Do you find segments on how to trim calories to be helpful when they highlight foods that already have the nutritional information on the labels anyway?
What has been the most useful tool for you to learn how to cut back on calories?
I will say though that it did take more time for me in the beginning
Yes, it did take some more time in the beginning. Even if it took 2-3 times as long, I still only needed maybe 2 minutes to get accuarate weights/measures. I agree- it is/was totally worth it.
I have been thinking about this idea of spending time weighing and measuring and obsessing about weighing and measuring.
For me, it takes far, far less time and energy to just weigh/measure the food, eat it and forget about it than it does to wonder should I eat it, should I avoid it.
I agree whole heartedly.
I will say though that it did take more time for me in the beginning but it never felt like obessing. My opinion is that anything worth achieving is worth making an investment in thought, consideration and time.
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
Originally posted by Brie: For me, watching calories was primarily an exercise in re-educating myself about portion sizes and my scale and measuring spoons are still used every single day.
I have been thinking about this idea of spending time weighing and measuring and obsessing about weighing and measuring.
For me, it takes far, far less time and energy to just weigh/measure the food, eat it and forget about it than it does to wonder should I eat it, should I avoid it.
In fact, any time I ask myself a question that starts with "Should I eat..." the answer is alays no. Anytime I am "shoulding" myslef, I am generally wanting to go off plan.
I never question-- should I eat my oatmeal today. I just know to eat the oatmeal. It is never a question. I never question-- should I eat my veggies. OF COURSE I need to eat my veggies.
I use "should I" when I am thinking I might have a cookie at Sam's Club so that I don't get "over hungry" for dinner.
I use "should I" when I am thinking I want an extra slice of pizza that is not on my plan.
Just thought I would share that the word "should" is a huge red flag that my thinking around food is way off.
Originally posted by Sandy: Maybe you are thinking that I am super anal and that 4 grams makes no real difference and I should get over it. But...4 grams over 8 days is about 200 calories. And when I don't weigh/measure I tend to keep creeping up in portion size.
I don't think it is too anal. And 200 calories every 8 days... will eventually add up to gaining 2.6 lbs a year... which worrying about less than 3 pounds also sounds awfully anal.
But multiply that times 20 years... you are looking at a gain of 52 pounds and your doctor nagging you about your cholesterol and diabetes risk, ect, etc, etc.
the weighing exercise took less than a minute --- it relieved my stress rather than adding to it. I feel way better being clear than guessing and stressing.
What has been the most useful tool for you to learn how to cut back on calories?
Food scale. I measure everything on it. And measuring cups, and spoons. But mostly, the food scale.[/QUOTE]
I whole heartedly agree with this too. every QUOTE]
I am in the really, really agree camp!
I have not been weighing my pb in the morning for about 2 weeks. Life's been busy...I have been making up excuses.
I eat 16 grams of pb in my oatmeal. This morning I knew I needed to get back to weighing. I did my best guess and came up at 22 grams.
Maybe you are thinking that I am super anal and that 4 grams makes no real difference and I should get over it. But...4 grams over 8 days is about 200 calories. And when I don't weigh/measure I tend to keep creeping up in portion size.
I haven't read it. For me, reading the box, becoming aware of portion sizes, things like cream cheese and whatnot, were more important.
I know I'm going to get more calories when I eat out. So I compensate in other ways when I do (and I'm limited now by the whole gluten thing).
My philosophy is also, if you are going to eat something, make it the best you can. So a square of organic hand-farmed chocolate created by an artisan group (heh) tastes better and is more satisfying to me than ten bars of Hersheys.
I honestly think people have to find what works for them. Some people are natural vegetarians, while others do better as carnivores. I do well high in carbs but no wheat, and as organic as possible.
When I buy stuff that is canned, I try to go for whatever has the least 'stuff' in it. I think awareness that 'lite' doesn't always translate as low-cal is a good thing to highlight. So many people buy 'baked' or 'light' and its got as many calories (or more) than the regular, but they've subbed something.
Learn how to measure until your eye is trained. Buy meat by weight. I'll buy three strips of bacon if I want to have bacon in something. I won't have a huge package left over... buy what you need, or divide it up when you get home into 'serving size' packages.
Also, you don't have to clean your plate. You can take three bites of dessert.
Maybe suggestions on how to cut down calories eating out is a good thing? Most restaurant portions are huge, for one. In eating out what I'll do is: Have an appetizer for a meal. In many places, the appetizer is large enough. If its meat-based, that and a salad can make a healthy meal. Or a baked potato. (Altho I got the impression at one place that they'd reheat the potato by plunging it in the deep fryer-a no if you have gluten issues)
Originally posted by kd: What has been the most useful tool for you to learn how to cut back on calories?
Food scale. I measure everything on it. 30 grams of oatmeal. 30 grams unpopped popcorn. 2 oz of wine. 12 oz of milk. 15 g. peanut butter.
And measuring cups, and spoons. But mostly, the food scale.
I whole heartedly agree with this too. For me, watching calories was primarily an exercise in re-educating myself about portion sizes and my scale and measuring spoons are still used every single day.
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
i agree with diana. folks on this board are more health-deucated than others. i have folks ask me things like--is it ok to eat chick peas? how about black beans? and then they proceed to tell me they had some beers and the spinach artichoke cheese dip the night before.
i think another piece of the "education" is being aware of what feels good in your body. i think denise recently posted about the "lesson" of feeling great when she eats veggies and does her exercise for the day. my cousin just turned 50 and told me "i figured out if i don't eat a good amount of greens every day, i feel weird and sluggish and bloated." when i miss my exercise day, i feel off kilter and more tired. when i eat more sugar, i feel exhausted by the end of the day.
Goals: 1. Stop thinking like a chronic dieter and start living to inspire. 2. HALT (hungry, anxious, lonely, tired) I will stop and tune in with myself should I experience these things, and respond with something healthy. 3. One word 2008: courage 4. Eat slow and mindfully.
I own two "diet" books. "Eat More, Weigh Less" by Dr Dean Ornish and "The Beck Diet Solution."
Personally, trimming calories is not my problem. I know what I should and shouldn't eat.
But I think on this board, we're definitely more health-educated than the majority of the public. When I suggested to my dad (a really smart guy) that he use turkey dogs instead of hot dogs for his Saturday Hot Dog Meal (2-3 chili cheese hot dogs), he was surprised he hadn't thought of it. I suspect that's where most people are.
I don't think I can single out one tool. A combination of food measurement items (scale, cups, measuring spoons), food journal, and the Beck "hunger" exercise have made the biggest difference for me.
Challenge Goals: *10 minutes of unplanned exercise five times a week *Gym time twice a week *Socialize at least once every two weeks.
I have the Calorie King book. Actually I have 4 of them...
one in the backpack, one in my purse, one at office and a fourth in my kitchen.
I find it invaluable. I have looked through Eat this, not that, but found that it was mostly common sense since I have a pretty good feel for most of the foods I will ponder when eating out. Plus, I always have Calorie King with me. And he's way more versatile.
The best thing about the Calorie King book is that it has a section for generic ethnic restaurant fare (egg rolls, beef & broccoli, etc.) that at least give you an idea of what you're eating. The selection of restaurants and their calories, fat grams, and carbs is huge and why I have so many copies.
I can't even hide from Coldstone anymore. Darn that Calorie King!
Life is like a roller coaster, with lots of ups and downs, but the curves, spirals, loops and corkscrews are what make life interesting.
“Americans spend more than $400 billion a year eating out, and behind each burger, turkey sandwich, and ice cream sundae is a simple decision that could help you control your weight-and your life. The problem is, restaurant chains and food producers aren't interested in helping you make healthy choices. In fact, they invest $30 billion a year on advertising, much of it aimed at confusing eaters and disguising the fat and calorie counts of their products.”
It came out in Dec. 2007... OK… I figured out a long time ago that if you eat out you ARE going to eat more calories. I’ve WORKED in restaurant kitchens. In February, I WATCHED the guy at the grill make my 2,000+ calorie breakfast burrito and use a 2 oz ladle and pour 6 or 8 tablespoons of clarified butter or margarine or melted fat of unknown origin all over my food. And I COULD NOT TELL when I tasted it… I really couldn’t.
I’m kind of over going into restaurants and guessing that “Hmmmm… I’m guessing that burrito was probably 323 calories” when the plate of food in a restaurant is often easily 2,000+ or even 3,000+ calories when you add a salad, a beer (or two) and some dessert.
I’d love for you to expand on your restaurant experience… if possible. But, I’ve eaten at the Zuni Café… and I KNOW that I might as well budget 3000+ calories if I’m having a drink and dessert. The food is AWESOME… but not cheap when it comes to calories.
I think that these books can be really helpful… but there are lots of people (maybe even MOST people) who think that the food at THEIR favorite restaurant is “homemade” or has less calories. I’m willing to bet that MOST people think that they are smarter than that… and THEY are never served a 3,000 calorie meal… or a 2,000+ breakfast burrito and I’m just a moron or something. I KNOW that people think that THEY would taste it and KNOW that 6-8 TBS of fat had been added to their food.
I know of VERY, VERY few people on either this board or the WW boards who will post… “I went out for dinner, and I can’t believe this but I think I had a 2,700 calorie meal that was 52 WW points. Is that possible?” On the other hand, I seen MANY, MANY posts of people going out to eat and having salad, appetizers, wine, dinner and 4 bites of dessert and calling it 700 calories. Or even 500 calories. Ummmmm… I don’t think so!!! Your 4 bites of dessert were most likely pushing 500 calories.
But I often find it interesting that I seem to be somewhat unique in being served AND EATING (gasp!) restaurant meals with many, many calories. Despite reading many, many places that the average plate of restaurant food has 2,000+ calories… I am often surprised at how not average so many other people are.
But I do know that eating out MUCH, MUCH less than I used to has helped a lot in the weight control dept. And being realistic about how many calories, I’m really eating.
What has been the most useful tool for you to learn how to cut back on calories?
#1 Eating at home MOST of the time. We eat out once a week or less, now.
#2 Eliminating eating at the work place. I eat in the teacher’s lounge 1 day a year… the first day of summer vacation (which is a work day)… and I eat two pieces of cake that day . But the rest of the year... if I didn’t bring it or buy it…I don’t eat it.
Not one m&m passes my lips in the teachers’ lounge during a meeting. I don’t break a cookie in half and eat it while waiting for the copier. No “Fun Sized” candy bars out of the jar on the attendence clerk’s desk. I can either blow 1,000 or 2,000 calories a week in bites of cookies or cheesecake or candy or bagels or _____… or I can go out for an awesome dinner with my kid for his birthday on Sunday. It is a no brainer. And it makes my life EASY… I don’t have to decide 6 times a day if I’m going to eat or not. I’m NEVER in the position of unwrapping candy and saying, “I shouldn’t be eating this”.
Didn't read the book so can't comment on the first two questions.
The best tool for me was fitday. It was eye opening to find out how many calories were in my favorite foods. Once I knew how many calories/day I needed to shoot for, it was obvious what I needed to be more careful eating.
For example, a medium, movie theater popcorn has 1200 calories. That's almost all my calories for the day. No way in h*ll would I want to spend that, just not worth it for me. Lobster thermador in a fancy restaurant maybe a different story but when it comes to stuff that high in calorie, I got very, very choosy.
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
And 200 calories every 8 days... will eventually add up to gaining 2.6 lbs a year... which worrying about less than 3 pounds also sounds awfully anal.
