Do you have to count fruit and veg in your calories

xx1chloe5xx
xx1chloe5xx Posts: 44 Member
edited January 2021 in Health and Weight Loss
So I followed everyone’s advice and changed my goals to 0.5lbs loss a week and I’m allowed 1570 calories a day which is brill for me. However do I have to count fruit and veg as part of this? When I was on my 1200 calories a day I would eat 1200 food but fruit and veg on top of that but not class it as my calorie intake because it’s healthy and on slimming world it says you can eat as much fruit and veg as you want and it won’t affect weight loss?. Just wondering will not counting the cals in fruit and veg cause weight gain because if I added the calories then maybe today I’ve actaully eat like 1800 cals. I’m also drinking 4 litres of water a day is this good and could help promote weight loss?
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Replies

  • xx1chloe5xx
    xx1chloe5xx Posts: 44 Member
    But coz there healthy do they matter @L1zardQueen
  • misslizzierod
    misslizzierod Posts: 57 Member
    Yes I count fruit and vegetables. The only vegetable I don’t count is spinach because I don’t eat so much spinach that it would impact my calories drastically. (Personal preference) Although fruits and veggies are usually high-volume, low-calorie foods, they def contain calories that add up. I also count olive oil and estimate it the best I can. That sucker creeps up and carries high calories and sometimes I forget!
  • Cyberbartender
    Cyberbartender Posts: 1,319 Member
    I dont count vegetables. They are free to me, and I get 2000 cal a day and still loose weight.
    But it works for me is not the same as it works for you :smile:
    So if you dont count them and dont loose anything, you get too much somewhere.

    But several dieticians and trainers I have used are in favor of this. Vegetables you can eat anything you want, especially the watery ones.
  • Speakeasy76
    Speakeasy76 Posts: 961 Member
    I would definitely count fruits and higher starch/sugar veggies like carrots, but I vary on whether or not I include them in my calorie count. I mostly track them so I get "credit" for their nutritional value.

    I believe the point in having some of those free foods is to encourage people to eat more of and fill up more on those kinds of foods. Obviously, a calorie from an apple or spinach is better for you than a protein bar, for example. Also, it's highly unlikely someone is going to gain weight or even not be able to lose weight from eating too much plain vegetables or fruit.
  • KatyP86
    KatyP86 Posts: 164 Member
    edited January 2021
    Okay but why did I think this was a joke at first until I read the post?! 😅

    But yea I count everything that has calories, doesn't matter good or bad.
  • lynn1
    lynn1 Posts: 20 Member
    All calories lol
  • Speakeasy76
    Speakeasy76 Posts: 961 Member
    edited January 2021
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    I would definitely count fruits and higher starch/sugar veggies like carrots, but I vary on whether or not I include them in my calorie count. I mostly track them so I get "credit" for their nutritional value.

    I believe the point in having some of those free foods is to encourage people to eat more of and fill up more on those kinds of foods. Obviously, a calorie from an apple or spinach is better for you than a protein bar, for example. Also, it's highly unlikely someone is going to gain weight or even not be able to lose weight from eating too much plain vegetables or fruit.

    To the bolded, technically not obvious, perhaps even not true.
    Probably the apple or spinach have fewer calories, but if you're consistently very short on protein, the protein bar might be better for you. (Spinach has some protein, but it's generally not very complete/balanced in terms of essential amino acids.)

    I should've compared fresh fruit or vegetables to something like fruit snacks. A fresh apple may have about the same amount of calories as a package of fruit snacks, but I'd hope most people would realize that an apple is the better nutritional choice. Also, while "protein" bars may technically be "better" for someone who needs more protein, they often have weird ingredients, sugar, and sometimes not even that much protein/calorie, depending on which one you buy. That's not to say I don't eat them from time to time out of convenience (and really, taste), and I do eat protein powder almost every day.

    The point I was trying to make is that most people aren't overweight because they eat too many fresh fruit and vegetables. If I were looking to reduce the number of calories in my diet in order to lose weight, most fresh fruit would probably be the 2nd to last, fresh vegetables with lower calories (lettuce, spinach, broccoli, etc.) would be the last. In fact, when I initially embarked on my weight loss journey I tried to add more of those (along with healthy protein and some healthy fats). When I set out to lose weight for the very last time, and then again to lose another 8 pounds, I chose to view eating to lose/maintain weight synonymous to eating for overall health and well-being, just with a bit of a calorie deficit. Is it possible that by not counting the vegetables and fruits into daily count, someone may not lose? Absolutely.

    To answer the OP"s original question, however, I do still count all fruits and vegetables (most of the time) in my daily counts, but I've never been religious about weighing/measuring them. In fact, I've never weighed anything (unless I need to for baking) and rarely measure (again, unless needed for a recipe), maybe just initially to get an idea or if I feel I need to be a bit more careful. I have a tendency to become obsessive with weight loss, and weighing/measuring everything for me stems that tendency. Having said that, I kept off the weight I lost in 2012. I then managed to lose another 8 pounds this spring/summer at age 44, and I wasn't overweight to being with. Granted, it was slow, but that was intentional. It really all comes down to personal preference and what works for you long term.
  • misslizzierod
    misslizzierod Posts: 57 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    Yes I count fruit and vegetables. The only vegetable I don’t count is spinach because I don’t eat so much spinach that it would impact my calories drastically. (Personal preference) Although fruits and veggies are usually high-volume, low-calorie foods, they def contain calories that add up. I also count olive oil and estimate it the best I can. That sucker creeps up and carries high calories and sometimes I forget!

    You're right, olive oil does have high calories - foods like this are especially important to track accurately.

    I'm confused as to why you need to ESTIMATE oil. I weigh it just like I do everything else. Perhaps you don't use a food scale?

    Well, I estimate when I make big batches of food which happens a lot with at home cooking. Of course I use the app recipe feature and scale. I often times dab a lot of excess oil regardless. I always estimate and assume I’m eating a little more oil than I’m tracking because since I’m in a calorie deficit I give myself a little room for error which can easily happen in big batch recipes and easily add up.

    Also, sometimes not all parts of your meal are cooked at the same time and I often times miss a few things! But yes for the most part, I don’t always estimate.

  • AshHeartsJesus
    AshHeartsJesus Posts: 460 Member
    edited January 2021
    How do you cook your veggies with butter, oil, sauces while the veggies may not pack a huge punch those will.. and I agree that if you are lacking in protien but way over on the fruit and veg itvcould stall weight loss. All in all it is still food with calories that matters in the long run.

    Lord Jesus guide 💙
  • musicfan68
    musicfan68 Posts: 1,143 Member
    Of course you need to count them. I love bananas and literally can eat 4 of them in one day, which is usually over 400 calories. (I quit buying them because it is one of the foods I can't control). Fruit especially has a lot of calories.