We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!
What are your feelings on calorie counting?
Replies
-
whaddupw8loss wrote: »
And calorie counting was a large part of my failure.
You'll figure out what clicks for you. If not counting calories, something else. Don't give up.0 -
WinoGelato wrote: »
You seem very defensive about calorie counting and this app/site. I have to wonder if this community is a positive place for you, given your negative experiences. I know you keep qualifying trying to say that you aren't saying it's wrong for everyone, but your words and the intent behind them seem to be very pessimistic about the odds of success for the average person using this site for calorie counting AND learning how to be healthier, when in fact it is working for SO many people.
MFP is not always a good fit for everyone, particularly those who have had an eating disorder or in recovery for one.
I wish you continued success with your health, fitness and educational goals, whatever path you choose.
Not really? I'm NOT a pessimist about this site. I am glad it's helping people. I have yet to go to any of the people saying that it's working for them and telling them rude and negative things. My failure from this site doesn't make me hate this site, it doesn't make me hate the people who succeed. I don't honestly know how it literally got this far and blown out of proportion. You don't have to believe that, there are people who come on here who were better off not coming. That's not being a pessimist. That's being real. Continue on doing what works for you, I never once tried to stop you, or anyone. Just because you beg to differ with me, doesn't mean that I'm being negative.0 -
Christine_72 wrote: »
Yep, I just use the data from pizza hut, even though I never get pizzas from there. Same with other take away foods, I can usually find a substitute in the data base.
Likewise. I also err on the larger size, if I don't have an exact number. I would have no luck at all if I tried to avoid eating out or getting drinks, because I love both of those things and the fit into my life. The other day my boyfriend brought me two cookies from his co-worker. They were stunning. I just guessed their calorie content based on similar-ish cookies in the database, picked a high one, and moved on.
It doesn't work for everyone, but it works for me.0 -
whaddupw8loss wrote: »
No, I'm not saying nutrition is the only thing. Calorie intake DOES matter. However, calorie counting can turn into an obsession, anorexic people were doing it way before MFP existed. So, I guess people with disorders, or who might find themselves in a disorder after calorie counting, should seek nutrition, and guidance. Whether it's binge eating, ednos, anorexia, bulimia, or plainly just needing more than MFP to understand the vast world of nutrition and calorie counting.
Also, a eating a bag of grapes within two days isn't following nutrition, it's eating a healthy food in excess. (:
Though there's a chicken/egg issue at play here, I have to say I agree with most of this. A calorie counting app should not be the first stop or continued process for anyone with an eating disorder. Getting help and medical treatment should be. I highly doubt even the nutritional education would be sufficient for that case. Proper and ongoing treatment is what is needed for affected individuals0 -
whaddupw8loss wrote: »
No, I'm not saying nutrition is the only thing. Calorie intake DOES matter. However, calorie counting can turn into an obsession, anorexic people were doing it way before MFP existed. So, I guess people with disorders, or who might find themselves in a disorder after calorie counting, should seek nutrition, and guidance. Whether it's binge eating, ednos, anorexia, bulimia, or plainly just needing more than MFP to understand the vast world of nutrition and calorie counting.
Also, a eating a bag of grapes within two days isn't following nutrition, it's eating a healthy food in excess. (:
Or, you know, eating too many calories and gaining weight. You can gain eating too much of anything.
Altho I'm surprised she did considering the affect grapes have on the digestive system.0 -
This content has been removed.
-
Or, you know, eating too many calories and gaining weight. You can gain eating too much of anything.
Altho I'm surprised she did considering the affect grapes have on the digestive system.
Really? I still buy grapes sometimes when they accidentally jump all by themselves into my grocery cart. Never noticed a thing!0 -
whaddupw8loss wrote: »
And calorie counting was a large part of my failure.
Okay, and that sucks for you. It sounds like your ED was exacerbated by calorie counting, at which point you ought to conclude that MFP is the wrong tool for you. And I'm sorry you went through that -- honestly. I've got mental health issues too, and I would never wish any form of them on anyone.
But you're swinging really wildly around between a point about people not knowing nutrition (and please remind yourself that access to information is a privilege, not a given for a very large amount of people -- especially the poor, among whom weight issues are very common) and MFP being this big evil thing that's bad for people. Weight loss is a billion dollar industry that benefits from repeated failures, and often carefully encourages yo-yo dieting and body shaming as a way to keep people buying. And MFP displays just as many predatory practices as a company as Weight Watchers or anyone else. But the thread isn't about MFP a service. The OP asked how people feel about calorie counting.
Calorie counting, if you remove it the service you use to do it, is just one tool to achieve a task, and no toolbox only has a hammer. A combination of calorie counting, understanding nutrition, and understanding how much energy one's body uses are all necessary tools in long-term weight loss.
I'm not sure what you want to achieve here, but you might want to get to a thesis point eventually.0 -
Okay, and that sucks for you. It sounds like your ED was exacerbated by calorie counting, at which point you ought to conclude that MFP is the wrong tool for you. And I'm sorry you went through that -- honestly. I've got mental health issues too, and I would never wish any form of them on anyone.
But you're swinging really wildly around between a point about people not knowing nutrition (and please remind yourself that access to information is a privilege, not a given for a very large amount of people -- especially the poor, among whom weight issues are very common) and MFP being this big evil thing that's bad for people. Weight loss is a billion dollar industry that benefits from repeated failures, and often carefully encourages yo-yo dieting and body shaming as a way to keep people buying. And MFP displays just as many predatory practices as a company as Weight Watchers or anyone else. But the thread isn't about MFP a service. The OP asked how people feel about calorie counting.
Calorie counting, if you remove it the service you use to do it, is just one tool to achieve a task, and no toolbox only has a hammer. A combination of calorie counting, understanding nutrition, and understanding how much energy one's body uses are all necessary tools in long-term weight loss.
I'm not sure what you want to achieve here, but you might want to get to a thesis point eventually.
Of course as conversation flows other things are bound to be brought up. Apparently, you just decide to pop in when it's on a whole new level, allowing yourself to have the argument of a "thesis." This isn't a college essay, and if I wanted to hold a conversation like such I would do at my own choosing. Apparently a communication course would do you well.0 -
I like it, it helps me know why I am fat and gives me the means to correct that.
I am sure Mindful eating and waiting for actual hunger cues might work for some, but I want to eat the entire cereal box and drink 3 liters of chocolate milk. I have to control myself and the numbers help somewhat.-1 -
I do not like it.
Not one bit.
I eat what I want0 -
I have no feelings about calorie counting. It's one of the activities I do in my daily life, like getting dressed in the morning.0
-
whaddupw8loss wrote: »
Of course as conversation flows other things are bound to be brought up. Apparently, you just decide to pop in when it's on a whole new level, allowing yourself to have the argument of a "thesis." This isn't a college essay, and if I wanted to hold a conversation like such I would do at my own choosing. Apparently a communication course would do you well.
No, I read the whole thread and I stand behind the statement I decided to make. You're being confrontational with basically every person who disagrees with you even slightly. I hardly see how you think that's conducive to making any sort of point, unless the point you want to make is that you have very strong feelings about the way that MFP as a service failed you.
But hey, thanks for your advice. I'm definitely going to take it with as much weight as I think it deserves.0 -
whaddupw8loss wrote: »
Not really? I'm NOT a pessimist about this site. I am glad it's helping people. I have yet to go to any of the people saying that it's working for them and telling them rude and negative things. My failure from this site doesn't make me hate this site, it doesn't make me hate the people who succeed. I don't honestly know how it literally got this far and blown out of proportion. You don't have to believe that, there are people who come on here who were better off not coming. That's not being a pessimist. That's being real. Continue on doing what works for you, I never once tried to stop you, or anyone. Just because you beg to differ with me, doesn't mean that I'm being negative.
I don't think you are reading my post correctly. I am agreeing with you that MFP may not be right for everyone, particularly those who have issues with disordered eating or who tend to become too obsessive about numbers and control. However, that's very different than what you were initially saying which is that everyone should take time to learn nutrition before they start counting calories because just jumping into calorie counting will leave them starving and doomed to fail.
0 -
Really? I still buy grapes sometimes when they accidentally jump all by themselves into my grocery cart. Never noticed a thing!
Are the grapes in cahoots with the chocolate because that totally happens to me too!0 -
Are the grapes in cahoots with the chocolate because that totally happens to me too!
Delicious jerks0 -
I do not remember not knowing about nutrition. I was in 4-H by age nine and learning about the 4 food groups, I remember being pregnant and learning about the first incarnation of the food pyramid, Weight Watchers taught me how to read a food label all before the advent of smart phone apps. So I can not comment on needing to know about nutrition before calorie counting.0
-
I love calorie counting because it keeps me honest. It is black or white - either I'm under maintenance and losing, or I'm not. My brain is a champion at coming up with excuses for why this bite won't matter or why I should go ahead and eat a little more at dinner, etc. But counting calories makes it clear that excuses are just that and won't get me anywhere. Either I'm doing the work or I'm not. If I put the effort in and do the work, I will get the results. If I don't, I won't.
I'm also very analytical and love data and numbers, so I really enjoy seeing how many calories I'm eating and how I feel and how my weight loss reflects that. Counting calories has taught me so much about selecting healthier (low energy density) foods.0 -
whaddupw8loss wrote: »
Not really? I'm NOT a pessimist about this site. I am glad it's helping people. I have yet to go to any of the people saying that it's working for them and telling them rude and negative things. My failure from this site doesn't make me hate this site, it doesn't make me hate the people who succeed. I don't honestly know how it literally got this far and blown out of proportion. You don't have to believe that, there are people who come on here who were better off not coming. That's not being a pessimist. That's being real. Continue on doing what works for you, I never once tried to stop you, or anyone. Just because you beg to differ with me, doesn't mean that I'm being negative.
I think the problem is that you confused the hell out of people by acting like MFP doesn't promote proper nutrition. If you had clicked on anything else in the food diary besides "add food," you would know that it literally tells you how much of the major vitamins, minerals, and macros you should be getting.0 -
"A poor workman blames his tools." as my dad would say.whaddupw8loss wrote: »I only use MFP to read community posts, and log my weight. I'm losing weight MUCH faster than I ever did about obsessing over calories, and just eating healthier.
Wanting to lose weight fast is NOT healthy.0 -
I enjoy logging my food-it's fun for me. But the biggest benefit to me since joining is that I'm eating far better from a nutritional standpoint.
I like checking my macros and choosing a snack based on whether I need more protein or carbs to reach my daily goals. I used to barely bother with veggies. I knew I should eat them and I didn't mind them, I just preferred eating chips and cheese and other fatty things way more.
Now that I'm logging, I choose to eat vegetables regularly.
It's like writing an exam every day and getting an "A" when I reach my caloric and nutrition goals.
And my stomach problems, which I now realize were caused by consuming WAY too much fat, have disappeared.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 394.5K Introduce Yourself
- 44K Getting Started
- 260.5K Health and Weight Loss
- 176.1K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.7K Fitness and Exercise
- 444 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153.1K Motivation and Support
- 8.1K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 4.1K MyFitnessPal Information
- 16 News and Announcements
- 1.3K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.8K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions