I thought popcorn was always 31 calories per 1 cup of seeds (ie unpopped popcorn)

but when I looked at the nutrition label of the seeds I bought, it said 140 calories per 3 tbsp. I thought this has to be wrong, but I had bought 2 of the same and they both said the same thing!

I think I'm about to cry because for the last 2 weeks, I've been making myself about 1/2 cup every night for snack because I thought it was 31 calories per 1 cup of seeds!!! Ends up I was completely wrong!!! so people, be warned, be careful! I'm so unhappy! I could've had something more satisfying. I must've been eating about 200 calories then. Might as well have had the regular butter popcorn at that.

I was eating about 450 calories almost every night when I thought I was actually eating 50 calories. This is so friggin terrible. I could've had a drumstick instead and it would've been better for me (in terms of calories).

This really fustrates me cuz my HIIT workouts drain my energy to the max, and to know that I was eating that many extra calories and it was really bad for me?

Knowing what I know now I would've never touched that in the first place. My 100 calorie buttered packs are better. This is stupid and I'm extremely upset now.

If you need a snack, try Almonds. The raw unsalted variety.
I just got a good sized tub of them from Target. It is the Archer Farms brand and cost about $10. Almonds aren't cheap, so if you can find them cheaper at a grocery store, then go there.

Anyway... I am doing the Abs Diet again and one of the main parts of the diet is eating foods that promote weight loss. Apparently nuts and beans are high on that list and almonds is at the top, with blueberries. So, the best snack food is almonds and blueberries. Depending on your local blueberry yields, you might not get a good price on that.

A bowl of blueberries and almonds is great, because the blueberries also provide the sweetness, while helping you loose weight.

Almonds ROCK, and i just love them more with dried apricots at the same time.

I love almonds, but I can't eat a lot of them cuz they are still quite high in calories....

Jessipoo, you are obsessed with calories.

It's not a bad thing to consume calories from healthy foods, such as nuts. Calories are what allow you to do HIIT 2-3 times a week. What you want to avoid is consuming calories that come from bad food (i.e. fast food, processed) because of all the crap that comes along with them (high sodium, high saturated fat, etc...).

Use common sense when you eat and calm down. In the battle to be fit and lose weight, calories are more of a friend than an enemy.

I know but I rather have those calories elsewhere because I feel in terms of nuts, even though I love them and they're uber healthy, I rather have that elsewhere and be able to eat "more" if you will. Like a healthy bowl of cereal rather than 7 nuts or something.

and looking at your profile, you don't have any real goals, so I'm assuming you're just trying to bulk up. It's easier for a person trying to gain muscle to say who cares about calories, cuz you have to consume more.

Well, Jess, look on the bright side, you got your facts straight before too much damage was done. Now you can "live within your caloric means" and enjoy popcorn again in moderation--like everything should be.

Bon Weekend,

M.

F*** Calories!!

I watch what I eat and I am truly inspired by your dedication. However, I believe you are not giving your effort and training justice by reporting how many calories there are in half a mug of crappy popcorn!!

Did you ever hear Arnie after the Olympia saying:

'I put all my achievements down to the fact that I didn't eat a whole cup of popcorn during training, as I realise how many calories are in it'

Don't think I am putting you down, because I'm really not. The work and training you put in drives me forward, and I follow your threads as they give me motivation. However, don't miss the forest because you was looking at a 6 month sapling!!

Wrong.

That used to be my goal, but now it's mainly to gain strength rather than size. My only goals are to look and feel great while at the same time eating a healthy diet. I don't need journal entries or workout logs on Traineo to tell me that what I'm doing is working.

popcorn is a great low cal snack, about 3 tbsps is enough for a bowlful and healthier than a bag of crisps, which helps me loads when i am feeling 'peckish' of an evening.

But Hauser is right. I feel more sated from a fistful of brazil nuts and almonds than I would a kilo of popcorn, and it makes me feel good to know I have fed my body something uber healthy.

I used to be over obsessed with cals, but now ive changed my mantra to 'Health Concious, not Self Concious' and my body and skin have seen the benefits, I have more energy to workout harder and longer and my mood has boosted.

Ive learnt that losing weight alone will not make you a happy person.

I also eat raw almonds and cashews everydayat around 10am. A small handful/quarter cup is only 180 calories and has some good fat and enough protein to keep me satisfied until lunchtime.

A few nuts actually are proven to make you feel more satiated than a large amount of something like popcorn. And your body really does need the healthy fat this type of food provides.

Come on! You're on a challenge here! So you had a deception experience, so what? Take it easy! You should be proud of yourself that you care that much! I think you have better experience know in checking labels and making sure about everything before starting a new habit!

thanks John! I always do check labels but I figured the popcorn wasn't going to be that much and I had check the info but on the net and popcorn is tricky just cuz of the word itself.. to figure out if it's including popped or when it's a seed.

Now I know, and I'm going to watch myself and it should be a piece of cake. Fat should just melt off. I had a comment from my sister's friend she said: Geez Jess, you look so skinny now. I simply said thanks. I work hard for it.

But I'm not done yet! My thighs are fine but my area is the tummy. That's where it's all hidden.

I do have an obsession with the labels, knowing the calories and contents of what's going into my body I try so hard to nurture. I don't care if it bugs people around me, it's a good habit that'll stick for life. And I've actually inspired my mom and dad to do the same. My mom now sometimes reads the calorie and protein info and labels and tells me them. She no longer rolls her eyes at me when I ask. She gets it now.