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2012-11-26 3:12 PM

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Elite
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Minnetonka
Subject: How do I count calories?
No, really, it's time for me to start.  How do I know how many calories are in the normal stuff I eat?  For instance, I make a salad with a bunch of spinach, about 4 slices of beets, some cottage cheese and sunflower seeds.  I eat this almost every day for lunch at work.  How many calories is that??   I also need to journal what I eat, I think my snacking and portion size are out of control...  


2012-11-26 3:15 PM
in reply to: #4510657

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Extreme Veteran
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Subject: RE: How do I count calories?
I use myfitnesspal.com and can access it through the internet or through an app on my iPhone.  It has a great database of foods and allows you to add nutritional information from packages as well.  Have lots of friends and family using it as well.
2012-11-26 3:21 PM
in reply to: #4510657

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Subject: RE: How do I count calories?

Do you have a smartphone?  I started using an app the frst week in October.  I had lost about 30# since 2011, but needed to tighten things up.  Since I started I am down about 13 pounds.  You put in your current weight, goal weight, and how many pounds you want to lose.  It gives' you a daily total, that will take into account calories burned thru exercise as you enter it.

I use myfitnesspal app on the phone.  It has a huge library of foods already entered, and will remember the things you eat so they are listed as well.

I try to be serious without being obsessive.  So, for a salad like yours, I'd enter 2 or so cups of mixed greens (or spinach), 1/4 beet (honestly, don't know how big a beet is.....), 3-4 oz cottage cheese and an ounce of sunflower seeds.   Just thumbnailing it, depending on actual amounts, what I just described is in the 130 kcal range.

2012-11-26 3:35 PM
in reply to: #4510657

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Master
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Falls Church, VA
Subject: RE: How do I count calories?
You can also use the nutrition feature here on BT on your training log. the database of items is pretty extensive and you can also add foods and set up meals you regularly eat.
2012-11-26 3:42 PM
in reply to: #4510657

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Elite
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Subject: RE: How do I count calories?
Thanks folks.  I do not have a smart phone.  Well, I have a fancy phone but won't pay for a dataplan when all I really do is facebook.  I do have an Ipod touch though.  I'll peruse the apps tonight.  It's time to get down to business...!
2012-11-26 3:46 PM
in reply to: #4510657

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Expert
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Subject: RE: How do I count calories?

Same here...myfitnesspal helped me drop about 55 lbs. since January.  I stopped using it regularly and put 8 back on and I'm now back on it again and dropping lbs. again.



2012-11-30 9:02 AM
in reply to: #4510657

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Elite
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Subject: RE: How do I count calories?
Thanks guys.  I have the app on my Kindle fire.  Loving it so far.  
2012-11-30 10:46 AM
in reply to: #4510695

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Subject: RE: How do I count calories?

Nipper - 2012-11-26 4:35 PM You can also use the nutrition feature here on BT on your training log. the database of items is pretty extensive and you can also add foods and set up meals you regularly eat.

I've used MyFitness Pal too.. but I log my workouts in BT so I started using it instead. I'm very happy doing so. 

2012-11-30 11:16 AM
in reply to: #4510657

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Master
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Grand Prairie
Subject: RE: How do I count calories?
I use training peak as it integrates the workouts and equipment usage better
2012-12-19 8:27 AM
in reply to: #4510657


11

Subject: RE: How do I count calories?
You'll need some sort of a food scale.  And call me old-fashioned, but I prefer the manual method (pen and paper) when learning cal counting.  There's just something about writing the stuff down that makes you remember it better. 
2012-12-19 10:50 AM
in reply to: #4510663

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Subject: RE: How do I count calories?

Fechter99 - 2012-11-26 3:15 PM I use myfitnesspal.com and can access it through the internet or through an app on my iPhone.  It has a great database of foods and allows you to add nutritional information from packages as well.  Have lots of friends and family using it as well.

 

x1million on myfitnesspal.  That was a game changer for me.



2013-01-24 4:42 PM
in reply to: #4541143

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Subject: RE: How do I count calories?
rnp70 - 2012-12-19 9:50 AM

Fechter99 - 2012-11-26 3:15 PM I use myfitnesspal.com and can access it through the internet or through an app on my iPhone.  It has a great database of foods and allows you to add nutritional information from packages as well.  Have lots of friends and family using it as well.

 

x1million on myfitnesspal.  That was a game changer for me.

Started using it today! I'm just not sure where to get the info for my calories burned during exercise for the 3 different disciplines??? (That is accurate!)


Edited by todds 2013-01-24 4:46 PM
2013-01-24 5:27 PM
in reply to: #4593456

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Subject: RE: How do I count calories?
todds - 2013-01-24 2:42 PM
rnp70 - 2012-12-19 9:50 AM

Fechter99 - 2012-11-26 3:15 PM I use myfitnesspal.com and can access it through the internet or through an app on my iPhone.  It has a great database of foods and allows you to add nutritional information from packages as well.  Have lots of friends and family using it as well.

 

x1million on myfitnesspal.  That was a game changer for me.

Started using it today! I'm just not sure where to get the info for my calories burned during exercise for the 3 different disciplines??? (That is accurate!)

MFP (IMO) overstates calories a bit, or maybe a lot.  I use a garmin with a HRM and MFP is sometimes 2-3 X the garmin for calories.  Even the garmin I back off a little though. 

2013-01-24 5:33 PM
in reply to: #4510657

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Master
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Subject: RE: How do I count calories?
Trainingpeaks (hence I prefer this ofer fitness pal)
2013-01-24 6:06 PM
in reply to: #4510657

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Subject: RE: How do I count calories?
I like fitday.com - it's free, easy to use, you can add your own foods too
2013-01-24 6:39 PM
in reply to: #4510657

Regular
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Alberta, Canada
Subject: RE: How do I count calories?
Another good one is "lose it"!

11 lbs this month!


2013-01-25 8:58 AM
in reply to: #4510657

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Subject: RE: How do I count calories?

Looks like I need to start counting calories as well, I have been stuck at 190 for weeks now and cant seem to break it.  I know I eat a lot, and am maintaining my weight (more or less).

I don't know how well I will do with some of my meals, I don't follow a set recipe, I just add ingredients as I go along.  I could give a good estimate then add +50 calories or so, maybe that would work.

Who knows maybe just the logging of the calories will show that I am taking in to much, and cut a little out.

2013-01-27 1:54 PM
in reply to: #4510657

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Mesa, AZ
Subject: RE: How do I count calories?

Make sure you are not only "counting" calories but eating the right type of calories.

Try limiting your total carbohydrates to 100 grams or less. I know that is not much, just work on getting it down.

Eat .5-.7 grams of protein per pound of body weight spread out over 3 meals a day.

Now get the rest of your daily calories from good fats. 

Use this food pyramid:

http://physiotherapyaz.com/superhuman-food-pyramid

 

 

2013-01-28 2:27 PM
in reply to: #4510657

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Alpharetta, Georgia
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Subject: RE: How do I count calories?

Even with a great app or system, you still have to MEASURE your food. This is tough when you eat anything that is not individually packaged as 1 serving. 

"A bunch of spinach" could be anywhere from 1/2 c to 4 cups. So measure and see.
"Some cottage cheese" could range from 2 Tbsp to 2 cups. So measure and see.

Measure. Track everything. Spend the time to calculate homemade recipes per serving. If you're to the point where you NEED to do this, guestimating won't cut it anymore.  

2013-01-28 2:46 PM
in reply to: #4598225

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Subject: RE: How do I count calories?
lisac957 - 2013-01-28 2:27 PM

Even with a great app or system, you still have to MEASURE your food. This is tough when you eat anything that is not individually packaged as 1 serving. 

"A bunch of spinach" could be anywhere from 1/2 c to 4 cups. So measure and see.
"Some cottage cheese" could range from 2 Tbsp to 2 cups. So measure and see.

Measure. Track everything. Spend the time to calculate homemade recipes per serving. If you're to the point where you NEED to do this, guestimating won't cut it anymore.  

Very true measuring cups and a food scale are two vital tools to have to accurately count calories.  Also don't take the app's word as gospel when it comes to calories burned during exercise.  Just use them as a general guideline and always try and end your day a few hundred calories ahead of the curve.

2013-02-20 2:22 PM
in reply to: #4510657

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Idaho Falls
Subject: RE: How do I count calories?
Nothing's better than myfitnesspal. I use it on the iPhone, but I assume they have an app for the iTouch as well.


2013-02-20 3:56 PM
in reply to: #4510657


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Subject: RE: How do I count calories?

I have used several in the past.  Right now I'm using myfitnesspal as well.    I literally get out measuring cups and spoons to measure portions instead of just guessing.  I also have a kitchen scale as well for measuring things liked potatoes etc.  

Another handy tool for counting calories of home made items like chili or soup is the use the recipe calculator from Spark  http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-calculator.asp 

Good luck!

 

 

 

2013-02-20 4:53 PM
in reply to: #4510657

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Master
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Grand Prairie
Subject: RE: How do I count calories?

The calories on my Garmin are always way low.

Being to far under it good either. 

2013-02-20 5:19 PM
in reply to: #4630610

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Subject: RE: How do I count calories?
timf79 - 2013-02-20 2:53 PM

The calories on my Garmin are always way low.

Being to far under it good either. 

Do you use a HR Monitor?  I find the mfp app way (WAY)) overstates things.  My Garmin also seems to overstate without the HRM.  With the HRM it's a bit lower, and I generally use close to that number.  It's all sort of a guesstimate anyway that you only really prove with a loss (or disprove with a gain)

2013-02-20 5:34 PM
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Master
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Grand Prairie
Subject: RE: How do I count calories?

I use  a 310XT with HRM.

Seen my Garmin as low as 100kcal per mile (running) for me (6'6" - 200lbs)...

Garmin Swim (w/o) HR is way off any other web-based estimates (which are all in the same ball-park for run and swim)

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