I have to say, I’m not one to log my food and count my calories. That’s one of the reasons South Beach is the right plan for me. I respect Weight Watchers -but it would make me crazy! (like that’s hard!)
Still, as I get closer to my goal, I thought I better check and make sure I’m in the right neighborhood for calorie consumption. After all - a smaller body needs less fuel, eh?
I used Calorie Count and put in everything I plan to eat today. It’s pretty cool! They have a lot of foods already in their database - like my favorite Planters Mixed Nuts. I added the info for the oat muffins, CJ’s oatmeal cookies, and Rotel Tomatoes. According to them, I will be eating 1611 calories today. Sounds pretty good to me! Traineo says I should eat 1500 or less…but that seems extreme. Especially since I work out every day except Sunday.
What do you think? Anyone else tried tracking their calories?
Blest,
Hey. In another life (a year ago), I tracked calories. It worked really, really well (I was aiming for around 1500, which is doable but requires a ton of planning) while I put the time and energy into it. Which lasted for all of 3 weeks.
I am on Weight Watchers and again, lasted for about 3 weeks on the point-based “counting” plan. Then I got lazy, quit counting points, and realized that the “no-counting” WW plan was the one to try… I like it a lot! and it’s working
I think trying to *net* around 1500 calories a day is good. Good luck with the last few pounds!! You’re probably learning good “maintenance” habits right now along with losing…
Comment by Anne — March 8, 2007 @ 11:22 am
I obsessively tracked calories when I was first starting because I had no idea how many were in some of the things I eat on a regular basis. I started out around 1700 a day, and kept tracking until I got my average down around 1500. Once I got a handle on how much I needed to eat to stay around 1500 a day, I didn’t need to check as much. Now it’s all about portion control. If I were to start gaining again, I’d start tracking the calories more closely.
I also have a computer program into which I can put all the ingredients for a recipe and it will tell me how many calories are in it. So even things I’ve never tried before can be calculated. Very cool.
Comment by Jana — March 8, 2007 @ 11:26 am
I’m doing 1600 calories a day and it really isn’t that hard. I have 400 cal for breakfast, 400 for lunch, 600 for dinner, and then (2) 100 calorie snacks. I pretty much eat the same thing everyday for breakfast and lunch. I have 2 or 3 things on rotation. It does take some measuring and math skills at dinner but it isn’t too bad. I’ve also become a calorie snob. Someone offered me a peanut butter girl scout cookie that was 80 calories….I said to them, “Do you know how many grapes I can have for 80 calories??!!” — Also an Edy’s fruit bar is only 80 calories. That is my favorite nighttime treat.
Comment by Mandi — March 9, 2007 @ 9:39 am
I have counted them in the past, and I think I need to start again, as I wonder if maybe I’m losing slowly because I’m eating healthfully, but too much!
Anyway, yes, if you are doing hard workouts then you need more calories, I found. When I was going to the gym and using a personal trainer I ate about 15-1600.
I’ll have to try Calorie Count! I’ve used FitDay in the past.
Comment by Christy — March 9, 2007 @ 5:06 pm
You need to find out how many calories a person of your age, sex, and weight needs to consume in a day to maintain her weight. You can determine this by figuring out what your BMR is (multiply your weight by 11). Once you determine that, you have to either eat less than that, exercise enough to burn more than that or both.
Source: www.soyouwanna.com
Comment by Gina — March 10, 2007 @ 3:24 pm
If you are active the formula above would have to be modified as I believe it assumes you are completely inactive.
Comment by Gina — March 10, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
I’m looking in the archives for useful south beach posts for my friend Rach, and I came across this post, and I just had to laugh.
Not one to count her calories, huh? That must have been something you started doing at some point between March and November.
Ok, so to be fair I know you were counting cos of all cantata stuff. And actually, the purpose of this comment wasn’t to criticise, but to ask you how you’re doing with eating in general and your body image and all that.
You are beautiful. And I love ya
Comment by Debs — March 30, 2008 @ 12:19 pm