I am over-shooting calorie intake everyday

FatSlowTriathlete

Not true. If calorie count was the only thing, you could eat 1200 calories worth Snickers bars a day and lose weight and stay healthy. Calories are IMPORTANT because you need them to stay active and rebuild, and if you eat a LOT more than you should you'll gain weight. However, WHAT the calories are is far more important. It's not black and white, but if you think about it, it's common sense.

Incorrect. If you were in a calorie deficit by eating 1200 cals of Snickers bars, you would still lose weight.

Calorie deficit is all thats needed to lose weight. Doesn't matter where those calories come from, a calorie is a calorie. May not be the healthiest solution but you'll still lose weight.

jonnythan

It does not work,
It is NOT the amount of calories you eat ... it is the quality.

Haha. I wonder how I lost all my weight then, eating so much McDonald's and ice cream.

You are wrong, period, end of story. Science proves it over and over. There is no evidence for your claims.

FatSlowTriathlete

Not true. If calorie count was the only thing, you could eat 1200 calories worth Snickers bars a day and lose weight and stay healthy. Calories are IMPORTANT because you need them to stay active and rebuild, and if you eat a LOT more than you should you'll gain weight. However, WHAT the calories are is far more important. It's not black and white, but if you think about it, it's common sense.

Incorrect. If you were in a calorie deficit by eating 1200 cals of Snickers bars, you would still lose weight.

Calorie deficit is all thats needed to lose weight. Doesn't matter where those calories come from, a calorie is a calorie. May not be the healthiest solution but you'll still lose weight.

Wrong. So so so so very wrong. A calorie is NOT a calorie. 300 calories of spinach does NOT equal 300 calories of a Big Mac. Where the hell do you learn this stuff????

SueInAz

Not true. If calorie count was the only thing, you could eat 1200 calories worth Snickers bars a day and lose weight and stay healthy. Calories are IMPORTANT because you need them to stay active and rebuild, and if you eat a LOT more than you should you'll gain weight. However, WHAT the calories are is far more important. It's not black and white, but if you think about it, it's common sense.

Incorrect. If you were in a calorie deficit by eating 1200 cals of Snickers bars, you would still lose weight.

Calorie deficit is all thats needed to lose weight. Doesn't matter where those calories come from, a calorie is a calorie. May not be the healthiest solution but you'll still lose weight.

Wrong. So so so so very wrong. A calorie is NOT a calorie. 300 calories of spinach does NOT equal 300 calories of a Big Mac. Where the hell do you learn this stuff????

I hardly think this thread is the place to bicker over whether or not calories in/out is all it takes to lose weight. The OP needs assistance with overeating and portion control which is obviously her CURRENT problem. Once she gets that straightened out, she can decide if she needs to tweak her macros or clean up her eating.

Please take this little side argument somewhere else. It's not helping the person who has asked for help. It's only going to confuse her.

MakePeasNotWar

I find that a salad and/ or broth based soup at the start of each meal helps a lot with lowering calories through portion control. I get partially filled up on veggies and water, so that by the time I get my entree i am not so hungry.

Higher fibre also helps satiety, as does protein.

GoMizzou99

Simple answer - aim lower :-)

A little more protein might help you feel full, longer.

rexroars

..... everything in your diary looks so delicious haha I want to eat it all!

I think the best thing to do is work on modifying your recipes to substitute lower-calorie ingredients. It will probably take several tries to get it tasting really good but it's definitely doable!

zyxst

Not true. If calorie count was the only thing, you could eat 1200 calories worth Snickers bars a day and lose weight and stay healthy. Calories are IMPORTANT because you need them to stay active and rebuild, and if you eat a LOT more than you should you'll gain weight. However, WHAT the calories are is far more important. It's not black and white, but if you think about it, it's common sense.

Incorrect. If you were in a calorie deficit by eating 1200 cals of Snickers bars, you would still lose weight.

Calorie deficit is all thats needed to lose weight. Doesn't matter where those calories come from, a calorie is a calorie. May not be the healthiest solution but you'll still lose weight.

Wrong. So so so so very wrong. A calorie is NOT a calorie. 300 calories of spinach does NOT equal 300 calories of a Big Mac. Where the hell do you learn this stuff????

Dude, you need to learn the definition of "calorie" - it's the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water 1 degree Celsius. That's why 300 cals of spinach = 300 cals of Snickers. Those 300 calories both do the same thing - raise the temperature of water, or in this case, provide energy for the human body.

JoRocka

Wrong. So so so so very wrong. A calorie is NOT a calorie. 300 calories of spinach does NOT equal 300 calories of a Big Mac. Where the hell do you learn this stuff????

OMG yes it does.

300 calories = 300 calories.

granted what 300 calories of spinach and 300 calories of big mac and 300 calories of butter look completely different.

Much like people say a pound of muscle weighs more than a pound of fat.

no. A pound weighs a pound.
DENSITY matters.

quality of food matters because it HELPS you hit your calorie goal. Eating 1200 of snickers is what 5 snickers bars?

You can't make it several days on that. It is not sustainable. That doesn't mean you won't lose weight- but it's not sustainable because it's lacking in other things. But you would absolutely lose weight.

This is why the more specific you get with your lifting/body comp- the more important and specific your food stuff gets- every calorie must count- there is no room for higher calorie stuff when you are on a tight budget. Could you eat it? sure - but it makes doing what you need difficult.

For 90% of the people trying to do this- subbing out one salad for a candy bar is not a crisis. For someone who is tracking every half gram of rice- because they have a show coming- that snickers bar makes a difference.

But no- 300 calories is 300 frigging calories.

Man why is science so hard for people?

knra_grl

Weigh everything and start logging accurately, stop guessing so much.

Also, a quick glance looks like you're high on carbs and low on protein. Try incorporating more protein into your diet. It will help keep you from feeling so hungry, as well as help maintain lean body mass while on a caloric deficit.

Yes ... you get carbs from vegetables also so you need to count them

SueInAz

Man why is science so hard for people?

And why is "this is not the right thread for this discussion" so hard for others to understand?

ksuh999

Not true. If calorie count was the only thing, you could eat 1200 calories worth Snickers bars a day and lose weight and stay healthy. Calories are IMPORTANT because you need them to stay active and rebuild, and if you eat a LOT more than you should you'll gain weight. However, WHAT the calories are is far more important. It's not black and white, but if you think about it, it's common sense.

Incorrect. If you were in a calorie deficit by eating 1200 cals of Snickers bars, you would still lose weight.

Calorie deficit is all thats needed to lose weight. Doesn't matter where those calories come from, a calorie is a calorie. May not be the healthiest solution but you'll still lose weight.

Wrong. So so so so very wrong. A calorie is NOT a calorie. 300 calories of spinach does NOT equal 300 calories of a Big Mac. Where the hell do you learn this stuff????

In this universe, we obey the laws of thermodynamics!

jonnythan

Man why is science so hard for people?

And why is "this is not the right thread for this discussion" so hard for others to understand?

At what point were you appointed Deputy Chief of the Thread Police?

knra_grl

Use the recipe tool on MFP. You can save all of your recipes for quick entry next time and it will calculate the calories more accurately. Just selecting whatever random option comes closest to what your eating isn't going to work, even if you are weighing all of your food.

This is also very helpful and be honest about how many portions a recipe is. If you cook like me I start small and end up with a big pot full!!! I've measured recipes when they are done to be sure I am not consuming too large of a portion. If the calories look too high for a portion increase the portion amounts and freeze some if you have to.

JoRocka

Man why is science so hard for people?

And why is "this is not the right thread for this discussion" so hard for others to understand?

At what point were you appointed Deputy Chief of the Thread Police?

1.) this is the internet- this is what happens.

2.) understanding what calories actually MEAN- and how to utilize this tool to the best of your advantage is WILDLY important to someone who is struggling with going over their calorie content.

it's incredibly pertinent to know that 300 calories of spinach = 300 calories of big mac and whatever else. HOW you use that information is also important.

leaner426

I haven't had the chance to look at your food diary, but I can offer strategies for when others are eating. I can't eat gluten and it is all around, plus certain family members still try to push it in various forms. The best strategy is planning ahead. When you know you'll be around family and want to eat because they are decide on something you can eat that is consistent with your goals. You may be eating something different than they are but you will be eating. Find something that you can eat slowly and savor, like almonds and dried blueberries. If you eat one of each together and really taste what you're eating it will take you a while to go through them. Find things that are as satisfying to you - or that taste like junk food - but are better. One of my favorite recipes is to bake sliced sweet potatoes with sliced apples. You layer the two with just a tiny bit of sugar and butter in between (we're talking 1-2 pats of butter per 3 apples and 3 sweet potatoes) and lots of cinnamon. Its high in fiber and nutrients, will fill you up and it tastes like a dessert. Last, think about what is important to you and pay attention. Eat small portions of high calorie items, before you put it in your mouth ask yourself if it is out of hunger, or to be social. What is more important, losing the weight or participating with the crowd? Your mind is the greatest tool in this. Once you see why you're eating so much you can decide if that is more important than your goal. Focus on the conversations, not on the eating and controlling the eating gets easier. You can enjoy their company without eating, or with eating less or differently. Good luck.

soshiv

REPORT for today 1/16: I didn't fast whole day as I got negative publicity and discouragement but mostly because I was quite hungry. It felt really-really good that I could feel the hunger and not panic. I was able to really relish the food I finally ate (burrito). I am going to take this a day at a time. I am over-whelmed with the response and feel very *special* that so many people care and have responded. Some of you even wrote personal emails. Thanks a bunch!
One person suggested that I may be having compulsive eating disorder which is very accurate. I do have OCD. I had gotten handle over that and had lost 30lbs in 2010 and was able to maintain it till OCt 2013 when a stressful episode made me gain 10lbs and I wasn't able to lose it. I thought joining MFP and putting food intake will miraculously "cure" me.

All the input has helped me...it has encouraged me a lot.

The fasting was the one I implemented right away as it was most drastic and I think it has worked for today ( I feel really good about it). I will google it more and do more research on it. I will work on portion control, protein intake and more intense workouts. Water drinking is also big challenge but I will work on it.

One more thing I wanted to mention is I have very poor sleep pattern (allergies/sneeze attacks in night, middle age hormones). I stay away a lot at night. On a rare day I take valerian root to make my sleep better and it helps too. I have cut down on coffee almost completely in Jan 2013 but have relaxed it to sometimes (it has been exceptionally cold in Georgia this year) and do drink some watery sugar free tea all day (in lieu of water).

soshiv

On Calorie "controversy":

WW does "allow" its members to eat their 28 points which ever way the members choose BUT none of their leaders would actuallysuggest or recommend eating macdonalds or 12 snickers etc. No one can sustain on that kinda diet in LONG run. One may surely lose weight (calorie-in---calorie-out). Our bodies will give up too. We may be too exhausted, hungry if we eat 12 snickers or m&m or potato chips and may end up eating real food ON TOP OF THAT.

So lets be reasonable.

ANother thing of note: WW has zero points on fruits and vegetables (which I liked a lot). That was the reason I wasn't adding my salad in the MFP (which I do now).

Some of you commented that my food looked delicious. Well...one can definitely eat tons of indian junk food. e.g. Pani-puri, bhel, murukku, samosa, though a total delight on tongue, are completely JUNK (street) food.

Lastly I have aunt who is doctor here in Georgia. One day I was telling her how my grandmom was obese (IMO) but only ate healthy indian home cooked food...desserts had ghee and jiggery but none of the modern desserts. She was tall and big. She lived to 90+ age. And had no diseases (BP/Sugar/heart). So my doctor aunt said "BUT it is important what kind of food she was fat on". I have her good genes but my heavy sodium diet has given me high BP. So it does matter what (quality) we put into our bodies

jonnythan

Probably being overweight and sedentary that gave you high BP. Not sodium intake.

danimalkeys

Looking at your diary, it's all about portion control. Instead of 2 cups of brown rice, have 1. If you know you are near your target for the day, don't eat any more. Self control is going to be your biggest adversary until you get used to it. The 1st 50lbs I lost came off pretty fast, 7 months or so. I was hungry a lot but losing weight was more important to me than having that 11pm bowl of ice cream and half a bag of pretzels- that's what got me overweight to begin with. That's where the discipline comes into play. As you get closer to your goal, the weight loss slows down a lot, and it's even harder to keep up with because now you aren't seeing the results you did before. You just have to keep at it. My wife gets frustrated when she doesn't lose anything in a week, after counting and weighing and watching everything, yet she's down 30lbs in 3 months- so she's really doing great, and I have to keep reinforcing that to her. You can do this too!

edit to add- you should most definitely be adding your fruit and salad calories in. A big salad with greens, cukes, tomato, onion can have 100-200 calories in it, it needs to be counted.