the stuff I know is bad is good becuse it isn't loaded with calories. Twizzlers?!??! Noooooo nutritional value, loaded with sugar, etc etc etc, but low in fat and calories. So, I can have the whole huge bag, right? My weakness are bags of animal crackers. 250 something for the bag? No problem, I can do that - but I pay for it later with the sugar rush and crash!
Another problem for me is beer. Can't have just one Miller Lite, sorry!!! But, when it adds up, I can drink my entire days worth of calories. So not good!!!0 -
Yes. Beef tongue. I couldn't believe how many calories are in it, and I love it. Fortunately, I am still at a higher calorie count, so I can continue to enjoy it for a while longer.
Ewww!
Don't like eating something that can taste you back?
That and I have seen cows pick their noses with their tongues.
I wish I could do that. It would keep my hands free for MFP typing.0 -
We have all had those moments. Just try and remember though that all calories are not created equal....and by that I mean that sure, a huge bowl of veggies may have the same amount of calories as small donut, but the donut doesn't have near the amount of good things in it to properly fuel your body like the veggies do. The veggies will will keep you fuller longer, give you more energy and when consumed on a regular basis improve your overall health. The donut....just tastes good.
Having these "AAAHA" and "WTF" moments are an important part of the journey. At first can be overwhelming, but after a short while you find a groove and it just becomes second nature.
Anyway, I can remember when I first started doing this I was really surprised at how small serving sizes really were.0 -
Wine and gin & tonic!
As someone says further up, it's seeing how they all add up! We all know we shouldn't really be going over 2k calories a day. But I've never really thought to add up all the calories in a bottle of wine or a few glasses of JD & coke. Not that I'm an alcoholic, just that I have difficulty seeing liquids as real 'food' and so often hadn't counted them as calorie intake in the past. Dopey, I know...
It's so easy to go over your daily calories by half again on a night out. Or having a meal out and not being aware of exactly what's on your plate!0 -
Hot dogs with the works. I bought 2 at a local church fundraiser and entered them as Dairy Queen hot dogs since I didn't have a clue what the church was using, but figured they weren't using all beef kosher weiners and whole grain buns. The calories for just the 2 hot dogs was more than my alotted calories (before exercise) for the day!!0
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Wine and gin & tonic!
As someone says further up, it's seeing how they all add up! We all know we shouldn't really be going over 2k calories a day. But I've never really thought to add up all the calories in a bottle of wine or a few glasses of JD & coke. Not that I'm an alcoholic, just that I have difficulty seeing liquids as real 'food' and so often hadn't counted them as calorie intake in the past. Dopey, I know...
It's so easy to go over your daily calories by half again on a night out. Or having a meal out and not being aware of exactly what's on your plate!
Haha! I had the exact opposite reaction when logging wine. I mean, I can have like 3 - 4 glasses of wine for the calories in one Big Mac. Why would anyone ever choose the Big Mac???0 -
What I find crazy is that crap that some restaurants are trying to make look "healthy" until you read the caloric intake. One restaurant's fish tacos had over 2,000 calories. For me that is almost 2 days worth of calories....WOW!
And then an appetizer with almost 3,000 calories....no wonder most of the country is obese.
http://www.healthy-environments.com/Worst-Food.asp0 -
Yes its depressing when you look at a small bag of delicious cheesies and it's 500 calories!!! Then I realize that I dont really want it that bad. lol I would way rather have a banana or a protien shake. I have learned to love healthy eating. Its a long journey but you can do it.0
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ohh I like this idea, Thanks!0
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I love this thread!!! I know?!?! 110 for a banana??? I also try to convince myself that sometimes the stuff I know is bad is good becuse it isn't loaded with calories. Twizzlers?!??! Noooooo nutritional value, loaded with sugar, etc etc etc, but low in fat and calories. So, I can have the whole huge bag, right? My weakness are bags of animal crackers. 250 something for the bag? No problem, I can do that - but I pay for it later with the sugar rush and crash!
Another problem for me is beer. Can't have just one Miller Lite, sorry!!! But, when it adds up, I can drink my entire days worth of calories. So not good!!!
OMG the thought of how many calories are in a 6pk of Sam Adams Boston Lager just makes me want to cry... Lol Im not an alcoholic, but I think I should start opting for a couple of glasses of red wine instead from now on... CH-CH-CH-changes!!0 -
Regular Ranch Dressing absolutely blew me away. It has more fat than most meat!0
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