So, do you know the answer? How many calories DO you consume per day? It’s well worth the effort to keep track of calories, especially if the scale isn’t being number friendly towards you.
If you have never figured out calories or counted calories before, then you might just be surprised when you do. Believe it or not, you can still eat a lot of food and still lose or mainatin your weight.
For example, I figured out how many calories i had to eat per day which was around 3,300 (I’m pretty big though comparitively) and eating between 2500 and 3000 calories per day I could still lose weight. In fact, lost 5 lbs this past week. And it was easy. 2500 calories can be a lot of food if you make good choices.
To figure out your recommended upper limit caloric intake, I’d suggest using a tool like calorie counter. Then they recommend consuming 500 calories below that limit to ensure weight loss. But it’s also dependant on exercise level as well.
Speaking of which, I have just been walking for exercise. And I think I will continue to do so until I drop below the 300 lb mark. I am currently 6′6 and 325. So I don’t think running at this point is my best starting option. There is something called building an aerobic base. Which consists of low level aerobic activity for at least 3 – 4 months before engaging in more intense exercise. The great thing about aerobic activity is that it uses FAT as the major fuel source. In fact a combination of FAT and OXYGEN. As opposed to SUGAR in more intense anaerobic exercise. Plus walking will help strengthen my ligaments, tendons and joints in preparation for possible future running/jogging.
So, it was quite an eye opener figuring out how many calories my burns per day. And then once I had that figured out, by journaling, next I kept track of how many calories I was currently consuming. Then it becomes a simple math thing. When I realized that I was eating between 3500 and 5000 calories per day. The light bulb went on and I changed my diet pretty dramaticaly.
How? Simple. I figured out how many calories were in 10 different ‘healthier’ breakfasts, lunches and dinners. So I now have roughly 30 meals to choose from ALL of them below 1,000 calories each. Many of them are only like 500 calories (like a chicken sandwich (lettuce, tomato, mayo, whole grain bread) and a glass of sweet tea). This way I can eat 4 meals per day, which keeps me satiated and I can even have a couple snacks. Of which I recommend popsicles. Only 60 calories, even with the sugar added kind, per popsicle. I am not a splenda/sucralose/sacharin sort of person. I hate artificial sweetners. So popsicles are sweet, low cal and within the daily range, no problem.
Anyway that’s the plan. I am curious to see how it goes. For now, I gotta go for a walk on the beach…