Can I eat whatever I want if I stay under my calorie goal?
shelbys222
Posts: 5 Member
So I am wondering, I have heard people say that you can eat whatever you want as long as you stay under the set amount of calories. Is this true? Can I eat things like pizza or dessert if I stay under my calorie goal and STILL lose weight?? Thanks!
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Replies
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Yes.0
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to some extent yes.
The issue is if "whatever you want" winds up being all carbs- you're going to have a hard time functioning- this is why we say- if you hit your macro's who cares what it is.
So get your macro's straightened out- ball park hitting your protein/carbs/fat- and keep at your calorie goal and it's win win.0 -
Yep. It's that simple.
However, if you're sensitive to sodium, consuming foods high in sodium can mask a loss on the scale. Also...while it's not necessary to eat heatlhy to lose weight, I've found that overall I feel better if I do.0 -
Yes. But keep in mind, that can be a lot of calories. In my own weight loss, I have to figure out what's "worth it". For example, an appetizer with friends? That came out to be a shocking 450 calories. 1/3 of my daily calories isn't "worth it" in my mind. I'd rather have a much more fulfilling meal for that amount of calories.0
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Strictly for weight, yes.
For health reasons, I wouldn't recommend it. Aiming for your macro balance is a decent starting point.0 -
Yes.
But it would still be in your benefit to make sure you get enough protein and fat, and adequate vitamins and minerals.0 -
Yes!
You'll find that you can eat more food (volume) if you also include the good stuff like vegetables, fruits, fish, lean meat, etc. But keeping calorie calories in check is the important thing.0 -
to some extent yes.
The issue is if "whatever you want" winds up being all carbs- you're going to have a hard time functioning- this is why we say- if you hit your macro's who cares what it is.
So get your macro's straightened out- ball park hitting your protein/carbs/fat- and keep at your calorie goal and it's win win.
^^^ Agree,
And you will most likelly see better results if you eat whole foods instead of processed crap, and feel better in general0 -
Pretty much.
Watch your sodium, though. Don't go overboard with other macros. Basically what JoRocka said.0 -
I'm going to say... YES!! Just like everyone else on this topic! But I find that if I am eating clean.. I can eat more. But it's life...and occasionally I just want a cupcake!!!0
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to some extent yes.
The issue is if "whatever you want" winds up being all carbs- you're going to have a hard time functioning- this is why we say- if you hit your macro's who cares what it is.
So get your macro's straightened out- ball park hitting your protein/carbs/fat- and keep at your calorie goal and it's win win.
^ ^ ^ Agree 100% It's the behind the scenes macro's that usually cause problems/confusions for people with their goals0 -
It depends on your goals. If your goal weight loss then yes. If your goals are health, body re-comp and performance then it gets a little more involved...0
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Use the nifty "Search" feature in the forums and you'll find a whole slew of posts on this very topic.
Good luck discerning the good info from the bad.0 -
Yes. I like my puddings so still have them, I do try to eat healthy but I enjoy a little junk to
not really junk as I do try make a lot of things myself from scratch then I know what's in it 0 -
Yes and no...maybe so...
This is all largely about energy (calorie) balance...you consume less energy than your body requires then your body has to dip into fat stores to make up that difference...thus you lose weight. That said, nutrition is important...lack of proper nutrition can result in certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies as well as hormonal imbalances...these things can interfere with your weight loss.
I generally recommend a well balanced diet that is rich in nutrition...and then have some ice cream for desert and going out for pizza on Friday night or whatever. I do not recommend just eating **** every day.0 -
Yes.
As others have mentioned, you'll probably feel well-fueled and most satisfied if you keep an eye on your macros (protein & fat especially) and aim for a balanced diet. But yes, you can eat anything you want to hit your calorie goal.
I eat pizza at least once a week, and I have some form of dessert every day. I also tend to eat lots of veggies to add volume to my meals and keep my fiber up.
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Yes. But like everyone said, you will soon figure out that you need to eat more filling foods if you want to manage to stay under your goal without starving.0
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to some extent yes.
The issue is if "whatever you want" winds up being all carbs- you're going to have a hard time functioning- this is why we say- if you hit your macro's who cares what it is.
So get your macro's straightened out- ball park hitting your protein/carbs/fat- and keep at your calorie goal and it's win win.
^^^ Agree,
And you will most likelly see better results if you eat whole foods instead of processed crap, and feel better in general
I saw the same results no matter what I ate. The difference is veggies and lean meats and the like tend to allow you to eat more, thus feel fuller longer for the same number of calories. In terms of weight loss it won't make any difference as long as your calories are in line.0 -
Yes - called IIFYM ( If It Fits Your Macros). Here are some great posts compiled by one of the main moderators that explain a lot about IIFYM, setting your calorie goals, etc.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/833026-important-posts-to-read0 -
So I am wondering, I have heard people say that you can eat whatever you want as long as you stay under the set amount of calories. Is this true? Can I eat things like pizza or dessert if I stay under my calorie goal and STILL lose weight?? Thanks!
You can eat pizza and dessert. A calorie is a calorie. Weight loss is math.
Can you eat whatever you want and stay under your calorie goal? Probably not all the time. I ate whatever I wanted for years and... I got fat. I know there are things that have a fair few calories but don't satisfy me very long. I have been known to knock down half of one of the BIG bags of gummie bears in one sitting. LOT of calories. But I burn through those calories fast and when I crash, I REALLY need something to eat. So I wouldn't be able to do that and stay under my calorie goals. Maybe someone else could. I couldn't.0 -
to some extent yes.
The issue is if "whatever you want" winds up being all carbs- you're going to have a hard time functioning- this is why we say- if you hit your macro's who cares what it is.
So get your macro's straightened out- ball park hitting your protein/carbs/fat- and keep at your calorie goal and it's win win.
^^ Exactly what he said.0 -
Thanks everybody! Good to know (:0
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YES YES A BIIGGG YES!0
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I think that's the while idea behind "If It Fits Your Macros" (I guess it's a thing now). I've heard it works, I do that from time to time, but it's certainly not good to abuse it.
Of course, you need to distribute your daily intakes of protein, carbs and fat, and if you eat a whole Ultra Triple Xtreme Whopper, that's 80% carbs, 20% proteins and fat, and that's no good.0 -
Technically, the answer is yes.
Realistically, the healthier you eat, the more food you can have, and the better your weight loss journey will be. You can have 3-4 giant snickers bars, or you can have a ton of healthy lean proteins, veggies, fruits, reasonable carbs, etc. and effectively eat more food all day.
Like has been said, it's all about eating less than you burn. Fitbit's can sync with MFP and you can go to the website and get a chart of how much you ate vs. how much you burned. As long as the burn line is over the eat line, you're going to lose.0 -
to some extent yes.
The issue is if "whatever you want" winds up being all carbs- you're going to have a hard time functioning- this is why we say- if you hit your macro's who cares what it is.
So get your macro's straightened out- ball park hitting your protein/carbs/fat- and keep at your calorie goal and it's win win.
^^^ Agree,
And you will most likelly see better results if you eat whole foods instead of processed crap, and feel better in general
I saw the same results no matter what I ate. The difference is veggies and lean meats and the like tend to allow you to eat more, thus feel fuller longer for the same number of calories. In terms of weight loss it won't make any difference as long as your calories are in line.
yes- which is why the answer is YES. But if you're macro 'wheel' only has 1 spoke instead of 2 or 3- it becomes difficult to maintain. And for people who already have issues with food- understanding how to properly balance your macros and find what WORKS FOR YOU is important.
Understanding the fundamentals- I feel full longer when I eat X and Y will help you hit that calorie goal. If I'm all fat and carbs- guess what I over eat- I'm moody- I'm weak and I have poor cognitive skills. These things are important. Will I still lose weight? sure- but I'm a shade of myself- I'm not so functional and in turn- I'm more likely to over eat.
It's important to know that. just because you do doesn't mean that other people don't.0
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