Counting Calories

[Mother Bear]

Hi, was wondering if anyone here have counted calories to help lose weight and how successful is it? I am cutting out most of the main carbs like pasta, rice and breads etc but I still want to eat lots of veg. I want to find a diet that is kind of in the middle ground. Lowish in carbs with good fats like olive oil etc but also be able to eat lots of veg. I need to lose at least 9 stone to get into a comfortable bmi range. I know that it is going to take a long time so I need a diet I can live with long term that will control my bgs and help me lose weight. Any advice appreciated.

 

[sugarless sue]

For a diabetic the carbs are more important than the calories. If you eat a lowish carb diet then you will lose weight as well.

You have made a good start by cutting out the 'empty' carbs, ie the starchy carbs in bread , potatoes, pasta and rice and can get your 'good' carbs from vegetables and fruit. The key is to test before and two hours after meals to see how the meal has affected your blood sugars and also to reduce the portion sizes of food on your plate gradually.

Try using a smaller plate and also, to begin with, weigh out the food so that you can calculate the amount of carbohydrate that you are eating.

I don't know what amount you eat at the moment but aim to reduce the amount of carbs, try for a week and, if ok with that, try and reduce the amount again until you are eating around 100gm carbs a day or less.

As you say this is long term diet, a life style change, so you need to be happy with what you eat or you will not stick to it.

Once you have been on this for a while you may find that you are not so hungry and possibly you will be able to reduce the carb intake even more but do it in stages at a pace you are happy with and, as said, keep testing and also keep a food diary to see what effect the food is having on your blood sugars.

It is not a race, go at your own pace.

 

[lovinglife]

Hi motherbear

The advice Sue has given is very good and really works!

I have done numerous counting calories diets over the years with varying amounts of success - the most success I had was with WW and managed to maintain for a few years though it was a real struggle as I have PCOS and was probably (unknowingly) insulin resistant since my early 20's.

Then BAM - last June diagnosed with T2 - took on a new lifestyle (not diet) to treat my diabetes - reduced carbs about 130g a day - low G.I, low fat - portion controlled. Although I knew I had to get the weight off I decided to take one thing at a time and get my diabetes sorted first.

A FANTASTIC side effect of my new way of eating with some exercise was my weight loss - almost 61/2 stone in 11 months! - and not even part of the plan 8)

give it a try - I never think about a calorie anymore - just the carbs and sat fat and G.I. - I still eat a small amount of new potatoes, rice and pasta - the only bread I eat is the burgen - I tolerate all these quite well - In fact as my weight drops I find I can take more carbs on the rare occasions such as meals out etc I eat TONS of veg but I am more careful with protein - portion control is the key - I literally cut all my portions in half (apart from veg)

Like Sue says its not a race and think of it as a lifestyle change not a diet - this way you get into a different mind set. I also only weigh myself once a month or so - I know I go up and down a little within that month but I am always a bit lighter at the end of it

You can do this - because if I did anyone can!!

 

[sue32]

I've been following the Glycaemic load diet for 5 months now - cutting out starchy carbs and eating more 'free' carbs, and since March 1st I've lost 21kgs, that's about 3.3 stone. I don't count calories, I go by the 'palm of the hand' food size portioning (!) If that's a word!! 1 portion of protein, 2 portions free carbs. If you want a piece of bread or something, just have 1 portion of free carbs and 1 portion of starchy carbs. It's worked for me!!!!

 

[Synonym]

Hello Mother Bear.

Agree with all the above posts. In addition I wouldn't bother with counting anything, just portion control and completely cutting out the starchy carbs and just getting your carbs from your fruit and veg.

Eat to your meter and you can't go far wrong. 8)

 

[Mother Bear]

Thank you for your advice guys!