In reading everyone's posts I see that some people count fats, others carbs, some do weight watchers points and of course the old stand by.... counting calories. And then there are others who just eat a certain number of servings of protein, dairy, grain, fat and veggies...

Like anything else I imagine its just whatever works best for you, but I am curious to see what the majority of us do.

For those of you with large losses...have you mixed it up?

I have been doing a combination of calories and low fats while watching sodium and protein intake but mostly counting calories since I know if I burn more than I take in I will lose weight! So far I have been successful... but I am just starting my journey so can't really say I have any thing I am married to.

Thanks for your input.

I usually track what I eat each day online. There's a lot of websites you can use. (I used myfitnesspal) which tells me calories, carbs, sodium, protein, sugar, fats, and others.

I've tracked probably since I started eating solids after surgery. I don't really switch it up. I keep my calories under 1200, my carbs under 50, my fats under 50, and my sugars I rarely worry about.

Nowadays I don't really track anymore. I slowed down last week so I haven't been counting anything using a website; I try to do it in my head as I don't have any want or need to track what I eat for the rest of my life unless I get off track and need to. I was successful last week, 2lb loss, and I'm hoping to continue that this week and on.

I usually track what I eat each day online. There's a lot of websites you can use. (I used myfitnesspal) which tells me calories, carbs, sodium, protein, sugar, fats, and others.

Yes I track... on my Droid phone with the calorie counter free ap which is also fatsecret.com Its a wonderful tool!!!

From doing Weight Watchers over and over again for so many years, it's what I'm comfortable with. Although I'm technically not counting points, I probably wouldn't meet my required amount anyway because I can't eat that much. But I use it as a guide, if I know something is "high in points" I won't eat it or I'll have very little of it depending on what it is.

I try to mostly stay high protein and veggie, low fat, low carb (by mostly avoiding or having very little breads, pasta and rice), and definitely avoiding any liquid calories, I also have light healthy snacks when I'm hungry in between meals.

I tried counting calories since that seems to really be working for alot of us, but I have a hard time with it. I forget to check packages, it's hard to count calories if you are eating out or eating at someones house, packaged meats don't always have nutritional guidelines. I just can't be bothered with searching online for what the content might be for every little thing. If I could do these things I wouldn't have the weight problem that I have now. Kudos to all that are doing it that way!

I'm just starting to lose weight so I don't know if my way of eating will work for long, I know my body can't handle sugars/carbs, but that's just me. So, so far so good with what I'm doing.

I'm a calorie counter, been doing it long enough now that I don't even really have to write it down, however, I "cheat" more when I don't physically write it down.

Yes, I do count calories since I am just getting started. It has really helped me a lot to be able to "SEE" what I am eating. I use an ap on my Droid phone, really cool and easy.

I use Lose It on the iPhone app. I keep track of my proteins and fats. Calories yes, but not as important for me as the other two. Exercise is the key with me and I do try to do that at least 2-3 times a week.

I generally do calories, and protein, but I don't keep track daily.

I use FitDay on the Allergan LapBand site, where I keep my journal, weight and appt tracking, etc as well. I have ranges I try to keep within daily for calories, fat, sodium, carbs, and protein. Mind you I am fairly new to this as well (7-8 wks post band) so it may change with more fills and restriction.... for now it appears to be working for I've been losing about 1-2 lbs a week.

My site to track is www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate. I mainly count calories, but keep an eye on sugars, fats, carbs. I also record my exercise (calculated by a polar HR monitor) and my water consumption.

I'm only using what works well for me based on previous diets.

Protein first, little carbs (only wholegrain if any), vegetables, low sugar fruits and low fat /skim dairy

No sugar or added sugar and no 'white products" like rice, bread, Pasta etc.

Its working for me so far and I won't track anything formally until I'm at a standstill. I treat myself occasionally (glass of red, low gi cookie) and do not feel guilty about it either. I'm learning to keep my portions small and to keep track of how I feel when eating. Usually I just continue eating everything on my plate and then my kids, just for the sake of it.

Its a huge learning curve for all of us and I think we need to use what works well for us individually and if that doesn't work try something else.

Whilst I was losing, i counted nothing. Oh, roughly calories in my head, after 20 years of dieting, I know the calorie count of absolutely everything! I chose healthy foods for 99% of time - but to me that doesnt mean cutting carbs. With a lapband, I found I cut the carb content of my diet naturally, I would only eat a piece of bread once or twice a week, for example, but I included cereals, Pasta, rice, Protein, fruits, vegies etc. With the portion control provided by the band, I found it easy to stay at around 1500 a day and I lost all of my weight easily at that level - with an hour or running or bootcamp most days of the week.

I had to be unfilled two months ago for another surgery and since then I have actually logged calories. I am slowly gaining confidence that my appetite is now appropriate for my body size and that I wont balloon but I felt so exposed and so vulnerable that I had to impose this restriction on myself. I looked up maintenance levels for my weight - which is about 1800 a day if no exercixe is involved and I stick to that - I do a lot of exercise so I have an extra 500 or 600 a day which I simply take to mean I can do the normal things - an unplanned coffee or cookie, a nibble of this, and a bigger meal out once or twice a week.

But I'm back up to 2 or 3 slices of bread a day (I simply cant exist without some bulky foods like that to fill me now I have no restriction) and bigger serves of Cereal and pasta and I have found it's made absolutely no difference to my weight - in fact I feel better than ever, my running is going really well with the fuel on board, and I really truly will not ever fill my band again unless my weight gets out of control.

Two things come to mind from my experience - it is absolutely an individual thing - cutting carbs and doing high protein/low carb is not necessarily the bees knees, anyone will lose, yes, but not everyone needs to do it to lose and also that at the end of the day, it really is about calories in calories out and how you achieve that balance is probably not that important. Weight loss will occur anyway, its up to you to figure out which sort of program is best for you health wise.

I use spark people and I count every single thing I put in my mouth down to a piece of sugar free candy. Keeps me accountable for everything I eat every single day. I log all my calories in the morning because I plan my day of food every single day to see how many calories Im eating. Usually I try to stay under 1000 sometimes I go over but its okay. I only eat what I can since my only fill of 2 cc's in a year I can only eat a little at one meal.

ask your dietitian whats a good daily intake for your body style it may seem like a lot of food but it worked for me 1500-1300 a day and in the gym everyday at least 45 mins cardio or more

I count calories (1100-1200) and carbs (30-60gm). I don't worry about fats since they aren't a problem on a low carb diet. I don't eat processed or pre-packaged foods so I don't need to worry about the hidden sugars and I don't use sugar or artificial sweeteners. I also don't eat wheat products as they cause me to crave and are way too high in carbs anyway.

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You have to do what is best for you. I do journal now to track my Protein, calories and somewhat my carbs. I do eat carbs. My nutritionist suggests 100, and I tend to stick with that. Now, if I feel sluggish, hit a plateau or constantly hungry--I will limit my carbs to way less. Like many have said, I do not want one part of this to be a diet, but a lifestyle change. I eat now how I expect to realistically eat for the rest of my life. I mainly focus on the protein, then veggie, then carb rule being eaten in that order. For me that helps because I end up eating the lower fat, lower carb food first. That I can do for the rest of my life. You will get a lot of advice, but it is so individual. Journaling during a week of good weight loss is good way to see what you did and keep duplicating it!