Anyone doing good old fashioned calorie counting with decent results?

[BatFacedGirl]

Just that really! I'm considering giving it a go. I like the fast results of low carbing but its just not sustainable for me as one small bowl of pasta and 5lbs go back on

So I'm thinking about 1400 cals a day. Anyone else doing similar?

[mumderland]

Yes it's always worked for me. Lost 5 stone doing calorie counting before I got pregnant with DD. I like that you can eat whatever you want, it's not about altering your portion sizes. I'm doing it again trying to lose the weight I put back on during pregnancy ☺️

[mumderland]

Sorry ignore the not in altering portion sizes!

[MorrisZapp]

I've lost a stone and a half since February by cutting calories. I'm not counting them in total, just making a big effort to reduce what I was having before. Also done a ton of walking.

[Kyriesmum1]

My hubby is doing calorie counting but also carb counting. He limits himself to 1500 calorie and 130 g carbs for 5 days a week and does 2 days with 500 calories and 50g carbs. In two months he has lost two stone and although the first two eeeks were the hardest he is now used to the portion sizes and doesn't feel hungry anymore! His two days with low carbs and calories he does on Mondays and Thursday x

[violeticecream]

Yes I am doing this using my fitness pal. It's really good. Lost 11lb in 3 weeks on 1200 Cals per day

[poppym12]

Yes. I've been tracking everything I consume on my fitness pal and have lost over a stone in 5 weeks.

I'm not able to exercise due to disability so I suppose if I could the weight loss would be greater.

[Personita]

Before I was pregnant I was on 1400-1600 calories per day with exercise 2 or 3 times a week and that worked well for me. But I find I have to keep it up all the time. As soon as I stop tracking what I'm eating, I start eating EVERYTHING because I eat mindlessly and have no willpower On 1800-2000 cals per day now, in the hope I won't put too much on.

[BatFacedGirl]

Sounds good! I think I'll allow myself 1400 calories a day and see how I go

I just get fed up with 'having' to have the zero fat Total Greek yogurt when I actually want the full fat version etc etc. This way I can just count it in

[ChocolateRaisin]

There is more to it than just picking a number of calories and seeing what happens. If you are losing more than 1-2lbs a week you are losing lean tissue (muscle) as well as fat, which is not desirable. The more lean tissue you have, the more efficient your body is at burning fat.

It is very likely that 1200-1400 calories is too restrictive and will lead to lean tissue loss.

That said, done properly, a calorie deficit is the best way to lose body fat and truly teach you how to portion control and maintain weight once your goal is met.

[FindaPenny]

I started about 3 and a half weeks ago at 1200 calories, but I tend to eat more depending on calories burnt that day. So far I have lost about 6lb, which I'm happy with. I think the the thing I like is that I'm starting to feel like I know when to stop eating and I can be satisfied with what I ate, before it would almost be a disappointment to stop eating as I have a big appetite so wanted to continue.





I don't really do any exercise apart from the school run and walking to the shops, so maximum 8-9000 steps.

[BatFacedGirl]

@ChocolateRaisin yes agreed. It'd be easy to fill the calorie allowance with crisps and chocolate i suppose

[BatFacedGirl]

I toyed with weight watchers but an avocado for example is about 9 points! Yet only 200 calories (depending on size) So id struggle to fit that into a points allowance but no problem with a calorie allowance

Same for a juice ice lolly. 50 cals yet 6 points

[DirtyDennis]

Yes. Whenever I want to lose weight this is how I do it.

I've got a list of all the foods I eat and how many calories different portions are so it's easy to cook and to add up calories at the end of each day.

I also have a list of how many calories various exercise uses up. I swim a few times a week and walk a lot because I don't drive. I cut out alcohol completely during these diets because it's a complete waste of calories.

I'll normally aim for around 1,000-1,300 calories per day which will lose me about 6lbs in a month.

[DirtyDennis]

@BatFacedGirl I get that some people need support to lose weight through groups like SW and WW but everyone I know who's been on one of these programmes has always put their weight back on.

I actually think this is part of the business plan for these kinds of organisations because people put the weight back on then have to re-join (reason being it worked before!). Clever.

[hsegfiugseskufh]

I am calorie counting at the min although its only week 1 so no results to speak of yet. However, I did it after the birth of DS and lost loads of weight really easily. I did 1500 cals and didn't feel deprived whatsoever. I stopped when I got to a weight I was happy with and ive only but on around half a stone since (3 years!) because it taught me a lot about portion sizes which I have since mostly stuck to!

[Crazzzycat]

Yes, I lost about 2 stone sticking to an “old fashioned” 1400 kcal diet. That’s the calorie limit recommended by the NHS for losing weight if you’re overweight or obese, so probably not a bad place to start.

After about 4 months I found that my weight loss stalled, so I switched it up by also doing 16:8, but still sticking to 1400 kcals.

I started in January and since losing those first two stone, I lost another one using 16:8, so three stone in total

[MacaroonMama]

If you do count calories, I recommend the Hairy Dieters books as they are lovely tasty recipes and all calorie-counted for you. Make you feel like you are not a diet. Plus they lost around three stone each and have managed to keep it off which is reassuring!

[ragingmentalist]

IMO and that of proper qualified dieticians, is it is ONLY way to do it.

Eat less, move more. If you cut through the crap for literally every faddy diet going, they all work on the same principle of consuming less than you burn. Yes it might be surrounded by weird and wonderful food groups, but it still works on the same principle of calorie deficit.

Which is why, basic calorie counting is best, because it's free & you are accountable for everything that goes in your mouth.

Yes, you can eat all your calories in chocolate cake, but you will very quickly learn that it doesnt work as you will be hungry constantly.

It teaches you what works & fills you up, and gives you a solid foundation for the future. It's not a diet, it's a total lifestyle change, until that penny drops, people will endlessly chase the easy option & yoyo backwards and forwards with their weight loss, bar the statistical outliers.

[Hotpinkparade]

Yep I've been calorie counting since February (started at around 1600 cals, now down to 1450) and have lost a steady pound a week every week.

[sendcoffee]

My plan is to start doing this to shift the baby weight.
I've got a 4 week old and hoping losing some weight might help with my energy levels.

My plan was to aim for 1600 calories a day though as I'm breastfeeding and felt that 1200 was too low. I have lost weight on that amount of daily calories before.

[CarpetMeCarpetYou]

It is very likely that 1200-1400 calories is too restrictive and will lead to lean tissue loss.

There is much scientific evidence that this is not true. For well researcher consumer examples read The Blood Sugar Diet or Conquering Fat Logic.