same food, different calorie counts!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

I find that it is SO easy to count the same foods and wind up with wildly different calorie counts! How many calories in a slice of cheese pizza? One answer is 120; another is 450!

On the same day, I realize, I could reasonably count myself as 50 calories UNDER my goal or hundreds of calories OVER my goal! The only way to be absolutely sure of calories is to eat only the plainest food in precise quantities -- or, alternatively, to eat only packaged, pre-cooked foods with nutritional labels. Either way... yuck!

Could this be why I don't drop the pounds??

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

BITHOO 11/16/2012 7:18AM

Libby - I guess common sense helps a little... I am pretty sure that a middle sized slice of restaurant pizza is more the 100 and less than 700 calories, but whether this particular slice was 200, 300, or 400 calories is beyond me! Part of the problem is I don't know if it's "like" pizza hut or dominos, since I haven't eaten at either place in about 20 years! Report Inappropriate Comment

LIBBYL1 11/15/2012 9:31PM

I also noticed this..... and try not to cheat myself by scrolling through for the lowest calories for a particular meal.. Report Inappropriate Comment

Any moderate eaters, exercisers, out there?

Sunday, November 04, 2012

I've realized that weight loss and exercise sites seem to attract a lot of people who are absolute about their opinions. You MUST eat this, you MUST exercise in that way, etc. But of course SparkPeople isn't really about musts, it's about support for finding your own path. As a weight and exercise "moderate," am I in the minority? Would love to meet other "moderates!"

  

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SALEX52 11/5/2012 4:21PM

This describes me, too. I'm careful about what I eat, but I also eat out at least once a week. I exercise--sort of. I walk to the bus. I try to get off earlier and earlier so I have a longer walk home. I think about doing something else, but it hasn't happened. By being moderate, I know that I am creating a life style that will stay with me forever. When I have been a fanatic in the past, that wanes and I'm back to my old ways. Report Inappropriate Comment

JJAQUES41 11/4/2012 10:40AM

I think I fall into that category. Know what I need to do, nothing is strictly "off limits" and trying new things to keep exercise fun and interesting. Report Inappropriate Comment

DRAGONCHILDE 11/4/2012 9:23AM

Not at all! I'm a total moderate. That's one reason I was attracted to SP. It's not about a single way, it's not about starvation or dieting, it's about healthy living. I do tend to work out too much when I do, but I know that moderation is better. I'm off the wagon a bit right now, and struggling to get back on board, but I'm still very moderate! Report Inappropriate Comment

how low do I need to go?

Wednesday, October 03, 2012

just lowered my calorie intake by 100 cal per day; hoping it will be enough to make a difference to my weight. So far, after several weeks of sticking to the assigned calorie range, I've lost only about 1/2 lb...

  

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REDDBETSY 12/7/2012 9:34AM

I have been having this problem, too. When I started, the first 10 fell off, then I have stalled out ever since. I think that my body is holding on to calories to figure out if this is the "new normal," or if maybe we are starving/running for our lives (treadmill-style). I figure that I will just try to keep rolling along and it will happen. Increasing muscle mass will help burn more calories at rest, even though it does not change the scale (or changes it for the worse)-- keep eating protein and building muscle! Report Inappropriate Comment

one day at a time...?

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

OK, I'm gonna give this one day at a time concept a try. JUST FOR TODAY I will avoid eating any sweets EXCEPT 2 Dove Promises after dinner... and JUST FOR TODAY I will keep my calorie intake to no more than 1300.

  

Tired, sore, overwhelmed

Friday, September 07, 2012

Is it just time of year? I am so busy I go to bed late, get up early, have a sore back, an ankle injury... Cooking lots of food so husband and kids can eat even if we don't have time to sit down to a proper family meal each evening. Wish I had a personal chef to just whip up some of those wonderful lo cal, high flavor dishes!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

REDDBETSY 12/7/2012 9:46AM

Use your crockpot on low with a sign that tells what time is OK to eat (for anything raw: don't want to make people sick by dipping into the pot for lunch on the way through)-- we had 'Slow Cooker: Easy Taco Soup' for dinner last night-- and then a little more for a snack later, and then company came and we fed them hot soup-- yet my calorie count is fine, and there is still enough soup for my lunches this week! And even with crazy busy-ness, I just put the ingredients in the pot while I make my coffee and leave it all day (since I am not home to turn the crockpot from high to low heat after an hour, I microwave my chicken before I put it in the taco soup). You can do this! Be Strong! (but if you find a nice sale on personal chefs, call me!) Report Inappropriate Comment