Does anybody else hate counting calories?

I dont becuase it keeps me accountable, and without being accountable I became 314lbs

I think its because we try to control external circumstances instead of doing inner work. Sadly, it often takes loss and suffering to realize what's going on inside. There's a whole world of information involved in what I'm saying but its basically what life coaches are about.

I love counting calories best way to lose weight in my opinion ,you know what your getting ,none of this daft, points /syns /shake rubbish .

I used to . . . but that was when it was all done on paper, with my paperback edition of a calorie counting book, and manually adding everything . . . that was tough. MFP has made it easy. When I first started I played with various items BEFORE my meal to see how it would effect my daily totals.
I've faithfully logged in now for a number of months and can honestly say it has become an addiction. I don't start, or end, my day without MFP. I've come to depend on it and the community and amazing support from my friends.

I can honestly say that I truly love counting calories now with MFP.

I used to . . . but that was when it was all done on paper, with my paperback edition of a calorie counting book, and manually adding everything . . . that was tough. MFP has made it easy. When I first started I played with various items BEFORE my meal to see how it would effect my daily totals.
I've faithfully logged in now for a number of months and can honestly say it has become an addiction. I don't start, or end, my day without MFP. I've come to depend on it and the community and amazing support from my friends.

I can honestly say that I truly love counting calories now with MFP.

Here, Here!! I second that emotion!! (sans Smokey Robinson... tee hee):bigsmile:

I wish everyone would think as deeply about this as you have. Every other country I've worked and lived in has been a "work to live" country. Living life is the important part for them. We unfortuantly "live to work". We do this because we are a consumed society. We are consumed with "things"...keeping up with the jones per se. I personally think that has permeated every other part of our lives. Because we work so much we started to rely on other means to get food. And that's all it was, get something and shovel it in! We don't take the time to prepare our meals and then enjoy them with friends and family. It's a race for us. If we ever get back to the point where we learn to slow down and enjoy life...then I think we will also see a turn around in obesity. Just my two cents. I'd really be interested in what others think...

I hate counting calories too, but it works.

I think you can see why America has weight problems when you look at our grocery stores and the abundance of fast, cheap food available to us. You used to have to grow it or kill it in order to eat. Now we just go to the store and there is this amazing array of packaged, processed and frozen foods that are stuffed full of fat, sodium and preservatives. And it tastes really good! Add fast food restaurants on most corners which appeal to our busy lifestyles. Market many of these foods to kids and see how they acquire a taste for them at a young age. We also have so many modern inventions that make our lives more convenient and this causes us to be less active. We live in wonderful age but it is making us fat!

I think we as a nation rely too much on processed foods. I grew up having a garden and raising our own meat and while I have continued to do this in my adulthood processed foods were easier and started to become the norm in my families diet. In the last few years I have been cutting back on processed foods and focusing more on the food my family raises and grows. I know this isn't possible for everyone but most communities have farmers markets and many farmers if asked are willing to sell directly to consumers.

I wish everyone would think as deeply about this as you have. Every other country I've worked and lived in has been a "work to live" country. Living life is the important part for them. We unfortuantly "live to work". We do this because we are a consumed society. We are consumed with "things"...keeping up with the jones per se. I personally think that has permeated every other part of our lives. Because we work so much we started to rely on other means to get food. And that's all it was, get something and shovel it in! We don't take the time to prepare our meals and then enjoy them with friends and family. It's a race for us. If we ever get back to the point where we learn to slow down and enjoy life...then I think we will also see a turn around in obesity. Just my two cents. I'd really be interested in what others think...

I agree with this to an extent... I also know that there are many issues beyond this. Personally, I have made a lot of financial sacrifices so that I can be less stressed and "work to live" (okay, actually, one of those is being a SAHM 90% of the time so I suppose it is my husband who is working for us to live... my career field is one that does not lend itself towards balancing work/family life... or pay enough that the money is worth the time/stress... at least not for now). However... the nature of food in our country is that it is harder to eat healthy on little money than it is to eat junk and processed food. I am not at all saying it is impossible... but it is hard. Even the government commodities programs often have overprocessed food (government "cheese" is basically Velveeta). I am actually quite fortunate compared to many, many people I have known and worked with (I have a work background in social work). I've seen people working very hard who barely make enough money to buy necessities, much less luxuries. There are plenty of studies correlating poverty with obesity because of the fact that food in "corner grocery stores" or "neighborhood stores" costs more and is of inferior quality (i.e., snack food, processed food). For people without transportation... what they can walk to is what they rely on. And that is not even getting into the whole difficulty of trying to stand against decades of cultural eating and food meaning more than just a way to keep your body fueled... across all income levels. Trying to say a lot without writing a book there...

Melodyg - I guess I can see how if the goal is weight loss only, then calories are the forefront.... Initially it helps me see how much I'm taking in on a daily basis. ... I think it's great that you're gaining a new approach to salads - I love experimenting with different greens. But we shouldn't be afraid of butter, of full fat. We just have to, I think, remake this country's culture and form a cuisine. In France... I mean, goodness, they have bread with meals, they have croissants... but when I was there, eating lunch took hours. So did dinner. You get small portions of delicious, pleasurable food, and you eat slowly and savor the bites. They just have their culture to guide them in a lot of ways. I think we just have a very unhealthy relationship with food in America, and it makes me want to get out of here that much more.

It's hard to shop in season in college though... stupid meal plan. I'm currently figuring out how to learn exactly where my school's food comes from. Also, don't buy industrial organic. It's still industrial.

I think one thing I have learned is that by eating fresh food and eating healthier that I *can* eat butter (healthier for you than margarine anyway!) and bread and full fat foods. I do think that as a nation we have gotten so into the "diet" food that isn't really good for you and that is part of the problem.

As for college... I know the college I went to had a salad bar and also a "healthy" food line where they had vegetarian options, soy burgers, etc. Now that may not be the healthiest either, but better than the cheeseburger and fries options! I've been thinking too how much access to working out and exercise I had in college that I didn't take advantage of -- free gym, free fitness trails, etc. Not to mention more time! Take advantage of it all. Do you *have* to be on a meal plan? I know it is tough to cook for yourself in college, especially if you are relying on a microwave in a dorm room, but I actually felt like I ate better (and it was cheaper) when I got off of the meal plan and started going to the grocery store and supplementing with the cafeteria food as well.

yes, at firsti hated it. It got boring, seemed very restricted, now 6 months down the line its normal day to day life & i enjoy it. I enjoy food, most important part!

i think the US has lost a connection with their food and food sources. We utilize far too many convenience foods and don't put out the work required to eat it.

it's a matter of energy transfer.

Counting my calories actually helps me enjoy my food. I'm more in the moment and aware of what I'm eating. I don't shovel it in and instead am thankful of the farmers who grew my veggies. Unfortunately I don't have a garden but will some day. Then I won't have to buy food that comes from "who knows where" with "who knows what" in it/on it.

I look at counting cals now as my "$ in the bank". I manage my cals like I do with $ and have to be wise on how I spend them. I won't log my food forever and soon I won't need to since I will have learned portion sizes and healthy balances of vitamins/nutrients. MFP is like my own Suze Orman to assist in my food "finances" and get me on track.

Just my "2 cents"...:flowerforyou:

i don't really count calories. i'm using mfp as a method to examine my eating habits and the benefit of it telling me how many calories i've consumed is really just a big bonus.

i don't always eat perfectly, but i think i mostly do. if i can eat as normally would, record it here for, say six months or a year, i can refine and build my diet to something that is really working for me, not against me.

i've made so many changes in the way i eat already, that now i'm trying to just be really aware of what i'm doing.