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Biggest lesson learned by tracking calories?

jandsstevenson887
jandsstevenson887 Posts: 296 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
It has been eye opening for me just seeing how much I can eat and stay within my allowed calorie budget. One of the biggest things I have realized is that there really isn't room for soda. I'm not a huge soda drinker but I can see how easily it is to drink 150-200 calories worth of nothing. It doesn't feel worth it anymore. I've also seen that I almost have to do some kind of exercise every day or I have to really watch what I eat. Very motivating!
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Replies

  • KristenNagle1
    KristenNagle1 Posts: 83 Member
    I've learned how much things like extra cheese, sour cream and not measuring portions can add up
  • scolaris
    scolaris Posts: 2,145 Member
    Yep,that was it for me too. Once you've 'seen' the whole notion of energy balance you can't un-see it. LOL
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    edited March 2016
    I was bummed by what a 1/2 cup serving of ice cream really was.
  • Gamliela
    Gamliela Posts: 2,468 Member
    edited March 2016
    I THINK I eat less than I really do. :/
  • T0M_K
    T0M_K Posts: 7,526 Member
    that you can eat quite a bit of boneless skinless chicken breast which i love.
  • JenHuedy
    JenHuedy Posts: 611 Member
    How much all those little bites and nibbles add up.
  • dino1147
    dino1147 Posts: 178 Member
    soda is definitely not worth it, cheese was my biggest eye opener! Dangit!
  • KimmyJaneTD
    KimmyJaneTD Posts: 43 Member
    edited March 2016
    *how to find lower calorie substitutes in my favorite meals that would normally be high calorie meals. I can still eat things that taste great and lose weight. I just have to substitute ground turkey for hamburger. or low-calorie sour cream... or whatever it may be.
    *I can still have soda, just coke zero and really only 1 per day. It hasn't hurt my weight loss at all.
    *I can still eat ice cream and sweets, just a lot less!
    *I've learned what serving sizes of things are. Just because I feel like it should only be 200 calories of something.. doesn't mean the food scale agrees with me!
    *learning to include more fitness in my life without making it a chore. Maybe walking to the ice cream shop instead of driving. Or parking in the last spot in the parking lot.
    *learning to adjust to high calorie days without feeling defeated. I can eat out once in awhile and get back on the journey the next meal. Instead of feeling like I've failed a diet.

    and many many more things.
  • jandsstevenson887
    jandsstevenson887 Posts: 296 Member
    JenHuedy wrote: »
    How much all those little bites and nibbles add up.

    This is why I chew gum while I cook dinner. I tend to eat the end of the cheese I just shredded or nibble on the heel of the bread I'm slicing, etc.
  • dustedwithsugar
    dustedwithsugar Posts: 179 Member
    I realised how much I was eating before.
    And how amazing is eating anything you want, in moderation, and still losing weight.
    Also drinking calories in soda, juices etc is such a waste (unless it's alcohol lol)
  • wizzybeth
    wizzybeth Posts: 3,574 Member
    I was sadz to see how much a "serving" of pasta really amounts to. That may be a serving for a 3 year old, but not me!
    I can do some lower cal substitutions but for some things, there is just no substitution. Ground turkey - the mere sight of it in the package makes me ill. I can't stand the smell of it cooking. I've tried it all sorts of ways - in spaghetti (meatballs or just ground), meatloaf, chili - etc. Just. Can't. Stomach. It.

    When I want a soda I am usually content with an ice cold seltzer/club soda with a splash of lemon / lime / cranberry juice. Or Sprite Zero. Sprite Zero is the only "diet" soda I can stand the taste of.

    I have learned that I can enjoy smaller portions of favorite things - I actually enjoy it more when I have to savor it. So I cut my servings of hard cheese up into tiny bite size pieces, instead of a giant chunk. I get a lot more "flavor bites" that way.

    I've learned that sometimes, it's perfectly OK to have Hawaiian Punch and 2 Krispy Kreme donuts for supper - just not on a regular basis. ;)
  • WickedPineapple
    WickedPineapple Posts: 698 Member
    In general, that some things just aren't worth the calories. This is usually for calorie dense foods that don't taste good enough and/or aren't filling enough. Like if I'm going to eat a 500 calorie cookie, it better be an awesome freakin' cookie.
  • 22Brentwoodgirl
    22Brentwoodgirl Posts: 51 Member
    I realized how frequently I just ate "a little something" without thinking about it - or enjoying it!!! Those little bits really add up. Now I think about spending my calories like I think about spending my money. I ask myself if something is really worth it. So, yes, I do splurge sometimes - but mostly I've just stopped frittering calories away.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    Serving sizes for cereal are BS.
  • wizzybeth
    wizzybeth Posts: 3,574 Member
    WickedPineapple wrote: »
    In general, that some things just aren't worth the calories. This is usually for calorie dense foods that don't taste good enough and/or aren't filling enough. Like if I'm going to eat a 500 calorie cookie, it better be an awesome freakin' cookie.

    Exactly!!!! For me - a lot of things truly are not worth it. I can bypass most bread, because to me, most bread is meh. I will have a yummy juicy cheeseburger wrapped in lettuce, or just eat it with a knife and fork - and save the 200+ calories for the bun unless it's an amazing bun. I won't throw calories away on grocery store OR Dunkin Donuts donuts - they suck. Only Krispy Kremes are worth the calories, IMHO.

    I refuse to eat "just to eat." I have to really love it or I'm not going to spend my calories on it.
  • vivmom2014
    vivmom2014 Posts: 1,649 Member
    Serving sizes for tortilla chips and ice cream are a joke.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,368 Member
    Everything has too many calories.
  • chiptease
    chiptease Posts: 70 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Everything has too many calories.

    So true!! That's it, let's wrap up the discussion.
  • shrinkingletters
    shrinkingletters Posts: 1,008 Member
    I learned I can eat plenty of meat to keep me full on fewer calories than I initially expected! That was my happiest moment.

    "I can eat that much grilled chicken?!"
    "I can have more salmon?!"
    "I will have all this asada!"
  • shrinkingletters
    shrinkingletters Posts: 1,008 Member
    Oh. Then I learned that the amount of calories in a bottle of wine are a cruel joke.
  • kedrel
    kedrel Posts: 4 Member
    Believe me @shrinkingletters I hear you on that one. And Don't get me started on how much are in my favorite Stout Beers .... sad panda!
  • JeepHair77
    JeepHair77 Posts: 1,291 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    Serving sizes for cereal are BS.

    Serving sizes for LOTS of things are BS.
  • chunky_pinup
    chunky_pinup Posts: 758 Member
    I learned how important owning a good food scale really was...and to actually use it instead of letting it sit in the corner of a shelf.
  • lostgoals
    lostgoals Posts: 57 Member
    I think the best thing I learned was an entire bag of steamed veggies and 4oz of haddock satisfied my hunger and was very low calorie dinner. The worst thing I learned is one peanut butter and jelly sandwich has even more calories than that dinner.
  • ASKyle
    ASKyle Posts: 1,475 Member
    I've learned that IT WORKS!!! Tracking calories is the only thing that works, no matter what diet you're on or how you slice and dice it.

    Balance. I knew I had a big dinner last night, so the day before and day of I saved up calories for it. You've gotta enjoy yourself to make it a lifestyle change.
  • kaylajane11
    kaylajane11 Posts: 313 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    Serving sizes for cereal are BS.

    So much this. The first time I weighed out a serving of cereal I was surprised. I have never eaten a single serving of cereal in my life.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,368 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    Serving sizes for cereal are BS.

    Very much.

    And packages lie - most things are heavier than one serving.
  • sylkates
    sylkates Posts: 173 Member
    edited March 2016
    I learned the difference between being hungry and being bored.
    Oh, and how to ignore hunger!

    I also learned that Pop Tarts simply don't fit into my life anymore. :'( (It's the 2 per package thing! I normally don't compulsively eat but they package twice the amount I should have at one time in a way that only eating one makes the other go stale. So I just don't buy them anymore!)

    I also learned how much of my hunger is psychological. For instance, typing about pop tarts just made me hungry. Time to drink some water.
  • Cindy01Louisiana
    Cindy01Louisiana Posts: 302 Member
    22Brentwoodgirl wrote: »
    I realized how frequently I just ate "a little something" without thinking about it - or enjoying it!!! Those little bits really add up. Now I think about spending my calories like I think about spending my money. I ask myself if something is really worth it. So, yes, I do splurge sometimes - but mostly I've just stopped frittering calories away.

    Ha! This reminds me of "dinner" last night. I had a caloric choice between a piece of pizza and a 1/2 slice of razzleberry pie -- or just a full slice of razzleberry pie with a quarter cup of ice cream.

    Pie for the win! :smiley:
  • Cindy01Louisiana
    Cindy01Louisiana Posts: 302 Member
    edited March 2016
    vivmom2014 wrote: »
    Serving sizes for tortilla chips and ice cream are a joke.

    I agree.....However, since I started weighing my tortilla chips -- 1 ounce or 2 ounces depending on my hunger and number of calories left for the day -- I find that whatever I put in the bowl actually satiates me and I don't clamor for more. Before, I'd keep the bag with me and just keep going and going and going....
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