Has anybody lost weight by just setting one goal: eating less calories then you burn?

mjcongleton
mjcongleton Posts: 9 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm on day 39 of what I'm calling the "worlds slowest diet" I only have one goal: To eat less calories then I burn each day. I've reached my goal 39 days in a row now.

My TDEE is about 1870 so I try to eat around that number, sometimes forcing food into my system so I'm not too low. But on days when I want a bit more, or know I have something going on for a certain meal I'll just plan to make sure I stay under my total calories burned for the day.

By doing this I'm finding that I'm eating better overall, and even on a 'binge' day I'm still net negative 100 calories or so. The process gives me an opportunity to practice better habits while still making my goal on days I eat poorly or eat too much.

Anybody have success taking this less rigid approach? I am losing weight, albeit a bit slowly.

Replies

  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    Sounds good to me, maintaining your weight loss will be easy for you.
  • Blythmag
    Blythmag Posts: 252 Member
    Everyone has "their" gosl, i chose to slowly lose weight it works for me.

    Patience ....big word when dieting
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    mjcongleton wrote: »
    I'm on day 39 of what I'm calling the "worlds slowest diet" I only have one goal: To eat less calories then I burn each day. I've reached my goal 39 days in a row now.

    My TDEE is about 1870 so I try to eat around that number, sometimes forcing food into my system so I'm not too low. But on days when I want a bit more, or know I have something going on for a certain meal I'll just plan to make sure I stay under my total calories burned for the day.

    By doing this I'm finding that I'm eating better overall, and even on a 'binge' day I'm still net negative 100 calories or so. The process gives me an opportunity to practice better habits while still making my goal on days I eat poorly or eat too much.

    Anybody have success taking this less rigid approach? I am losing weight, albeit a bit slowly.

    Hell yeah, that was my whole plan, and how I lost 80lbs and reached my goal weight. Now I've kept it off 2 years 7 months by staying AT my maintenance calorie limit.

    All the rest about "diet" is personal preference.

    As you get closer to goal, accuracy in logging takes a very important part, and the longer you've been in a deficit, the more important it is to have maintenance breaks, but you've got the most important part spot on.
  • estherdragonbat
    estherdragonbat Posts: 5,283 Member
    Yup! Along the way I started paying more attention to protein and iron, and keeping desserts to 200 calories, but that's been experimentation to find out what's the easiest way to stick to it.
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
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    I think the point the OP is making is, that if you're over your calorie limit then none of those diets work, and counting calories correctly is a good way of taking the guesswork out of "dieting".

    None of those diets automatically create a calorie deficit just by eating that way.
  • VUA21
    VUA21 Posts: 2,072 Member
    So far I'm down about 200lbs by just eating less. Over time I've developed healthier eating habits, but never felt deprived because I never gave up any foods. Much less stressful.
  • Deviette
    Deviette Posts: 978 Member
    Pretty much yes. That's how my weight loss has progressed.

    I have my overall goals, but my true goals are to be in deficit. Most days I make it, occasionally I'm a little bit over, but week on week I'm always at a deficit, even if it is only 200kcals for the week. And the weight is slowly coming off. Some weeks significantly less than others, but it's coming off.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
    Has anybody lost weight by just setting one goal: eating less calories then you burn?


    Isn't that the essence of everyone's approach?

    yes, though a lot of people don't realise it.
  • krich0502
    krich0502 Posts: 63 Member
    When I stopped drinking soda only, I lost about 15lbs, and I hadn’t made any other changes to my diet. I wasn’t even counting calories back then.
  • workinonit1956
    workinonit1956 Posts: 1,043 Member
    Yes, that is exactly what I did. Just day after day of making sure I was in a caloric deficit. Not magic, not glamorous but it works! It’s definitely slow but in the long run it’s the best way, in my opinion. I’m down 43 pounds since January.
  • arcadiasailor
    arcadiasailor Posts: 6 Member
    krich0502 wrote: »
    When I stopped drinking soda only, I lost about 15lbs, and I hadn’t made any other changes to my diet. I wasn’t even counting calories back then.

    That was a big part of when I lost weight in my 20s. The look how many calories I’m consuming with soda and iced tea. I also stopped eating fast food and brought lunch.

    It came back over the time but I had to really log and hop on the stationary bike because I can’t move around at work.

    I shudder to think how worse I be if I still drank full cal soda and Snapple all the time.


  • AmyC2288
    AmyC2288 Posts: 386 Member
    Deviette wrote: »
    Pretty much yes. That's how my weight loss has progressed.

    I have my overall goals, but my true goals are to be in deficit. Most days I make it, occasionally I'm a little bit over, but week on week I'm always at a deficit, even if it is only 200kcals for the week. And the weight is slowly coming off. Some weeks significantly less than others, but it's coming off.

    Exactly this! ^
  • AmyC2288
    AmyC2288 Posts: 386 Member
    Caralarma wrote: »
    Runaroundafieldx2 wrote: »
    The only thing I don't agree with is the forcing food part. It is fine to eat a little bit less sometimes

    I agree with you! I often see people on these forums talking about forcing themselves to eat more if they are under their goal and I dont get it. I mean yes you should aim for your calorie goal but if you happen to be under it, why not see that as a bonus? I do it all the time and it also allows me to eat more on other days where I do happen to be hungrier

    I agree with this- the annoying part though is that MFP won't let you log a day that they consider is "too low" and then it won't count towards my overall weekly totals (which is how I track). Is there a way around this?
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    AmyC2288 wrote: »
    Caralarma wrote: »
    Runaroundafieldx2 wrote: »
    The only thing I don't agree with is the forcing food part. It is fine to eat a little bit less sometimes

    I agree with you! I often see people on these forums talking about forcing themselves to eat more if they are under their goal and I dont get it. I mean yes you should aim for your calorie goal but if you happen to be under it, why not see that as a bonus? I do it all the time and it also allows me to eat more on other days where I do happen to be hungrier

    I agree with this- the annoying part though is that MFP won't let you log a day that they consider is "too low" and then it won't count towards my overall weekly totals (which is how I track). Is there a way around this?

    it logs it, it just doesn't do a notification on your feed.
  • AmyC2288
    AmyC2288 Posts: 386 Member
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    AmyC2288 wrote: »
    Caralarma wrote: »
    Runaroundafieldx2 wrote: »
    The only thing I don't agree with is the forcing food part. It is fine to eat a little bit less sometimes

    I agree with you! I often see people on these forums talking about forcing themselves to eat more if they are under their goal and I dont get it. I mean yes you should aim for your calorie goal but if you happen to be under it, why not see that as a bonus? I do it all the time and it also allows me to eat more on other days where I do happen to be hungrier

    I agree with this- the annoying part though is that MFP won't let you log a day that they consider is "too low" and then it won't count towards my overall weekly totals (which is how I track). Is there a way around this?

    it logs it, it just doesn't do a notification on your feed.

    Yay! Didn't realize this- Thanks!
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
    Has anybody lost weight by just setting one goal: eating less calories then you burn?


    Isn't that the essence of everyone's approach?

    But most people don't realize that. They think hitting their macros, eating clean, avoiding junk, etc etc is an essential part of the plan. I took the OP to be another, "can you really eat whatever you want or do you have to do a specific diet" post.

    OP, I started just counting calories while trying to eat a generally balanced diet, but I didn't cut out anything. Over time I found that I was often low on protein and fiber, and on those days I was obviously hungrier. So I started watching calories, protein, and fiber. Because I'm fairly small and didn't have much weight to lose, I aimed for a 250 cal deficit but often ended up more like a 150 cal deficit, so I lost around 1-2 lbs per month. Super slow but I'm naturally patient and it meant I didn't have to eat a "diet" that I would ditch when I got to goal weight.

    If you become more comfortable and confident, you may be able to get to a point where you can aim for another 100 cals lower and not worry about days of not eating enough to stay consistent. But if you've found a plan that keeps you in control and you can stick with it for the long haul, that's awesome. Good luck!
  • krich0502
    krich0502 Posts: 63 Member
    arcadiasailor wrote: »
    krich0502 wrote: »
    When I stopped drinking soda only, I lost about 15lbs, and I hadn’t made any other changes to my diet. I wasn’t even counting calories back then.

    That was a big part of when I lost weight in my 20s. The look how many calories I’m consuming with soda and iced tea. I also stopped eating fast food and brought lunch.

    It came back over the time but I had to really log and hop on the stationary bike because I can’t move around at work.

    I shudder to think how worse I be if I still drank full cal soda and Snapple all the time.


    Right, it’s shocking how much that drink can add. Water please ☺️

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