Just calorie counting?

Everyone looks fantastic, so much inspiration. I’m just wondering how many of you are just counting calories and moving your body? I know there is keto, fasting and other ways. I’m just curious who as lost with just being in a deficit.

Answers

  • SurferGirl1982
    SurferGirl1982 Posts: 651 Member
    I actually easily lost about 30 lbs in three months. I logged my food. About 1200 calories a day (I'm a 5'3" female). But, I wasn't hard-core about it. Somedays, I would be under and somedays I would be over. I wasn't following any specific diet. I was going a little on the low-carb/moderate protein/ and high healthy fat side. But, I'm from Italian decent, so if you try to take my pasta away...you may lose an arm *LOL*

    My intentions were to exercise. But, I didn't. It was just calorie restriction. But, I was eating nutrient dense foods. So, at times, it was hard to even reach 1200 calories.

    One thing to remember, is that if you are logging there's a lot of healthy foods that contain carbs. blueberries, broccoli, etc. I personally love yams. But, it will seem like too many carbs on your diary.

    As @Alatariel75 mentioned, I too focus mostly on lean protein and veggies. And, I have an occasional cheat day that I have pasta or bread.

    This isn't probably what many people do...But I recently started lightly steaming broccoli and after cooling it, I add to my salad. It might be weird, but I love it!
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,592 Member
    I actually easily lost about 30 lbs in three months. I logged my food. About 1200 calories a day (I'm a 5'3" female). But, I wasn't hard-core about it. Somedays, I would be under and somedays I would be over. I wasn't following any specific diet. I was going a little on the low-carb/moderate protein/ and high healthy fat side. But, I'm from Italian decent, so if you try to take my pasta away...you may lose an arm *LOL*

    My intentions were to exercise. But, I didn't. It was just calorie restriction. But, I was eating nutrient dense foods. So, at times, it was hard to even reach 1200 calories.

    One thing to remember, is that if you are logging there's a lot of healthy foods that contain carbs. blueberries, broccoli, etc. I personally love yams. But, it will seem like too many carbs on your diary.

    As @Alatariel75 mentioned, I too focus mostly on lean protein and veggies. And, I have an occasional cheat day that I have pasta or bread.

    This isn't probably what many people do...But I recently started lightly steaming broccoli and after cooling it, I add to my salad. It might be weird, but I love it!

    I blanch it, but the same result, absolutely love it in salads!
  • Corina1143
    Corina1143 Posts: 4,099 Member
    I counted calories, but I concentrated more on balanced healthy meals and snacks, I would do things like eat nothing but watermelon all day, then be ravenous and overeat the next day. I needed to be educated about helping my body. Balance is still what I struggle with most.
  • Lietchi
    Lietchi Posts: 6,947 Member
    edited December 2024
    I started out just counting calories to stay in a deficit, which worked well.
    More exercise/activity came gradually later on - always happy to find a justification for eating more :mrgreen:
    After a number of months I also started to pay more attention to my protein intake, to reduce muscle loss.

    I lost 75lbs - regained a little now so still 70lbs down.
  • ElfBodGoals
    ElfBodGoals Posts: 48 Member
    Just logging calories and trying to make it to the gym at least once a week right now. I have my goal set to lose 0.5-1lb a week and plan to lower my calorie intake more when the weather is nice and leaving the house is more fun :)
  • Rebeccafry35
    Rebeccafry35 Posts: 5 Member
    Thank you everyone, you’ve been so helpful and I’m excited to get started ❤️
  • Codefox
    Codefox Posts: 309 Member
    I have always had a very active training schedule but I really wanted to shave off 15 - 20lbs. So, without changing how often I workout, I started really counting calories back in October. I've lost 15lbs since then and plan to lose about 5 more. I just measure everything.
  • Hobartlemagne
    Hobartlemagne Posts: 603 Member
    I lost 30 lbs counting calories and exercising. No other extra methods
  • Tammie0018
    Tammie0018 Posts: 6 Member
    I lost 30 pounds in 3 months - no exercise. Counting calories and staying between 1000-1250 for the most part. Also on Zepbound to help curb the binge eating.
  • tonithib
    tonithib Posts: 3 Member
    I eat anything I want , but I track everything and stay in a calorie deficit. I'm losing regularly right under 1200 a day (I'm short). Planning to add in exercise slowly.
  • lisakatz2
    lisakatz2 Posts: 638 Member
    I've been losing weight by maintaining a calorie deficit (1500 calories/day) plus one hour of walking daily. No fancy plans, IF, keto, etc. I have drastically reduced my intake of sugar but still make calorie room for a (small) chocolate treat several times a week. Keeps me sane.
  • SavePollinators
    SavePollinators Posts: 3 Member
    3 years ago I lost 30 pounds in 6 months. Calorie counting. If I don't also exercise the scale does not move. Walking 200-300 calories a day. I eat every calorie back that I burn. If I go under calories for the day I seem to eat twice as much the next day. 1200 calories for my height. 64 years old. I plan out for the week what I am going to eat. I am obsessed with food, think about it all day every day. I've gained back 20 of those 30 pounds. So here I am, logging food. When I don't track calories, I gain weight. Charts say I should lose 50 pounds, but if I lose 40 I'll be content. I enjoy having one cocktail before dinner. I don't limit types of foods. After all this time I still haven't figured out how to not overeat dinner every night. I need 3 meals a day. You can do it! Calorie counting does work. You'll find yourself eating healthier foods to get the most out of your daily calories.
  • isacoetzee
    isacoetzee Posts: 9 Member
    Counting calories really is a game changer. I'm doing intermittent fasting, but once I started counting calories, I really started losing weight. I was eating WAY too much! I'm not being militant though, perfection is the enemy.
  • karalynnroll
    karalynnroll Posts: 34 Member
    I've lost 10 pounds in 2 months just counting calories. Switched from full sugar soda/pop to Zevia and have been eating salads for lunch.
  • mortgagegirl1
    mortgagegirl1 Posts: 12 Member
    Me! I have been logging consistently and staying in a calorie deficit. I'm down 30lbs since last SEptember. This is my life now and not a fad diet so I do there is nothing that is truly off limits. If I want something, I work it into my daily calorie plan. For the most part I no longer drink alcohol unless I am on vacation. I workout with a Personal Trainer 3 times per week.
  • Lady_Magenta
    Lady_Magenta Posts: 194 Member
    I count calories and I try to log everything faithfully. It's hard when you cook your recipes and you don't always measure everything because you cook 'to taste'. I created 'meals' here for my recipes.
    I don't follow any diet, other than moderation. I eat protein (but limited because it causes inflammation - I have an autoimmune disorder). I have cut out added sugar. I am gluten-free and dairy-free for health reasons and it has widened my horizon to find new recipes, which I love. I feel so much better.

    I started in September 2024. I have lost 40 pounds. I have been maintaining in January, a lot was going on health-wise (pre-op) and it seems to be harder to eat healthier meals when it's so darn cold outside.


  • carolenacoco
    carolenacoco Posts: 1 Member
    Some people saying keto makes them sick, here's an explanation:
    your body is switching from burning carbs to burning fat, this is a tough transition and you are bound to feel sick. Totally fine to stop keto, but it wont last forever so don't be discouraged by the sick feeling
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 35,076 Member
    Some people saying keto makes them sick, here's an explanation:
    your body is switching from burning carbs to burning fat, this is a tough transition and you are bound to feel sick. Totally fine to stop keto, but it wont last forever so don't be discouraged by the sick feeling

    Upping electrolyte intake might be a more directed and immediate solution for "keto flu".

    . . . not that I'd encourage anyone to do keto if the only reason is weight loss, unless they truly enjoy that eating style and subjectively feel enough better doing it to make it worthwhile for them personally.

    I admit there's an undercurrent in popular culture that it's essential to suffer for weight loss, and that it's a wonderful thing to tough it out and "be strong" as a character test even when it's not essential. :D Nah, not gonna do it.
  • tobinross
    tobinross Posts: 25 Member
    I agree with @AnnPT77 ...I like to eat! And I want it to be balanced. My overall goal has been to run about a 500 calorie deficit (and I include calories burned from working out) and save some calories for 'cheat' day of Mexican food or going out to dinner. Sometimes a little over or just breakeven but it is what is working for me.
  • fxw1234
    fxw1234 Posts: 1 Member
    Personally, I've always had trouble maintaining keto because of the effects it has on water retention. The constant cycle of drinking water and letting it out disrupts my sleep cycle, and thus affecting appetite. It's a whole mess. However, I do find that I'm less hungry on a high protein diet, so these days I try to go for 100+ g of protein a day.
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