Does counting CALORIES!! Really help with weight loss.

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Replies

  • extra_medium
    extra_medium Posts: 1,525 Member
    edited July 2016
    No matter what "diet" you follow, if you're losing weight it is because you are consuming fewer calories than you burn. So yes, counting CALORIES!! works if you are accurate and stick with it.
  • cdahl383
    cdahl383 Posts: 726 Member
    Yes. Counting calories is a great way to lose weight. Numbers don't lie. Typically when you stop losing weight it's because you've stopped counting calories or you're estimations are way off.
  • eep223
    eep223 Posts: 624 Member
    Sued0nim wrote: »
    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

    Exactly this. It can be hard to stick with when you do things like blow all your calories on a big serving of french fries for lunch and then feel like your dinner is too small to keep you full. Play around with different foods and recipes. I had a day last week where I knew I was going to eat nachos when I went out, so I logged that in first and then played around with dinner options until I found something that would fit into my allowance. In my case it was a homemade veggie burger, salad, and sweet potato. A very satisfying meal, but by sticking to the veg, I still got my treat. Other days, I decide that the treat just isn't worth it. You can do it. But whoever said you'll learn a lot about nutrition is right! Your body will let you know when you aren't feeding it right. The good news is that the less junk you eat, the less you crave it.

  • eep223
    eep223 Posts: 624 Member
    eep223 wrote: »
    Sued0nim wrote: »
    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

    Exactly this. It can be hard to stick with when you do things like blow all your calories on a big serving of french fries for lunch and then feel like your dinner is too small to keep you full. Play around with different foods and recipes. I had a day last week where I knew I was going to eat nachos when I went out, so I logged that in first and then played around with dinner options until I found something that would fit into my allowance. In my case it was a homemade veggie burger, salad, and sweet potato. A very satisfying meal, but by sticking to the veg, I still got my treat. Other days, I decide that the treat just isn't worth it. You can do it. But whoever said you'll learn a lot about nutrition is right! Your body will let you know when you aren't feeding it right. The good news is that the less junk you eat, the less you crave it.

    Plus, you can always earn more calories by adding in some exercise!
  • cakeordeath
    cakeordeath Posts: 229 Member
    yes! all the yes
  • dottyrussellrn
    dottyrussellrn Posts: 1 Member
    I am finding it hard to eat as many calories as I've been "assigned". I'm also a slightly finicky eater and don't eat any red meat. I'm afraid that I'll become bored soon. Any suggestions?
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    No. None of this actually works. The whole site is a lie. The thousands of success stories on the board are completely made up. We're all just here to socialize and post cat gifs, but we have to keep up the charade if we want to post here.

    Of course it works. What do you think we're all here doing?

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10394510/the-ultimate-success-stories-guide

    How did I miss that? Wow!
  • BigTandthesquatters
    BigTandthesquatters Posts: 151 Member
    ninety-one lbs since july 27th 2015 by counting calories.
  • MissusMoon
    MissusMoon Posts: 1,900 Member
    Anyone have any fab successful stories. Motivation needed xxxx

    There is an entire forum dedicated to these successes.
    I have lost 63 pounds counting calories in less than five months.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,301 Member
    edited July 2016
    Strictly speaking, counting calories does not work.

    I mean if I accurately count the 10,000 calories I eat per day without doing any exercise - nope, no weight loss going to happen.

    Calorie counting is a tool - if you use it to control your Intake to a calorie deficit level, yes, you will lose weight.
  • gmallan
    gmallan Posts: 2,099 Member
    I was going to say the same thing as paperpudding. It's not the act of counting itself that causes weight loss. However if you educate yourself on how much you should be eating to maintain your body weight and set yourself a certain calorie goal then, yes calorie counting can be a very effective weight loss tool to help you know how that you're eating the right amount. Even in the short term it can be a really insightful educational tool for people to learn about how many calories and macronutrients are in the foods we eat and what a proper portion of certain foods looks like. Some people find there first few weeks very eye-opening, particularly if you are very accurate and honest with your logging.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,683 Member
    Does counting CALORIES!! Really help with weight loss.

    I seem to have lost 25 kg/55 lbs during 2015 to drop me back down to the weight I was in 2004 ... also my high school weight ... by counting CALORIES. And more specifically, eating fewer calories than I burn.
  • Timelordlady85
    Timelordlady85 Posts: 797 Member
    23.2 pounds lost from calorie tracking.
  • thamesworkboats
    thamesworkboats Posts: 17 Member
    zamphir66 wrote: »
    Well, I've lost 10 lbs in 2 months just counting CALORIES!!

    What about exercise
  • DEBOO7
    DEBOO7 Posts: 245 Member
    In my first year of weight loss I didn't focus on calories just followed New Atkins and reduced carbs to 20gms a day and lost 23kg in 6 months. Then things slowed to a standstill. I read more and realised as your body gets smaller it needs less fuel to support itself and you really can't keep eating at the same level. I adjusted my 'lifestyle' to focus on LCHF eating and took notice of calories and macros. 18 mths later I'd lost a further 12kg. I'm now 3kg away from my goal weight. Calories count and so do the type of calories you're consuming.
  • zamphir66
    zamphir66 Posts: 582 Member
    zamphir66 wrote: »
    Well, I've lost 10 lbs in 2 months just counting CALORIES!!

    What about exercise

    Calories go in, calories go out. Never a miscommunication.
  • jagodfrey08
    jagodfrey08 Posts: 425 Member
    I am finding it hard to eat as many calories as I've been "assigned". I'm also a slightly finicky eater and don't eat any red meat. I'm afraid that I'll become bored soon. Any suggestions?

    The only red meat I eat is pork. Beef makes my gallbladder act up. I mainly eat chicken, fish, and turkey. I do shredded chicken for tacos, chili, and soup. I also use cut up boneless skinless chicken for my zucchini spaghetti instead of ground meat. You can also do fish tacos. Grilling provides good opportunities. You can Google a lot of great recipes if you seem to get bored. It's doable. :)
  • jagodfrey08
    jagodfrey08 Posts: 425 Member
    To the OP - I have lost 17 lbs in the past 6 weeks due to counting calories and exercise. I eat a lot of protein, and I cut out refined sugars and flour, along with hydrogenated oils, corn syrup, and artificial ingredients. I also walk 4-5 miles a day and do weight-bearing exercises for 10-20 minutes with the Sworkit app. It absolutely works because you train yourself to get the most for your calorie budget. It makes you eat healthier because you see how small the portions are with the less healthy options.
  • K_Anness17
    K_Anness17 Posts: 18 Member
    I've counted calories so many times and it has never worked for me! I don't technically count my calories right now (even though I'm USUALLY under 1200 still) but I've started counting carbs instead. Keto/low carb, high fat, is literally the only diet I've been able to stick to for more than a week or 2.
  • damntree
    damntree Posts: 1 Member
    Eat less than you spend and you will lose weight. It's really that simple. I guess you could just keep track of it all in your head but a site like this really helps keep everything in perspective. I know for myself when I stop using it I tend to eat more than I should because I'm not paying attention.
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