Weight loss without calorie counting.

So I've been losing weight slowly and haven't gained a single pound. :D

11 pounds in 3 months. It has been a VERY difficult journey but it's been a very gratifying experience. :]

At first it was CALORIE COUNTING,CALORIE COUNTING,CALORIE COUNTING!

But then it got VERY overwhelming. So I stopped counting calories and it has worked SOO much better than me.

Now it's PORTION CONTROL,PORTION CONTROL,PORTION CONTROL!

Well just wanted to share for those who also felt/feel overwhelmed with calorie counting. ♥

Good job!

Wow no one can relate to this? I expected more replies lol. I started losing weight without counting calories and it worked. I have lost a total of 20 pounds, and just recently I started counting calories and lost an additional 5 pounds. I am too losing weight slowly. I'm happy for you! By not counting calories all the time I am able to feel like I'm living a normal life!

uh, I think many people were probably already tucked in for the night when it was posted. Bump it tomorrow and it might get better/more responses

I think most people on Calorie Count count calories. Good for you, though. I sometimes wish I had never found this site.

I have been called The Lone Stranger, and the Strange Loner, as far as that goes.  However, I have been called worse and usually with a string of adjectives thrown-in first.

In any case, I count calories religiously.  If I had not counted calories and weighed-in every day, I never could possibly have lost the 45 pounds I lost and have kept off.  To me calorie counting and weighing-in are a necessary, but enjoyable, way for me to stay healthy. 

For all of you who lose weight, keep it off, AND don't count calories, I think it is admirable, and I would never recommend that you do count calories.

i stopped counting calories myself. now i've just been eating low carb (not low calorie tho) stuff during the day (as they make me sleepy anyway), then after working out at night i have my high carb meals.

on the weekends, i then try to eat whatever as long as its sensible. i've been giving into treats (& larger portions) of late over the weekends, so i've actually just been maintaining, and not so much weight/fatloss.

i just couldn't count calories anymore. and after many trial & errors i found that the above works. i just need to plan my treats a bit better instead of giving into emotional eating.

Oh man I am the total opposite.

I find that if Im not counting calories AND trying to lose weight. I undereat which almost always leads to bingeing.

Dont know what id do without calorie counting!! :)

I have found an acceptable balance for me in regards to calorie counting.  I weigh in on Thursdays so from Sunday to weigh in I seriously count my calories.  From Thursday through Saturday I only log in calories if I feel like, and allow myself a couple of higher calorie meals with foods I really enjoy.  But I'm always calculating approximate calories in my mind so I don't get too off track.  I've lost at least a pound a week since starting, with only one week where the scales didn't move.  But it all boils down to doing what works for us. Counting can be a chore sometimes, but I need it to keep me aware of what I'm consuming.

I don't count calories anymore. I just eat fresh, whole, natural foods most of the time... I also focus on listening to my hunger and fullness signals and trying to really slow down and enjoy whatever I am eating.

congradulations on the weight loss, good for you.

i could imagine at times not counting you could eat less...  like you don't see where you only ate x amount and you have room for x, so you eat it.

as long as your eating healthy and getting to where you want to be it doesn't matter.

I am kind of the opposite.  I started back in January with portion control, and started calorie counting in April.  I think they have both been essential (along with more movement) in losing weight in a sustainable fashion.  Counting calories has been a great way to train myself about proper eating and nutrition, and I wouldn't be almost halfway to goal now if I hadn't found CC at the end of March.  I expect that I will need to log calories until I reach goal, but once I am maintaining I hope I will actually be so well trained as an intuitive eater I won't need to continue to log everything I eat so religiously.  But if I need to, I will!  It is a small price to pay to be healthy, as far as I am concerned.

I actually counted and logged calories daily for nearly a month.  This taunt me what the correct portion sizes were for the foods I like to eat.  I haven't counted calories this way for more than two years but I still control portions and educate myself about new foods that I eat.

bump

I technically count calories, but I do it more so in my head with rounded numbers as opposed to meticulously counting and weight every single morsel of food.

I, too, count every calorie.  Everything gets weighed or measured and entered in my food log.  I first discovered CC back in 2004 and lost 85 pounds.  However, I became complacent, stopped counting and gained back over half.  I re-joined CC this past May and have lost 34 pounds.  I very much enjoy counting and entering.  I don't find it a hassle at all.  And, if I have to do it for the rest of my life, then so be it. 

Firstly well done on the 11lbs. 

I agree that portion control is a big aide to loosing weight,  I have lost 60lbs since Aug08 and would say that 75% of my loss is due to reduced portion size.  Also eating it slower helps you recognise when your stomach is starting to feel full.

I do eat what I want, but try to only eat a little of the bad things, and I use calorie count to help me determine the healthier options if possible.  It also helps me to stop choosing the wrong things, as long as I check the calorie content prior to tucking in.

If its working stay with it.  Well done!

That is what I am doing right now. Instead of calorie counting I am filling my diet with healthful foods like yogurt, fruits, veggies, low sugared high fiber cereals, tuna, grilled chicken. I have completely cut out snack foods/high sugared desserts right now and I will for a few months.... or at least up until Christmas. :-) I will see how this works for me because I really do feel too obsessive counting calories when I am really just trying to eat healthier and shed a few pounds as well.

At this point I am trying to maintain.  I don't need to count calories because I never really changed how much I consumed, just what I consumed.  When I go out to eat I can ballpark how many calories I am eating.  I still log my foods and check the calorie balance though because I'm trying to figure out how much I can eat to maintain.  I've still been losing...a little since last week, but still losing.  If anything I could stand to gain a pound or two.  I also like to log my foods to see my nutrient breakdown.  I have had blood tests and my calcium is just a hair low of normal so I like to make sure I'm getting my RDA of essential vitamins and minerals or at least really close to 100%.

Congrats! I've been dieting and haven't lost as much as I want in a month, but sounds like I'm on the same track as you, so I'll keep pressing on. Thanks for the motivation. :)