One thing confuses me about counting calories.

Why, on other diets, do you get certain freebies?  Celery, tomatoes, things like that. Things you can eat unlimited quantities of?

But we have to count the calories.

I realize some people might have issues being able to eat enough protein to meet their daily requirements, but I don't have that issue.  I can easily eat healthy, non-starchy veg along with my protein, but those calories do show up.

Since other diets also rely on low calorie intake, what makes us different?  Is it simply that other diets don't restrict calories as much, and assume you will be getting more than 600-800 calories per day, so are giving you more leeway?

That still doesn't make sense to me.  I remember WW having a soup you could eat that was a freebie--tomatoes, onions, green beans, zucchini, all non-starchy veg that have few calories, even if you ate a lot of it.

Somebody help me out here. I'm confused.

Good points...I will be following this thread to see some answers! I suspect that its because most folks do have trouble getting in much of anything after the protein.

That's what I'm thinking, too.  Except that then we'd be told, "Once you get in your protein, you can eat as much celery, tomatoes, etc. as you want." Nobody ever says that.

 Actually, that's exactly what my NUT says.  3 meals only, no snacks though.  Once you get in your protein in a meal, there's not much room for those free veggies anyway.

Certain veggies, like green beans, have fiber in them.  Weigh****chers allows unlimited amounts of those veggies because they want you getting in as much fiber as possible, which is one fo the elements that they say makes their program so effective.  If you're referring to low-carb plans, since most of them subtract out fiber and count "net" carbs, they are probably figuring that these items don't have enough carbs after subtracting fiber for it to matter.

Honestly, I keep an eye on my calories from veggies, but find them to be negligible, especially in the amounts I can eat once I get my protein in.  And yes, I think the amount of calories you are aiming for each day does make a difference... we have to be much more strict when we are aiming for less than 800 calories a day than if we are aiming for 1000-1200 calories a day or more.

It's true that in the past I've used net-carb plans.

Well personally, as long as I am not adding butter, I don't count green veggies.  I can't eat enough to really matter anyway.  And I sure as hell didn't get fat eating too much broccoli, lol.

Laura

And I need that fiber!

You are trying to compare an apple to a car (hard comparison huh?????)

When I was first out I didn't count anything but protein but now everything COUNTS...and I don't think WW has the "unlimited" plan anymore...but again a apple and a car.

Even on WW I still counted "calories" because I'm a nerd and I wanted to SEE and pretty much my calories and points even the "free" points ended up X calories.

Regarding of you counting points/calories/carbs etc for ME it's the longevity that I get from the sleeve that will ultimately make me successful.  I just can't eat as much and as long as it's nutritious and delicious I'm good. Ie meats/vegetables/limited fruits.  Once I deviate I see a problem.

Ms Shell

If I have a countable amount then I count it. It's too hard to count 2 bites of vegetables. I fill up on my protein first and usually only get a couple of bites of veggies. I'm fuller and get all my protein levels closer to 80 than 60 this way.