counting calories!!

1. 74

   dinkan53posted 12 years ago

   climbing up 10 floors= 120 calories
   20 chips=110 calories
   1green tea=15 calories
   
   Share your knowledge of calorie counting

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   Kimberly Bunchposted 12 years ago

   What a life when you have to count calories!! Sad world for those who must do it. Even though I have considered counting those calories and the best I've came up with is looking in shock at the back of packages!!
   
   Instead I did it the Zen way and stopped eating at noon. That way I'm not spending my life worrying about every calorie added through the day. To depressing for me. But those who do it good job and way to go. It stresses me out to much! Lol.

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      dinkan53posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      missing a lunch means the same as not refueling your car. "Have breakfast alone, have lunch with a friend and dinner with an enemy". You have to be quite sure that you are getting enough calories every day, that is enough. The knowledge of calories can be share with for example friend or a relative who got over weight.

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3. 60

   deweyduckposted 12 years ago

   "Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 Calorie Diet" - that's what it says on almost every nutritional label.
   
   I guess counting calories in some situations is useful.  For example, if you're healthy and at a good weight, I can see someone wanting to eat just enough and not go overboard.  And the opposite for someone overweight trying to lose weight.  Unfortunately, it can be annoying.
   
   I think people know what's good food and what's bad.  Go for the good food to avoid calorie counting.  Funny though, the bad stuff usually tastes better, has the most calories/fat/sodium/heart-stopping-goodness, and is irresistible!

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4. 60

   hubscribeposted 12 years ago

   Hi all.  Great topic!
   
   I find that counting servings is more realistic than counting calories.  For example if I order a chicken burger that comes with a salad, I dont' count every calorie.  Instead I focus on food groups and serving recommendations. 
   
   I won't even bother counting the the calories of the lettuce, tomato and other fruits and veggies on the plate.  I focus on the meats and fats.  For example I am recommended by the Mayo Clinic four daily servings of Protein and Dairy.  Since most burger patties are actually two servings, I know I should cut the burger in half and save the rest for lunch the next day. 
   
   This kind of food group eyeballing (if you will) works better for me and encourages me to eat more fruits and veggies.
   
   I hope that adds to the convo.  Cheers!

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5. 82

   timorousposted 12 years ago

   I hate to mention...but exercise is part of the calories equation, like it or not.  If you're not very active, go easy on the higher calories foods like meat, and especially soft drinks, and unfortunately...beer.
   
   Any good nutrition book will give you a good idea what sort of calories most foods and quantities have.  Once you know that, just use common sense.  A few calories here and there isn't going to have any kind of impact, really.

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      nlowmanposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Don't hate to mention. That's why such a large portion of the U.S. is overweight. Many people are afraid of exercise. Not everyone has to lift gigantic weights or run marathons, but everyone can take a walk and climb some stairs. You'll live longer too, and have a more comfortable time living.
      
      Regarding calories, my tidbit is 3,500 calories equals one pound. What this means is gaining a pound equals consuming 3,500 more calories than one burns, and losing a pound is burning 3,500 more calories than one consumes. An average beer contains about 150 calories, so just add that to whatever food you've eaten in the day (http://www.beer100.com/beercalories.htm). The total calorie content quickly increases.

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6. 56

   ftclickposted 12 years ago

   I don't count them to much. I basically reduce the portion size an don't eat junk foods as much. I still like them but no everyday any more especially those bagels, muffins, cakes, triple sandwiches, etc.
   I always exercised a lot so it has paid off.  You cannot seriously expect to live a long a healthy life downing soft drinks and being inactive. Some do that and are lucky but if your family has a tendency to weight gain, watch out.
   66% of the USA is overweight, 33% are obese according to industry reports.
   I blame it on the fast food industry, the huge restaurant portion sizes and simply inactivity. I can leave the states, lose weight, feel better, because of healthier food, come back and regain it again. Hey, I wouldn't trade the variety of foods here for anything though, it's just having discipline.
   Except for Thanksgiving, Holidays, Sports games...etc...oh it is tough. believe me.

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7. 0

   wademcmasterposted 12 years ago

   Some useful info for all those kilojoule counts on nutrition data -
   
   1 Calorie = 4.2 Kilojoules -
   
   Also 1g of Protein or Carbs is 4 calories
   and 1g Fat is 9 calories.
   
   These can be useful if information on a certain food is incomplete.

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   1. 79

      Aislaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It is important to understand that when you count calories you are actually counting how much energy your body is burning.
      This is controlled by your metabolic rate at rest. Like a light bulb conserves energy when it is switched off so does the body in times of starvation .
      If you over eat the metabolism answers by getting quicker but this stops at a certain level and excess energy consumed is stored in different rooms ( Ie the butt, waist ,boobs etc)
      So instead of counting calories try looking at how much energy your body is using in relation to the amount of food passing your lips.

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   optimus grimlockposted 12 years ago

   it all depends on your lifestyle,goals and what works for you. You may need more or less of each micronutriant you just have to make it simple. personlly i focus on protein sometimes carbs sp i dont count calories.

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9. 68

   lrohnerposted 12 years ago

   One pound of fat = 3,500 calories. If you're trying to lose weight, let's say 1 lb. per week, it's a fairly simple matter of eliminating 3,500 calories from your diet per week or 500 calories per day. You can do this through cutting back on calories or burning them off through exercise. Your choice.
   
   The US government just completed a multi-year study comparing different types of low-calorie diets (low-fat, low-carb, high-protein, etc.). What they discovered is that it really doesn't make a difference when it comes to weight loss. A calorie is a calorie. Low-carb diets don't perform any better than low-fat or any other type of diet.

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      couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I could have told the government this 30 years ago.  We had to spend tax dollars on another idiotic study.  Sorry.  Just had to say that.

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    Stacie Lposted 12 years ago

    low carbs AND low sugar reductions are necessary to lose weight.
    I find that i lose weight faster when I stop the sugar..
    that's difficult now around the holidays..

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    joleenruffinposted 12 years ago

    When I am counting calories, I use the BodyBugg to help me. I strap it around my arm in the morning and it measures exactly how many calories I burn throughout the day.

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    Greek Oneposted 12 years ago

    20 shots of Crown Royal Whiskey... 2100 calories
    
    20 glasses of Crown Royal Whiskey with Diet coke... 2100 calories
    
    
    

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       princess gposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       mmmmmm...whiskey:)

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          Greek Oneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          you're too young.. look away

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    couturepopcafeposted 12 years ago

    A really good rule of thumb is to eat foods in their most whole state.  Like an apple instead of apple juice, whole grain oatmeal instead of an oat muffin, a chicken leg (or whatever part) instead of McD's chicken fingers.  If you eat slowly, your brain has a chance to tell your body you're full.  If you eat whole foods, your body has real nutrition it can use instead of empty or artificial man-made food which it does not recognize.  Since the nutritional value is usually low in man-made and chemically enhanced foods, the brain sends a signal to eat more to get the nutrition you need.

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       timorousposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       I couldn't have said it better myself.  Thank you couturepopcafe

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    ftclickposted 12 years ago

    smaller portion sizes along with 2 small mini-workouts will do wonders. Especially a mini-workout (15 minutes) when you wake-up BEFORE breakfast.

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