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Dad doesn't want to be fat...baby due any day now...

‎10-03-2014 16:39

‎10-03-2014 16:39

So, I've had my fitbit since late February. I've worn it off and on since then and counted calories off and on as well. I find that counting calories SEEMS to be very obsessive and un-natural. This sort of thinking derails me each and every time. I struggle with the fact that it doesn't feel like a lifestyle. I've had friends lose weight counting calories only to see them put it back on months later.

 

What I'm looking for is encouragement or philisophical discussion on the merits of utilizing a fitbit and calorie counting to lose weight and keep it off. I have a daughter on the way (Mama is due to deliver her any day now). I absolutely do not want to be a fat dad!

 

Thoughts...

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4 REPLIES 4

‎10-03-2014 17:10

‎10-03-2014 17:10

You need to figure out what works for you. For some, general calorie counting is sufficient. For others, it's tedious.

But whatever you do, going off and on won't bring long lasting results. Find changes that you can stick to for a long time, not just a week or two.
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‎10-03-2014 17:12

‎10-03-2014 17:12

First, congratulations on your being so close to becoming a dad--very exciting!  I stopped using the food log and worrying about calories with my fitbit Flex over a month ago.  Now I just exercise regularly and monitor my steps totals for the day--and of course--eat a low fat, low sugar, balanced diet.  So far, the weight I lost has stayed off because counting calories or not, exercise and common sense, along with healthy eating, works for me.  I think depending on one's personality and health--including how nessecary it is too lose and keep off weigh--- getting too hung up on monitoring and logging everything eaten in a day while counting calories can actually be discouraging while taking the fun out of both enjoying good food and staying fit.  Of course, everyone is different, and some thrive on entering everything eaten and closely monitoring calories.  Best wished to you and your wife--and again--congratulations!  Smiley Happy

Stephen | USA

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.--John Wooden, legendary UCLA coach

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‎10-03-2014 21:28

‎10-03-2014 21:28

Appreciate the responses you two!

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‎10-03-2014 22:24

‎10-03-2014 22:24

@SunsetRunner wrote:

So, I've had my fitbit since late February. I've worn it off and on since then and counted calories off and on as well. I find that counting calories SEEMS to be very obsessive and un-natural. This sort of thinking derails me each and every time. I struggle with the fact that it doesn't feel like a lifestyle. I've had friends lose weight counting calories only to see them put it back on months later.

 

What I'm looking for is encouragement or philisophical discussion on the merits of utilizing a fitbit and calorie counting to lose weight and keep it off. I have a daughter on the way (Mama is due to deliver her any day now). I absolutely do not want to be a fat dad!

 

Thoughts...

It can be a lot, but there are some ways around it.

 

Log as accurately as possible for a week without changing your diet. Don't let the fact of logging change your choices, eat normal.

 

That gives you a baseline.

 

During that week with normal activity, see how much you typically burn daily on average, with or without exercise.

 

Are you eating about what you burn?

 

More importantly, have you maintained your higher weight for a while eating the way you do?

 

The you merely need to find 500 calories daily that you can leave out, if you don't want to change activity level.

 

Or find 250 to leave out, and find 250 more calories to burn doing something, 30 min walk daily, 45 min every other day, ect.

 

But once you find the 250 to leave out, make it a real 250 or 500 based on your logs.

Then you don't have to log anymore if you keep eating all the other stuff.

 

Perhaps it'll be simple, like a large fry with hamburger is some big calorie amount, and a 32 oz soda you drink daily. Get the diet version - drop the fries. Simple, don't change anything else.

If you do, then pay attention to replacing calorie for calorie. Like maybe that hamburger isn't filling without the fries now, so maybe a smaller hamburger and chili is same calories but more filling. Do it.

 

By leaving out 500 calories of food daily from what you used to eat and maintain at - you will lose 1 lb weekly. Same with dropping 250 cal and increasing burn by 250 cal over normal average.

 

That way no logging, and once you figure out how much more to do, you'll be good for couple months.

 

But then you'll need to spot check again for another week, because when you weigh less, you burn less moving daily.

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