Counting Calories Works
 

I was reading in O magazine that the people who are most successful at losing weight and keeping it off are those that document every morsel they consume. That's right, I hate it too, but that seems to be a fact. So how many of you are counting and how are you doing? I haven't been doing much since I've gotten back from Africa but I really want to step it up and lose about 10 more lbs. That would be pretty cool.

dude...I've been doing that since beginning of June...I'm trying to stay around 1200 calories per day and as little fat and sugar as possible. I have a little pad that I keep with me to make sure I write it all down and I've seriously done a good job staying at or under 1200/day. I am walking at least 30 mins 4 times a week...I've lost about 10 pounds, but haven't lost any in 2 weeks...so I don't know if I need to step up my exercise or what? I'm really at a loss right now to know what to do:(

Oh, I thought you might have read that in this month's "Der". :laugh:

No, I've definitely forgotten that until the past 5 mo. or something, and it has been helping me.
It seems like a simple concept, but it's one of those things that is good to be reminded of. I've been counting pretty regularly. I didn't on my mini vacay, and a week after or so. It is still a struggle to keep under the amount I'd like to, but it helps that I am reminded of my total every time I eat something, and also helps me plan meals.

I really need to sit down with your brain and get all your good tips (can you pencil me in?). in fact, I need to find that awesome thread where you were going over all this stuff. do you know of a site that tells you how many calories/fat/etc. you should have each day? I'm wondering if 1200 is too low...the last thing I need is my body thinking I'm starving and start STORING fat...

All a calorie means is how much heat it takes to burn up whatever it is you are eating. So, yes, it is important to count calories from that point of view. But, food combiunations and what time of day you eat the food type also is important.

Strand has a good tip, above. Ie, you should eat often and certain foods. He's lost, like, 80 or something, right Strand? But, of course, it's like Neiztche says (:laugh: ) you have to work through the hardship to get the great results.
There are sites like that, I don't have them with me. One did it by you telling how many minutes/hours you did certain activities per day, they calculated, and told you - and made calorie consumption suggestions. Cause you have to burn more than you eat! :D BUt I just typed "calorie calculation" or something, into google, and found it right quick.
I wouldn't think 1200 is too low - but I don't know your muscle mass. I would think 1200 is fine. Or, around 1200. If you have more muscle mass, you might want to up it a little. Depending on how active you are, of course.

From Nov. of last year to like around April - May of this year - I lost about 80 pounds. I went from a 38-40 waist to about a 32 now. I did it by adhereing to a very strict regime that changed the way I ate. Foods I ate/eat in the morning include:

Kashi "Go Lean" cereal at about 5:30 a.m.

a Protein Shake (ISS Advantage Matrix works for me) at around 10:00 a.m.

two chicken breasts (grilled or baked) with a box of frozen brocolli, asparagus, green beans, or brussels sprouts for lunch

another protein shake at around 4:30

THE GYM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! at 6:00 to 8:00

Eggbeaters (42 g's of protein) for dinner

_____________________________________________________________

Of course I splurge. Like I had fried chicken with fries and fat backed collards Sunday night. You gotta live or your body will hate you. The point is to tune your body up so that when you do splurge, your metabolism is high enough to burn the spluge.

/jp

Other foods I will eat include the frozen lasagne's and frozen mexican entrees in the health food section of the store. I cannot remember the brand names now, but they are not with the reg. frozen dinners.

Also, pulled pork with no sauce or, on occasion, steak, can be substituted for the chicken or eggs above.

Remember, variety is the spice of life!!!

I think 1200 is too low for a guy. No scientific proof readily available right now, but it seems low to me.

Try the coconut oil. Can't hurt, right?

Coconut oil is fine and dandy, but it is still a fat and must be done in moderation.

I know people who cut all fat out of their diets and their skin and hair look awful. Why? Well, because skin and hair need fat to be healthy looking.

Same thing with energy - you need carbs (the good kind) to sustain energy.

Protein, the easiest for your body to digest but somewhat the hardest to ingest and metabolize, builds muscle.

Its all about moderation.

Counting calories works. It's just not long term. No one will spend the rest of their life writing or counting every single thing they put in their mouth. Counting calories also leads to a really unhealthy attitude- you are focusing so much on what you're putting into your mouth or how much exercise you're doing. It becomes an obsession that doesn't let up. At least it has, in my experience. I did Weight Watchers and lost about 40 pounds, and would recommend it to anyone, but I was focusing so much on what I was allowed to eat and not allowed. I would exercise an extra fifteen minutes so I could get the points to eat chocolate, or I'd save up all my flex points and blow them on booze. Denying myself that stuff made me explode.

My boyfriend and I have just discovered the revolutionary concept of cooking healthily, eating smaller portions, and exercising every day. We go out and play tennis together every night for at least an hour- it's kicking our ass. I've lost about eight to ten pounds in a month- at least I think I have. One other good benefit of all of this is that I rarely step on a scale.

awesome. this is the kind of stuff I've been trying to find...something to "go by" and taper for myself.

now, was this a typical plan 7 days a week? you hit the gym and stuck to this every day? or did you have an "off" day?

I do not like milk - so eat eat cereal with water - I know its weird, but it works for me :laugh: If you want to use whole milk, that is fine, just be sparing with it. Also, fat free and sugar free yougart is good with cereal.

If you get tired of the cereal, eat a wheat bagel with the reduced calorie cream cheese.

Also, if you can walk for about ten minutes before and after eating, you metabolism will be better off.

I usually go to the gym 6 days a week and while there do the Stairmaster for 45 minutes and then the bike or treadmill for 20 minutes. Sometimes, I do aerobics after the Stairmaster.

I lift weights five days a week, though I recently hurt my arm so i have had to limit that somewhat.

For awhile, I got a little to extreme with the diet and that was not a good thing. I lost sight of everything in moderation. But, I am okay now.

those things are evil baby and they must be destroyed!!!

I hate scales...really. I try to judge by how I feel and how my clothes fit, but I still hear the scales calling my name...

really? me either. I thought I was the only one. I can do skim milk, but I mainly drink soy milk.

and thanks for these tips too.

Scales really tell you nothing relevant to your changing body because muscle, which you are trying to build, weighs more than fat :shrug:

Also, Haley's advice about eating and exercise was great.

Ideally, the former leads to the latter. It gives people an idea of what good meal/portion sizes are, and what types of food are best to eat. Some people are not already in the habit of eating healthfully and exercising regularly. Or, some are, but they still consume too many (possibly healthful) calories and aren't seeing results. Last night I had about 1700 calories, which is about 500 more than I wanted to eat, and all I ate that day was a couple servings of mixed veggies (lunch and dinner) with a teeny bit of chicken, popcorn with coconut oil, and apples. :shrug:

I agree that the former (being obsessive all the time) shouldn't be the end goal, but it can help - very much in fact. And some people, also, are more comfortable working within a structure. It comforts and helps them.

I mean, what you said to do seems totally natural for me, but that isn't so for everyone. Also, even I like to get a little help from counting calories at times, like now when I'm really struggling to continue my weight loss progress, but only have about 15 lbs to lose. When I was at my normal weight, it was very constant, and so I settled into something more like what you are talking about.

Well, I assumed everyone knew that. I'd hope Jaz wouldn't ingest a liter of oil a day or anything. :rolleyes:

Well, we do live in the South :laugh:

Also, a handful of raw almonds for a snack is a wonderful idea as raw almonds are fantastic for you.

Sooo...I should stop making everything I eat "tempura"? :shrug:



















:laugh:

P.S. - almonds are good for you, but walnuts are even more magical, so try to mix up the nuts you eat. ;)

I'm my sack of em right here darlin' :wavey:

must...resist...

he he he...we're on the same wavelength

Actually, my comp. crashed as I posted that and it should have read:

I have my sack of em in my hand right now darlin' :wavey:

calorieking.com. 1200 seems low for a man.

ok.

so, again, is 1200 too low for me? :laugh:

just kidding. thanks for the info. I actually signed up for calorieking and forgot until just now.

My hubby did this a few years back and it totally worked. Now he doesn't ... and well .... :(

I don't do it ... it seems like to much work! I try to watch what I eat, though, and I am excercising more lately as well. :thumbsup:

It takes me like, 2 minutes to write down all my calories. :shrug: The only "work" part comes in remembering to do it. :) Which reminds me....

Congrats on your exercise.

I just dedicated a whole notebook to Calorie/food journaling. I know my eating is out of hand and that's the biggest factor in my ever-expanding ass.

That said, since moving to Colorado I think I've gotten more exercise than my time in NY :p Just on Sunday I got up, went for a 45 minute swim, washed my car (by hand...not a namby pamby drive-through..but it was a designated car wash, so I didn't waste mad water), then went for an evening bike ride! This week I've been hitting my apartment complexe's gym...

I just need to get the eating in check..that's what's getting me. Since I'm too cheap to join Weight Watchers right now - I'm going to try calorie counting/portioning on my own :D

I just remembered another good thing to do is to make sure you take time throughout the day to breathe deeply. Sometimes I forget to breathe, if you know what I mean. Deeply. The whole diaphragm thing and all.
And/ do a calming stretching exercise.

Something about Cortisol levels in your body and the relationship between DHEA - as you get older you have less DHEA, and more cortisol (cortisol is released when you are stressed, it's part of the "fight or flight" chemical process.)

"DHEA can improve glucose tolerance, convert excess body fat to lean muscle mass, alleviate depression, increase energy and decrease pain in chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia patients, decrease joint pain and fatigue in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, improve mental clarity and enhance overall immune function."


There is info online, but basically you want to really keep your cortisol (stress) levels down because it causes a chemical reaction in your body that is not ideal - harmful.
Here is one short snippet of something I found. I'm not saying this is the be all, end all, but it is a contributing factor, and every little bit helps. :) :woohoo:

"The destructive effect of high cortisol levels

What is cortisol? In its normal function, cortisol helps us meet these challenges by converting proteins into energy, releasing glycogen and counteracting inflammation. For a short time, that’s okay. But at sustained high levels, cortisol gradually tears your body down.

Sustained high cortisol levels destroy healthy muscle and bone, slow down healing and normal cell regeneration, co-opt biochemicals needed to make other vital hormones, impair digestion, metabolism and mental function, interfere with healthy endocrine function; and weaken your immune system.

Adrenal fatigue may be a factor in many related conditions, including fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, premature menopause and others. It may also produce a host of other unpleasant symptoms, from acne to hair loss. (Please click here to see a list of adrenal fatigue symptoms and related conditions.)

The loss of DHEA production
When the adrenals are chronically overworked and straining to maintain high cortisol levels, they lose the capacity to produce DHEA in sufficient amounts. DHEA (the full name is dehydroepiandrosterone) is a precursor hormone to estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, and is necessary to moderate the balance of hormones in your body. Insufficient DHEA contributes to fatigue, bone loss, loss of muscle mass, depression, aching joints, decreased sex drive, and impaired immune function. (For more information, read our article on DHEA.)"
http://www.womentowomen.com/adrenalf...l#cortisoldhea

I just take TrimSpa. :shrug:

Admit it, you are really Anna Nicole.

Seriously, does that **** do anything ?

No, I'm still fat. :lol:

But your sig banner pic rocks, fatso!!:thumbsup:

My mom lost a lot of weight counting calories. I know she went from 170 down to 135. She's like 5'6 and looked great. I was really proud of her.

I used to do it back in school. But I did 800 calories a day.I know I went from like 140 to 128 very quickly. Of course now if I was 128 I'd do a dance. I haven't seen even 140 in a long time.
SIGH.

But that's the best way. You see just how many calories you consume. Every drink, every bite!

I want to do that again and I will. Very soon.

It WORKS.

Ummmmmmmmmm -- I usually get that :wavey:

Now where are my half of those ashes :eek:

Also get enough sleep and watch less TV. People who do those things weigh less.

Screw you Suze, I ain't giving up my rich & full life of TV watching! :mad:




:laugh:

Tell me about it! :xoxo:

PS, screw you too!