Daily lists of calories you eat.!!!

[Cactus]

Sorry if this sounds real primative or ridiculous but I can't function properly without taping a piece of paper on my counter everyday and writing down what I eat and put the calories down next to the item.

 

At the end of the day when I reach 1,200. or 1,000. I stop. I can split my meals into around 300cal. for the 3 main meals then I get a 100cal. healthy snack at the end of the day. otherwise I can't even start to do this lifestyle I am a new member.

 

Just my 2 cents. if I keep at this I'd like to see if I can go with lessor calories. Right now I'm not a good role model (snuck packaged food in) so I'm hiding out here in the members only area,I've banned myself from corrupting new members today.

 

 

Here we go again at least I keep going back to the drawing board. I feel like the dilingquint(spwrg?) ant in the ant farm today. I feel like drinking a gallon of distilled water and cleaning my system out and starting over.

God Bless the people here that have willpower maybe we should have a confessional thread. O.k. I'll post when I feel better. Later Cactus....I have bags of vege tables to prep from the produce section today. Arrhhhh..

[Vanilla]

I have to put all mine in my CROnonmeter phone app, or I start to feel out of touch with what I'm consuming. All goes well except the last week b4 my period when it all goes to hell. I've been reading up on it and the phenomen is linked to low serotonin levels they think. Bit humbling for ones sense of self control.

On another note, any CR folks in Vancouver BC, I was thinking of trying to create a local support group.

Cheers

[Cactus]

[Cactus]

Feel 100% better today. Trying to get my husband to do this also and my Mom.

I looked up their cronometer weights and keeping a piece of paper with their daily calorie limits also.

all 3 pieces of paper taped to my kitchen counter. they can see the calories they are eatting.

They are harder to convince of this the fridge is loaded with veggies and some fruit.

So they will eat better along with me.

I will study more from the archives in here when I get more time.

Have a great day Fellow Cr's this is the best health lifestyle I ever found be happy it's a member Club.

I am happy for this!!!! Later Cactus.... :D

[Cactus]

I have to put all mine in my CROnonmeter phone app, or I start to feel out of touch with what I'm consuming. All goes well except the last week b4 my period when it all goes to hell. I've been reading up on it and the phenomen is linked to low serotonin levels they think. Bit humbling for ones sense of self control.

On another note, any CR folks in Vancouver BC, I was thinking of trying to create a local support group.

Cheers

Ursula that is a good idea I donot have apps. on my phone but if I did i'd do that at least you added in to my conversation here thankyou. Hope you can get a local group going.Later,Cactus(I just looked up serotonin because of what you wrote The whole cravings the whole ball of wax with that the pineal gland and the pituitary gland in the brain somehow they hold the key to weight loss I believe that sort of regulates cravings etc. too bad no ones tapped into that. I don't get it. But if the pituitary gland is a time clock for our ageing you'd think scientists would have cracked the mystery by now. that has always bugged me. Later Cactus....

[Vanilla]

Ursula that is a good idea I donot have apps. on my phone but if I did i'd do that at least you added in to my conversation here thankyou. Hope you can get a local group going.Later,Cactus(I just looked up serotonin because of what you wrote The whole cravings the whole ball of wax with that the pineal gland and the pituitary gland in the brain somehow they hold the key to weight loss I believe that sort of regulates cravings etc. too bad no ones tapped into that. I don't get it. But if the pituitary gland is a time clock for our ageing you'd think scientists would have cracked the mystery by now. that has always bugged me. Later Cactus....

 

 

Just be thankful you are a guy, studies show that food cues really light up the brain (on some functional imaging -cant recall what) the last half of the cycle. So i think us ladies are at a disadvantage when it comes to CR.

These days i'm into doing some 24 hr fasting and that has been a real eye opener for me. I initially found it hard but the body really seems to adapt ( i suspect it does become better at oxidative uncoupling ergo fat burning) and now i can go all day without getting that hungry.

[Vanilla]

Just be thankful you are a guy, studies show that food cues really light up the brain (on some functional imaging -cant recall what) the last half of the cycle. So i think us ladies are at a disadvantage when it comes to CR.

These days i'm into doing some 24 hr fasting and that has been a real eye opener for me. I initially found it hard but the body really seems to adapt ( i suspect it does become better at oxidative uncoupling ergo fat burning) and now i can go all day without getting that hungry.

 

 

Opps sorry just realised you are woman also, sorry

[Thin is in]

I am a new member, how many calories are we supposed to consume per day? It must depend on height?

[keithsct]

I am a new member, how many calories are we supposed to consume per day? It must depend on height?

 

Hi Thin, The amount of calories depends on the individual's metabolism and body size. It's tailored to each individual. In animal studies you would take a bunch of rats that are the same age and average out their food consumption, then cut it by 20-60%. In humans the usual approach is to figure out how much you used weigh when you were thin and fit in early adulthood before you started to accumulate excess body mass. Next figure out how many calories you would normally eat to maintain that weight and finally cut it by 20-40%. Always one must make sure that the diet is providing the proper nutrients to sustain a healthy life.

 

As an example, I used to be 190 lbs and consume 2600 calories a few years ago. I've found out that I needed about 1750 calories to allow me to maintain my body at a stable weight of 155 lbs. Measuring in terms of BMI I went from 26 to about 21. Sometimes people estimate their calorie reduction as a percent of CR. In my case it's 1 - 1750/2600 = 33%.

 

When you're doing CR successfully, medical tests clearly show a distinct pattern of lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, lower inflammation markers, lower blood counts usually and a lower body temperature.

 

 

 

[dave]

Hi All. Like others I am a new member but unfortunately I live alone, and I am a westerner living in Asia. I saw you discussion on listing calories and yes that is probably a great idea - even essential. My issue is just how do you keep the willpower going. Seriously I am finding it quite hard. I string together a few days of "good behaviour" and then it all comes unstuck. Any ricks / methods that anyone can suggest to keep the self discipline going please let me have em!! [short of checking my self into a clinic or prison :-) ]

[Saul]

Hi All. Like others I am a new member but unfortunately I live alone, and I am a westerner living in Asia. I saw you discussion on listing calories and yes that is probably a great idea - even essential. My issue is just how do you keep the willpower going. Seriously I am finding it quite hard. I string together a few days of "good behaviour" and then it all comes unstuck. Any ricks / methods that anyone can suggest to keep the self discipline going please let me have em!! [short of checking my self into a clinic or prison :-) ]

 

Hi Dave!

Welcome to the CR Society!

My suggestion is this:

 

Don't try to do it all at once. Start with whatever you usually eat -- and delete one high calorie item. Replace that with something more filling, with much more fiber, -- perhaps

some raw vegetable (e.g., replace a morning cereal with a large salad, with maybe vinegar for dressing).

 

Slowly replace your usual diet with the improved diet, one item in each meal at a time. Also, use computer sowftware -- IMO, the best is www.cronometer.com -- it's

excellent and free. This will show you how many calories you're consuming, and also will reveal your micronutrient intake.

 

Don't try to make it "perfect" right away -- go slowly, at your pace, and with what you're comfortable.

 

Eventually, you'll be right on track -- and enjoying what you're eating, without any desire to slip back into your old diet.

 

-- Saul

[dave]

Thanks Saul

 

The idea of working gradually makes sense. I will stick at it. thanks for the davice

 

rgds DA

[LegalNik]

I'm new to this also. I first learned about calorie restriction in my mid-20's and have gradually tried to change my eating habits to healthier low-GI foods ever since but have not consistently cut my calories. Now, having just turned 30, I've decided to fully dedicate myself to it. My main question is should I start reducing calories from my BMR rate? That is, the amount of calories I need just to simply function that day, or should I factor in my activity level as well?

[keithsct]

I'm new to this also. I first learned about calorie restriction in my mid-20's and have gradually tried to change my eating habits to healthier low-GI foods ever since but have not consistently cut my calories. Now, having just turned 30, I've decided to fully dedicate myself to it. My main question is should I start reducing calories from my BMR rate? That is, the amount of calories I need just to simply function that day, or should I factor in my activity level as well?

Activity doesn't really get factored into the CR. The idea is to do moderate exercise and reduce calories as much as you can while still maintaining full nutrition and a happy lifestyle. If the exercise you do causes you to exceed your calorie goals, then you're probably doing too much. You should reduce calories slowly, but generally people should be cautious when their weight puts them below a BMI of 18.5.

[davenc]

Hello all,

 

I read some about CR years ago and have been very self aware of my body and the weight I have accumulated over the years. I weighed 168 shortly after high school. I am 6'2 and now I weigh 231.8. That is down from 236.2 a month ago. I have been walking about 4 miles each day for 3 weeks and I feel like I've put a lot into it with little results. So here I am considering CR as a very viable option for me.

I love the feeling I felt being so thin in the past. I love how I look , all the options I have in clothing and the attention of course. My Wii says my ideal body weight is around 172 pounds. That seems a bit thin to me but we live in a society where even what people think as a healthy weight really isnt.

Anywho, my goal is 185 for now and then I will go from there. I don't want to starve myself and will gradually ease my body into a low calorie existence.

[ProGhrelin]

Hi All. Like others I am a new member but unfortunately I live alone, and I am a westerner living in Asia. I saw you discussion on listing calories and yes that is probably a great idea - even essential. My issue is just how do you keep the willpower going. Seriously I am finding it quite hard. I string together a few days of "good behaviour" and then it all comes unstuck. Any ricks / methods that anyone can suggest to keep the self discipline going please let me have em!! [short of checking my self into a clinic or prison :-) ]

 

Hi Dave,

Glad to know you.

 

Like you, I'm a fairly new to CR. In just a bit over 6 months I've lost 30 lbs and GREATLY improved my numbers. I found that going cold turkey with daily CR was VERY difficult. So I tried CR with a 4:3 intermittent fasting regime. On Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays I skip breakfast and lunch and eat a 600 cal dinner. On non fasting days I eat what I want (within limits). You won't know what "within limits" means until you had some time to accumulate some data. For me it's about 2200 cal which is totally manageable. With a a software tracker like CRON-O-METER, you can see how you're averaging over a 7 day period, then adjust your eat days to reflect where you want to be. The fast days are hard, ghrelin is a powerful hormone. I don't try to avoid getting hungry, I just deal with it (thinking about something else) for short periods of time, knowing it will be better tomorrow. The weekends are bliss.

[keithsct]

Hello all,

 

I read some about CR years ago and have been very self aware of my body and the weight I have accumulated over the years. I weighed 168 shortly after high school. I am 6'2 and now I weigh 231.8. That is down from 236.2 a month ago. I have been walking about 4 miles each day for 3 weeks and I feel like I've put a lot into it with little results. So here I am considering CR as a very viable option for me.

I love the feeling I felt being so thin in the past. I love how I look , all the options I have in clothing and the attention of course. My Wii says my ideal body weight is around 172 pounds. That seems a bit thin to me but we live in a society where even what people think as a healthy weight really isnt.

Anywho, my goal is 185 for now and then I will go from there. I don't want to starve myself and will gradually ease my body into a low calorie existence.

Hi davenc, I am also 6'2" and my heaviest weight was about 205 lbs. Tons of running 10km distances only reduced that to about 185 or so. Once I implemented a CR diet, I was able to drop down to a very low body fat 155 lbs with almost no real effort. Also it became easier and easier to exercise as the weight dropped off. It's kind of cool to see my six pack for the first time in my life. I guess I just wanted to mention that 172 doesn't have to be the bottom. You can go all the way down to a BMI of 18.5 and still be healthy on CRON. Once you go beyond that, you really need to beware the problems that can arise.

 

Your guide need to be whether you're healthy, fit and still pretty happy. Grouchy and hungry isn't the best way to live, even if it might be longer.

 

 

[Linda6214]

Hi Everyone,

I'd like to introduce myself. I am new to the CR Society as of today.  I am 49,  5"4 and feel best at 114, BMI of 19. I can consume 1000 calories a day and lose but only 1200 to maintain. Period. I exercise every day and I never adjust calorie intake based on exercise. It is already factored in for me. Staying trim takes more discipline each passing year it seems.   I  joined the CR Society today because I want to have the support of other like minded individuals with the same health focused goal where food consumption is concerned. My Dad died of Cancer and my Mother's side from Heart disease. I am wellness focused. I want to proactively decrease my risk factors by eating a nutritionally sound diet, 360 days of the year. (yes, 5 days of holiday or birthday cheating) I am a Whole Foods and Farmer's Market buyer to ensure organically fresh food products. 

 

I invite any member of this CR Society who wants to support and be supported with this personal healthy eating goal to reach out so we can do this together. It is NOT easy to make good food choices every meal of every day. We need to stick together. I am glad I found this organization. Please be in touch if you are interested in more of a one on one or group support process. 

Linda