Counting Calories
My sister emailed me this morning and asked me to start counting calories for her and report back to her in a couple of days. I went to the kitchen a few minutes ago to get me something to eat for breakfast. I followed the suggested serving size of Raisin Bran which is 1 cup and also 1 cup of milk. To my surprise that is approximately the amount that I would have normally ate. The only problem with the cereal is the milk, we only have 2% milk in the house. I suspect that is something that will have to change.
There are two numbers, Calories and then Calories from fat. I don’t know if I’m suppose to add both of these numbers together or if I should just jot down the calories of each item. The Raisin Bran has 190 calories per cup and 15 calories per cup from fat. I also had 1 cup of Mayfield 2% reduced fat milk with my cereal which has 360 calories per cup. TOTAL CALORIES FOR BREAKFAST: 550 (I think).
According to that, on a 1,000 calorie diet I would not survive! However, I have heard that most people, men in particular, need 3,000 calories.
What is everyone else’s thought on this?
EDIT 1: I forgot to mention, she also asked me to buy a food scale. Don’t exactly know what it will be used for other than measuring food.
EDIT 2: Do I include tea in my calories if I don’t put sugar into it?
EDIT 3: I was wrong. The milk only has 130 calories per cup. That changes my breakfast total to 320 calories. I also called and asked my sister about the tea, she said I could count it as water as long as it had no calories or sugar in it. That won’t be a problem as long as I drink this green tea that Dace bought me for Christmas. With it, I don’t need sugar, it’s flavorful enough. Before I got off the phone, my sister said she set up a “Sparkle” account for me, she told me not to look at it until I figured out the calories, so, I guess it’s like a weight loss help site.
December 30th, 2006 at 4:19 pm
Calories?
Uh..I think that is things they did in the 1970s or something like that.
I think it is all about carbs and no trans fat more than calorie counting now?
I tell ya that food poisoning does work but do not suggest it : )
January 3rd, 2007 at 8:25 am
I m very concern about my carbohydrate intake daily, thats why I stopped eating rice, noodles which contained high carbs, I only pick low fat milk & whole meal bread for breakfast, less calories & less carbs too.
January 8th, 2007 at 10:05 am
My 2 cents. I bit late.
You just have to find one that is working for you. Calorie ultimately is good. But there are so many other things. Most people who count calories would realize that if the Carb is high, calorie goes up too. I also watch my carbs intake. I still eat all of them. Including sugar. But I just eat a lot less. In my main meals, I try to make sure that my carbs are in equal or less in proportion to my protein. VEgetables are free for me. I can eat as much greens as I want. But not dressing.
Sweets, in both deserts and drinks, soda or tea, are not so good. Those are the ones we forgot are actually racking up our calories.
Andy, if you start paying attention to calories, you’ll see that you probably have way more than 3000 a day. Doing 1000 might be a bit crazy. But you have to make it lower than what your body is using. I think if you just pay attention to what you eat a day, you’ll realize you’re probably doing a lot more than 1000. SO, yes, the calories on cereals are correct. Why? Sugar. But also pay attention to fiber. High fiber is good, just not sugar.
If you want to allow yourself more calories in food intake, then exercise. That’d use up your extra calories.