Eating whatever I want but staying within calorie limit?

jarablue

From reading on here, eating whatever you want but staying under calories, though weight loss is happening, it is not as healthy as it could be. I have decided to really kick the last 44 pounds of my weight loss into the best gains I can make. I have been eating 1400 calories but pigging out. Donuts, Dunkin donuts sandwiches, chips, diet soda. Like a little piggy. So I am going to really try and stick to the good stuff from here on out. I am going to cut out all diet soda, well maybe just cut back. I still need my coke zero. But as for foods, I want to ask you all what should I be trying to eat? What am I looking for in healthy foods? I love chicken. LOVE it. I love veggies. It would be nice to get back to eating healthy until I hit my goal weight. Then I can be a bit more liberal again with my food choices. How should I configure my nutrients here on MFP? Or are the defaults good enough?

Thanks!

malibu927

When people around here say "eat what you want", we don't really mean eat those things every single day. Focus on nutrient-dense foods primarily, but don't forget to add in a treat every now and then.

jarablue

Yeah I was eating that stuff EVERY day. I have to cut back.

WinoGelato

I never understand why people think it has to be such an all or nothing approach.

It's great that you love your chicken and vegetables OP, but if you want to have a donut or something as well, there's nothing wrong with that. You can meet your calorie goal eating primarily nutrient dense foods (and you'll probably feel a lot fuller doing so) but still enjoy those other foods in moderation.

Michael190lbs

Work on your Macros and stay in your caloric deficit. We gain and lose muscle, water, fat so much its hard to even count a 5 lb plus or minus scale number as anything but a fluctuation in over all body percentages.. I believe if you get your protein and fats in everyday you will retain more muscle and that will help you to burn more calories and hopefully change your fat percentage

My 2 cents.

ReaderGirl3

WinoGelato wrote: »

I never understand why people think it has to be such an all or nothing approach.

It's great that you love your chicken and vegetables OP, but if you want to have a donut or something as well, there's nothing wrong with that. You can meet your calorie goal eating primarily nutrient dense foods (and you'll probably feel a lot fuller doing so) but still enjoy those other foods in moderation.

This. I love fast food and eat it several times a week. That doesn't mean I'm eating it three times a day, every day though (well except for this week because I'm on the road lol). If you follow the traditional eating schedule you have 21 meals a week plus snacks. That gives you room to fit in a variety of foods

Francl27

WinoGelato wrote: »

I never understand why people think it has to be such an all or nothing approach.

It's great that you love your chicken and vegetables OP, but if you want to have a donut or something as well, there's nothing wrong with that. You can meet your calorie goal eating primarily nutrient dense foods (and you'll probably feel a lot fuller doing so) but still enjoy those other foods in moderation.

+1

ktilton70130

ReaderGirl3 wrote: »

WinoGelato wrote: »

I never understand why people think it has to be such an all or nothing approach.

It's great that you love your chicken and vegetables OP, but if you want to have a donut or something as well, there's nothing wrong with that. You can meet your calorie goal eating primarily nutrient dense foods (and you'll probably feel a lot fuller doing so) but still enjoy those other foods in moderation.

This. I love fast food and eat it several times a week. That doesn't mean I'm eating it three times a day, every day though (well except for this week because I'm on the road lol). If you follow the traditional eating schedule you have 21 meals a week plus snacks. That gives you room to fit in a variety of foods

I totally agree. Enjoy a variety of food but in moderation. Monitor your portion sizes. I have lost 21lbs in two months doing just that. However I must add i exercise 6 days a week .

TeaBea

malibu927 wrote: »

When people around here say "eat what you want", we don't really mean eat those things every single day. Focus on nutrient-dense foods primarily, but don't forget to add in a treat every now and then.

This^

Weight loss shouldn't be about extremes. Cutting out all of this - or all of that can be problematic when you get to goal.

There are thin people who drink diet soda. There are thin people who eat a donut from time to time.

Find a balance. Find some changes that will last a lifetime.

MichaelAnderson4

Its not just staying under calories limit, there much more important things like high glycemic food. Google for a list of high glycemic food and dont eat them, just dont eat things like beer, corn flakes, rice, bread.

mankars

jarablue wrote: »

From reading on here, eating whatever you want but staying under calories, though weight loss is happening, it is not as healthy as it could be. I have decided to really kick the last 44 pounds of my weight loss into the best gains I can make. I have been eating 1400 calories but pigging out. Donuts, Dunkin donuts sandwiches, chips, diet soda. Like a little piggy. So I am going to really try and stick to the good stuff from here on out. I am going to cut out all diet soda, well maybe just cut back. I still need my coke zero. But as for foods, I want to ask you all what should I be trying to eat? What am I looking for in healthy foods? I love chicken. LOVE it. I love veggies. It would be nice to get back to eating healthy until I hit my goal weight. Then I can be a bit more liberal again with my food choices. How should I configure my nutrients here on MFP? Or are the defaults good enough?

Thanks!

Try to eat protein rich foods as part of the three main meals per day. The proteins makes you less hungry between meals.

The donuts chips, diet sodas etc. have what they call as 'empty calories', they add calories without any nutrition benefits. Plus, the sugars spike insulin in your blood, not good.

Count your calorie intake daily & give yourself a small 'treat' once a week... all the best.

janejellyroll

MichaelAnderson4 wrote: »

Its not just staying under calories limit, there much more important things like high glycemic food. Google for a list of high glycemic food and dont eat them, just dont eat things like beer, corn flakes, rice, bread.

There's no problem with eating foods that have higher GIs. Most of us aren't eating monomeals so it's an irrelevant data point.

snowflake930

MichaelAnderson4 wrote: »

Its not just staying under calories limit, there much more important things like high glycemic food. Google for a list of high glycemic food and dont eat them, just dont eat things like beer, corn flakes, rice, bread.

No. Not unless you have a medical reason to omit certain foods.
Eat what you like, but use common sense if you care about nourishing your body. Stay within your calorie limits. Hopefully this can be a lifetime sustainable way to eat, and maintain a healthy body weight when you reach your goal.

cwolfman13

When people say "eat whatever they want", they are generally talking about having treats here, not having treats and junk make up the larger % of your diet.

As nutrition goes, just eat more whole foods...plenty of veg, some fruit, whole grains, legumes, lentils, lean sourced protein, and healthy fats from things like nuts, avocados, and good cooking oils.

ReaderGirl3

TeaBea wrote: »

malibu927 wrote: »

When people around here say "eat what you want", we don't really mean eat those things every single day. Focus on nutrient-dense foods primarily, but don't forget to add in a treat every now and then.

This^

Weight loss shouldn't be about extremes. Cutting out all of this - or all of that can be problematic when you get to goal.

There are thin people who drink diet soda. There are thin people who eat a donut from time to time.

Find a balance. Find some changes that will last a lifetime.

Heck, I had a donut while drinking a diet coke today (and yep, I'm thin ). I also had a huge salad with chicken and oatmeal with walnuts and fruit mixed in. It's all good