Anyone else here hate counting every single calorie?

charlieandcarol wrote: »

jemhh wrote: »

I don't understand how counting macros is easier than counting calories. There are 3 macros (4 if you count alcohol) and just one calorie number.

I was thinking this too, besides the nutritional aspect, isn't counting macros effectively counting calories? Maybe it feels different (and better for some people?) to do it that way?

I was going to say that as well. In essence it is counting calories since calories are made up from the various macros.

moto450 wrote: »

Been counting for over 500 days. Ill continue another 500. It works and although tough at times I ultimately enjoy being healthy now. Well worth it! I've lost 70 lbs and an working on muscle and toning now. I love this app for what it has helped me accomplish with increased awareness.

This is what I'm talking about!

Depends on what I'm eating. Usually I count. When I'm eating vegetarian I usually don't count.

I love logging my calories.
I'm in maintenance now though and my numbers are comfortably enough for me as long as I'm not greedy, logging stops me being greedy.

Calorie counting doesn't work for everyone. Calorie counting can make some people obsessive. It can make some people binge. That's what it does for me sometimes. Counting and obsessing over every little morsel you put in your mouth, denying yourself something you don't know the calories of, but then binging on it later because you can't stop thinking about it, tracking every calorie you burn so you can eat the exercise calories, or exercise off something bad you're eaten, etc.

Some people on here at like calorie counting is the end all, be all to obesity, but it's not. It's great, but it's not the solution for everyone.

MynameisChester wrote: »

ReaderGirl3 wrote: »

I maintained my 50+ pound loss for over two years without counting and things were going well. However, the further away I got from the weight loss phase the easier it was to lose focus. I've learned my lesson and have started tracking again, and will do so for the rest of my life, which will probably be 40+ years.

It kind of sucks, but being overweight and a T2 sucks way more (when I was at my highest weight I was flirting with prediabetes). Most people fail at keeping the weight off long term, I will be one of the few who do succeed at this. Tracking/counting goes along way towards making that happen (for me).

I have no doubt you will succeed. You've done it before and you could do it again! If I may ask though, what factors caused you to lose focus in the first place?

Boredom, loss of motivation, not working towards new goals, justifying lazy choices and definitely a bit of arrogance as well.

I think lots of people hate counting, but it's the only guaranteed tried and true means to success. I'm not really a hater, as I find it simple, especially since I tend to eat the same few things.

Edited to add a qualifier to a statement for clarity. Counting is not the only means, but it is the only means that is guaranteed to work for everyone provided they are accurately counting and adjusting within a feedback loop.

Just wondering how you count your macros without logging the calories on here to get the macros?

trjjoy wrote: »

You just need to adult up and log them calories. Or else... It's like brushing your teeth. Who actually enjoys doing it? And yet we all do it.

Speak for yourself. I love brushing my teeth as it makes me not have dog poo breath, and it doesn't seem like OP needs to count calories at this point.

cavia wrote: »

I have poor satiety cues. I don't overeat this way. It's just a part of my life now.

I was that way too for 40 years but by trying different macros I found one that restored my satiety cues automatically freeing me from my eating disorder.

We all have to count something at some point in time to address if we have an eating disorder that leads to creating health issues after our auto pilots fail to keep us flying level.

The main thing in my case was to find the macro (ratio of carbs, protein and fats) that resolved my eating disorder that that had developed over time. What works for one should not be slammed by another nor should one over social media say what is right for another person to do. Sure one can share links to research and the like. Just because I do not smoke I do not have a right to abuse the rights of another who wishes to smoke.

At some level we all know what is right and wrong eating wise for our personal health. We get to live or die with our choices and in the end there is usually compromise. Finding the tool, info, etc is one thing that MFP does well.

MFP is an awesome set of tools and resources and it will continue to evolve as better knowledge about how to eat for the best health streams out to the masses that are interested in the subject. The number of members is rapidly growing it seems and the information is moving from being mainly dieting myths to being scientific based form real research. MFP is one source that I expect will continue to be leaders in the field of determining which way of eating works best for our many and varied health concerns. The info being gather by smart phones today is going to be a valuable game changer health wise.

I guess I don't see it as a pain. It's not like when calorie counting first got big, where you had to look everything up in a book. I literally just scan things, or type in a few words and it pops up. At this point, I can eyeball things if I'm eating out, but that's because of counting calories consistently that I know what a proper portion now looks like.

What are "macros?"

I don't mind weighing and tracking easy stuff like an apple or banana or piece of bread. However I cook almost all meals for a large family from scratch. That's what gets me is the homemade recipes and weighing all ingredients before cooking vs after cooking and trying to get the weighed portion sizes accurate.

happyheart15 wrote: »

Calorie counting doesn't work for everyone. Calorie counting can make some people obsessive. It can make some people binge. That's what it does for me sometimes. Counting and obsessing over every little morsel you put in your mouth, denying yourself something you don't know the calories of, but then binging on it later because you can't stop thinking about it, tracking every calorie you burn so you can eat the exercise calories, or exercise off something bad you're eaten, etc.

Some people on here at like calorie counting is the end all, be all to obesity, but it's not. It's great, but it's not the solution for everyone.

Good point (the bolded part)!

I wonder how the 100% counters deal with eating at mom and pop restaurants. Don't go there at all?

brendak76 wrote: »

I don't mind weighing and tracking easy stuff like an apple or banana or piece of bread. However I cook almost all meals for a large family from scratch. That's what gets me is the homemade recipes and weighing all ingredients before cooking vs after cooking and trying to get the weighed portion sizes accurate.

I love that crap. Is your food scale in the kitchen? Do you use the food scale tare function often, and also MFP's recipe feature (which I suppose can be a pain in the rear sometimes). Do you log the total servings as the finished weight of the cooked meal (example 3256g), so you can then log each serving you take as the number of grams you dished (like 256g) and MFP does all the nutrient/calorie calculations for you.

It's the guesses that annoy me sometimes. Like if a whole day is guesstimated, what's the point? On the other hand, If I'm cooking The entire meal and can be certain what the calorie count is, I love that