What I do is log my mileage and my food in fitday.com. (it is free)

I average 60-70mpw and definitly do not want to gain weight, losing a few pounds would be a bonus though

Some days, like today, fitday gave me this: (I ran 25 miles)
Calories Burned Today
cals % total
Total: 3985
Basal: 1464 37%
Lifestyle: 236 6%
Activities: 2286 57%

If you set your activity/lifestyle at sedentary, you should get a pretty good reading for how many calories you should eat per day.

Yesterday was a rest day:
Calories Burned Today
cals % total
Total: 1757
Basal: 1464 83%
Lifestyle: 293 17%
Activities: 0 0%

Friday I ran 9 miles:
Calories Burned Today
cals % total
Total: 2562
Basal: 1464 57%
Lifestyle: 275 11%
Activities: 824 32%

So you can see, based on how much i run, or if i run, it tells me calories. I log my food on fitday and i can keep a tally.

Hope this helped.

Estimate best i can. I try to overestimate than underestimate. I usually tally up the ingredients. Like for a salad i will add in : lettuce, carrots, corn, chickpeas, peppers, dressing, croutons-- i put them in all seperatly.

Tonight i had eggplant parm on pasta- i put in pasta, eggplant (fried), and the roll, etc, all seperatly. Eating out is hard though i rarely do.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by adrenaline07:
I look at actors like Nikole Richie and Paris Hilton and then..ya kno. But I decided that I am just going to have to forget that and focus on running. Running makes me feel better about myself anyways. <HR>

Good choice! Think about it this way ... there is a very good reason why you can write on your college applications that you are a runner who made it to states (and they will care!) but that there is no blank space where you fill in "I look like Paris Hilton" (not really an accomplishment!)

Good luck this season. Kick some butt!

PS - I think fitday is just a free service that one can use forever. I have an account and don't use it too often but have never had trouble getting back on (even after months off)

PPS - Merigayle is a good example of why you want to treat your body well ... I do believe she is just a few years beyond cross country days but is still running like crazy!