Counting Calories

Question: counting calories? when counting calories for the day do you add all your activites together then add bmr or just the activites i would like to know exactly how many calories i burn a day.

Answer: This will estimate it for you: http://www.magnetic-diet.com/calc/daily_calorie_calculator.htm and this: http://www.magnetic-diet.com/calc/exercise-calorie-calculator.html

Question: Counting calories...? I can diet to 1,200 calories a day with a notebook that i count the calories of whatever i eat for breakfas lunch and dinner. Also, if you drink water when you are hungry, will it fill you up and help you lose weight? -I also go to the gym 4 days a week for 1 1/2 hour

Answer: you're best bet is to drink 1-2cups of water whenever you feel hungry because people often mistake their body's call for thirst as hunger. also drink at least 2 cups of water with every meal and snack you eat. 1200 calories is the minimum amount of calories you should ever intake in a day so be careful not to go below that because you're body needs at least that amount to just carry out its internal functions. looks like your exercise routine is good too. just make sure the boundaries your setting are ones that you can stick to for the long term otherwise you will not be successful in losing weight and keeping it off for life.

Question: When counting calories do you add the amount of calories per serving to the calories from fat? The nutritional facts on food packaging state the amount of calories per serving and also the calories from fat. When counting calories, must one add the two together or just count the calories per serving?

Answer: Most U.S. nutrional labels that are based on the FDA model will list "total calories" this is calories from all three macro(four if you include alcohol). The three are proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The fats and carbohydrates can then be sub divided. Fats will be listend by transfats, monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats and saturated fats. Carbohydrates will be broken down into usually fiber and sugers. Unfortunately carbohydrates are consider the odd ball and everything that doesn't fit in the proteins and fats usually ends up "included" or listed there. For your question though you would take "total calories' and ignore fats since it is already included in the total amount. Do note that when the bottle says (zero calories) and then has a phase like "*This may add a insignificant amount of fats" this means it will indeed add calories if consumed in larger amounts. The reason this can be done is because the FDA allows anything under 5 calories to be marketed as calorie free. Spenda has 4 calories per a gram but is marketed as zero calories.

Question: How can I avoid counting calories but still eat to lose body fat? I know the calorie content of EVERYTHING. And the numbers drive me insane. I can't enjoy certain foods, because I'm stressing about how many calories they contain. I stay between 1500 and 2500 daily (depending on my activity level) and maintain my weight. I am, however, trying to lose body fat. How can I eat healthy without worrying about numbers? I understand its a lifestyle change not a fad, so I don't want to be counting calories for the rest of my life!

Answer: Counting Calories with healthy food will help you start to recognize portions and then you will get used to it and not need to count calories. For instance I know what a portion of 3 oz chicken looks like and I know its 110 calories, and so I know that I can eat that with some low GI fruit, broccoli or green leafy veggies and be good. Typically if you eat lean and work out you will lose BF, but too much of a good true is true... for example, an apple is 7- 130 calories, so if you eat 15 of the 130 apples that's almost 2000 calories and if you eat more calories than you use you wont lose bf... not too mention if you just eat apples you will have a deficiency of alot of nutrients which can also lead to not losing fat... just eat lean, healthy and in portions and work out and you should lose it.

Question: How is the Weight Watchers system more effective than just counting calories? From what I've heard about it, you count points. But, how is that any better than counting calories? I'm wondering because I really need to lose weight through diet since I've injured my knee and can't count on exercise to lose weight. All I can do is walk and that isn't going to help burn anything extra. It'll just help maintain my weight.

Answer: When I was on it I felt it was great for folks like me that just needed a simpler way to control intake and portions while still keeping things healthy. If you can count calories and limit your fat while keeping a daily balanced diet, you're really doing the same thing-just counting in a different way...and more power to ya. WW worked great for me but I'd bet money on it that no matter how great I thought it was, it may not be the ideal program for others. I think we all have weaknesses and areas we need help in when dieting. It's different for everyone. The WW plan worked well for me because it addressed the things that I wasn't good at and it kept things simple. If you're committed to a diet and it works-then that's the plan that's best for you. JMO...

Question: What is a good diet plan without counting calories? When will I see results? I don't have time to plan for six meals a day. I like to just eat when hungry. I hate counting calories, it's too much work. I was thinking of just cutting out all junk and fried foods. Limiting carb portions to the palm of my hand. Eating large portion of veggies to get full. How does this sound? I need to lose about 80 pounds. I will be exercising also. When I focus on calorie counting, it just feels like it consumes my whole life.

Answer: Your plan sounds pretty good! Don't worry so much about calories. Honestly I think stressing over the amount of calories makes it worse. Just make sure you eat breakfast. and eat smaller portions as the day goes on. I'd suggest foods like pretzels, fruits, vegetables, white meats, whole grains. Just eat slowly and until you are full. answer mine? http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100902105036AAnk5BS

Question: How do I sustain my weight without counting calories? For the past 6 months, I've been attempting to undertake a healther lifestyle. And its been great. I feel better and I've lost 20+ lbs of fat. :) I did a lot of calorie counting to lose the weight. (eating the same amount of calories as my BMR or less) But, now that I'm at a weight that I feel confortable, how do I stay sustain this weight withought gaining or losing any, and without counting the calories of everything I eat?

Answer: Be active and never eat until it feels like you've had a lot... Just eat often and no big meals. Wear tight pants, lol, and you'll know if you've gained -anything-. :) Mavis Knows

Question: How do I get rid of the habit of counting calories? I am a teenager and I used to be overweight but now I lost 50 pounds and I feel great. I do have a problem though, I always count calories in my meals, I have been maintaining my weight for a few months and it's been well so far but the habit of counting calories is getting a bit irritating. Is there a way to get rid of it?

Answer: Is that how you lost it?? (the weight) Well as annoying as it may be it's a good habit because if you lose it (the habit) you will gain the weight back because you will prolly be less aware of whats going in your mouth. You may not gain it all at once but it will sneak up on you.

Question: How or where can i find information on counting calories? I want to know what each food is and how big it should be. I'm in the mind set of losing weight and i want to try to do the counting calories thing. with lots of water. is there a website that i can go to and put foods in and see how many calories it has and what size portions i should take?

Answer: sparkspeople.com or if your a teen, sparksteen.com Its completely free!!

Question: Do you count calories? Would you stop counting calories if you discovered how they are actually calculated? If so: - Would you continue to count calories if you found out that calories are measurement totally unrelated to the human digestive system? - What if you found out that calories are measured by actually burning the food product and the heat created is measured and converted into a number that someone decided to call "calories"? - What if you realized that when you eat food, that food does not burst into flames in your stomach, but does something else, called digestion? - What if you understood these facts and realized that calories were a completely meaningless measurement as far as measuring "energy via digestion" as it actually is a measurement of "energy via combustion"? - Would you stop counting calories if you understood the above facts? * since someone asked, the alternative to counting calories would be to learn about food in general. Even if calories made any sense as a measurement of energy for consumption/digestion, it would not calculate nutritional value, or whether or not it is actually a healthy choice to be eating in the first place, and so forth. The best way to lose your excess fat is to eat food that is more nutritious, to exercise more and raise your metabolism.

Answer: i think counting calories is a waste of time. More time should be spent on learning about proper nutrition.

Question: Is there a such thing as good calories and bad calories when counting? Okay, so I'm counting calories and I'm trying to fall in between 1200 and 1500, however, I went over yesterday and might do the same today. A lot of my calories are from vegetables. I was wondering, should I count those raw vegetables and fruits in my calories?

Answer: Your goal is to get as much nutrients in as little food as you can. Thats why you only want to eat good calories. Lean meats, whole grains, vegetables, non fat dairy. Just want to make a correction that girl said you cant gain fat on fruits and vegetables. Thats wrong you can gain weight on them. Gaining weight and losing weight has to do with how many calories you eat not where they come from. In order to lose fat you must burn more calories than you eat. To gain fat you have to eat more calories than you burn. If you eat 5000 calories of day in fruit you WILL GAIN FAT

Question: Is counting calories psychologically healthy for you? I don't understand why people do it. I thought as long as you exercise, eat healthy and in moderation and be active, a healthy and happy lifestyle can be achieved. With calories counting, don't people get all obsessive and enjoy their food less? Please share!

Answer: no it is very unhealthy. once you do it you subconsciously start remembering things which can mean even when your not counting calories your brain will be warning you not to eat foods which can cause unessecary anxiety. once you eat healthy nutritious, wholesome foods and a bit of what you fany in moderation and of course maintain a fairly active lifestyle i.e not lying on the couch all day. then you will be fine.

Question: How can i forget about counting calories, eat whatever i want and not gain weight? i'm sixteen years old, and i have a fast metabolism. i think i'm on the verge of a eating disorder and am obsessed with counting calories and with not wasting food. i'm extremely happy with my weight and do not want to gain ANY. how can i eat whatever i want but not gain weight? i also work out 7 days a week.

Answer: If you work out 7 days a week and have a fast metabolism, you can eat pretty much everything and you will not gain weight. Just be sure what you eat not just because of weight, but because of good nutrition. Too much junk food will surely make your body weaker in many ways.

Question: What is this nonsense with counting calories? That is no way to live, counting calories. If we didn't count calories, but we excerised everyday for just a little bit. I think the world might be a healther place or America would be.

Answer: i agree. i stopped doing that a long time ago.it never got me anywhere.i just eat want i want and go for a walk every day.seems to be working so far. look at how many people count every day,and they are still in the same spot they were 2 years ago.you think they would be a little wiser by now.

Question: What are some yummy foods to get when counting calories? i had a bay about two months ago and im trying to loose the baby weight and problem even more than that..ive started counting calories and i wondering what are some yummy items i can buy to snack on that dont have alot of calories...suggestions?

Answer: Low-fat or fat free cottage cheese Low fat of nonfat plain yogurt Whole wheat pita bread Low-fat or skim milk Pretzels Fruit (dried fruit tends to be heavier in calories and sugar. Fresh fruit, or fruit canned in it's own juice is much better.) Carrots And many more.

Question: Is it possible to stop counting calories? I'm recovering from under-eating issues. I was never at an anorexic weight, but I did have some weight to gain back. I'm still gaining weight, but I'm more obsessed with counting calories than I ever was. I'm just wondering if anyone's ever gone through this calorie obsession even after they've stop restricting calories and if they were able to stop counting.

Answer: It's about control issues. You feel like the one thing you can control in your life is what you put in your mouth. It's related to OCD (obsessive/compulsive disorder) & you already know it's not healthy for you, personally. Might be a good time to seek some counseling. You're not going to get the help you really need from this forum, sorry.