Eating whatever within calorie limit?

mehreen_xo

Sooo I've read a LOT of Internet woo in the past and have believe a lot of it for a while till I got onto mfp and was totally taken aback!

There's one thing I just cannot seem to get my head around is that you can eat literally ANYTHING as long as you're in a deficit. I'm someone who absolutely lovessssss chocolate and feel like I need a bit every day. I'm so scared to save enough calories for a chocolate bar and have one every day. I feel like I'd gain sooo much weight!
Please someone tell me they have something bad everyday and have lost weight!!

Alatariel75

I lost 80lbs eating ice cream after dinner every night.

Momepro

You can definitely eat chocolate cake and not gain weight, as long as you stay under your calorie budget. However, keep in mind that losing weight and staying healthy are not necessarily the same thing. If you budget too many calories towards the cake, you are taking from other healthier and more filling choices. This can cause you to be hungry sooner, and over time feel lousy.
Absolutely budget for that yummy slice of cake, but make sure you're adding in the healthier and more filling stuff first.

Unknown

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Rocknut53

mehreen_xo wrote: »

Sooo I've read a LOT of Internet woo in the past and have believe a lot of it for a while till I got onto mfp and was totally taken aback!

There's one thing I just cannot seem to get my head around is that you can eat literally ANYTHING as long as you're in a deficit. I'm someone who absolutely lovessssss chocolate and feel like I need a bit every day. I'm so scared to save enough calories for a chocolate bar and have one every day. I feel like I'd gain sooo much weight!
Please someone tell me they have something bad everyday and have lost weight!!

To be successful at the "eat what you want just stay in a calorie deficit," you have to quit categorizing food as "bad." Are some foods less nutritious? Yes. Are some foods high in calories for the small amount you're allowed? Yes. You will learn as you progress what foods satisfy you, how much you can eat and what provides the most nutrition. I eat chocolate, occasionally drink beer or wine, and many other things I would have shunned all my other times I've tried to lose weight. I wouldn't eat a whole chocolate bar every day. I do eat a couple Andes mints or a piece of dark chocolate just about every day.

JeromeBarry1

Yes. You can also get smaller and mini sized candy bars if you think that would help you. A mini Snickers is 45 calories, while a Hershey Kiss is 25.

When I started this weight loss effort in January 2016, I was working in an office with free snacks and free candy. The candy bowl was constantly filled with an assortment of mini candies and Kisses. I planned and budgeted my calories to have 1 of those items each workday. I did, about 3 p.m. each day, go to the candy bowl and get one. I logged it and I ate it. After a month of that, I one day didn't want to bother with it and that was the end of my regularly scheduled chocolate candy.

At home, I keep a bag of Ghirardelli 86% chocolate squares in the refrigerator for occasional use, and I keep a bag of Brach's milk chocolate peanut clusters hidden in my bedroom for occasional use. I have to hide it so that my family won't steal it from me. Either of those has about 60 calories. Now that you've got me thinking of it, I've got 1000+ calories left from exercise and after I finish this bowl of ice cream with caramel syrup I think I'll go up there and get some chocolate peanut clusters.

californiagirl2012

mehreen_xo wrote: »

Sooo I've read a LOT of Internet woo in the past and have believe a lot of it for a while till I got onto mfp and was totally taken aback!

There's one thing I just cannot seem to get my head around is that you can eat literally ANYTHING as long as you're in a deficit. I'm someone who absolutely lovessssss chocolate and feel like I need a bit every day. I'm so scared to save enough calories for a chocolate bar and have one every day. I feel like I'd gain sooo much weight!
Please someone tell me they have something bad everyday and have lost weight!!

Absolutely, Yes, it's true. But realize that fat loss is about the calorie deficit --- But PERFORMANCE and feeling good is about eating healthy and balanced protein/fat/carbs and fiber and nutrients - FOR SURE! If you want sustainability, go with mostly healthy and the macros MFP recommends is a great place to start!

thewindandthework

You can lose weight just fine while eating whatever the heck you want, as long as you're not exceeding your calorie goal.

Nutrition is a whole other ballgame, of course, but just for weight loss? Pizza and ice cream and beer and whatever strikes your fancy! I've lost almost 60 pounds so far, and haven't cut a single thing out of my diet.

livingleanlivingclean

I don't eat bad food on any day - life is too short to eat food I don't enjoy. I guess our view on bad food is different.

Chocolate is delicious, and won't make you gain weight unless eating it means you're over maintenance calories every day.

macchiatto

I have something sweet almost every day. I'm at maintenance now but I did this for weight loss as well. It's rarely a full chocolate bar though; to me it just wouldn't be worth the calories and I've discovered having a lot of sugar tends to trigger my reflux. What works for me is a smaller serving of high quality dark chocolate (I find it pretty satisfying and it doesn't trigger cravings for me), Halo Top or Carb Smart ice cream, or something else along those lines. Sometimes I do have a regular dessert, especially if it's a special occasion.

LonniJay

I previously lost 70 lbs eating pancakes on the weekends and enjoying a piece of candy almost every day. I still usually have something sweet daily and have been consistently losing since March. Just keep the portions small and don't go crazy. Good luck with your weight loss goals!

WendyLeigh1119

I eat 3 servings (1.5 cups) of full fat chocolate peanut butter ice cream daily. If not that, I have a brownie with a glass of milk. I had Taco Bell for dinner twice this week. I was 172.5 lbs on March 15th and I'm not at my goal yet... but I'm at 144 lbs today (aiming for about 135lbs or thereabouts). So YES. Eat what you want. This pic is from today (pardon the no make up look).

bbell1985

Sure. Eat a chocolate bar everyday. I personally could NOT because I'd need those calories to go toward something that fills me up. But we are all different.

AllOutof_Bubblegum

mehreen_xo wrote: »

Sooo I've read a LOT of Internet woo in the past and have believe a lot of it for a while till I got onto mfp and was totally taken aback!

There's one thing I just cannot seem to get my head around is that you can eat literally ANYTHING as long as you're in a deficit. I'm someone who absolutely lovessssss chocolate and feel like I need a bit every day. I'm so scared to save enough calories for a chocolate bar and have one every day. I feel like I'd gain sooo much weight!
Please someone tell me they have something bad everyday and have lost weight!!

The only "bad" food you can eat is the food that's over your calorie goal.

PaulaWallaDingDong

Chocolate isn't bad. Chocolate is your friend. If you think it's taking too many calories away from more filling, nutritious foods, you could try half a bar a day, fun-sized chocolates, or try having it less frequently. But it's up to you, and no, chocolate won't make you gain weight if you're within your calorie goal.

momofamadhouse

I've lost 115 pounds and I haven't given up anything. In fact, I had a whopper meal for dinner and I still didn't break my deficit. It's all about moderation!

Bann554

You can still be in your calorie goal and be unhealthy. It's not just about losing weight, it's about being healthy. Skinny people have diabetes, high cholesterol, etc. Make your goal eating healthy. Get your blood tested every 3 months, if possible. That'll tell the story as well as checking your fat mass, muscle, etc. Good luck on your journey. Choose health first!

bbell1985

Bann554 wrote: »

You can still be in your calorie goal and be unhealthy. It's not just about losing weight, it's about being healthy. Skinny people have diabetes, high cholesterol, etc. Make your goal eating healthy. Get your blood tested every 3 months, if possible. That'll tell the story as well as checking your fat mass, muscle, etc. Good luck on your journey. Choose health first!

You can also still eat a candy bar here and there and be healthy.

WendyLeigh1119

In all seriousness... unless a person is already obese, over 50, and/or having health problems, "getting your blood tested every 3 months" sounds like some sort of obsessive disorder (and having OCD myself... I'm not mocking it). Once per year or 2? That I can see.

Christine_72

I have dessert every single night, the calories in them clock in quite a bit higher than a chocolate bar. The only difference is, my dessert concoctions are much higher volume and better macros (for me) than a snickers etc bar.

Shana67

Vodka. Every single day. Have lost 40 lbs

inertiastrength

I haven't had a taboo diet food every single day but I have them often enough. It doesn't matter for weight loss, truly. I do, however, get most of my calories from whole foods because from a common sense perspective it makes more sense to me to include foods with fibre, vitamins and minerals etc. The difference being I don't at all feel guilty or like I've failed if I have something like cake or pizza. I need to be able to consolidate my goals, the food I eat to reach those goals and life. You'll be fine

arrghmatey1

WendyLeigh1119 wrote: »

In all seriousness... unless a person is already obese, over 50, and/or having health problems, "getting your blood tested every 3 months" sounds like some sort of obsessive disorder (and having OCD myself... I'm not mocking it). Once per year or 2? That I can see.

I felt that way under fifty. Though I carried more weight than I should have my blood sugar was always good. I had a job with lots of activity and life was good. The self assuredness and smugness of youth pass and the seeds which were sown then sprout later.

Our bodies were never designed for the highly processed diets that most of us consume and we fight back all these issues until time and lifestyle changes catch up to us.

In today's modern world there really isn't any excuse not to have the basic health tools in our own home. There certainly inexpensive enough.

A weekly blood sugar test and a blood pressure reading goes along way when it comes to preventative medicine.

It also helps with regulating your diet.

To much sodium and pressure goes up.

Keeping blood sugars low increases your weight loss potential.

Imagine going to your employers health screening and only worrying about what kind of post interview snacks they will be offering

WendyLeigh1119

I'm 36 years old and have PCOS, GERD, Insomnia, and OCD. So I'm aware of how important a healthy diet and exercise are. And I definitely have no illusions of thinking I'm impervious to health conditions. I just think obsessing about them is unhealthy and unnecessary.

I never suggested OP should live on junk food. I'm not sure where you got that idea. I DID say if a person wants ice cream everyday... they should have it. And I absolutely believe that.

I take Metformin, Spironolactone, Gapapentin, Lorazepam, Nexium, and Belsomra. And I still only see my doctor 2x per year for a "med check" (ie: reaffirm I'm good with my meds verbally) and blood work 1x per year.

The amount of testing and checking and measuring you're suggesting is incredibly high for a person not suffering a debilitating disease. I understand that you don't agree... but I've never heard of someone in average health using such extreme measures, that's all.

namelesshere

You can eat whatever you want within your calorie goal. However, does that mean you should? I have found to get my chocolate in, I eat 3 hersheys kisses (for about 60 cal) or a tbls of semisweet chocolate chips. Usually I do not need a whole chocolate bar to satisfy the craving. It is all about balance.

paperpudding

I am over 50.
But I have no health concerns other than hypothyroidism controlled on thyroxine supplements.

I do not check my blood pressure or blood sugar at home and I have 6 monthly thyroid blood levels and 2 yearly routine blood tests checking glucose, chloesterol etc.

I also work in a medical centre - our standard recomendation for people with stable chronic disease, eg diabetes, is 6 monthly testing.

Testing a healthy individual every 3 months is very OTT.

mehreen_xo

Thank you guys sooo much!! Ok I really do believe it now - it's all about moderation and you just have to fit it around your calorie goal and you can still lose weight. Oh and guys I didn't mean like a 250 cal chocolate bar because that isn't worth it! I just meant a small size one worth about 80-100 cals. Most of my calories would come from whole nutritious foods. And congrats on some of your weight losses, absolutely awesome! &Wow I don't have to call chocolate a bad food anymore, damn I love this community

JeromeBarry1

JeromeBarry1 wrote: »

Now that you've got me thinking of it, I've got 1000+ calories left from exercise and after I finish this bowl of ice cream with caramel syrup I think I'll go up there and get some chocolate peanut clusters.

Of course I can't leave that yesterday and not tell you what happened. After eating those sweets I consumed some fried potatoes and a banana before going to bed with 500+ calories remaining. This morning my weight is 1.4 lb less than yesterday morning.

About that exercise, though. I logged 84 minutes of mowing lawn and 104 minutes of bicycling. It was warm enough to be less than comfortable. My butt hurts. This isn't all only candy and nuts.

missh1967

mehreen_xo wrote: »

Sooo I've read a LOT of Internet woo in the past and have believe a lot of it for a while till I got onto mfp and was totally taken aback!

There's one thing I just cannot seem to get my head around is that you can eat literally ANYTHING as long as you're in a deficit. I'm someone who absolutely lovessssss chocolate and feel like I need a bit every day. I'm so scared to save enough calories for a chocolate bar and have one every day. I feel like I'd gain sooo much weight!
Please someone tell me they have something bad everyday and have lost weight!!

I also used to believe that a person had to eat "clean," or eat a "wholesome" diet of unprocessed foods in order to lose weight (in addition to being in a deficit). But then I said, "Eff it, I'm going to eat those things I really like, but I will not eat them mindlessly; I will fit them into my calorie budget."

Miracle of miracles, I was still able to lose weight. It's not a myth.


Also, this:

grmrsan wrote: »

You can definitely eat chocolate cake and not gain weight, as long as you stay under your calorie budget. However, keep in mind that losing weight and staying healthy are not necessarily the same thing. If you budget too many calories towards the cake, you are taking from other healthier and more filling choices. This can cause you to be hungry sooner, and over time feel lousy.
Absolutely budget for that yummy slice of cake, but make sure you're adding in the healthier and more filling stuff first.

LadyRaeB

Perhaps you could "earn" your "bad" foods by going to the gym. Work out and burn 300 calories so you feel justified eating a 150 calorie chocolate bar. You'd still have a calorie deficiency and you wouldn't be cutting into your normal healthy diet to do it

estherdragonbat

I don't have dessert daily necessarily, but weekly yes. If I know I'm going to a social event, I plan for indulgences. What I find is that I'm more likely to make a high-calorie meal fit (and I'm not talking about drowned in sauce or shallow-fried; more like a hearty vegetable stew with chickpeas, green peas, and potatoes over rice with 1 tbsp oil covering four servings) and let the rest of the meal fall where it may within my calories.

I also make a lot of low-calorie desserts nowadays. Green tea granita is less than 90 calories to the half-cup. Meringue cookies are about 30. I've done chocolate truffles at 75-80 apiece.

I do exercise daily and eat back half my calories as well.

As of yesterday, I've dropped just over 68 lbs.