We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

COUNTING CALORIES IS NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE...

Debbjones
Debbjones Posts: 278 Member
edited February 10 in Health and Weight Loss
This is what I have been saying all along... "Calorie count on food labels may be misleading consumers"

http://news.msn.com/science-technology/calorie-count-on-food-labels-may-be-misleading-consumers

People say "you are eating too few calories, you will go into starvation mode". Sage advice to some... but not all!

I think we have all lost sight of the fact that the premise of counting calories IS NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE. Regardless of whether you eat prepackaged, processed, labeled food or fresh food... the numbers for the calories must come from somewhere! These numbers are an approximate and have so many variables... to such a degree where even if you weigh your food there are variables. When it comes to nutritional labels on packaged food, the Federal Government allows for a variance in the nutritional information provided.

Yes, counting calories is an important part of my daily regimen, but everyone is different. I am a believer that the best route to sustained weight loss and improved health is to find what works for you. After spending two thirds of my life overweight/obese I found what works for me is a daily routine of food tracking/logging, calorie deficit and increased activity.

How about you... what works for you? :smile:

Replies

  • anthony438
    anthony438 Posts: 578 Member
    WOW, I knew they were allowed to be off, but by 20-frickin-percent?!?!? :noway:
  • LINIA
    LINIA Posts: 1,159 Member
    In general it is safe to day that we Underestimate the calories we have eaten and Overestimate the calories we have burned.

    This is true for the majority of people, you may not get this impression very much here on MFP, but remember, many people give advice as if one way ( their way) is the only answer.

    My opinion is to do what works best for you, find an exercise or fitness program that you truly enjoy--- figure out how many calories you need daily---then Adjust, adjust for age, adjust for height, use any factors that apply to you.

    But, if you are overweight and need to trim pounds, be careful of your daily calories; a Deficit must be created to lose weight.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories