Do you calorie count and why?

[ralphiebabs12]

Just curious really. Do you count calories?

I tracked my calories for a month or two a few years back out of curiosity. I don't now, I do a lot more home cooking and I think it would take me ages! Generally I stick to a philosophy of eat when I'm hungry, until I'm full. I'll tend to eat something if I'm craving it (although I guess it helps that I generally crave healthier things!) This is in reason of course, if I craved a big dominoes pizza every night I wouldn't eat a big dominoes pizza every night mainly because there's not a dominoes for miles

I've seen some say they count calories for a while until they get a general idea how many calories are in each food, then they guess.

Just curious for other's opinions and insights

I only started about 2 months ago so early days but losing a pound a week. Sticking around 1800 a day following a slow but steady approach. Walking 10k steps a day. Once I get to target I think I'll count calories 5 days a week and have weekend off but need to see how that works.

I was very ill post baby, so now I have about 1400 calories a day and i ve lost a stone

Yes I do. I need to lose weight. Lost over 3 stone already. 5 more to go.

Yeah, for the first time ever, for the past 3 weeks. Need to lose some lockdown pounds.

Do people mind saying how many calories they eat a day if they calorie count? I'm new to this.

I do, I really like the Nutracheck app, and I store all my recipes on there and input the weeks meals in advance, so it’s kind of like a meal planner too.

If I don’t keep an eye on what I’m consuming I will put weight on. I don’t need to eat much extra to gain weight... a snack here or there, kids leftovers, couple of glasses of wine of an eve... now I’m older I just really don’t want to gain weight and have my clothes not fit me! I’ve been doing it so long that I don’t even really think about it, and it takes a couple of minutes each day, if that.

@TowandaForever

Do people mind saying how many calories they eat a day if they calorie count? I'm new to this.

I’m interested in this too. I aim for 1800 calories a day, but in reality I eat anything between 1600 & 2200. I walk a lot, and my app syncs with the step counter on my phone, so I often eat back those calories. That’s to maintain weight (I’m 5ft 4 & 8st 4)

I would hazard a guess I eat around 1800-2000. But as I said it's been a long while since I actually counted calories so I may be way off. I am very active though, especially during lockdown, and I'm considering trying to eat a little more. But then I feel fine with my current amount so maybe not.

@TowandaForever

Do people mind saying how many calories they eat a day if they calorie count? I'm new to this.

I started off on 1800 but was actually eating more like 2000. My personal trainer friend said I should aim for more like 1500-1650 so I reduced it to 1650 and then 1600. Which I am sticking to. Exercising in some form or other almost every day too.

Oh and I'm 5 8 and think around 70kg but I don't have scales in the house. That's what I weighed last time I was in the gym months ago anyway!

Around 1600

1400

I have an idea of what 1400 calories a day looks like and I know if I just give myself free rein I put on weight at an impressive speed. So I use my fitness pal when I'm actively trying to lose weight and I keep a mental record of what I've eaten if I'm just trying to stay the same / in damage limitation mode!

@Bairnsmum05

I only started about 2 months ago so early days but losing a pound a week. Sticking around 1800 a day following a slow but steady approach. Walking 10k steps a day. Once I get to target I think I'll count calories 5 days a week and have weekend off but need to see how that works.

Same here.

Started counting calories about a month ago, have lost a steady pound or slightly more a week (6 in total). Slightly relax things on a Saturday. Do a 20 aerobic workout every day too. I'm 47 and find it very hard to lose weight now.

Seems to be working for me, once I've lost enough I'm gonna do mon-fri as above and hope that's enough to maintain.

Just started and im on day 4 using nutracheck!

I am trying to stick with 1400 a calories a day, I am 8st11 and aim to lose 6 pounds! So far it isn't overly time consuming!

Sorry I'm eating roughly 1500 a day.

I started today! I've been reading Dr Michael Mosley's book - The Fast 800. It has a few diets in it, but mainly a calorie reduction and carb reduction - pasta, bread, rice etc. I definitely went over the 800 mark today but I did have 3 small sensible meals and no snacks. Only 11 weeks and 6 days to go... I'd love a biscuit right now.

Yes. I use myfitnesspal, it's as easy as scanning my supermarket shop. I lost 2 stone this way, DH lost 3 stone and now we're maintaining.

I couldn't imagine anything more stressful. Better to adopt the mantra "it's not everything you see you must eat".

Yes, because as soon as I stop I don’t have control. I workout 6 days a week and am very active in my job and seem to be losing 1-2lb a week on 1800-2000 approx. It varies but I save some also for extra treats at the weekend. I use Lose it which links to my Fitbit.

I have been cal counting since 4th Jan and I've lost 16lbs so far. Apart from Fri and Sats when I do generally go over with drinks and takeaways I stick between 1600 and 1800 cals a day. I am 5,8, just over 12st and I would say lightly active, I walk the dog for 30-45 mins a day.
I don't particularly enjoy it but it does work.
When my husband cooks from scratch (he is the cook in this house!) I get him to weigh everything before he puts it in the pan and note it down then I work out the cals using My Fitness Pal and just divide depending on how much big a portion I have (e.g a half or quarter).
When cooking for myself it's generally things that are labelled with the cals that I can easily scan in!

I do because otherwise I'd be really fat ,I'd rather count calories than be eating everything I'd like to, which is way too much.

It's no big deal for me and I don't understand why some people say it would be stressful.

I've gone back to calorie counting since beginning of January. I aim for 1200 per day (today was 2600 ) but I have lost 16lb. It's working for me. I eat what i like and make sure i average 8,400 cals per week. I'm not exercising much but am planning to up my activity levels now.

I'm 55 and it's harder to lose weight now. I definitely think people need less calories than the recommended amount as they get older. I think 1800 a day for a fairly sedentary 50 year old woman is plenty. Less should result in weight loss.

I use Nutracheck