BIGGEST thing you have learned since tracking calories?

Pretty much everything on here I agree with.

I've learned my eating habits and that I can lose weight and get healthy while still enjoying the stuff I love, as long as there's "room" for it, like beer! :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:

I learned that I have a tendency to UNDEREAT! And that my "binge" days made up the gap and managed my weight until my circumstances changed and my binge days became more frequent or plentiful. I eat really healthy in general and I eat a lot, but its a lot of veggies so its always ended up being on the low side of the calorie count. My days are alot more balanced now.

I learned how important a heart rate monitor can be when deciding how many calories I've burned during a workout. Those workout machines that tell you calories burned are big fat LIARS. It can really throw off your cals in and out if you think you're burning twice as many calories at the elliptical than you actually are!

Also, I'll repeat portion control and scale-weighing food mentioned above :-)

I've learned portion control. I wasn't an unhealthy eater, but I ate too much. I've realized how much I graze throughout the day, especially when I'm making a meal. It sounds so simple now, but I never realized how much it all added up. I also realized how many calories I was drinking every day. Not in alcohol, but in COFFEE CREAMER.

That I can eat everything I want but small portions. I was eating healthy but the same portions that my husband was eating.

Using a digital food scale to weigh everything in grams is a real eye opener. Measuring spoons and cups are VERY deceitful.

Two of my staple foods are oats and peanut butter. One serving of oats is 40 grams which according to the label is 1/2 cup. No way. Weigh 40 grams using a food scale and you'll be shocked at how empty the measuring cup is. Same with peanut butter...a tablespoon holds A LOT more than the grams stated on the label.

If you're not using a digital food scale, you're eating way more than you think. It adds up quickly.

+1 :happy:

So true!

My biggest eye opener:

"Daaaaayum I eat more sugar than I thought."

Which isn't to say I was downing Pixie Stix left and right - almost all of my sugar was coming from fruit. But there's a lot of sugar in fruit!

I've also learned that not everyone is supportive of my new choice - but those that are make all the difference.

Sounds like your off to great start , one thing that i found out recently is that some foods react differently to each persons body type even if they are what we consider healthy , too much of good thing will have the opposite affect and every one is different. one thing thats really helped me is tracking everything you eat and weighing yourself every morning look for what puts on pounds even if its just minor change. Change what you eat just by one item see witch food makes your body react . check out a book called ''the plan'' it makes sense to me and has helped me

Good Luck !!

It wasn't an eye opener about what I ate. I knew I ate a horribly unhealthy meals. What it did show me, was how to control my portions and it also feels like it is making me eat better. I'm embarrassed to put something unhealthy in my diary, since everyone will see it, so I eat healthy and feel good in many different ways.

When I exercise I CAN EAT MORE !!!!!

I know that's right!!