Counting Calories

Subject: Counting Calories Tue Oct 02 2007, 21:52

I’ve read a few different posts discussing whether or not we should be counting calories. Some say yes, while other say just eat what the plan lays out for you, and the 500 cal/day will take care of themselves. Well, now that I’m in Phase 2, and doing my actual measuring and weighing…I’ve made the following observation…

Either of the following two meals is perfectly acceptable under the “rules” of the protocol:

A. 100gm of Cod Fish, a large handful of cucumbers and ½ grapefruit
B. 100gm of Top Sirloin, a large handful of cabbage and an orange

Meal A. contains 170 calories, while meal B. contains 310 calories. If one were to eat two meals similar to A. (not identical…but similar) they’d be consuming 340/day, and if they were to consume two meals similar to B. they’d be consuming 620 a day – a seemingly enormous difference. Dr. Simeons makes it clear that his patients are to eat 500 calories / day. So I can only assume that while he obviously followed the mealplans laid out in his protocol, they certainly must have “counted calories” at his clinic to make sure the 2 meals per day balanced out to 500 / day. If for example one were to eat one meal of A. above and the other of B. – they’d be getting almost exactly 500/day.

So I’d suggest that we should be counting our calories, even while following his meal plan to a tee, so that we don’t go way over or under the 500/day.

Thoughts?

Subject: Re: Counting Calories Wed Oct 03 2007, 07:17

I count calories (curiosity) and because I was doing a handful of lettuce or cabbage and finding that I could have about 3 times as much as I was giving myself to get to my 250 per meal.

Subject: Re: Counting Calories Wed Oct 03 2007, 07:24

I think this is why he says not to eat the same thing twice a day. If you have each or your sample meals, it balances out. Eating beef twice a day is potentially a problem if done day after day. I counted calories during my first round and got used to portions, sizes, etc. My second round, I didn't worry about it at all. If my apple was extra big, I just ate less strawberries. If I had a half grapefruit, I could have more berries or a bigger apple and not worry. I ate a LOT of ground beef, but always made sure it was strictly 100 grams and rinsed WELL after cooking to get out ALL the fat. :sunny:
_________________

My pix

Subject: Re: Counting Calories Wed Oct 03 2007, 11:16

I count calories (curiosity) and because I was doing a handful of lettuce or cabbage and finding that I could have about 3 times as much as I was giving myself to get to my 250 per meal.

So if you are eating 250 per meal, does that mean you don't have your snacks?

My problem with my lunch especially is I'm not sure how many calories I should be shooting for since I still have to leave enough to cover my afternoon snack and dinner, as a result I am way under my daily 500 calorie count. (As a matter of fact my last two days consisted of 335 and 366 calories respectively.)

Well, back to work. Good luck everyone. Happy losing
_________________
[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wMa6TqQ/]

[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wss5VK0/]

Supreme Member Age : 25 Joined : 28 Sep 2007 Posts : 197

i count calories and portions for everything! it just makes the whole thing that much more percise. I use a guide that nhw sends with portion guidelines and calories for those portions. they have every fruit or veggie that they allow (which is more than simmens allows, but i try to stick to simmeons guidelines)

Anyway you can get the same info on calorieking.com its a great info source for calories of fruits and veggies!

Subject: Re: Counting Calories Wed Oct 03 2007, 12:35

Kar10378

I'm not sure what snacks your talking about. I have 250 calories for lunch and dinner each, my meat, veggies and fruit.

Subject: Re: Counting Calories Wed Oct 03 2007, 12:51

In my first round I would decide on what fruits I would have that day and record the calories. Then I'd decide on the 2 proteins I would have that day and record the calories. What was left over I could fill out with veggies (and maybe add a RyKrisp if I wanted). Then if I wanted to use my fruits as mid morning/afternoon or even evening snacks, I could do that, knowing that my calories were good for the day.
_________________

My pix

Subject: Re: Counting Calories Wed Oct 03 2007, 19:27

I'm not sure what snacks your talking about. I have 250 calories for lunch and dinner each, my meat, veggies and fruit

OK. I understand now. You are only eating twice a day. What I do is around 9 am I grab a snack (apple or breadstick) to tide me over until lunch, then I have a meat and some veggie, then i'm good until dinner. I don't eat my fruit with my meals because I can't eat that much at one time. I do good to eat my meat and veggie portion.
_________________
[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wMa6TqQ/]

[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wss5VK0/]

Forum Master Joined : 10 Sep 2007 Posts : 95

How do you know what calories are in what food?

Subject: Re: Counting Calories Sun Feb 17 2008, 11:11

Bringing this back up: I took a look at calorie king to find out how many calories in 100 grams of buffalo. I bought this instead of ground beef because of all the comments about this being leaner. BUT, 3.5 oz equates to 223 calories! That seems like a lot! How would I squeeze in my veggies and fruit?

Oh wait - if I have fish for dinner, and that's less in calories....ok, ok I think I get it.

I also looked up grapefruit and it seemed high in calories for just 1/2. I feel like I'm talking to myself in front of all of you. lol

This is Day 3 and first day of VLCD so I'm trying to figure it all out.
_________________

Christine's 2nd try!

FitDay

The definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result

Supreme Member Age : 25 Joined : 28 Sep 2007 Posts : 197

hey christine, make sure you weigh your food raw and then you have to look it up on calorieking as 100g raw not cooked. Calorie king will give you different calorie amounts depending on how the food is cooked, but you want to stick to the "raw" figures, because thats how you're measuring your food. When food is cooked it loses some of its mass so it will weigh less. Therefore 100 g of cooked meat will have more calories than 100 g of raw meat. Make sense? Because if you took your portion of meat at 100g raw, then cooked it and reweighed it, it would be more like 80 g.
Maybe you already knew this but i figured i'd mention it just in case. Maybe this will help with your calorie counting.
_________________
Round 2 starts Feb. 1. 2008
CLICK HERE TO SEE PICS!

CLICK HERE FOR PHASE 2 SUMMARY!

Girliegirl's Weight Loss

Subject: Re: Counting Calories Sun Feb 17 2008, 11:58

I like to use www.fitday.com and just plug my food and amounts in. The program figures everything for me :sunny:
_________________

My pix

Subject: Re: Counting Calories Sun Feb 17 2008, 12:10

Girliegirl: Thank you for the response. :sunny:

I did look it up as raw - and it seemed a bit high calorie-wise but that's ok. So 3.5 oz of raw chicken breast is 223 calories.
_________________

Christine's 2nd try!

FitDay

The definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result

Subject: Re: Counting Calories Sun Feb 17 2008, 12:25

Hi Christine, I think you've got it, I think if you eat a higher calorie protein in one meal, make up for it with seafood, cod can be as little as 60 calories for a 3.5 portion! Also just remember as other s have mentioned, if you are a little high on calories for the day, you can eliminate any of the allowed foods except the protein. Another thing to remember is that other allowable proteins coud be an egg w/ 3 egg whites or FF cottage cheese. I would do the protocol as close to the letter for as long as you can, but it's good to know that if you start to get really bored with the menu, you have an option to use those as possible substitutes for protein. :sunny:
_________________
**Helen**

R2P2 Progress~Click Here For My Journal

R1P2 1/2/08 ~ 2/9/08 (LIW) Lost 32.5lbs & 36.25"
R1P3 2/12/08 ~ 2/21/08 Gained back 5.6lbs Total loss Round 1~ 26.9lbs
R2P2 2/22/08 ~ 3/22/08 Goal 25lbs

Supreme Member Age : 25 Joined : 28 Sep 2007 Posts : 197

When i look it up it is 3.5 oz of raw chicken = 109 calories on calorie king
_________________
Round 2 starts Feb. 1. 2008
CLICK HERE TO SEE PICS!

CLICK HERE FOR PHASE 2 SUMMARY!

Girliegirl's Weight Loss