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***The "Unofficial" Guide to Calorie Count Plus***

So, you stumbled upon our humble site and now you are wondering "Where do I start?".
Here are just a few ideas and hints to get  you going......

FAQ's

Everything that you need to get you started is touched on below, but if you want a clear and concise list of some of the most frequently asked questions, you can go to the bottom of any page and will see a link that says Help.  This is a wonderful compilation of some of the more common questions, along with some of the questions that you might have after exploring the site a bit further.
Check it out first!

Profiles

I would recommend that first and foremost you create a profile.
This can be as brief or as elaborate as you wish. It's easily edited, so you can add to it and edit as you go.
Your profile is how other CC members get to know you. It's the first step in forming a support network of friends who you can seek advice, support, and encouragement through, that have similar interests and/or goals.

Forums

Now, you might wonder how you can find new friends who will then be able to view your profile.
You can easily do this by browsing (and, when you are ready, even participating in) the Forums.

There are two ways that you can search the website.
First, by using the search box that appears in the top right hand corner of the screen.
When you enter a search criteria in this box, you can choose if you want to search Food, Activities, Recipes, or Forums by clicking that particular topic above the search box.

If you are interested in finding out about a specific topic in a certain forum, click on that forum.
Once you are in that main screen, along the top of the thread list you will see a menu bar with the options:

All Forums | New Topic | Search

If you click on the "Search" link you can search that particular forum for the topic or question you are interested in.
This is VERY helpful to do BEFORE posting any questions or popular topics of discussion.
There is a good chance that the topic has been posted about before, and you might find the answer to your question, or be able to join a lively discussion that is already taking place regarding the topic you are interested in.
This helps in cutting down on repetetive posts, and in keeping the boards a bit more concise.
If you are unable to find the answer to your question, then feel free to start a new topic!

We have forums that cover pretty much EVERY topic you could imagine.
Check them out:

Weight Loss
Diet support and general discussion.
Motivation
Share your success, frustrations, and get motivated.
Fitness
From yoga to kickboxing, find out about and share ideas regarding your exercise and workout routines. Our resident "fitness gurus" will be happy to provide their input as well.
Foods
Discuss healthy favorites and alternatives in the foods you eat; whether you're cooking at home, or going out.
Health & Support
Share support and discuss issues, strategies, and ideas related to medical conditions.
Recipes
For all the new, and "seasoned" chefs on Calorie Count :) Share your old recipes and discover new ones.
Vegetarian
A forum specifically for sharing ideas and asking questions about meat-free nutritious diets and alternatives.
Maintaining
You have met your weight loss goal. What now? Share ideas and ask questions about maintaining your healthy lifestyle.
Games & Challenges
Join a challenge, have fun, and learn with other members.
Young Calorie Counters
A forum for the young and hip teens and twenty-somethin's to 'chill' and discuss things that are important to them :)
New Members
Get started and introduce yourself to the community. 
This Meet N Greet Forum is the perfect place to say "hello".
Calorie Count Plus
Site improvements, suggestions, and assistance.
The Lounge
Put up your feet and talk about whatever's on your mind. There is a topic of conversation for pretty much everyone in the Lounge!

Get noticed!
Here are a few hints to help you get the most appropriate responses to your posts.


Tools

To get the most from your Calorie Count experience you will want to check out the wonderful Tools it has to offer.
You can learn how many calories you burn daily using the Burn Meter, and then the tools will help you determine your Calorie Target, (how many calories you need to consume to meet your goal; whether it be weight gain, weight loss, or even maintaining).
You can also find out your BMI (a number representing your weight distribution and, for most, is a good quantifier to determine if you are overweight).

Burn Meter

The EAT meter TOP number shows the number of calories you have selected as your target goal (in your account settings -- you can change it)

The EAT meter BOTTOM number reflects the calories you are logging into your food log.

The BURN meter TOP number is the total estimated calories you burn based on your age, height, current weight, gender, and activity level -- if you set yourself as "sedentary" and then add in your activity calories -- those are added into the TOP number.

The BURN meter BOTTOM number shows how many calories you have burned at the moment you are looking at the meter. This number starts at 0 at midnight, reflects all the calories you burned throughout the night while sleeping, all the calories you burn just by living, and calories normally expended at your listed activity level. When (If) you add in activity minutes -- it will also reflect that added to the total.

If you stay up til midnight you can see both meters switch over to 0.

Logs

After you have determined what your goals are, you will want to start utilizing the Food and Activity logs.
These are the tools that let you enter what you eat and do each day and keep track of the calories you consume and burn!
The databases are very extensive (and being added too ALL the time).
You can find the Food, Activity, and Weight logs all under your "My Account" tab, and then the "Logs" tab.
You can tag those forums  you visit most often, for faster access.
You can tag those foods that you eat regularly, so you don't have to search the database repeatedly - it's right there in your list!
You can even tag the activities and/or exercises you do on a regular basis.
It's easy to set up and makes logging a breeze!


Foods Section

Once you have the basics covered, you might want to check out the Foods section.
Here, you can learn about searching for foods and recipes, and you can even enter your own recipes to get the nutritional analysis. It's fun and very cool. 

Library

Since Calorie-Count has partnered with About.com Health, we have had many wonderful resources made available to us.
If you go to the Library, you can watch videos on everything from diet, and exercise, to Home & Garden related topics.
You can also meet the Experts, and read their articles on dozens of informative topics that will educate you on everything from Low Carb Cooking to Stress Management.
You can also meet a few of Calorie-Count's community Members.
Just like you always heard growing up - The Library is a wealth of information!
And, the best part? No due dates :)

Questions and Answers

As you can tell, there is a lot to see and do on Calorie Count.
So, take your time, look around, and have fun!|
I promise, you will be glad you are here and soon, you will be telling all your friends about your most recent discovery.

If you have ANY questions, please feel free to ask.
This is what we are here for!

MCDerin,
Volunteer Moderator