If you're NOT following a specific plan

pierinifitness

My guiding light is to be as full and satisfied as I can eating within by daily calories budget and have the fuel necessary to perform all my workouts which I generally design as challenging. With these guidelines, even if my allowance would allow, I don't drink any beverages besides water and black coffee, and don't eat any cakes, cookies, candies, chips, crackers, chocolate or ice cream. I avoid eating out but sometimes it's necessary.

gcminton

I watch calories first, protein second (making sure I get enough), carbs third (staying low-ish). I've found that I tend to stay hungry if most of my calories come from carbs, and prioritizing protein and fat works well for me.

That being said, I don't really avoid certain foods. If I want ice cream or chocolate or chips or whatever other kind of "junk", I'll have a small portion and fit it in to the overall goal.

whatalazyidiot

After many failed attempts, I learned that the only things I can focus on are calories and protein. Any time I try to focus on the other macros, I get obsessive, I try to cook things I don't enjoy, then it creates a binge/restrict cycle for me.

And I only track protein because the higher it is, the more satiated I am. I don't care about anything else.

I had to remove sodium completely from what I am tracking just because it kept stressing me out if I went over at all. I eat processed food because I hate to cook, so it happens often.

JeromeBarry1

I make it up as I go along. Some days I do and some days I don't care to make the effort to reach my protein goal. There's only so much tuna I can eat.

Danp

My philosophy is to do what I must and only what I must. I don't see the sense in complicating matters if I can avoid it. So I suppose you could call that my plan.

With that in mind my goal was to lose weight and to do that all I need to do is eat in a calorie deficit so that's what I did. I focused on what mattered which was tracking my calories and let everything else fall where it may. I lost 40kg (88lb) last year doing this and improved my health and wellbeing dramatically.

This year my goals are changing. I still plan to drop around another 20kg (44lb) but I've also started to shift my focus to also improving my fitness. Now that I have fitness and performance goals, what matters has also changed so I no doubt will begin to pay more attention to where those calories are coming from.

Mandi98U

I focus on just my calories, but I have noticed that I feel fuller/satisfied when I eat more protein so I strive to hit my protein goal everyday, I don’t worry about anything else though

Fflpnari

I do a IIFIYM approach. I eat what I want within my calories. I try to eat lots of veggies but have ice-cream every night. balance

tiffanyleilarsen

I try to keep my protein high because I'm anemic and it helps alleviate my symptoms. I also try to eliminate pure sugar foods like candy. And there are curtain things that I know I don't have the will power to eat in moderation like doughnuts and french bread.

nooshi713

I primarily watch calories because my main goal is weight loss.

To make sticking to my calorie budget possible, I try to choose foods that fill me up.

One goal of mine this year has been to eat more vegetables so I'm focusing on that too.

I naturally eat fresh and whole foods, hardly anything processed, although do eat an occasional treat. I don't care about limiting carbs or fat beyond how they affect my calorie budget.

Deviette

I watch calories and protein. Historically I've struggled with getting enough protein when losing, so I've started to keep an extra eye on it. Still not as high as I'd like, but it's much better than it was.

neugebauer52

Bread has always been my "trigger food" - I was able to eat 1 to 2 loaves of bread with lots and lots of nice, fatty stuff on top and in between the slices. So I have started to watch my daily carbs (i.e. bread) intake and try to stay under 100 gram a day. Over the last 9 months my macros are about 30 % carbs and 35 % each for fats and protein. Male, 80 kg to lose, MFP calculation 1750 calories a day, total weight to lose about 80 kg, so far I have lost about 27 kg.

crystalgulliver

I try to eat really healthy foods during the week within my calorie range - I don't see how eating whatever (regardless whether or not it's in your calorie range) is healthy!

Machka9

kimjschroeder wrote: »

Besides a calorie deficit, what else do you watch (or helps you lose easier)? I understand clean eating and eliminating processed food is best for you, but do you also watch your fat, carbs, or protein along with a calorie deficit?

I use a calorie deficit to lose weight.

I don't watch anything else ... unless you mean the TV while I'm riding my bicycle indoors, or nature and the road when I'm cycling outside or walking or running.

"Clean eating" ... what is that anyway? I prefer not to eat dirty food. I find that soil is too gritty for me and I'm allergic to mold.

"Processed food" ... isn't just about all food processed in some way?


And yes, I try to make sure my carb intake is reasonably high ... especially before cycling or running.

yirara

I just eat what I like an an amount that fits into my calorie allowance, makes me full and happy. Nothing else.

GottaBurnEmAll

I focus on calories, protein (it's satiating for me) and fat (it can tend to be too low for me), and nutrition. I try to get as much variety in my diet as possible, even though I tend to have some favorites that I eat almost daily (frozen raspberries in my oatmeal, I just can't quit you).

I focus on variety because I know that getting into ruts and then getting bored with eating tends to end with me going off the rails. It's also makes good sense from a nutrition stand-point.

Duck_Puddle

crystalgulliver wrote: »

I try to eat really healthy foods during the week within my calorie range - I don't see how eating whatever (regardless whether or not it's in your calorie range) is healthy!

I think “eating whatever” has a practical application here. Most everyone who is “eating whatever” is aiming for higher protein intake and foods that they find satiating (so they can stay within their calorie goal and not be hungry all the time). To do that AND fit into your calorie goal, that generally means eating lean proteins, lots of veggies, a fair amount of higher fiber foods (like beans/lentils), some fruit, things like Greek yogurt, maybe things like oatmeal.

The “eating whatever” comes in IF we have calories left, we will indulge in something that others deem “unhealthy”. And we will do so without a single iota of guilt or concern because we do meet our nutritional needs. We also recognize the importance of long-term dietary adherence. Fitting occasional treats in a diet that is largely comprised of “healthy” foods is a way we can maintain these eating habits for life.

MelanieCN77

Eating "clean" and eliminating processed foods would make it impossible for me to adhere to any calorie goal. It's a moderation thing, nothing wrong with a couple of cookies, but a whole tube is probably going to mean you'll go hungry later.

MelanieCN77

Also this thread shows you how many people approach their food variety... https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10717582/how-often-do-you-eat-sweets/p1

PAV8888

Duck_Puddle wrote: »

I think “eating whatever” has a practical application here. Most everyone who is “eating whatever” is aiming for higher protein intake and foods that they find satiating (so they can stay within their calorie goal and not be hungry all the time). To do that AND fit into your calorie goal, that generally means eating lean proteins, lots of veggies, a fair amount of higher fiber foods (like beans/lentils), some fruit, things like Greek yogurt, maybe things like oatmeal.

The “eating whatever” comes in IF we have calories left, we will indulge in something that others deem “unhealthy”. And we will do so without a single iota of guilt or concern because we do meet our nutritional needs. We also recognize the importance of long-term dietary adherence. Fitting occasional treats in a diet that is largely comprised of “healthy” foods is a way we can maintain these eating habits for life.

But shouldn't dieting be a bit painful with a dose of suffering to expiate past guilt?

... like you know the exact same subway sandwich each and every day whether you enjoy it or not? That way you can spend more than 1000 Cal each meal convinced you're eating healthy and dieting before you give up in disgust because you have to always be perfect and good?

You mean that 72 McDonald's vanilla cones (as well as 370+ mentions of the words tomato or vegetable, and 100+ mentions of the word chicken--46 referencing rotisserie breast, thigh, or leg, and 550+ mentions of the word yogurt--of which only a handful referenced frozen yogurt delivered on a stick) while losing 72.5lbs and moving all blood work from extremely problematic to mid-pack average during a year of logging on MFP is, like, POSSIBLE?

<YR1.MFP.SW=240.6; YR1.MFP.EW=168.1; CW=156, H=172.25cm, M, YR1.TDEE=3255, YR1.CAL.EAT=2560, DEF=695=21.35%=a touch too high esp at the tail end, AF=~1.9>MFP V.ACTIVE=1.8, YMMV>

earlnabby

kimjschroeder wrote: »

Besides a calorie deficit, what else do you watch (or helps you lose easier)? I understand clean eating and eliminating processed food is best for you, but do you also watch your fat, carbs, or protein along with a calorie deficit?

I am not following a specific plan. I am T2Dm so I do make sure my total carbs stay under 180 grams per day but I don't worry about what makes up those carbs. I hit my protein goal and let the others fall where they will (as long as the carbs are below the limit).

No food is off limits. I eat processed food but I prefer to make most of my meals because I enjoy it more if I made it myself. Enjoying what I eat makes me more satisfied and less likely to want more. I can also tweak it so it is higher in protein