Can you eat whatever you want as long as you stay in your calorie range and still lose weight?

priyul1000

Hello!

I've been on a diet for around 10 months now, where I have chosen to eat healthy foods and vegetables over fast food and snacks.

So far, as you may have guessed, results are starting to show and I am definitely losing weight.

However, I was just curious, as the title states, can you eat whatever you want as long as you stay in your calorie range and still lose weight?

In my case, I simply want to slowly start eating a slice fo bread, or roll (wholewheat) everyday which is about 150 calories, while substituting out something else like having a smaller portion of Yoghurt in the afternoon, while still keeping to the same caloric deflict, will I gain weight?

I have heard that bread and doughy things can be fattening, but in this case it is simply a slice of wholewheat bread/roll. Dont want to put months of work at risk.

I was considering this as I am slowly approaching my goal weight and am trying to lower the deflict.

Appreciate all responses!

tamms_1965

Definitely! It's all about CICO. You may retain more water, but it's just water, not fat. I had pasta/rice for 6 meals last week but stayed within my calories and I didn't even retain water because I drink so much of it and finish eating by 6:00 pm. I find it's easier to stay within your calories though when you eat whole foods.....no cravings. Good luck!

malibu927

Bread is only fattening if it makes you eat more than you burn. Yes, you can eat what you want.

dhimaan

Yes it's all about a calorie deficit. You can eat tubs of Ben and Jerry's but as long as you are in a deficit you will lose weight.

ninerbuff

Yes. I do this with ALL my clients.

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

Alyssa_Is_LosingIt

Yes, losing weight is all about CICO. Of course, nutrition and satiety are different for everyone, so you'd have to play around with foods that help you in that department.

But you can absolutely eat anything you want and still lose weight as long as you're in a deficit. A calorie is a calorie. It's a pretty sweet deal.

workinonit1956

I eat all types of foods within my calorie goal. I need this to be sustainable for the long term. Works great:)

nvmomketo

If I eat whatever I want, I can't stay in enough of a calorie deficit. I need to drop calories a bit further, which is impossible because I start eating more.

Plus my health suffers.

Sabine_Stroehm

Depending on what you may have been eating (perhaps lower carb, by accident), you may see the scale go up a bit when you start, but that would just be water.

priyul1000

Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »

Depending on what you may have been eating (perhaps lower carb, by accident), you may see the scale go up a bit when you start, but that would just be water.

Interesting, thanks for the clarification! I do drink alot of water throught my day as well. I've been sticking to a low carb diet for a while now, and haven't touched bread or any doughy items for months until as recently as yesterday, thus I was concerned. I do however spend most of my day consuming nutritional food such as salads, and fruits.

Thank you to all who have replied, I appreciate all help. Have a good day

Sued0nim

Yes

But you may want to consider your macro and micro nutrient intake to maximise your long term health and body composition

Sabine_Stroehm

priyul1000 wrote: »

Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »

Depending on what you may have been eating (perhaps lower carb, by accident), you may see the scale go up a bit when you start, but that would just be water.

Interesting, thanks for the clarification! I do drink alot of water throught my day as well. I've been sticking to a low carb diet for a while now, and haven't touched bread or any doughy items for months until as recently as yesterday, thus I was concerned. I do however spend most of my day consuming nutritional food such as salads, and fruits.

Thank you to all who have replied, I appreciate all help. Have a good day

Since you've been low carb, and want bread, consider looking at some of the original South Beach Diet resources (not the Kraft crap). SB wasn't a low carb diet, and does incorporate whole grains. The reasoning behind it may resonate with you.
Good luck with whatever you decide!

ETA: this isn't a terrible description of it. http://www.webmd.com/diet/a-z/south-beach-diet-what-it-is

aliem

You can! I would play around with it to see what works best for you. I know a lot of people on this site are on the 100% calories in vs. calories out train, which will absolutely give you results and for a lot of people is the easiest diet to stick to. In that respect, for most people, that is perfect advice. Everybody is different and that advise works for 100% of people (barring any medical issues.) However, I find myself losing more weight, for the same amount of calories, if I skip the processed foods and maintain a high protein/fat diet. Since this works for me, I try to skip bread when I am trying to lose weight. However, like I said, everyone is different. You need to do what is best for you.

RoxieDawn

Yes you can.. protein while in a calorie deficit is important, try to balance macro and micro nutrients as much as you can and moreover meet your min protein goal every day if you can!

nowine4me

Might wanna try Ezikiel (or the like) bread. It's 80 calories a slice and delicious--plus, it has a little protein.

kittykarin

Just a note, yes the main way our body loses weight is through eating less than we use. However, I have to say that some foods can lead you to overeat or crave more than others. May not apply to you but for me, there are just foods like bread and processed snacks, even some fruit that makes me want to eat my face off. I plan the majority of my food choices around the healthy protein, veggies and dairy that keeps me happy and satisfied and indulge in the other stuff knowing that I may struggle with hunger and cravings if I eat it. Some may not agree, but that's my experience. Good luck!

kgirlhart

I did. I lost 60 pounds between Sept 2015 and July 2016. I just ate at a calorie deficit and ate the foods I normally eat. I still eat out once or twice a week and eat fast food and processed foods and breads and sugar. I find that if I focus on getting enough protein then I stay satisfied and don't have problems with craving or over eating. It also helps me not to be restrictive because making something off limits only makes me want it more.

MrsKila

I am a low carber by choice, BUT I definitely do believe you can eat what ever you want and lose weight as long as you stay in your calorie range (deficit).

MrsKila

kittykarin wrote: »

Just a note, yes the main way our body loses weight is through eating less than we use. However, I have to say that some foods can lead you to overeat or crave more than others. May not apply to you but for me, there are just foods like bread and processed snacks, even some fruit that makes me want to eat my face off. I plan the majority of my food choices around the healthy protein, veggies and dairy that keeps me happy and satisfied and indulge in the other stuff knowing that I may struggle with hunger and cravings if I eat it. Some may not agree, but that's my experience. Good luck!

This applies to me too.

workinonit1956

kgirlhart wrote: »

I did. I lost 60 pounds between Sept 2015 and July 2016. I just ate at a calorie deficit and ate the foods I normally eat. I still eat out once or twice a week and eat fast food and processed foods and breads and sugar. I find that if I focus on getting enough protein then I stay satisfied and don't have problems with craving or over eating. It also helps me not to be restrictive because making something off limits only makes me want it more.

Agree!

Machka9

Can you eat whatever you want as long as you stay in your calorie range and still lose weight?

Absolutely!!

This is exactly what I did, and I lost 25 kg/55 lbs.