Calorie counting is BLOWING my mind...

That's why I love this site, it makes you be accountable and once you see the numbers you think twice about having that again and try to find a better option. I keep telling myself that when I hit a maintenance phase I can perhaps splurge but right now while I'm trying to lose I need to stay focused and not blow my whole day with a grand slam at dennys (which is like 1000 or more calories by the way). As they said at fitness camp, "It's okay to have a 'cheat meal' but not a 'cheat day'." Because a day turns into 2 days then a week and you have just blown a lot of time eating whatever the heck you wanted.

This is why most of us are overweight. It is because we have no idea what we are putting into our bodies. We have to educate ourselves about nutrition.

I used to worry about how many calories things were. A meal in a recipe book would be 450 calories, and I'd stay away from it. I would prefer to eat my day away in 50 and 100 calorie increments. And I obsessed about food. All. The. Time. I'm not so obsessive anymore. If I want it, I have a serving. I mean, 23 almonds are 160 calories, and that isn't a whole lot of almonds, but if I chew them slowly and thoroughly, by the time I am done, I feel full.

This, along with 'diet' foods is a trap I've fallen into. You get so obsessed with saving calories, you don't eat any nutrition and end up starving all of the time

This is all a learning process. It is amazing how many calories can be in a food you have been used to eating for years and the portion is so much smaller than you thought. However, if you're eating healthy, and getting exercise, eating that ice cream, having that glass of wine - anything in moderation is okay. This is not a diet to cut out foods, but to learn to eat better and be more active. My problem used to be that if I wanted something, but trying not to eat it, I would eat "around" it until I ate more calories than if I just ate that food and got it out of my system. This continues to be a life education. Eat to live, don't live to eat. Take care.

Oh yeah! Of course! haha, I went shopping the other day, and instead of doing all the math to see what COSTS more per seving/oz/lb, etc, I was looking at all the calories. Did you know there is such crazy calorie differences in HOMINY brands? Ok, so I don't know about other people, but I usually grab the generic, cheaper brands of stuff... (I'm a poor 22yr married gal, so sue me! ha!) that was until I was reaching in my cupboard the other day and pulled out a Walmart Yellow Hominy and a Bushes Yellow Hominy side by side to compare. They are nearly the same exact thing, but the difference per serving was 20cal! Now, I know that's not a ton, but.... seriously?! I totally chose the Bushes Hominy for less cal! Yummy. I find it fascinating at the calories I must have regularly consumed without a thought. I kinda miss the days when I could eat something without obsessively looking at the back! baha!

I used to worry about how many calories things were. A meal in a recipe book would be 450 calories, and I'd stay away from it. I would prefer to eat my day away in 50 and 100 calorie increments. And I obsessed about food. All. The. Time. I'm not so obsessive anymore. If I want it, I have a serving. I mean, 23 almonds are 160 calories, and that isn't a whole lot of almonds, but if I chew them slowly and thoroughly, by the time I am done, I feel full.

This, along with 'diet' foods is a trap I've fallen into. You get so obsessed with saving calories, you don't eat any nutrition and end up starving all of the time

It took me 3 different uphills on the roller coaster before I had the "aha" moment! I think because I was on weight watchers, I would see points and anything above about 3 points would freak me out. When you only get 20 points to spend for an entire day, 3 points is a lot for a single thing! So I would buy the diet foods that were 1 - 2 points each and chow on them all day. They weren't fulfilling, and most of the time it caused me to crave more food. So, I just started shopping the outside of the grocery store (for the most part, anyway... I buy peanut butter and things like that from the middle, but I definitely stay away from things like crackers, cookies, and potato chips... all those empty calories), and if I want to have a hamburger, I have it! There is nothing wrong with having one! I just make sure that I add a couple tomato slices and some lettuce, and maybe have a side of broccoli with it so that I'm getting plenty of nutrition and getting plenty full.

I have them all the time. My mom will say do you want an oreo or something like that and I say no, they're too expensive. She looks at me like I'm crazy. She doesn't realize I'm talking expensive in calories and not $. But I kind of treat it like money, get the most out of what little calories i have!

I totally do this too. I always say that I "can't afford" something - I mean in calories, not in money. I try to get the most bang for my buck, calorie wise.

Are people really this disconnected with how many calories/fat/sodium/etc is in their food?

I gained weight knowing full well what I was eating was bad. I just can't imagine being so in the dark that you're actually surprised.

*facepalm*

For me, it was more about seeing how things really add up. I would see individual calorie counts and know that some things weren't the best for me, but until I saw a whole days worth all added together, I didn't realize just quite how bad I was eating. I think that seeing it all there in black and white and added up together is a great tool for making a change. And obviously that is something that helps a lot of people, or else we wouldn't all be at a website like this that has tools specifically devoted to tracking food and exercise. I think it's funny that you're so shocked people find tools that help count their calories so helpful and revealing, given the fact that you're here too.

Yes. Beef tongue. I couldn't believe how many calories are in it, and I love it. Fortunately, I am still at a higher calorie count, so I can continue to enjoy it for a while longer.

Ewww!

Don't like eating something that can taste you back?

Yes. Beef tongue. I couldn't believe how many calories are in it, and I love it. Fortunately, I am still at a higher calorie count, so I can continue to enjoy it for a while longer.

Ewww!

Don't like eating something that can taste you back?

That and I have seen cows pick their noses with their tongues.

I thought that was a side dish? No?

Yes. Beef tongue. I couldn't believe how many calories are in it, and I love it. Fortunately, I am still at a higher calorie count, so I can continue to enjoy it for a while longer.

Ewww!

Don't like eating something that can taste you back?

That and I have seen cows pick their noses with their tongues.

I wish I could do that. It would keep my hands free for MFP typing.

Wine and gin & tonic!

As someone says further up, it's seeing how they all add up! We all know we shouldn't really be going over 2k calories a day. But I've never really thought to add up all the calories in a bottle of wine or a few glasses of JD & coke. Not that I'm an alcoholic, just that I have difficulty seeing liquids as real 'food' and so often hadn't counted them as calorie intake in the past. Dopey, I know...

It's so easy to go over your daily calories by half again on a night out. Or having a meal out and not being aware of exactly what's on your plate!

Wine and gin & tonic!

As someone says further up, it's seeing how they all add up! We all know we shouldn't really be going over 2k calories a day. But I've never really thought to add up all the calories in a bottle of wine or a few glasses of JD & coke. Not that I'm an alcoholic, just that I have difficulty seeing liquids as real 'food' and so often hadn't counted them as calorie intake in the past. Dopey, I know...

It's so easy to go over your daily calories by half again on a night out. Or having a meal out and not being aware of exactly what's on your plate!

Haha! I had the exact opposite reaction when logging wine. I mean, I can have like 3 - 4 glasses of wine for the calories in one Big Mac. Why would anyone ever choose the Big Mac???

Yes its depressing when you look at a small bag of delicious cheesies and it's 500 calories!!! Then I realize that I dont really want it that bad. lol I would way rather have a banana or a protien shake. I have learned to love healthy eating. Its a long journey but you can do it.