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Permalink Reply by David on June 6, 2008 at 5:03am

Exactly. By getting your kids to learn and start to critically think about what food labels mean, and how it impacts them and their diet, will last the rest of their lives. I'm happy for you and for them.

Too many other children, and indeed, adults, aren't taught these basics. That makes decision making hard b/c they don't have the ability to reason and to understand the choices that they make.

This could go on well beyond the issues of food, too.

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Permalink Reply by MamaMaven on June 6, 2008 at 11:47am

The times I have been successful in losing weight I've used weight watchers and counted points which is similar to counting calories. I think either way keeping track of what I am eating is the key for me. All those little mindless things add up!

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Permalink Reply by Steve M on June 11, 2008 at 12:13pm

I don't count them, but I am conscious of them. Once you understand what an acceptable amount is per serving should be, then you won't really need to keep track of every little calorie. That's what I do anyway.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Salinas on June 12, 2008 at 7:48am

I use a HR monitor when I exercise.....generally to keep tabs on my HR level. The calorie feature is looked at but not seriously.

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Permalink Reply by Fit Bottomed Girls on June 12, 2008 at 8:00pm

I know it works for a lot of people, but I did that all throughout my teenage years and early 20s and it made me MISERABLE. I'm all for being healthy, but when I was counting calories it was hard to not be obessive and really hard to not be obsessed with food. There's more to life, in my humble fit-bottomed opinion. Choose the right foods, stop eating when you're full, do activites that you like, move your body when you can and enjoy life. That's my long-winded motto. :)

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Permalink Reply by SpinDiva on June 13, 2008 at 3:38am

Counting calories or points can become an obsession after a while. I did both and I found myself looking at a box of cereal and seeing a number on the side, not a nutrition label. Sometimes it didn't even matter what I was eating as long as I stayed within my range of points and/or calories. I started to look at food from the inside out--what can this banana do for me, how about this kiwi fruit, or my cookies and milk moment, how will that affect my routine,my mood, etc.

It is so much easier to decide what to eat based on how I want to feel and what I want to accomplish now that I know what's in my food. This has also helped my children make better choices, they too look at any food item and determine if it's good for them or bad and then make a choice based on the knowledge about nutrition not on the caloric content. So picking up an apple instead of cookies makes them feel in control, makes me proud.

I do agree with others who have stated that we should have a sense of not only the caloric content of food but everything else as well. A 400 calorie breakfast doesn't have to be scary bad and a 200 calorie breakfast isn't necessarily healthy so it's good to know what else is in there that will get me through the day and provide me with good, healthful nutrition.

Stay Well--great weekend everyone!

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Permalink Reply by Mara on June 13, 2008 at 7:46am

I do to a point. Just watch what you eat exercise and eat healthy that is the key.

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Permalink Reply by DreaD on June 16, 2008 at 9:15am

I agree with Jill. If you eat healthy foods, they will automatically have less calories than processed foods. Fruits and Veggies are low in calories. You increase your intake of these foods and decrease the meat and processed food, you will have no reason to count calories.

I also agree with those who think that if you exercise, then you're ok. I agree with this because when you exercise, you burn calories and fat.

Healthy Food and exercise...a great combination.

PS: even when I weighed 160lbs (2 years ago...I lost 40lbs in one year and kept it off ever since), I didn't count calories. I decreased meat consumption and increased fish, fruit, veggie, and water consumption. I also exercised and did 2 fasts. ;)

good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Healthy Tips For A Healthy Lifestyle on June 23, 2008 at 7:15am

No, no, no...!

Counting calories only makes one obsessed with the numbers.
I believe having a healthy mindset regarding food is the key, not calorie counting.

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