Weight Loss

No offense or anything, Im just curious.

How much calories did you eat everyday before you started to wanting to lose weight and count calories?

And how often did you eat unhealthy food?

well I am 179.2,obviously I wasn't counting calories before or else I would not have gotten that big.I will say I gained 4lbs eating a vegetarian diet right after I gave birth last year,I also put on 2 lbs on a clear liquid diet while I was hospitalized.The reason I got so heavy in the first place is that while I was pregnant I ignored what I ate and just ate I craved fries alot and would eat them withuot thinking twice.I regret it now but am doing something about it.after having the baby(9/29/07) I was gaining weight and not losing for the longest time I was under a Dr.'s care because of some health issues and that is when I started researching food and finding out which ones I can eat and what not to.I personally can not do all veggies and fruit and I am learning slowly what is a balanced diet for me.here on this site I have learned that the food pyramid that is reccommended is not always good for everyone and that is what is helping me now I am learning MY body and what it responds to. I guess to answer your question I was not paying attention to calories before and I was eating unhealthy all the time not always junk just stuff my body did not like!

I just noticed I forgot write about myself:

I  think my meals and calories been REALLY much different  everyday. I basically never thought about food. I ate whenever I wanted, I ate whatever I wanted. I could eaten like 2 mc donadls menu's at one day, I could only eaten candy at one day. I never liked real meal.. But Now Ive changed:)

And good luck with your weight loss!!

I gained 20 in my 40's, then 10 last year when I spent the winter at my bf in Florida and another 10 when he was here this year...53 years old, 5 8 1/2 and 193 pounds at my highest. 

I started keeping a food journal and manually calcing calories and was SHOCKED to see totals of 3700-4700 which explains 193 pounds !! 

"Unhealthy" foods - french fries (my own) too often, nightly wine (3-4 glasses).  I've not cut either out, just cut back.

I found CC when I was looking for the calories for something - it is easier calcing with this program and makes me aware as the day goes on what I'm eating.

I am not at the CC rate - I decided I needed to reduce my intake slowly and the first week I shot for 2400-2700 - and upped my activity a bit courtesy of some home improvement projects.  CC says 1650 to lose. 

i weighed over 270lbs! i just ate what i wanted, fast food every day ( normaly a buy 1 get 1 free pizza and ate both!), lots of salt and lots of chocolate. 

I never drank water, i had fizzy pop to quench my thirst and i never excersised at all.

dunno how much calories that would be but must be alot.

now i keep to 2000 calories and weight train 1 day and go running the next day and have sundays off

I'm not exactly sure, but I know it was quite a bit.  My meals themselves typically weren't *that* bad, but I would "graze" all day - I'd eat a bunch of junk food in between meals.  I also never exercised.

Plus, I went out with a particular friend at least once or twice a week, and we always ate really badly.  Sometimes we'd have mini-binges with pizza, other times we'd go to restaurants and I'd eat a bunch.  It really added up, and when I went from about 190 to about 215, I decided I'd better start working hard to lose again!

In my case, it was more of being forced into a sedentary lifestyle.  I became disabled with a chronic pain condition at the age of 30.  I spent two years struggling to just get out of bed and try to walk less than 100 steps without pain.  I was not able to exercise but my eating really wasn't that bad.  Although, I could have watched my sugar intake (which I have thus eliminated) and my carb intake (which I am now limiting).  I am now in remission and have been working out fairly hard for me.  I walk on the treadmill 3 times a day for a total of 3 or more hours.  I walk 9 or more miles a day.  I do half of each workout on the "hill/incline" level.  I can walk 3.3 to 3.4 mph.  I was so proud the day I was able to do 3 miles..then when I could add them up to 9 it was amazing! I used to only be able to be on a treadmill in physical therapy for 5 minutes, now I can stay on it for 90 minutes before needing time to rest! So besides for eating chocolate and sugary snacks occassionally, my weight mainly became an issue due to not being able to physically move and due to some steroid medications that had been given. 

I'm in the same boat at stephieann2.   I never really watched what I ate but I've always eaten rather well,  I like fruits and veggies, and well all kinds of things.  So I've always eaten a pretty balanced diet with a large variety.

Then I started having health problems... chronic pain, reduced activity, steriods and other medications.  The big one came after around of hormone therapy and my thyroid stopped working correctly.   My illness aren't ever going to go away... so I have to learn to work around them.  

I'm just starting on this journey... so we shall see.  Even though I ate alright before, I think i can eat much healthier.  So I think I can do this.   And I need to, because being this overweight can't help my current health problems and puts me at high risk for more.

~Luna

I started counting calories about a month ago.  First I counted what I ate but didn't change my habits, and it was 2500-2700 a day.   I'm at 240 pounds now, and try to eat 1700 or so per day.  I should get down to 1350.  As I lose some weight my calories per day will have to go down to keep losing.

My main downfalls were baked goods and quantities.  I ate nutritious foods for the most part, but way too much of them.  I also love baked goods, like krispy kreme donuts (eat a 6-pack over the morning) or cinnamon rolls. 

I have learned that I can't have "just one".  I have to completely eliminate the bad stuff.  Some people can have 2/3 cup of caramel corn or 1/2 cup of ice cream, but I can't.  If I have any non-nutritious stuff around, I'll eat the whole package during one day.

I'm eating more lettuce, celery, and carrots now, and don't have any of my temptations in the house.  My husband does the grocery shopping for us and is very supportive!