success with calorie counting

kathy otoole

kathy otoole

Member
Having tried dieting in the past with little success I was spurred on to try and lose weight in May this year. I was weighed by hospital as I was due a hip replacement in June and when I discovered how much I weighed - well it was a shock. Just the shock I needed to make me take action.
I decided to calorie count and came up with a figure (1000 calories per day) to aim for.
I keep a log of everything I eat. I don't eat bread, cake , biscuits, chocolate, sweets, crisps, fat.
A typical day is:
1 weetabix with skimmed milk for breakfast
Lunch is a huge salad - lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, spring onions, cucumber, etc average about 300cals
Evening meal is freshly prepared, no processed food. One of my favourite recipes is prawn stir fry which comes in at about 375 calories and is very filling.
Can't believe how easy I have found sticking to the diet for nearly 4 months. Have lost nearly 2 stones and my blood pressure is down:)
If any one has any tips or recipes to share, I would be grateful.
 
Well done you! I've only been calorie counting for 8 days but enjoying it so far.

1000 calories seems quite low. How tall are you and what's your weight? x
 
Hi. Thanks. I was 10st 10lbs and I'm 5'2".
When I started at the end of May I was about to have a hip replacement and couldn't exercise which was why the weight went on in the first place! I figured I needed to set the calories quite low to ensure some weight loss. i now weigh 9 st and could increase the calories but I'm not sure how to without setting all my cravings off again!
I don't find it difficult at all in sticking to it. Any ideas about how I can maintain my weight?
 
Congrats, that's fab! You're the same height as me. I'm starting at around 11 stone and want to be down to 9. As for maintaining... I guess slowly up the calories and keep weighing regularly until you find what level you maintain at? Maybe introduce a snack in the afternoon or after dinner?
 
I am maintaining and upped my cals from 1200 per day I ate when losing and now eat between 15 and 1600 a day and have been ok. My BMR is about 1,700 so I never go over that.
 
Hey your the same height as me too!! I also started around the same weight.. 10st 8 but I had been good for a couple of weeks before I dared to bite the bullet and jump on the scales!! :p my goal originally was also 9st!! ;) I excersize loads though and am maintaining between 7st 9 and 7st 12.. Maintenance I found initially tough to steady my weight but have it pretty sorted now.. I use myfitnesspal to track my calories still am at 1830 but go over that when I go to the gym.. I eat back some but not all of my excersize calories ;) would add some calories to what you have been eating.. Increase it gradually till your happy that your weight stays the same.. I dropped to 7st 7 despite having a healthy bmi felt too ribby.. So a gained a little back ;) I want to look good not like a rack of ribs! :p

Sent from my D2005 using MiniMins.com mobile app
 
It's taken about 3 months so I think I've lost 2lbs per week. I have pretty much stuck to 1000 a day. Sometimes I go over but I don't worry too much about it. If I go out for a meal occasionally I don't worry about that either. I put on a lb wheen I went to my brothers wedding last month, but it came off the next week! I've got about 8lb to go so watch this space!
 
I agree about not wanting to be too skinny. It's not a good look for an older lady like me (50ish). we can look scraggy! I don't think I'm like that yet and would like to lose a few more pounds and may be get down to 8 &1/2 st. I have not been under 9st since about 1996!
Is the phone app easy to use. I might try it. I think if I gradually add back treats to my diet, I won't be able to stop. I don't have lots of foods in the house in case I'm tempted. I suppose I could make slightly larger portions but that's why I put the weight on in the first place!
 
I added snacks.. Anything high in protein and low in fat is good.. Those fage greak yogurts are good.. Cottage cheese.. I am a bugger for sweet things too though!! These days I will just have 1 biscuit tho rather than 3!! :p add more veg to your main meal maybe.. I try and snack on fruit rather than sweets I do have fruit pastles now and again!! I am also a sucker for chocolate Brazil nuts!! But again I will have 1 or 2 rather than trough loads of them!! 1 chocolate Brazil nut is 57 calories for 1!! :eek:

Sent from my D2005 using MiniMins.com mobile app
 
I'll try some of those ideas. I have been looking around at other posts and it seems that 1000 cals per day is not recommended (too low) Perhaps I will increase to 1200 and see how it goes. I don't mind how slowly the weight comes off and I believe it's better that it comes off slowly anyway.
Btw I love choc brazils but only eat plain old ones now as a snack (2 per day)
 
Weighed this morning - Friday no weight lost! still 9st. How is everyone else doing? I went out for a meal last Saturday so I think that's why weight has stayed same. I suppose I'm lucky I haven't gained any!
 
Unfortunately I am unable to exercise much atm as I am due a knee replacement on Monday! Will be bionic woman after that and can get back to walking the dog
 
Good Luck with op - hope everything goes well for you. I have had 3 friends who have fairly recently had knee replacements (one of them had both done at the same time) and all 3 say it is the best thing they have ever done.
 
Thanks a lot. Feeling a bit nervous now but know I'm in good hands. I don't think I'll regret it. Probably won't post for a few days now as op is tomorrow...
 
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