How Many Calories? Daily food thread for the dieting chazzers

[Domestika]

Ah. I've never been too stuck on the number itself, so I can look at weekly weigh ins as "just tracking". Every monday morning.

Whats your routine, domestika?

As far as diet/exercise?

Diet is fairly standard. I eat healthy; whole grains, fruit/veggies, healthy fats (nuts, seeds, some dairy, oils, etc). My portions are probably a bit of a problem, and I do have a snacking problem, but healthy snacks.

Exercise-wise, I'm doing the Couch to 5K program, so working up to running 30 minutes. I'm at the Week 4 level because I had an injury for a few weeks and I'm purposely taking things slow because once running becomes uncomfortable for me I just stop altogether. So I'm giving myself a lot of time to get adjusted to each stage. I don't run as often as I should. Usually only two or three times a week.

Strength training-wise, I do bodyweight and weightlifting exercises. I alternate two different full body routines and usually do them every other day. It takes about an hour and I increase my weight or reps on a weekly basis.

So, really, I'm not going at it hardcore but compared to a few months ago my lifestyle is quite different. I had expected bigger changes in my body as a result...but I guess big changes require a big effort and I'm really only putting in a medium effort right now.

 

[Dakotah]

Dakotah- Dont worry about saying stuff like how heavy you are and stuff... I didnt think i would ever do this, but i posted "before" pictures of myself on the weight-loss forum I was totally mortified that i actually did it! But they were all supportive and it was actually inspiring for me..

October is a good, stable and healthy pace for 40 lbs! Good job on the 5 lbs!

Thank you so much.
Trip to the Bahamas in October, what can be a better reason than that?

 

[KenyiGirl]

June 3

rice - 95 cal
fish - 90 cal
fruit salad - 55 cal
gummy vites - 20 cal
tortilla chips - 80 cal
cheddar cheese - 65 cal
corn on the cob - 50 cal
milk - 175 cal
Kahlua - 190 cal
lots and lots of water - 0

Total - 820

I usually eat a lot more calories than this, but I had a busy day, and didn't eat any breakfast...

 

[FluffyZooCrew]

For those who started with us last Thursday, it's weigh in day!

---> http://www.chazhound.com/forums/t99933-6/

 

[MafiaPrincess]

June 4th

Chocolate chip all bran bar - 130 cal
Cheese bun - 280 cal
Salmon patty (baked) - 180 cal
Diet pepsi - 0 cal
Diet pepsi - 0 cal
Rosemary triscuts (4) - 80 cal
Salad dressing - 60 cal
Diced chicken (half can) - 70 cal
Diet pepsi - 0 cal
Spaghetti sauce (3/4 cup) - 120 cal
Bread - 200 cal
Margarine (2 tbsp) - 70 cal
Diet pepsi - 0 cal
Skim milk mozz (1 oz) - 72 cal

Daily total: 1262 calories

 

[Zhucca]

June 4th

Breakfast:
Oatmeal with milk, blueberries and raspberries. 192 calories.

'Snack', eaten over a couple hours.
Some sugar snap peas, strawberries and blackberries. 133 calories.

Lunch, a ham, sprouts and cheese sandwich with mustard. 381 calories.

Went to a movie, had popcorn. 253 calories.

Diet pepsi, 0 calories.

Supper
Chicken sandwich with mayo (bad). 501 calories.

With a ending total of 1,459 calories.

 

[KenyiGirl]

June 4th

String cheese - 80 cal
gatorade - 25 cal
fruit salad - 25 cal
mac & cheese - 250 cal
nuggets - 140 cal
sunchips - 140 cal
top ramen - 155 cal
corn on cob - 25 cal
gummy vites - 15 cal
salad with olives and sunflower seeds - 40 cal
ranch for salad - 140 cal
juice - 140 cal

Total - 1175 cal

 

[Domestika]

June 4th

String cheese - 80 cal
gatorade - 25 cal
fruit salad - 25 cal
mac & cheese - 250 cal
nuggets - 140 cal
sunchips - 140 cal
top ramen - 155 cal
corn on cob - 25 cal
gummy vites - 15 cal
salad with olives and sunflower seeds - 40 cal
ranch for salad - 140 cal
juice - 140 cal

Total - 1175 cal

Oh my dear. You should really look into your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) and see how many calories your body needs to function. I'd shave 250 calories off that number and add 250 calories worth of exercise each day. You'd lose a pound a week and it would be more likely to stay off. I think 1500 daily calories is about as low as anyone should go. Below that you're just tricking your body into taking drastic measures (which are not conducive to long term weight loss!).

And you'd probably get a lot more out of your calorie budget if you ate less processed foods. I'm sure you know...I'm just reminding you. It's a lot easier, of course, to just eat packaged foods but I think you'd end up feeling more satisfied if you ate more "whole" foods. Can definitely be a hard habit to get into!

Sorry for sounding preachy. I've done a lot of reading on these things and like to help, if I can.

 

[Domestika]

Wasn't sure where to stick this, so I'm just sticking it here! I know there's a healthy meal thread somewhere but I couldn't track it down...

This is what I had for dinner tonight:

And here's the breakdown. Slightly high on the calories, but it was HUGE and filling and you could easily just take out the olive oil because I only used it to carmelize the onions. And you could take out the almonds too. They didn't make much of a difference. I would have added some flaxseed instead if I had thought of it.

I tend to top up my protein when I can (ie. the egg, nuts, cheese) because I'm vegetarian and I also weight lift, but you can definitely do less. Though I recommend at least some to keep you feeling satisfied. I didn't eat much earlier today so I made it a big bigger than it would have been otherwise.

Veggies were all about a handful's worth, chopped.

sliced cucumber 8 cal
sliced tomato 38 cal
sliced mushroom 8 cal
1 whole hardboiled egg 78
thinly sliced green apple 20 cal
1/2 onion, diced and carmelized 8 cal
1 T olive oil (to carmelize) 120 cal
2oz chopped havarti cheese 120 cal
spinach shredded 7 cal
handful chopped almonds 150 cal
handful steamed green beans 15 cal
---
572 calories

 

[Dekka]

Less processed foods are good.. but for health.

I am sorry Domestika my Dr would disagree with you as would one of my best friends (she is a metabolic nutritionist). 1500 is very reasonable. Many people actually only need 2000 a day. I went WAYYY lower than that (with Dr's ok after trying all sorts of other things) the weight stayed off ... lol till I went back to school and my eating habits went to he11,

1200 is very reasonable. Even better with exercise. I was eating less than that and running 4km everyday and felt great. But exercise only helps so much.

Its what works for you. 1500 a day with 40 min of elliptical time and hiking didn't work for me. I might have lost a pound every couple of weeks, but that is too slow. That would have been 120 weeks. I lost 60 pounds in a timely manner and kept them off till I ate stupidly again.

 

[FluffyZooCrew]

Less processed foods are good.. but for health.

I am sorry Domestika my Dr would disagree with you as would one of my best friends (she is a metabolic nutritionist). 1500 is very reasonable. Many people actually only need 2000 a day. I went WAYYY lower than that (with Dr's ok after trying all sorts of other things) the weight stayed off ... lol till I went back to school and my eating habits went to he11,

1200 is very reasonable. Even better with exercise. I was eating less than that and running 4km everyday and felt great. But exercise only helps so much.

Its what works for you. 1500 a day with 40 min of elliptical time and hiking didn't work for me. I might have lost a pound every couple of weeks, but that is too slow. That would have been 120 weeks. I lost 60 pounds in a timely manner and kept them off till I ate stupidly again.

:hail:

I believe 1500 is more than reasonable, and I think 1200 is just fine. My dad, years ago, was obese. He lost nearly 100lb's on a diet of around 1200 calories a day and exercise. It's been almost 10 years, and he's had no problem keeping it off.

 

[KenyiGirl]

Hey Domestica
Thanks for the reminder. I do eat more on days I go to the gym, but lately my excersize habits have been a bit lax Gotta be better about that...

 

[Domestika]

1200 is very reasonable. Even better with exercise. I was eating less than that and running 4km everyday and felt great. But exercise only helps so much.

Oh...my... That sounds way too low to me. Obviously my sources have different opinions than yours...which is to be expected!

As well, I guess it depends on your starting weight.

My BMR is about 2000 cal/day. I can't imagine cutting out almost HALF of the calories my body needs to perform it's most basic functions. And then adding exercise to it.

If it's Dr. ok'd, cool. But my main concern when I see diets of 1200 and less is "how on earth are they going to maintain that for life?" To me, it's just a matter of time before a person goes back to eating more than that because the calories are so low that it's either "I'm restricting my intake" or "I'm not restricting my intake". One loses weight, the other gains weight and there's no happy, maintainence middle ground.

Just my two cents.

 

[FluffyZooCrew]

June 5th, 2009

Breakfast:

2 slices bread - 120 cal.
1 egg - 70 cal.
1 cup orange juice - 140 cal.

Lunch

1 slices bread - 120 cal.
Ham - 50 cal.
Baked Lays, 1 oz - 120 cal.
Koolaid with splenda - 0 cal.

Snack:

1 peach - 50 cal.

Dinner:

Veggie stirfry:
1 cup summer squash - 40 cal.
1 cup zhuccini - 28 cal.
1 cup chopped tomato - 32 cal.
bbq sauce - 2tbls - 60 cal.

Lean ground turkey burger - 190 cal.
2 slices bread - 120 cal.

Snack:

Low fat Jello pudding cup - 100 cal.

Total: 1240 cal.

 

[Dekka]

If it's Dr. ok'd, cool. But my main concern when I see diets of 1200 and less is "how on earth are they going to maintain that for life?" To me, it's just a matter of time before a person goes back to eating more than that because the calories are so low that it's either "I'm restricting my intake" or "I'm not restricting my intake". One loses weight, the other gains weight and there's no happy, maintainence middle ground.

Just my two cents.

But you don't.. you shouldn't. You need to not eat 3500 to loose a pound right? Well once you have lost your weight you go back to eating for the basal rate for that current weight. If you stayed below your basal rate you would keep loosing until you became very ill or until you reached the weight that is commensurate for the calories you are eating. (depending on how low you go)

If you eat pretty much your basal rate and loose weight by exercising like crazy.. you will always have to exercise like crazy.

 

[MafiaPrincess]

June 5th, 2009

Lunch

1 slices bread - 120 cal.
Ham - 50 cal.

Uhh it's haaaammmmmmm

To me, it's just a matter of time before a person goes back to eating more than that because the calories are so low that it's either "I'm restricting my intake" or "I'm not restricting my intake".)

I'm not really restricting much of anything. I'm just actually looking at what I put in my mouth. Can't say I've ever really done that. I snack and don't really think about it. Making better choices and knowing how much an oz of cheese is. I had no idea.

I was aiming for 1500. I found though I am content and not hungry below that though, and still offer myself snack options. But now it's carrots and dip rather than a large amount of chips or something. I found 70 cal cheesecakes I adore. Woodys comes in 99 calorie bottles these days. Can't say I'm feeling deprived. Might need more calories if I was doing more with my day, but riding horses and playing agility hasn't been demanding enough to feel hungry. If I start to feel hungry.. I will eat more.

I'm a ski instructor. I ski 40 hours a week, every week, December to March. I pick up little kids all day and ski hard. For all I do which is a lot more than most people. I come off winter looking good and get soft around the middle in summer again unlike most people. For all I do.. I cannot get below 150 pounds. Exercise alone for my body does not make me loose weight. I tone up. I know I tone up, but technically I should be a little lighter.

To maintain my 168 pound self the websites say I would need 2200 calories a day. I figured out that is about how much I ate during the winter. I ate a good number of packaged lunches at work with the calories on them. I've taught 4 winters in a row. This winter I skied my 40 hours a week, took more ski trips off hill to push myself hard, and am heavier and less toned than ever. I am a smidgen under my heaviest ever. Year older.. sure. But here I am eating what the sites claim I should and kicking my butt 5 days a week as my job is pretty much exercise.. and getting no where this time around.

So I am having to cut calories now. Same site that says 2200 with no exercise to maintain my self.. says 1500 if I don't exercise. And I can't say I feel like formulating a plan to have to exercise daily to be able to maybe eat more.. or maybe not. I might see in a few weeks that the site was wrong.. and I am not losing then either by upping calories again because I am exercising some.

June 5th

2 slices bacon - 210 cal
Egg - 70 cal
Onion - 10 cal
Skim milk mozz cheese (1 oz) - 72 cal
skim milk (2 tbsp) - 11 cal
Diet pepsi - 0 cal
3/4 cup kettle corn (low cal) - 110 cal
salmon fillet - 90 cal
skim milk mozz (1 oz) - 72 cal
onion - 10 cal
cucumber - near 0 cal
Diet pepsi - 0 cal
Diet pepsi - 0 cal
Croutons - 70 cal
Salad dressing - 120 cal
lettuce - near 0 cal
raspberry cheesecake (waist watchers) - 70 cal
Chocolate pretzel snack pack - 100 cal

Daily total - 1015 calories

Weight this morning 162 pounds

 

[Renee750il]

I am on 2200 cal a day for my weight loss regime. So far I am sticking just under it and feeling great. I have lost 1kg which is 2.2lbs! Yay for me!
It is true though, you don't really feel deprived once you get used to it.

*smacks Puppydog on back of head* Wanna guess how much weight I would GAIN on 2200 calories a day? :wall:

I hafta stick to around 800 - 1000 calories to dump weight with any regularity.

 

[MericoX]

Breakfast:
2 pieces of toast - 200 calories
8 oz mango-lemonade - 100 calories
water - 0 cal
-------------------------------------------
Lunch
D'Angelo Cheeseburger sub - 530 cal
Diet Coke - 0 cal
One Ritz n Cheese cracker - 33cal
blueberries 1/4 cup - 21 cal
-----------------------------------
Supper
Sunkist- 190 cal 1074
Burger Bun - 150
Pulled Pork - 230? (didnt weigh it)
BBQ sauce - 70
French fries - 110

1634 calories so far. Woot!

 

[FluffyZooCrew]

Way to go Mer!!

 

[Zhucca]

I binged bad today. Started out well.. I'm not that concerned since I did stay within my target calorie goal, but nonetheless I didn't feel that good after eating it. 'You are what you eat' and what not.

June 5th

Breakfast
Oatmeal with strawberries, blueberries and milk. ~220 Calories


'Snack' eaten over a couple of hours. Snap peas, strawberries and black berries. (I'm aware my meals are really fruit heavy.. i'm trying hard to like and add more vegetables into my diet.) ~117 calories

It begins.
XLarge chai latte from starbucks ~300 calories

And then I had poutine. For those who don't know what poutine is (since they apparently don't serve poutine in most places in the US.) It's fries, gravy and curdled cheese. ~899 calories.

in total: 1,527 calories.