About this calorie counting stuff

[Shaka]

I've been reading Nikuman's posts about weight loss with interest. The thing that resonated the most with me was him writing about meticulously counting calories. I've made half-assed efforts at counting but I've found my estimates are way off.

I've tried to figure out how to best go about counting. Finally I decided to buy an iPod Touch and download a few apps that track this sort of thing. This has been a total eye opener. I've been able to get my diet down to about 1800 calories a day by paying attention to what I eat. I also use my Touch to track my workouts. It's really an excellent tool.

My biggest wakeup call was today. I enjoyed dinner at The Cheesecake factory with a friend. I had about 900 Calories that I could use for dinner so I figured I could get out of there without going over too much. I ordered a pasta dish and ate half of it. When I went home I looked up the nutritional info online and my half a dish was well over a thousand calories. Add half a piece of cheesecake to that and......

I've decided I really have to be careful even when I go out to eat. I'm really not sure how many of these types of meals I can eat in a week or even a month without it undoing the progress I've made the rest of the time.

Anyone have any thoughts or advice?

[Donuthole]

I've been reading Nikuman's posts about weight loss with interest. The thing that resonated the most with me was him writing about meticulously counting calories. I've made half-assed efforts at counting but I've found my estimates are way off.

I've tried to figure out how to best go about counting. Finally I decided to buy an iPod Touch and download a few apps that track this sort of thing. This has been a total eye opener. I've been able to get my diet down to about 1800 calories a day by paying attention to what I eat. I also use my Touch to track my workouts. It's really an excellent tool.

My biggest wakeup call was today. I enjoyed dinner at The Cheesecake factory with a friend. I had about 900 Calories that I could use for dinner so I figured I could get out of there without going over too much. I ordered a pasta dish and ate half of it. When I went home I looked up the nutritional info online and my half a dish was well over a thousand calories. Add half a piece of cheesecake to that and......

I've decided I really have to be careful even when I go out to eat. I'm really not sure how many of these types of meals I can eat in a week or even a month without it undoing the progress I've made the rest of the time.

Anyone have any thoughts or advice?

One school of thought (from Body for Life, IIRC) is to give yourself a "day off" each week, during which you don't worry about your calorie intake. This will slow down your weight loss a bit, but for many people it is necessary to keep them from falling off the wagon. Save up your night out at a restaurant for this day, and enjoy a day of guilt-free eating. However, what you shouldn't do is use your free day as a day to pound as many calories as you can. In other words, don't worry about what you're eating, as long as you're eating fairly reasonable portion sizes. Order dinner. Order dessert. Order a drink. Snack on some chips. And at the end of the day,recommit yourself to 6 more days of calorie counting and working out.

[Shaka]

Great advice. I think a day off is a good idea.

I was shocked how guilty I felt after getting the calorie info of that meal. Having that info in black and white is huge.

[Jarid in Cedar]

One school of thought (from Body for Life, IIRC) is to give yourself a "day off" each week, during which you don't worry about your calorie intake. This will slow down your weight loss a bit, but for many people it is necessary to keep them from falling off the wagon. Save up your night out at a restaurant for this day, and enjoy a day of guilt-free eating. However, what you shouldn't do is use your free day as a day to pound as many calories as you can. In other words, don't worry about what you're eating, as long as you're eating fairly reasonable portion sizes. Order dinner. Order dessert. Order a drink. Snack on some chips. And at the end of the day,recommit yourself to 6 more days of calorie counting and working out.

I really like the dietary recommendations in Body for Life. they are reasonable, easy to understand, and the 7th day of rest is a good way to avoid burnout. You have to make sure that you truly are diligent the other 6 days or it is all for naught.

[Katy Lied]

Some dangerous menu items:

Macaroni grill tuscan ribeye: 1000 cals. the bread that comes with it: 500
Arbys fish fillet: 569, Arbys reuben: 606
Jamba Juice chocolate moo'd, orig size: 634, Mango a gogo: 660

Panda express beef and brocoli, 1 serving: 150, orange chicken: 500

cafe rio pork barbacoa: 830, pork salad: 800, salad no meat: 700

[Donuthole]

Great advice. I think a day off is a good idea.

I was shocked how guilty I felt after getting the calorie info of that meal. Having that info in black and white is huge.

Let me guess--it had Alfredo sauce?

My wife makes an awesome Alfredo farfalle with blackened garlic chicken. Last time we made it we calculated the calories and divided by 6 (the suggested number of servings). A single serving came in at just under 2000 calories.

[Donuthole]

cafe rio pork barbacoa: 830, pork salad: 800, salad no meat: 700

And I dont' believe that tally includes the 4 ounces of dressing that comes with your salad, which is probably another 500-600 calories.

[Shaka]

Let me guess--it had Alfredo sauce?

My wife makes an awesome Alfredo Farfale with blackened garlic chicken. Last time we made it we calculated the calories and divided by 6 (the suggested number of servings). A single serving came in at just under 2000 calories.

It was some sort of Louisianna Chicken Pasta dish. The sauce was spicey and somewhat alfredoish. One of the bigger problems is the chicken was breaded.

I have to admit it was delish.

[Donuthole]

It was some sort of Louisianna Chicken Pasta dish. The sauce was spicey and somewhat alfredoish. One of the bigger problems is the chicken was breaded.

I have to admit it was delish.

Alfredoish = heavy cream = a calorie counter's nightmare. And yea, breaded chicken probably means ether deep or pan fried.

[Katy Lied]

And I dont' believe that tally includes the 4 ounces of dressing that comes with your salad, which is probably another 500-600 calories.

yup. those who are holier than thou about their cafe rio salads are in for a rude awakening.

[Shaka]

yup. those who are holier than thou about their cafe rio salads are in for a rude awakening.

I think Cafe Rio is the only place where the salad is probably more fattening that the smothered burrito. I take great pleasure pointing that out to my dates when I take them there.

[Jarid in Cedar]

I think Cafe Rio is the only place where the salad is probably more fattening that the smothered burrito. I take great pleasure pointing that out to my dates when I take them there.

This isn't helping your marriage prospects

[Donuthole]

I think Cafe Rio is the only place where the salad is probably more fattening that the smothered burrito. I take great pleasure pointing that out to my dates when I take them there.

Yep. 4 ounces of enchilada sauce = 90-100 calories. 4 ounces of creamy tomatillo dressing = 500 calories.

So if you only use 2 Tbs of the dressing, you're coming out about even. Any more than that, and you're losing ground fast.

[Shaka]

This isn't helping your marriage prospects

It's really not but I can't help myself.

[Jarid in Cedar]

It's really not but I can't help myself.

I don't know what is hurting you more, the commentary or that you are taking a date to Cafe Rio