Please confirm this is all true...
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So I've been reading a lot of posts on losing weight and it all having to do with calories and not necessarily what you are eating, just how many calories for the day or week. It doesn't get more basic than that, if you really think about it, but I'm having issues believing it, so I want confirmation
So if I'm at 1400 calories, it doesn't matter how many carbs I have? I could have a ton of carbs every day, as long as I stay below my allotted calories? I'm having trouble with this because I've always lost weight doing low carb and would prefer eating what I want and looking at the calories. I also don't factor in exercise at all, even though I workout 6 days a week because I don't trust it. Anyways, I was just looking at how many carbs I've been having and I don't like it, so just want reassurance that it is ok. Thanks!
My max weight loss was 192lbs, i lost most of my weight eating junk food(high carb foods). There are many on here who believe "it's all about macros and calories" I threw the macros thing out the window to prove a point to everyone on my friend's list, it's all about calories. I would eat junk, lift, and i was getting good results while i stayed within my calories. There is one caveat though, high processed foods(usually high in sugar and carbs) have a tendency to cause over eating, they are calorie dense. They don't fill you up as much and you get hungry.
Hence that's why i said "max weight loss" i gained back about 50lbs. So nutrition is important for the long term.
Professor of nutrition also proved this point, he ate 2/3 of his diet from junk food, ho ho's twinkies, little debbies. He lost 27lbs in 10 weeks, and his HEALTH IMPROVED.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html
You gained back 50 pounds? Wow. Can you elaborate more about how you used calories, macros etc, and what your experience was?0 -
So I've been reading a lot of posts on losing weight and it all having to do with calories and not necessarily what you are eating, just how many calories for the day or week. It doesn't get more basic than that, if you really think about it, but I'm having issues believing it, so I want confirmation So if I'm at 1400 calories, it doesn't matter how many carbs I have? I could have a ton of carbs every day, as long as I stay below my allotted calories? I'm having trouble with this because I've always lost weight doing low carb and would prefer eating what I want and looking at the calories. I also don't factor in exercise at all, even though I workout 6 days a week because I don't trust it. Anyways, I was just looking at how many carbs I've been having and I don't like it, so just want reassurance that it is ok. Thanks!
a calorie is a unit of energy...your body requires XXXX amount of energy to function optimally and maintain the status quot...you consume a balance of energy, you maintain. If you consume more energy than your body needs to maintain, that surplus of energy is stored as body fat...your energy reserves. When you consume less energy than your body requires, that deficit of energy has to be made up for...which is why you burn fat...your energy reserves.
Yes...it's that easy.
What your diet consists of, however, will impact satiety, performance, and your overall nutrition.0 -
I did it that way ...I started off just counting calories, but you work out the hunger implications quickly of not balancing your diet
Suffice to say I lost 52lbs and maintain by calorie counting ...I keep an eye on my protein and fats macros, eat a wide range of vegetables, and hit about 300g carbs most days ...I love toast and rice with my vegetables and crisps
You should eat back exercise calories too though, at least half of MFP database, if you're following MFP method
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So I've been reading a lot of posts on losing weight and it all having to do with calories and not necessarily what you are eating, just how many calories for the day or week. It doesn't get more basic than that, if you really think about it, but I'm having issues believing it, so I want confirmation So if I'm at 1400 calories, it doesn't matter how many carbs I have? I could have a ton of carbs every day, as long as I stay below my allotted calories? I'm having trouble with this because I've always lost weight doing low carb and would prefer eating what I want and looking at the calories. I also don't factor in exercise at all, even though I workout 6 days a week because I don't trust it. Anyways, I was just looking at how many carbs I've been having and I don't like it, so just want reassurance that it is ok. Thanks!
I've lost 77.4lbs and I live mostly on carbs. I pretty much eat whatever I want as long as it fits in my calories.
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I have days of just eating biscuits (and I will keep doing that), but it really is true that you are much hungrier on those days. I make a conscious decision - I really want to eat this chocolate or these biscuits, but I know I will be pacing the house starving late that night and will have to grit my teeth to keep from tucking into food beyond my calories. I need cast iron willpower on the days that I indulge in those things more than I need it when I don't, which sounds counter intuitive.
Don't let anyone shame you or scold you into only eating certain kinds of foods, but eating what you like has consequences you need to be aware of. With great power comes great responsibility.
On the health issue, I find that when I allow myself whatever I like (within calories) including sugar and junk, I soon enough cycle around to being in the mood for fruit and veggies. I doubt there is anyone on the planet who just wants to eat chocolate and carbs all day. Allow yourself to choose what you really want and it might often be something healthy! Life is too short and calories are too scarce to force down something you don't like.0 -
So I've been reading a lot of posts on losing weight and it all having to do with calories and not necessarily what you are eating, just how many calories for the day or week. It doesn't get more basic than that, if you really think about it, but I'm having issues believing it, so I want confirmation So if I'm at 1400 calories, it doesn't matter how many carbs I have? I could have a ton of carbs every day, as long as I stay below my allotted calories? I'm having trouble with this because I've always lost weight doing low carb and would prefer eating what I want and looking at the calories. I also don't factor in exercise at all, even though I workout 6 days a week because I don't trust it. Anyways, I was just looking at how many carbs I've been having and I don't like it, so just want reassurance that it is ok. Thanks!
Exactly that, if weight loss is your sole concern then the calorie defecit is all you need, no matter how it is achieved.
When I was losing weight I didnt balance my macros or follow a particular diet or anything, just tried to stay within that limit.
What I found was that naturally I came around to eating more whole foods, and more healthier foods, because they left me feeling more satisfied for less calories. Its how I ended up making it work for me, but it certainly wasnt intentional.
Two tips I found?
1) Look at the calorie balance for the week. Some days you are up, some days you are down, so long as its right at the end of the week its all good. This spared me stressing about every single day, or the odd days I did go over.
2) Dont restrict anything (obviously that you dont need to). While I did come round to eating healthier foods it was by choice, not necessity. I still enjoyed some junk as well, its all about balance!
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Yes it has worked for me, I am still not the healthiest eater, that's something I need to work on. Don't fear your exercise calories though, eat half of them back to account for inaccuracies.0
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The particular foods you eat matter in regards to nutrition and health but only calories matter for weight loss.0
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I'm just gonna leave this here...
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819925-the-basics-don-t-complicate-it
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here?hl=so+you're+new+here
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants0 -
http://www.amazon.com/Diet-Cults-Surprising-Fallacy-Nutrition/dp/1605988294
So many people subscribe to one diet or another and the truth is that it comes down to calories eaten vs calories burned -- you need daily exercise of some type to stay healthy as your body was meant to move and do things not just sit on a couch -- if you do a lot of cardio or strength training they are all great things depending on what you are trying to accomplish and how you want your body to be/look.0 -
Assuming you're healthy, yup!
I'm obese but am down 37lbs in 100 days just doing calorie counting. I find I'm eating fewer carbs by default because they tend to be calorie rich for me (oh how I can binge on pasta!) but I've not cut them out by any means! Feel free to pop through my diary if it's open!
ETA: I've been sick the past couple of days so they aren't normal for me.0 -
I have days of just eating biscuits (and I will keep doing that), but it really is true that you are much hungrier on those days. I make a conscious decision - I really want to eat this chocolate or these biscuits, but I know I will be pacing the house starving late that night and will have to grit my teeth to keep from tucking into food beyond my calories. I need cast iron willpower on the days that I indulge in those things more than I need it when I don't, which sounds counter intuitive.
Don't let anyone shame you or scold you into only eating certain kinds of foods, but eating what you like has consequences you need to be aware of. With great power comes great responsibility.
On the health issue, I find that when I allow myself whatever I like (within calories) including sugar and junk, I soon enough cycle around to being in the mood for fruit and veggies. I doubt there is anyone on the planet who just wants to eat chocolate and carbs all day. Allow yourself to choose what you really want and it might often be something healthy! Life is too short and calories are too scarce to force down something you don't like.
True0 -
I have days of just eating biscuits (and I will keep doing that), but it really is true that you are much hungrier on those days. I make a conscious decision - I really want to eat this chocolate or these biscuits, but I know I will be pacing the house starving late that night and will have to grit my teeth to keep from tucking into food beyond my calories. I need cast iron willpower on the days that I indulge in those things more than I need it when I don't, which sounds counter intuitive.
Don't let anyone shame you or scold you into only eating certain kinds of foods, but eating what you like has consequences you need to be aware of. With great power comes great responsibility.
On the health issue, I find that when I allow myself whatever I like (within calories) including sugar and junk, I soon enough cycle around to being in the mood for fruit and veggies. I doubt there is anyone on the planet who just wants to eat chocolate and carbs all day. Allow yourself to choose what you really want and it might often be something healthy! Life is too short and calories are too scarce to force down something you don't like.
Nice post.
This is how I think of it. There's such a trade off if you eat non satiating foods that it will be a learning experience or something done rarely and people being mindful will learn what works for them and generally end up eating in a mostly healthful way.
But it's lovely to be able to see it as eating what one really wants and not avoiding "bad" foods.0 -
LolaKarwowski wrote: »So I've been reading a lot of posts on losing weight and it all having to do with calories and not necessarily what you are eating, just how many calories for the day or week. It doesn't get more basic than that, if you really think about it, but I'm having issues believing it, so I want confirmation So if I'm at 1400 calories, it doesn't matter how many carbs I have? I could have a ton of carbs every day, as long as I stay below my allotted calories? I'm having trouble with this because I've always lost weight doing low carb and would prefer eating what I want and looking at the calories. I also don't factor in exercise at all, even though I workout 6 days a week because I don't trust it. Anyways, I was just looking at how many carbs I've been having and I don't like it, so just want reassurance that it is ok. Thanks!
The first time around I did this and was miserable. Always super hungry!! I mean I lost the weight and was always under my calorie intake goal, but I was tired and hungry all day everyday.
The second time around (now), I'm paying a lot more attention to what I eat. Yes, still not going over my calorie intake goal for the day... but making sure I get my protein in, fats in, and not going overboard with my carb intake (don't cut it out completely!!!) has honestly helped me stay faithful to my lifestyle change. This time around I am not miserable and hungry all the time and I really think it is because of the foods I am eating
I agree with this. Also, you can be super thin and have terrible health, so I believe it's important to keep the sugar and starchy carbs to a minimum and eat plenty of fibrous foods, veggies, protein and healthy fats.
There is sugar in fruit and dairy, of course, which I consider healthy (and dairy is a nice source of protein).
But what I want to ask about here is why are starchy carbs unhealthy? They can be somewhat high in calories, so I agree with watching portion size, but they are common staple foods including in the healthiest traditional diets.
I tend to think of diets as too restrictive once people start claiming that eating potatoes or sweet potatoes or whole grains or legumes or oatmeal or rice (all starchy carbs) is going to contribute to "terrible health" or should be classified as "junk."
This is also why I always ask what people mean by "junk" as there's no way to tell. Yesterday when I asked someone it turned out she meant "wheat."
You can be healthy by generally paying attention to eating a balanced diet that contains enough of what we need. You don't at all have to be super restrictive.0 -
So I've been reading a lot of posts on losing weight and it all having to do with calories and not necessarily what you are eating, just how many calories for the day or week. It doesn't get more basic than that, if you really think about it, but I'm having issues believing it, so I want confirmation So if I'm at 1400 calories, it doesn't matter how many carbs I have? I could have a ton of carbs every day, as long as I stay below my allotted calories? I'm having trouble with this because I've always lost weight doing low carb and would prefer eating what I want and looking at the calories. I also don't factor in exercise at all, even though I workout 6 days a week because I don't trust it. Anyways, I was just looking at how many carbs I've been having and I don't like it, so just want reassurance that it is ok. Thanks!
Tis true! Eat whatever you like, as long as you have a calorie deficit, and it fits your macros. Weight comes off.0 -
As others have pointed out, at the end of the day it's CICO for weight loss.
But, as others have pointed out, what you eat can impact how hungry you are. Eating fats and proteins can help mitigate hunger. Carbs don't tend to "stick around long" and leave you feeling hungry sooner.0 -
I've been CICO for 5 years and I've lost almost 80 pounds eating a mix of foods that are Carb Heavy, Fat Heavy, Sugar laden, etc. The main point is the Calorie Counting. Some MFP'ers also focus on the Macros (Like IIFYM) and I either lost solely on CICO, or accidentally hit my Macros without trying. I credit CICO.
The main success point is to be consistent. When I'm consistent, I lose the weight. When I get off-track, I gain it.
I hit Goal on 8/21/2014 and it shocks me and others that I did it eating Whoppers, Popeye's Chicken, and DQ Sundaes ever so often. It's not a DIEt, it's a new lifestyle.
Since I've mastered the "CI" part. Now I'm on the "CO" part. Get a FitBit, connect it up, and start moving more. I aim for 10K steps a day and it has really had a positive impact on satiety and keeping the plan intact.
5 years of data..that's worth something. Hope this helps.
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So I've been reading a lot of posts on losing weight and it all having to do with calories and not necessarily what you are eating, just how many calories for the day or week. It doesn't get more basic than that, if you really think about it, but I'm having issues believing it, so I want confirmation So if I'm at 1400 calories, it doesn't matter how many carbs I have? I could have a ton of carbs every day, as long as I stay below my allotted calories? I'm having trouble with this because I've always lost weight doing low carb and would prefer eating what I want and looking at the calories. I also don't factor in exercise at all, even though I workout 6 days a week because I don't trust it. Anyways, I was just looking at how many carbs I've been having and I don't like it, so just want reassurance that it is ok. Thanks!
Yes, it's fine. I eat a vary varied diet myself. I get my fruits and veggies in and fiber, and I always make sure to hit my protein for the day. I also eat donuts, pizza, chips, etc. Weight loss is very simply calories in calories out. People always try to complicate it, but if you have no other medical conditions, it is that simple. I've lost 90 pounds all while eating my favorite foods. I know it sounds too good to be true, right? I used to think the same thing, but it works. Once you realize this it can be very liberating. It was for me at least. Stay within your calorie limit, and you will be fine.
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I love carbs too but I find that I have to eat less food on the days I want to eat high carb meals. I can eat so much more by putting protein, fruits and veggies as a priority.0
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