Counting calories...I hate it...should I?

Jenvan78

First off, I am trying to lose about 20lbs and am taking abilify and prozac. I think that the abilify caused a 10lb gain and am stopping the medication. I run 3-5 times a week for at least 40 minutes and am training to do a 5k. I am sure that most of you count calories but is it absolutely necessary. I have 3 kids and do not have time to measure every single thing that I eat in order to count calories. For those of you that count calories, how do you manage to count every single calorie??

carld256

how do you manage to count every single calorie?

Motivation. I hate being fat worse than I hate counting calories.

Edit: Seriously though. I still don't trust myself to not count. I've proven to my own satisfaction that my estimates of portion sizes are way off. Some people find that after they've counted for a while that they can just do a rough estimate of how much they're eating without having to actually count the calories. I might be able to do that at some point, but if I have to count calories for the rest of my lift, I'd still rather do that than put the weight back on.

MoreBean13

Think of it as a form of behavior modification. It's not just about the numbers, it's about the awareness it gives you about your diet.

The MFP database is really thorough. If you have the mobile app on your cell phone it's really easy to enter your foods, it only takes a few moments per meal. It can be a pain at first, but it gets easy with time. Also, abilify didn't make you gain weight, eating more calories than you burned made you gain weight. Abilify might have made you more hungry, or have restless munchies, or maybe even suppress your BMR somehow, but it can't magically make you gain weight- it's all about the calories. Count them or don't- it's up to you- but eating less than you burn is the only way to lose weight, period.

LovingLisa2012

if you have a digital scale , just set your plate on it, add your food (after each item click to zero it out. . when you have a free moment add it in to the site ..

or you can use measuring cups or spoons (weight watchers and avon sell serving spoons)

or
if you don't want to track .. then cut out any sugary drinks (replace with water) cut back on portions (use a smaller plate)
try not to snack on chips/candy (use fruits/veggies)

alanabeehave

I'm not super rigid. I often use a measuring cup but I never weigh food. For that, I usually stop a Couple hundred under my goal. I'm not sure what your goal is but mine is set at 1600/day but on most days it's up to 2700ish after exercise so it's a bit easier to be flexible When you have a large deficit.
Some people don't need to count calories, as long as you eat square meals, swap out junk for healthier alternatives, stop when your full and exercise, you would most likely lose weight.
I use MFP to help manage my macronutrients, before hand I was eating too much simple sugar (3 servings of fruit a day) and too much fat (good fats) so this helps me balance that a bit better.
I usually plan (dream) my meals for the next day right before bed. I think about what I have in my kitchen and work with that

AliciaBeth78

Last summer when I first started on here I was under the impression that I could eat what I wanted (within reason) as long as it was healthy and I was killing my workouts.... I was wrong! 2 months and 3lbs proved that to me. Counting calories may be annoying, but it becomes second nature and it's totally worth it!

Pebble321

It's really a personal choice, if you don't like it - then don't do it!

Counting calories has worked very well for me - because it makes it simple to see how much I'm taking in over a day and lets me make a choice each day as to how much and what I want to eat.
I don't restrict anything, I know I can eat chocolate if I want it, but that there is a "cost" to every decision. If I eat 100g of chocolate, that's around 500 calories less of actual food that I can eat, and that means less nutrition for my body. I already know that too much chocolate isn't good for me, but this makes it very concrete and easy to balance.

I know I don't count "every single calorie" - but I do come pretty close most days.
Once you have been using MFP for a while, your frequently and recently used foods are right there.
The bar code scanner makes it very fast if you eat food from packets.
The recipe section is great once you have your favourites in there.

But, you're right, it does take time and commitment. Only you can decide if you are prepared to make the time.
If you don't want to - there are a million other ways to lose weight. Good luck in finding one that works for you!

Ilovejacks

It's not even the portion sizes,it teaches you so much about food that you probaly had no idea,Like how much Sugar is in EVERYTHING and processed food has soooo much sodium.It truly is a learning process thru tracking calories and also if you eat right and have the balance of calories,fiber,sugar,sodium,fat & protein your body will really not crave all that crap food anymore.Just give it a try:)It would be a great way to teach your kids about food also(if they are old enough):flowerforyou:

cressievargo

It depends on what you want to get out of it. Honestly - it's easy to count calories. Most of us eat the same foods fairly often, so you learn pretty quickly the calorie value of those foods. Secondly - for some people it truly is a wake up call as to how much they are really putting into their mouths.
So - if you want to maximize your effort - by all means, COUNT THE CALORIES.

And please, don't use kids an excuse not to do it. I have 3 kids - 2 of whom are under 3 (one is under 1!) and I still manage to do it.
There's always going to be an excuse..it's too hard, I don't have enough time...whatever... and odds are - it's THAT EXCUSE THAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK from the results you want.

LeeshaNichole

For the last week I have been adding my food the night before, it helps me from going over on anything-I was always going over on sugar or sodium. Now I just plan out what I am gonna eat and it has helped me a lot. If you do it this way you can do it after the kids go to bed. Good luck!

devil_in_a_blue_dress

I'm confused as to how you think you will lose weight if you don't know you have a deficit/eating enough calories to make your body run properly. Knowing what you're putting into your body is kind of an important essential to weight loss.

It is a pain, but you can save meals, favorite foods, recipes -- copy from one day to the next --- you can buy serving spoons that are measured. Most importantly -- you can lead by example and let your kids know it is important for them to be aware of what they eat, because even though food tastes good -- it is fuel.

Cliffslosinit

It is a lifestyle change. With it comes discipline.
After a while it will become second nature to you.

rooster70460

if you have a digital scale , just set your plate on it, add your food (after each item click to zero it out. . when you have a free moment add it in to the site ..

Excellent idea. Thank you

IveLanded

I have 3 kids. Not sure how that makes me unable to count my calories.

I think it's important when you are first starting if you REALLY want to lose weight. As has been mentioned, you really need to get a handle on what you are putting in versus what you are putting out in order to figure out how to be successful.

And.......this whole thing is largely mental. If you tell yourself it will be a pain and be hard, it will be. Honestly, you seem to be setting yourself up for failure already by being so negative about it. It's as awful or awesome as you make it. I LOVE everything about what I do, because it's what's made me lose almost 40lbs. And now I know a lot more than I did before.

BarbWhite09

I basically know the calories in most foods, from a lot of experience...I log on here because I love to do it, but if I don't log I just automatically know the calories in most foods.

& I agree with the person who said "I have 3 kids. Not sure how that makes me unable to count my calories" ...It takes no more than 10 minutes a day to log your food on here...once you do it for a while you just kinda know your cals. Easy peasy!

barbiecat

:flowerforyou: I fought against counting calories until I was 62 years old and the result was that I spent my 40's and 50's weighing over 180 pounds.....exercise and making healthy choices kept my weight from getting totally out of control....When I joined MFP three years ago and began logging every weighed and measured bite, I lost 70 pounds in less than a year and have kept it off since then.

cbeutler

It is a habit, I log it as I eat it. Is it necessary for you for me absolutely. It is the only thing that has worked for me in 22 years

Hannah645

As someone else mentioned, I spend about 10 minutes a day weighing food and logging it into MFP. It's worth it.

I'm not sure how old your children are, but you can teach them a lot from it. It's a great opportunity to introduce the fundamentals of fractions and obviously answer questions about nutrition.

Don't sweat if you can't weigh and log every single calorie at first. It was just an eye opener for me to see exactly how much one serving of cheese is and how condiment calories add up quickly!

jfan175

First of all, I hope you're stopping the Abilify under the watchful eye of your physician. Like the other poster said, counting calories becomes second nature once you've done it for a week or so. This site makes it easy.

mcarter99

There are a lot of diet plans that don't have you count calories. Usually they have you focus on certain food groups or get good at eyeballing portion sizes or really listen to your body.

I think it's almost easier to count. If you're not near a PC throughout the day, just jot notes on a notepad and log it later.