Myth or not a myth?

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Replies

  • nooshi713
    nooshi713 Posts: 4,877 Member
    NovusDies wrote: »
    nooshi713 wrote: »
    What you said is true but that is a misleading statement. You CAN in theory lose weight by eating whatever you want but it if whatever you want is only high calorie junk food then you will be unlikely to stick with your calorie budget.

    For me, one birthday tiramisu is over my daily budget. So I can eat that, but I can't eat any other food for the rest of the day. And that cake wont fill me up much. I can drink two of those large pina coladas at the bar and also be over my daily calorie budget not allowing for any other food the rest of the day.

    So when people say that you can eat whatever you want, they aren't lying necessarily but if you follow that advice and whatever you want is nothing but junk food, you will probably quickly realize that there aren't enough calories in a day to sustain that way of eating and keep you full/satisfied. Many people end up eating healthier and lower calorie foods because those foods keep them more full throughout the day. I do like healthy food in addition to unhealthy food. I'm still hungry but eating healthier tends to be more filling for me and stay within my calorie budget.

    I can't speak for the others but I assume there is quite a bit more to the OP's normal diet than fries, chocolate, pizza, or even "junk" food when I said she could eat whatever she wants. In case I was wrong I suggested she come back soon if she was having trouble with hunger for more assistance.

    There is no harm in starting from what she knows and fixing it as needed. It is sensible and it beats trying to figure out what "healthy" and "unhealthy" means.

    That may be true. I dont know exactly what her diet includes. I do know many people who only eat unhealthy and calorie dense foods. That is probably how they got fat in the first place. So for some people who only like those types of foods, and still want to be full, eating "whatever you want" probably won't work.
  • nooshi713
    nooshi713 Posts: 4,877 Member
    edited May 2018
    I suspect some newbies may see those statements "eat whatever you want", try a few days of eating whatever, inevitably NOT be able to stick to their calorie budget, give up when they don't lose weight quickly, and feel frustrated. I feel like those types of statements should come with an explanation about how those calorie dense foods probably won't be very filling.

    So for some people, they can try reducing portions of their normal foods, but may not be able to be full that way. They will probably end up having to change the types of food that they eat to maintain the calorie budget. Let's be real, it is hard for a lot of people to eat certain foods in moderation. That's probably why they are overweight. You CAN be overweight eating too much healthy food ( I am one of them) but it is much easier to overeat junk food.
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    edited May 2018
    cqbkaju wrote: »
    I think I understand your point of view, but from my perspective fries, chocolate, pizza = junk food
    Separating the items from "junk" in your post seems less than ideal to me.
    Eating what she WANTS is probably a big part of what got her here in the first place.

    Encouraging the behavior of "eat whatever she wants" may just reinforce making bad food choices.

    Learning to eat junk in moderation, say once a week, is a key to success.
    Learning to appreciate more healthy choices that you are not accustomed to -like salads- is also key.

    She needs to learn that food is fuel; not an emotional crutch or treat or anything like that.
    Choosing food because it "tastes good" instead of being a good choice needs to stop. For many people.

    Just my thoughts.

    I appreciate the fact that you state that it is from your perspective and not absolute fact.

    I would say though we don't know where "here" is for her. She may need to lose a lot or a few vanity pounds. I don't see a need to assume the worst about her food choices simply because she listed 3 examples of things she wants to continue eating.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    catzzm9768 wrote: »
    Hello!:), im starting my weight loss journey, just need help and guidance really, soo ive been googling soo much lately on what i can eat, and i came across you can eat whatever you like but dont go over your daily calorie, my calorie daily to loose weight is 1,200 so can i still eat fries, chocolate , pizza as long as i dont go over 1,200? Will i still loose weight? im not very active i will walk sometimes, plus i dont like healthy foods such as salads i hate them so id find it very hard.
    I will track my food on here before eating them.

    Thank you!

    ps - what exactly do you hate about salads? There are many different types of greens. I don't care for iceberg, but like most other lettuces, and this time of year am enjoying putting baby Swiss chard and kale from my garden in my salads (not to be confused with the mature leaves, which I prefer steamed or in smoothies). I can't stand raw tomatoes, and will wash my cutting board if it gets contaminated with raw tomato. But I like peppers (red bell over green), carrots (shaved or shredded, not chunks), cucumber, to list just ordinary salad veggies. And there are countless ways to have dressing.

    Some people have a reaction to raw fruits and veggies, but can eat them cooked. Tons of ways to cook veggies.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    cqbkaju wrote: »
    Is someone legit wooing every post out of spite or is it another doesnt know woo is bad thing...
    People are using it to mean they don't "agree" with a post. Have been for months now.
    They don't care what it is supposed to be used for. I was told so directly in a post.

    Woo had two opposite meanings when it was launched. Now it means "that you think an idea or approach is too good to be true". However, since many think it means "Woo Hoo!" I just ignore it.

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10570889/new-community-reaction-woo#latest
  • nooshi713
    nooshi713 Posts: 4,877 Member
    Before I have read some explanations of what " woo" means on here, I wouldnt have known it was a negative thing. My first thought was woo is good like an exclamation of excitement.
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    One slice of Papa John's pepperoni pizza on thin crust is 255 calories. That would fit into lunch or dinner for just about any calorie goal. Now that may not be the pizza you prefer and it may not be the quantity that you want, but I guarantee you that if OP wanted it, eating pizza daily would be something she could do and still have three meals a day. Would she possibly need to experiment to ensure she felt full and satisfied? Yes -- but then most of us have had to do that, it's part of being successful and counting calories. Would she eventually decide to have pizza less often because it required compromises she didn't feel like making all the time? Possibly. Again, that's something that has happened to some of us.

    I think the disconnect is between people saying "Yes, you can have foods like pizza regularly and still lose weight" and others hearing "Yes, you can eat as much pizza as you want and still lose weight." Nobody is saying that you can eat as much of any food you want and still lose weight.

    Right. Everything always falls under the umbrella of staying within the calorie deficit.

    I think a sustainable diet starts with the easiest approach even if it takes some time, education, and compromise to be successful. How many threads are created each week with demotivated OPs because they are trying live off of "diet" food? Some of them are already so far gone they are only here to complain before quitting. If the OP needs more help at least she has not been trying to force down salad for a week or two.
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