Calorie counting for 2026 🎉

[Bookaholic73]

I have totally fallen off the calorie counting bandwagon for the last half of 2025, and will be starting again on Jan 1st 2026.

My goal is to reach 64kg, I am currently 77kg.

Is anyone else starting in Jan and would like to join me?

I'm in!

How many calories are you sticking to?

I’ve been calorie counting since Sept 1, and have lost 18kg so far (but have a lot to lose). I’ve got a big trip in March - plan is to lose 5kg a month.
I’m 5’10”, 63 and a type 1 diabetic. Fairly sedentary, I lose weight eating 1750-1800 calories a day. As I get closer to goal I’ll drop that, but no fewer than 1500.

I’m starting off at 1900 for the first 2 weeks and then down to 1800.
I weight lift 5x a week so can’t go too low.
I’m not in a major hurry, consistency over perfection.
Between 27th Dec and 1st Jan I’ll start to be more aware of what I’m eating, but won’t track til 1st Jan.
Do you have much to lose?

Wow, you’re doing great! Well done on your current loss.

I will join you, I have a similar goal to yours @Bookaholic73. I started in mid September on 83.4kg. Currently 75.2kg, and my goal is around 65kg. That would put me in the healthy BMI range for my height, but I am not sure if it will feel too much. I will just see how it goes, I think. Hoping to get there by summer.

I aim for an average of about 1600 calories a day over the week, but that means a bit less during the week and a bit more at the weekend. I normally do 10-12k steps a day, but not much other exercise. Sometimes go to the gym, but that is usually instead of a long walk, so my steps don't change much.

I will probably do Dry January, so that will help me as I am currently finding the temptations of December drinking too much!

Almost 10kg down now @GoodNamesOnly well done! 🎉
I’d like to lose a consistent 0.5kg per week, but I’ll see how it goes.
My steps are only about 5k a day at the moment, so I’d like to start with increasing that to 8k in January.
Good luck with Dry Jan. I stopped drinking in July and I feel so much better for it!

Does anyone have a particular motivation? For me I was the biggest I have been and starting to feel tempted by weight loss jabs, but I thought I would have a last ditch attempt to avoid them. What puts me off about the jab is that every time I diet I just regain all the weight and more when I stop it. It just felt too depressing a thought that I would spend loads of money and then do that again.

What I like about calorie counting is that I am not stopping myself eating anything, just making sure I log it. It makes sense to me, and I like that it is straight forward and logical. Also because I am averaging my calories over a week it allows me to be quite flexible. I started off tracking on Chatgpt, but it lied to me and I stopped trusting it, so I am now just using my Samsung smart watch app. I am considering getting Nutracheck though. What does anyone else use?

Hey all I’d like to join! I’ve been calorie counting on and off for well over a year but the scales have only really started to move since I’ve started exercising. I started at 83 kg on the 1st November and currently at 77kg. My goal is 66kg. I’m 5 ft 3. I only have 1400 calories a day but now I’m exercising if I need more I let myself, but just done have more than what I’ve burnt exercising.

@GoodNamesOnly I use NutraCheck too and think it’s preferable to My Fitness Pal which is the only other tracking platform.

I like CC for the same reasons you do, I can eat anything and everything as long as it fits in my calorie deficit.

@bluedabadeedabadoo well done on your loss so far!

@Bookaholic73thankyou!! I’m really motivated now to keep going this time! I’m the lowest I’ve been for at least 2 years I reckon but probably more.
I use nutra check and love it. I’ve been a slimming world follower on and off for years but I much prefer this

I’d like to join. I’ve been really neglecting myself over the last month or so, and feel very bloated and rubbish. I’m a teacher, my kids have been ill, I don’t drink enough water and I’ve been snacking and not eating proper meals. I’ve currently got a roast dinner in the oven and don’t fancy it at all. Not sure what’s wrong with me, but I feel tired and rubbish so I need to do something. Will join you in January, using My Fitness Pal.

@Wallabyone i totally relate to what you’re saying about feeling tired and bloated and just a bit ‘meh’. As much as I’m looking forward to Christmas, I’m also looking forward to going back to a healthier diet.

I am in! I have been on plan all year except I have yo-yo’d around so while I have lost 20lbs I’ve actually lost the same 10 twice. I’m pretty close to target and month on month my losses are very small, 1-2lbs max. Weirdly December has been my best month so far, I’ve lost 3lbs this week 🤷‍♀️

my plan for 2026 is:

1. lose 10/12lbs and get to target and stay there
2. clean up my diet by cutting out sugary rubbish
3. start doing some weights. I hate the gym but I am going to do home workouts with dumbbells 💪
4. keep up my running and book some races in.

I am 5’7 and weigh almost exactly 11st, I’d love to be 10 but would settle for 10.3! My tdee is 1900-2100 and I try to aim for 1500 for a pound a week loss but it doesn’t always play out that way

I'm not actually sure as I don't tend to weigh myself. I would estimate about 1.5 stone and I'd be happy. I'm 5 ft 2 and a size 14. I'd like to comfortably fit into a 12. If I was 5 ft 6 I wouldn't need to lose weight !

I’m in!
I lost 3 stone calories in 2024 but it just hasn’t clicked this year and I have gained back a little in the last couple of months.
Want to take it slowly like before and ideally have another 10kg to lose. Going to try a bit of damage limitation in the next few weeks then back to proper focus for 2026.

It’s the sugary rubbish that I want to cut out too, or at least reduce significantly.

Edit

I’m in. I have 10kg to loose to get back to my base weight. Starting calorie counting on January 1st.

I’ll be back on it. Did three stone last year, have eaten to maintenance the last two weeks and have another stone to do before summer 26.
ready to start 5th January for me

My motivation is my pony. If I get too heavy it wouldn't be fair to ride her. And I want to be healthy in my old age.

@highlandponymummy I use nutracheck and it is really good. You do have to pay but almost certainly there will be a load of deals at this time of year, I think you can get the whole year for about 25-30£. It’s so easy to track, I don’t think I’ve ever had a branded or supermarket item not on there.

my motivation is just that I just want to get there. I lost a lot of weight a few years ago and I’ve pretty much maintained year on year although have gained and lost in a swing of about a stone during that time. As a result I fell like I have been on a diet constantly but have lost nothing. I’m planning quite a strict few months to just finally get there, as clearly I can maintain!

edited to add @goodnamesonly, tagged the wrong name!

I’m in too. I’m 77kg and want to get to about 67 ideally. I’ll be using nutracheck.

Drinking and bread is my biggest issue I think.

It’s lovely to have so many of you joining me.

Dear lord…I stepped on the scales this morning and wish I hadn’t.
12st exactly 😭 The heaviest I’ve been in a long time.

So, my calorie counting is starting tomorrow. 1900 a day, with 100g protein to start and I’ll see how I go.
I need to set myself up for success, which means drinking plenty of water, going for a walk for an hour, and getting an early night.

I feel so bloated and puffy, which I know is down to the terrible diet over Xmas.

Hello everyone!
I lost weight a few years ago, gradually put it back on and then this year have put even more on. I’m the heaviest I’ve ever been. I’m 5’1 with a small frame, and I’m currently 61kg. My ideal weight is 54kg.

None of my clothes fit, my face is bloated and I feel crap about myself.

Calorie counting isn’t great for me as it makes me obsess, but it’s also the only think that works so I need to do it. I will be combining CC with intermittent fasting, and I will be cutting out as many UPF and sugar as possible.

I’ve recently discovered I’m intolerant to gluten. I thought this would help as I’m a huge carb eater, but I seem to have replaced carbs with sweets and chocolate. So I need to knock that on the head!

I’m starting tomorrow. Good luck to everyone 🙂