Is calorie counting sustainable?

Vickie96

So I've been on mfp for a while but I was mainly doing Slimming World on which I lost 4 stone, however since around June 2015 I've gained 2 stone back. I became disillusioned with the idea of eating as many potatoes and as much pasta as I wanted until I felt full, and the idea of being able to eat mullerlight yogurts (full of sugar) as a 'free food'. (Sorry if this is confusing) then another part of the plan was counting 'syns' now they were encouraged to be used for crisps, sweets, chocolate etc. Now an avocado on the other hand which is full of health benefits was high in syns which I didnt really like the idea of.

Now I'm not saying it doesn't work because it does, but for me it clearly wasn't sustainable.

Do you find calorie counting to be a sustainable method? So far I'm enjoying the flexibility with it and not having any foods being cut out, just things like chocolate, ice-cream etc eaten in moderation and within my calories.

javba2

Yes it's sustainable
I'd lost 90 lbs, gained 50 back. But I know how it happened. That's calorie counting. It's more sustainable than any specific meal plans, commercial plans, or just dieting. It's also compatible with all of the above.

DrusiliaDD

If you do it right it is sustainable for most people. Generally the people who have the hardest time are people that come on here wanting to lose weight really fast and they set too aggressive a deficit and end up burning out. Calorie counting and weighing food helps build good habits and plenty of people can get rid of the scale eventually.

ReaderGirl3

Yes, but as with anything you need to be intentional about it and not stop doing it. I lost around 50lbs with calorie counting, then after I was in maintenance for around 2.5 years I got overconfident in my ability to do things and I stopped tracking/counting. Within a few months of not counting my weight was up. Now I'm back to tracking/counting and the weight creep is gone and I'm solidly back into my maintenance window. Learned my lesson and I will be counting/tracking calories for the rest of my life. Not a big deal though-takes like 5 minutes a day

duril64

Yes, I think it's sustainable, even necessary if you've had food and weight issues. I've lost 18 pounds since January with 9 to go to get to my target weight, and I've done it with food logging here and not doing anything complicated diet wise, just cutting out 90% processed food. Cutting out processed food keeps it simple, and as long as you stay under your calorie intake goal, the weight comes off. I think this is sustainable, I'll keep counting calories and adjust my calorie intake upward to stop the weight loss when I hit my goal. I'll definitely keep logging though, I think it'll help me maintain my weight loss.

LazSommer

It is, but I lose without it. I do know the calories of most things I eat however, and my wife logs and weighs everything she eats, so I have a good baseline. I listen to my body and only eat when I'm hungry and until I'm satisfied, not stuffed. I didn't cut anything out, I just eat less. I do usually keep a mental estimate for the day.

Count until you're aware, then try switching off. I will caution that while I lost almost 40 lbs this way, it was slow and casual. No exercise was needed. You have to be brutally honest with yourself and break any binge habits or food addictions.

I_amnr

I lack self control so I have to count ..lol
If I don't count and tell my self to stay with in my target I just end up eating anything

Francl27

I've been at it for over 3 years and so far so good.

But it's as sustainable as you make it. You still have to make good choices within your calories so you're not hungry all the time. I know that, personally, if I use over 300 calories of bread/cookies/chocolate/ice cream, I'm probably going to be pretty hungry at some point that day...

emmaprocopiou

It's pretty easy really, you weigh , you count, you log.
You can then play with your macros and still enjoy all the foods you like but just not the portions.
Calories are on all food packaging , so no working out really and best of all no deeming foods bad.

Lounmoun

I'm on day 546 of logging my food with MFP. I'm happy with my progress.
It is easy and takes a few minutes to log and make sure I am eating the right amounts of calories and protein for my goals.
No weird rules or restrictions. I eat most of the same foods as I always did and the same food as my family.
Anytime you lose weight it is because there is a calorie deficit. Some people do that following a specific diet or exercise plan but it still comes down to eating and/or burning the right amount of calories. Calorie counting is just the honest math behind weight loss or maintence.

WaterBunnie

I've lost and kept off 10 stone so far, so yes, I think it's sustainable. Calorie counting is simple and straightforward using easily available information. All these Points System plans are doing is translating calorie counts and macros into their own mystery language that you need to subscribe to understand. I prefer to hang on to my money for other things!

caurinus

If done correctly, yes, it's very sustainable. But you have to set a reasonable calorie target -- some people get impatient and try to lose weight too fast to be sustainable for them. I find it's also helps to track carbs, protein, fat, and fiber. That way I know I'm getting enough of all the macro nutrients and the fiber helps me make sure I'm eating enough fruit and veggies.

StacyChrz

A very good friend of mine has 6 wonderful children and she looks like a fitness model. She works out every day and counts calories. That's not to say she doesn't have a great time and enjoy food, but she keeps an eye on her intake every day and keeps her weight in a healthy range. If she can do it with 6 kids, I know I can do it.

upoffthemat

Whether you are counting calories forever or just make a lot of good habits that keep you in a good calorie range I think it is very sustainable and pretty flexible to a variety of lifestyles.

trina1049

I find counting calories very sustainable. I've lost 52 lbs; hit a healthy weight range in February, 2015 then transitioned into maintenance a few months ago. As others have said up thread, it's as sustainable as you make it. Set realistic goals, have patience, don't make excuses, and remember that you control the food, the food doesn't control you. I'll have to count calories probably forever, but it's so worth the benefits; easy-peasy for me. It's the only way I've been successful at losing weight and I've tried everything.

Rit1603

Well very short experience but my opinion, my only opinion, no, I do not get to enjoy the food I want. But its sustainable and keep you motivated and realize when you eat more, and you can add notes and understand why you ate more, if you were out with friends, depressed or simply more hungry. So i guess in a way you get to know yourself better and avoid excuses and face truth. I understand quantities and portions and calories better now.

cwolfman13

I never viewed calorie counting as "the lifestyle"...I always viewed it as a tool to help me visualize what I was doing. For me, the "lifestyle" is simply good livin'...eating well and exercising regularly and otherwise maintaining healthy habits. Yesterday marked three years of maintenance and I haven't logged in those three years.

I always viewed it as a learning tool...nothing more, nothing less. I'm 41 and hoping to stick around for another 40-50 years...I hardly find it realistic to think I'd be keeping a diary for the next 40-50 years.

Fursian

I have been weighing and tracking my food for just over 6 months. This may or may not be enough time to really qualify for this question, but I know that regardless of whether we count calories, our bodies are counting them.

I plan to count and track in maintenance, too. For me, this is sustainable.

sunnybeaches105

I think there are at least two successful approaches that I've seen when it comes to counting calories.

First, you have people that count over the long-run. They are committed to it and stick with it.

Second, are the ones (like me) who used it to initially lose the weight and learn (re-learn) portion control and to dial in the thought processes that allow us to maintain weight over time. Some of us still use calorie counting when we cut/lose weight. I know I won't count calories every day for the rest of my life, but I do use it as a tool for weight loss and self checks. I was able to keep my weight gain over the last 2 years to about 10 pounds per year, which is perfect for the long cut and bulk cycles I want to do.

kommodevaran

When I started here on MFP, I imagined I would have to cut out everything I liked, at least everything remotely tasty, and count calories for the rest of my life. But the no-nonsense and flexibility made me realize that nothing is off limits, it's up to me find out what works for me and not. Ironically, or paradoxically, or maybe neither, but it sure came as a surprise - MFP taught me how to eat, without having to count calories, and I no longer obsess over candy, chips and ice cream. I eat an overall healthy diet, don't do any real exercise, and don't worry about weight gain. Today is my maintenance's 18 months "anniversary"

cmriverside

I think it's the only thing that works, like everyone above has said. I started on MFP in 2007. There have been a few months every year that I don't log - usually November and December, because I just have too much going on and tend to eat a lot that time of year. I then wrestle myself back into logging again in January and stick with it for the rest of the year. I mostly know how much everything is now, but it's good to do anyway. I weigh myself every day, I log my food. Five minutes, done and done. I eat a much more nutrition mix of food now than I ever have, due to studying and learning from my daily food diary.

rankinsect

Pretty sustainable for me. I pre-plan and pre-log my meals the night before, and then follow the plan. Keeps me on track all day with minimal time commitment (I can log my next day faster than I can brush my teeth in the evening).

I definitely plan to continue this forever. It keeps me on track without having to obsess or constantly think.

zyxst

I hope so, or the last 4 years of my life have been a waste. I'm one of those people who will have to keep counting calories (aka food diary) for the rest of my life unless I really want to be Class 3 super morbidly obese again.

lainy1979

Calorie counting is the only way that I can steadily lose weight & keep it off. I struggle with portion control so if I stopped weighing & logging I would definitely be overweight and remain overweight. If I'm honest I find it a ball ache at times but in the grand scheme of things its not that much of an effort especially if I want to stay on track. I've lost 18lb in around 3 months. I think I'll be calorie counting for the foreseeable future.

vingogly

I find calorie counting with MFP effortless due to the ease of finding foods I've eaten in the past, the large database, and the ability to scan bar codes. Effortless means sustainable for me. Does it work? 72 pounds lost say "Yes".

lizzyclatworthy

I dip in and out.
I did brilliantly at first, decided to try to learn to eat intuitively, didn't see a huge gain in weight but my goals have changed again so I'm back to readjust my eating habits.
It's more like a reflection of what I'm eating for me so I can see where I'm at.
If you choose to do it long term then yeah, it's sustainable. More so than anything else I've heard of.

felicia__nicole

I've been doing it for a week and I find it to be VERY tedious. I made a tuna fish sandwich today and it took me 5 minutes to get all the ingredients ientered inn, figure out serving sizes etc. That's going to be the hardest part of sustainability IMO.