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Counting calories



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I am just curious. I measure most everything that I eat. I keep seeing posts in some of the lap band groups where people are saying they are upset they are not losing but they count calories. Turns out they are not measuring their food? How on earth can you count calories if you are not measurin your poritons? Most of these posts are newer people. They just want to be right and don't want to listen. Oh well... maybe this post will help someone..

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Agreed, if you aren't measuring your portions there is no way you can accurately count calories (unless you're living on pre-packaged single serving meals which wouldn't be very healthy).

I'd be willing to bet they're "guessing" calories and their guess is too low, hence no weight loss.

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I measure some portions, and weigh the others. Kind of hard to fit a fish fillet into a measuring cup :) But I do count calories and grams of Protein.< /p>

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In my opinion it comes down to accountability. If you don't measure or don't write it down then there are no calories..... right?

We have to be honest with ourselves. I just wrote a blog called "A Confession" about a laps I had last night. The reason for the blog was to be accountable for what I did. If others benefit great, but my motive was selfish. I had to be accountable for my actions and writing it down is being accountable.

Be honest with yourself, you are only hurting yourself. (In my opinion)

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i agree with all the posts....

i am very aware of all i put into my mouth body now

and from being a dieter my entire adult life, i can quote the cal contents of everything....even sammys cabo wabo tequila

i know 3500 cals equals a pound and if i take in (eat more) then i burn off i will gain.......i dont focus so much on cal counting, but i do Portion Control by measuring strictly (as i have posted pictures of my lunches/snacks etc)

if only the newbies listened to the dr and the nutritionists

and not over think it....eat better food in smaller amounts (let band help) and see what happens..

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In my opinion it comes down to accountability. If you don't measure or don't write it down then there are no calories..... right?

We have to be honest with ourselves. I just wrote a blog called "A Confession" about a laps I had last night. The reason for the blog was to be accountable for what I did. If others benefit great, but my motive was selfish. I had to be accountable for my actions and writing it down is being accountable.

Be honest with yourself, you are only hurting yourself. (In my opinion)

and if you dont (see me) eat it, it doesnt count either :o

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Agreed, if you aren't measuring your portions there is no way you can accurately count calories (unless you're living on pre-packaged single serving meals which wouldn't be very healthy).

I'd be willing to bet they're "guessing" calories and their guess is too low, hence no weight loss.

i am a terrible guesser......hence why i have not won the lottery in my life yet.

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I am just curious. I measure most everything that I eat. I keep seeing posts in some of the lap band groups where people are saying they are upset they are not losing but they count calories. Turns out they are not measuring their food? How on earth can you count calories if you are not measurin your poritons? Most of these posts are newer people. They just want to be right and don't want to listen. Oh well... maybe this post will help someone..

this post helped me. if it helps (one person) as i see it, it is helpful

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Thanks for post! I hear that a lot also.

For ME I account for every bite that goes into my mouth! I was VERY delusional before about portions and calories, hence the reason I got to 317 pounds! Now even if I take one bite of something to try I put it into my food log. I have entered things as 1 tsp of chocolate cake or 1 tsp of ketchup, etc. If it went into my mouth, I LOG IT!!! EVERYTHING. lol.

Again for ME it is the only way I will be successful by keeping accountability for myself and get this weight off and keep it off!!

Everyone have a fantastic day!

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I've found, even before the band, the only way I can lose weight is to account for what I put in mouth, every day. I use FitDay, which is kind of dated these days, to keep a daily food log to track calories and Protein intake, and also exercise. Being accountable to yourself in a daily food diary shows you what you have done, where you are, and where you are heading. Whenever I've gotten lazy and stopped the food log, the pounds always crept back on. Right now I am using the will power that the band has enabled, and following a sensible diet and tracking everything I eat. So far it is working, just need the willpower and motivation to stay on course.

By the way, that little rescue rascal in my photo has kept herself at a svelte 38 pounds since we adopted her, she has a Lab Band... sorry.. couldn't resist.

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I don't weigh but i look at the portion I'm about to eat carefully. It has too be good quality food or I don't eat it. I have yet to eat a bag of french fries or any hamburger with bun since Last July 2012, 1 month prior to lapband surgery (aug 6) . I use dto love my hamburgers but I have selected better food types to eat my meals. Soon I will go on liquids for 5-7 days, drinking mostly blended smoothies(a veggie mix n fruit) and Protein shakes as a cleansing tools for me. It helps my mind stablize and get back on a proper track with a better selection of foods. I do this every so many months and it helps me very much. It's not so much a instant weight loss but a reduction of calories and maybe some improper foods that I crave every now and then. I maintain 900-1000 calories during my liquid fast.

Best wishes and Keep the faith.

Best wishes

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All I know is, thanks to the band, I eat a heck of a lot less than what I used to....and that is what it took....eating less, (lot less), exercise daily = good steady weight loss until there is no more to loose...equilibrium achieved.

Only once in my journey did I not loose weight, gained actually, and that was during my 2nd month...and there was no doubt I knew I was eating too much, not having any restriction....and my Dr. reassured me, not to get very upset, and we will take care of that, and that being his / our goal....

(I have not lost any weight in well over 1-1/2 years, but that's another story)

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
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    • Doughgurl

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      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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