Welcome to Debate Club! Please be aware that this is a space for respectful debate, and that your ideas will be challenged here. Please remember to critique the argument, not the author.
I Don't Believe in Calorie Counting
Replies
-
Both of the ladies in black are Gwyneth Paltrow, they're working out in a mirrored room1
-
"Chunky one"???? WOW....13
-
She really does say in the video that no woman should never lift more than three pounds! Yet Gwyneth talks about lifting her 30 pound son!0
-
PiperGirl08 wrote: »Don't see what this approach has to do with whether you calorie count or not.
Why does calorie counting prevent a person from reflecting on why they want to overeat? I'd think keeping that kind of food diary would be helpful for just that. I'd think logging in advance of eating would help with emotional eating. It gives you one more chance to distance yourself from the emotion before digging in, at least.
I can tell you that if I cut out all the times I ate for reasons other than 'I'm hungry' I would probably still gain weight. Why? Because if I'm not aware, I'm reaching for higher calorie items than I should be. I'm eating more of lower calorie items than I should be. And I'm doing it because I have a sedentary job and very little margin for error.
Exercise helps with that, but if I don't track it, I'll more than compensate for my activity.
All that being said, obviously people are also successful without calorie counting. I just don't see where others' success without counting invalidates the success of everyone who did count.
Thank you for the well-thought out reply. I agree that it doesn't have to be an either or other choice, but to the author's point, I can't count the number of posts I've seem on MFP with people berating themselves because they blew their budget. The stress and self-loathing she describes are real.
Her point is that if people understand food better, then the problems that lead to weight gain can be much eliminated.
Personally, apart from holidays and special occasions, I simply don't have "bad" food in the house. Only whole foods -- no chips, no crackers, no cakes, no pies, no cookies, no packaged meals. What I eat is filling and satisfying and I have to work hard to exceed my caloric range. To the degree that I log in MFP, is to get a look at the nutritional makeup of what I consume (Iron, Protein, Cholestrol and Potassium). Consequently, I don't need to count calories, and I've don't have and have never had a weight problem.
Calorie counting does work for those who need it. But at the end of the day, we'd probably see fewer problems with weight gain afterwards if people learned how to eat to live, rather than lived to eat, which is what get folks in the position of needing to count calories in the first place.
Seriously, she talks about a bad relationship with food and you just talked about "bad" foods you don't keep in your house. If you were that aware of your food habits, and talk to yourself regularly, then you'd be able to have that "bad" food in your house and eat it in moderation when you'd like to. I have chips in my house but I don't always have them. I count my calories and look at my nutrition for that day and sometimes I've met everything with leftover calories, and I'd like some ice cream or chips. I think that's a healthy relationship with food and I got this way by counting calories. Before I started I really didn't have an idea of what my macros should be or even if I was meeting them. It made me more aware of the nutritional value of different foods so I could even think of better choices.13 -
PiperGirl08 wrote: »Don't see what this approach has to do with whether you calorie count or not.
Why does calorie counting prevent a person from reflecting on why they want to overeat? I'd think keeping that kind of food diary would be helpful for just that. I'd think logging in advance of eating would help with emotional eating. It gives you one more chance to distance yourself from the emotion before digging in, at least.
I can tell you that if I cut out all the times I ate for reasons other than 'I'm hungry' I would probably still gain weight. Why? Because if I'm not aware, I'm reaching for higher calorie items than I should be. I'm eating more of lower calorie items than I should be. And I'm doing it because I have a sedentary job and very little margin for error.
Exercise helps with that, but if I don't track it, I'll more than compensate for my activity.
All that being said, obviously people are also successful without calorie counting. I just don't see where others' success without counting invalidates the success of everyone who did count.
Thank you for the well-thought out reply. I agree that it doesn't have to be an either or other choice, but to the author's point, I can't count the number of posts I've seem on MFP with people berating themselves because they blew their budget. The stress and self-loathing she describes are real.
Her point is that if people understand food better, then the problems that lead to weight gain can be much eliminated.
Personally, apart from holidays and special occasions, I simply don't have "bad" food in the house. Only whole foods -- no chips, no crackers, no cakes, no pies, no cookies, no packaged meals. What I eat is filling and satisfying and I have to work hard to exceed my caloric range. To the degree that I log in MFP, is to get a look at the nutritional makeup of what I consume (Iron, Protein, Cholestrol and Potassium). Consequently, I don't need to count calories, and I've don't have and have never had a weight problem.
Calorie counting does work for those who need it. But at the end of the day, we'd probably see fewer problems with weight gain afterwards if people learned how to eat to live, rather than lived to eat, which is what get folks in the position of needing to count calories in the first place.
I do think you have to take some of these things with a grain of salt. I do agree that calorie counting can have a negative impact as I explained earlier...but prior to getting a little nutty with things, it actually taught me a lot about where I was at nutritionally speaking...where I was lacking and where I was going overboard and where to find some balance.
I don't think I'd be where I am now had I not spent some time calorie counting...it's just unfortunate that I got overly obsessed with things in the latter stages of my weight loss. Fortunately, I've also never had an emotional type relationship with food either...my biggest issue was that I went from being a highly active individual to sitting behind a desk...but the food didn't change when I made that transition because I didn't really understand the energy equation...so counting calories definitely helped in that regard and it helped me to improve upon my nutrition.
These days I focus on good livin' as I said earlier...but counting kind of got me there despite the rough patch.1 -
PiperGirl08 wrote: »"People need to have the courage and the determination to understand food and to really reflect on their past relationships with food. It’s more about the awareness of the kinds of food people are eating, the amounts they’re eating...
If your goal is to understand the amount you're eating, how can you possibly be AGAINST calorie counting?
And does it really take "courage" and "determination" to avoid logging your choices? I'd think it takes more courage to be accountable, but that's just me.12 -
PiperGirl08 wrote: »sashayoung72 wrote: »
Based on the previously posted picture, assuming she's not the chunky one near the door, she doesn't appear to be at all hideous.
It is literally only two very thin women. There is not a "chunky" one in the mirror. It's a reflection of the tall thin one. You could have just clicked and watched 2 seconds of the video. Sounds to me like you maybe don't have the healthiest attitude and relationship with food or weight. Calling a slightly overweight person "chunky" and hideous means you have some of your own issues you maybe should have a conversation with yourself about. Do some soul searching of your own. You're rather judgmental and hostile to anyone who has gained weight and is losing it in a healthy way on here by counting calories.16 -
"I think it’s just about having an ongoing dialogue with yourself where you try as often as possible to say, “How can I show up for myself and my body today through my food choices?”"
If I have to constantly do that I would go bonkers!
1 -
Carlos_421 wrote: »PiperGirl08 wrote: »by Tracey Anderson,
http://motto.time.com/4315473/tracy-anderson-calorie-counting/?xid=newsletter-brief
"People need to have the courage and the determination to understand food and to really reflect on their past relationships with food. It’s more about the awareness of the kinds of food people are eating, the amounts they’re eating...so much of our hunger is not even rooted in a real biological need to eat; a lot of it is rooted in emotion.
"I think it’s just about having an ongoing dialogue with yourself where you try as often as possible to say, “How can I show up for myself and my body today through my food choices?”"
I agree. Thoughts?
The bolded is the kind of touchy feely mumbo jumbo that makes me throw up in my mouth.
I don't even know what that sentence is supposed to mean.2 -
MissusMoon wrote: »I don't believe in Tracy Anderson.
I do not think Tracy was working with people with eating disorders perhaps. If one does not count how are they going to learn if they are over eating or not.
Yes we know humans with full health automatically know when to stop eating but until we learn how to eat to regain our natural health counting can be a good tool.
What about people that have to take meds that screws up one's ability to automatically know when to stop eating to maintain weight? Some people count for entertainment perhaps?
There is no reason to not count or to count but that can will not be the same for everyone. Most who visit MFP and stay have a desire to bring eating order into our lives. In my case when I found the right macro for my body the need to count was resolved but had I never counted I would have never known why I once had food cravings perhaps.
Few show up here with perfect health already due to eating a perfect balanced macro i expect. While our goal is to regain our health and have no need to count calories that can take longer for some than others.3 -
PiperGirl08 wrote: »PiperGirl08 wrote: »Tracey "no woman should lift more than 3lb ever" Anderson?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyvbm6qpQw4
Why is she still even a thing?
I don't know her. Which one is she -- the lithe blonde, the tall, thinner woman behind or the chunky one with the ponytail near the door?
She's the one who isn't Gwyneth Paltrow or the lady with the ponytail...
Ha ha, not sure which one is Paltrow, either, but neither of these closer women is hideous.
You do realize that someone can be "hideous" in attitude, not just physical attribute?16 -
debsdoingthis wrote: »Meh, my brain generally answered back with a B*te me. I'm going to eat that anyway. If it didn't, I wouldn't be here.
Ha, yup.3 -
This content has been removed.
-
MissusMoon wrote: »PiperGirl08 wrote: »PiperGirl08 wrote: »Tracey "no woman should lift more than 3lb ever" Anderson?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyvbm6qpQw4
Why is she still even a thing?
I don't know her. Which one is she -- the lithe blonde, the tall, thinner woman behind or the chunky one with the ponytail near the door?
She's the one who isn't Gwyneth Paltrow or the lady with the ponytail...
Ha ha, not sure which one is Paltrow, either, but neither of these closer women is hideous.
You do realize that someone can be "hideous" in attitude, not just physical attribute?
This is true, though I'm not sure that taking an approach besides counting calories qualifies someone as hideous.1 -
This content has been removed.
-
DanyellMcGinnis wrote: »I pretty much don't believe anything Tracy Anderson says, ever. Among some of the gems:
- women shouldn't lift weights over 3 pounds because they'll get bulky
- running and biking will make women develop bulky man-looking rear ends
- only work small muscle groups (no, really, she says this)
Also she has lied about her qualifications (said she studied at Juilliard but they have no record of her enrollment, taught Pilates without any certification), etc., etc. Recommends diets that are unsafe because they are below 1000 calories (I realize that some people go that low with medical supervision but she is NOT a doctor). Has been sued as a result of some shady stuff she did running a fitness center in Indiana.
Considering the source, I can't get behind anything she says, ever. (Also, MFP and counting calories are working for me.)
http://thedailybanter.com/2013/09/tracy-anderson-and-the-myth-behind-celebrity-trainers-and-diets/
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2009/10/21/madonnas-trainer-fights-back.html
https://loseweightnobullshit.wordpress.com/2013/01/12/tracy-andersons-methods-are-dangerous-damaging-and-anti-feminist/
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
3 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »MissusMoon wrote: »I don't believe in Tracy Anderson.
I do not think Tracy was working with people with eating disorders perhaps. If one does not count how are they going to learn if they are over eating or not.
Yes we know humans with full health automatically know when to stop eating but until we learn how to eat to regain our natural health counting can be a good tool.
What about people that have to take meds that screws up one's ability to automatically know when to stop eating to maintain weight? Some people count for entertainment perhaps?
There is no reason to not count or to count but that can will not be the same for everyone. Most who visit MFP and stay have a desire to bring eating order into our lives. In my case when I found the right macro for my body the need to count was resolved but had I never counted I would have never known why I once had food cravings perhaps.
Few show up here with perfect health already due to eating a perfect balanced macro i expect. While our goal is to regain our health and have no need to count calories that can take longer for some than others.
Thumbs up to your most intelligent post.
Bingo on the bolded statement. Those who wish to count should do so. But the general cult-like enmity towards those who don't (and don't need to) is rather disturbing.
1 -
PiperGirl08 wrote: »MissusMoon wrote: »PiperGirl08 wrote: »PiperGirl08 wrote: »Tracey "no woman should lift more than 3lb ever" Anderson?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyvbm6qpQw4
Why is she still even a thing?
I don't know her. Which one is she -- the lithe blonde, the tall, thinner woman behind or the chunky one with the ponytail near the door?
She's the one who isn't Gwyneth Paltrow or the lady with the ponytail...
Ha ha, not sure which one is Paltrow, either, but neither of these closer women is hideous.
You do realize that someone can be "hideous" in attitude, not just physical attribute?
This is true, though I'm not sure that taking an approach besides counting calories qualifies someone as hideous.
No, it's the fact she's selling her philosophy and says so many very bad things that make her hideous.0 -
PiperGirl08 wrote: »sashayoung72 wrote: »
Based on the previously posted picture, assuming she's not the chunky one near the door, she doesn't appear to be at all hideous.
It is literally only two very thin women. There is not a "chunky" one in the mirror. It's a reflection of the tall thin one. You could have just clicked and watched 2 seconds of the video. Sounds to me like you maybe don't have the healthiest attitude and relationship with food or weight. Calling a slightly overweight person "chunky" and hideous means you have some of your own issues you maybe should have a conversation with yourself about. Do some soul searching of your own. You're rather judgmental and hostile to anyone who has gained weight and is losing it in a healthy way on here by counting calories.
Actually, I didn't call the woman hideous, someone else did. I said she, Tracey, was anything but.
But yep, I did refer to the one by the door as chunky. Fat is not the new fit, no matter how vociferously people lobby for FA.1 -
MissusMoon wrote: »PiperGirl08 wrote: »MissusMoon wrote: »PiperGirl08 wrote: »PiperGirl08 wrote: »Tracey "no woman should lift more than 3lb ever" Anderson?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyvbm6qpQw4
Why is she still even a thing?
I don't know her. Which one is she -- the lithe blonde, the tall, thinner woman behind or the chunky one with the ponytail near the door?
She's the one who isn't Gwyneth Paltrow or the lady with the ponytail...
Ha ha, not sure which one is Paltrow, either, but neither of these closer women is hideous.
You do realize that someone can be "hideous" in attitude, not just physical attribute?
This is true, though I'm not sure that taking an approach besides counting calories qualifies someone as hideous.
No, it's the fact she's selling her philosophy and says so many very bad things that make her hideous.
Bad things like what? That calories counting isn't necessary, but rather food understanding is? Oh, the horror.0 -
No bad things like this which you seem to be conveniently ignoringDanyellMcGinnis wrote: »I pretty much don't believe anything Tracy Anderson says, ever. Among some of the gems:
- women shouldn't lift weights over 3 pounds because they'll get bulky
- running and biking will make women develop bulky man-looking rear ends
- only work small muscle groups (no, really, she says this)
Also she has lied about her qualifications (said she studied at Juilliard but they have no record of her enrollment, taught Pilates without any certification), etc., etc. Recommends diets that are unsafe because they are below 1000 calories (I realize that some people go that low with medical supervision but she is NOT a doctor). Has been sued as a result of some shady stuff she did running a fitness center in Indiana.
Considering the source, I can't get behind anything she says, ever. (Also, MFP and counting calories are working for me.)
http://thedailybanter.com/2013/09/tracy-anderson-and-the-myth-behind-celebrity-trainers-and-diets/
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2009/10/21/madonnas-trainer-fights-back.html
https://loseweightnobullshit.wordpress.com/2013/01/12/tracy-andersons-methods-are-dangerous-damaging-and-anti-feminist/
5 -
DanyellMcGinnis wrote: »I pretty much don't believe anything Tracy Anderson says, ever. Among some of the gems:
- women shouldn't lift weights over 3 pounds because they'll get bulky
- running and biking will make women develop bulky man-looking rear ends
- only work small muscle groups (no, really, she says this)
Also she has lied about her qualifications (said she studied at Juilliard but they have no record of her enrollment, taught Pilates without any certification), etc., etc. Recommends diets that are unsafe because they are below 1000 calories (I realize that some people go that low with medical supervision but she is NOT a doctor). Has been sued as a result of some shady stuff she did running a fitness center in Indiana.
Considering the source, I can't get behind anything she says, ever. (Also, MFP and counting calories are working for me.)
http://thedailybanter.com/2013/09/tracy-anderson-and-the-myth-behind-celebrity-trainers-and-diets/
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2009/10/21/madonnas-trainer-fights-back.html
https://loseweightnobullshit.wordpress.com/2013/01/12/tracy-andersons-methods-are-dangerous-damaging-and-anti-feminist/
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
Yet there are all these people on this thread doing exactly that.3 -
singingflutelady wrote: »No bad things like this which you seem to be conveniently ignoringDanyellMcGinnis wrote: »I pretty much don't believe anything Tracy Anderson says, ever. Among some of the gems:
- women shouldn't lift weights over 3 pounds because they'll get bulky
- running and biking will make women develop bulky man-looking rear ends
- only work small muscle groups (no, really, she says this)
Also she has lied about her qualifications (said she studied at Juilliard but they have no record of her enrollment, taught Pilates without any certification), etc., etc. Recommends diets that are unsafe because they are below 1000 calories (I realize that some people go that low with medical supervision but she is NOT a doctor). Has been sued as a result of some shady stuff she did running a fitness center in Indiana.
Considering the source, I can't get behind anything she says, ever. (Also, MFP and counting calories are working for me.)
http://thedailybanter.com/2013/09/tracy-anderson-and-the-myth-behind-celebrity-trainers-and-diets/
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2009/10/21/madonnas-trainer-fights-back.html
https://loseweightnobullshit.wordpress.com/2013/01/12/tracy-andersons-methods-are-dangerous-damaging-and-anti-feminist/
Not ignoring them, they weren't in the article and consequently are not germane to the discussion.
That you don't care for Tracey is fine, but this isn't a "who likes Tracey?" thread. It is a calorie counting vs. food understanding thread. Please feel free to start one of the former of your own, though.1 -
PiperGirl08 wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »No bad things like this which you seem to be conveniently ignoringDanyellMcGinnis wrote: »I pretty much don't believe anything Tracy Anderson says, ever. Among some of the gems:
- women shouldn't lift weights over 3 pounds because they'll get bulky
- running and biking will make women develop bulky man-looking rear ends
- only work small muscle groups (no, really, she says this)
Also she has lied about her qualifications (said she studied at Juilliard but they have no record of her enrollment, taught Pilates without any certification), etc., etc. Recommends diets that are unsafe because they are below 1000 calories (I realize that some people go that low with medical supervision but she is NOT a doctor). Has been sued as a result of some shady stuff she did running a fitness center in Indiana.
Considering the source, I can't get behind anything she says, ever. (Also, MFP and counting calories are working for me.)
http://thedailybanter.com/2013/09/tracy-anderson-and-the-myth-behind-celebrity-trainers-and-diets/
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2009/10/21/madonnas-trainer-fights-back.html
https://loseweightnobullshit.wordpress.com/2013/01/12/tracy-andersons-methods-are-dangerous-damaging-and-anti-feminist/
Not ignoring them, they weren't in the article and consequently are not germane to the discussion.
That you don't care for Tracey is fine, but this isn't a "who likes Tracey?" thread. It is a calorie counting vs. food understanding thread. Please feel free to start one of the former of your own, though.
You can understand food all you want but without counting calories you very well could be overeating.5 -
PiperGirl08 wrote: »But yep, I did refer to the one by the door as chunky. Fat is not the new fit, no matter how vociferously people lobby for FA.
Have you noticed that is her reflection? There are two women in that video. Paltrow is chunky to you? Cool....
4 -
PiperGirl08 wrote: »sashayoung72 wrote: »
Based on the previously posted picture, assuming she's not the chunky one near the door, she doesn't appear to be at all hideous.
It is literally only two very thin women. There is not a "chunky" one in the mirror. It's a reflection of the tall thin one. You could have just clicked and watched 2 seconds of the video. Sounds to me like you maybe don't have the healthiest attitude and relationship with food or weight. Calling a slightly overweight person "chunky" and hideous means you have some of your own issues you maybe should have a conversation with yourself about. Do some soul searching of your own. You're rather judgmental and hostile to anyone who has gained weight and is losing it in a healthy way on here by counting calories.
Oh shoot, I missed the hostile part! Got bored before I got that far.
I think the unhealthiness issues are your own. I think you are self-conscious about your weight and are of the mind that everyone must tell you that your (and others) weight issues are ok and you want to be coddled about them. I didn't start this thread for that purpose. And I'm not going to go there.0 -
PiperGirl08 wrote: »But yep, I did refer to the one by the door as chunky. Fat is not the new fit, no matter how vociferously people lobby for FA.
Have you noticed that is her reflection? There are two women in that video. Paltrow is chunky to you? Cool....
That's what people keep saying. The non-reflected Paltrow is not chunky, but that mirror does her no favors.0 -
calorie counting vs. food understanding
¿Por qué no los dos?4 -
Confirmed troll, time to ignore, lol!11
-
PiperGirl08 wrote: »It is a calorie counting vs. food understanding thread.
I understand that food is delicious, and counting calories allows me to eat enjoyable morsels while achieving my body composition goals.
15
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.3K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 424 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions