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Counting Calories
- Thread starter stubeeef
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It is so easy to get me on spelling, I meant to look that one up, but I just got in from the beach and was typing, then shower, now off to a place to eat (can't always spell resturant?).
I usually go right to websters.com or use my pocket dictionary, and as bad as my spelling is, this forum has made it better.
but I did just weight in at a new low!! So take that spelling Nazis! (just kidding)
I usually go right to websters.com or use my pocket dictionary, and as bad as my spelling is, this forum has made it better.
but I did just weight in at a new low!! So take that spelling Nazis! (just kidding)
I wasn't meaning to take the mickey, your typo just seemed so appropriate in a thread about diet...stubeeef said:
And well done on the weight-loss!
I've ended up consuming more calories today than I have typically in a day (in past few weeks), unfortunately. Because of when I ate dinner yesterday, and my 'No food after 10pm' rule, and some damage control this AM, it had been near 20 hours since I ate anything. I was really hungry.
Just felt I had to share. ... at least I kept it healthy.
Just felt I had to share.
... at least I kept it healthy.
DARN, had a ruinous day, ended at a Golden Coral, yuck! We were on a 5 hour drive back from the beach, was at a good stopping place. Man did I screw up BIG TIME there. My wife just weighed herself and told me to wait a day before I do!
Crap crap crap....
Crap crap crap....
I don't count calories. I think it's wrong to focus on restricting diet when you should be more focussed on exercise and being more active. There is no magic formula for losing weight that does not involve physical exercise. Restricting your diet ie. counting calories will cause you to gain weight.
When you have had 3 operations on your ankle and can no longer do any exercise that has impact, you do what you can do. I was on the track, tennis, ski, and soccer teams. Used to love to run and play. After years of only being able to ride an exercise bike, I can barely do it any more. Too much strain on the ankle and I can't walk without a severe limp for a week.
I have lost over 30 pounds counting calories, which has really taught me portoin control as well as smart choices. The only time I have gained weight is when I was counting how many calories I could stuff in! Not how few.
I have lost over 30 pounds counting calories, which has really taught me portoin control as well as smart choices. The only time I have gained weight is when I was counting how many calories I could stuff in! Not how few.
Don't worry about it, Stu. You had a really big meal, now it's time to get back on the wagon. As for exercise, have you tried weight lifting? There's really no impact involved, and it will definately help you lose fat. I'm thinking along the lines of bench press, curls, maybe squats if your ankle can handle it. If not, then use machines for the legs.
Just my .02
Just my .02
Roger1 said:
Yes I have thought about that, it is that I just don't want to have to join something to do a workout. I need to get a simple set and do it from home. I have a recumbant stationary bike covered in dust and spiders, don't need anything else lying around though. Prob ought-a get a simple set from walmart and see if I can stick it out.
Thanks!
awesome thread!
couple of issues
1st. got any websites that show how much calories are in different foods, or even fast food places?
2nd. I'm very fit and can generally eat what I want, however my girlfriend is trying to lose 40-50 lbs. She's tried many many times before and hasn't been able to. She does running and now is trying to eat better. She doesn't count calories but goes by foods she knows are healthy. The issue is she doesn't not have much will power and has me "coach" her. I'm very very supportive of her, however sometimes I just want to eat whatever I want. I could never dig into a bowl of ice cream in front of her, or even buy sweets to have in the house as they are a huge distraction. But its also hard to cook meals that are both healthy for her, and filling for me. She has big eyes when it comes to portions. When I have more than her she is slightly jealous. But I'm 10 inches taller and 30lbs lighter. Just thought I'd turn here for advice.
also thought i'd mention that maybe we should to a calorie counting thing with her.
couple of issues
1st. got any websites that show how much calories are in different foods, or even fast food places?
2nd. I'm very fit and can generally eat what I want, however my girlfriend is trying to lose 40-50 lbs. She's tried many many times before and hasn't been able to. She does running and now is trying to eat better. She doesn't count calories but goes by foods she knows are healthy. The issue is she doesn't not have much will power and has me "coach" her. I'm very very supportive of her, however sometimes I just want to eat whatever I want. I could never dig into a bowl of ice cream in front of her, or even buy sweets to have in the house as they are a huge distraction. But its also hard to cook meals that are both healthy for her, and filling for me. She has big eyes when it comes to portions. When I have more than her she is slightly jealous. But I'm 10 inches taller and 30lbs lighter. Just thought I'd turn here for advice.
also thought i'd mention that maybe we should to a calorie counting thing with her.
One day won't kill you. In fact, sometimes it's good - if you continually deprive yourself, it will be difficult to stay with the diet. Allowing yourself to not feel guilty over the occasional transgressions will make all the days that you are good seem easier to take. You don't want to start resenting the diet.stubeeef said:DARN, had a ruinous day, ended at a Golden Coral, yuck! We were on a 5 hour drive back from the beach, was at a good stopping place. Man did I screw up BIG TIME there. My wife just weighed herself and told me to wait a day before I do!
Crap crap crap....
You could also make up a calendar on which you could post designated "bad" days - this would help you look forward to a nice rib dinner or something.
This one seems to be fairly comprehensive. And free.howard said:
http://www.fitwatch.com/caloriecounter.html
This is a very difficult situation. It's wonderful that you're supportive, and it appears that this is something that she wants to do. If she really does have troubles with portion sizes, etc., it may be worth it to go to a professional service like Seattle Sutton or Jenny Craig, since they can help with portion control.howard said:
Otherwise, you can stay on the website I posted above, but use their nutritional profile:
http://www.fitwatch.com/profile/nutritionprofile.html
From there, it will tell her BMI, and amount of calories to maintain current weight, as well as how much she needs to maintain "vital functions," which essentially should be the minimum calories she should eat on a regular basis to stay healthy.
There will be a difference between the maintenance calories and the vital function calories. Theoretically, this is how much she can cut out on a daily basis and still maintain her health, although she will be hungry.
Note that 3500 calories is roughly equivalent to a pound of weight loss. So if she burns 500 more calories a day than she takes in, she will lose 1 pound a week. Healthy targets typically range from 1-3 pounds per week. So if she want to lose 30 pounds, she can expect it to take at least 6 months, especially since later pounds are harder to lose.
I suppose it depends on where you are with your diet. That is, if you've progressed fairly well, you've lost weight consistently, and your body is used to the reduced caloric intake, the occasional splurge isn't so bad. However, if that happens right off the bat, while you're still getting into the diet, it could be seriously detrimental.devilot76 said:That's good advice, except I have read that one of the worst things to do is to chalk up an entire day as a bad day. I've read somewhere that instead, you should just acknowledge that you splurged that once, but not to fret because you still have/had the rest of the day to be good. I guess I could see the drawbacks of having one slip-up and calling the whole day off because if you slipped on another day that week... or another...
there have been abunch of calorie counter ads at the bottom of these pages too.
The day wasn't all bad, but I couldn't believe How Bad I was at dinner.
I do treat my self, and have found my body lets go alittle afterward (meaning drops some pounds after a level off period).
Today is a very new and good day though, very busy with new job stuff, and errands.
I saw a bunch of people I haven't seen in months today, they were all freaked out when they saw my weight loss, I do enjoy that-it is a good sign things are working even though I don't see the day to day change.
The day wasn't all bad, but I couldn't believe How Bad I was at dinner.
I do treat my self, and have found my body lets go alittle afterward (meaning drops some pounds after a level off period).
Today is a very new and good day though, very busy with new job stuff, and errands.
I saw a bunch of people I haven't seen in months today, they were all freaked out when they saw my weight loss, I do enjoy that-it is a good sign things are working even though I don't see the day to day change.
That's so true. I've had several people notice that I've lost weight, and I'm just down 10 pounds!emw said:
I'm already a much happier person overall, and really enjoy the bike rides that I go on 3x weekly (just bought a new bike, last one got stolen
). I can't wait to get closer to my goal, and that just keeps me going strong. Considering I've got about 60-70lbs to lose, it's going to be a shocker when I finally see those other people for the first time.
michaelrjohnson said:That's so true. I've had several people notice that I've lost weight, and I'm just down 10 pounds!
I'm already a much happier person overall, and really enjoy the bike rides that I go on 3x weekly (just bought a new bike, last one got stolen
GO-MAN-GO!
lolstubeeef said:GO-MAN-GO!
I'm getting there. I'm very much looking forward to getting back to school. There is a highly rated 25 mile bike trail surrounding the city of Stevens Point called the "Green Circle". I've ridden it before, many times. But now, that trail is going to be my excercise during a busy senior semester.
stubeeef said:
Great job there Stu.
I have also been counting calories, but unfortunately I'm still counting too many, so I haven't done as admirable a job as you.
I used to be slim my whole life, but unfortunately when I started taking medication to control my blood pressure it slowed down my metabolism, and consequently my weight went up, even although my basic diet (and calorie intake) hadn't changed.
Fortunately my blood pressure is doing great now, now I just need to work on that baby fat - yeah, 49 year old baby fat
absolut_mac said:I used to be slim my whole life, but unfortunately when I started taking medication to control my blood pressure it slowed down my metabolism, and consequently my weight went up, even although my basic diet (and calorie intake) hadn't changed.
You mean I have an excuse??? WooHoo!
I was wanting to check in and see how some of our changers were doing.
It is a long road that starts with a single step.
For me I have gotten my weight loss down to about 1 pound per week instead of the 4.5 pounds. It has been strange doing that too.
I hope some of the previous thread posters that were wanting to change, decided to do so.
It is a long road that starts with a single step.
For me I have gotten my weight loss down to about 1 pound per week instead of the 4.5 pounds. It has been strange doing that too.
I hope some of the previous thread posters that were wanting to change, decided to do so.
stubeeef said:
I'm waiting till after surgery - I figure I'll have a few days of non hungriness after, and then I had a midhipman from the academy do me a 7-day-a-week gym plan, and once I feel up to it again, and if it causes no pain, running!
Stubeeef,
You have done amazingly well and it really shows in the photos you posted!
However.... I was rather alarmed when I read that some days you were consuming less than 800 kcals??!!! I don't know how you're surviving on that!
I'm pretty sure that even for me... female, 30, above average height, healthy weight, sedentary job... my recommended daily calorie intake is something like 1900 to 2000 kCals and would be about 1500 if i wanted to lose weight.
I'm not knocking what you're doing at all, but please, just be careful that you are actually eating enough. Some diets seem to cut too much out so that when you decide to come off the diet and start eating 'normally' again, the weight goes back on.
I'm not trying to put a dampener on your weight loss success so far - you have done brilliantly so keep up the good work, but just be careful and make sure you're doing it safely!
You have done amazingly well and it really shows in the photos you posted!
However.... I was rather alarmed when I read that some days you were consuming less than 800 kcals??!!! I don't know how you're surviving on that!
I'm pretty sure that even for me... female, 30, above average height, healthy weight, sedentary job... my recommended daily calorie intake is something like 1900 to 2000 kCals and would be about 1500 if i wanted to lose weight.
I'm not knocking what you're doing at all, but please, just be careful that you are actually eating enough. Some diets seem to cut too much out so that when you decide to come off the diet and start eating 'normally' again, the weight goes back on.
I'm not trying to put a dampener on your weight loss success so far - you have done brilliantly so keep up the good work, but just be careful and make sure you're doing it safely!
dietcokevanilla said:Stubeeef,
You have done amazingly well and it really shows in the photos you posted!
However.... I was rather alarmed when I read that some days you were consuming less than 800 kcals??!!! I don't know how you're surviving on that!
I'm pretty sure that even for me... female, 30, above average height, healthy weight, sedentary job... my recommended daily calorie intake is something like 1900 to 2000 kCals and would be about 1500 if i wanted to lose weight.
I'm not knocking what you're doing at all, but please, just be careful that you are actually eating enough. Some diets seem to cut too much out so that when you decide to come off the diet and start eating 'normally' again, the weight goes back on.
I'm not trying to put a dampener on your weight loss success so far - you have done brilliantly so keep up the good work, but just be careful and make sure you're doing it safely!
thanks for the concern, but It seemed like I ate all day, just ate fresh fruit, chicken or fish for dinner, lots of water, and the like. I am up to over 1000 a day now. But I have a very sedintary life style, so it was not that big a deal.
Some of our younger posters were thinking they might be ready to drop some pounds too. I was hoping they had found something that was working for themselves.