Calories vs calories

coralp123

hey guys so iv been wondering...
When calorie counting would it be exactly the same eating 300 calories worth of nuts for example as it would be for a 300 calorie burger or pizza? Iv seen people comment saying you can eat whatever you want in a day as long as your within your calorie goal but surely if I used my 1200 calories on junk I'd gain weight not loose it?
Ps I have no intention of doing so this is mainly out of curiosity so I can get my facts straight x

Mycophilia

For fat loss it would exactly the same. Calories are calories. The reason vegetables and stuff are "better" is because they contain micronutrients. Those are important for general health, but they are not required to lose weight.

LKArgh

No, you would not gain weight. Your health might suffer on the long run, but for weight loss/gain purposes, calories are calories. One problem might be though that when eating very calorie dense food, you might end up not filling full and going over your calorie goals because of this.

dakotababy

You will lose weight, as long as your in a deficit - regardless of which foods you eat. HOWEVER, you will likely feel like *kitten* eating 1800 calories in donuts and mcd's as opposed to veggies and fruits with protein. Also, you get more food when you eat healthy.

Not going to lie, I have had days were all I ate was cake and ice cream...I could only have two servings and then the rest of the day I suffered. It sucks *kitten* - it is best to use the calories wisely.

mamadon

It would be exactly the same. Calories are a unit of measurement, like an inch or a mile. Thats why calorie counting works to lose weight. Many people here have lost a lot of weight (including myself) without restricting food and by counting calories. I eat probably what you would consider "junk" all the time, if I restricted the foods that I love, i would have failed in my weight loss.

seska422

It doesn't have to be all one way or all the other way.

I eat about 80% of my daily calories with nutrient-rich foods. The other 20% can go toward whatever I wish.

The 80% fills me up and meets my nutritional goals. The 20% keeps me from feeling deprived. Without that leeway, I'd give up and quit so I would actually end up eating fewer nutrients.

coralp123

Thanks guys I rarely eat sweets/ junk food normally only around 'that time of the month' I was just struggling to get my head how people cN still eat fast foods day in day out and lose weight but it's been explained perfectly

Lourdesong

Yes, 300 cals of x and 300 cals of y would be equals as far as energy.

Where it can get complicated is whether the estimate of energy that x and y contains is correct or not. The energy contained in nuts and protein are believed by some to be overstated and if this is so then a diet consisting largely of meat and nuts might put you at a lower overall energy intake than a diet consisting of foods which available energy was accurately measured; if in both diets you were shooting for 1200 calories.
This scenario playing out wouldn't mean that meat and nuts are therefore better for weight loss than any other diet, all it means is that measurement error has come into play and affected the outcome.

Error in estimating energy will also be why a pizza slice that is generally estimated as 300 calories may actually be 400 calories, while the slice next to it in the same pie is 200 calories. Or why a 300 calorie burger might actually be 500 because the kitchen was extra liberal with the hamburger portion, the mayo and other toppings.

The best you can do is try to be as accurate and as honest as possible when tracking calories to keep your errors in tracking to a minimum. If you eat a huge apple loaded with heaps of peanut butter, logging it as a small apple with just one serving of PB is going to be an error on your part in estimating energy. And it wouldn't follow from that error of course that apples and pb are poor food choices for weight loss.

jordanwhite91

You'll loose more weight faster if you ate healthy and nutritious food compared to eatting junk food.

See I lost more weight when I cut out carbs to when I just cut my calories. Everyone is different so what works for some doesn't for others.

Eat less and exercise = results.

PAV8888

for the purpose of your question OP you've got your answer, and yes, if someone stays within their caloric limits while eating junk food they will lose weight.

for the purpose of completion and more along the lines of the error issue raised by @Lourdesong food requires energy in order to be eaten, digested, and converted into energy by your body.

The Thermic Effect of Food (TEF) is generally considered to be about 10% of your caloric intake. But different foods have a different Thermic Effect. So the thermic effect of absorbing the carbohydrates in a soda, for example, is different than the thermic effect of absorbing the protein from an almond.

Additionally, certain harder to digest foods, "fake the count".

So, the aforementioned almonds, for example, sometimes pass through your body without being completely digested. Essentially you ate the calories... and poo'ed them out... un-used, resulting in a reduction of the net calories you actually absorbed!

Now, while all these effects are sort of neat to contemplate, and may affect your weight loss at the margin, they are certainly minor compared to eating at an overall deficit which is what will help you achieve weight loss (and eating the right macro mix for health and to protect your lean muscle mass).

jonnybhoy

It's been my birthday week and although I have been eating the same 1500 kCal a day, I have been eating out and had cake, result is 3 lbs on - up to this point I have lost a total of 22lbs cutting out added sugar

patrikc333

food is food.

stevencloser

jordanwhite91 wrote: »

You'll loose more weight faster if you ate healthy and nutritious food compared to eatting junk food.

See I lost more weight when I cut out carbs to when I just cut my calories. Everyone is different so what works for some doesn't for others.

Eat less and exercise = results.

That's water weight.

ohmscheeks

Yeah sure, but I would rather have 3 meals than 3 pieces of pizza in a day. At my height and weight loss goal, I have a low calorie goal; not gonna starve for cookies lmao.

stevencloser

I didn't know I had to choose between eating 3 proper meals and stuffing myself with nothing but pizza. Guess I've been doing it completely wrong, having both proper meals and treats.

lemurcat12

A slice of thin crust pizza may be 200-250 calories. I'd certainly rather have three regular meals than 600-750 calories of pizza and nothing else. That would be way below any sensible calorie goal.

pmm3437

In a nutshell:

A calorie is a calorie. For CICO tracking, there is no "this is better than that".

What you get it from will influence other factors ( macro and micro nutrient counts, health benefits )

Its all estimates and guesswork, be as accurate as you can be.

malibu927

When it comes to weight loss, 1200 calories of salad/grilled chicken/veggies/fruits is the same as 1200 calories of pizza/cookies/soda. Nutrtion-wise, they're completely different.

Those of us who tout eating in moderation/not giving up the foods you like, we still focus primarily on getting those nutrients in first and foremost. Any room that's left afterwards will then go towards a treat.

lemurcat12

malibu927 wrote: »

When it comes to weight loss, 1200 calories of salad/grilled chicken/veggies/fruits is the same as 1200 calories of pizza/cookies/soda. Nutrtion-wise, they're completely different.

Those of us who tout eating in moderation/not giving up the foods you like, we still focus primarily on getting those nutrients in first and foremost. Any room that's left afterwards will then go towards a treat.

This.

DeguelloTex

jordanwhite91 wrote: »

You'll loose more weight faster if you ate healthy and nutritious food compared to eatting junk food.

See I lost more weight when I cut out carbs to when I just cut my calories. Everyone is different so what works for some doesn't for others.

Eat less and exercise = results.

Math works for everyone.

KittensMaster

Food substances have many properties.

The calorie measurement is just one of them.

There are the nutrients, fiber content to leave you filled feeling, water content, minerals and electrolytes, the anti inflammatory index, cholesterol content, sodium, simple or complex carbs, on and on.

So this idea that for weight loss, only calories matter is still incomplete.

It all matters. Nobody wants to lose weight to the detriment of their health. Of course not.

A calorie is just one attribute of food. Learn more about food to better manage your own health. It is your life and the only body you are gonna get.

Saying a calorie is the only important thing about food is like saying the color is the only important thing in selecting a new car.

Learn about food and manage it as a tool to meet your personal goals.

DeguelloTex

KittensMaster wrote: »

Food substances have many properties.

The calorie measurement is just one of them.

There are the nutrients, fiber content to leave you filled feeling, water content, minerals and electrolytes, the anti inflammatory index, cholesterol content, sodium, simple or complex carbs, on and on.

So this idea that for weight loss, only calories matter is still incomplete.

It all matters. Nobody wants to lose weight to the detriment of their health. Of course not.

A calorie is just one attribute of food. Learn more about food to better manage your own health. It is your life and the only body you are gonna get.

Saying a calorie is the only important thing about food is like saying the color is the only important thing in selecting a new car.

Learn about food and manage it as a tool to meet your personal goals.

Who says that about food, though? Ever?

I mean, sure, you pummeled that strawman into submission, but why?

MarziPanda95

KittensMaster wrote: »

Food substances have many properties.

The calorie measurement is just one of them.

There are the nutrients, fiber content to leave you filled feeling, water content, minerals and electrolytes, the anti inflammatory index, cholesterol content, sodium, simple or complex carbs, on and on.

So this idea that for weight loss, only calories matter is still incomplete.

It all matters. Nobody wants to lose weight to the detriment of their health. Of course not.

A calorie is just one attribute of food. Learn more about food to better manage your own health. It is your life and the only body you are gonna get.

Saying a calorie is the only important thing about food is like saying the color is the only important thing in selecting a new car.

Learn about food and manage it as a tool to meet your personal goals.

Actually, for weight loss, yes only calories matter unless you have a medical condition. Of course, we all care about being healthy and macro and micro nutrients. There aren't any people saying that calories are the only thing about food that matters. They're just saying that's what matters for weight loss. The rest of it matters for health.

mbaker566

a calorie is a measurement of energy
just like 20 of feathers and 20 lb of bowling balls weighs the samed

now quantity wise, you get more feathers.

IsaackGMOON

jordanwhite91 wrote: »

You'll loose more weight faster if you ate healthy and nutritious food compared to eatting junk food.

See I lost more weight when I cut out carbs to when I just cut my calories. Everyone is different so what works for some doesn't for others.

Eat less and exercise = results.

You probably lost more weight low carbing because it cuts water weight and glycogen... it seems people are more fixated on weight instead of fat.

Giolis

There have been plenty of times when I've stocked up my calories just so I could have a bacon cheese burger and fries or 4-5 slices of pizza. That's not to say that I eat like this the majority of time but it sure makes it a lot easier mentally to know that I can still enjoy food and not stall my weight loss.

Mr_Knight

coralp123 wrote: »

hey guys so iv been wondering...
When calorie counting would it be exactly the same eating 300 calories worth of nuts for example as it would be for a 300 calorie burger or pizza?

It depends on what you're "counting" towards, what your activity level is like, what the rest of your diet is like, etc etc etc.

...surely if I used my 1200 calories on junk I'd gain weight not loose it?

If you could maintain eating 1200 calories/day of junk (which is doubtful) - yes, you would lose weight eating nothing but junk.

yopeeps025

jordanwhite91 wrote: »

You'll loose more weight faster if you ate healthy and nutritious food compared to eatting junk food.

See I lost more weight when I cut out carbs to when I just cut my calories. Everyone is different so what works for some doesn't for others.

Eat less and exercise = results.

That is the whole point of a low carb diet. That is not anything new. Carbs hold water weight. That is what you lost more of.

Mr_Knight

pmm3437 wrote: »

In a nutshell:
A calorie is a calorie. For CICO tracking, there is no "this is better than that".

Yes, there is, because choice of calories affects body composition and energy levels, which affect CO, which affect weight loss for any given CI.

Giolis

Nobody's questioning the nutritional differences and benefits of calories. Everyone knows that 1200 calories of doughnuts don't provide the same nutrition or health benefits of 1200 calories of vegetables and lean meats.

But outside of nutrition a calorie is a calorie and you will loose the same amount of weight if you ate 1200 calories of "junk" food versus "healthy" food. You might be shortening your life span or creating health issues but you'd just as thin.

slaite1

I skipped the comments, sorry if I'm repeating. Most people don't just eat "junk food" all day and lose weight-simply because they would be too hungry as calorie dense food does not go very far in a deficit.

What you hear about is people eating to their calorie and micro goals. I, for example, eat lots of fruit, veggies, beans, yogurts etc and ALSO eat pizza or ice cream. I have to fit in my pizza-just like I have to fit in nuts or an apple. Is eating a diet that includes pizza as healthy as a diet that includes nuts? It sure can be.

Some days I've had so much fiber/protein that chocolate is actually a better choice for me than vegetables or a grain. I those days