can you eat what you want and lose weight?

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4men1lady79

I have less energy when I eat junk...I not only want to lose weight but also be healthier...I eat mostly healthy with the occasional "junk"...If I crave it I will have a taste but not overdo it regardless of how many calories I have left. I just personally prefer feeding my body the "good" more than the "bad" and my body loves it and responds to it better than when I was eating mostly the other stuff...

phurst00

I would err on the safe side and go for moderation and making smarter choices, ie buying/making healthier versions of the things you like. For instance I used to eat 2 bagels with way too much cream cheese for breakfast; now I'll have 1 whole wheat english muffin + 2 tblspon light cream cheese and maybe a banana and cup of skim milk and I'll be good to go for hours. The best thing is that it still tastes delicious!

You can make healthier versions of just about anything, just look around on these forums and elsewhere on the net for ideas!

CkepiJinx

My 78 lb loss says yes you can eat what you want as long as you stay within your calorie goal. That is not to say I have made no changes but I have not eliminated anything either and you must weigh and measure your food, don't guesstimate

Mokey41

The OP didn't ask if eating certain foods makes some people binge on more of that food. That's a whole different ball game. There's a difference between staying in your calorie budget eating what you want and eating some ice cream and then pigging out on the whole carton. If you are someone that can't control your eating then it might be wise to avoid those foods although for me I know that as soon as you tell me I can't have ice cream that's all I think about until it does become a binge!

bajoyba

It's worked for me so far!
I wouldn't recommend eating an entire day's worth of junk food, because that would most likely use the majority of your calories very quickly and leave you feeling unsatisfied. You get more bang for your calorie buck if you try to make healthier choices throughout the day.
For me, moderation is key. I'll happily load up my dinner plate with steamed broccoli (mostly because I love broccoli) and then have a couple slices of pizza or a cupcake for dessert. But I've found that by NOT eliminating anything from my diet, my new lifestyle has been incredibly easy to stick to.

Nissi51

Wouldn't work for me... May work for you

laytheaub

For me, the more junk I eat, the more I crave it and when I eat crap, I feel like crap. I have to stay completely away from junk food in order to stay on track and focused.

Kita328

In my experience I cannot just eat whatever I want. I know if I eat junk my body craves it. I can tell when I have been eating cleaner (nearly no processed foods) because my body runs better and doesn't even think about eating those things. For me I would just much rather not eat junk and feel better. Plus I love eating- and I can eat way more things in a day if I eat nonprocessed junky food.

NavyKnightAh13

I used to and lost a bit. But now I am getting to where certain things are making me sick, so I have to eat a lot of things homemade. When I don't it makes me sicker then a dog.

I believe in the beginning you can, but as I am finding, I am having to tweek my foods quite a bit. I can't eat fast food anymore because I get nauseous and sleepy and headaches. I am also finding, as of late, that me and sugar are kinda clashing because if I eat too much of it, I get nauseous and the runs (TMI i know), I have too little and I get headaches and lethargic.

Before anyone says anything, yes my doctor is aware of it and we are in the process of finding out what is going on.

But to answer your question, yes.

madmiya

portion control i guess.

i just use my rice bowl (1c) and smaller (1/2c) to eat with. even if you have to refill a small plate you're more conscious than if you devour one huge serving. it doesn't make you behave, it just makes you aware.

and yeah, this afternoon at lunch i was pretty dumb. i ate a small bowl of baked fries and went back for another, but i was pretty conscious of it and balanced it out later. sorta, heh.

herblackwings39

I've been working at this since March 23rd, 2012 and have lost around 96-97 lbs so far eating what I want. I have just learned, over time, that I have to watch my portion sizes. If I want it, have the calories for it, I eat it. If I don't have the calories for it and I still want it I either go over for the day, exercise to get a few extra calories, or have it the next day if I still want it.

I'd never have made it this far if I had to give up meals out, sweets, etc. I just have to find a way to fit them in.

brower47

I've lost almost 40 in 18 pounds months eating anything and everything I love.

tennileb

I can loose weight eating junk....but it is slower, and junk food makes me crazy CRAZY hungry, I get massive highs and lows as the sugar crash kicks in so I tend to cheat on my diet then.

I'm aiming for 80/20 80% healthy whole foods, 20% kid in a candy store free for all.

But regardless of what the calories still count...and I can eat allot more healthy whole foods vs junk

lenamae23

There's a saying around here "if it fits in your macros"' Yes eat what you want in smaller, appropriate portions.

Babeskeez

Eff yes you can. I am still finding the amount I can eat (I eat more on the weekends and hell if I am giving that up). But this is a lifestyle to me and dammit, some days you just need to eat, drink and be merry. I will not have a life of salads, chicken breast and no carbs. Ish.

alisonlynn1976

I don't completely forbid myself anything. I do find that I can do better on my workouts if I make healthy choices most of the time.

crandos

Yes u can

Archaedis

Do you just want to lose weight? Or would you like to be healthy too? The majority of your diet should be nutritious whole foods. Give your body the nutrition it needs you will feel much better. That being said an occasional treat is fine if the majority of your diet is good.

taidasrictar

i believe in everything in moderation

i have lost 50+ pounds eating what ever i want

as long as you don't eat junk food every day and try to keep everything balanced it works

Christina8585

I mean yes and no. Can you still have a night out once in a while and have a couple slices of pizza without becoming a fatasorisrex? Yeah.

Can you have cake for breakfast every day as long as it's under your calories? Maybe for the first couple of weeks or month if your extra overweight but long term, hellsss no!
Diet nutrition effects how your body burns, works and effects your ability to perform physical activity. If you eat a muffin for breakfast and other crap, your still gonna end up with sugar crashes, feeling foggy. You won't get the proper energy you need. And you'll void out the healthy foods you do eat...

touchafaith

Hi, I eat what I want when I want just as long as it stays within my allocated calories. I think that's why this is working for me so far. Its so much easier to follow than a 'diet' because you dont HAVE to cut foods out so you don't particularly crave them as your not deprived of them.

TheVimFuego

I do ... Chocolate and ice cream daily for me on top of my red wine.

A couple of those I moderate

annakow

If you eat healthy ( no junk food) and keep within your calorie goal, it's ok

Mario_Az

you can but make sure you are putting in work at that gym

Lulla_dxb

I eat what I want and I'm managing to lose weight. I exercise a lot too though!
As long as you stay within your calorie limits then it's fine. HOWEVER I wouldn't go crazy and eat really unhealthy food all the time as it's bound to have some bad effects on your insides!
I do treat myself a lot though :ohwell:

buggings

You can, per se, eat whatever you want, yes.

However, I think you'll come to realize, as I did, that these bad foods we were once so used to consuming are not nearly as satisfying as the healthier options that we can have much more of. Sure, Pizza/icecream/chocolate is wonderful, but when the smallest portion possibly eats up a good 1/4 or more of your budget, you'll start to think twice.

But, to each their own and I hope you are able to find what works for you!

PippiNe

Before I began dieting using MFP, I had a vigorous appetite. I ate (and craved) lots of carb-rich foods and sweets. Since beginning this diet, I eliminated many of those foods from my diet simply because I couldn't eat enough of them to fill me up and stay within my 1200 calorie a day requirement. So I replaced them with a lot more salads, fresh fruit, yogurt and nuts. To my surprise, after the first week, I no longer found myself craving them or even wanting them. I think if I had not eliminated most of those carb-rich foods and sweets, I would not have been so successful in this first month. I am down 11.5 lbs and am closing in on the 130s for the first time in 12 years.

I think maybe it all boils down to how strong your will-power is. Is it strong enough for you to sit down to a plate with a scant covering of your favorite foods and walk away when they're gone? Or would you be more satisfied with larger portions of healthier meal options?

JesterMFP

I eat what I want, when I want, just not as much as I used to want.

Pretty much this, although the amount I "used to want" is still sometimes the same. That's where I sacrifice though: I simply cannot eat unlimited amounts of food. I'm quite active, so I get to eat plenty. Most days, it feels like I get to eat a lot. Sometimes, I do want more, and that's when I have to exercise self-control (or else go over my goals, but be aware of the consequences).

it seems that people are eating what they want e.g chocolate,chips,cakes etc and they seem to have lost weight.

I lost my weight (and am maintaining it) by including all those kinds of foods. Chocolate is something I eat nearly every day for example, just not huge amounts. Nothing is off limits. My diet has changed over time, and I do focus more on nutrition, but that is something that has happened gradually, because I care more about nutrition now, not because I made huge, arbitrary changes all at once.

There's also a lot of food that I hardly ever eat now because the enjoyment of it just isn't worth the calories. You have to work that part out for yourself. For me, chocolate, red wine, homemade brownies & cookies, hot buttered toast and cheddar cheese are all worth "spending" calories on. Pizza, cake, ice cream, beer and Chinese takeaways are worth it sometimes, but less often, and mostly if I've got a lot of calories to work with. Crisps (chips), coke, McDonalds etc are things I hardly ever eat because even though I like the taste of them, I don't enjoy them that much to waste calories on. If you look at it like a budget, it makes sense to spend most of your calories on foods that support your health, and then spend whatever is left on things you really enjoy. If you are a millionaire and have a huge budget, you have more to "waste". If you're on a very tight budget, you have to make every penny/calorie count.

JesterMFP

I think maybe it all boils down to how strong your will-power is. Is it strong enough for you to sit down to a plate with a scant covering of your favorite foods and walk away when they're gone? Or would you be more satisfied with larger portions of healthier meal options?

I don't think it's about will-power so much as choices. Some people choose to eat only for nutrition/weight loss, and some choose to eat for enjoyment too. There is also an in-between option: moderate portions of a balanced variety of nutritious foods that can include your favourites. It doesn't have to be "all or nothing", although I know that's the way some people choose to go.