Calorie Counting

[[old] gwjones]

So - I've been rowing for a few months now, 3x per week, worked up to about 10K per day. I also spend a couple of days walking/running etc. I feel *much* better and stronger than I did 4 mos ago when starting, but have plateaued on the weight loss.<br /><br />I am about 40 lbs over where I would be satisfied, which is still 15 lbs above my ideal weight. (5'11"/185 - currently at 240).<br /><br />I'm satisfied with the attack on the calorie output - now I need to attack the calorie intake. The problem is I really have no idea how many calories I am taking in each day, nor my normal resting caloric burn (computer guy, so relatively sedentary).<br /><br />I have seen references to websites and/or software that would allow me to log and measure my intake. I am looking for something that won't require me to do a lot of calculation and/or breakdown of my meals, but rather, would allow me to "construct" a meal based on what I have eaten. For example, I might have 1/2 cup plain yogurt with 1/2 cup granola for breaksfast. I don't want to have to search the packaging to determine how many calories that is and then input the calories into my log.<br /><br />Any input? Thanks!

[LindaM]

Try these:<br /><br /><a href='http://www.nutritiondata.com/index.html' target='_blank'>http://www.nutritiondata.com/index.html</a><br /><br /><a href='http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/Index.html' target='_blank'>http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/Index.html</a>

[[old] Laupi]

<!--QuoteBegin-LindaM+Dec 29 2005, 12:22 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(LindaM @ Dec 29 2005, 12:22 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Try these:<br /><br /><a href='http://www.nutritiondata.com/index.html' target='_blank'>http://www.nutritiondata.com/index.html</a><br /><br /><a href='http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/Index.html' target='_blank'>http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/Index.html</a> <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Recommend weight watchers and eating by points.

[[old] anthonys]

www.balancelog.com<br /><br />www.healthetech.com<br /><br />www.gylcemic.com<br /><br />are all websites w/ potentially useful information for you. Also, find a local nutritionist, health club, etc., that has a "Body Gem" BMR (basal metabolic rate) measuring device. In 30 minutes total you can find out what your BMR is, construct a meal plan w/ that in mind, assess the nutritional intake, including calories and, more important, glycemic load.<br /><br />hth,<br /><br />tony

[[old] kelley127]

I did the Body Gem RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate) measured a couple of weeks ago. It's great! You just sit and blow into the machine for 5-10 minutes and presto! You know your RMR. There's a calculator on the website to estimate your RMR. Turns out that mine was 400 calories more per day than the website estimated for me - so that's good. I got the software to go with it - it's been really easy for me to use and keep track of what I'm eating. I hadn't been far off before, but this fine tuned it for me. <br /><br />The software has a pretty extensive database of food in it already, but I've been adding my specifics/ favorites. It takes a minute to add a new food, but once it's in there, it only takes a minute to log your day. So good, easy, lots of reports, but will probably take some set up time when you first get it. Although, I like to be exact - you could be less exact without taking the time to enter in the exact brand info. <br /><br /><a href='http://www.healthetech.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.healthetech.com/</a><br /><br />So, Kudos to the BodyGem so far from me - letting me lose the 1.5 pounds per week that is my goal w/o any sort of starving. Not to mention it cost $70 for me for the measurement & the software - no monthly fees - onetime only. <br /><br />Michelle

[[old] Janice]

www.sparkpeople.com<br /><br />It's a new site and my friends have raved about it. It is free unlike a lot of others and I guess has all of these graphs and tables you can generate in addition to food journaling.

[[old] michaelb]

If you are a computer person, do you have a palm or pocket PC? I used Diet and Exercise Assistant on my palm to track what I ate and my calories. You enter what you eat, your exercise, and it tracks your calories and progress. The advantage of using the palm is that it was with me all the time, so you enter the data as you ate it (and not have to remember later).<br /><br />You can customize the database by adding the foods you eat regularly. I also "built" custom meals by adding up all the calories in the ingredients and entering them. The most powerful aspect of the software is that is "scales" based on the portion you eat, so that if you eat 1 cup one day, but 1.5 cups the next, it adjusts all the totals and calories. If you eat the same thing you can just copy and paste a whole meal from day to the next (so my breakfast was usually the same thing each day).<br /><br />There are other palm diet programs, but I liked this one best. I didn't use the desktop app, since I run a mac at home.<br /><br /><a href='http://www.keyoe.com/' target='_blank'>keyoe</a>

[[old] gwjones]

<!--QuoteBegin-michaelb+Jan 23 2006, 06:35 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(michaelb @ Jan 23 2006, 06:35 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->If you are a computer person, do you have a palm or pocket PC?  I used Diet and Exercise Assistant on my palm to track what I ate and my calories.  You enter what you eat, your exercise, and it tracks your calories and progress.  The advantage of using the palm is that it was with me all the time, so you enter the data as you ate it (and not have to remember later).<br /><br /><a href='http://www.keyoe.com/' target='_blank'>keyoe</a> <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Well - actually I don't. Everything I have is carried on my Blackberry. I've managed to get phone, PIM, email, etc. on one device.<br /><br />Thanks though!<br /><br />Glenn Jones

[[old] gwjones]

<!--QuoteBegin-Janice+Jan 23 2006, 12:11 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Janice @ Jan 23 2006, 12:11 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->www.sparkpeople.com<br /><br />It's a new site and my friends have raved about it. It is free unlike a lot of others and I guess has all of these graphs and tables you can generate in addition to food journaling. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I started a few weeks ago using fitday.com, but the one you are suggesting is much more complete and easy to use! I'm now a convert! Thanks!<br /><br />Glenn Jones

[[old] mpukita]

Also:<br /><br /><a href='http://www.calorie-count.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.calorie-count.com/</a><br /><br />Cheers!<br /><br />-- Mark

[[old] gwjones]

<!--QuoteBegin-mpukita+Jan 23 2006, 08:23 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(mpukita @ Jan 23 2006, 08:23 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Also:<br /><br /><a href='http://www.calorie-count.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.calorie-count.com/</a><br /><br />Cheers!<br /><br />-- Mark <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />The best one so far is www.sparkpeople.com. After a few days of trying it out, it is much more than just a calorie tracking website. Enter goals, and it gives you calorie goals, nutrition goals, and even diet plans.<br /><br />Very cool site....

[[old] holladay]

The one I use is called DietPower.<br /><br />It keeps track of the calories you eat. It has an easy clickable and searchable list of foods. You can enter menus. I eat the same thing every morning for breakfast so instead of entering each item and my vitamins, I just add "Susan's Breakfast" and it is all there.<br /><br />Also it tracks your EXERCISE including indoor rowing!<br /><br />You can either have it modify your calorie intake to meet your goal (mine is May 15) or there are set calories. Plus the more you row, the more you can eat.<br /><br />It has a free 15 day trial. The program is easy to use and not time consuming. I have found that if I log everything I eat, I make better choices. AND I can have a small serving of ice cream as a trade off for other things. the cost is $50 and has a money back guarantee.<br /><br /><a href='http://www.dietpower.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.dietpower.com/</a><br /><br />Susan

[[old] SpaCityBulldog]

<!--QuoteBegin--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->www.sparkpeople.com </td></tr></table><br /><br />What's the catch? Right now they are offering free lifetime membership.

[[old] Ducatista]

<!--QuoteBegin-SpaCityBulldog+--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(SpaCityBulldog)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->What's the catch?  Right now they are offering free lifetime membership. </td></tr></table><br />They're counting on advertising revenue, probably, since they claim not to sell subscriber info.

[[old] deppe4]

<!--QuoteBegin-mpukita+Jan 23 2006, 11:23 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(mpukita @ Jan 23 2006, 11:23 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Also:<br /><br /><a href='http://www.calorie-count.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.calorie-count.com/</a><br /><br />Cheers!<br /><br />-- Mark <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />There's also <a href='http://www.calorieking.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.calorieking.com/</a><br /><br />The middle of the webpage says "Food Search" type in the food (may have to narrow options down) and it will return calorie information along with other useful information.<br /><br />deppe4