When in doubt...calorie count?

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posted: 02.26.10 3 comments rate:

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Do you count calories? Why or why not? I'd really love to hear your reasons. I think I've reached the point where I must do it in order to be healthy!

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3 comments

Allen posted: 02.27.10

Hi John, First, let me congratulate you on your concerns about your health and your weight! I don't count calories, because I don't have much of a weight problem. People I know who do count calories say it does help them by giving them something specific to focus on. In my case, I try to eat nutritional foods and supplements, and I try use moderation in how much I eat (controlling how much I eat is becoming more important as I get older). So far this has worked for me. I do a lot of running and walking, and those activities burn approximately 100 calories per mile. I don't know the details, but I think there are online logs that allow you to enter your food consumed, and the site counts the calories for you. Aiming for a net loss of about 500 calories per day is a safe way to lose weight. That would give you approximately one pound loss per week. If you lose a lot more than that, there is a risk that your metabolism will slow down because your body thinks it is in a starvation mode. Also, keeping your weight down is a life-long thing, and people who lose weight need to do it in a way that they can maintain for the rest of their life. Let us know from time to time how you're doing.

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hiker1 posted: 03.02.10

I agree with John on all counts- your working to get healthy, while balancing school/family/life is impressive! I also don't count calories, but I do read food labels to make increase awareness of the sodium, fat to protein content etc of foods. I always check the serving size, which more often than not is far less than what most people eat. So portion control is important, as Allen indicates, especially as we get older and our metabolism slows down. I also try to grocery shop right after I've exercised and when I'm not hungry to set myself up to make good food choices. After I've worked out, calorie laden foods with no nutritional value are far less likely to make it into the grocery cart. If it's not in the house, we can't eat it! Rather than focus on number of calories, this broader focus on putting more of the right stuff in my body, balancing what goes in with calories I burn (just like a budget), works for me. So I am mindful of calories in a broader sense, but I don't count them as that feels like a diet to me, and I prefer a more natural approach of checks and balances to how I eat. You need to find what works best for you- I know people who've lost 100+ pounds by doing a strict calorie count every day.

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lsurpren posted: 03.02.10

My mantra has always been eat less and move more. I try to monitor portion sizes and get excercise in-30" 3x/wk minimum. I could never bring myself to counting calories because it feels like a diet and I fail at diets. I need long term solutions I can stick with. So I try my best to buy healthy, fresh foods avoiding canned and highly processed products. When going out to eat, I avoid fried, fatty foods, usually take half the meal home and rarely eat dessert. Like Hiker!, you have to find what works for you. I find most people always take away something that fits into their lifestyle and have the greatest long term success after going through weight watchers or meeting with a nutritionist.

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