How do you track calories?

I want to track my meals on a website - Livestrong or MyFitnessPal.     My question is, how do you set up the needs for our DS system?    I would like to lose another 20 pounds and when I set it up in the system, it suggests a calorie intake of 1200 calories/day.    I think with my DS, I should set it up to be 20% carbs, 40% Protein, and 40% fat.   But, how do we know what our calorie values should be?   I don't know if 1200 calories is the correct value for me (I'm 5'10" female).    

How do you calculate what you need on a daily basis for calories or fat/protein/carb?   

Thanks in advance!

I don't think there's a website that can calculate your needs while keeping in consideration the malabsorption of fat, protein, and complex carbs.  It kinda messes up any calculation of calories, I'm afraid.  Try something simpler:

100-150g of protein

64oz + of liquids

No simple carbs

You'll see a difference with just that.

Thank you!!

Calorie tracking doesn't work for us.

I track protein, the more the better.  I don't avoid fat at all.  Protein and fat are my 'free' foods.  I avoid carbs as much as possible.

I agree, when I gain weight I am not following that simple rule.  When I want to lose I just cut out carbs as much as possible, I can eat all protein and fat I want and still lose.  Amazing!  :)

I use my fitnesspal and only pay attention to keeping my carbs under 50 (I count them all,) keeping my protein at 125-150 because of where my labs are and keeping my fat up to at least 75 grams, and keeping my water at at least 12 glasses a day (96oz). I don't pay attention to anything else.

Try this link............... On the DSFacts website, called DS Math

http://www.dsfacts.com/ds-math.html

hey:)

first throw the calories out the window and focus on 3 things. protein/carbs/fat high protein, low carbs, and moderate to high fat. there is no way to guarantee a calorie count with our DS, you will just beat your head on a wall.

MFP i use this program and i love it

what you need to do is customize it.

first you have to go to the 'home' tab

then click 'goals'

then click 'change goals'

it will ask custom or guided, choose 'custom'

you can set calories, carbs, protein, fat. you might have to up the calories quite a bit to get in what you want for protein and carbs. just adjust the calories (even though calories mean nothing for us) it will get it to the right spot. for example for me to get 210g protein, 120g carbs, & 120 fat i have to set the calories to 2400.

then on the bottom press 'save goals'

THEN

go to the 'food' tab

click 'settings'

it will say Nutrients Tracked and a list below

first one should be protein

second should be carbs

third should be fat

then there are two slots you can fill with what you want or leave them blank (i left mine blank)

also in the menu you can see you can also name your meal times.i keep mine basic with breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks but i have seen others do two breakfasts, and snacks between all meals for ease of tracking. whichever is easiest for you

then you will see if you want to have your diary of food public or private or just friends to view it. if people don't know you have the ds (like me) then i suggest keeping it private, because you don't' want some poor soul trying to eat like you and not get any results lol

if you want add me on MFP - my username is montanadanni

Calories are non-informative unless you want to spend the time doing DS math.  All I ever count is carbs and protein and I went from a size 3X to a size 4-6.  I never ever counted anything else excep****er early on.

So just skip worrying about calories.

~Becky

Thanks everyone!!!  Great information and this is extremely helpful!!    Does everyone try to keep their carbs under 50 grams?