Thin Dcum's who count calories and don't exercise intensely

[Anonymous]

I limit my calories at breakfast and lunch and then eat something sensible for dinner. For breakfast, either cold cereal or oatmeal and soy milk, for lunch yogurt, granola and fruit, and dinner is either rice or pasta with beans and veggies. I do this most days, and figure it gives me enough flex room to eat a snack when I want to, or go out to eat on the weekends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:5'6, 128 lbs. Varies. Less than 2,000 some days but most days between 2,000 and 2,500. Often have soup with bread and cheese for lunch.

OMG! I don't know how you do it. I eat ~1500 calories/day, which helps me maintain my overweight weight. I have to eat 1200 calories/day to lose. I cook all my meals and measure my portions.

[Anonymous]

It's just basic math - figure out how many calories you burn (with or wo exercising) and make sure you don't take in more than that.

[Anonymous]

If it is a product I am eating for the first time I check out the calories but I already have a good idea of how much is in everything. For example, I took DD out for ice cream last night. I had one scoop of ice cream that was the size of a large plum, which was probably about 130 calories, max. But if I had gotten a dessert with three scoops and whipped cream, I would expect it to be 400-500 calories, which is way too much.

Don't focus on weight alone too much, however. I eat cookies, chocolate, and pastries most days, which is so bad, I know.

[Anonymous]

5'6", 127. I don't count calories. I eat relatively small portions and I don't eat fried foods or super sugary foods. I don't like beef, pork, or lamb, pasta, or potatoes. (I know, I'm weird). I like "natural" forms of exercise like walking, swimming (not laps, just being in the pool), dancing.

[Anonymous]

"What's the best way to count calories if you eat mostly homecooked food? I record what I eat, but I haven't gotten as far as counting the calories because it seems so laborious to weigh/measure all the ingredients, add up the calories, divide by number of portions, etc."

I don't think you need to count calories, just portions. Learn what is a "normal" portion size for fish, meat, beans, and starchy carbs. So for dinner, you focus on getting your 4 oz. of meat or fish, plus one serving of starchy carb, and don't worry about how much fruit, salad, or veggies you have (assuming they are not drenched in butter or cheese). Learn what is 1 oz of cheese, 1/3 cup of ice cream, etc. to gauge your "treats."

[Anonymous]

You can use an online calculator (like fitday.com FREE) to calculate your meals that you make. It helps me to serve things on a plate before you bring it to the table, not just bring it to the table and let everyone help themselves, though this might change when the kids are starving teenagers, I don't know. I pack up the rest each in their own containers for lunch so everyone gets one serving.

[Anonymous]

"Anonymous wrote:
5'6, 128 lbs. Varies. Less than 2,000 some days but most days between 2,000 and 2,500. Often have soup with bread and cheese for lunch.

OMG! I don't know how you do it. I eat ~1500 calories/day, which helps me maintain my overweight weight. I have to eat 1200 calories/day to lose. I cook all my meals and measure my portions. "

I'm not the PP but I think there are many hidden aspects to physical activity. Your body doesn't care too much whether you are burning calories on a treadmill or walking to the grocery store. Two people may have the exact same exercise/gym routine but their normal level of physical activity differs greatly. You usually do not notice this since it is environment and habit driven.

I never considered it exercise when I walked to work or walked everywhere to meet people. It was just practical since parking was a pain. When I moved to drive everywhere place, it was harder to maintain my weight. It can even be more subtle. DH switched jobs from a place where he would regularly walk between buildings for meetings, one or two blocks, and walk a few blocks for lunch to a place where all meeting and activities took place within the same few floors and their was a cafeteria. He gained weight with this change. We have one kid that is super thin and eats much more than our second kid who weighs more (not overweight but not super thin) who eats less. The thin kid is always in motion while the other kid has a more normal activity level.

Sleep can also affect your metabolism. Lack of sleep can release stress hormones that keep more weight on you. Age and hormonal level can make a difference too.

[Anonymous]

This is very true. I gained weight (8lbs) when I switched from working in a lab (standing all the time and then walking to and from a few different buildings) to an office where I sit on my butt all day.

[Anonymous]

5'6" 115 lbs.

I don't have a gym membership or work out at home, but I walk everywhere. I also don't count calories, but I do try to eat sensibly and in moderate proportions (I never finish my meals at restaurants and take home usually 1/3 of my meal). I serve family meals on salad plates. I drink water and coffee with milk (no sugar), occasionally I'll drink juice but water it down significantly. I try to eat more protein/veggies/fruit than carbs, and when I do eat carbs I make sure that it has some fat and protein with it. I indulge a few times a year in deep fried food (e.g., fried chicken at a picnic). I never buy low-cal anything--if I want chocolate, I buy real, high quality chocolate. I also like tangy fro-yo once a week or so (more often these hot days!).

[Anonymous]

Before pregnancy, was 5'4" and 108lbs. Counted calories, about 1000-1300 a day, cut out animal fats and refined sugar, and did strength training to keep my muscle mass. Body "hibernation" does exist, as I found out when I tried to restrict calorie intake further.

A word of warning: if you do not exercise (muscle-building activities, specifically), the weight you lose will be muscle mass. Especially if you do not cut down on fat-forming foods, such as fats and sugar. And when you gain weight, the weight you gain is fat...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the best way to count calories if you eat mostly homecooked food? I record what I eat, but I haven't gotten as far as counting the calories because it seems so laborious to weigh/measure all the ingredients, add up the calories, divide by number of portions, etc.

It is a bit at first, but it totally works. You have no idea how many calories those go-to recipes you use have in them - and once you do it once, you don't have to do it again - just weigh out the portions. I had never done it, but doing it allowed me to lose 20 pounds without changing any exercise habits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Before pregnancy, was 5'4" and 108lbs. Counted calories, about 1000-1300 a day, cut out animal fats and refined sugar, and did strength training to keep my muscle mass. Body "hibernation" does exist, as I found out when I tried to restrict calorie intake further.

A word of warning: if you do not exercise (muscle-building activities, specifically), the weight you lose will be muscle mass. Especially if you do not cut down on fat-forming foods, such as fats and sugar. And when you gain weight, the weight you gain is fat...

I don't think I could survive on that (mentally anyway).