Feels strange being a guy and counting calories....

I feel strange doing this but I understand it is absolutely a necessity. Since my departure from university (2 years ago) I gained 25 lbs and my New Years Resolution is to eliminate my consumption of beer until I have reached my recommended weight of 168.2 lbs (per the WHO) from my current 200.

It is difficult for me to discuss this with friends as most of them, the jerks, have high metabolisms and do not share the same issue as I.

Good luck to you all!

ALL diets work by eating less calories than you burn.  You can call it South Beach or Atkins or Weight Watchers, but it all is counting calories.

I think it helps a lot to count calories for a while and learn what foods you like that are low in calories and what foods are high in calories.  It also helps to learn how much/little you need to eat to satisfy your need each day.

Counting calories sometimes maynot seem like the "manly" thing to do, but it sure has helped me -- when I'm diligent about it. Weight loss is simple math: When calories in (what you eat) are less than calories out (exercise), you lose weight. And tracking that difference has been very helpful for me in the past. It provides good motivation. Unfortunately, I tend to "fall off the wagon" and wind up where I am now -- 245 pounds, about 50 pounds heavier than where I should be. But I'm starting today to do the math again.

Hows the resolution going?  Not having beer is what I'm most afraid of because thats what I do with most of my friends.  Is it working out for you?

The beer thing is big for me too.

I have had  to cut down on "social time with the boys" because it almost always includes a few beers.  When I do have beer, I drink light beer (the calories are about 35% less). Another thing you can do is alternate beer and water or really focus on drinking your beer slowly.

The calorie counting has worked out good for me and opened my eyes about certain foods that are worse than I thought they were.

like most guys, when i go to the fridge for something to drink i want to reach for a beer. so now i dont buy any. if there is none in the fridge i cant drink it.

but when i do go out, i drink liquor instad of beer. depending on where you look, most things i have seen on line say that booze has 64 cal. which is way less than any light beer. and if you dont do shots and sip it on ice, i find my self only drinking a couple shots a night.

besides i think that drinking scotch or whiskey on ice is way more manlier than drinking beer.

Original Post by jaycoy:

Hows the resolution going?  Not having beer is what I'm most afraid of because thats what I do with most of my friends.  Is it working out for you?

I have 3 suggestions regarding this:

1: Offer to drive.  You get to not drink, go out with your buds, and have ammo for later (like when they start slobbering over the waitress or something)

2: milk your beer.  A 12 oz bottle is 100-150 cal, not that bad, so long as you don't have 10 of them ;)

3: just have beer.  A bottle of Bud Lite is 110 cal. A chicken wing is 60-80.   So having 22 wings is the same as having a dozen beers ;). (Note, this is where I used to trip up all the time).

Calorie counting has really helped me. I stopped having the beer, I starting drinking light beer etc. What I found was the best for me, was to learn the amount of calories I was putting into my body and using that information to enjoy a beer and a couple of wings. I enjoy Guinness, at 210 calories per pint (16oz). I can sit with my buddies and drink one Guinness over a period of time where they drink two or three light beers. I have learned to use the calorie counting as a way to enjoy the things I like in proper portions. No one has to know that I calculated what I was going to have.

One night I was catching greif from my friends about not drinking more beers and eating more wings and nachos. My response killed the party. It was "I want to live". Two of my buddies changed there lives. That feels good.

I walked into a party recently and people said, "You look great, what diet are you doing". I said " A new one that is really controversial, I watch my calorie intake and I exercise. I am going to do that rest of my life". I catch no more grief. I found that as people start to see positive changes in you and you are open to telling them the truth the more they accept it.

It is strange to count...but unlike some of my friends...I can count

Everytime I saw my wife's aunt, she'd poke me in the stomach and make a gesture that I am getting fat (she's Chinese and doesn't speak English) and tell everyone "Ni hen Pang" - "You're fat", which is strange cause I'd been within 1 kg for the last year...I finally had to give her a double whammy ...first, I politely said "so are you" and then began to count.

Regardless, it feels good to loose the unwanted weight. My wife asked my why do I want to loose weight...I said why not? and she hasn't said a word about it since..but now she is trying to loose a little as well.

People ask how did I do it....well...it's easy..Exercise, eat better and educate your self...and on that note...I'm going for a pint of Guinness as well. 

Original Post by jmclion:

Calorie counting has really helped me. I stopped having the beer, I starting drinking light beer etc. What I found was the best for me, was to learn the amount of calories I was putting into my body and using that information to enjoy a beer and a couple of wings. I enjoy Guinness, at 210 calories per pint (16oz). I can sit with my buddies and drink one Guinness over a period of time where they drink two or three light beers. I have learned to use the calorie counting as a way to enjoy the things I like in proper portions. No one has to know that I calculated what I was going to have.

One night I was catching greif from my friends about not drinking more beers and eating more wings and nachos. My response killed the party. It was "I want to live". Two of my buddies changed there lives. That feels good.

I walked into a party recently and people said, "You look great, what diet are you doing". I said " A new one that is really controversial, I watch my calorie intake and I exercise. I am going to do that rest of my life". I catch no more grief. I found that as people start to see positive changes in you and you are open to telling them the truth the more they accept it.

Dude, that is awesome!  I usually hate when people type "LOL" because they're not actually laughing, but I have to admit that I am chuckling.

I gotta agree with all of this, especially being a fan of the craft beers.  Pretty much any beer with less than 140 calories is not a beer for me, which means I have to be extra careful about it.

I'll still drink, but I have to be conscious enough to not overdo it and just find that balance.  Granted, it's certainly not as glamorous as being among the cavemen hunters gathered around the fire, but if it means I can still have a drink or two with my buddies while being conscientous about what I consume, then it works.

Great response.  I'm the same way; I try to plan my calorie intake.  I've learned that a Michelob Ultra tastes pretty good and is only about 75 calories.  MGD 64 on the other had is 64 calories but tastes like water.  Wings are a different story though.  I could sit down and eat 20 Hooters wings easily.  How about substituting spiced or steamed shrimp?  Way less calories.

Yea, I hear you.  It is a little odd because other people don't understand.  Also, because I started recently it's like a total change in my habits, instead of grabbing 2 krispy kremes at the office I'll be having an apple or something and my coworkers are like, dude, what's up.

What did it for me though is that 2 weeks ago I had a hernia operation mainly because I'm fat.  That's a minor operation but I'm not able to drive or pick up my kids for a month after it and have been in tons of pain from it.  So, if I don't get smart and do some counting I'm going to end up with a triple bypass and diabetes in 10 years or less.  I'm only 33 but was heading down the wrong road.  I've dropped 3 kilos in the past 2 weeks almost that I've been counting and feel great.

It's totally about choosing to live.

I'd argue that calorie counting is the masculine approach to weight management.

It's all about the numbers - if you get the numbers right about the energy you eat and the energy you burn then you lose weight. What could be more male than that?

Leave the fancy diets with their cooking plans and exotic recipes to the girlies. Get in there and crunch the data!  

So true! :)

If it wasn't all about the stats, how could we keep track of our sports teams or compare who has the faster car or build the bigger computer or own the most power tools?

Totally agree with David.  It's numbers no matter how you look at it.

I'll say this too; counting calories in the privacy of your own home is better than Weight Watchers.  Granted, it did work for me (until it all came back), but at least in my home, I don't have to go to meetings and be the only guy in the room and have to sit thru discussions about gaining weight during a period, breast feeding, etc., etc.

Been there, done that...

I'm glad to see there are so many Guinness Drinkers out there.  What I like best about the counting is the freedom it allows.  If I know I'm going out for a beer, I can cut back at lunch.  And if I'm not able to plan I can exercise a little longer or cut back the next day.

Even with weight watchers, which did work for me but I gained it back, I felt like I was always on a system.  This freedom to adjust is very empowering so you don't have to beat yourself up if you have a Guinneess.  You can just enjoy the creamy deliciousness.