Too smart to lose weight?

bmeadows380

kommodevaran wrote: »

lizzyfit2 wrote: »

It's not just counting calories and recording them. Its dividing up the calories into the best proportions, ie: carbs, fats, proteins, etc.
A 1500 calorie a day diet wont do squat if its mainly carbs and fats.

You don't have to find a "best" macro split. MFP's default has 20% protein, and that works for lots of people.

What do you mean by "A 1500 calorie a day diet wont do squat [...]"?

Moderation, and proportions. It really does work..

Yes, it does.

agreed. I've been eating somewhere close to 50% carbs for a year and dropped 100 lbs by simply sticking to a deficit - no particular macro split required.

ahoy_m8

"Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried." -- G.K. Chesterson
Replace "Christianity" with "calorie counting," or any behavior change really, and I think the idea translates.

Considering most of America (by a significant margin) is overweight, I imagine almost everyone wants to consume more than needed to maintain a healthy weight. I personally want to consume more than I need to maintain. Evidently, the majority of us chooses to eat what we want. A minority chooses eating enough to maintain even though it's less than we want. Why? Personally, I'm persuaded by the present reward vs. the future reward explanation. People don't prioritize future reward. Self-discipline works but it takes time and effort to develop, so it's a future reward.

Also agree with comments upthread about online tools changing the game. I, too, had a dog eared calorie counter and notepad. But tracking when making a meal for five people.... with an old analog kitchen scale ... that doesn't register the weight of a tablespoon of oil, gives the same pot different weights each time, only goes to 1 lb, or (horrors) lacks a tare/negative number function? Truly, it WAS easier to have a rules based program with "free" and "forbidden" foods. It was much harder to track accurately. All my bananas were "small."

girlwithcurls2

cmriverside wrote: »

mph323 wrote: »

Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »

cmriverside wrote: »

I knew it was calories calories calories decades ago.

Until the internet, free online food tracking, and a food scale I just had a hard time calculating...

This site is priceless for the knowledge and ease of use.

Seriously. I had a dog eared Almanac with its 20 pages devoted to calorie counts for food. Calorie counting is so much easier now.

Right? And a notebook to keep track of the calories that you carried with you at all times.

It does take some time to learn to use the tool, but once you do it's like angels singing.

QFT. Love this

WillingtoLose1001984

jrulo16 wrote: »

People are always looking for either quick fixes or a “scientific” reason why they are not to blame for their lack of self control.

I don't agree with that. I think people are too stringent on themselves when they try to lose weight so fail because if that. Using my gamin and adding back some of my burned calories helps so much. I think many medications contribute to weight gain as well because they make you ravenous, like some psych meds or birth control.