Why the "count" counts? Let me give you an example how we unconsciously trip ourselves, become discouraged and throw in the towel when the scale disappoints us. We, then proceed to tell ourselves, "nothing works for me", when in actuality, we didn't let it work for us. Follows is a real conversation I had with a friend, a 20P0 who gained one pound her first week on the Points Plan at Weight Watchers:
She, pouting: I only had two pieces of chicken, a biscuit and some cole slaw! It was only 14 points!
Me, incredulous: Really? Was the chicken skinless or broiled? Because the last time I checked, the Colonel hadn't introduced broiled on their menu-
She, toying with a strand of hair: Well, no..
Me: Was it breasts? Leg?
She: Breasts.
Me: Extra Crispy?
She: Um, yea, I thought that would be better than original.
Me: OK, and you had nothing on your biscuit? No honey? Butter?
She: Well, of course. I can't eat those biscuits without butter.
Me: And how much butter?
She, irritated? Oh I don't know! There was a stick of butter on the table-
Me: And you just hacked off a chunk, right? (Remember 1 T. butter has 100 calories) What about honey?
How many of those little catsup thingies did you use?
She, quietly: Three.
Me: Coleslaw? How much? A cup? The whole pint container?
She, defiantly: Well! That is like a salad!
Really! Like a salad? An entire pint of coleslaw is equal to a salad which, I guess, if she counted creatively is virtually a free food.
Me: Did you have something to drink? Water?
She, defensively: A Pepsi, I would have had diet, but we were out-
Me: OK, that's no big deal, but did you drink a 20 ouncer, or a can, I mean, how much did you drink?
She, madder than a wet hen: I don't know exactly, I didn't measure it!
Hmm...maybe you should have.
Me: OK, is that it?
You didn't' eat a scoop of mashed potatoes your daughter left behind, or scarf down the three tablespoons of baked beans remaining in the container or gobble down your son's half eaten biscuit while scraping plates? How about a couple spoonfuls from your husband's "Lil Bucket of Strawberry Shortcake?
If she counted all her food that way, it's amazing she only gained one pound that week
I am not certain what 14 points equates to in calories but let me say this: One Kentucky Fried Chicken breast (that's breast, not meal) with Original Recipe Breading is 460 calories.* Enough said.
You must to the best of your ability and with the resources you have at your fingertips (Internet), count accurately the calories you are consuming on a daily basis. Don't fudge it. Don't cheat. The only person who gets cheated is you.
When in doubt, add a few calories to cover what could be a shortfall. If you underestimate your calories by just 250 a day (that's about a dozen spoonfuls of butter pecan ice cream), you'll slow your weight loss to a pound a week (assuming you are exercising daily, and I am assuming you are). That's nothing to turn your nose up at, but it won't get you to 20 pounds in 90 days.
* Kentucky Fried Chicken's nutrition website makes it simple to count calories; the "diner" clicks on exactly what they've eaten from a pull down list, adds it to their meal, clicks calculate and your total calorie intake pops up.
Day 17 Calorie Count: 1510
Breakfast: Coffee w/4 T Half 'n Half (80), 1 Pillsbury Egg, Cheese & Bacon Toaster Scramble (160)
Lunch: Chili, Cheese & Spaghetti (in my town, we call that a 3-way) (760), Diet Zero
Dinner: 2 cups Chicken Tortilla soup, homemade (400), about 1 ounce Doritos (110), Diet Coke.
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