I’m starting to calorie count. Anyone want to join me?

[Bookaholic73]

I’m going to be starting calorie counting from tomorrow, with the aim of losing around 2st (28lbs).

Would anyone else like to join me and hold each other accountable here on this thread?

I’ve tried so many ways of losing weight (Keto, Vegan, Low Carb etc) and none of it works long term.
So I’m quitting the fad diets and starting something that I can stick to.

I’m 5,5 and 12st. My aim is 10st, and I’ll be eating 1600 cals a day.

@bella1426 I've just read what you had to eat today and it all sounds delicious 😋 I'll have to try an omelette, having it with chorizo sounds great

@WeirdPookah that's great weight loss since January! Well done.
I need some motivation to stick with it.
We have a holiday booked for the end of May so really looking to start losing weight again.

Is anyone vegetarian? I'm really trying to increase my protein and would love some ideas

I love chorizo too, a little goes a long way in terms of flavour!

Finishing today pretty much bang on calories. It was hard today and although I'm not "stomach hungry" I am definitely "mouth hungry". Going to go to bed shortly to get away from the kitchen. I've had a dreadful sugar withdrawal headache since last night.

I'm out of the habit of breakfast- I don't tend to feel hungry until at least lunch time. Today I had:

Homemade soup and two slices of gluten free toast. Harvest snaps sour cream rings. (422).

Chicken and vegetable curry, cauliflower rice & greek yoghurt- put a bit too much chilli in! (444)

G&T (186). Not my wisest choice but very much enjoyed at the time.

Beans (all kinds, in all sorts, hot/cold/blended/mashed), lentils, tofu, cheese esp cottage cheese/low fat cream cheese, eggs?

@Happymama24 im not vegetarian, but do love tofu. Waitrose do a lovely almond & sesame one by the brand Taifun. It’s 19g of protein for half a small block.
They also do basil flavour and a smoked one.

As well as tofu, lots of beans is a good place to start.

He will be 4 this summer, we are well beyond the buggy walks now unfortunately! I did love those (and was so grateful he was still that little in lockdown so I could have them!)

Sounds like some good days have been had today!

It hasn't been for me food wise, but I knew it wouldn't be and planned for it. I already had committed to the plans before I decided to get back to tracking so I set today as an "easier day" for this week.

I did make a lighter choice at lunch than I might have at other times, not the lightest option either though as I didn't want to eat something I didn't fancy - not point going for lunch to not enjoy it! So I had a grilled chicken breast burger... normally I am a cheese and bacon burger kind of girl so quite a big difference calorie wise! Tracked using the info on the menu.

This evening was a family birthday tea and tradition dictates sandwiches, crisps and biscuits! But I have tracked with best guesses (e.g. used shop sandwiches, my mum is almost certain to have used lighter fillings so I am hoping I have actually over estimated if anything!). I also stopped at two biscuits with my tea which is a miracle in itself.

So while a really unhealthy day (2.5 of my 5 a day!!), I am actually feeling pretty good about it because if this was last week I could have quite easily have doubled the calories with a carb heavy breakfast, the usual burger and a lot more biscuits!

@birdywillow it's so delicious and eggs really fill me for the morning. Just four thin slices of chorizo (pre sliced from Tesco) fried with the mushrooms and spinach gives a nice flavour hit for not too much calories. If you like spice a splash of hot sauce before serving is yum too 😊
@Bookaholic73 I nearly stuck to my cals, went over 140 on some mindless mouthfuls while getting kids food - few grapes here, small bit of Easter egg there, slice of ham 🤦‍♀️ not a total disaster and all tracked and accounted for. I'm not too bad in the evenings but can tend to get hungry between lunch and dinner if I don't time things right. Tips for protein - a scoop of unflavoured protein powder into my breakfast Greek yogurt, half a protein bar for afternoon snack and protein yogurt with fresh berries for dessert all help up it most days, I go high enough for lunch too on the meat/seafood - eg 100g of smoked salmon or chicken or a large tin of tuna

I made a delicious vegan chilli with lots of lentils, quinoa and bulgar wheat in it. I never eat that sort of food but it was delicious. Something about a mix of them together makes them taste better.

No idea how healthy they are but they’re filling for sure!! I’ve been having quinoa/bulgar wheat mix with apricots in and lime juice on and some chicken. Gives it a nice flavour .

@Bookaholic73 yes, thank you, just rather dragged down by the stress of, well, everything about life these days!!
@Happymama24 thank you, we have a family wedding and holiday in May as well. I mostly eat vegetarian, I'm not one, but my husband is, and honestly cooking multiple meals isn't needed when we all happily eat vegetarian foods.
Have you tried edamame beans? You can buy them frozen and already podded. They are high in protein, I like them cooked, cooled with cold water and added on top of salads with an Asian flavoured inspired dressing.

Only lost half a pound this week, but unsurprising as I was so ill last week and didn't eat properly, all unsettled. Got a couple of heavy food days, tomorrow and Sunday. Hoping to not see too much effect, it's also half-term which means routine is all out as well!

Thank you everyone for the protein tips! I like most of the suggestions.
Tofu for me is hit and miss. I think I just haven't cooked it enough to cook it well so will need to practice more. I enjoy it when eating out.
I haven't tried edamame beans so will pick up some to try. Must also get some cottage cheese.
My husband or children are not vegetarians. We usually have some foods meal prepped in the fridge and whoever wants meat can add it in. I always eat better if food is ready to go and just needs to be reheated.

I am hoping to stick to 1500kcal today!

@Happymama24 The tofu I mentioned is already cooked. You can eat it cold in something like a salad, or heat it up.

Good morning everyone.
My main goal today is to make sure I eat B&L at proper times, so around 9am and 1pm.

I’ve planned my breakfast already, it’s 1/2 cup of porridge with semi skimmed milk, some berries and PB. Comes to 553 calories.

Lunch will be chicken noodle soup.

Not sure about dinner yet.

Thank you @Bookaholic73 I will try and get some of that. I'm in Ireland so don't have Waitrose but will try to source it. Sounds great!

@WeirdPookah & @Weallgottachangesometime I am loving the sound of the quinoa/bulgur inspired salads, especially the Asian inspired salad dressing - tell me more please!

Today I am aiming to stick to around 1300 as I am away this weekend with DP and no kids so trying to bank some extra credit for lovely hotel food and (some) wine 🤗

Todays food plan
Breakfast - 125g full fat Greek yogurt, 15g unflavoured protein powder, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, 10g crushed walnuts and a drizzle of honey (341 cals)

Lunch - bagel thin with Philadelphia, smoked salmon, rocket and capers, tomato and basil soup (432 cals)

Dinner - pure power loaded taco fries ready meal with a side of mushrooms and green beans (330 cals)

Snacks - 0.5 fulfil protein white chocolate and salted caramel bar, muller light Skyr protein yogurt with berries (213 cals)

Total 1316 cals and 96g protein
Movement - 15000 steps

My goal today is to avoid mindless bits of food finding their way into my mouth, now that I am religiously tracking I can see how this is a bad habit that really adds up the calories and explains why I am where I am 🤦‍♀️

Oh hey @Happymama24 I'm in Ireland too 👋🇮🇪

@bella1426 I use a crisp lettuce base like iceberg or little gem, then cut strips with a vegetable peeler of carrot and cucumber, shredded red cabbage, strips of peppers, some chopped coriander if you like it, cooked, cooled edamame beans, and a dressing made from either tahini or peanut butter, lime or lemon juice, dash soy sauce, little sweet chili sauce or just some chili flakes or fresh chili.

I put some cooled noodles in my husbands for a sturdier meal, then a little sprinkle of chopped peanuts on top. Sometimes have some seaweed snack sheets to eat with it, goes slimy if you chop it in, but really tasty if you just eat with forkfuls.

Today I had a bean burrito for breakfast
Lunch is omelette with ratatouille
Dinner is roast Mediterranean vegetables, with vegan chicken bits

I did have a blueberry hot cross bun, my first bun this year! But took toast away from my lunch and I'm only at 1309 calories for my plan, and we had walked to the supermarket to get the things we need for a picnic breakfast and lunch tomorrow on a long walk.

Just had a lovely chicken noodle soup that I made, as well as a 10cal jelly and a cheese string.
Calories came to 417, which gives me 581 cals for dinner.

@bella1426 your lunch sounds delicious! I’ve not had a bagel for a while and think I’ll pick some up at the shops next week.
I'm the same when it comes to little bits here and there, so I’ve stopped that too.

I am watching some YouTube videos to get meal ideas this afternoon.

I really don’t know what to do about breakfast and lunch while at work. Can anyone offer advice?

I work 6-2 most days, and my work are very bad at giving breaks. I normally don’t get a break til about 12.30 and it’s only 20mins.

I can’t eat before work as I’m just not hungry at 5am, but I’m often so hungry by the time I get home at 3 that I eat lots of rubbish food.
Then rarely eat dinner because I’m full.

Please don’t suggest talking to management about breaks, it’s a new job and I don’t want to rock the boat. And everyone else seems fine with it.

@Bookaholic73 the bagel thins I get are delicious, I'm in Ireland so not sure if you have them in UK Tesco but they're called fitzgeralds and are only 130 cals per bagel. A few years ago when I was in a pretty successful weight loss phase I had a standard lunch I had in an office job every day. I roasted a big batch of veggies (squash, peppers, onions, mushrooms,courgettes with herbs and garlic)
Each morning I would toast 2 mini pittas, spread with laughing cow light and mustard, fill with my veggie mix and wafer thin chicken and wrap in foil. They were tasty and filling and good bang for your buck with the amount of calories. Easy to scoff quickly at a desk too if you don't have much time for faffing around with food prep. Cup a soups also handy and filling and I would bring fruit, protein bars and protein yogurts for convenience food that fills you up

@Bookaholic73 you could make overnight oats with a scoop of protein powder with some fruit to eat at work for breakfast.

Thank you so much for the advice. It’s not really a problem of what to take, more that I don’t get chance to eat until 12.30 at the earliest.
I’ll have to have a think about how to manage it.

Hello please can I join? I'm on week four of nutracheck and ramped up exercise. I've lost 9lbs so far. I'm vegan but also doing lots of strength training so I aim for 110g of protein a day. I've never ever done calorie counting before and I find it so liberating.

Oooh I love bagel thins, think they are Warburtons brand here. My fave at home lunch is one toasted with a still slightly runny boiled egg and a cheese slice in it. I do my boiled eggs in the air fryer as its so much easier than faffing with a pan of water.

Forgot to weigh myself this morning as today is day 1 but if the main weigh day was going to be Friday anyway then I guess today is just a bonus diet day and I will take my starting weight from tomorrow.

Made a big tub of non lettuce salad today, has loads of different things in it and I had a bowl of it with a little tin of tuna and a measure out tablespoon of light french dressing. Had a lunchbox soreen loaf with a cup of tea a minute ago and now I have to try and be good until dinner. No idea what to have - this is where my problems lie. I have a husband and 16 year old son that eat enough for about 3 people each and a teenage daughter too. even if I find a meal that everyone agrees on it is difficult to make it go 4 ways when the boys eat so much. Cooking a whole other meal for me is such a faff though. I need to batch cook myself some stuff, need to find some inspiration I think

@Bookaholic73 are you allowed a drink while working? If so you could make a protein shake before you leave and drink it during the morning ? I don’t like them much but I do like an oat based or almond based shake. Or even a slim fast made with almond milk and frozen fruit blitzed into it?

As an aside- in my previous job it was very much a case of we’re too busy to even stop for a drink of water or a toilet break, managers didn’t really care and we all just kept doing it. In the end I made myself so unwell and kept getting so dehydrated and tearful at work because I was so utterly exhausted. Be kind to yourself. You ARE entitled to a break