To not count calories in my dinner?!

[BiscuitBandit32]

OK I've got an idea.

I am around 3 stone overweight and SO CONFUSED about how to get the weight off. I'd settle for 1 of those stones off tbh. I've battled with several methods over the years but never found anything I can stick to. I tried calorie counting (again) recently but found it really impractical with a family. Yes, I know loads of mums do it and succeed but I'm just being honest, I struggle. And I don't think it's a coincidence that the people you see on insta pushing calorie counting are mostly either teenage girls or childless men. It's all well and good calorie counting if you are cooking for 1 and have no stress in your life.

So I had an idea...is this totally stupid??

Basically I thought I could count calories BEFORE my dinner only...so breakfast lunch and any snacks. I'd try and keep those below 800. Then I'd just eat my dinner as normal. I'd try to be mindful of portion size, increase my veg, try and make sure its a healthy nutritious meal but I would not count the calories in it. As long as I don't go mad or load up on pasta and butter, any meal would be well below 1000 calories.

The reason I'm thinking of this is because I really struggle with calorie counting dinner. I find it super stressful. Dinner time is chaos in our house and when I'm trying to plan, weigh, measure, track and log my calories it just feels like a HUGE chore, I get fed up and quit.
But I know I need to be in a caloric deficit to lose weight. And I can probably cope with tracking my own bfast and lunch and snacks as its not a complicated family meal.

My idea was that if my pre dinner food comes to 800, my dinner won't be more than about 800 (probably an over estimate really) so I would probably end up with less than 1800 total calories per day (wich is what most calorie calculators give me as a target.

Thoughts? Anyone else tried this way of doing things? I'm thinking it might take the pressure off whilst still reducing my intake.

I would recommend dropping breakfast altogether then a healthy lunch.

It lets your body fast and it gives you a larger dinner calorie allowance

Personally I only get hungry once I start eating and it's Kellogg's that made up the whole myth about breakfast being an important meal.

You could work out 14 family meals that you know the calories for and work them on rotation- think once only that way and you will know the portion size also which will make it easier to avoid eating bigger portions without realising

Yeah it's just re-learning and forming new habits isn't it. Just difficult to get going!

With your stats, the maintenances is 2015. On circa 1400 you’d lose approx 2lbs a week. I’d say count and do Michael Mosley fast 800 with an additional mea or snack or double one. I doubt you’ll lose otherwise

Might work. A portion plate for dinner could help too.

I would also recommend dropping a meal. I’m 47 5’4” and have maintained at sub 10 stone for 4 years now. I’ve not eaten breakfast for years and actually can’t stomach it any more. I do use the gym but I don’t go crazy. I just try to eat my meals between 12 and 7.

I lost nearly 3 stone (18Kg) without calorie counting.

Adjusted my diet to healthier eating, smaller portions, no snacking and 4 nights alcohol free.

Breakfast: a couple of spoons of granola, blueberries, banana or apple, a spoon of Greek yogurt.

Lunch: soup or something proteiny with no more than one slice of toast. Loads of salad.

Snack: 30g of cheese and 2 oatcakes, or a cup of cocoa and one plain biscuit.

1 fruit item

Dinner: normal family dinner but a small portion of carbs.

I agree with some posters that 1600 a day might not mean much (if any) in terms of weight loss. I do understand the social pressure of family meals but you could be setting yourself up to fail.
A lot of people think if they drastically lower their intake they will lose weight. If you're eating a lot this might not be the case. Reducing your calorie intake might actually mean you're not putting on weight so quickly but your still eating above what you need.
I think it's worth getting some sort of professionall input initially so you have a good 'sense' of calorie load.
Of course your way could work if you keep under your 'maintenance' calories. You could even try some distraction techniques so put the plates out for all but start loading the dishwasher, get everyone a drink etc....then sit down and mindfully eat your small portion of whatvyou fancy.
Another option might be intermittent fasting. I think it's important you get a few psychological wins under your belt so do a bit of prep first to give you the best chance. The NHS have several programs to in F2F and online plus WW, SW, and apps.
God luck

I have used cc for several years very successfully, combined with high level of exercise (weight lifting).

I don't think it's a terrible idea, and if you think it might work for you, you should definitely give it a go - it wouldn't have worked for me though.

Agree with posters that said you don't need to count everything to the gram all the time. It's accepted that there is a margin of error, but it goes both ways so it balances out and what matters is the trend.

Unfortunately, I also agree with posters that said you calorie goals seems a bit off. I am the same height as you, and was similar weight, and 1700 was my maintenance goal (incl exercise like running 10ks on weekends and hiking). So 1600 sounds a bit high, particularly if you are doing approximations. Recommendation from my PT was to ignore the "activity" bit in the calculator, base your cc on you height/weight only, and consider any activity as a bonus that helps you achieve your goal faster/better.

I use Nutracheck app. It’s so easy because every food is in there. I have a family to cook for too

lost 13lbs since January

If you have a family to cook for you would be much better off doing slimming world. Maybe online if you don't want to go to clubs. I certainly don't. It does work. There is no point calorie counting for half the day.
Like another poster said I never eat breakfast. It just .ages me more hungry. I have a banana mid morning to keep going.

I lost weight doing more or less what you are suggesting but I didn't count any calories. I burn between 2300-2500 a day so worked out if I kept under 1700 I would lose weight. I had the same breakfast every day and kept lunch and dinner to meals that I KNEW were lowish calorie (having done enough calorie counting to know!) and lost weight with zero snacks and limiting alcohol. It was very simple.

Her calculations are fine. I was a similar starting weight and my calorie expenditure is still between 2300 and 2500 a day - more when I go to the gym. I lose weight eating 17-1800 a day at around 1lb a week.

I know some people swear by calorie counting but I can say, hand on heart, I’ve never done it. For me it would likely become obsessive and it would suck all the fun out of life. Deep down I know what foods and drinks to avoid/limit and I think most people do. I’ve lost over 4 stone by walking and doing lane swimming 5 times a week. Better diet and exercise works. Good luck Op.

I will preface this by saying I didn’t lose weight in a healthy way, wasn’t overweight to start with, and am not recommending it.

I lost about 20lbs without really counting calories. I would for packaged things but I would generally ballpark figure it. I would eat very little in the day and then a more regular dinner. It’s definitely possible. However, 1600 calories is quite a lot to lose weight on but if that’s what your calculations show then go with that I guess.

I have recently lost 2 stone and I would say 800 calories before dinner is too much

I would have two boiled eggs in the morning and then a chicken fillet with salad and small dinner (eg omelette or stir fry)

I lost 2 stone on 1700 calories a day (I’m very active) so the actual number of calories is individual to everyone. I’d give it a try OP. If you don’t lose any, you still have scope to make changes.

Find this podcast
It is honestly life changing

Bullshit.

I just count all the ingredients into fitness pal recipes, throw in 50 extra per portion and that's it. Lost loads and am now keeping it off even without counting regularly. Just occasionally check if my portions aren't getting too big again

Can't believe there is someone like that on mn😁 Being snarky most leople here seem to need toddler level calories to maintain.

It's weird isn't it? Unless they are 4'10 and forgot to mention...maybe some people fucked their metabolism so much from years of yo-yoing that they genuinely do need tiny amounts to maintain. If my maintenance calories were 1600 I'd be the size of a house. Can't live on that forever!

If you definitely don't want to calorie count dinner I'd advise only 6-700 for the rest of the day (including all drinks), eating dinner from a side sized plate or dessert bowl and not having carbs in your meal. Also other things like no cream based sauces, no mayo, oil dressings, butter or fried food.

If it's things like one chicken breast with no skin and veg you'll be fine not weighing/ counting that specific meal.

I don’t understand all these ‘you won’t lose weight on 1600 calories’ posts… it’s inaccurate and could be damaging. I see so many people on here saying things like they can only eat 1500 calories to maintain their weight… I can only imagine they’re completely sedentary.
The OP’s calorie requirements will be entirely individual to her.

Ideally you do need to be counting your your tea, but if you can’t weight it out etc just guesstimate - I do this and always aim for the higher end of estimation.
also for everyone telling you you can’t loose weight on 1800 calories, you absolutely can!! I’m 5ft4 & currently 10.5 stone and steadily loosing on 1700 a day. Dropping straight to 1200 a day is daft if you can loose at higher as you then have somewhere to go when you plateau.
good luck!!