Christine,
Ironically I just started couting my calories as well. I have been doing it for the past 3 weeks or so. I have been trying to stay under 2,000, but it comes out to be more around 1100, but that includes calories that I burn when I work out. So if you workout in the morning and burn 500 calories then I still have1600 calories left to use up. Because I start in the negative. Does that make sense? The more you work out the more you get to eat. I have been trying to monitor mine this way, eat about 3 200-350 calorie regular meals, and then 3-4 100 calorie or lower snacks a day. A lot of times I won't count the veggies in my caloric intake because they are so low. But I have found from keeping track of the calories I kind of know what snacks and foods equal about how many calories and it turns out to be not that hard as time goes on. Also, I am trying to drink A LOT more water. The other new drink that I have been doing is this smoothie called the green monster. Here is the link, http://www.yourtimewithkim.com/, the recipe is right on the front in the blog area. It doesnt taste bad at all and is really good for you. It packs about 258 calories, but the spinach is so good for you.

I hear ya on running with someone. It definitely kicks up your workout. It is hard, but very beneficial. I am probably not pushing myself as hard as I should be, but I am doing a better job of incorporating weights and strengthening into my work outs.