In the end, it comes down to calories in, calories burned. Burn more than you take in, you lose weight.

BUT…if all of those are fat calories, yu might be thin but you’ll be malnourished. If they’re all carbs, same thing. You just need a balance of protein, carbs, and fat.

I have a Food Saver and it does work wonders… we prepackage meat servings so we don’t make enough for leftovers or 2nd helpings–one serving is roughly the size of my palm, and about as thick. For dinners I do a main course type thing, usually chicken of some sort, 2 veggies, and either a salad (rarely because they hate me) or I top off dinner with fat free, sugar free yogurt.

Breakfast for me is ALWAYS oatmeal–the less processed, the better. Supposedly Steel Cut Irish oats are the best, but I take the middle road–Quaker 1 minute. I find the Instant leaves me hungrier later, while the 1 minute sticks with me..and I’ve noticed that if I skip breakfast or eat something different, I have the munchies later in the day.

Lunch is usually half a sandwhich, fruit, and FF, SF yogurt…If I have Lite bread in the house Ill eat a whole sandwich. Again, the less processed the better. Whole grains are tasty and filling, but once in a while I have white bread, ’cause sometimes you gotta!

All in all I have 1200-1300 calories a day. Sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more. I did Nutrisystem for about 6 weeks (loved it) and got a lot of my portion control from that. I just wish their food had loved me back.

I actually was using Spark people to count calories, but mainly rely on points through Weight Watchers. I found it interesting though that I might come within my points but be over my calorie range for each day, so I’m looking into that.

Also, I have blood sugar issues so watching my carbs is really important. I know it isn’t necessary for some. But, when I read what you’re eating, it sounded how I used to eat and it was too carby heavy for my diabetes. I alternate between oatmeal for breakfast, or something like an egg with a slice of toast. If I feel like I’ve had too many carbs lately, I’ll just have egg beaters with veggies in an omelette or something like that.

Lunch tends to be soup or something like that, perhaps with a half sandwich.

Dinner is where I have to watch myself and where I over-carb sometimes.

This time around, in trying to lose weight, I am really learning more about what works with my body. I think it is different for everyone really, you just have to find what works for you.

I count points and record them on my Weight Watchers account (online).

For me, I do Special K cereal & 2% milk in the morning, within 1 hour of waking. For lunch I eat a Lean Cuisine of some sort (they have SO many options that I could eat them for weeks and never repeat a meal). And for dinner, yes, this is where it gets a bit tougher – I usually try to find a low fat recipe to make a meat, side and veggie.

Usually it’s chicken, turkey or a very lean cut of beef/pork. I’ve learned to make just enough for 3 servings (the extra serving goes right into a storage dish so the spousal can take it for work the next day).

I try to get in a small snack before 7:30pm and then that is it for the night!

If I wind up going out to lunch with friends and indulge a bit, then I usually eat the Lean Cuisine for dinner to help balance things out.

(I’ve just been reading another book though and it says the best thing is to eat every three hours – I’m still reading so as soon as I get the gist of it I will publish something here).

Hope that helps just a little.

P.S. I love those 100 calorie packs! LOVE them! Especially the Cheese Nips.

P.S.S. I couldn’t have lost the weight I did without WW online [over 50lbs]. I highly recommend it for those who have computer access [especially if you sit at a desk all day] and need something to help them keep focused. If it weren’t for “having to track” everything I eat onto their points tracker, I would have failed on my own long ago.

Here’s how I began, and it involves a lot of math.

Figuring it all out

From there, I downloaded Calorie King’s Diet Diary. Then I went to SparkPeople, signed up and entered my starting weight, ending target weight and date I wanted to reach it, and it gave me the fat, protein and carb ranges for each day. I took those numbers, plugged them into my diet diary, and I eat by that.

It’s a lot about food selection, too. For the first week, I readjusted my metabolism by using this 6 day mini-makeover as a starting point. It helped me get used to eating smaller portions more frequently, and choosing the RIGHT carbs, the RIGHT proteins, and taught me how to stay away from what does NOT work for my personal metabolism – which is dairy, sodium and simple carbs.

Don’t let anyone tell you not to eat carbs – you need them, it’s brain food. You just have to select the right ones, and balance a good carb with a good protein – it’s like putting gas in your car. You’ll keep your metabolism up and always have energy if you create a good balance at every meal.

I have so much more information – how much do you wanna know? LOL

:hug:

I was just wondering which is better. Do you count calories, carbs, fat, points or what? I have been trying to keep track of my calories but then a few people have said that it’s the carbs you need to watch. I know you need to keep an eye on all of them but which is best to watch?

I think you have to find whatever works best for you. As Thumper said, when it comes right down to it, it’s all about fewer calories. Eat less, move more as my doctor keeps reminding me. I’ve been keeping track of calories myself, and have been having better luck than other programs I’ve tried over the years. (1 WW pt = 50 calories) If you set a limit for the day, when you reach it, you’re done. At the same time, I try to limit my refined carbs and up my fibre intake. “White foods” — bread, white sugar, flour, potatoes, pasta, rice — are my own personal demons.

How do you all manage your portions?

Again, it all comes down to calorie content for me. After doing WW twice, you get to know the calorie count for different food items. For example, 3 oz of meat is about the size of a deck of cards. That sort of thing. And, for me, a set of measuring cups and spoons was essential at first. One thinks they know how much a tablespoon of coffee cream is … or a teaspoon of butter, but I really didn’t until I started measuring. I like Thumper’s idea of using Food Savers, too! That also removes the temptation of having second helpings.

The last thing I was wondering is how many of you are doing some kind of plan or group thing, such as Weight Watchers? Would you recommend getting involved in something like that or trying to manage on your own?

Again, I think it all depends on what works for you. I’ve done WW twice, NutriSystem, Slim Fast, etc. at different times, and they all have their strong and weak points. Right now, it makes more sense, logistically and financially, for me to be doing it on my own. I do have monthly weigh-ins at my doctors which help keep me accountable. I use the SparkPeople program to keep track of calories, exercise and other goals, and it seems to be working well for me. And I cannot stress enough how important it’s been to have the support of this group.

Good luck in finding a “program” that works for you … sounds like you’re already on the right track. :good:

Wow, you guys have been so helpful. :friends: I’ve lost 3.5lbs just by changing what I eat. I never realized before how many calories I was consuming. Like for breakfast, I’d eat two poptarts, which was like 400 calories that burned up quick. :duh: lol There’s no telling what my daily average was.

I signed up for SparkPeople but when I tried entering things in, I got frustrated because the calroies they had weren’t the same as what was on the boxes. I’ve been writing down everything I eat in a notebook so I’ve been keeping a rough track of everything there. I’m going to download the free trail at calorie king and see if I like it. I have a food saver on my list of things to get. I’ve talked to my mom about watching our portions because her and dad usually do the cooking before I get home since I have class so late. She liked the food saver idea. I’m headed over now to “figure it out”.

I love information Leanne… give me more! Links are fantastic. I love links. :winking:

I’m SO GLAD you asked because just reading these comments, I’ve learned a ton.

So far I’ve just been drinking more water and trying to work out and eat healthier. Although, I hit thirty this year, I might have to put more effort into things now. :duh:

I signed up for SparkPeople but when I tried entering things in, I got frustrated because the calroies they had weren’t the same as what was on the boxes.

Nicole, when you come across an item like that, check on “Enter a food that’s not listed” (or whatever it says exactly) and then you can enter whatever value you want to give it. Also, check the box at the bottom to add it to your favorites, and you only have to add it just the once. Hope this helps!

Do bear in mind that it’s not always as easy as eating fewer calories and losing weight. Your metabolism has a lot to do with this, and simply cutting calories is not enough for many people.

More and more folks, as America becomes ever fatter, are insulin resistant. Part of being insulin resistant means that your body is extremely adept and turning your food into “storage” rather than burning it.

This is why low carb diets are being recommended more and more for people who are insulin resistant. Without the high carb intake of the SAD (standard American diet), or a typical low fat diet, it is much easier to head the hyperinsulinemic response off at the pass, and both efficiently utilize incoming food while also burning fat stores for energy.

So, depending on what your specific physiological issues are, what you eat may have much more impact than how much you eat.

That’s not to say everyone is insulin resistant, just a lot more folks than are aware of it. It’s something to look into.

Hey girl, I just posted some stuff that will help you (hopefully) understand what you should choose for foods and what types of carbs/proteins you will benefit from.

For example, 3 oz of meat is about the size of a deck of cards.

Do you have any more rules of thumb like that? I find those very helpful.

Thanks for letting me know about that on Spark people. I looked for an option like that but didn’t see it.

I downloaded the trial of the Calorie King Diet Diary and I really like it so far. Although I see that I’m going slightly over on carbs and fiber and having fat and protein left over.

Going to check out what you posted Leanne. :winking:

I don’t want to bog you down with a bunch more advice, so I will just say that I do WW and SparkPeople. I like them both and I think they complement each other well. I think someone else said that ultimately have to find what works best for you and use that. You can do it.