Calorie counting - Does it work?

[partytights]

I need to lose 5 stone, preferably 6 but 5 will be my target weight. I thought I was 17st but I checked the scales today and I'm 18st exactly. Damn, Christmas.

I'm 5ft10in and 'big boned'. I wear a size 18 comfortably and have a big, flabby tummy which I'm totally blaming on my children. DD2 is 1.1. Am I just fooling myself that it's 'baby weight'?

So, I'm calorie counting. I'll walk everywhereI can and have the 30 Day Shred DVD. I can't afford the gym but I do have an exercise bike and a puppy I can walk. 1400 calories a day calculated on myfitnesspal on my phone.

Tell me this is going to work. 1-2lb a week should get me to 5 stone by August/September and I'm planning an intimate wedding to my DP for November.

I'm obsessing now. I know it's possible but I have Fibromyalgia and I'm a comfort eater when I'm in pain so I feel like I need people telling me I can do this and not putting me down like my family some people.

Success stories of calorie counting? Tips? Motivational speeches? Come one, come all!

[BroomForMyChin]

I think it's hard but it is possible.

Do you have an iPhone or something similar? I downloaded the myfitnesspal app and I found that really really helpful as you can scan food in and it adds it all up for you do your not spending all day adding up calories.

I lost 10lb in 5/6 weeks just by calorie counting, no exercise at all because I am lazy because DD takes up too much of my time.

And maybe join a group thread on here for motivation and support?

[partytights]

I have the myfitnesspal app. So much easier to document food and exercise.

I'm making sure to eat but I'm sticking to lots of water and inside my calorie limit.

[Hathall]

It does work but you need to calorie count healthy food.
Calorie counting does not work if you eat 1400 cals of cake iyswim.
Have one small treat at whatever time you tend to need it. Mines in the evening so I'll have something small (fun size choc bar, small bit of cake)
Try not to eat any exercise calories as that will help if you have social occasions.
You must calorie count every day and not be like me where I stick to it all week then eat what I like on weekends

[Foxinsocks]

It works but you need to be patient and more importantly HONEST with portion sizes and little sneaky snacks and nibbles

Re the patience, I did myfitnesspal for about a month and didn't lose much and I got really disheartened but the 2nd and 3rd months it really started coming off. My metabolism just took that time to adjust I think!

[Figgyrollsintoapudding]

There are a whole load of us who have done myfitnesspal, I most recently have lost 20lbs on there, it is good if you stick to it and bear in mind that you won't lose weight quickly but you will keep it off (haven't been following it and have only gained 2lbs for xmas which is pretty good I think!!!!) it has really worked for me and I shall be starting again tomorrow which is my weigh in day.

I did have a quick week of no carbs to kickstart me and it really worked - well I say no carbs I thought I would Dukan but couldn't be bothered and so I had less white carbs and things like german rye bread and scrambled eggs. I also walked the dog for an hour a day and it really worked. There is a mner called Foreveronadiet who has done really well on it and I wouldn't be suprised if you see her here any time soon offering words of encouragement.
Good luck and if you want to add me as a friend am Figgyrolls on MFP.

[Figgyrollsintoapudding]

Oh and forgot to say am half way to target but want to get to 140-154 pounds.

[partytights]

Thanks everyone. I'll be off fatty and dairy like milk and cheese as it uosets my IBS so it'll be a lot of meat, lean protein, fish, nuts, salad, fruit and veg. My treat will be hot chocolate (those 30cal sachets) to curb cravings and coffee.

It's about sustainable weight loss for me too. I want to lose it for my health as well as my image and I want to keep it off which is why I thought calories eould be good as I can do it daily and fit in what I need and when.

Today I've had fruit and now having a turkey curry and rice which apprently equates to 820 calories.

[fluffy123]

I counted calories and cut carbs and went from 13 and a half stone to 9 stone 5 pounds in seven and a half months with no exercise.

[Figgyrollsintoapudding]

You need to have a different mindset, every diet I have ever started has been "how quickly can I lose weight?" like its a sprint, its not its a marathon and slowly but surely, and I definitely have had the attitude of Yup I slipped up but one mars bar/crunchie blah blah is not going to have ruined my diet, heading to macdonalds straight afterwards and stuffing in 2 burgers and a full fat coke just because the diet has a small slip up isn't quite so good. If you make an error just jump back on the bandwagon 5 minutes later.

Don't give up!

And there are a whole group of MN'ers on MFP who are supportive and encouraging and we all give each other massive encouragement be it losing a 1 lb or 5lbs in a week, excercise etc etc. Come join us, we are lovely

[bexsybooboo]

I am currently using MFP and have lost 32ibs in 140 days, have put 3ibs on over christmas period but am confident this will come off once I start back with my exercising and logging everything.

MFP for me works and I like that I can see the results, I ensure I have 3 meals per day, water and exercise at least 5 times per week either running or Wii Zumba.

It is the longest I have stuck to a weight loss programme and first time I truly believe I can lose my further 3 stones by changing my lifestyle.

I also don't beat myself up if I have a bad day anymore I just make sure I get back in to it and exercise for a further 5-10mins on sessions.

As figgyrolls said there is a group of MFP peeps on here join us we are really supportive of each other and give great advice if having a bad time of it or things aren't going how we think they should be

Good luck

[mamma001]

Personally being a mum I have never been into counting calories, as I am far to busy to keep track of it all. After my first child it took such a long time to lose the weight tI had gained, and after the second child, five years later, I found it even harder. In the end I thought that if I just eat less of the things that I like (e.g cake, cheese, chocolate, biscuits, crisps, less fatty meats and processed foods) and replace them with more healthy alternatives like (low sugar fruit or nut bars, crackers, low fat lentil snacks, lean meat) and more home cooked food where I could control sugar and salt content etc.
I also found that I lost weight more easily by not snacking all the time, becoming a bit more active, and changing the drinks I consumed from coffee, tea with sugar to more water and occasional herbal tea and dilute fruit juices etc. I also changed the times used to eat. I often had no breakfast and then had biscuits later in the day to fit round what I was doing, which is such a bad habit. I also used to have dinner really late at night, when I could enjoy it in peace - lol?! Although it was not a quick fix to change my eating habits e.g. the times and what I ate, this did eventually result in me returning to my pre-pregnancy weight over about 14 months, and the weight has stayed off.
There is so much information about how to lose weight, but finding the right combination for you with any dietary and lifestyle habits will always be key. I found an interesting article online called “Calorie Counting For Weight Loss: Is It Effective”, which is interesting and this may also help you on your journey to finding out what may be best for you….
www.dna-lean.co.uk/blog/calorie-counting/

[jadethom]

Definitely possible but it will be hard... I've recently joined here and it's so amazing to see so many supportive people with similar goals, and who been through it already! So definitely, you can do it!

I've been counting calories for a couple of years now and it's been a total life changer, so it's a good habit to get into, and things will only get better once you've started!