Trouble shooting counting calories

I have just recently decided to limit myself to 1500 calories a day. To make sure I wouldn't starve myself I have researched filling foods, low calorie substitues and all of that.

I am counting every calorie I eat. I measure everything with measuring cups and scales. I'm sticking to correct serving sizes and getting the calories either from online (multiple sources) or the food container.

I have one worry--I am never abnormally hungry, don't feel any difference than I did when I was eating 4000 cal a day. More than that I don't even end up eating the full 1500 calories. Yesterday for example I ate 1255 and today I project that I'll eat about the same.

What are the biggest mistakes in counting calories? Where could I be going wrong?

Thu. Nov 8, 3:45pm

Sounds like you're just proving that eating high-quality calories (i.e. nutrient-dense) is more filling than eating crap.

Thursday, November 8, 2007, 3:56 PM

I agree. I often eat about 1200 cals in a day and don't feel hungry...as long as I'm eating high fiber, quality foods and not drinking any of my calories.

I've also found that my hunger goes in cycles. There are days I just don't feel hungry. There are other days when I feel starving. I make sure to have plenty of fruit and healthy snacks on hand for those days so i don't end up ordering a pizza or finishing a whole bag of chips I was planning to last a week.

You might just be in a low hunger swing. Or you night just be making very wise food choices. :)

Thursday, November 8, 2007, 4:22 PM

I agree. I'm amazed, now that I'm counting calories, how little I can eat and not be hungry. I think back to how much I used to eat, and am blown away at the years I spent overweight, thinking I NEEDED that amount of food, when now I"m getting along perfectly well on far less.

I find that like the previous poster, I go in cycles. I have some days where I eat 1200, and some where I eat 1700. I try not to ever go above 2000. And if I'm really hungry, I eat something healthy.

And it's definitely true that nutrient dense foods are waaaay more filling than crap!

Thursday, November 8, 2007, 4:29 PM

Question: do you guys never eat out or are you just so familiar by now you know approximate calories for dishes you like? I just started counting cals, and am right now eating half of a leftover sandwich from a restaurant. I looked on the website, no nutrition info...

Thursday, November 8, 2007, 5:43 PM

If you're really stuck, you can break down the sandwich by its ingredients (ie: two pieces white bread, one slice tomato, 1 tbsp mayo, etc etc) and look those up for calories. It does help to be famliar with weights and portions, though. Like a single piece of foccacia from a cafe' might be HUGE compared to what you would call a proper serving by weight.

Thursday, November 8, 2007, 5:57 PM

I don't eat out often, but when I do I just estimate, and I estimate high since I don't really know what went into it. Also I try to find places to eat that have built a reputation around being healthy.

Thursday, November 8, 2007, 6:00 PM

Counting calories is how I have chosen to diet as well and I have found that it has done well.
The one thing that I have seen is that I choose lower calorie foods and the higher calorie ones are full of fiber and fiber fills. I am seldom hungry. I mean when I wake up I am slightly hungry and by 6 or 7 at night I get hungry. Or rather my blood sugar goes low and I get grumpy and realize I need to eat.
I want food more than I get hungry for it.

When it comes to resturants there are few places I will go. Subway is one and the other is Taco Time. They have an excellent white chicken chili. 150 cal for a bowl. But there is a book you can get, calorie king, that has a lot of resturants in it gives you good info. You can also find them on line.
The last thing I can think of is, I love my digital food scale. The other just wasn't accurate enough. And it really helps in learning what a portion size should be.
Good luck to you.

Thursday, November 8, 2007, 9:43 PM

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