that's true -- people who haven't been dieting for the past 20 years are often surprised at the number of calories in common things like soda or a reese's cup and have no idea that there is such a thing as a defined portion of anything.

Excellent point. The exact point I was trying to make to my husband the other day, in fact.

I remember the first few days I logged everything using CC.  It was a real eye opener, after years of trying to understand why I was gaining weight, even though "I don't eat that much, really."  For one thing I never measured the healthy olive oil added to so much of my cooking - that was a real surprise!

Before using CC, it was nothing for me to ingest anywhere from 2200 (a good day) to over 4000 calories (on a bad day). Now I am more conscience of portions and servings. Since I've started really paying attention to what goes in my mouth, I have lost 10lbs. I still have bad days but I have more good days then bad now. I can understand how someone that has been thin all of their life doesn't understand anything about calories or thinks that it doesn't work.

I have tried everything and calorie counting is the only thing that has worked for me. I have lost 20 lbs simply by paying attention to what I am actually eating. I was skeptical at first too, but it really does work!

It is so true. If you look at everything you use, like oils & butter in cooking, you could save a lot of calories. I saute in stock now. I mesure all oils. I have about 15lbs to go.

Original Post by: dc50

It is so true. If you look at everything you use, like oils & butter in cooking, you could save a lot of calories. I saute in stock now. I mesure all oils. I have about 15lbs to go.

Yep - that's the problem with eating out; you may not order unhealthy food, but you still have no idea how it was prepared.

it's so true, my sister thinks im an idiot for always reading labels and asking whats in the food ieat, especially since i reached my goal weight weeks ago but shes the one whos weight and food habits yoyo constantly, while i remain happy and healthy i recognize its not for everyone, but iv found it the most flexible and logical way for weight control, good luck everyone ! x

Original Post by: apples92

it's so true, my sister thinks im an idiot for always reading labels and asking whats in the food ieat, especially since i reached my goal weight weeks ago but shes the one whos weight and food habits yoyo constantly, while i remain happy and healthy i recognize its not for everyone, but iv found it the most flexible and logical way for weight control, good luck everyone ! x

You know, if statistics can be trusted, your sister will eventually start paying attention to the nutrition fact labels. We ran a survey once on Calorie Count and found out that most of our members have been on 5 other mainstream diets before joining our site. It's just too easy to buy into the quick-fix proposition of these other diets, but at least people realize with time what works and what doesn't.

Thanks for the mobile site, I just downloaded it to my BlackBerry!

I was amazed at how much calorie counting helped me. I've never been able to lose weight. I probably cut about half of my calories when I first started and could never make it to dinner without just a few hundred calories left. After two weeks I always had calories left over once I learned to eat right. Even when I'm taking a break from counting calories, I still haven't gained the weight back because I know I'm making better choices than if I'd never counted calories in the first place.

I've always been extremely skeptical of calorie counting. Wait...strike that. I've always been extremely skeptical of my ABILITY to count calories. I never doubted that it worked...I just doubted that I'd be dilligent enough to do it. I've only been on this website since 1/27 and I've lost almost 9 lbs! I had no idea what a calorie really was before joining this site and now I'm the calorie master. Entering the foods that I ate was a real eye opener! I had lost weight, but platuead for a loooonng time. I thank this website for jump starting my weight loss again :-)

Calorie counting. What an education. It's hard to believe that just a few months ago I was eating over 4000 calories a day. I've lost 24 pounds in less than 2 months since I started counting calories.

I am new to calorie counting. I have started after I quit smoking because of the weight gain.

Yep, it does work...Have lost 4 lbs since Feb. 1st. I have been keeping a food journal for about 5 years with Weight Watchers, counting points. Lost 120 lbs then plateau for a long, long time. this is my lowest weight in over 17 years. Feels great...Thanks Calorie Counter....

I've been counting calories for the first time on CC, but its not only the calories you can see but how much protein, carbohydrates and fat I'm consuming every day and trying to get the right balance for healthy eating. Counting calories helps but the real issue is also eating much healthy than before. Of course there will be days that I'm at a party or a wedding and then I can choose which foods fit in to my calorie intake that day. I try to eat protein with every meal that helps to burn the fat.

I've been a member of this site since July of 2007 and I swear that it's saved my life. Calorie Counting is part of my day to day activities now and has truly changed the way I think about what I put in my body. It amazes me that I could eat what I did on a daily basis and actually wonder why I was fat. Thanks to this site and the support of it's members, I have lost 116 pounds and counting. I've never felt more confident and happy in my life direction than I do now. This is my official "Thank You".

True that, true that . .. . . Counting calories is the way to do it. I love this site & have passed the inof on to my friends. I feel great!!

Original Post by: victoriagirl

I too had no idea what the actual nutritional values of anything were. It was always this emotional, mysterious process of trying to lose weight, feeling guilty when I "messed up" and giving up because I was sure I'd done it wrong anyway. Now I've been able to take the guilt out of eating, and teach myself about calorie content and macronutrients and portion control. I've said to people who question the calorie-counting method, maybe some people have the innate ability to know what their body needs to maintain a perfect balance and be healthy and a good weight, but clearly I do not. So Calorie Count has given me the tools to learn these things, just like anything else we have to learn in our lives, and take the mystery and shame out of diet.

"innate ability to know what their body needs..." - great observation! There is a book that talks about this - The Hacker's Diet, and here is the relevant chapter: http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/www/chapter1_2_1.html

I think the point everyone is missing here is as you age the metabolism changes and you must alter your calorie counting. I found that when I hit 60 last month, what I ate at 55 now puts weight on. I went up to almost 200lbs this past Nov 2008. And with this new year and now in my 60's I realize I have to rethink what I am doing. So Yes I calorie count however I am cutting back the portions as soon as I see a weight gain. The days of eating anything I wanted are over unless I eat smaller and smaller portions. Like a baby I must learn to eat until your comfortable and no more. I leave the table and will doggy bag the what I did not eat. It helps if I have a female companion on the same wave length. However I am seeing more and more females are over weight by the time they hit 50.

I've found that counting calories alone simply won't do it. I tried a 1000 cal a day diet for a month and lost maybe 5 lbs. Being a large male and only eating 1000 cals a I certainly expected to lose more! What I found out through a dietician is that I simply was not getting enough protien in my diet. I am now on 1800 calories a day with a minimum of 60 grams of protien and I have lost 29 lbs since Jan 5th! I've only been a CC member for a few days but I know it will be a huge advantage in helping me maintain my current pace.

counting calories was such aneye opener! I was eating enough to feed a village, and it was really all bad for you. No wonder I was putting on the weight. Now I count my calories and EXERCISE which is really hard to make myself do because I'm lazy, but it works. My portion sizes are more managable, I eat 6 times a day without fail, and I've lost 15lbs. in three weeks. Everyone makes fun of me for eating all day, but since I'm losing and I'm never hungry-who cares! I feel great! Thanks to the clean eating diet and the biggest losers' books I've finally figured out this fitness and health thing!

I have diet on and off for my entire adult life. I have tried the one meal a day method, diabetic diet, Adkins, diet pills, and now after all years I have learned the best method. Count calories. Amazing that it has taken me so long.

I now can control my weight in a simple way. My New Year's resolution was to lose 65 pounds down to my 21 year old weight. I am 60. I started on January 1st with a 1500 calorie intake. I actually ate 800 the first day and 950 the second day. I had to work on eating 1500 calories for a while. Now I eat 1500 most days. I try to eat spinach with my egg or ham or regular breakfast food. Many days I only eat two meals because I have brunch versus breakfast.

I have lost 30 pounds in exactly 2 months. It has been easy. I enjoy my meals and yes I still have a drink or two each day, usually beer or vodka and some diet drink. I also drink alot of Chinese tea. I also do about 20 minutes of exercise each day. I do stretching for 5 minutes and 15 minutes of light dumbell exercises. It is easy and quick.

I work in Shanghai, China about 5 to 6 months each year. I leave again at the end of this month for 2 and 1/2 months. I normally lose about 10 pounds while in China each semester but gain it back when I return. The reason is the walking and food is lower in calories I eat.

Now, this semester I will have a new knowledge to use for my weight control during my time in China. I now feel that I have the magic to keep a good healthy diet and maintain my weight. Thank goodness for this website because it has truly changed my life.

I have only 5.9 pounds to go to meet my goal weight and I note every thing I eat. Just before dinner I add my daily intake up and that's what determines what I will have for dinner - it really works and the beauty of it is that I can eat whatever I want as long as I don't go over my calories!

I love CalorieCount - it has changed my eating habits!

I have to be honest until I visited this site I always thought I don't hardly eat how can I keep gaining weight never realized in the few things I ate a day was thousands of calories wasnt really how much I was eating but the things I was choosing to eat and it's really easy to forget about the small things like drinks, hard candy, etc. I mean in your mind you don't really think about these things as calories but they sure do add up over time. I just started this site a day ago and altho of course I haven't lost anything yet I am making better choices in what I eat and I'm actually excited about doing so. I even started an exercise vid did it for the first time yesterday never slept so good in 25 + years now today I feel more energetic then I have in years can't wait to shed the pounds but at this point I'm just happy that I feel so much better then I did two days ago.