Does counting CALORIES!! Really help with weight loss.

Anyone have any fab successful stories. Motivation needed xxxx
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Replies

  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,031 Member
    edited July 2016
    .

  • RachNRoll
    RachNRoll Posts: 192 Member
    For me it's the only way. You can be flexible, you'll learn a lot about nutrition. Lost 8Kg a few years ago and doing the same over again :)
  • gillie80
    gillie80 Posts: 214 Member
    19lbs down from combo of CICO and running. Good luck. why the lack of motivation?
  • NovaDuck
    NovaDuck Posts: 63 Member
    I've lost 40lb in the last year. So yeah, definitely works. ;)
  • 157isgoal
    157isgoal Posts: 21 Member
    down 188# in 20 months from calorie counting
  • Trish1c
    Trish1c Posts: 549 Member
    Of course it helps. If you know what you are taking in you know what you have to expend. Think of it like a budget.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    well, i lost 80 pounds counting calories, so ......
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    Just look at the Success Stories section of the boards. Most, if not all, have lost weight by counting calories.

    I have lost 80 lbs with calorie counting using MFP's food diary, a food scale to be accurate about portions, and a fitbit to help estimate my calories out. Just over 10 lbs lost with just calorie counting using MFP's food diary and about 40 lbs with a very restrictive eating pattern (that I stopped when I started calorie counting and life became easier). All together that makes just over 130 lbs lost. :wink:
  • Michael190lbs
    Michael190lbs Posts: 1,510 Member
    Its the only thing that matters for weight loss but if you want to do it and look good educate yourself on Macro's and get a weight lifting routine started. My 2 cents

    Down over 100lbs and ripped!!
  • ColetteM6
    ColetteM6 Posts: 138 Member
    12 pounds in ~two months from counting calories. I eat fruit, burgers, potatoes, fish, veggies, beer
  • LoraMartyn
    LoraMartyn Posts: 41 Member
    Lost 24 pounds so far and still losing! No fad diet needed.
  • cee134
    cee134 Posts: 33,711 Member
    Lost 100 lbs counting calories and not much exercise. Gained it back when I stopped paying attention to what I ate. Lost another 35 lbs counting calories.
  • CorneliusPhoton
    CorneliusPhoton Posts: 965 Member
    kwtilbury wrote: »
    Outside of maybe amputation, eating at a caloric deficit (eg counting calories) is the ONLY way to lose weight.

    Having a baby
    Liposuction
    Tapeworm

    Though I suppose having a tapeworm could be the equivalent of eating at a calorie deficit. :lol:
  • jazzlyn95
    jazzlyn95 Posts: 1 Member
    If I stay within my calorie range can I eat whatever I want.. Burgers, fries, chips, ice cream etc.. Or do you have to healthy? It's so hard for me to die because I love carbs!!
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    It does as long as you do it as accurately as possible.
  • CorneliusPhoton
    CorneliusPhoton Posts: 965 Member
    It really does help. I think it should be the first thing you do when you want to lose weight. While you are counting, you are learning what a healthy portion looks like, which will help you when you want to stop counting.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited July 2016
    jazzlyn95 wrote: »
    If I stay within my calorie range can I eat whatever I want.. Burgers, fries, chips, ice cream etc.. Or do you have to healthy? It's so hard for me to die because I love carbs!!
    jazzlyn95 wrote: »
    If I stay within my calorie range can I eat whatever I want.. Burgers, fries, chips, ice cream etc.. Or do you have to healthy? It's so hard for me to die because I love carbs!!


    Yes you can eat whatever you want over time you'll start to make choices to combat hunger...eg choose to have a large amount of vegetables as a side cos that means you can have the ice cream and you want that more than the onion rings etc etc

    I lost my weight eating 200-300g carbs on average

  • ptipton520
    ptipton520 Posts: 83 Member
    18 pounds in one month from counting calories and very little else. I keep it at 1350 to 1500 calories per day. If I don't count I hate to think how many I would eat!! Best of all it allows me to have variety in my diet and for me that is much more satisfying than trying to stick with than other plans I've used.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    kwtilbury wrote: »
    Outside of maybe amputation, eating at a caloric deficit (eg counting calories) is the ONLY way to lose weight.

    Having a baby
    Liposuction
    Tapeworm

    Though I suppose having a tapeworm could be the equivalent of eating at a calorie deficit. :lol:

    Chemo
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    Calorie counting is a tool to help you lose weight. It will work if you commit to being accurate, consistent, and patient. You lose weight by eating less calories than you burn, calorie counting is the way to make sure that's what is happening. Good luck!
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I lost 25 lbs counting calories
    For me I could not consistantly lose and keep it off without logging and seeing the numbers every day. I tried for 15 years not counting calories but had my best and easiest weight loss just counting calories and eating like a normal person not a dieter. Logging my food also helps me make sure I get enough protein and stuff so I'd say I meet my needs better.
    My dh lost 30 lbs without counting calories at all. He was able to just eat less, not exercise and just lose weight. Some people can do that.
    Weight loss, gain or maintenance is about having the right number of calories for your goal. You can count or not count calories but it is still having a calorie deficit that allows you to lose weight.
    I'd encourage you to try logging and counting calories for a couple of months.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    As others have said - the singular requirement for losing weight is to be in a calorie deficit. Ways to achieve that calorie deficit are numerous - you can eat any foods and as long as you are in a calorie deficit you will lose weight. Calorie counting is a tool to ensure you are actually in that calorie deficit, but it isn't a requirement. However, given that you are on a site that is built around a database used for calorie counting, you will find lots of advocates and lots of success stories here. Peruse that section of the forums if you need more examples....

    I'm a proponent - lost 30 lbs and am currently maintaining thanks to counting calories and the helpful advice I got in these forums.
  • cross2bear
    cross2bear Posts: 1,106 Member
    96lbs since October 2015. Not a minute in a gym. Entirely accomplished by calorie counting, using a scale to measure food and portion properly, and keeping track in my food log. Easiest weight loss I have ever experienced. Didnt give up a single thing, but now I consume everything in moderation, and within my calorie budget.