can't get into counting calories

BlossomingK
BlossomingK Posts: 5
in Health and Weight Loss
Just as the title says "I can't get into counting calories". By Lunch time I shutdown about thinking and don't wanna think numbers.
Is there a trick because having a person write them down for you. Not counting is certainly effecting the weightloss. I just can't get into it.

Replies

  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    Nobody can do this for you. If you want it, you will work for it. If not, you'll make excuses.
  • emhargs
    emhargs Posts: 63
    oh wow, i can't stop!

    i hate cardio - so the thought of having to do it to lose weight soon sees me adding up every calorie, so i can lose weight simply by watching what i am eating. for me its a no brainer, its count calories, or get the *kitten* on the treadmill!
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
    Nobody can do this for you. If you want it, you will work for it. If not, you'll make excuses.

    Word.
  • kayleesays
    kayleesays Posts: 564 Member
    It's just very easy for me. 2-3 times a day I log into MFP, remember what I ate and log it. I eat things that are usually very easy to log. If you remember what it was you ate and how much of it there was, I don't think it's too hard to search for it in the database. It does most of the work for you!
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    can you can't calories the night before?? in the beginning, i would pre-log all my food the night before. it requires a little discipline and forward thinking, but it worked. i would pack my breakfast, lunch, and snacks, and i'd have a general idea of what i'd do for dinner.
  • oneoddsock
    oneoddsock Posts: 321 Member
    Nobody can do this for you. If you want it, you will work for it. If not, you'll make excuses.

    This. You need to learn to log them, no matter what happens - this means you've got to learn to remind yourself, if necessary, that tomorrow is another day and it doesn't matter that you get to 3pm and you've got 40 calories left for the day. Nothing is going to change unless you make it.
  • dragomom
    dragomom Posts: 88 Member
    Think of the calorie counting as your bank account, you need to keep track of the balance in your account so you dont "over draft". You write a check you subtract it, in this case you eat you subtract from the balance.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    then you've come to the wrong place!!!

    to be honest, MFP isnt for everyone.... good luck at finding what works for you!
  • beckyluvsgeckos
    beckyluvsgeckos Posts: 35
    I get that way sometimes too.
    In fact...I just took a few days off from logging my food...and it does effect the weight loss.
    One thing that may help....
    If you have an i-phone...there is a MFP app you can get that lets you scan in barcodes of the foods you eat. It calculates the calories/carbs/fat/ etc for you. (It's kinda fun..IMO)

    Good luck to you on your weight loss journey!
  • Jules2Be
    Jules2Be Posts: 2,238 Member
    i uploaded this last night to remind me of what I need to keep doing

    19536421_7270.jpg
  • SassyCalyGirl
    SassyCalyGirl Posts: 1,932 Member
    make yourself do it! It will keep you on track! We grossly UNDER estimate how many calories we really do eat!
  • lacroyx
    lacroyx Posts: 5,754 Member
    Nobody can do this for you. If you want it, you will work for it. If not, you'll make excuses.

    /thread
  • BreahLindley
    BreahLindley Posts: 31
    Ive been counting calories forever! Im so glad I found this site bc it just helps me see how exercise and calories go hand and hand with each other!!! Good luck finding what helps you.
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    You dont need to count calories!
    Count grams!
    Protein and Fat!
    then carb up till you feel happy!

    Mark talks about it here
    >http://rippedbody.jp/2011/10/18/want-to-make-your-if-leangains-diet-simpler-dont-count-calories/
  • Ralphrabbit
    Ralphrabbit Posts: 351 Member
    I plan my day & log what I am going to eat for my main meals in the morning. Then I just have to add in everything that sneaks in as snacks.....
  • manderson27
    manderson27 Posts: 3,510 Member
    One way of not having to count calories is to pay to have all your food delivered to you by one of those Slimming clubs. They count the calories and you just eat the food. I

    suppose it could work as long as you don't eat anything extra. But what happens when you go back to preparing your own food, you still won't be aware of the calories so you will probably over eat again.

    Nope, only way is to be accountable for your own calories. It really gets easier the more you do it.

    Good luck
  • cmurray234
    cmurray234 Posts: 112 Member
    There are diets out there in which you don't count calories. South Beach springs to mind. But instead of counting calories, you'll have to give your attention to carb cutting...and I personally think calorie counting is easier.
  • e46dude
    e46dude Posts: 15 Member
    While I personally feel calorie counting is by far the best weight loss method, if you really can't get the hang of it try keto.  Many people who do a ketosis diet don't track their calories because it is difficult to overeat on the kinds of food you'll be having doing a proper keto diet. Otherwise, just cut back on your portions and try to eat healthy, if you aren't losing weight after a couple weeks shrink your portions further. Good luck. 
  • NewChristina
    NewChristina Posts: 250 Member
    If you pay attention to the numbers on the scale, then you have to pay attention to the numbers on your food. :noway:
  • m16shane
    m16shane Posts: 393 Member
    You don't have to count, just type it in! If you're not willing to do that little bit of work, don't expect great results.

    “How soon 'not now' becomes 'never'.”
    Martin Luther
  • DebbieMc3
    DebbieMc3 Posts: 289 Member
    "can't get into" my jeans
    "can't get into" a roller coaster
    "can't get into"........

    Just trying to say that even when we don't want to do it, it is so worth doing it.

    You CAN get into it!!!!!! We are all here to help.

    Debbie
  • katysmelly
    katysmelly Posts: 380 Member
    What is it about calorie counting that you don't like? If we knew that, perhaps we could help you get over it.

    One thing you can do, for now, is record what you eat. Then, at the end of the day, look and see how many calories that was. Or, as someone else suggested, try planning the next day in advance and count the calories then.

    I got tired of counting them, myself. It seemed to me that I was obsessing over it. I was afraid to eat away from home for fear of not knowing exactly how many calories I was eating - especially at someone else's house. Then, it seemed like I obsessed over it and it made me feel really hungry all the time.

    So, I went away for a few weeks and didn't think about it. I was still exercising, but not thinking about what I ate. My weight went up about 9 lbs, then came back down about 5lbs. I didn't weigh myself very often, though. Anyway, when I was ready to try again, I was about 5lbs heavier than when I'd given up in disgust. This time, I had a different plan - I was just going to give up refined sugar and not really worry about calories at all. Turned out, when I stopped eating sugar - even in "moderation" - I didn't feel as hungry and I found it all easier. And, this time, I'm not obsessing over measuring every single thing exactly. Sometimes I do, but if it's not practical to do so, I don't worry about it. If I eat meatloaf at a friend's house, I just estimate how much I ate and use whichever "meatloaf" comes up first in the search.

    I'm losing weight and I feel much better.
  • hazelovesfood
    hazelovesfood Posts: 454 Member
    It really doesnt bother me at all, ive been looking at calouries for so Ive got a good idea what is in what, but I still look them up if im unsure a few mins on the laptop and bobs your uncle lol.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    i uploaded this last night to remind me of what I need to keep doing

    19536421_7270.jpg

    Love this!!!!
  • shellsrenee01
    shellsrenee01 Posts: 357 Member
    It's about learning control. Counting calories has opened my eyes to just how much that refill of coke, extra bread stick, and double fudge sundae can have on my day (and waistline). You are here because you felt, at least at some point, that you needed to become a healthier you. Part of being healthy is being in control of what you eat. If counting calories is not something you can get into, then search around for another method that works for you. However, from my experience, it has been the easiest way that I've been able to keep myself in check.

    Good luck! :flowerforyou:
  • margaretasid
    margaretasid Posts: 44 Member
    can you can't calories the night before?? in the beginning, i would pre-log all my food the night before. it requires a little discipline and forward thinking, but it worked. i would pack my breakfast, lunch, and snacks, and i'd have a general idea of what i'd do for dinner.

    I am doing the same. It keeps me in control of food not the other way around :)
  • autumnparty
    autumnparty Posts: 5 Member
    I love measuring and weighing everything that goes into my meals and tallying the calories of every morsel so I'm not sure if what I say is going to help much but...just do it. I don't like doing dishes or cleaning the kitty litter but it gets done every day because if it doesn't my house looks and smells terrible. I exercise because without it I feel sore all over and I count my calories because if I don't I will overeat and gain weight instead of lose it.

    One thing that may help though, if you eat basically the same thing for breakfast and lunch every day then you'll have a lot less tracking to do. Just measure, weigh and track once. Then each day all you have to do is measure and weigh the exact amount out and add the meal from the track day into that days plan. That's actually how most of my meals get tracked. Every day for breakfast I have an egg and egg white with an ounce of cheese, mushrooms, broccoli, and turkey. I've gotten very good at eyeballing the amounts because I've been doing it so long but I weigh just to be sure and copy the meal every day. I always eat one of two salads so I just find the salad the last time i logged it and copy the meal. I may have to later adjust one of the ingredients but it's still faster than entering everything individually.
  • josiereside
    josiereside Posts: 720 Member
    Maybe something like weight watchers would be better for you. Personally, I am not a fan of counting calories either but I thought I would give this a try because I was concerned on weight watchers I may not have been eating enough for the amount of exercise that I do. I am giving this a shot, like it or not. It is when I am not accountable in any way that I get into trouble.
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    then you've come to the wrong place!!!

    to be honest, MFP isnt for everyone.... good luck at finding what works for you!

    ^True. This is about counting calories. It works for a lot of us, because we make it work. We log on, input our numbers, and watch the weight fall off.

    But if that's not your thing, maybe you need to check out another plan.

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