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Counting Calories
- Thread starter stubeeef
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amacgenius
macrumors 68000
Congrats stubeeef, sadly I am 15yrs old and weight over 250 (but looking at me honestly you wouldn't guess, most of my friends guess I way 120-140, man are they wrong. I'm 5' 11") and I have family history of heart probs and diabetes, I also have tyroid problems now and I really want to lose the weight mainly with school starting again in a month.
About a yr ago I (with the help of my mother) lost almost 20 lbs, but since the death of my grandmother this past Valentines day I have bulged to over that 250 mark and it's becoming unhealthy and annoying.
Anyways, your story seems so simple and easy, I was wondering if you'd be interested in helping me or making some kind of food guide that I and my mother can modify to fit me and still help lose weight. I don't have kids but my family sure would be pleased 🙂.
About a yr ago I (with the help of my mother) lost almost 20 lbs, but since the death of my grandmother this past Valentines day I have bulged to over that 250 mark and it's becoming unhealthy and annoying.
Anyways, your story seems so simple and easy, I was wondering if you'd be interested in helping me or making some kind of food guide that I and my mother can modify to fit me and still help lose weight. I don't have kids but my family sure would be pleased 🙂.
First, talk to your doctor about your health issues, I wouldn't want you to get hurt.
Second, don't do it as fast as I did, it is unhealthy, but effective.
1. Decide you really want to do this. That you are willing to not eat a pizza when everyone else is, or icecream cause you want to, or junk food of any kind. Decide that these things are temporary, that they have nothing for you but fat, regret, and regret, and regret.
2. Get at least 1 empty 64 oz bottle. make a mark at 32 ozs. Drink at least 2 full 64oz bottles a day of water. Do not drink any calories, no full blown sodas, no juice, no gatorade. Stay away from caffine, it inhibits insulin production, and insulin is needed to burn fat, so you want to have good insulin production, don't you! Drink the water at room temp, cold water is a bad shock for your digestive track, infact, if you get a little backed up (you know what I mean) drink some warm water and wait 10 minutes.
3. get a calorie counting booklet in the grocery aisle, leave it on the kitchen counter and start counting everything that goes in your mouth. Be conservative and round up. After all, lying to yourself is not a good relationship. If a tomato is 25 calories, you eat most of it, count all 25 not 21. Bookmark a calorie counter page, there seem to be a few at the bottom of these pages.
3.5 Counting calories only happens when you watch your portions. Stick some kitchen measuring spoons and/or cups out to use. If a half cup of Edy's slow churn icecream is 130 calories, you need to eat only a half cup, not a packed solid one either, remember you will not trick your body! It isn't going to pretend that you didn't eat 300 calories because you had a multiple portion.
4. Eat protein, but don't count carbs. As long as you are eating fruits, and veggies, they are good carbs, cookies are bad carbs. You need to eat some everyday. I always drink lots and lots and lots of water with my proteins.
5. Eat lots of different stuff. Variety is good. Use spicey things when you can, your body will feel more satisfied.
6. Chew your food till it is nearly liquid in your mouth. Saliva sends signals to your brain and stomach that help you think you are full. Plus it helps with indigestion.
7. Take a good multivitamin. My Dr recommends Centrum. He recommended for me, a 44 yr old with a good thyroid, B complex, C, & Omega3 too. All I bought at Walmart. According to some studies I read theirs were as good or better than GNC's.
8. See your DR before any of this.
9. Do some excercise. I have a very bad ankle and can't run, or walk alot. i reduced my calories because I am sedentary. if your active, then you will need more calories.
10. EAT NO FOOD OF ANY KIND AFTER 7:30PM!!! THIS IS A FAIRLY HARD RULE OF MINE NOW. I never have made a good choice late at night, and my body doesn't need it anyway.
I could give specifics but I am not a DR, I don't have a thyroid issue, and I am older. But I promise this one thing, when you are ready for it to come off, you will do it. All you need to do is decide you want this more than junk food, pizza, and candy, or late night snacks.
Second, don't do it as fast as I did, it is unhealthy, but effective.
1. Decide you really want to do this. That you are willing to not eat a pizza when everyone else is, or icecream cause you want to, or junk food of any kind. Decide that these things are temporary, that they have nothing for you but fat, regret, and regret, and regret.
2. Get at least 1 empty 64 oz bottle. make a mark at 32 ozs. Drink at least 2 full 64oz bottles a day of water. Do not drink any calories, no full blown sodas, no juice, no gatorade. Stay away from caffine, it inhibits insulin production, and insulin is needed to burn fat, so you want to have good insulin production, don't you! Drink the water at room temp, cold water is a bad shock for your digestive track, infact, if you get a little backed up (you know what I mean) drink some warm water and wait 10 minutes.
3. get a calorie counting booklet in the grocery aisle, leave it on the kitchen counter and start counting everything that goes in your mouth. Be conservative and round up. After all, lying to yourself is not a good relationship. If a tomato is 25 calories, you eat most of it, count all 25 not 21. Bookmark a calorie counter page, there seem to be a few at the bottom of these pages.
3.5 Counting calories only happens when you watch your portions. Stick some kitchen measuring spoons and/or cups out to use. If a half cup of Edy's slow churn icecream is 130 calories, you need to eat only a half cup, not a packed solid one either, remember you will not trick your body! It isn't going to pretend that you didn't eat 300 calories because you had a multiple portion.
4. Eat protein, but don't count carbs. As long as you are eating fruits, and veggies, they are good carbs, cookies are bad carbs. You need to eat some everyday. I always drink lots and lots and lots of water with my proteins.
5. Eat lots of different stuff. Variety is good. Use spicey things when you can, your body will feel more satisfied.
6. Chew your food till it is nearly liquid in your mouth. Saliva sends signals to your brain and stomach that help you think you are full. Plus it helps with indigestion.
7. Take a good multivitamin. My Dr recommends Centrum. He recommended for me, a 44 yr old with a good thyroid, B complex, C, & Omega3 too. All I bought at Walmart. According to some studies I read theirs were as good or better than GNC's.
8. See your DR before any of this.
9. Do some excercise. I have a very bad ankle and can't run, or walk alot. i reduced my calories because I am sedentary. if your active, then you will need more calories.
10. EAT NO FOOD OF ANY KIND AFTER 7:30PM!!! THIS IS A FAIRLY HARD RULE OF MINE NOW. I never have made a good choice late at night, and my body doesn't need it anyway.
I could give specifics but I am not a DR, I don't have a thyroid issue, and I am older. But I promise this one thing, when you are ready for it to come off, you will do it. All you need to do is decide you want this more than junk food, pizza, and candy, or late night snacks.
Some substitutes I have made.
Bread. Low cal bread is 40 cal a slice, reg is 70+ depending on the bread. by using light i save over 60 cal a sandwich.
Light Miracle Whip instead of mayo. 25 cal for MW per tbs, 90 for mayo.
So, a tomato sandwich (I love'm bad too) went from 70+70+90+25=255 to 40+40+25+25=130 Nearly half the calories, but my stomach was just as happy, infact I could have 2 of them and only get 260 calories.
Skim milk (I like it fine some don't), special k cereal.
Lots of fresh, not canned (sugar added) fruit. I would make a large tupperware of it that would last 2 days. Melons, grapes, berries, tangerines. It started to be my candy. I also leave it out during the day. I count the calories, but a tangerine has just a few, but is a great snack, and the peel makes the sink disposal smell good too!
Be inventive, read nutrition info on stuff. Find the really bad stuff in your diet and cut it out or reduce it.
I love Edy's slow churn icecream, I eat "french silk" and spoon it in to a half cup measuring spoon (flour spoon?) and eat it as my treat. You have to have treats. Just always follow a treat with lots of water. and I mean lots of water, 16-32 ozs. That way you are full and don't need "just a little more icecream!" (ya right, just a little more!).
Bread. Low cal bread is 40 cal a slice, reg is 70+ depending on the bread. by using light i save over 60 cal a sandwich.
Light Miracle Whip instead of mayo. 25 cal for MW per tbs, 90 for mayo.
So, a tomato sandwich (I love'm bad too) went from 70+70+90+25=255 to 40+40+25+25=130 Nearly half the calories, but my stomach was just as happy, infact I could have 2 of them and only get 260 calories.
Skim milk (I like it fine some don't), special k cereal.
Lots of fresh, not canned (sugar added) fruit. I would make a large tupperware of it that would last 2 days. Melons, grapes, berries, tangerines. It started to be my candy. I also leave it out during the day. I count the calories, but a tangerine has just a few, but is a great snack, and the peel makes the sink disposal smell good too!
Be inventive, read nutrition info on stuff. Find the really bad stuff in your diet and cut it out or reduce it.
I love Edy's slow churn icecream, I eat "french silk" and spoon it in to a half cup measuring spoon (flour spoon?) and eat it as my treat. You have to have treats. Just always follow a treat with lots of water. and I mean lots of water, 16-32 ozs. That way you are full and don't need "just a little more icecream!" (ya right, just a little more!).
jestershinra, I am only qualified in one way to give any advice (well 2 ways) I am a parent and love my children, and I am a human that can give some empathy.
I could say so many things that may or maynot be appropriate, but you need to help yourself some here too. Your are 2 yrs away from legal detachement, and I know you can decide that you want a positive change. If you belong to a church, I would recommend going there to have a discussion.
I was so skinny in school, that I was WAY scared to be seen in a bathing suit too! Most people are, they will follow the lead of how you feel about yourself. And you will probably never see most of them again after HS anyway. Don't let others dictate what you will do in life, cause you have the control. Your are plenty smart enough, and more than capable to do anything you want to do, you must first decide what you want to do and make a plan, then do it.
I ache for your sadness, but a hunch that you are about to break free from your anxiety about right NOW! 🙂
I could say so many things that may or maynot be appropriate, but you need to help yourself some here too. Your are 2 yrs away from legal detachement, and I know you can decide that you want a positive change. If you belong to a church, I would recommend going there to have a discussion.
I was so skinny in school, that I was WAY scared to be seen in a bathing suit too! Most people are, they will follow the lead of how you feel about yourself. And you will probably never see most of them again after HS anyway. Don't let others dictate what you will do in life, cause you have the control. Your are plenty smart enough, and more than capable to do anything you want to do, you must first decide what you want to do and make a plan, then do it.
I ache for your sadness, but a hunch that you are about to break free from your anxiety about right NOW! 🙂
My rule, and I stress my rule, not your rule, is no food, not even carrots. but let me stress that carrots are probably the best cheat to my rule that i can imagine.
Once again, how much do you want to lose? by what date? then figure out what you need to do.
Once again, how much do you want to lose? by what date? then figure out what you need to do.
EJBasile
macrumors 65816
iBlue said:
Sure.
Not every diet will work for a single person so try out different ones. I know people who tried weight watchers, atkins, and south beach and none of them worked so she just went on her own diet eating mostly salads, cerials, and some meat and lost a lot of wieght.
Stay away from processed food, use fresh foods, cook it yourself
Cut out snaking
Make sure you still get all proper nutrients (i.e. don't just eat veges)
Vitimans are good, but don't use any of those stupid diet pills or meal plans on TV. Some of them can be dangerous.
Exercise, exercise, exercise. Turn fat into muscle. From what I've seen you can loose weight by eating healthy, but you can get even better results if you exercise. Instead of playing around on your computer before/after work go for a walk/jog. Or even go for a run durring your lunch break.
See a dietition or nutritionist if you're still having trouble.
If absolutly nothing works and your are really overweight I reccomend gastric bypass surgery (you all probably know about it).
I'm not really a nutritionist, I'm a sugeon. Like I said before if it works for you and you're loosing weight while still being healthy, than stick with it.
Just be happy you aren't so large that you can walk only 10 feet and need an extra wide wheel chair. I'm serious there are people out there like that and its not even remotely funny.
EDIT: Also, try to cut down on sugars. I don't really reccomend artificial sugars i.e. splenda, nutra-sweet, etc. In a study male rats had an increased risk of getting bladder cancer (something you really do not want) when eating a lot of artificial sweetners. So I'm not really sure if they're is that safe. Thats why I also reccomend not eating proccessed foods because if it's something like a "sugar free" cookie or soda it likely has artificial sweetners.
amacgenius
macrumors 68000
stubeeef said:
I have a 32oz water 'bottle' but I drink my water with ice in it, can't stand warm water, I usually drink a lot of water ever since mother bought this certain brand (local to here - Arcadia)
That's a problem 🙁 I usually have something at 8:30 every night so I'm not hungry during the night. Can be cut out if needed I guess.
We ONLY buy Miracle Whip in THIS HOUSE.
Been on Skim Milk since 1998 (doctors orders plus it tastes good).
amacgenius
macrumors 68000
I too.jestershinra said:
I begged my Dr. last year to give me a note to get out of it, thank God, idk about this year though.jestershinra said:
Same, but stepdad in my case.jestershinra said:
Yup.jestershinra said:
16 in December, been big all my life. Never did anything about it 🙁.jestershinra said:
Not pointless, it was insightful. I'd love to hear from you again, drop me a PM sometime.jestershinra said:
I'm glad to hear there are others out there who are (talking about) making a commitment to their health.
I am sticking to my guns about eating healthy. It's important. And I (as much as anyone) know that the hardest part about this is self-control. Since I usually stay up late ( see? ), I get hungry. But I'm alone. I used to grab a snack... of potato chips and soda. HOLY CRAP, can it get much worse than that at midnight? I think not.
Now, I follow (independent of stubeef's mentioning) the rule that I won't eat anything after 10:00pm. Despite the fact that it's been nearly 7 hours since dinner, I'm not going to eat anything. It's tough. Man, it's tough. But I know that I can do it. I have to.
If you've truly reached "that point" in your weight/figure frustrations/anxieties, you can do it. You will make yourself do it. If you're not there yet, it may be very difficult to stick to it. That's what I've been doing for 2 years. I'm done with it. I'm standing up to myself and am done making excuses.
It sounds like many of us are in the same boat. Awesome! I'm hoping we don't lose any passengers overboard, and hoping that we all arrive at our respective ports-of-call safely. Please.
I am sticking to my guns about eating healthy. It's important. And I (as much as anyone) know that the hardest part about this is self-control. Since I usually stay up late ( see? ), I get hungry. But I'm alone. I used to grab a snack... of potato chips and soda. HOLY CRAP, can it get much worse than that at midnight? I think not.
Now, I follow (independent of stubeef's mentioning) the rule that I won't eat anything after 10:00pm. Despite the fact that it's been nearly 7 hours since dinner, I'm not going to eat anything. It's tough. Man, it's tough. But I know that I can do it. I have to.
If you've truly reached "that point" in your weight/figure frustrations/anxieties, you can do it. You will make yourself do it. If you're not there yet, it may be very difficult to stick to it. That's what I've been doing for 2 years. I'm done with it. I'm standing up to myself and am done making excuses.
It sounds like many of us are in the same boat. Awesome! I'm hoping we don't lose any passengers overboard, and hoping that we all arrive at our respective ports-of-call safely. Please.
I am so glad that some here are talking "real talk".
I can't say it enough, you must decide that you want to do this or you can't. It will take commitment like nothing else. The reward is, in my opinion, guaranteed! The physics are absolute. some days will there will be no loss, even though you did what you were supposed to do, but within a few days your body will let go again, and you will lose it.
For ME, it was imagining the regret the next morning that helped me stay the course the day and night before. The regret of cheating MYSELF, was stronger than any hunger. Can the hunger be any worse than the feelings you get about your weight now? Look at the late night hungries as fat burning, not hunger, but your body literally burning fat. But remember only you can make it continue, so you can shred those bad feelings about yourself as well. I don't know why we let society make us feel bad about our overweight nature, we shouldn't, but I know I did, and I have a fairly strong self esteem.
Lets keep up with this, and do some bragging, I want to hear that you and your DR are ready for you to start!
I can't say it enough, you must decide that you want to do this or you can't. It will take commitment like nothing else. The reward is, in my opinion, guaranteed! The physics are absolute. some days will there will be no loss, even though you did what you were supposed to do, but within a few days your body will let go again, and you will lose it.
For ME, it was imagining the regret the next morning that helped me stay the course the day and night before. The regret of cheating MYSELF, was stronger than any hunger. Can the hunger be any worse than the feelings you get about your weight now? Look at the late night hungries as fat burning, not hunger, but your body literally burning fat. But remember only you can make it continue, so you can shred those bad feelings about yourself as well. I don't know why we let society make us feel bad about our overweight nature, we shouldn't, but I know I did, and I have a fairly strong self esteem.
Lets keep up with this, and do some bragging, I want to hear that you and your DR are ready for you to start!
EJBasile
macrumors 65816
iBlue said:
I know that celery takes more calories to digest that you actually gain by eating it.
Other -calories foods are:
-Cucumbers
-Asparagus
-Radish
-Broccoli
-Carrots
-Gourds
-Cabbage
-Cauliflower
-Lettece
-Peppers
-Strawberries
-Rhubarb
-Spinach
-Tomatos
-Some types of berries
-Grapefruits
-Lemons
-Peaches
-Plums
-Watermellon
Those are some of the ones I can think of, but there are others. Some of them are more negative than others such as Lettece, Tomatos, and Broccoli.
iBlue
macrumors Core
EJBasile said:
ahhh... that's the other one i was thinking about. i knew there was some other green "tastes like nothing" vegetable out there that was in that negative calorie category. thanks. now i can rest
edit: wow, ok i didn't see the recent edit with all the others, thank you that is very helpful 🙂
* by the way * stubeef: did you see the re-done avatar i posted back there? (post 49) of course i don't care if you use it or not but i wanted to be sure you saw it, just in case. 🙂 just looked like a sandwich as opposed to chocolate 😀 i'll attach it since it appears image shack is dorking out at the moment.
Attachments
iBlue, your hard work on that is very sweet! Thankyou so much, but since I don't really feel like I am where I need to be yet, I will keep my nasty fat chocolate eatter munching away! 😛
I think I will change back to one of my old ones when I feel like I'm at a good weight.
BTW here is a discussion I read as I was starting the NegCal thing. I decided to eat a lot of the foods but not focus on it.
Neg Cal Link
I think I will change back to one of my old ones when I feel like I'm at a good weight.
BTW here is a discussion I read as I was starting the NegCal thing. I decided to eat a lot of the foods but not focus on it.
Neg Cal Link
iGary
Guest
I am starting a similar diet on Monday.
My back problems are a direct link to the 40 lbs that I need to lose, I have to go up with the lightest chopper pilots in our fleet because of my weight, and I can't do my marathon training because of my ruptured discs (I will run again, screw the doctors).
I plan on doing the shake for breakfats, lunch and then dinner route. (Not Slim Fast, but a much healthier all-natural shake.
This is by no means the halthiest way to do this, but I really don't have a choice.
Thanks for getting me going, Stewart!
My back problems are a direct link to the 40 lbs that I need to lose, I have to go up with the lightest chopper pilots in our fleet because of my weight, and I can't do my marathon training because of my ruptured discs (I will run again, screw the doctors).
I plan on doing the shake for breakfats, lunch and then dinner route. (Not Slim Fast, but a much healthier all-natural shake.
This is by no means the halthiest way to do this, but I really don't have a choice.
Thanks for getting me going, Stewart!
I remember you and I talking about how fat we had gotten, and the navy dangling a pension in front of me was one heck of an incentive too btw.
For me it is all, and I mean ALL, about resolve. Morning regret is one dewzy of a motivator. I weigh my self 3 times a day now. The only thing that it does is keep me congizant of the process. Sometimes I'm up, sometimes down, but the trend is undeniable.
I want to target 170, so will stop my diet at 165, that way I can find my way just a little.
My bad ankle is much better since i lost the 30+ pounds. Of course I have been adding glucosamine/condroiten <sp> to my supplement routine as well as omega3. These are good joint as well as blood helpers. For me it has worked AMAZINGLY! I didn't even do the 3 times a day thing, just 2 of the gluc/cond in the morning and 1 omega3 (and now flax oil too). for the omega3 get springvalley from WallyWorld (enteric coated) so no fishy burps during the day (of course it gave me good sushi like flashbacks with each fishy burp 😛 ).
Let us know how it goes, and as you are aware, fight through the times your body doesn't want to let go of the pounds.
For me it is all, and I mean ALL, about resolve. Morning regret is one dewzy of a motivator. I weigh my self 3 times a day now. The only thing that it does is keep me congizant of the process. Sometimes I'm up, sometimes down, but the trend is undeniable.
I want to target 170, so will stop my diet at 165, that way I can find my way just a little.
My bad ankle is much better since i lost the 30+ pounds. Of course I have been adding glucosamine/condroiten <sp> to my supplement routine as well as omega3. These are good joint as well as blood helpers. For me it has worked AMAZINGLY! I didn't even do the 3 times a day thing, just 2 of the gluc/cond in the morning and 1 omega3 (and now flax oil too). for the omega3 get springvalley from WallyWorld (enteric coated) so no fishy burps during the day (of course it gave me good sushi like flashbacks with each fishy burp 😛 ).
Let us know how it goes, and as you are aware, fight through the times your body doesn't want to let go of the pounds.
iBlue
macrumors Core
this has been a great thread, good motivation and infomation. 🙂
i blew it yesterday though on a huge pancake breakfast [grumbles] my husband is constantly tempting me with *this or that* often makes me wonder if he is purposely sabotaging me for fear if i feel better about myself my "eye will wander" 🙄 no idea if it's true but he is the least supportive person i know in this regard. hell, maybe he likes me "fatter" for the bigger boobs 😀 men are simple 😉 for that matter, maybe he doesn't even think about it... that wouldn't surprise me either.
either way i did buy a bunch of baby carrots, salad stuff and fruit at the store yesterday. i resisted the urge to snack at like 11pm, which is always my "i want a snack" time.
anyway, blah blah blah, thanks everyone, this is a great reminder of my goal. crazy as you all might think i am to prefer being thin as a rail it's what makes me happy so there it is 🙂 big group "finger crossed" 😀
P.S. no worries stubeeef about the avatar, only took a few minues but i thought i'd show ya just in case. that avatar is great, he cracks me up every time!
i blew it yesterday though on a huge pancake breakfast [grumbles] my husband is constantly tempting me with *this or that* often makes me wonder if he is purposely sabotaging me for fear if i feel better about myself my "eye will wander" 🙄 no idea if it's true but he is the least supportive person i know in this regard. hell, maybe he likes me "fatter" for the bigger boobs 😀 men are simple 😉 for that matter, maybe he doesn't even think about it... that wouldn't surprise me either.
either way i did buy a bunch of baby carrots, salad stuff and fruit at the store yesterday. i resisted the urge to snack at like 11pm, which is always my "i want a snack" time.
anyway, blah blah blah, thanks everyone, this is a great reminder of my goal. crazy as you all might think i am to prefer being thin as a rail it's what makes me happy so there it is 🙂 big group "finger crossed" 😀
P.S. no worries stubeeef about the avatar, only took a few minues but i thought i'd show ya just in case. that avatar is great, he cracks me up every time!
Congratulations to everyone who has lost weight or is in the process of losing weight. It is a difficult thing to start and stick with when you are used to eating whatever you want whenever you want. Keep up the good work.
I have just started cutting down my calories the past couple of weeks. I got up to 280 pounds. I know that sounds like alot, and it is, but I am 6'4 so while it looks bad it doesn't look as bad as it could I guess. I have had a problem with weight all my life. I actually got really skinny in high school while playing sports. After college though all of the weight came back. I'm just getting sick of my pants not fitting.
I really can't add much to the great advice that everyone has already given in this thread. Stay away from soda, eat more fruit, and watch those portions. I try to keep my calories at 2000 a day, but usually stay between 1500 and 1700. It is hard when people at work want to go out to eat for lunch every day. The best advice I can give is when you go out to eat, only eat about 1/2 of what is on your plate. Restaurants give you ungodly portions.
Again, congratulations to everyone and wish me luck. I have lost two pounds already. 🙂
I have just started cutting down my calories the past couple of weeks. I got up to 280 pounds. I know that sounds like alot, and it is, but I am 6'4 so while it looks bad it doesn't look as bad as it could I guess. I have had a problem with weight all my life. I actually got really skinny in high school while playing sports. After college though all of the weight came back. I'm just getting sick of my pants not fitting.
I really can't add much to the great advice that everyone has already given in this thread. Stay away from soda, eat more fruit, and watch those portions. I try to keep my calories at 2000 a day, but usually stay between 1500 and 1700. It is hard when people at work want to go out to eat for lunch every day. The best advice I can give is when you go out to eat, only eat about 1/2 of what is on your plate. Restaurants give you ungodly portions.
Again, congratulations to everyone and wish me luck. I have lost two pounds already. 🙂
