Do you count calories? I'm sick of it!

M

moni_stout

Guest
I am wondering how many people count their calories on a daily bais? Do you get good results from this? Do you feel like it makes you crazy sometimes? I don't write it down, but I usually mentally keep track of my calories throughout the day. I try to stay between 1700 - 2000.

I am so sick of thinking about calories all of the time. I am tired of feeling disappointed in myself if I go way over. I am tired of feeling like I have to sacrifice in the evenings on days when I took in a lot of calories in the morning. It is mentally exhausting. I am considering just continuing to eat clean healthy food, eating small meals throughout the day when I feel I need them and stopping the mental tally of calories.

Will I be able to stop my mind from calorie counting? I want to be free of this. I am not trying to lose weight, only maintain. Does anyone have advice? Does anyone have this same problem? I just want to not think so much about what I eat all the time. There are too many other things I could be using my mind on.

Monica
 
yes. i am 44 and since my thyroid whacked out about 3-4 years ago i had slowly put on about 30 lbs even tho i have worked out regularly and stayed in pretty good shape since i was 32.

it has made all the difference. i am 5'8" and weigh 145 now. i am shooting for 140. almost there. it has taken me about 10 months to lose 30 lbs.

i use www.calorie-count.com to log all my calories and workouts. great site! i go through my phases of not logging, but once you get used to the new lifestyle of healthy food choices, portion control, and 5-6 small meals daily, you have a pretty good idea how much is enough.

i say go for no logging. your jeans and your scale will let you know if its working for you.:)
 
I think if you have been eating a fairly clean diet for enough years you have a good sense of what your meal breakdown is like and when it is okay to throw in treats. No, I do not calories anymore. I did WAY long ago when I did weight watchers. I think calorie counting is good for those just starting the healthy eating plan because it gives you a good sense of how much you are consuming. I agree that paying attention to every little number can be agonizing, however, you need to well enough on your own when to put the stops on and reign yourself back in.


Debbie




Peter: Oh my god, Brian, there's a message in my Alphabits. It says, 'Oooooo.'
Brian: Peter, those are Cheerios.
--Family Guy
 
Hi Monica,

I actually get a headache when people talk about counting calories, percentages of carbs, fats, proteins, etc. I'm not a numbers girl and prefer to keep my life simple.

I lost about 40 pounds (see I don't even know the exact number) about 8 years ago and have maintained the weight loss. (BTW I no longer weight myself either). For me, it's all about eating and being healthy. I have never counted calories. I recently started adding more protein to my diet and for a couple of days began to count the grams of protein I was eating. Once I got on a routine, read food labels, etc. I stopped counting the protein grams. I usually know I if need to have more or less.

I weigh my food decisions carefully and think about everything I eat. Face it, you probably know what is good for you and what is bad for you. For the most part I stick to lean proteins (chicken, fish), whole grains, lots of veggies and fruit and water. I allow myself a treat every now and then and I work out intensely so I don't freak out if I have a piece of chocolate.

It sounds like you have a good grasp of what you are consuming each day and what is good for you and what isn't. I would ditch the calorie counting and learn to trust yourself. You know what you need to do to be healthy and maintain you weight.

Good Luck!
 
Yes,Im soooo tired of counting calories and writing down every little thing!I'm joinging weight watchers soon(saturday)so I guess I'll go from counting cals. to counting points:D!

I did have very good results last year by just counting calories and working out to various dvd,tapes.lost a total of 32pds and 25 or so inches,but now I've been stuck(as I've made everybody here very aware of by asking and posting everyday...sorry guys!)on a plateu since the end of summer last year!


>I am considering just continuing to eat clean healthy food, eating small meals throughout the day when I feel I >need them and stopping the mental tally of calories

Thats what I would do to maintain my weight!

Amy:)
 
Yes, because it is way too easy for me to overeat. Plus, I tend to forget what I eat. I log everything on myfooddiary.com.

Marina
 
I do count calories, and don't particularly like it either. But this is the only way that I can keep track of what I am eating. When I am home, I find myself grazing all day, and when I finally counted up all of these calories, I was astounded. This is the only thing that works for me. But what works for one person isn't necessarily right for another.

If you are only trying to maintain, and are pretty good about mentally keeping track, then by all means stop counting. Go by how your clothes fit, and eat when your body tells you to.

I have to add that I also constantly think about food, what I have already eaten, what amount of calories I have left, and when I can eat next. It IS mentally exhausting, but I feel that I have made this committment to staying fit, and therefore I have to always be aware of what goes in my mouth. Sigh, I wish I was one of those lucky people that don't have to give food a second thought...you know the ones that go "Oh, I forgot to eat lunch!" Yeah, like that would ever happen to me. Good Luck!
Laura
 
Hi Monica,

The only time I really counted calories where I would actually log it down is when I was trying to lose 5lbs that was leftover from my last pregnancy in my 30's. Somehow, being in my 30's, the weight didn't just come right off like it did in my 20's. However, once I lost the 5lbs, I stopped because yes, it is mentally exhausting. I found myself being almost obsessed which I didn't think was healthy. Now I would love to drop another 3-4 lbs, but I try to go by the way my body looks and how my clothes fit. I do admit that I can mentally still count the calories in my head however, I try not to get too caught up day to day. I think if you're just trying to maintain, then forget about the calories and go by what you know is healthy eating and just keep up with the workouts. It's easy to start feeling guilty about eveything that goes in your mouth when you are trying to keep below a certain amount of calories, but life is too short so enjoy a little and you'll know when you're going overboard and being totally unhealthy.

Lisa
 
YES! Everytime I get fed up with it and try to quit I end up packing on 5-10 pounds. I've basically resigned myself to doing it for the rest of my life (or until I can finally make it habit). I will occasionally, give myself a *cheat* day where I will refuse to worry about it. Sometimes I have trouble getting back on track the very next day, but I always go back to counting calories. Sometimes when I get bored with calories, I switch to WW points and back to calories. It's to control my weight. I'm also hypothyroid, so I gain easily and it's a bugger to lose anything!:)
 
I only count calories when I'm trying to lose weight and use www.sparkpeople.com to help with my calorie counting. Once I've recorded most of the foods I eat on a daily basis in my "favorites" it just takes a few minutes a day for me to enter everything. I still have to measure out and weigh my food which gets to be a pain but this is the only way I have been successful in losing weight.

JJ
 
Thanks for all of the great advice!!! I think that I am going to try to stop tracking the calories. I know what is healthy -- and I know what is too much. I also know that over-eating occasionally is not going to be a big deal. I'll give it a whirl and try to focus my mind on other things. I don't want to be a calorie slave my whole life.

Thanks everyone!
Monica
 
Here's another vote for recording on Spark People. It's free, once you've got your typical items entered in favorites it just takes a couple of seconds, and I found it tremendously helpful to see how I'm doing on percentage of fat/protein/carbs and what I'm hitting on fiber. It also helps me stay within an acceptable range.

Hope that helps!

Cheryl
 
Yes, I count my calories and measure my food. I'm trying to burn fat, so I can't just wing it at this point. However, it is getting very repititous but until the weight is gone, it's something I have to do. I would agree that if you're in maintenance mode, definately go by how you feel and how your clothes fit.

Terri
 
I have been counting calories everyday for the last 10 months. About two months ago I started giving myself a day free of counting and exercise which is Sunday. It really helps because you know if you want something really bad you can have it on Sunday.
I actually have lost 5 more pounds since I started my "free day". I know I have heard you need to give your body a day of rest and a bit more calories to "trick" it out of starvation mode. I am eating about 1850 calories never more but sometimes a few less.
The only reason I will probably count forever is because I would rather count then ever be heavy again. I was more miserable heavy than I ever will be counting.

Hope that helps,
Nicole

Those who do not find time for exercise will have to find time for illness.
-Earl of Derby-

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?uid=7738930
 
Never count calories. I more watch my portion size and the type of foods I eat. And, today, from another thread, I got a major compliment for losing weight and being in shape. On the weekends, I eat whatever I like.
 
I feel like I counted calories forever! I know it can work, but it can be just exhausting! I gave up on it and now I do a modified Eat to Live diet. Lots of fruits and veggies and beans (fiber!). I'm still working up to his 90% clean diet (and when he says clean he MEANS clean). I'm at like 75% clean so I'm getting there. I do have 'free' meals here and there. Maybe 2 or 3 in a week which actually is kinda a lot if you think about it. I'm working down to 1 free meal a week but I try not to beat myself up if I don't make my goal. Fact is, you can eat low calorie and not get enough nutrients. I don't think you should have to worry about the calorie content of an apple for goodness sake!

Carolyn
 
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