Is everybody just "counting calories"?

TheVimFuego

I am also a carb-counter ... the calories are of secondary importance to me.

I've cut wheat and sugar and I feel much better balanced.

There IS no such thing as an essential carbohydrate. (based in science too, whodathunkit?).

I started using MFP as a calorie counting exercise, realised what my body needed and now I laugh in the face of the macronutrient guidelines.

Here are some side-effects of this, for me:
- I feel full
- I don't snack
- The meals are tasty
- My body composition is improving
- My belt is no longer a decorative item and has a purpose
- It just feels right AND is backed by scientific fact

Scrambled eggs for brekkie with cayenne pepper, lamb steaks with leftover sausages and veggies for lunch and tuna bake with 3 cheese sauce and salad for dinner followed by a generous helping of red wine.

Low fat cheese spread on some crackers? Don't make me laugh.

We need fat, our bodies are fat, consuming fat will not kill you.

Yes, there are arguments against it which will be endlessly rehashed but the science is there to back it up, unlike the relatively new concept (started in the 70s) of the 'low fat' starvation diet which is based on Bad Science.

If yer interested then 'The Art And Science Of Low Carbohydrate Living' or 'Why We Get Fat' is a decent start.

<Preaching from the pulpit ends, I promise only one a week>

pastryari

I count ONLY CARBOHYDRATES.

Calories are of secondary importance.

If you want to LOSE BODY FAT, you must very very carefully track your CARBOHYDRATE INTAKE.

Please tell me you're just trolling...

elfo

When I stick to my calories and exercise I lose.
When I stick to my calories I maintain.
When I don't log I gain.

THIS IS SOOOOOO TRUE!

lc52820

My 2 cents. Don't count weight... use a tape measure instead. You also need more time - it takes a month to establish a new a habit.

Not all calories are equal. My diet is paleo-inspired and lowish-carb. I use the calorie calculator here to get a rough esitmate, but I don't like the nutritent goals - adjust the protein and fat to be 35%, carbs 30%.

I have found measuring myself to be helpful as well. I do weigh myself once a week but there have been times where I didn't lose any weight but I did lose inches, which was weird but encouraging.

I've been trying to watch what I eat & exercise regularly but when my schedule gets busy it seems like exercise is the first thing to go. For awhile I was obsessive about it but right now I'm feeling like I need to find a way to renew my motivation. I haven't totally fallen off the wagon, but I'm not as enthusiastic as I was a few months ago.

mandelea

I not only monitor not only my calories, but also my protein intake, I blog about my journey to keep my mind in the right place, I record my calories burned, and get advice on higher quality foods to improve my strength training progress.

While it's essentially this site focuses on calorie counting, it also allows you to keep track of the quality of the calories that you're consuming and the nutrients that come along with them, and keep track of which workouts work for you.

Weight loss isn't a cut and dry thing. Our bodies are complicated biological structures with way more components and systems than we seem to be able to keep track of. Monitoring correlations between what you eat, when you eat, what workouts you do, when you work out, how you feel in general, what the scale says, your measurements, how your pants fit, etc. etc. etc. is really where the money is at. Try new things and do what works for you.

So weight loss isn't JUST calorie counting, that's just where you start.

And as far as the carbs and fats thing goes - I would focus more on INCREASING PROTEIN rather than DECREASING the other two. By increasing your protein intake, your carbs and fats will automatically decrease just because you don't need them cuz you're full. Also more protein means more intense workouts.

Beautifully said!

ebang8689

You may have reached the dreaded stage of "Plateau"... here is some info. with suggested tips..
http://www.healthdiscovery.net/articles/15Plateau_tips.htm

Linda_Darlene

You got that right!

jenschnack

Eat more calories! There are several topics about eating more to lose fit2fat is a good site to check out. I am 5'2" current weight 147.6 lbs and I am netting 1440 and still losing. I am even thinking about going up more calories. I exercise 2-3 times a week and make sure to eat back my calories. HRMs help you know how many calories to burn exercising.

ScottFree_66

I first came to this site to help me track sodium after my cardiologist recomended the Dash diet. Later he told me I should also eat more potassium so i started tracking that as well.

If I can keep my sodium down, I've found that my calories will usually be around what MFP set as my goal.

It's a daily struggle and I've only been doing this for a month... right now it takes conscientious effort to eat correctly, but slowly I feel it is becoming a lifestyle.

Linda_Darlene

It's not just the amount of calories. I believe that it's the 'quality' of them as well. And exercise. How active are you?

I tried losing weight a few years ago by just watching my calories without changing how I ate. I lost some weight, but it was tough going. This time I have been eating healthy high fiber, fruits, veggies and low fat foods. If I eat a protein meal first thing in the morning, I find I have a smaller appetite and end up having to work at eating more instead of the other way around. I am having better success.

Sarauk2sf

You may have reached the dreaded stage of "Plateau"... here is some info. with suggested tips..
http://www.healthdiscovery.net/articles/15Plateau_tips.htm

5 days in not a plateau

abodyjoe

first off 5 days is nothing, just counting wont get fast results. you have to eat better, count calories and most of all you have to exercise in some way. exercise is the most important. as stated already don't go by the scale 100%. you'll see your clothes fitting looser first as long as your getting some exercise. i have lost 15 pounds in about 5 weeks.

i'm seeing a dietition and she has me slowly changing my diet. replacing all kinds of foods with better foods. food with highewr fiber will hold you over longer. healthy snacks during the day are good. when you eat meat make sure its lean meat. my biggest thing is adding more veggies to my diet. i'm working on that now.

good luck. don't stop. if it was easy then everyone would be 150 pounds.

jadedone

I started at the beginning of the year, and I am down a little more than 30 pounds.
The pounds were falling off pretty steadily from January through mid March. And then things stopped, and are finally picking up again.

From Jan - Mar I ate ~1600 calories and 25% of exercise calories. I exercised pretty intensely 3-4 days a week (50/50 strength and interval cardio).

I didn't make big diet changes. I have been eating pretty clean for 5-7 years now. Before I ate the right stuff + dessert. I have now cut that back to dessert occasionally. I don't have a big appetite, but I struggle with being a member of the clean plate club. And eating too much of my faves (pastries, dessert, white rice, pasta) I am not an emotional eater, so I am just paying a lot more attention to portions.

In April, I switched things up. I had been feeling much hungrier, and I upped my calories to 1750 (which should be about my BMR). I am exercising more consistently 4 times a week and I replaced the elliptical trainer with walking outside. Hunger isn't as much of an issue anymore.

I probably have a slow metabolism. I am hypothyroid. A few years ago, I started a new job and added 10-15 miles of walking (during the commute) to my activity (up from 1 visits to the gym a week and not much else). This office also had stairs, so I did more daily activity. My calorie consumption probably increased around 500 a week. I had lattes and drinks a little more often, but the daily activity should have more than made up for it. After 18 months, I gained 15 pounds. Completely unfair.

What I learned is my body only counts intense exercise as work, so my workouts are focused on the most intensity in the shortest amount of time.

I also have a slightly different philosophy. I am only doing things I plan to in maintenance. I don't plan to add more workouts or workout time. Or eat any lower than 1500 calories. Because I won't want to do that in maintenance. So efficiency and sustainability are really key for me.

lc52820

I first came to this site to help me track sodium after my cardiologist recomended the Dash diet. Later he told me I should also eat more potassium so i started tracking that as well.

If I can keep my sodium down, I've found that my calories will usually be around what MFP set as my goal.

It's a daily struggle and I've only been doing this for a month... right now it takes conscientious effort to eat correctly, but slowly I feel it is becoming a lifestyle.

I've been trying to watch sodium as well since it is not good for blood pressure & high blood pressure runs in my family. It is difficult though because it seems like if you trade off on fat & calories, a lot of times there will be a lot of sodium or sugar in foods marketed as "healthy".

Other people have encouraged me to not think about "diets" since those tend to be temporary but rather a lifestyle change. I try to focus on striving to be healthy rather than a specific weight or size.

ScottFree_66

@lc52820 - I agree completely... I have been battling (and losing) blood pressure for over 10 years. I really hate that they (the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) call it the "Dash Diet". They should call it the "Dash Lifestyle".

Lots of diet foods have more sodium than their non-diet variations. Before I came to MFP I thought I was eating healthy by going to subway. Now that I actually track the nutrients (sodium) in my food I realize that a 12" grilled chicken sub actually has over 2,000mg of sodium. even a 6" sandwhich would be too much sodium for one meal!

theladyy

I just count them...I don't even really eat that healthy and I'm loosing between 1 and 2 lbs a week with 1500 calories. I have a ton of weight to lose though, so right now it's working well, but I know I'll have to start exercising and eating better after a while.

carld256

I count calories to keep myself honest and to avoid falling back into bad habits.

cspark1982

When I first started I was rain 1200 cals and exercising but not eating back my exercise calories.
Now most days I do .
I would definantly suggest measuring to. Purely because at the time when you don't loose much weight you will proberly find you will loose a lot of cms

sinman22807

I count calories & exercise every day for atleast 1 hour... I eat 1560 calories a day (not including the extra calories you eat after you burn all the calories) Ive been doing this for almost 1 week now, and i was 173 when i started and according to the scale i weigh myself on at the gym, im down to 169. And i always try to leave atleast 200 to 300 calories left over at the end of the night.

dragonsheart84

I weigh 235 and am 5'6. My calorie goal without exercising is 1780. This is set with a sedentary lifestyle because I stay at home and do online schooling. I have my goal to lose 1 lb a week. I have lost 13 lbs since Jan. I had some issues in March that I feel off the wagon. Use a measuring tape to measure. That was about the only thing that kept me sane for a while. Add me if you like.