Does calorie counting actually work?

LaurenWilkins293
LaurenWilkins293 Posts: 9 Member
edited November 18 in Health and Weight Loss
been doing this a week now and sticking to 1200 calories a day, and doing jillion michaels 30day shred , on the weekend I indulged
«134

Replies

  • This content has been removed.
  • This content has been removed.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    It works if you do it correctly.
  • tdatsenko
    tdatsenko Posts: 155 Member
    You're on a website dedicated to calorie counting..........
  • jaga13
    jaga13 Posts: 1,149 Member
    yes
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    been doing this a week now and sticking to 1200 calories a day, and doing jillion michaels 30day shred , on the weekend I indulged

    Did your indulgence outweigh your defecit? Cos it won't work like that

    But yes it works if you stick with it

  • tracie_minus100
    tracie_minus100 Posts: 465 Member
    The 50lbs I've lost since January say yes.
  • NobodyPutsAmyInTheCorner
    NobodyPutsAmyInTheCorner Posts: 1,018 Member
    I'm 30lbs down since January. By calorie counting. Nothing else. So yep.
  • mizzlarabee
    mizzlarabee Posts: 134 Member
    Yes, but it all depends on your deficit. Stick to a conservative deficit of 500 calories a day between nutrition and exercise, or an overall 3500 calorie/week deficit.
  • Sarasmaintaining
    Sarasmaintaining Posts: 1,027 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    It works if you do it correctly.

    This.
  • LaurenWilkins293
    LaurenWilkins293 Posts: 9 Member
    Ok well thanks for the positive feedback, didn't ask for no snotty ones but hey ho
  • LaurenWilkins293
    LaurenWilkins293 Posts: 9 Member
    And what is meant
    Francl27 wrote: »
    It works if you do it correctly.

    This.
    What is meant by correctly? X
  • mizzlarabee
    mizzlarabee Posts: 134 Member
    And what is meant
    Francl27 wrote: »
    It works if you do it correctly.

    This.
    What is meant by correctly? X

    Just that some people don't know how to calculate a deficit properly. 1200 seems low to me but I don't know your stats
  • Sarasmaintaining
    Sarasmaintaining Posts: 1,027 Member
    edited May 2015
    And what is meant
    Francl27 wrote: »
    It works if you do it correctly.

    This.
    What is meant by correctly? X

    Use an online calculator (or MFP's) to figure out what calorie deficit you need to be at, in order to accomplish your weight loss goals. Eating 1,200 calories a day with intense exercise probably isn't enough calories for you. Also pay attention to portion sizes, make sure you're accurately logging what you're eating, and I also highly recommend using a food scale, especially for calorie dense things like nuts.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Ok well thanks for the positive feedback, didn't ask for no snotty ones but hey ho

    Define "snotty" :smiley:
  • shrinkingletters
    shrinkingletters Posts: 1,008 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    Ok well thanks for the positive feedback, didn't ask for no snotty ones but hey ho

    Define "snotty" :smiley:

    I have no idea where she thought you were being snotty. I sure didn't see it.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    Ok well thanks for the positive feedback, didn't ask for no snotty ones but hey ho

    Define "snotty" :smiley:

    I have no idea where she thought you were being snotty. I sure didn't see it.

    I don't think it was directed at me, I'm just interested in where she perceived snottiness in this tame thread
  • _incogNEATo_
    _incogNEATo_ Posts: 4,537 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    Ok well thanks for the positive feedback, didn't ask for no snotty ones but hey ho

    Define "snotty" :smiley:

    this-gonna-be-good-o.gif
  • This content has been removed.
  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
    edited May 2015
    Of course it works. In fact, eating less calories than your body burns is the only thing that works...aside from certain medical conditions or cutting a limb off or something.

    Indulging on weekends is okay only if it doesn't mean you're not in a deficit for the week. For instance, if I lose 1 lb/week at 1800 calories per day and I eat 1800 calories Monday-Friday and 3000 Saturday-Sunday, I'm definitely not going to lose a pound a week. If I eat 1500 Monday-Friday and 2500 Saturday-Sunday, my average intake will be 1800 and I'll still lose about a pound a week.

    "Indulging" doesn't mean "I ate whatever I wanted and didn't track my calories, so I have no clue what I really ate," especially if it happens every weekend. That's not going to work. You have to track every day, even if you eat over your goal, in order to truly know your average intake over the course of the week.

    TL;DR: It works if you do it right.
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    Ok well thanks for the positive feedback, didn't ask for no snotty ones but hey ho

    Define "snotty" :smiley:

    snotty_kid-8x6.jpg
  • NobodyPutsAmyInTheCorner
    NobodyPutsAmyInTheCorner Posts: 1,018 Member
    I was blunt. Not snotty. I'm not good at typing essays any more.
  • mizzlarabee
    mizzlarabee Posts: 134 Member
    The. Horror.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    Yes it does.
    58841349.png
  • This content has been removed.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    Ok well thanks for the positive feedback, didn't ask for no snotty ones but hey ho

    You, obviously, haven't been on this website very long, but don't let it scare you off. The natives are mostly harmless.
  • annavalente
    annavalente Posts: 119 Member
    Yip 57lbs down..12 more to go!
    Logging honestly is definitely the key!!
  • daclozer
    daclozer Posts: 1 Member
    For me it I is working, I started out not too much overweight just trying to get more energy and be healthier. It is forcing me to make better choices because now I understand how hard it is to burn off 300 calories or whatever amount. If I am going to splurge a bit I relate the calories to how many minutes on the elliptical and decide if it is worth it or not.
  • Ashleigh4444
    Ashleigh4444 Posts: 1 Member
    It definitely works! In the beginning I lost about a pound-two a week in my first few months with little effort exercising.. I regularly try to average between 1000-1200 calories A day, Eating 5-6 times (3 meals 2/3 snacks) and on my "cheat" days im still calorie conscious.. I don't go crazy with it, just allow myself to eat between 1500-1800. You dont wanna completely deprive yourself of your favorite foods. Because your CRAVINGS will get the best of you. Eating a random slice of pizza will shock your body after eating clean the rest of the week and send your metabolism into high gear. Just account for the calories eaten on your cheat day. DON'T GO BUCK WILD. You don't wanna back pedal and defeat what you did throughout the rest of the week.. GOOD LUCK! :smiley:
  • This content has been removed.
This discussion has been closed.