Guest guest Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 I'm with you , counting calories is like too much effort for what results really? I sure rebel to 'restriction'!!! I'm wondering if the energy and effort that one puts into such an activity might be better re-directed to another more IE thing such as like a hunger scale rating? I would find that to be much more productive towards getting back in tune with what one's body needs instead of trying to straight jacket one's self into a set 'figure' (aka number). And lets face it - each day is NOT like the next one - some days we are more active, some days are more stressful etc. etc. That has to effect the 'fuel' requirements (not to mention trace nutriments) our bodies need. How can a set amount of 'calories' meet that need? And even then, within those same calories - how much carb, protein & fat to make the total?? Its way to much of an algebra problem for me ;-) Katcha > > Do any of you keep track of your caloric intake for > the day? > > I literally have no idea... Because if I did that'd > mean measuring, looking up, and - eventually - > portioning not for hunger but for some imaginary > target that I'd need to hit. > > But I'm just curious if anyone else does. > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ > Looking for last minute shopping deals? > Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Exactly! Ah, algebra. The one thing standing between me and a Bachelor's degree. (I need to let it go...seriously...it's been 10 years.) Obviously, I am not so good at it! --- Katcha wrote: And even then, within those same calories > - how much carb, > protein & fat to make the total?? Its way to much of > an algebra > problem for me ;-) > > Katcha > ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 I have been working in a job on my feet for over 3 months now and there is a difference. Everything has toned up significantly. I haven't gotten back to dancing yet, but, am now looking forward to it. I just haven't gotten back to counting calories, and will soon to keep things in motion. I passionately hate it, but, in order to keep losing and toning up, it is necessary for me. When I was 14 and was running every day over the summer on my aunt's property, I could eat as much as I wanted or whatever I wanted. I don't want to go back to running though. God Bless and Take Care. Helen Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Hi Katcha, I took a couple of Health and Human Performance classes at the local community college necessary. Also, in college biology, the percentages tended to be the same: Carbohydrates= 50% - 70% Fats= 20% Protein= 25% Those numbers tend to work for me. If I concentrate on whole grains/fruits/veggies and have some meat/protein things work really well. The total number of calories divided by groups' percentages will give you the calories allotted for each group. God Bless and Take Care. Helen Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 I don't right now, but, am going to again soon. Helen > > Do any of you keep track of your caloric intake for > the day? > > I literally have no idea... Because if I did that'd > mean measuring, looking up, and - eventually - > portioning not for hunger but for some imaginary > target that I'd need to hit. > > But I'm just curious if anyone else does. > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ ______________ > Looking for last minute shopping deals? > Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 No way! That is dieting behavior! If I started driving myself crazy with calorie tracking pretty soon I'd be back reading diet books and trying to control my life through my weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 I use Fitday.com maybe once every week to just kinda' keep tabs, make sure I'm not THINKING I'm not taking in a lot of calories when maybe I actually am. I seem to average 1600 calories a day, also - sometimes as little as 1200, sometimes as much as 2300. When I input my days intake into Fitday I'm VERY methodical, because I think it's so easy for us who struggle with our weight to " under report, " unconsciously. Still, one of my huge pet-peeves is something I see doctor's interviewed on TV saying ALL the time - " if a fat person tells you how many calories a day they're eating, you have to multiply it by at least 3 - they all under report. Period. " Don't even get me started on that particular piece of nonsense.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 The whole idea of counting calories is totally contrary to IE, because it's an external rather than an internal measuring stick to determine what our bodies need. You can't truly practice IE and count calories at the same time. Shauna > > > > Do any of you keep track of your caloric intake for > > the day? > > > > I literally have no idea... Because if I did that'd > > mean measuring, looking up, and - eventually - > > portioning not for hunger but for some imaginary > > target that I'd need to hit. > > > > But I'm just curious if anyone else does. > > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > ______________ > > Looking for last minute shopping deals? > > Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. > http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Even thinking about counting calories sends me into a " diet mentality " tizzy and I start thinking about how much weight I could lose in a week, and then how much more weight I could lose in a week if I ate even less and then I begin to feel guilty for not being able to " control " my eating and then I have to start my recovery all over again... So, no calorie counting for me. Fullness and hunger are easier on my brain! > > Do any of you keep track of your caloric intake for > the day? > > I literally have no idea... Because if I did that'd > mean measuring, looking up, and - eventually - > portioning not for hunger but for some imaginary > target that I'd need to hit. > > But I'm just curious if anyone else does. > > > > > _____________________________________________________________________ _______________ > Looking for last minute shopping deals? > Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php? category=shopping > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 I think we all know I win the calorie counting award for the year. But I don't even have to look it up or add, my brain is still stuck in it's dieting era and just keeps a running tab for me. It's awful! Honestly, I think my life would be so much better without counting, but I keep trying to stop and then I go running right back. I need calorie counters anonymous or something lol. > > Do any of you keep track of your caloric intake for > the day? > > I literally have no idea... Because if I did that'd > mean measuring, looking up, and - eventually - > portioning not for hunger but for some imaginary > target that I'd need to hit. > > But I'm just curious if anyone else does. > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ > Looking for last minute shopping deals? > Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 , I will never count calories again. It was honestly an addiction for me, and it took a long time to be free from it. I will not look at calories on anything I buy. I'm a little OCD about it. All the boxes in my cabinet have to face so the nutritional info is not showing.. > > Do any of you keep track of your caloric intake for > the day? > > I literally have no idea... Because if I did that'd > mean measuring, looking up, and - eventually - > portioning not for hunger but for some imaginary > target that I'd need to hit. > > But I'm just curious if anyone else does. > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ > Looking for last minute shopping deals? > Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 , I'm with ya there sister. I even canceled my subscription to " Cooking Light " because it had the calorie counts underneath the recipes. I found I wouldn't make something because of that. Oh, and all the recipes seemed the same after awhile... I DID subscribe to " Food and Wine " and " Fine Cooking " . I'm rediscovering my love of cooking. > > > > Do any of you keep track of your caloric intake for > > the day? > > > > I literally have no idea... Because if I did that'd > > mean measuring, looking up, and - eventually - > > portioning not for hunger but for some imaginary > > target that I'd need to hit. > > > > But I'm just curious if anyone else does. > > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ ______________ > > Looking for last minute shopping deals? > > Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. > http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php? category=shopping > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 LOL, Press! I keep finding we have so much in common. I love that you still get your cooking mags, but you won't be subjected to the nutritional info! When I go to allrecipes.com to look at recipes, I have to be very careful to make sure I don't see the calorie counts, even though they're on the page. It's like I've trained my eyes not to look over there.. :)press182 wrote: , I'm with ya there sister. I even canceled my subscription to "Cooking Light" because it had the calorie counts underneath the recipes. I found I wouldn't make something because of that. Oh, and all the recipes seemed the same after awhile... I DID subscribe to "Food and Wine" and "Fine Cooking". I'm rediscovering my love of cooking. > > > > Do any of you keep track of your caloric intake for > > the day? > > > > I literally have no idea... Because if I did that'd > > mean measuring, looking up, and - eventually - > > portioning not for hunger but for some imaginary > > target that I'd need to hit. > > > > But I'm just curious if anyone else does. > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________________ ______________ > > Looking for last minute shopping deals? > > Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. > http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php? category=shopping > > > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Some days I think its necessary to be some part CONTROL freak to be a doctor! For sure they are the faithful priests of science to the point of cart-before-the-horse type thinking - science is supposed to assist our lives, not dictate them. > >> one of my huge pet-peeves is something I > see doctor's interviewed on TV saying ALL > the time - " if a fat person tells you how > many calories a day they're eating, you have > to multiply it by at least 3 - they all > under report. Period. " > > Don't even get me started on that particular > piece of nonsense.... > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 I do the same thing (track my calories) because I have a tendency to think I am bingeing, only to find that I'm only 200 calories or so over where I want to be. I eat 1500 calories a day, give or take a couple hundred (that's net. If I exercise, then I almost always "eat" the calories burned). But, there are days when I'm hungry, so I'll go up to 2000 or 2100. Other times, I'll only eat 1200. But, by tracking what I eat, I am getting a feel for what my body wants. Otherwise, I feel out of control and like I am eating like a horse when I am not. I use the data to correct my emotional misperceptions from years of hating myself. I am only five feet tall, and weigh 163, so 1500 calories is a good number for me.Did you miss Dr Traci's Monday Morning Motivator? You can still catch it at www.drtraci.com (even if it's Tuesday night!) Tune in next week for her topic Stop Talking and Start Doing!(¯`v´¯)`*.¸.*´ ¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨(¸.•´ (¸.•´ Traci Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 I used to in my dieting days and it drove me absolutely crazy. Talk about the good/bad feelings it brings on. If you went over your calories for the day you were bad. And you already blew it for the day so what did more calories matter - drove me to eat even more. It seems so non-intuitive to me and totally diety. As Gillian says, having an idea of calories is important, but not to the point of having to put rules on yourself. --Alana -------------- Original message -------------- Do any of you keep track of your caloric intake forthe day?I literally have no idea... Because if I did that'dmean measuring, looking up, and - eventually -portioning not for hunger but for some imaginarytarget that I'd need to hit.But I'm just curious if anyone else does.__________________________________________________________Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 I find it's a bad idea to track calories - it adds the element of 'success' which also means the possiblity for 'failure' and that leads to places I don't want to go. > > Do any of you keep track of your caloric intake for > the day? > > I literally have no idea... Because if I did that'd > mean measuring, looking up, and - eventually - > portioning not for hunger but for some imaginary > target that I'd need to hit. > > But I'm just curious if anyone else does. > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ > Looking for last minute shopping deals? > Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 To achieve optimal nutrient levels for my health, my intake comes in at around 50% fat (mainly saturated, with monsaturated second and almost no unsaturated), and the other 50% divided about equally between carb and protein. > > Hi Katcha, > > I took a couple of Health and Human Performance classes at the local > community college necessary. > > Also, in college biology, the percentages tended to be the same: > > Carbohydrates= 50% - 70% > Fats= 20% > Protein= 25% > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 > > The whole idea of counting calories is totally contrary to IE, because > it's an external rather than an internal measuring stick to determine > what our bodies need. You can't truly practice IE and count calories > at the same time. > > Shauna > I disagree wholeheartedly. Data are just data. It's what you DO with the data that makes a difference. In other words, I don't need a thermometer to know if I am cold or not, or whether I need to put on a jacket, but I still like to see a thermometer. I like to know the temperature. Now, if I refuse to put on a jacket because the temperature is too warm, even if I am cold, then that's using an external indicator to dictate what I do and is stupid. But, simply KNOWING the temperature doesn't mean anything. It's only data. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Traci, you seem to be a rare person who isn't 'reactionary' to calorie counting or limiting yourself either. I'm so glad that works for you! For me its like waving a red cape in front of a bull - danger! and likely to cause strong negative results. I've never been a calorie counter to begin with so that isn't something that would be a useful tool for me. Besides, I am having a difficult enough time keeping my focus on internal 'messages' without complicating and possibly detouring my attention onto an external 'measurement' that I see calorie counting as (for me). Plus I sense that weight loss is a tad more important for you than it is for me. Very understandable in light of your petite size (5'!). Having gotten to the point of accepting myself 'as is' does make for less motivation to change, especially being nose to the grindstone about loosing weight. Keep doing what is important and working for you! I think one of the biggest strengths of this group is it diversity which lets us all pick and choose what will work for ourselves. If that's calorie counting for you, then bravo and go for it. Katcha > > I disagree wholeheartedly. Data are just data. It's what you DO with > the data that makes a difference. In other words, I don't need a > thermometer to know if I am cold or not, or whether I need to put on a > jacket, but I still like to see a thermometer. I like to know the > temperature. Now, if I refuse to put on a jacket because the > temperature is too warm, even if I am cold, then that's using an > external indicator to dictate what I do and is stupid. But, simply > KNOWING the temperature doesn't mean anything. It's only data. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 > > , talk about weird associations - algebra puts me to sleep! I was > good in math until I had a monotone, soft spoken boring teacher in > high school and I nearly failed that class - you got it - algebra! I > went on to do plane geometry with A's but never could 'get' algebra. Loved algebra. My favouritest eVAH form of math. So logical. I'm into logic. Me and calorie counting - HELL NO. I was never much of a counter in the first place, and could never remember the caloric values of anything, so I haven't a clue what I consume now - and I don't care. Knowing those numbers will only lead me to wanting to reduce those numbers, and that's completely counter to the intuition I am developing. So count me out! S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Thanks, Traci. It's good to read this post. Destygmatizing words, foods, ideas, is so much a part of my process now, and that includes being fully aware of what I'm eating. After much thought and great shared ideas on this list, I've started a journal. I'm being very free about what I include and part of this is recording what I eat. I'm surprised at what I'm putting in my mouth, though at each moment I thought I was "present." Glad to hear about your perception re counting. Alison Traci Vujicich wrote: > > The whole idea of counting calories is totally contrary to IE, because > it's an external rather than an internal measuring stick to determine > what our bodies need. You can't truly practice IE and count calories > at the same time. > > Shauna > I disagree wholeheartedly. Data are just data. It's what you DO with the data that makes a difference. In other words, I don't need a thermometer to know if I am cold or not, or whether I need to put on a jacket, but I still like to see a thermometer. I like to know the temperature. Now, if I refuse to put on a jacket because the temperature is too warm, even if I am cold, then that's using an external indicator to dictate what I do and is stupid. But, simply KNOWING the temperature doesn't mean anything. It's only data. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 On the calories issue.... As I write this at my desk this morning I'm sitting here eating my breakfast, an Egg Souffle thingee from Panera Bread. These are MARVELOUSLY delicious, and I indulge myself on one about once a month. But I'm sitting here thinking about the calorie discussion from yesterday and remembering that when the Panera first opened here in my home town just a few months ago, I was talking to my younger sister about these egg things and she just went OFF for a few moments about how absolutely WONDERFUL they were - she was making love to the memory of that eating experience (!) - but then she ended it with a note about how she had immediately gotten online to find Panera's web site and find out how many calories and how much fat were in these things. Now.... call me crazy... but exactly WHY would you feel the need to do that? If it's something you discovered that you REALLY enjoy, something you know you're not going to go eat one every day kind of thing but will tremendously enjoy as an occasional treat, why would you RUIN it for yourself by going and exploring the calorie count and fat count? Now, on a side note, she's my sister who went on Topomax about a year ago for migraines and developed full-on anorexia as a result (it's actually a not uncommon side effect) - and she doesn't eat ANYTHING without first examining the fat content - but STILL. This is just a snapshot of how we make ourselves crazy over food. The funny thing is (funny as in " tragic " ) that in my family this sister is seen as the one who DOESN'T have a problem with food! She's the " virtuous " one who licked the family weight problem - and I'm the insane one who " gave up " and turned to Intuitive Eating. The world has truly gone mad..... Ooops, got crumbs on the keyboard - dang, this thing is good!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 > > On the calories issue.... > > I was talking to my younger sister > about these egg things and she just went OFF > for a few moments about how absolutely WONDERFUL > they were - she was making love to the memory > of that eating experience (!) LOL! Now THAT's a visual...that I really, really want to get out of my head right now! LOL! > Now.... call me crazy... but exactly WHY would > you feel the need to do that? If it's something > you discovered that you REALLY enjoy, something > you know you're not going to go eat one every > day kind of thing but will tremendously enjoy > as an occasional treat, why would you RUIN it for > yourself by going and exploring the calorie count > and fat count? Because enjoying food is bad. Bad. Bad. > > Now, on a side note, she's my sister who went on > Topomax about a year ago for migraines and developed > full-on anorexia as a result (it's actually a not > uncommon side effect) - > Whoa! I didn't know that? I heard it can curb the appetite but that's crazy. > The funny thing is (funny as in " tragic " ) that in > my family this sister is seen as the one who DOESN'T > have a problem with food! She's the " virtuous " one > who licked the family weight problem - and I'm the > insane one who " gave up " and turned to Intuitive > Eating. > > The world has truly gone mad..... > > Ooops, got crumbs on the keyboard - dang, this thing > is good!!! Oh, my mother has said the same thing. Now, I'm not overweight, but I'm no twiglet anymore either. I'm trying to put more muscle on my frame and I have the fat that goes with it. My mother has said gems such as, " Oh, you're sister lost so much weight. She doesn't eat, it's terrific " . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 If we're using the thermometer metaphor, then it's okay to know the caloric values of the foods we eat, but it's anti-IE to use those numeric values to help us make choices about food. In that case, I agree - you can count calories for purely informational purposes and still be practicing IE - but the moment you choose to deny or allow yourself food based on the number of calories you've consumed that day, you've ditched IE and crossed over into " dieting " territory. Shauna > > > > The whole idea of counting calories is totally contrary to IE, because > > it's an external rather than an internal measuring stick to determine > > what our bodies need. You can't truly practice IE and count calories > > at the same time. > > > > Shauna > > > > I disagree wholeheartedly. Data are just data. It's what you DO with > the data that makes a difference. In other words, I don't need a > thermometer to know if I am cold or not, or whether I need to put on a > jacket, but I still like to see a thermometer. I like to know the > temperature. Now, if I refuse to put on a jacket because the > temperature is too warm, even if I am cold, then that's using an > external indicator to dictate what I do and is stupid. But, simply > KNOWING the temperature doesn't mean anything. It's only data. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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