First time with a real plan!

linz1125

Hi everyone!
So I took a big step and decided to begin looking at what I eat in order to lose weight. Before this week I was incredibly against counting anything, and now I am seeing what benefits it has. Yesterday I tried an experiment. I tracked everything I ate and only ate the reccommended 2,000 calories. The good news is, I wasn't hungry at the end of the day! So I figure I am going to do the reccommended amount for about 2 weeks to get my body used to eating what a normal person eats and then cut it back slowly. From what I noticed yesterday, I was probably eating anywhere from 3500-4500 calories per day!! :embarassed: I am really loving this site, I feel it is extremely helpful and I can't wait to have my progress tracked. I am also using DietOrganizer mobile for my blackberry, so i can keep track of calories on the go, then entering them in at the end of the day.
To burn calories, I plan on combining my Wii Fit, online workouts, and walking my adorable dog Sophie.

The main problems that I have already encountered are:
1. figuring out how many calories are in the dishes that I cook. I do a lot of my own cooking from scratch (growing up we never had anything out of a box) so I really don't know how to figure out the nutritional information.
2. drinking 8 glasses of water a day! I work in a call center, and we are expected to be on the phones for the entire day, except during 2 15 minute breaks and a 45 minute lunch. So drinking that much water is not so good while i'm at work, since our adherence to our schedule is monitored daily and it goes into our overall performance evaluation.

Other than that I am just trying to keep a positive attitude and stick with it. I am so excited to have found this website, it seems that everyone is extremely supportive and helpful. Can't wait to hear from all of you!

tbrown1025

hi! Welcome to MFP! Isn't it shocking how much we take in via food without even knowing it?!? I was shocked when I first started tracking, thinking, "well, no wonder!" hahaha!!

1. To calculate nutrional info for my homemade meals, I add up all the values for each ingredient, then I divide by the number of portions, and try to make the serving sizes as close to equal as possible. It's not the most accurate method, but I think it gives a really close estimate. I cook 5-6 nnights a week, and have lost 75lbs so far, so I'd say it works pretty well, lol!

2. Drinking that much water does make one have to go, erm, relieve oneself often, hehe. That's the worst part for me, especially when I'm on the road or when I'm out doing errands. But what can your employer say -- I mean, they have let you pee, right?!?

Welcome again, and good luck!

linz1125

LOL of course they let us go if we need to....I'm just trying to really stick to my schedule at work, because it is measured daily. They're pretty big on coaching to correct behavior that affects the call center, and one of those behaviors is excessively leaving your desk. So it kinda sucks, but I am so close to being able to be considered for a higher position, I don't want anything to get in my way!

MOMOFTWO29

Hello and welcome to MFP. I think you will love this site. I do. This site is so supportive, helpful, motivational, easy to use, and everyone here is so nice and friendly. I just wanted to wish you success on your weight loss journey. You can do this!!!!! :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

a_new_mii

You know what food I gave up when I started counting calories?
Salad! I had no idea I was smothering my healthy lunch with gazillions of calories, carbs and fat.
I used to call it my 'garbage salad' ... I had no idea I was actually eating garbage. :noway: