Who else calorie counts?

PaulStat said:
I've just started doing this again to help me lose just over a stone, I should say I cycle to work, totalling about 16.5 miles a day, the issue I have is when I don't do this 5 * a week (take the bus instead) and also fall off the wagon on a weekend (I tend to be very sedate on the weekend so burn very little I suspect) I lose track of what I've had. The result being instead of losing weight I just maintain.

Anyway I'm using MyFitnessPal and I have linked it to Endomondo to track my cycling plus the walking I do at lunch time. To try and achieve roughly a 2lb loss per week I should be looking at having about 1600 calories per day.

What always shocks me is how much I can consume on the days where I do exercise and still be under target. Today for example

Breakfast = 323

Porridge with 180ml milk + 2tbsp maple syrup: 203
Banana: 120

Lunch = 522

2* large granary cheese rolls: 522

Snacks = 790

500ml Coca cola : 330
2* Activia Yoghurts: 200
Apple: 75
Plum: 30
Banana: 120
Clementine: 35


Exercise = 1072 calories
36 mins 8.25 miles = 566 calories
54 mins walking @4mph = 506 calories

So my net so far today is 443 calories! And I haven't cycled home yet! I'm currently full as well. Now if only I can be strict enough with myself to always cycle during the week and log my calories religiously it 'should' be easy to lose the weight. I plan to have a nice big spaghetti bolognaise with cheese later, and I'll still be under target!

Does anyone else who tracks calories and exercises regularly find it difficult to eat enough to meet targets?
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Where da protein at?

I count macros not cals, although I'm pretty good now at eyeballing and/or remembering what different things are now. Counting cals tells you nothing about the carb/fat/protein ratio, which is way more important for body composition than just hitting a target by eating whatever. I could lose weight just eating crisps and chocolate to hit a cal number but it'd be goodbye sweet gainz/strength/feel like poop.
 
I don't calorie count as such, but due to type 1 diabetes, I do have to count my carbs. And I have to drink Diet drinks for the above reason, can't stand the taste of full fat now.
 
Calorie counting without macros is meaningless. A calorie deficit eating mostly carbs will result in slower weight loss than standard calories that have a decent macro breakdown, ie less carbs, more protein and good fats.

Don't eat less, just eat less rubbish.
 
Used to calorie count. My only goal now is to not become fat. This is achieved by gym 4 times a week burning 100 cals on cross trainer + a weights session, and eating relatively sensibly.
 
I'm on a bulk at the moment so keeping track yes and todays is this.

Breakfast 8.45am: Deluxe Muesli 40g, Natural Yoghurt, Pumpkin Seed Portion 14g, 4 hard boiled eggs.

Morning Snacks 11am: Oat Biscuits, Pear, Natural Sunflower Seeds 20g 1 out 4 - protein shake

Lunch 1pm: Mixed Leaf Salad, Wholemeal Pitta Bread X1, Salad Cream, Tuna And Sweetcorn

Afternoon Snacks 3pm: Peanut butter 30g, Celery Sticks, 2 out of 4 protein shake

Pre-workout 5pm: 3 out of 4 protein shake, protein bar

After work around 8pm ish: 4 out of 4 protein shake

Dinner 9pm: Chilli Con Carne, Brown Rice 40g

Dessert 10pm: Cream Portion, Gi Fruit Salad, Nut Portion 20g

Before bed: Casein slow release protein shake.


Totaling: 4200 calories
 
I don't really Calorie count, just make sure to keep my Protein and fat intake up and eat plenty of carbs in the evening. CBL anyone? :D Personally I like going with what I see in the mirror and scales.
 
Don't calories count but I almost always have a good idea of what I'm eating and whether or not it's too much or too little.
 
Whilst you are watching your calories out of interest what is the total amount of sugar you intake each day with that diet plan?

Personally I'd swap the cheese for a lean meat like chicken which will provide you with some protein. Carbonated drinks are simply pointless, but each to their own. Thought I read somewhere that it will take a good session in the gym to burn off one tin of full fat fizzy! What are you snacking on?

Personally I think you can have too much fruit in a day and I'd rather have two fruits and three vegetable portions a day. From what you've written down your diet does seem to be quite high in sugar content hence my interest as to what your daily intake of it is.
 
TBH I like counting my cals. I have lost 12lb since the end of October (Jan was a bit of a blip imo) but I need to loose another 30 before I am at the goal weight I have set myself.

Once I am there, my whole way of eating and dealing with food will be fundamentally changed ergo a life style change. I wont want to loose any more weight, but I will stop tracking and just monitor my weight on the scales and if it starts creeping back up again then I will know that I need to start paying attention to my food again

Thats the plan anyway! Oh and Op? Download Libra for your phone and use that to monitor and track your weight, its much better then myfitnesspal's weight tracker.
 
BunnyKillBot said:
No. If you are finding it difficult to eat enough, I suggest you aren't getting enough protein or fat. Read up on carbs and insulin.
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Depends what you're doing dude. On a demanding week I sometimes have to get through 4000 calories a day and I tell you it doesn't matter what you eat, it's a proper mission getting through that much food :p

The problem with loading up on fat and protein is it curbs your appetite and you can't eat as much as you need. It's also nigh on impossible to operate on a high fat diet and not feel like it's bogging you down. I certainly can't run or ride well after a large doner and chips :p
 
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