Who eats what they want (within a certain calorie deficit of course), and still looses?

mbaker566

oh a lady on a fb group, when she knows she's going to cheesecake factory, plans what she is going to eat and runs accordingly

estherdragonbat

Dropped 103 lbs that way!

Now, I have made some modifications to my eating habits:

1) Bakery desserts are strictly special occasion.
2) Keep homemade dessert to 200 calories or fewer per serving
3) Make a real effort to hit protein and iron targets—I've discovered I feel a lot less hungry when the protein is higher. I let the rest fall where it falls, which is generally right around the default carb target and lower (not low) fat.
4) I don't eat out very much, but when I do, I go for options on the menu that are relatively easy to find in the database and come up with a reasonable guesstimate. (There are a couple of dozen entries for a slice of cheese pizza and most of them are in the neighborhood of 220-350 calories; I look for one around 285 and call it a day. OTOH, unless the pasta dish is something like canneloni, I usually don't order it because the restaurant I go to has large portions, it's pretty hard to guesstimate the sauce when it's all mixed up with the noodles, and pesto and cream sauces can run up to some pretty high calorie numbers.)

But my diary has plenty of entries for desserts, sweet and/or salty snacks, etc. Just carefully-measured portions!

jjpptt2

I do, kinda. Realistically, I can't just eat *whatever I want*, even in moderation. The macros would be way off and the volume of food would be way to small for me to be remotely happy.

So I try to balance foods I mostly want with foods I kinda want. Occasionally I can make room for something I REALLY want, but my intake/goal is pretty low right now, so that's harder to do.

fr33sia12

I eat whatever I want, just what I want isn't pie and chips and sweets and cake and pizza. I love eating mostly healthy, unprocessed foods. If I ate what I used to eat before losing weight, just smaller portions, I would be hungry a lot as I wouldn't get much food for my calories. Plus I'd probably have a few health problems like high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

olyamhc

Generally, I'd eat what I want. I don't eat foods that I don't like or that aren't tasty to me. Luckily, I love all sorts of veggies, whole grains, beans. Some sweets that I've gained weight with, I stopped buying, because I wouldn't get satisfied with the tiny portion size that I could fit into my 1200 calories and it would likely trigger the cravings once again (raisin challah, for example). If I want sweets, I have an individual portion of a dark chocolate or hazelnuts or roasted pumpkin seeds. I lost 25lbs in about 4 months eating this way. It's about having a healthy mindset...otherwise the "diet" will fail if you feel too restricted.

mazcor536

I eat anything and everything. Currently chowing down 274 calories of white chocolate as I type (to illustrate my point)! If it fits my calories, I don’t even hesitate. I’ve lost 50lb so far.

azironasun

ndargy1977 wrote: »

Who eats what they want (within a certain calorie deficit of course), and still looses?

I do.
I eat the food I like and have lost over 75# with about 25# to go.
The changes I've made are: practicing CICO, eating 90% meals 'prepared at home' including packed lunches, portion control, weighing and measuring, eliminating junk food from the house (doughnuts, chips, pretzels, etc.), drinking more water, upped my caffeine (coffee) intake, eat more protein, analyze restaurant menus for lower calorie options, and briskly walk four times a week.

Some days are better than others, but I start each day with a healthy breakfast and a positive attitude.

sarahlifts

I want to have pizza and cake from magnolia with a venti white chocolate mocha that's about 3500 calories and I think I'm underestimating.

I do not eat what I want I eat what my body needs and I lose weight.

I like the food I eat. but I Love cake and used to eat it every day. I used to have Venti white chocolate mochas with whip daily and what is life with out pizza? am I right?!

what is more important to me than eating what I want is being able to climb stairs, getting up off the toilet on my own, fitting into clothing in a regular store, loving the way I look and feel, and being strong.

I have cake for special occasions that celebrate ME and I have pizza sometimes, I NEVER have a Venti white chocolate mocha drinking that many calories is never worth it.

estherdragonbat

Oh, 100%, there are things I've stopped eating because I don't think they're worth it. But for me, psychologically, there is a difference between, "I can't afford to have enough of [food I love] to make it worthwhile having it," and "I can't have this anymore". It's not just semantics. The first way makes it easier for me to abstain, the second makes me crave it. I think that quote about 'Stolen waters tasting sweet' comes from Proverbs, but basically, the more I think I CAN'T have something, the more I WANT it. When the thoughts are more, "I CAN have this, IF I'm willing to have a sliced hard egg in a tossed salad for supper tonight and walk a half hour longer..." You know what? I generally decide I'd rather have a bigger supper and I'll have the treat next time.

Saffyra

I don't eat clean or probably healthily but I've lost weight eating things i enjoy. It was kind of a big deal when I realized that if I took a bite of something that wasn't thrilling me, I didn't actually have to eat it... Before I would eat it because it was in front of me or because it was healthy or because I felt like I had to (not wanting to "waste" it or because someone handed me a dessert). I even leave food on my plate! I don't know why that was such a big hurdle but it was.

callsitlikeiseeit

ive lost 100+ eating whatever as long as it fits.

to lose, i have to weigh, but t maintan (which i did for 2 years, well there was a slight loss (10 pounds maybe) but not much, comparative to previous loss), i dont have to weigh and log. but thats me and 5 years of experience doing it

tess5036

I have what I want, and have lost more than 7 stone, I make sure it fits in with a deficit. However, as you go along, you will probably find that your tastes will change and you don't want the same things you used to.

KrazyKrissyy

I can't eat what I want and lose weight, unfortunately. Too many digestive issues. If/when I eat the wrong thing, it "accumulates" and my stomach swells and I'll rapidly gain weight (that wont leave until my bowels are completely cleared)...

Johnd2000

I haven’t cut anything from my diet. It wouldn’t be sustainable without the food that I like. I don’t eat anywhere near as much as I’d like to, but I can have enough of pretty much anything with a little bit of planning. In the few months I’ve used MFP, I’ve gone slightly over my daily calories about 3 or 4 times.

slossia

15 percent of my calories are for deserts everyday. That’s about 350 of my calories, and with that I’ve lost 15 lbs from October till today. I am only wanting to loose another 4 lbs then I’ll go into maintenance, and continue always to make sure I treat myself to something sweet and yummy everyday! You don’t need to deprive yourself to loose weight. Just eat less of everything you like. Of course you should track your calories to do this. Always and forever. I gained those lbs that I lost by not tracking my alcohol. I don’t drink much anymore, but if I did I learned my lesson about tracking alcohol

nooshi713

Nope, can't do it. "Whatever I want" is tiramisu, tortilla chips and guacamole, or a half a pizza which easily takes me over my calorie budget. I can only eat certain foods that I really like in small portions because they are calorie rich. I eat lots of healthy foods I like but they are not "whatever I want".

slw37

I eat "whatever" I want; just not as much as I want.

AnvilHead

I eat all the same things I've always eaten - just more of some things and less of others.

artnom

I try and eat healthy but I don't have any foods that are off limits.

Kst76

I do. I have no off limits,
I log my food, 90 % accuracy, and loses 1 to 2 pounds a week.

ceiswyn

Some foods are hard to fit within my calories, but if I really want them, I rearrange to fit. Others I eat a lot of; like my 200 kcal of chocolate every day. I like chocolate.

Over 200 lb lost, now within 14 of my goal.

brightresolve

I can eat anything I want some of the time, and some of what I want anytime, and stay within my calorie goals most of the time and not go over by much when I do go over. Just lost my 20 and slipped into maintenance.

Food is yum and pleasure and "hygge", that social comfort and cosy feeling. I too yo-yo'ed and could not reach my goal or maintain until I let myself enjoy that aspect, including my favorites.

Best of luck, you got this!

andreascjonsson

ive lost 18,5 kg eating mosly junk and alot of unhealthy food. Heck i had a day recently were i only ate snacks and cake during the whole day. So it definitly works.

JeromeBarry1

OP, Me, too. Sometimes, even on weekends.

workinonit1956

I do, allowing for my health issues I eat foods I enjoy including chocolate every day.

MelanieCN77

I eat the food I want but not in the volume I used to prefer.

1houndgal

When I am logging my foods and counting their calories I do lose weight.

But.. I recently learned when I travel I have to stay disciplined and track what I eat, to the point of logging my foods before I order my food. Even better to plan what I will order before I walk into the door of an eating establishment.

Not perfect, as some estimating may have to be done for some food places. And you are at the mercy of whoever cooks and measures your foods. But better to keep mindful of your food intake by logging.

TheFlyOnTheWall

slw37 wrote: »

I eat "whatever" I want; just not as much as I want.

ditto! the ONLY thing I've cut out is the Chicago Mix from Costco - I could scarf down half of one of those big bags without even blinking an eye - so that snack had to go! Other than that, I eat what I want, just less of it. So far so good - I'm down 25 lbs.

jenilla1

I've been successfully maintaining for 7 years after successfully losing. All of this while eating all my favorite foods within calorie limits. Why complicate things and punish yourself? Enjoy life!