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Is weighing/logging everything necessary?
BrunetteRunner87
Posts: 591 Member
I see so many posts where people complain they haven't lost weight and then everybody comes in saying that EVERYTHING HAS TO BE WEIGHED AND LOGGED.
I know that CICO is typically the key to weight loss, but can you be successful without all of this? Who wants to have to weigh and log or even just log everything they put in their mouths for the rest of their life?
I recently started a new diet plan aimed at runners. The idea is to eat enough carbs to fuel workouts, but to lose or maintain at a good weight for you to run without extra pounds weighing you down. The diet is based on 10 categories of foods that are supposed to balance in ratios at the end of the week. So assume you eat 55 servings in a week (obviously you're going to eat more but just assume), 10 should be vegetables, 9 should be fruit, 8 should be seeds and nuts, 7 should be lean meats and eggs, and 6 should be whole grains. Then if you want you can have 5 servings of dairy, 4 servings of refined grains, 3 servings of unhealthy meats, 2 of sweets, and 1 fried food.
I feel like, yeah logging and weighing would be important if I was planning on doing some kind of figure competition or even a weightlifting competition, but if I'm following this type of diet, not eating when I'm not hungry, and developing a positive relationship with food, isn't this better than weighing everything the rest of my life? Weighing and logging can really get you bogged down with numbers or exercising extra just so that you can eat extra pizza that day.
Is there anyone here who has not logged/weighed everything, but seen success?
I know that CICO is typically the key to weight loss, but can you be successful without all of this? Who wants to have to weigh and log or even just log everything they put in their mouths for the rest of their life?
I recently started a new diet plan aimed at runners. The idea is to eat enough carbs to fuel workouts, but to lose or maintain at a good weight for you to run without extra pounds weighing you down. The diet is based on 10 categories of foods that are supposed to balance in ratios at the end of the week. So assume you eat 55 servings in a week (obviously you're going to eat more but just assume), 10 should be vegetables, 9 should be fruit, 8 should be seeds and nuts, 7 should be lean meats and eggs, and 6 should be whole grains. Then if you want you can have 5 servings of dairy, 4 servings of refined grains, 3 servings of unhealthy meats, 2 of sweets, and 1 fried food.
I feel like, yeah logging and weighing would be important if I was planning on doing some kind of figure competition or even a weightlifting competition, but if I'm following this type of diet, not eating when I'm not hungry, and developing a positive relationship with food, isn't this better than weighing everything the rest of my life? Weighing and logging can really get you bogged down with numbers or exercising extra just so that you can eat extra pizza that day.
Is there anyone here who has not logged/weighed everything, but seen success?
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I think most people just like to eat and cant handle eating healthy or with moderation. So the weighing of food allows them to eat their max (what they think is max) amount of food possible while trying to lose or maintain.
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Of course you can be successful without logging or weighing.
Logging food using an app is a tool.
Weighing food on a scale is a tool.
Tools are merely a means to get a job done.
Logging and weighing food just ensure you have a more accurate picture of what you're doing. If one finds they aren't losing weight and they are logging accurately, then they know to look for another reason as to why that may be.
You get what you put in.20 -
BrunetteRunner87 wrote: »I see so many posts where people complain they haven't lost weight and then everybody comes in saying that EVERYTHING HAS TO BE WEIGHED AND LOGGED.
I know that CICO is typically the key to weight loss, but can you be successful without all of this? Who wants to have to weigh and log or even just log everything they put in their mouths for the rest of their life?
I recently started a new diet plan aimed at runners. The idea is to eat enough carbs to fuel workouts, but to lose or maintain at a good weight for you to run without extra pounds weighing you down. The diet is based on 10 categories of foods that are supposed to balance in ratios at the end of the week. So assume you eat 55 servings in a week (obviously you're going to eat more but just assume), 10 should be vegetables, 9 should be fruit, 8 should be seeds and nuts, 7 should be lean meats and eggs, and 6 should be whole grains. Then if you want you can have 5 servings of dairy, 4 servings of refined grains, 3 servings of unhealthy meats, 2 of sweets, and 1 fried food.
I feel like, yeah logging and weighing would be important if I was planning on doing some kind of figure competition or even a weightlifting competition, but if I'm following this type of diet, not eating when I'm not hungry, and developing a positive relationship with food, isn't this better than weighing everything the rest of my life? Weighing and logging can really get you bogged down with numbers or exercising extra just so that you can eat extra pizza that day.
Is there anyone here who has not logged/weighed everything, but seen success?
Putting every food in categories and counting over hte week how many servings of each category you had isn't bogging you down with numbers?
Not to mention that there's no guarantee that that'll actually put you in a deficit.26 -
You're looking at a skewed sample. If someone is complaining that what they're doing isn't working, it is almost always because they're not logging accurately. Only by logging accurately can the, it's not working what do I do, be further figured out.
I don't think many would say that I've has to log everything and weigh everything to be successful. But it is a data based method to both be successful and figure out why someone is not being successful.
Additionally, a lot of people don't know how much or what to eat. Logging and measuring serves a way for people to learn portion control.
If that way works for you, go for it. But the minute it doesn't, expect it is because you're eating way more than you think and burning way less.9 -
The key part is that the "weight everything" suggestion is given to people who aren't losing the weight that they should be losing on the calories they think they are eating.
There are plenty of people who can wing it without weighing everything but they are the ones who are losing the weight that they are expecting to lose. They don't need accurate data to troubleshoot their problem because they don't have a problem. People who do have a problem need to troubleshoot and weighing everything is the "power down, power up" of calorie counting.
I know I'm going to need to keep weighing everything in order to keep the weight off because I can't guestimate well but that's not true for everyone.7 -
BrunetteRunner87 wrote: »The diet is based on 10 categories of foods that are supposed to balance in ratios at the end of the week. So assume you eat 55 servings in a week (obviously you're going to eat more but just assume), 10 should be vegetables, 9 should be fruit, 8 should be seeds and nuts, 7 should be lean meats and eggs, and 6 should be whole grains. Then if you want you can have 5 servings of dairy, 4 servings of refined grains, 3 servings of unhealthy meats, 2 of sweets, and 1 fried food.
This seems more confusing and troublesome to me than weighing/logging whatever I eat. To each his own. If that's what works for you, great.
If someone comes in complaining about not losing weight or gaining and they say they're eating "1400" calories, or whatever other number.. chances are, they are not looking at an accurate figure of their calories. That is where the "are you weighing/logging everything" comes in to answer.
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It all depends on the person. I was able to maintain my weight for years without logging or thinking about food by listening to my body. But then I stopped listening. I did Body for Life which is similar to what you described above. There is a prescribed list of foods and you eat 6 meals a day with protein the size of your palm, complex carb the size of your fist and veggies at at least 4 meals. 2tbs olive oil, cold water fish or handful of nuts each day to make up your healthy fats. I found I had to start logging in order to eat enough calories because just going by my eyeball, I was only consuming about 750 calories/day.
After I got to my goal weight, I hung out there for a few months, then I stopped logging and slowly gained about 5lbs. I've stayed at that weight (~18-20%BF) for about 6 months (I guess you could say recomping). While I'm not as lean as I would like, it's an easy weight to maintain without logging and I don't look horrible.
Some people can do it without logging, others will have to log their entire life. I know I will have to log if I want to lean out for summer.2 -
LiftingRiot wrote: »I think most people just like to eat and cant handle eating healthy or with moderation. So the weighing of food allows them to eat their max (what they think is max) amount of food possible while trying to lose or maintain.
For many people, weighing food isn't about wanting to have the maximum amount of food or not wanting "healthy" food, it's about accurately understanding how much we're taking in.
If I know my goal is 1,460 but I don't know how close I'm getting to that goal, adjustments are going to be more difficult for me. That's why I weigh.8 -
stevencloser wrote: »BrunetteRunner87 wrote: »I see so many posts where people complain they haven't lost weight and then everybody comes in saying that EVERYTHING HAS TO BE WEIGHED AND LOGGED.
I know that CICO is typically the key to weight loss, but can you be successful without all of this? Who wants to have to weigh and log or even just log everything they put in their mouths for the rest of their life?
I recently started a new diet plan aimed at runners. The idea is to eat enough carbs to fuel workouts, but to lose or maintain at a good weight for you to run without extra pounds weighing you down. The diet is based on 10 categories of foods that are supposed to balance in ratios at the end of the week. So assume you eat 55 servings in a week (obviously you're going to eat more but just assume), 10 should be vegetables, 9 should be fruit, 8 should be seeds and nuts, 7 should be lean meats and eggs, and 6 should be whole grains. Then if you want you can have 5 servings of dairy, 4 servings of refined grains, 3 servings of unhealthy meats, 2 of sweets, and 1 fried food.
I feel like, yeah logging and weighing would be important if I was planning on doing some kind of figure competition or even a weightlifting competition, but if I'm following this type of diet, not eating when I'm not hungry, and developing a positive relationship with food, isn't this better than weighing everything the rest of my life? Weighing and logging can really get you bogged down with numbers or exercising extra just so that you can eat extra pizza that day.
Is there anyone here who has not logged/weighed everything, but seen success?
Putting every food in categories and counting over hte week how many servings of each category you had isn't bogging you down with numbers?
Not to mention that there's no guarantee that that'll actually put you in a deficit.
Not really, because at the end of the day I just put tally marks next to the category in my planner and at the end of the week I add them up. And I also suspect that once I do this for a while, it will be like second nature for my diet to be 20% vegetables, 18% fruit, 15% nuts and seeds, and so on. And while it doesn't guarantee a deficit, on any day that I haven't eaten sweets or refined carbs and I don't eat when I'm not full, I come in around 1500-1600 calories.
Another thing I thought of is when people have to weigh everything, at the end of the day it's still going to be an estimate of how many calories are in that food or how many calories you burned, it's never going to be 100% exact.
I am sure that there are people who haven't logged everything and still manage to lose weight or maintain. I guess what I would like to know is why I see so many posts on here where people insist everything has to be weighed or logged, what is the reasoning for that, and why can't someone be successful without that?
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What's a serving? The point of your opening post is to talk about your runner's feeding plan, which is not a weight loss plan. The point of using and recommending a scale is to get the portion size correct, no matter what the purpose of the plan is.6
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serindipte wrote: »
This seems more confusing and troublesome to me than weighing/logging whatever I eat. To each his own. If that's what works for you, great.
I was thinking this too. I eat a lot of meals based on beans...is that a carb, is that a protein, is it 2 of my 55. I'm with you, to each his own. Find what works for you now and what will work for you long term!!1 -
BrunetteRunner87 wrote: »Is there anyone here who has not logged/weighed everything, but seen success?
*raises hand* I didn't weigh, measure or log while I was losing weight, or while I was maintaining that loss for a year, and I'm not doing it now that I've decided to lose a bit more.0 -
BrunetteRunner87 wrote: »
I am sure that there are people who haven't logged everything and still manage to lose weight or maintain. I guess what I would like to know is why I see so many posts on here where people insist everything has to be weighed or logged, what is the reasoning for that, and why can't someone be successful without that?
Because although SOME people MAY be successful losing/maintaining weight without logging, you are pretty much GUARANTEED success if you do. Most people will take the guarantee over the chance.
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mom23mangos wrote: »BrunetteRunner87 wrote: »
I am sure that there are people who haven't logged everything and still manage to lose weight or maintain. I guess what I would like to know is why I see so many posts on here where people insist everything has to be weighed or logged, what is the reasoning for that, and why can't someone be successful without that?
Because although SOME people MAY be successful losing/maintaining weight without logging, you are pretty much GUARANTEED success if you do. Most people will take the guarantee over the chance.
Well, that's a sweeping and incorrect generalization.3 -
JeromeBarry1 wrote: »What's a serving? The point of your opening post is to talk about your runner's feeding plan, which is not a weight loss plan. The point of using and recommending a scale is to get the portion size correct, no matter what the purpose of the plan is.
It is a weight loss plan, because the point is to both fuel your workouts, but also to get you to your ideal race weight, which would involve losing weight if you're not already at it. That makes sense though, I can see that using a scale would help make sure you're eating a portion and not more or less. I could think I was eating one portion of nuts but really eating two, and two portions of spinach but only one. So does that mean everyone's stuck weighing everything all the time?0 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »mom23mangos wrote: »BrunetteRunner87 wrote: »
I am sure that there are people who haven't logged everything and still manage to lose weight or maintain. I guess what I would like to know is why I see so many posts on here where people insist everything has to be weighed or logged, what is the reasoning for that, and why can't someone be successful without that?
Because although SOME people MAY be successful losing/maintaining weight without logging, you are pretty much GUARANTEED success if you do. Most people will take the guarantee over the chance.
Well, that's a sweeping and incorrect generalization.
How so?
If you log your calories accurately and completely you actually *are* guaranteed to be able to track how much you are eating, and therefore know if you really are in the deficit required to lose weight.
Don't know how that can be disputed.7 -
BrunetteRunner87 wrote: »stevencloser wrote: »BrunetteRunner87 wrote: »I see so many posts where people complain they haven't lost weight and then everybody comes in saying that EVERYTHING HAS TO BE WEIGHED AND LOGGED.
I know that CICO is typically the key to weight loss, but can you be successful without all of this? Who wants to have to weigh and log or even just log everything they put in their mouths for the rest of their life?
I recently started a new diet plan aimed at runners. The idea is to eat enough carbs to fuel workouts, but to lose or maintain at a good weight for you to run without extra pounds weighing you down. The diet is based on 10 categories of foods that are supposed to balance in ratios at the end of the week. So assume you eat 55 servings in a week (obviously you're going to eat more but just assume), 10 should be vegetables, 9 should be fruit, 8 should be seeds and nuts, 7 should be lean meats and eggs, and 6 should be whole grains. Then if you want you can have 5 servings of dairy, 4 servings of refined grains, 3 servings of unhealthy meats, 2 of sweets, and 1 fried food.
I feel like, yeah logging and weighing would be important if I was planning on doing some kind of figure competition or even a weightlifting competition, but if I'm following this type of diet, not eating when I'm not hungry, and developing a positive relationship with food, isn't this better than weighing everything the rest of my life? Weighing and logging can really get you bogged down with numbers or exercising extra just so that you can eat extra pizza that day.
Is there anyone here who has not logged/weighed everything, but seen success?
Putting every food in categories and counting over hte week how many servings of each category you had isn't bogging you down with numbers?
Not to mention that there's no guarantee that that'll actually put you in a deficit.
Not really, because at the end of the day I just put tally marks next to the category in my planner and at the end of the week I add them up. And I also suspect that once I do this for a while, it will be like second nature for my diet to be 20% vegetables, 18% fruit, 15% nuts and seeds, and so on. And while it doesn't guarantee a deficit, on any day that I haven't eaten sweets or refined carbs and I don't eat when I'm not full, I come in around 1500-1600 calories.
Another thing I thought of is when people have to weigh everything, at the end of the day it's still going to be an estimate of how many calories are in that food or how many calories you burned, it's never going to be 100% exact.
I am sure that there are people who haven't logged everything and still manage to lose weight or maintain. I guess what I would like to know is why I see so many posts on here where people insist everything has to be weighed or logged, what is the reasoning for that, and why can't someone be successful without that?
Multiple studies have shown that people, generally, tend to be bad at eyeballing portions or serving sizes accurately. You may be the exception and, if you are, then it's possible you could be successful with a plan based on eating a certain number of servings per week. But what if what you think is a "serving" of nuts is actually 1.5 servings? That adds up over time and that's why -- when people post about not losing weight or even gaining when they expect to lose, they get the advice to check their logging for accuracy. The scale is just the best way we have to do that.
That doesn't mean people can be successful without weighing or logging. It's just a tool that has helped people and that's why we recommend it to others who may be struggling. If someone was having fine results without weighing or logging, I don't see any reason for them to change. But when this advice is handed out, it's usually because someone has started a thread asking why they aren't seeing the results they want.6 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »mom23mangos wrote: »BrunetteRunner87 wrote: »
I am sure that there are people who haven't logged everything and still manage to lose weight or maintain. I guess what I would like to know is why I see so many posts on here where people insist everything has to be weighed or logged, what is the reasoning for that, and why can't someone be successful without that?
Because although SOME people MAY be successful losing/maintaining weight without logging, you are pretty much GUARANTEED success if you do. Most people will take the guarantee over the chance.
Well, that's a sweeping and incorrect generalization.
Yes, I'd agree with the sweeping generalization, but I'd say 90% correct (hence why I a said "pretty much" guaranteed). As the OP mentioned, there is still some estimation involved. We do not have 100% accurate ways to log calorie burn, so numbers may be slightly off. But, barring some medical condition, if a person inaccurately weighs/burns calories the same way day after day, they will be able to manipulate their caloric intake sufficiently through logging to lose weight.
Without logging, you truly are just guessing.0 -
CICO is "calories in vs calories out", not weighing and logging. If you can manage "calories in vs calories out" without weighing/logging - great. If you can't - choose between weighing/logging and being overweight.BrunetteRunner87 wrote: »I see so many posts where people complain they haven't lost weight and then everybody comes in saying that EVERYTHING HAS TO BE WEIGHED AND LOGGED.
I know that CICO is typically the key to weight loss, but can you be successful without all of this?
You're kidding, right? How is that diet not bogging logging? It has to have been inspired by that song... "Twelve Days of Christmas"Who wants to have to weigh and log or even just log everything they put in their mouths for the rest of their life?
I recently started a new diet plan aimed at runners. The idea is to eat enough carbs to fuel workouts, but to lose or maintain at a good weight for you to run without extra pounds weighing you down. The diet is based on 10 categories of foods that are supposed to balance in ratios at the end of the week. So assume you eat 55 servings in a week (obviously you're going to eat more but just assume), 10 should be vegetables, 9 should be fruit, 8 should be seeds and nuts, 7 should be lean meats and eggs, and 6 should be whole grains. Then if you want you can have 5 servings of dairy, 4 servings of refined grains, 3 servings of unhealthy meats, 2 of sweets, and 1 fried food.
I feel like, yeah logging and weighing would be important if I was planning on doing some kind of figure competition or even a weightlifting competition, but if I'm following this type of diet, not eating when I'm not hungry, and developing a positive relationship with food, isn't this better than weighing everything the rest of my life? Weighing and logging can really get you bogged down with numbers or exercising extra just so that you can eat extra pizza that day.
I lost weight in 2007 just by eating whatever, but only three reasonably sized meals of it per day. I have counted calories successfully before and after. I log my intake now, because I plan my meals, and have been at a good, stable weight for over two years.Is there anyone here who has not logged/weighed everything, but seen success?2 -
I mean everyone knows CICO is a tool, MFP is a tool etc. The thing is, most of us got here for the same reason. Eyeballing did not work for us.
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BrunetteRunner87 wrote: »I guess what I would like to know is why I see so many posts on here where people insist everything has to be weighed or logged, what is the reasoning for that, and why can't someone be successful without that?
People can, and are, successful without that. They aren't the people posting asking for help with why they aren't losing.
Let's say that 75 out of 100 people are successful without weighing and logging everything. Those 75 aren't the ones posting and asking for help. When the other 25 post to ask for help, they are told to weigh and log everything. That would make it look like everyone was given that advice but it's only going out to 25% of users - the ones who are having problems and need to figure out why.
Counting calories isn't 100% accurate but there are ways to improve the accuracy of estimations.
The goal is to find a way of controlling calorie intake that works for the individual. Some need tighter tracking than others. If it ain't broke, there's no need to fix it. If it is broke, the easiest first place to look for the issue is the "calories in" part.8 -
mom23mangos wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »mom23mangos wrote: »BrunetteRunner87 wrote: »
I am sure that there are people who haven't logged everything and still manage to lose weight or maintain. I guess what I would like to know is why I see so many posts on here where people insist everything has to be weighed or logged, what is the reasoning for that, and why can't someone be successful without that?
Because although SOME people MAY be successful losing/maintaining weight without logging, you are pretty much GUARANTEED success if you do. Most people will take the guarantee over the chance.
Well, that's a sweeping and incorrect generalization.
Yes, I'd agree with the sweeping generalization, but I'd say 90% correct (hence why I a said "pretty much" guaranteed). As the OP mentioned, there is still some estimation involved. We do not have 100% accurate ways to log calorie burn, so numbers may be slightly off. But, barring some medical condition, if a person inaccurately weighs/burns calories the same way day after day, they will be able to manipulate their caloric intake sufficiently through logging to lose weight.
Without logging, you truly are just guessing.
But just as with other methods of dieting, having to weigh and measure and log every bite you take will cause some to give up. Some will see this as not worth it. You still have to actually do it. It has to be something you are willing to stick with. While it may get you the best guess as what you are consuming, it is very far from a guarantee of success.0 -
BrunetteRunner87 wrote: »I know that CICO is typically the key to weight loss, but can you be successful without all of this? Who wants to have to weigh and log or even just log everything they put in their mouths for the rest of their life?
I don't think most of us here expect to weigh and log everything that passes our lips for the rest of our lives. It's about learning self control, portion sizes, and how to pay for high calorie foods and meals so that it doesn't affect your weight long term. It may take some of us years, others a shorter period of time. But somewhere along the line, most of us who are obese fell prey to crappy pre-packaged foods which are calorie dense and not very filling, filled with sugar, salt, artificial flavors, and do not know how to lose weight or keep it off. Some of us here will lose the weight, then go right back to doing things the way we used to do. You see those people every day in the "starting again" posts because they lost the weight then re-gained it. It's not about being chained to this site and a food scale the rest of your life.
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People can, and are, successful without that. They aren't the people posting asking for help with why they aren't losing.
Let's say that 75 out of 100 people are successful without weighing and logging everything. Those 75 aren't the ones posting and asking for help. When the other 25 post to ask for help, they are told to weigh and log everything. That would make it look like everyone was given that advice but it's only going out to 25% of users - the ones who are having problems and need to figure out why.
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This makes a lot of sense to me. I think my biggest fear after seeing all these posts is that I can't be successful if I don't weigh/log everything that goes into my mouth. I did that for years and would have great success for losing weight but never kept it off because I got tired of logging and weighing everything. I'd prefer to just develop a healthy relationship with food and eat mostly good foods and I am hoping to hear from these people who have been successful with that. But as you said if they are successful they probably aren't posting!
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snickerscharlie wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »mom23mangos wrote: »BrunetteRunner87 wrote: »
I am sure that there are people who haven't logged everything and still manage to lose weight or maintain. I guess what I would like to know is why I see so many posts on here where people insist everything has to be weighed or logged, what is the reasoning for that, and why can't someone be successful without that?
Because although SOME people MAY be successful losing/maintaining weight without logging, you are pretty much GUARANTEED success if you do. Most people will take the guarantee over the chance.
Well, that's a sweeping and incorrect generalization.
How so?
If you log your calories accurately and completely you actually *are* guaranteed to be able to track how much you are eating, and therefore know if you really are in the deficit required to lose weight.
Don't know how that can be disputed.
If I misunderstood and the post meant "if you log your calories you will know how many calories there are" then I will concede the point. I took it to mean you'll be successful at weight loss. That's a whole 'nother ballgame.0 -
Spliner1969 wrote: »BrunetteRunner87 wrote: »I know that CICO is typically the key to weight loss, but can you be successful without all of this? Who wants to have to weigh and log or even just log everything they put in their mouths for the rest of their life?
I don't think most of us here expect to weigh and log everything that passes our lips for the rest of our lives. It's about learning self control, portion sizes, and how to pay for high calorie foods and meals so that it doesn't affect your weight long term. It may take some of us years, others a shorter period of time. But somewhere along the line, most of us who are obese fell prey to crappy pre-packaged foods which are calorie dense and not very filling, filled with sugar, salt, artificial flavors, and do not know how to lose weight or keep it off. Some of us here will lose the weight, then go right back to doing things the way we used to do. You see those people every day in the "starting again" posts because they lost the weight then re-gained it. It's not about being chained to this site and a food scale the rest of your life.
I don't know if I will have to weigh or log for the rest of my life, but right now I'm working on the assumption that I will. I don't want to be 300+ ever again and if that means I have to put the effort in day in and day out, then that is what I will do.11 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »snickerscharlie wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »mom23mangos wrote: »BrunetteRunner87 wrote: »
I am sure that there are people who haven't logged everything and still manage to lose weight or maintain. I guess what I would like to know is why I see so many posts on here where people insist everything has to be weighed or logged, what is the reasoning for that, and why can't someone be successful without that?
Because although SOME people MAY be successful losing/maintaining weight without logging, you are pretty much GUARANTEED success if you do. Most people will take the guarantee over the chance.
Well, that's a sweeping and incorrect generalization.
How so?
If you log your calories accurately and completely you actually *are* guaranteed to be able to track how much you are eating, and therefore know if you really are in the deficit required to lose weight.
Don't know how that can be disputed.
If I misunderstood and the post meant "if you log your calories you will know how many calories there are" then I will concede the point. I took it to mean you'll be successful at weight loss. That's a whole 'nother ballgame.
The post meant if you log your calories accurately and log how much you burn through exercise as accurately as possible and actually use those numbers to eat less than you burn (yes, you actually have to do it), then you will pretty much be guaranteed weight loss.
Not arguing that many people find it too much work (myself included) and stop doing it and then are not successful at losing weight. Or people do log accurately and still eat more than they burn because they can't find ways to feel satiated. That happens as well. But what I meant is, if you want a guaranteed way to lose weight...weigh your food accurately and log it, log your exercise and make sure your total calories for the day/week are less than what you've burned. Success.1 -
BrunetteRunner87 wrote: »I see so many posts where people complain they haven't lost weight and then everybody comes in saying that EVERYTHING HAS TO BE WEIGHED AND LOGGED.
I know that CICO is typically the key to weight loss, but can you be successful without all of this? Who wants to have to weigh and log or even just log everything they put in their mouths for the rest of their life?
Weighing food is important because most people don't have a clue what a serving size actually looks like. When I first started, what I would have guessed to be 3oz was more like 7-8oz. That's a major difference in calories, especially if you are looking at items like grains or meats. It is also important for people to get a realistic grasp on their calorie burn, as many people don't burn nearly as many calories as they think they do (for example, people who cycle at a moderate pace, 9-12mph) may think they are burning 300-400 calories for 30 minutes. Chances are they are burning something more like 100-150. If you add all of that up, that means that people could be burning 300 calories LESS and eating 400 calories MORE. That's a total of 700 calories in the red; if you're eating that much over your TDEE, you'll gain a pound in a week.
I think that once you start to understand, visually, how big a serving size is, then you probably don't need to weigh and log everything. Also if you eat the same things all the time (Like I always have an egg, toast, and cup of tea, which I know by heart is ~240 calories, and lunch is half a sandwich, which is about 200-300 calories), then you don't need to weigh/log, because it's going to be about the same all the time.
If you are capable of losing weight without logging/weighing everything, then good for you! Apparently you are doing something right! If you are not losing weight, then chances are you are overestimating/underestimating your exercise/calorie intake and need to start weighing/counting/logging everything.
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My goal is weight gain so I don't know if this answers your question. For years I thought I was unable to gain weight. Then I came here and started logging and weighing and realised I just hadn't been eating enough. It was that simple. I'd been overestimating the size of portions and amount of calories.
I don't know if I'll do it forever- I've almost reached my goal and have a better idea of how much I need to eat and what it looks like. But at the moment I don't mind doing it,it only takes minutes each day and also helps me keep track of protein,carbs and fats
If it's not working for you or you find it counter productive,don't do it. People have been dieting successfully for years before the internet or apps like this.2 -
BrunetteRunner87 wrote: »I see so many posts where people complain they haven't lost weight and then everybody comes in saying that EVERYTHING HAS TO BE WEIGHED AND LOGGED.
I know that CICO is typically the key to weight loss, but can you be successful without all of this? Who wants to have to weigh and log or even just log everything they put in their mouths for the rest of their life?
I recently started a new diet plan aimed at runners. The idea is to eat enough carbs to fuel workouts, but to lose or maintain at a good weight for you to run without extra pounds weighing you down. The diet is based on 10 categories of foods that are supposed to balance in ratios at the end of the week. So assume you eat 55 servings in a week (obviously you're going to eat more but just assume), 10 should be vegetables, 9 should be fruit, 8 should be seeds and nuts, 7 should be lean meats and eggs, and 6 should be whole grains. Then if you want you can have 5 servings of dairy, 4 servings of refined grains, 3 servings of unhealthy meats, 2 of sweets, and 1 fried food.
I feel like, yeah logging and weighing would be important if I was planning on doing some kind of figure competition or even a weightlifting competition, but if I'm following this type of diet, not eating when I'm not hungry, and developing a positive relationship with food, isn't this better than weighing everything the rest of my life? Weighing and logging can really get you bogged down with numbers or exercising extra just so that you can eat extra pizza that day.
Is there anyone here who has not logged/weighed everything, but seen success?
Calorie counting is just a tool...people use all kinds of different tools and/or diets to lose weight. I would say that it's also not a lifetime kind of thing for most people...it's a teaching tool. I did count calories to lose weight, but I haven't logged anything in about four years and have more or less maintained and lost weight when needed without logging...calorie counting just taught me awareness and over the course of my weight loss I learned how to eat, proper portions, and learned a lot more about nutrition...but it's just one of many tools.5
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