Vote in This Week's Poll: Do you count calories?
Monday November 3, 2008
For losing weight, having at least a general idea of what and how much you're eating can be a powerful tool but, after a week or so of counting calories, most people give up and stick to keeping a general food diary rather than measuring every little thing.
With online tracking tools, it's much easier to count calories these days, but I'm curious how many of us are actually doing it. Vote in this week's poll to tell us what you think about counting calories. Is it worth it? Be sure to leave a comment as well to give us your weight loss tricks.
Comments
No, I do not count calories. I just try to avoid lots of fried foods and to eat more vegetables and soups.
Yes I track..I use www.sparkpeople.com
I’ve lost 32 pounds in 16 weeks by tracking calories consumed/burned! I’m a big believer since nothing else has ever worked for me.
no, I count carbohydrates.
Burning calories is impotant…is easier for me but when it comes to counting..I should..I know my weight reduction would be more.
I just limit my salt and carbohydrate content. I get the fiber I need from my ‘oatmeal and milk’ breakfast, potassium from bananas, protein from chicken, One tablespoon of olive oil, 2 tablespoon of Milo/Ovaltine. I’m no beginner I’ve dieted my way to 23.8 BMI in college and I’m dreading going back home for the vacation where I’m going to get force fed. Getting to the point, I think keeping track of calories is just too much of stats. Stick to unprocessed food (food that grew, or that eats something that grew) all in moderation.
I don’t think anyone can do this all the time successfully. What I like to do is get an idea of what I take in via a food audit. I’ll go for a week or so and take everything down and plug it into an online calculator and see according to my goals
how the calories rack up . Less than BMR (plus activity) to lose, more to gain and the same to well you know…
After that it helps to keep your food similar through the week.
I have the opposite problem of most people. I’m tend to be severely underweight. Like Dave, I will go a week watching every bite I eat, recording every calorie, then check to see how it lines up nutritionally, not just for calories. I figure as long as I can balance my diet, it’s OK that I had less than 1000 calories a day or two during the week.
However, I don’t try to make it up by eating “fatty foods” or other foods that aren’t good for you. No matter which way the weight problem goes, there are some foods that just shouldn’t be eaten.
I do occasionally log a few days or a week on calorie-counters just to check my intake. I’m a creature of habit, so I usually cycle through the same meals. I generally only check if something is changing, ie- gaining, losing or setting new fitness goals.
I count the cal I burn during my workouts. I have a good handle on what I put in my mouth.
I watch what I eat. Fruits vegetables, and a consistant excercise program of cardio and weight resistance
I used to count calories but recently joined WW and I gotta say there is nothing easier than counting points!! its easy if you want to lose, gain or maintain… its very realistic and manageable
Currently I am not counting calories, however, when I lost my 20+ lbs, I did it by counting. So I’m a believer!
No, I count grams of Protein instead. I have the ‘fat gene’ I this is the only effective process for me!!!