# Tracking calories or points?

Category: Health and Wellness

## Post 1 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 24-Apr-2011 21:02:54

Hi, all. I thought about putting this on my older thread about weight loss. But it's a more specific question than what's on that board, so I figured I'd create a new topic.
It seems that when most people set out to lose weight, they find a concrete way to track their daily eating. A friend of mine counts calories with a site called Calorie King. However, that site, and every other calorie counting site I've seen, are inaccessible. Weight Watchers people count points. In that case, you have to read the labels on everything to calculate how many points it is. I guess if you have an IPhone, that would not be hard, but I don't.
So, if any of you know accessible ways to track things like calories, or Weight Watchers points, or something else I've not thought of, I'd love to hear it. Right now I'm just trying to take the common sense approach about what I eat and how much, but it'd be nice to nail down something more specific.

## Post 2 by DevilishAnthony (Just go on and agree with me. You know you want to.) on Monday, 25-Apr-2011 7:37:57

This has proven a bit difficult for me as well. Eventually, I plan to get that barcode scanner from A T Guys, so I can at least read the labels on what I buy, and then make the decision on whether to buy it again or not. Sometimes, I can go to a product's website or to Amazon and read the labels from there, but that's about the only thing I can suggest for now. Good luck.

## Post 3 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Monday, 25-Apr-2011 14:41:06

Anything on the DirectionsForMe.org website has calories marked on it, so you just put in the product you want and not only do you get instructions but calorie count and serving size as well.
FYI apparently out here someone tried an experiment where she literally ate a 1200-calorie diet of all fast food and still lost weight, showing calories are where it's at apparently.
But I find that website:
DirectionsForMe.org invaluable.

## Post 4 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Monday, 25-Apr-2011 18:14:14

Aha, thanks, Leo! I've checked out the site, but not that extensively, so I didn't see calories on there. Must go look now. Appreciate it!

## Post 5 by sugarbaby (The voice of reason) on Tuesday, 26-Apr-2011 5:08:54

I use a sight called weight loss resources to track my calory intake, also myfitnesspal.com is accessible.
hth.

## Post 6 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Tuesday, 26-Apr-2011 11:49:55

Thanks, Claire, I'll go look at those, too.

## Post 7 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Tuesday, 26-Apr-2011 11:54:55

I also notice DirectionsForMe has cholesterol and other items, I never used to make note of these things; now that I'm 40 the man says it's time.
That info is generally towards the bottom near the calories and servings size. All that, and the saturated fat / poly this or that you never used to look at.
But anyway with that site, it's got the whole deal, probably as registered in some product's database but the latter is just a guess.

## Post 8 by squidwardqtentacles (I just keep on posting!) on Wednesday, 27-Apr-2011 18:27:12

I'm afraid I gave up counting calories and what have you, I just eat smaller portions more frequently and walk for exercise, avoid elevators like the plague, and I seem to find staying at a comfortable weight occurs naturally without me focusing on it. I have tried the focused approach, counting calories, weighing in every week, and not only did I make myself miserable it didn't work. Kinda like some couples who keep trying for that baby, then give up and maybe adopt, resign themselves to fate and boom! one day the wife is pregnant. Leo I'm a couple years older than you and I never understand people who say, oh no I'm hitting 30 or whatever age it's downhill from here, if anything I find weight management easier with time, and obesity usually isn't an issue among the elderly, but each person is different, and if you want to be more careful, count calories, track ingredients, it's your call.

## Post 9 by OceanDream (An Ocean of Thoughts) on Wednesday, 27-Apr-2011 20:12:11

I've heard that people who focus on living healthy end up having more success than those who count calories, simply because they don't have that added stress of whether they ate too much of the wrong thing, and how often they ate too many calories. Stress can cause a person to gain even more weight. if it works for you, that's great. Just my thoughts on the matter.

## Post 10 by chelslicious (like it or not, I'm gonna say what I mean. all the time.) on Wednesday, 27-Apr-2011 20:29:44

I agree with squid and Jessica. I was gonna say something along those lines, actually.
I think portion control is the greatest way to stay fit/healthy. the more you focus on it, the harder you'll make it on/for yourself.

## Post 11 by TechnologyUser2012 (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Wednesday, 27-Apr-2011 20:30:40

I don't really bother counting calories either... I just eat small portions every 3 to 4 hours or so.
I used to be overweight but I didn't go on any extreme diets or anything, I just ate less of what I wanted and I lost weight. So I believe its portion size that really matters.

## Post 12 by OceanDream (An Ocean of Thoughts) on Wednesday, 27-Apr-2011 20:33:04

don't forget exercise is also key. You're a lot more likely to lose the weight and keep it off if you exercise. also, green tea has been known to help, although it isn't enough to make you lose weight alone. a little off topic, but I'm just suggesting a couple alternatives to calorie counting that may work just as well, if not better.

## Post 13 by forereel (Just posting.) on Wednesday, 27-Apr-2011 23:31:57

I have to agree with the posters that say it doesn't work. I have posted this before. It is actually better to eat well balenced meals and get full then not. The body will think it needs to go in to starvation mode, so keeps the fat in case it doesn't get fed. For heavier people with slow fuel burning this is even worse. They stay heavier, because they starve the body. If you do happen to drop say 5 or 10 pounds, then decide to treat yourself the body then is still in starvation mode, so keeps that extra as well and you gain 15. To lose eat well, and sweat much. Cardo is your friend. You can't eat yourself small.

## Post 14 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Thursday, 28-Apr-2011 11:22:16

Oh, I definitely know that about keeping the body from going into starvation mode. Even if one does count calories and things, you still have to eat enough, often enough, and in small portions, etc, to keep the body from doing that. I guess in my case, I'm exploring different ways of going about this to see what works for me and what may not. I tend to be a pretty concrete person, and know that many of my friends and family have had success with either Weight Watchers, where they could track their points, or the calorie counting thing. So I figured I'd explore it for myself and see if it worked for me or not. But before I could explore it, I had to find an accessible way of doing it, hence this topic. But I know that such tracking alone won't do it, either. It is about exercise, and common sense eating as well.
Thanks for the green tea suggestion, BTW. Never heard that one before. Never had green tea before, either. I'll have to try it and see if I like it.

## Post 15 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Thursday, 28-Apr-2011 12:50:02

Well I am not a calories counter per se, in fact I haven't really done that; just suggesting the site. And yeah, consuming less food is generally the key. As to a good hard run? MMmmmm ... but I guess I like my workouts because I'm Middle America / work at a desk all day so working out is a way to work off the day's misadventures.
I only referenced the above site as a tool for those who know how, can, or have the time and inclination. It is far simpler to do as Squid, Chelsie and others suggest, IMHO.

## Post 16 by squidwardqtentacles (I just keep on posting!) on Thursday, 28-Apr-2011 16:22:53

Also lots of fiber...veggies if you don't like salads, there are soups, stews, dishes with lentils, kidney, black and pinto beans that are tasty, bran fiber, fruit, they all have a tendency to make you feel full. My husband & other men I've dated had a tendency to put on weight, and there are some behaviors that are common here: 1) working thru meals and snacks to eat everything in sight once they got home, 2) not chewing food very much, therefore when I was still enjoying my first serving they were running for seconds or outside smoking, 3) lack of physical activity outside the job. These are traps to avoid at all costs. Take out doesn't have to be avoided....One guy lost over 100# eating nothing but Subway with a diet soda, but get milk instead if you have Subway near you, Chinese has lots of vegetables & you can always get steamed dishes instead of fried...it's not easy but not impossible either. Good luck.

## Post 17 by forereel (Just posting.) on Thursday, 28-Apr-2011 19:40:18

Weight Watchers would be pretty good for accessibility. You see you can buy the meals already made up. So you don't have to worry much about counting. The meals are already setup for you. If you cooked only whole foods, it be easier. Example, a cup of dried beans contains 100, so you know you are about their , because you use a cup. This also sound odd, but your fist is a great helper. Example, a fist full of rice, oatmeal, is one serving, and your fist size matches your body. Body For Life is a great book to read that might be of some help. Its on recording. Bill Philips is the author. I am glad you know about the starvation thing. Smile.

## Post 18 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Thursday, 28-Apr-2011 20:56:07

Thanks, Forereel. Smile. I appreciate the info. The only problem with pre-made meals, or even buying the Weight Watchers brand food that already has points marked on it is that it's incredibly expensive. But I will look into it, to determine the cost.

## Post 19 by forereel (Just posting.) on Friday, 29-Apr-2011 19:35:22

It is accessible and if you donn't want to buy the meals you can make them. Writer will be posting on it soon she says.

## Post 20 by moonspun (This site is so "educational") on Sunday, 01-May-2011 10:59:30

The other thing you could try is Slimming World. I don't know if you have this in the US, but here in the UK, when you join, they will produce your membership pack in braille if you request it. All foods and point values are listed there. They agree with the no stress approach too. There are three different plans you can go on, and they say that you can mix them and even have a free day every now and again without beating yourself up!

## Post 21 by squidwardqtentacles (I just keep on posting!) on Sunday, 01-May-2011 20:36:40

SisterDawn, every so often on my job it seems as if we're running a discount special on leptin levels, then they go back to their normal of almost zero requests. Some theorize that overweight can be related to low leptin levels. Leptin is what "seals the gate", so to speak, the gate being the stomach, to any more food. It is what is sending the signal...that full feeling...that enough is enough, no more food can enter. It's theorized that some overweight people keep on eating not because they're greedy or gluttonous or even using food as a crutch but because they have low leptin levels they really are still hungry. Now hopefully you can reprogram your metabolism, but if you find no matter what you do doesn't work, especially if you feel forever hungry, this may be something to ask about. Also before you start have a doctor you're comfortable with make sure there's nothing organic going on...like a slow thyroid...then see what he or she thinks about suggestions you've received that you're comfortable with.

## Post 22 by The SHU interpreter (I just keep on posting!) on Wednesday, 04-May-2011 21:30:16

i fortunately don't have the problem of gaining weight, but i do have the oposite problem. anyway, i don't count calories and i don't even bother. I love green tea it's very good. as for porttion control i eat until i get full. i eat very small portions, that's why i don't gain much weight. I'm actually underweight, but as long as i'm healthy i could care less. It's a matter of feeling good and that's it.

## Post 23 by Rubber Duck (Zone BBS Addict) on Wednesday, 25-Jan-2012 0:25:04

Another site that I use is caloriecount.about.com, you can look up the nutritional facts for just about any food, including fast food like a McDonalds cheeseburger, it's 300 calories, or even a potato. I counted calories to lose weight, I did 1600 to 1800 a day. I went from 245 pounds to 180, my doctor was amazed. Portion control is good, but if you eat small amounts of food with high calories it won't do you any good. Listen to your body, don't starve yourself, eat at least 4 meals a day. They say 400 calories a meal is good. I ate whatever I wanted, just kept whithin the calorie range.