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.

Morning everyone, looking forward to getting back on it and feeling determined 💪
Pretty much considering this as day one as I undid all my hard work over the weekend so here we go. 3 months till holidays and counting

Todays plan...

Breakfast
Omlette with spinach, mushrooms, chorizo and cheddar - 372 cals

Lunch
Leftover tzatziki from the _aussiefitness gyros meal we had yesterday mixed with cabbage and served with chicken tomato and pitta & bowl of veg soup - 293 cals

Dinner
Fitfoods turkey burrito bowl - 376 cals

Snacks
Protein bar, protein yogurt and fruit

1329 cals / 106g protein

Going to get to gym for an hour of cardio after crèche drop off and have a weights semi PT class this evening. I'm in a weird work limbo situation at the moment as my team is being made redundant which sucks but it's a pretty drawn out process which basically means I have a lot of free time on my hands for the next couple of months so really going to try to use this to my advantage on the weight loss front, if I can't do it now I have no hope!!

@Shellwedance I am a long time user of MFP and recently switched to nutracheck and I love it. Visually just a lot nicer to use, I enjoy the pictures! I think it's a uk app too so not as clogged up with US food entries? In terms of functionality the two apps pretty much do the same thing but I fancied a change and the novelty of a new app keeping me a bit more engaged with it

@Shellwedance I much prefer nutracheck to use. The data base is better and if you compare the cost to the likes of WW it seems like a bargain to me. You can use the database on the free version, you just can't track fully, so enough to play about and see what you think.
1200 does seem low though, check your exercise settings aren't combined - if they are it expects you to eat at least 200 calories back from what you burn, as that is a setting for people who burn a lot! Even my 2lb a week setting is 1400 with exercise separated, and I am only 5ft tall.
My 0.5lb a week allowance was given as 1905! so I am just aiming for anywhere between the 2 for now, thinking I will tighten things up as weight loss stalls, which it always does at some point.

@Bookaholic73 that's great I will join for the Friday morning weigh in 😀

Thank you!

What are you guys doing about logging homemade foods. Some are simple but I’ve made cow slaw today and potato salad. How do I even begin to work out the calories??

@Weallgottachangesometime it's quite laborious but I've been batch cooking and making recipes in MFP. Have to put the right quantities of each ingredient in then how many servings. I've only really done it for things I make frequently- I tend to stick to tried and tested recipes- and you can edit them if you make it a bit different next time.
If not I suppose you could make an educated guess of the options when you search e.g. coleslaw- take an average?
Today has been/is good. I've had:
Light lunch of ham, cottage cheese, couple of crispbread (200 cals)
Dinner will be lamb curry, a third of a pouch of rice and two poppadoms- 600 cals.
And I'm having a couple of glasses of fizz 🥂
Felt rubbish last night after my chocolate fest so I'll leave it a while.

@Weallgottachangesometime I do the same as @Summerscomin when it comes to making my own food from scratch. I hate doing it, it's so time-consuming, especially at an already busy time of the day. But it's the only way i know how.

Today has been OK food-wise. I've eaten 1577 calories and I'm done for the day but will go over by a few as I'll have a cup of tea this evening. I'm OK with that.

Thanks for the replies. I think I’ll guess for the recipes I made today, but work out with recipes I make regularly. I don’t want to make it too hard work for me or I’ll just give up.

@Summerscomin sounds like a good day and good to still have some of what you enjoy.

I have found upping the protein the last couple of days has really helped me. Can’t believe how much fuller I feel!!

Glad you've found upping the protein is helping @Weallgottachangesometime it makes a massive difference for me too! Although my lunch wasn't substantial in calories it was mostly protein and I'm not ready for my tea yet.
I'm not sure how well versed you and @Bookaholic73 are but I can usually roughly estimate what I'm putting into a recipe so tend to jot the ingredients/quantities down on a scrap of paper or whiteboard as I'm cooking, then when I've got time a bit later or while it's simmering, I'll do the proper recipe bit in MFP to get it accurate. Usually means if it's lower than expected I add to it! Like when I made soup last week, it was much lower than I thought it would be so I put a tin of cannelini beans in for creaminess, protein and filling-ness(!). Or if it's a bit higher, I can split it a bit more and squeeze an extra portion out.
I also always label my freezer bags with what it is and the calories, to account for slight recipe changes.
It all sounds a lot faffier than it actually is, just habits I suppose.

@Happymama24 I usually make 4 servings a time, so 2 days worth for myself and my husband, I don't know how long it keeps in the fridge and didn't want to make too much to find out!

4 servings:
100g pumpkin seeds
160g juicy tomatoes
1 clove garlic (I use the jarred ones, in herb oil, less aggressive than fresh)
1 dried chili (I have some fruity mild ones from the US, but fresh jalapeno, or chili flakes to taste, whatever)

Toast in a dry pan, including the tomatoes, get a little char on, until the seeds are browning and puffed up. Then I use a metal stick blender to puree them as it's sturdy enough.

I spread over a medium tortilla, then 1/4 can beans, and microwave for a minute.

I use MyNetDiary. I didn't find anything that compared to SparkPeople when it closed, I lost years of recipes and self-entered foods. It closing is a good part to blame for my regaining so much.

Today:
B: Black bean burrito
L: Salad and chicken
D: Cauliflower/potato mash, swede/carrot mash, veggie sausage

A bit of chocolate, there is so much in the house.

Went on a decent walk, but had my children with me, so not as many fitness minutes as they walk a little slower and it's very uphill on the way back!

Todays been a very long day at work, I’ve only done 3k steps and there is no chance I am going out in the miserable cold rain for a walk. Ds was up at 3am throwing up and so we had a really disturbed night. Got home from work and my dinner is taking so bloody long to cook, I can’t cope with my hunger anymore. Shopping order not here so nothing at all to snack on so I ate an Easter cupcake.

hopefully will have a better day tomorrow, Tuesdays are always hard but today was especially grim

Hi everyone!
Can I join? I joined a similar thread a few years ago and did wonders for accountability.
I track my food with my net diary.
I changed jobs about a year ago, from very physical and long days to a 35h desk one, and it shows 😂
I aim to around 1500 cal days but I don't beat myself if I go over.
Today I had some protein pancakes with berries for breakfast. A homemade empanada (baked) with an orange for lunch. And pork loin with green beans and potato parmentier for dinner.
Lots of water and 3 cups of tea.
1434 cal today.
I really want some sugar but I need to get through the first 2 weeks without much sugar. And I can have small desserts/snacks after.

I do them in plastic boxes. I know I'm probably weird but I don't heat up chicken, sweet potato and brocoli, you obviously would but I work as part of slt in a school and there is no such think as a hot lunch! You eat it cold or don't eat. My salmon or chicken I cook 3 days worth and keep in the fridge. Never had food poisoning 😄 I tend not to let my body crave alternatives.
I shop on the Sunday, pick my food and then that's what I eat. If I free style, I load all sorts in to the trolley or I end up not eating and that does me no favours

Good morning everyone.

Hi, @Lalanbaba 1500 sounds like a good amount of calories, nice and sustainable long term.

Today my food will look like this:

Breakfast- Protein pancakes with yoghurt & fruit (520 cals)
Lunch- Salmon poke bowl (550 cal)
Dinner- Chicken salad (roughly 400cals)

That leaves me just over 100 cals for a snack.

Morning!

So, I hit 1700 calories yesterday which Nutracheck said was OK with the added exercise of the run I went on (and much more than the 1200 it said without exercise!) so I’ll take that.

Really focussing on hitting my protein and staying off sugar which is definitely my binge trigger. I didn’t snack at all last night which is usually where I go wrong so hoping that streak continues.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Morning all, weather absolutely vile over here in Dublin today - where has spring gone???
I'm making this dish for dinner later www.instagram.com/reel/ChEzVR8jG4z/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
This would work well for batch cooking and reheating I think, that kind of sauce tastes even better the next day 🤤
Brekkie is Greek yogurt with fruit and walnuts (313 cals)
Lunch is a bagel thin with salad, chicken, cream cheese and chilli pesto and a bowl of tomato soup (313 cals)
Dinner above working out at 455 cals and 205 cals for snacks (half a protein bar, protein yogurt & fruit)
1372 cals total / 114g protein
Pleased to report that the 2lbs that went on over the weekend have come off as quickly - just need to keep going now and not mess it all up at the weekend!!
I've signed up to the James Smith Academy 12 week program so going to do one of his home weight workouts later. Have a good day everyone 😊

@Shellwedance Similarly to you, my focus today (and going forward) is no sugar and high protein.

@bella1426 glad to hear that 2lb has already come off for you.

I've devised an exercise plan for myself from yesterday til June, as I really want to make sure I do exercise 5x a week. That'll be a mixture of the gym and also running.

Food wise I'm going to be eating some Pringles today (that'll be my extra 100cals for a snack) and then I'll be focusing on getting as much nutrition in each of my meals as well as sticking to my 1600 calories.
That means quitting the sugary snacks, cordial and things like protein puddings. Instead, I'll snack on things like hummus, fruits and occasionally a few nuts.

I'm aware that summer is coming and I don't want to feel fat and bloated again like i did last year.

I think low sugar/high protein is the way to go for feeling full and not getting cravings. It's just getting over the initial "argh!" phase, I think I'm through it now and like @Lalanbaba will be able to factor in a few small bits before long without the sugar monster appearing.
Thanks for sharing the insta link @bella1426 I've started following the page, the pasta looks tasty and easy! I've got some chicken that needs using up too.
Reading all of your exercise plans is making me feel a bit sloth-like, but things are just too busy and intense for me to rock that boat just now. I'm relatively active- well, I have a 5 year old- but nothing structured or organised. Something to think about in the next few weeks perhaps, do a bit more walking when the weather picks up.

Went out on the prom with my children (on scooters) so got a fairly decent walk before the bad weather descends again.

Today:
B: Black bean burrito
L: Sticky mushrooms, leeks, tofu
D: Homemade mango chickpea korma, cucumber, half a naan

Good evening.

Its been a good day food wise today, but I’m so hungry!
I think my body is just used to eating junk food now and is craving it.
It’s not an actual physical hunger, which is how I know it’s just cravings.

@Bookaholic73 yes me too. I’m not hungry but I’m sitting here watching tv and every 5 minutes or so I think about chocolate, or cake, or ice cream and then remind myself that I don’t want it, and then a little thought comes in and says ‘but you could just start tomorrow’ and then I talk myself out of that… it’s very annoying!

I hate this detox period. My sugar monster rages and I get really annoyed with myself for letting myself down and it’s all very negative. And weirdly that’s what drives me to crave comfort from sugar and eat my feelings. I’m determined not to though, I’m going to have a bath, wash my hair and get an early bed. I did a brief weigh in this morning but I’m not classing it as an official weigh in as it’s all bloat!

today I did gym at 6am, walked 5.5km and then went back to the gym at 5pm as dh was unexpectedly home. This means I don’t need to go to the gym tomorrow morning, freeing me up for a run, so I intend to go out tomorrow morning for 7/8kms before work. I’ve had 1600 cals today, more than my allowance, but then I have earned 800 extra cals of exercise so I’m still in the green.

Hi everyone,
Back at work today, very busy but at least it keeps my mind away from food dreaming.
B. Leftover pancakes from yesterday.
L. Homemade falafel wrap with lots of veggies.
S. Strawberries
D. Small pasta portion, large salad portion. A mini egg coz I could not say no to my kiddo.
1544 cal for today including all the teas.
I tend to cook the same meals for everyone but have smaller portion and extra vegetables in my plate.
Does anyone have a good recommendation for protein powder? I want to try including some for recipes but I have never tried any. Ideally non flavoured/as plain as possible.
I'm so jealous of your exercise routines, I don't have the mental energy for it 😫

@thenewaveragebear1983 yes that sounds exactly like the thoughts that go running through my head most evenings too. I keep thinking ‘I’ll just start again tomorrow’ but then keep reminding myself that it is already the tomorrow that I promised myself yesterday! Hope that makes sense!

@Lalanbaba i use the My Protein vanilla protein powder. It’s really good for making protein pancakes and I don’t think the flavour is too strong.
Don’t worry about the exercise, the main thing for weight loss is diet anyway.