Calorie Confusion

1000% Counting your calories counts, but not only that it completely changes your attitude to food, i'ts ruined pringles for me with like 1000 calories in a tube and we all know once you pop....it's game over i used to think the same about it thinking it was a bit tedious but it has changed my style of eating, cooking due to the fact you are having to watch what you eat, i started in Jan 2013 and lost 51lbs so far and thats with a few weeks off for study stress, it's a long haul but it's soo worth it just wish i did it earlier to be honest. but the key to it all is start off slow and gradually let your body and mind get used to it, you really don't want to sicken yourself with it quickly and undo any good work you've done. Good luck

It does work, and it works for the long haul. I've lost weight more quickly on some other "diets," but I always returned to "normal eating" which led to gaining it back. Counting calories helps you learn to make better choices and eventually develop a "new normal" which will help you to be successful for life.

Ive done all the fad diets, i can think of, through my youth just cos I was hoping for a quick fix.

There is no such thing as a quick fix

Ive only been calorie counting for the last 60 odd days and have lost 22lbs.. Calories counting is definitely the way to go.. Keep with it and you will soon see results

If you find that you are struggling on 1300 calories a day then work out your BMR and TDEE and work out your daily calories from there.

Good luck with your journey

We're all here for the same reasons, and we are always willing to help with motivations

Also the app after entering my info set me up with a daily intake of 1380, however I read many things stating you should do 1200. Should I go by what the app says?

With a 100 pounds to lose, i would absolutely not go lower than 1380. Stick with that and exercise so you can eat back those calories and I guarantee you'll have an easier time of it.

I think what some of the 'calorie counting doesn't work' people are getting at is that if you restrict too much you might rebound and gain back.

Personally, I think two things.

1. Calorie counting is vastly useful when you are starting out because it will give you an understanding of what the foods you're eating contain. I would also look at macros, although people differ on this.

2. Anything you are going to do to lose weight, you need to be able to do your whole life. I gave up cokes, and I knew that was something I could live with. I believe in building good habits one at a time so it is easy. If you say 'i will eat 1200 calories' and you are starving, you will not do that your whole life. There is also a theory about satiation but I don't want to bog you dow. Here is an interesting article if you want to read it: http://www.gnolls.org/tag/satiation-vs-satiety/ The basic point is to eat foods with nutrients, not just 1200 cal's of crap. Again, people differ, but I think you will be much happier if you go this way.

Good luck on everything!

I, too, (in all my infinite wisdom---lol) seriously think 1380 is too low for starting point. If you gained 100 pounds (like me) then your body is used to eating a lot more most likely. Please don't think I'm rude because I am only speaking from common sense and because I am YOU too! Maybe a good starting point would be 1800 calories. My daughter in law lost 60 pounds eating 2500 calories without exercise! That would NOT have worked for me...but the hardest thing you will discover about this journey is that we are all UNIQUE in what it takes to lose. Yes, there are 'methods' that work. I had to play around with carbs, protein, fat to keep losing. It was almost a cruel game at times! But it CAN be done. There are thousands on here who have done it.

Seek out and find good supportive friends. We are here. We are losing, and We care about you.

Again, back to my 'suggestion'....start at 1800 for a few weeks. If you are losing, then stay there a while. When you stop, drop 100 calories and try that for a couple weeks. And so on. Your body will rebel and you will starve and give up if you cut down too fast. Eat sensibly ahd MOVE. I don' t care if it is 10 minutes today. Tomorrow, do 11 minutes! No matter what abuse we have done to ourselves, we have MIRACULOUS bodies and they do respond to exercise and improve each and every day. Don't overdo it--don't get hurt. Just move. Walk, Dance. Swim. Swimming is wonderful if you have access to a pool. I could not swim ONE SINGLE Lap when I started. I swam a mile a few weeks ago. Havent done it since, but I DID IT and I could if I wanted...just haven't had the 63 minutes it took to do it. heehee. But I regularly swim 35-45 minutes along with weights, treadmill, and elliptical. Don't feel self conscious about joining a gym, if you can. No ONE is judging. In fact, anyone that actually 'sees you' will be impressed that you are there and either ignore you or give you a smile and a nod. Most folks are just in their own exercise zone and ignore you. Just DON"t FEEL threatened! If you can't or don't want to do gym yet, then walk. I found exercise videos at resale shops--or ebay too. Just move. and Don"t STOP. Move every day. It will speed the loss and make you feel so much better on this long journey--cuz it don't happen overnight. But it WILL happen if that is what you desire.

Make sure you get some good fats, protein, veges & fruit. Do lots of research. Read the forums on Motivation and Success (at least one a day). It really helped me to SEE others lose. There are groups for women of certain ages, folks who have that 100 or more pounds to lose. Join a group. If you see someone inspiring, send a note and a friend request. I thought the whold online friendship thing was stupid and wouldn't help. Boy--was I WRONG! I have met wonderful, beautiful,, and very inspiring Friends for life on here.

There are wonderful recipes here too. I am sure you can find a healthy version of something you love to eat. If not here, then google low calorie or low carb versions of you favorite foods. That really helps so you don't feel like you are in the prison of dieting with hothing you like to eat.

GOOD LUCK honey--and keep MOVING and NEVER EVER EVER GIVE UP. The many winners here will keep you inspired.

"GREAT POSSIBILITIES COME WITH CONTROL"

Establish a plan, move, and stick to it until it no longer works...then move to Plan B.

ps. Forget about your sister, etc. The best policy is not to respond--period. Just smile. Change the subject. I was at a luncheon the other day, where everyone was eating heart-killing fried food. Yep, I admit I drooled for half a second. Then i thoroughly enjoyed my greek salad with shrimp. A few folks actually made teasing comments about my healthy choice. I smiled and struck up a conversation with someone else. My husband would offer me stuff I couldn't eat. and I say couldn't because I CHOSE not to eat that type of food. CHOICES. that is the big secret to successfully losing weight.

AND DON'T LET ANYONE DE-RAIL YOU. There will be the doubters, the nay-sayers, the know-it-alls, the ones that sabatoge. Just make YOUR CHOICE of what you want or don't want to eat. If you have friends that only eat junk and try to push it on you and that makes it difficult for you, then try to see them at non-food events. After a while of eating right and losing and feeling better you may be able to handle it. If it bothers you at the beginning of this journey, then 'work' around them. Don't ignore your friends/family...just try to avoid food settings. If you cannot, then decide what you are going to eat before you go and be STRONG. It can be done! Sorry, I rambled....but I have been and still am in your shoes!

Just wondering, if you have 100+ pounds to lose, why are you only at 1380?

This is what MFP app gave me after filling in my info, at a 2 lbs a week weight loss option.

And thanks to everyone who replied.

So you're maintenance would be 2380. My only suggestion, other than to just smile sweetly and nod like you're agreeing with your sister when she starts ( I have two. It will drive her round the bend if she's like mine.), would be to eat your calorie goal and when you exercise eat back your exercise calories. You've got 1000 calorie deficit already with the "lose 2 lbs a week" option. If you're worried about the burn being too high eat back 3/4 or 1/2. It really does make this easier when you fuel your body.

I am sorry that i am going to sound like a absolute B..... I know you probably love your sister... but why are you even listening to her, WHO ARE YOU LOSING THE WEIGHT FOR?? for you? or for anybody else?

4 weeks ago I started off on 270 pounds, I started off 5 years ago on 188 pounds wanted to lose 50... I started on Calorie counting, and low and behold, I had "friends" telling me it does not work, so I started doing the Atkins, and herbex and and and, I lost the weight quickly, and straight after I started eating normal again, boy did I put everything I missed back in, and in large quantities too... so I picked up weight, then I tried another fad diet and so on and so on... thanx to all the yo yo dieting, I now have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Autoimmune disease and leaky gut syndrome, which is going to make my weight loss journey 10 x harder than what it would have been 5 years ago. BUT today I am sitting on 257 - I have lost 13 pounds in 4 weeks, I am doing Calorie counting, and had i done that 5 years ago I would not be sitting here preaching to you... I still have my chocolate, (sugar free 133 cal per bar) but I will have a block a day instead of 6. I dont feel like i am missing out on anything, and I can carry on with this for the rest of my life. The Calorie counting sites have 1000's of new people everyday, where as, all the fad diets lose followers at fast pace, the sooner people realize, that losing weight is hard work and wont be achieved with a quick fix, the sooner we will start losing weight and keep it off...

Good luck with your journey... Listen to the advise on this site, 99.9% of the people are in the same boat as you... and i am sure they have all tried the quick fix before, and guess where they are now, AT CALORIE COUNTING.... you are on the right track.. EDUCATE YOURSELF, DONT LISTEN TO NEGATIVE PEOPLE... AND LOSE THE WEIGHT FOR YOURSELF NOT FOR ANYONE ELSE!!!