Comments on: Understanding Calorie Counting: A Final Word

By: Erika Nicole Kendall

Erika Nicole Kendall — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:41:28 +0000

Hey, Atiya! Let’s see how I can help:

Your first question is a bit tricky. You can focus strictly on calories and lose weight, but focusing on the nutritional makeup of your food choices will help you determine the body you develop as the fat melts away. You shouldn’t be eating a ton of fat, but your body absolutely needs it.

As for the meal frequency, if you’re genuinely not hungry and don’t find yourself struggling to make it through when you haven’t eaten, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with getting in your caloric intake during two meals. Lots of people life that lifestyle – google “intermittent fasting” – and experience success. It doesn’t affect your metabolism, as others have claimed, because you’re still eating daily at a regular and consistent pace. I generally recommend the 5-6 meals a day plan for people who struggle with overeating and need to disconnect from the idea that “feeling hungry is the end of the world.”

By: Atiya

Atiya — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:05:32 +0000

Hi Erika,

I have 3 questions….Am I to take into account the fat grams too OR can I still stay on point by focusing strictly on calories?

Next, I don’t get physically hungry til afternoon or later most days_if I consume my allotted calories in 1 or 2 meals will I still have the same resulting weight loss. Is eating 3 or 5 small meals better?

Thanks for Everything

By: Crystal

Crystal — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:48:43 +0000

Thanks for the reminder about calories.
I have even started my sparkpeople account
back up and I am daily logging the intake,
even when I don’t like what I see.

By: Erika Nicole Kendall

Erika Nicole Kendall — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 23:05:43 +0000

I’d say I’ve got nothing for you. It might be a “nuisance,” but it’s the most reliable and helpful nuisance I’ve ever committed to in my entire life. Calorie counting is how I learned what I learned in order to lose what I lost. I can’t start you off any other way.

By: Stacy

Stacy — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:22:47 +0000

Erika, what about people that don’t like to count calories? I personally hate doing that. Keeping a food journal counting calories is just an annoying nuisance to me. Have any advice for someone like me?

By: cynthia

cynthia — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:01:43 +0000

ericka Im going back thru the post for the correct cals for my weight. if you have it handy can I have it . please

By: Erika

Erika — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:08:02 +0000

LOLOL Reecie, I swear I didn’t, but damn if it wasn’t appropriate!

I feel you, though – some of us have that gauge already, and simply benefit from the occasional tune up. If you know your day might be light on the calorie side and you can tame your cravings, you’ll probably be good to hit up the donut joint or The Cookout (I’m snarling as I type that, by the way LOL) and can keep that in mind.

I’m also with you on the treating yourself thing! That one little sentence said a lot! It was a long time before I could understand that “treating yourself” didn’t mean “every day with the junk food,” so I have a new appreciation for that! Planning that in advance, being mindful of it thru the day, building excitement and still being able to indulge at evening time? Definitely. Sounds like it might be a new post, lol.

Thanks for stopping by!

By: Reecie

Reecie — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:45:20 +0000

you definitely used a shake as your example on purpose. I knows it! LOL. But yeah, I know I won’t count calories everyday, but doing it reaffirmed that I was pretty accurate in my mental estimations. I will try to keep it up especially on days I think that I want to “treat myself”. and as you said its a good way to be knowledgeable about the gross amount of calories some of our favorite foods have! and encourage you to live healthier.

good series.