Does Everyone Count Calories?

In Soviet Russia, calories count you.

I track both my work outs (calories burned) and my food (calories consumed). It gives me a better idea of how much I have eaten/should eat. I'm currently trying to lose weight so it is beneficial to me to keep track of everything. (:

If you're not overweight (and maintaining), I guess you don't really have to count calories, If you are trying to lose weight, I would count them because you can REALLY error on the heavy side just guessing. In the long run, whatever works for you.

Yes
My intention the first week or two is to not change what i'm currently eating. I think i'm eating healthier and in moderate portions. Tracking it on this site will allow me to see what I'm really doing.
Then, I'll modify how much and what I eat.
I hope I'm not too far off.

I track my calories and my exercise, and yeah it can be a bit daunting and as my bff said "it takes the fun out of life!", but I really needed to do it. It's opened my eyes to all the terrible things I had been eating. I used to look at myself and be like "I have no clue how I gained so much" and on my first day I logged everything I ate in a normal day and I was just stunned. For me, I need to to help me make the lifestyle change. I want to be healthy and fit long after I lose my weight and this is a tool to help me do that. Personally, after I hit my goal, I'm going to keep logging everything. Probably not for the rest of my life, but until I can be assured that the changes I made will be permanent.

Me too. Well said.

I use this site for calories in /out.
I use fitocracy to track my workouts.
Their system is much easier to use.

Believe it or not, I use another site to track my food intake because I think it has some better tools. But I like the message boards, advice, and support that I get here.

I started out gung-ho counting calories only. Then I went to counting calories and tracking workout calories. Then I went to tracking calories and workout calories minus default calories burned, etc. Then, it all just got too tedious and time consuming. It was taking me almost two hours a day to add in my food, etc. I burned out big time. I found that it got so tiring and tedious to track every little thing I ate. Like a teaspoon of this or 2/3 cup of that. Plus, I do not eat the same things everyday so I can't just plug and play with my numbers. I eat different foods everyday, and that means looking up all of those different foods and double checking calorie content, etc. My family was starting to go super crazy because I wouldn't let them throw away food containers, wrappers, etc. because I needed the nutritional info from them.

It's been almost six months since I really tracked my calories and honestly, it shows, especially on the scale. I have gained back 15 lbs that I worked so hard to lose. I'm going to try to get back into it this week. Even if I don't track every little bite, I will still have a baseline of my calorie intake.

I started out gung-ho counting calories only. Then I went to counting calories and tracking workout calories. Then I went to tracking calories and workout calories minus default calories burned, etc. Then, it all just got too tedious and time consuming. It was taking me almost two hours a day to add in my food, etc. I burned out big time. I found that it got so tiring and tedious to track every little thing I ate. Like a teaspoon of this or 2/3 cup of that. Plus, I do not eat the same things everyday so I can't just plug and play with my numbers.

this ^

at the end of last year I was micromanaging the calories (was that carrot 110grams of just 95?...45 mins of exercise or 42.5?) It was just too much effort! I took a break of 2 months hovering about the same weight before I decided to start again. Now I use whats already listed. I use roughly the same proportions every time for the usual things ('about enough' in a stew is 100gms per vege, in soup its 200). I am not going to quibble about 50 cals here or there, and I must say, I am FAR better for it. YMMV.

i track calories and exercising

No! I don't count calories. I have been using this site since the start of jan the same time I started my get fit spree. I cook most meals and the quantities and ratios change each time. I also freeze food, then add to that when defrosted, so to get an accurate count for everything would be quite time consuming. I maintain that what and how i cook is healthy. My problem was portion control, bad snacking and too much wine. Now eat of a smaller plate, only healthy snacks and wine-Fridays! I also have upped the exercise and am loosing just over a pound a week, on average. Would it go faster if I counted calories? Perhaps.

What I have found great about this site is the message boards - especially the success stories. They have really given me an idea of how long this project will be. Previously on diets I did not have a long-term vision and stalled after a month or so, depressed that I hadn't lost more. I am tracking my exercise - but I know that any entry in the database is to be taken with a pinch of salt - it is an average. As long as I use the same entry each time I know roughly what is happening. I also use this to track my weight - this was another problem previously, as I would lie to other folk about my start weight and goal......and ultimately to myself. Now, I update each week and that is motivating me.

Do what works for you! This site is a great tool, but use it how you wish - and don't be put off my folk saying what you should or shouldn't do!
Good luck

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this ^

at the end of last year I was micromanaging the calories (was that carrot 110grams of just 95?...45 mins of exercise or 42.5?) It was just too much effort! I took a break of 2 months hovering about the same weight before I decided to start again. Now I use whats already listed. I use roughly the same proportions every time for the usual things ('about enough' in a stew is 100gms per vege, in soup its 200). I am not going to quibble about 50 cals here or there, and I must say, I am FAR better for it. YMMV.
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This exactly! I started micromanaging calories and workout times. I would have to weigh everything little thing or bust out the measuring spoons, cups, etc. It was so time consuming and created a ton of dirty dishes. By the time my plate had food on it, everyone else in the family was done eating, so I couldn't sit and enjoy dinner with them. Also, we live with my parents, so there are 4 adults trying to share one kitchen. My Mom has yelled at me numerous times about my measuring scales/tools being in her way!! So, I just try to "guestimate" on portion size. I know that's not the best way to go about weight loss, but I really have to keep the peace around the house.

I totally understand about the portions in homemade food like stews and soups. How the heck am I supposed to measure how much beef I ate in a beef stew that was cooked in a 7 quart crock pot??