Is counting calories/macros destroying our enjoyment of food?

leanitup123

Interested in hearing your thoughts on this.

Alatariel75

The first thing that comes to mind on this is the growing demands for calorie counts at restaurants.

I love food, and have spent an appalling amount of money at some very, very high end restaurants. When I go out to eat, I want it to be an event, and I'm sure as hell not thinking about calories. But there are some people out there who believe that it should be mandatory for all restaurants to provide nutritional information, which I think would be the death of everything I love about fine dining.

I mean, I'm all for the chains and fast food places which operate a production line kitchen having nutritional info and when I am grabbing something while out (as opposed to going out for the purpose of eating out) I tend to pick the ones that do have the info so I can track.

But the restaurants I love, the ones where I don't even look at a menu and just let them bring us a parade of different food that the chef has whipped up for that morning's trip to the market, could never even try to give nutritional info without destroying that spontaneity.

So in that way, I despair of the calls for mandatory information at restaurants and believe it would destroy the soul of those places, and thus my enjoyment of them.

bbell1985

It's messed me up a bit. I still enjoy my food. But not like I did when I was fat and didn't care. But I enjoy looking better.

cdkelly

Not for me. In fact it has enhanced my enjoyment of food (if that was possible lol) because I'm trying all kinds of new recipes that i never even thought of before.

aeshippers

I find that it's made me more creative and when I manage to make something really tasty, but still fairly healthy and low calorie, I actually enjoy it more.
Mostly what I've stopped is the mindless eating that I was never enjoying in the first place.
However there is that point when you go out and you look at a menu more with what's low calorie in mind that what you want to eat - I don't go out often so I tried not to do that last time and found it hard.

Momepro

Maybe eventually, but right now it's still new, so kind of fun.

bpetrosky

Nope

jo_nz

Not at all. For me, I think it has just increased my awareness of what I eat and how much I need.

I don't worry too much about calories for eating out or special events, just try to be mindful of how much I am eating and not get too carried away. I don't eat out very often anyway.

Counting calories made me realise how many little "treats" I was slipping into my overall diet and how often that was happening. Now those treats are still there, but that are special, rare treats that I enjoy and appreciate a lot more.

WickedPineapple

I've been using MFP consistently to count my calories for ~5 years now (I'm in maintenance). I agree with @cdkelly ... I think it's actually helped me enjoy my food more, not less. I only eat food that I like now. In reflecting on my past diet, I ate quite a bit of food that was mediocre at best. Calorie counting led me to think about whether I was wasting calories on food that I don't really like that much, but was convenient (some fast food, frozen pizza, etc.) I almost never eat to discomfort anymore either.

Also, there's nothing quite so satisfying as knowing that you can fit a reeses peanut butter cup cookie a la mode into your calories.

mph323

I find it enhances my enjoyment, since I'm not stressing over whether or not eating that piece of birthday cake will cause me to start gaining weight again. I know exactly where I stand with my energy balance.

dadsafrantic

no not at all. i don't eat stuff i don't like. it's probably a good thing i like everything except canned lima beans and mackerel sushi.

healthyghost

I can't eat as much, which might be 'less' enjoyment. If that makes sense.

TonyB0588

No. I enjoy my food first, then record the calories and macros after. It's meant to be a lifestyle change, not a tedious chore. It is quite possible to enjoy a new life that's different from the old.

seska422

Even if it does, it's something that I have to do. My choices are

A: count calories/macros
B: gain 10 or more pounds every year

I choose A.

My high weight was 320. I choose to take control now rather than being a My 600-Pound Life candidate later.

My highest enjoyment of food comes with high-calorie and high-volume meals. If I didn't have to deal with the consequences, I'd happily eat fast food 3-4 times a day at 800+ calories per meal. Right now I'd love to get a Dairy Queen 6-piece Chicken Strip Basket (1250 calories), a medium Coke (280 calories) and either a medium Chocolate Xtreme Blizzard (800 calories) or a Peanut Buster Parfait (710 calories). Another meal that I'd really enjoy would be half of a medium Meat Lover's Pan Pizza (1320 calories) from Pizza Hut.

My mouth is watering and I'm getting a bit of a rush just thinking about it.

However, I do have to deal with the consequences. Sigh. Every day that I don't gain weight is a victory.

xandra47

Food has been way more enjoyable for me since I've started logging! I'm more focused on my nutrition now, so I've been eating lots of new stuff

leanitup123

Love reading everyone's opinions on the subject. Though many of you are saying that counting calories has no negative influence on your enjoyment of food, do you think it has had an effect on your relationship with food (example: looking at 2 choices on a menu and seeing only numbers, choosing the lower calorie option, etc.)?

mph323

leanitup123 wrote: »

Love reading everyone's opinions on the subject. Though many of you are saying that counting calories has no negative influence on your enjoyment of food, do you think it has had an effect on your relationship with food (example: looking at 2 choices on a menu and seeing only numbers, choosing the lower calorie option, etc.)?

Not really. I order what I want, eat the amount that fits into my calorie goal and take the rest home.

leanitup123

mph323 wrote: »

leanitup123 wrote: »

Love reading everyone's opinions on the subject. Though many of you are saying that counting calories has no negative influence on your enjoyment of food, do you think it has had an effect on your relationship with food (example: looking at 2 choices on a menu and seeing only numbers, choosing the lower calorie option, etc.)?

Not really. I order what I want, eat the amount that fits into my calorie goal and take the rest home.

great!

Alatariel75

I will admit, there is a Subway sandwich I love, and one I don't mind and I will often opt for the one I don't mind over the one I love because it fits my calories. It makes me a bit sad.

ksslush

I've gone through some times of feeling like keeping track of every gram was making life a LOT harder than I wanted it to be. I work my *kitten* off at the gym/home and had an image of my future being where I just make "balanced" "wise" decisions about food and it will all fall into place. It hasn't been that easy. I'm not at my goal weight (after 18 months), so I've had to adjust my expectations and embrace that keeping track of macros might be my life. Maybe maintenance will be a little easier? I'll cross that bridge when I come to it! In the meantime I can't say I love minding my macros, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get to the finish line :-)

SideSteel

At times it does for me which is why I very seldom track my food.

I think it's hit or miss on an individual level. It's definitely NOT a good fit for some people long term.

WickedPineapple

leanitup123 wrote: »

Love reading everyone's opinions on the subject. Though many of you are saying that counting calories has no negative influence on your enjoyment of food, do you think it has had an effect on your relationship with food (example: looking at 2 choices on a menu and seeing only numbers, choosing the lower calorie option, etc.)?

I'm a picky eater, so I tend to go with what I like even if it's higher in calories. It's very convenient that I love grilled chicken. I also do what mph323 does. It's great because I get to eat a delicious meal twice. However, I do avoid high fat meals because I get acid reflux (which started after losing weight, go figure).

kimny72

I think this is going to be very individual. But for me the answer is no. First, I enjoy playing with numbers and puzzles and that carries over into counting cals for me. Second, I used to stress out about whether I could eat something or not. I was constantly either feeling deprived for not eating something or guilty for eating it. Now I make informed decisions and those negative emotions are no longer a part of my diet.

There are some things that I don't eat anymore because they are calorie bombs but I still eat plenty of yummy foods so I rarely miss that stuff.

tomteboda

Well, I know that the calorie count at McDonalds sure irritated me. I don't eat there myself, but I treat my niece & nephew occasionally because they love it.. and all that stuff on the board makes it completely illegible.

LyssaJ1

For me, it has and hasn't.

Due to a myriad of issues, I went rather rabid on counting and tracking...and made myself and my family (and probably quite a few friends) miserable. It took me hitting my goal weight, sustaining, and then running into a different medical issue, that I was humbled (smacked upside my head with a harsh reality.) It's something that my mum has said *forever*...'all things in moderation'.

So now I'm more even-keeled about things, fitness and nutrition-wise. I aim to enjoy food, but on more healthful terms. Like so many other folks here, I've learned to cook *so much better* and try new-to-me healthier options. When I go out for food, I *might* take a gander at nutritional content, if it's even available...otherwise I just look at the base ingredients and think about how the food is prepared. Being thoughtful about it isn't a drag like it used to be. I look at it as a treat to myself, that I care enough to consider where my body's fuel is coming from.

AnvilHead

kimny72 wrote: »

I think this is going to be very individual. But for me the answer is no. First, I enjoy playing with numbers and puzzles and that carries over into counting cals for me...

Same here. I view it almost like playing Tetris or Jenga or something, making the pieces fit in my calories and macros. It's fun to me.

dutchandkiwi

Far from it in fact. It has encouraged me to find new foods, new ways of preparations and new combinations!
Cooking has always been a hobby, now I combine it with my new lifestyle I have found a whole new range of herbs and spices that I use instead of just grabbing the fats to boost the flavour

amusedmonkey

The exact opposite for me. I enjoy food even more now, because I make sure every bit of it is worth it. I'm no longer mindlessly grabbing whatever then consuming it just because I want to keep my jaws moving. I'm now a bit pickier and tend to not go for mediocre versions of things. No stale popcorn, cheesecake instead of donuts (I don't like donuts), special foods are now special again and not part of my daily mindless munching...etc.

I wrap my calories around my foods way more often than I wrap my food around my calories. If I did it the other way, I can understand how it would destroy food enjoyment.

kommodevaran

Counting calories (and macros) took away my fear of food and weight gain. I finally learnt how much food I need and what foods work best for me. Without the fear/guilt, the necessary amounts of foods I like is what I want. I don't count calories anymore, but I'm aware of portions and don't routinely overeat, as I used to when I was fat.

SezxyStef

my question would be how could it ruin our enjoyment of food.

Calories and macros are numbers that is it...enjoyment of food comes from tactile senses like taste and smell...

If you find you are not eating the food you love due to calorie restrictions you are doing it wrong....just eat a smaller portion or exercise to allow for it.

SideSteel

SezxyStef wrote: »

my question would be how could it ruin our enjoyment of food.

Calories and macros are numbers that is it...enjoyment of food comes from tactile senses like taste and smell...

If you find you are not eating the food you love due to calorie restrictions you are doing it wrong....just eat a smaller portion or exercise to allow for it.

It's not so much the enjoyment of the food itself as it is the over-reliance on numbers and the strange eating habits and thoughts about food that some people develop from long term tracking.