Calories Vs. "healthy" food choices
spyro88
Posts: 472 Member
So, I have done a ton of exercise today (over 700 calories), and so I am approaching dinner time with over 1,200 calories left which I can eat.
I know there is debate about whether or not people eat back exercise calories, but let's say I plan to eat them all. For 1,200 calories I could order a large takeaway pizza from Domino's and eat half of it. That's ON TOP of the two meals I've already had today.
But, I know that if I do that, I will feel pretty bad and bloated in the morning.
Some people on here say there is no such thing as good or bad food, only calories in and out matter.
Do you think it matters WHAT you eat? Or do you literally just calorie count?
I know there is debate about whether or not people eat back exercise calories, but let's say I plan to eat them all. For 1,200 calories I could order a large takeaway pizza from Domino's and eat half of it. That's ON TOP of the two meals I've already had today.
But, I know that if I do that, I will feel pretty bad and bloated in the morning.
Some people on here say there is no such thing as good or bad food, only calories in and out matter.
Do you think it matters WHAT you eat? Or do you literally just calorie count?
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Replies
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What you eat matters for nutrition, energy & hunger levels, and general well being. Calories matter for weight loss.22
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So, I have done a ton of exercise today (over 700 calories), and so I am approaching dinner time with over 1,200 calories left which I can eat.
I know there is debate about whether or not people eat back exercise calories, but let's say I plan to eat them all. For 1,200 calories I could order a large takeaway pizza from Domino's and eat half of it. That's ON TOP of the two meals I've already had today.
But, I know that if I do that, I will feel pretty bad and bloated in the morning.
Some people on here say there is no such thing as good or bad food, only calories in and out matter.
Do you think it matters WHAT you eat? Or do you literally just calorie count?
Calories matter for weight loss. What you eat matters for energy levels, satiety, workout performance, general health, and dozens of other things. But it's less about good foods vs. bad and more about macros, micros, food volume, personal feelings, and so on. If a whole pizza makes you feel bad, then it might not be the best choice. That doesn't make the pizza a bad food, it just makes it an inappropriate choice for this particular situation. On the other hand, I had a whole pizza last night (Newman's Own spinach and white sauce, yum) and felt fine. It was an okay choice for me. That doesn't mean it's an okay choice for everyone. Pick and choose what you like to eat and what makes you feel best as long as you're hitting your calorie and nutrition goals as well.15 -
I don't believe in "good" or "bad" foods because I don't think you can judge without an understanding of the overall context of the diet. That said, any particular food (or quantity of food) that makes me feel bad and bloated in the morning would be something I would consider not good for me.
What you eat matters for nutrition and satiety so I consider those things when choosing food. But when it comes to weight loss, I just focus on calories. Fortunately, pizza fits into my diet on all three counts.8 -
So, I have done a ton of exercise today (over 700 calories), and so I am approaching dinner time with over 1,200 calories left which I can eat.
I know there is debate about whether or not people eat back exercise calories, but let's say I plan to eat them all. For 1,200 calories I could order a large takeaway pizza from Domino's and eat half of it. That's ON TOP of the two meals I've already had today.
But, I know that if I do that, I will feel pretty bad and bloated in the morning.
Some people on here say there is no such thing as good or bad food, only calories in and out matter.
Do you think it matters WHAT you eat? Or do you literally just calorie count?
It matters what you eat...but getting an appropriate amount of calories also matters...and really, you have to look at your diet as a whole. I eat a lot of solid, whole food nutrition...I also eat pizza from time to time...I also like to go to my favorite pub after some rock climbing and get some fish 'n chips on occasion...these things are immaterial to my diet on the whole.
Also, when I'm training for an endurance event, my calorie requirements exceed 3,000 daily...not likely to consistently get that in just eating a bunch of lean protein, veg, and whatnot...I typically have more of what people often refer to as "junk" when I'm actively training to keep up with my calorie requirements.
Also, I don't know why pizza always gets such a bad rap...it is calorie dense sure, but it isn't void of nutrition. We usually get a Greg's Special at our favorite local pizzeria and it is piled with veggies and protein.10 -
So, I have done a ton of exercise today (over 700 calories), and so I am approaching dinner time with over 1,200 calories left which I can eat.
I know there is debate about whether or not people eat back exercise calories, but let's say I plan to eat them all. For 1,200 calories I could order a large takeaway pizza from Domino's and eat half of it. That's ON TOP of the two meals I've already had today.
But, I know that if I do that, I will feel pretty bad and bloated in the morning.
Some people on here say there is no such thing as good or bad food, only calories in and out matter.
Do you think it matters WHAT you eat? Or do you literally just calorie count?
But that's not really what we say.
When we say there are no good or bad foods, we mean that in the universal sense. Pizza is not intrinsically "bad", but if you eat too much, or it makes you feel like crap, it's bad for YOU. Broccoli is a nutritious food, but it gives some people digestive problems, so it's bad for them. And if you ate nothing but broccoli all day, having a half a pizza might be a better choice than more broccoli.
No one says only calories in and out matters, they say only calories in and out matters FOR WEIGHT LOSS.
No one says it doesn't matter what you eat, they say what you eat doesn't matter FOR WEIGHT LOSS.
My primary goal is calories. My new secondary goal is to eat more fruits and veggies and increase the fiber in my diet. My in the background goal is to get enough protein.10 -
For just one meal? What eat will not matter unless it's poisonous or you have an allergy to it or something like that.
Overall, of course what you eat matters. Nutrition matters.2 -
One pizza won't noticeably matter over the long term. A diet of high-sodium, calorie dense, micro-nutrient poor foods will eventually kill you.
We drove through the Hot'n'Ready window at Little Caesar's last night and demolished a pizza between the two of us. I didn't eat at a deficit yesterday. The scale says I weigh two pounds more today than I did yesterday. That's because I ate three times as much sodium as I usually do and I didn't eat at a deficit (total calories for the day matched TDEE). That two pounds is water, pure and simple.
I'm 66 and, just as my parents did, developed high blood pressure in my 50s. A salty day like that just isn't good for me. A combination of genetics, obesity, and not limiting sodium in my youth means, to live long enough to enjoy retirement, I need to keep high sodium days to a minimum. Back to keeping it low through careful use of the diary and home cooking.5 -
What you eat matters for nutrition, energy & hunger levels, and general well being. Calories matter for weight loss.
This. I don't really think there are good foods and bad foods, just good diets and bad diets. Half a pizza in the context of an nutrient rich diet is not a bad thing as long as you've got the calories for it. But I would make doubly sure you've actually got the calories for it. More than 700 calories from one workout seems dubious.5 -
I don't label foods.
I control my weight by my calorie intake. Having a lower weight gives me good health markers (I have around 5 years of data that shows this). I've had great blood test results while eating the antitheses of a 'healthy' diet. I've had great blood test results while eating a very nutrient dense, 'healthy' diet.
For me personally-I focus first and foremost on my calorie intake. After that I aim to eat a balanced diet full of the foods I like. I eat a wide variety and love veggies just as much as I love pizza, (even more when they're together lol). One of the reasons why I've been so successful at this whole thing, is because I'm doing it in a way that's realistic and sustainable for me, for the long term.3 -
If you were eating healthy all week and crave something delicious on the weekend that you do not allow yourself during the week I don't see why not? You did exercise and don't obsess over it! It will drive you crazy. I actually like to during the week if I jut need to get my fix... I use two slices of whole grain bread and make a grilled cheese pizza with pepperoni with provolone cheese. It's sooo good and somewhat healthy with whole grains and calcium.1
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No one who tells you CICO means that its all you need to be healthy. It's all you need to lose weight. What you eat in a deficit doesn't matter to lose weight, but if you eat crap you'll feel like crap and can have resulting health issues.2
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You have choices not just in WHAT you eat (mmm, pizza!) but in HOW MUCH you eat (ugh, I can't believe I ate THAT MUCH PIZZA I don't feel so good).
You make choices (what foods, portion size) based on your priorities. Calorie content. Nutritional value. Bliss index (lookin' at you, pizza). Gastrointestinal sensitivity. Budget.
Your priorities are likely calibrated differently from any other person's. That said, I am vehemently against anyone giving any power to feelings of "virtue" (or "guilt") in their prioritization scheme. As long as I meet my nutritional goals for the day, there's no reason not to include some recreational foods in the plan.3 -
I'd eat the pizza... but then again, I had buffalo mac n cheese the last two nights for dinner...1
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VioletRojo wrote: »What you eat matters for nutrition, energy & hunger levels, and general well being. Calories matter for weight loss.
This. I don't really think there are good foods and bad foods, just good diets and bad diets. Half a pizza in the context of an nutrient rich diet is not a bad thing as long as you've got the calories for it. But I would make doubly sure you've actually got the calories for it. More than 700 calories from one workout seems dubious.
It wasn't one workout - was a couple of different things I did on a particularly active day. You are right though, thank you
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Unless you are allergic to something, there are no bad foods. You don't get bonus points for eating healthy foods once you've already hit your micros/macros. If you have the room for it in your day, eat it if you want it.
Eat at a calorie deficit to lose weight.
Eat a nutritious diet at a calorie deficit to lose weight and be healthy.
Eat a nutritious diet at a calorie deficit and incorporate exercize into your daily routing and lose fat, be healthy and look & feel better.0 -
Do you think it matters WHAT you eat? Or do you literally just calorie count?
Of course it matters what you eat, and no, I have never just calorie counted, personally.
But if you mean for weight loss, and satiety is not a problem, then no, it does not matter for that. I ate a lot of nutritious food getting fat, and still got fat, and plenty of people ignore nutrition and lose weight just fine.
I still think what you eat matters, if you phrase it that way.
If what you eat makes you feel bad, of course THAT matters too. I don't like feeling bloated or stuffed, for example.0 -
diannethegeek wrote: »So, I have done a ton of exercise today (over 700 calories), and so I am approaching dinner time with over 1,200 calories left which I can eat.
I know there is debate about whether or not people eat back exercise calories, but let's say I plan to eat them all. For 1,200 calories I could order a large takeaway pizza from Domino's and eat half of it. That's ON TOP of the two meals I've already had today.
But, I know that if I do that, I will feel pretty bad and bloated in the morning.
Some people on here say there is no such thing as good or bad food, only calories in and out matter.
Do you think it matters WHAT you eat? Or do you literally just calorie count?
Calories matter for weight loss. What you eat matters for energy levels, satiety, workout performance, general health, and dozens of other things. But it's less about good foods vs. bad and more about macros, micros, food volume, personal feelings, and so on. If a whole pizza makes you feel bad, then it might not be the best choice. That doesn't make the pizza a bad food, it just makes it an inappropriate choice for this particular situation. On the other hand, I had a whole pizza last night (Newman's Own spinach and white sauce, yum) and felt fine. It was an okay choice for me. That doesn't mean it's an okay choice for everyone. Pick and choose what you like to eat and what makes you feel best as long as you're hitting your calorie and nutrition goals as well.
Or in the particular amount of it you are eating. How about a slice or two of pizza along with some salad and veggies with some fruit as desert? I bet those one or two slices of pizza would not leave you feeling bloated. I cannot understand why it always has to be a whole pizza or a dozen donuts or whatever rather than just a slice or two, or one donut? Moderation is probably best expressed in moderation of the amount of something one eats. I am pretty sure if you ate 1200 calories of broccoli you would feel bloated from it as well.0
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