Explain diets that don't count calories to me
VelveteenArabian
Posts: 758 Member
How do diets like Atkins work if you're not counting calories? I don't think everyone that has followed it has been a flat out failure - otherwise the products wouldn't sell. Since weightloss seems to be all about calories in < calories out, how does weightloss happen if you're not counting calories?
(No I'm not interested in trying Atkins. I need my carbs. This is just pure curiosity.)
(No I'm not interested in trying Atkins. I need my carbs. This is just pure curiosity.)
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They're usually forbidding your from eating certain foods that are known to be overeaten by people. By cutting them out, you automatically take (much) fewer calories to you than you usually would, resulting in weight loss.0
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in theoryThey're usually forbidding your from eating certain foods that are known to be overeaten by people. By cutting them out, you automatically take (much) fewer calories to you than you usually would, resulting in weight loss.0 -
In theory, yes.0
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By eliminating foods, you focus on only certain foods, and pretty soon get full/sated/sick of them and as a result eat fewer total calories. If sustainable (you can stop yourself from eating carbs!) can be extremely effective. Problem is, very few people can keep it up for long.0
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Broscience.
Yeah, by cutting out certain foods or food groups, either you'll avoid some common food sensitivity you didn't know you had (according to the diet's rationale) or you'll get full before you ingest a lot of calories.
Basically broscience.0 -
One diet where you do not have to count calories EVERY day is ADF or also called the Every Other Day Diet (book by Dr. Krista Varadi and all based on clinical trials)
With this diet you eat as a woman up to 500 cal and as a manup to 600 calories one day and the next you can eat what you want and how much you want - so no calorie counting on day 2. You will alternate between "fasting" and "feasting".
In general though, as research has shown, people do not tend to completely go overboad on their feeding days and so they create a weekly calorie deficit that should lead to weightloss.
Stef.0 -
Yes - with Atkins you are cutting out the breads, chips, and all the sugary sweets. You could gain weight on Atkins - but I think that generally people feel fuller on the protein and veggies and then don't eat as many calories as compared to the chips and sweets and such.
It is all theory. If you applied yourself, you could totally gain weight on Atkins.
I did Atkins 10 years ago - lost 40 pounds, and then gained it back when I stopped. Way too easy to binge on sweets and chips for me. 0 -
It can depend on why your doing these diets as well. Atkins for example cuts sugars and carbs I believe. Someone like me who is sucrose intolerant would lose a lot of weight going on an Atkins diet due to the lack of sugar in the diet alone. Unless you know how many calories you are eating and using, I don't think you can really lose weight on any diet though.0
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Low carb diets like Atkins by necessity force you to eat more protein and fat, both of which are very satiating, so people naturally eat less. Plus low carb diets deplete water storage in the body, resulting in more perceived loss than is actually occurring.0
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By eliminating foods, you focus on only certain foods, and pretty soon get full/sated/sick of them and as a result eat fewer total calories. If sustainable (you can stop yourself from eating carbs!) can be extremely effective. Problem is, very few people can keep it up for long.
^^^^This. I have lost weight on Atkins, mostly to support my husband who was on it. At that point in my life I didn't actually care if I lost or not because I was only 20 lbs overweight. It was kind of fun at first, but then boredom set in and eating became a chore. We did lose weight, but it was not a sustainable lifestyle.0 -
One diet where you do not have to count calories EVERY day is ADF or also called the Every Other Day Diet (book by Dr. Krista Varadi and all based on clinical trials)
With this diet you eat as a woman up to 500 cal and as a manup to 600 calories one day and the next you can eat what you want and how much you want - so no calorie counting on day 2. You will alternate between "fasting" and "feasting".
In general though, as research has shown, people do not tend to completely go overboad on their feeding days and so they create a weekly calorie deficit that should lead to weightloss.
Stef.
Wait...what? How do you eat like a woman and eat like a man? Use utensils one day and a trough the next?0 -
Just looking at Atkins for example.
I LOVE bacon. I could easily make a meal out of a big pile of bacon. Except that would be a HUUUUGE amount of calories - I don't see how I would be able to lose an ounce that way!
(When I went on a cruise, I had a big pile of bacon on one plate every morning for breakfast. Along with a bunch of other crap, but I was running around so much and doing so many activities, it worked out okay weight wise).0 -
One diet where you do not have to count calories EVERY day is ADF or also called the Every Other Day Diet (book by Dr. Krista Varadi and all based on clinical trials)
With this diet you eat as a woman up to 500 cal and as a manup to 600 calories one day and the next you can eat what you want and how much you want - so no calorie counting on day 2. You will alternate between "fasting" and "feasting".
In general though, as research has shown, people do not tend to completely go overboad on their feeding days and so they create a weekly calorie deficit that should lead to weightloss.
Stef.
Wait...what? How do you eat like a woman and eat like a man? Use utensils one day and a trough the next?
She's saying that if you are a woman, eat 500 calories on Day 1. If you are a man, eat 600 calories on Day 1. Then, on Day 2, eat what you want.0 -
One diet where you do not have to count calories EVERY day is ADF or also called the Every Other Day Diet (book by Dr. Krista Varadi and all based on clinical trials)
With this diet you eat as a woman up to 500 cal and as a manup to 600 calories one day and the next you can eat what you want and how much you want - so no calorie counting on day 2. You will alternate between "fasting" and "feasting".
In general though, as research has shown, people do not tend to completely go overboad on their feeding days and so they create a weekly calorie deficit that should lead to weightloss.
Stef.
Wait...what? How do you eat like a woman and eat like a man? Use utensils one day and a trough the next?
She said 'as a woman' and 'as a man' meaning.. if you are a woman your calorie intake is 500 and if you are a man your calorie intake is 600.0 -
Atkins and similar low-carb diets work by cutting out foods heavy in carbohydrates you are also cutting out a lot of highly palatable, calorie-dense foods. This makes it harder to overeat until you find highly palatable, calorie-dense substitutes.
Studies have shown in controlled environments that there was no difference in weight whether the diet was 10% fat or 70% fat. See the 49:40 mark of this video:
http://videocast.nih.gov/summary.asp?live=2993&bhcp=1
Pay special attention to the 50:58 mark.
Ultimately, what you eat may help you stick to a diet, but as far as your body weight is concerned it all boils down to calories in, calories out. In a controlled study over 30 patients, Diet composition does not affect body weight.0 -
One diet where you do not have to count calories EVERY day is ADF or also called the Every Other Day Diet (book by Dr. Krista Varadi and all based on clinical trials)
With this diet you eat as a woman up to 500 cal and as a manup to 600 calories one day and the next you can eat what you want and how much you want - so no calorie counting on day 2. You will alternate between "fasting" and "feasting".
In general though, as research has shown, people do not tend to completely go overboad on their feeding days and so they create a weekly calorie deficit that should lead to weightloss.
Stef.
Wait...what? How do you eat like a woman and eat like a man? Use utensils one day and a trough the next?
She said 'as a woman' and 'as a man' meaning.. if you are a woman your calorie intake is 500 and if you are a man your calorie intake is 600.
Thanks. English is not my native language.
Stef.0 -
TOPIC: Explain diets that don't count calories to me
Fads.
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In THEORY you do not "need" to count calories in a paleo lifestyle - fruits, veggies, meat. Of course, if you eat a pound of bacon, it's not exactly the BEST idea. It's not really a diet, but a lifestyle though. Lots of info here - http://www.marksdailyapple.com/welcome-to-marks-daily-apple/#axzz2swMDKZ29
Of course, you can still count calories while doing it, it won't hurt.0 -
They create a spontaneous calorie deficit (in theory) due to people eating less through restriction of choice and boredom with eating due to lack of choice.0
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You don't need to count calories at all, in theory.
If you follow principles like, half a plate of protein, a quarter starches and a quarter veggies, with fruit or limited "treats" between it's fairly easy to not overeat. I spent a year without logging and eating this way and it was largely successful, I only put on about 8lbs (I didn't weigh myself at all, either).
But restricting one of those foods, usually starches because they're inexplicably demonised, often yields a calorie deficit.0 -
Unless you know how many calories you are eating and using, I don't think you can really lose weight on any diet though.
This is not true. Many people lose weight without ever counting calories. They simply eat less than they were eating while gaining weight. It's possible to tell how many calories you need simply by whether you are losing, maintaining or gaining weight.
I kept my weight in check for many years without weighing anything (including myself) or counting calories. If my jeans got tight, I ate less until they fit right again.0 -
In THEORY you do not "need" to count calories in a paleo lifestyle - fruits, veggies, meat. Of course, if you eat a pound of bacon, it's not exactly the BEST idea. It's not really a diet, but a lifestyle though. Lots of info here - http://www.marksdailyapple.com/welcome-to-marks-daily-apple/#axzz2swMDKZ29
Of course, you can still count calories while doing it, it won't hurt.
Paleo or Primal (which I believe Marks Daily Apple promotes) are no different than the explanations above.
Both focus on high protein and fat (while many people think it is low carb, it does not necessarily have to be, its just more difficult to get higher carbs while eliminating grains and other carb rich sources). Fat and protein satiate you. You are also supposed to eat a lot of veggies which fills you up as well. On top of that, it also eliminates many of the foods people tend to overeat.
I don't think either diet promotes the idea of eating as much of the "approved" foods as you can, except maybe the veggies. Many people still gain weight on Paleo for this misconception. Ideally a meal should be a portion of protein, a portion of fat and the rest in veggies with some fruit.
It is not calorie counting but it is still calorie restriction. Pretty much the bottom line for any "no calorie counting" diet.0 -
I haven't been counting calories for a year and lost about 30 pounds on a low carb paleo type diet. It basically keeps you full, so in turn you eat less. Sometimes I would eat an entire pound of bacon and gain a little, and other times I'd eat sensible items like eggs and lose some. Instead of the stuff that got me big as I was like fast food, chips, and soda.. I cut out all of them and had less to choose from. I am diabetic and my blood sugar is controlled on the low carb diet, but I would not suggest not counting the calories and eating what you want. It doesn't work like that.0
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Unless you know how many calories you are eating and using, I don't think you can really lose weight on any diet though.
This is not true. Many people lose weight without ever counting calories. They simply eat less than they were eating while gaining weight. It's possible to tell how many calories you need simply by whether you are losing, maintaining or gaining weight.
I kept my weight in check for many years without weighing anything (including myself) or counting calories. If my jeans got tight, I ate less until they fit right again.
This^^^
People lost weight long before calorie counting websites existed. Eat a little less than you are used to. It helps to eat nutrient dense but lower caloric foods or foods that satisfy you and make you feel fuller longer. If you are going to eat calorie dense foods, then limit portions, because those are the ones easier to add up. It's not rocket science.0 -
Tons of people gain weight eating the Atkins/Primal/Paleo/LowCarb way.
The OP's question is malformed.0 -
Unless you know how many calories you are eating and using, I don't think you can really lose weight on any diet though.
This is not true. Many people lose weight without ever counting calories. They simply eat less than they were eating while gaining weight. It's possible to tell how many calories you need simply by whether you are losing, maintaining or gaining weight.
I kept my weight in check for many years without weighing anything (including myself) or counting calories. If my jeans got tight, I ate less until they fit right again.
I agree - my mum and brother have lost weight on Slimming World, without counting calories per se. Basically, in a calorie counting diet such as MFP, you find your own way to feel full on e.g. 1500 calories per day. You start from the very theoretical background to dieting, and work up. You tweak your own numbers until it works for you, and it's very trial and error. However, the SW, WW etc. do the hard work for you - they do the calorie counting and assesment of nutritional value etc., and offer you a diet structure, rather than a diet theory from which to build your own structure. Their structure leads to a diet that is broadly speaking in deficit, even if the dieter doesn't actually realise this is the case.
There is a caveat that of the people who attend slimming clubs such as SW and WW, only 16% reach and maintain their goal weight over a period of 5 years. The NHS view is that although slimming clubs and similar diets can be helpful and do offer structure that leads to a fairly balanced diet, without teaching about portion sizes and calories it is very difficult to maintain the weight once it has come off. On a personal note, I also think that some of the points systems are ridiculous: e.g. Bachelor's soup from a can is several SW syns fewer than Covent Garden soup, despite them both being the same calorific content.
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/loseweight/Pages/top-10-most-popular-diets-review.aspx
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-234630060 -
How do diets like Atkins work if you're not counting calories? I don't think everyone that has followed it has been a flat out failure - otherwise the products wouldn't sell. Since weightloss seems to be all about calories in < calories out, how does weightloss happen if you're not counting calories?
(No I'm not interested in trying Atkins. I need my carbs. This is just pure curiosity.)
Say your height/weight require 2,000 cals to maintain. You've been eating 3,000 cals and have been slowly gaining weight. 100 of those calories are from carbs. You decide it's time to stop gaining and try a carb free diet, so you've now cut out the 100 cals of carbs. You are still eating 2,900 cals. 900 over maintenance. You will not lose weight. You will continue to gain.
Say somebody else with the same stats also eats 3,000 cals per day but the difference is that they get 1,500 cals a day from carbs. If they try a carb free diet, they are now eating only 1,500 cals (a 500cal deficit) and will begin to lose weight.
It's not reducing the carbs, per se, that is causing the weight loss. . . it is the reduction of calories. In the second example, those calories just happen to be from carbs.
Or. . . you know. . . can just be my mother, try a low carb diet and think that you can seriously increase your consumption of cheese, bacon, sausage and start to use massive amounts of creamy dressings on your many salads and wonder why you're now gaining weight. Because again: it's not the reduction of a particular food group, it's the reduction or calories that causes weight loss.0 -
Count me in as one who gained weight on South Beach (not even Atkins!) I was so unsatisfied I ate mounds of almonds and spoonfuls of peanut butter. AND I was still unsatisfied! No low carb for this girl.0
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To lose weight you need to eat less than you burn off. Counting calories (accurately!) is the most reliable way to ensure you're really eating at a deficit, so long as you get the maths right.
there are other ways to create a deficit, and restrictive diets like low carb, paleo, stuff like that create a deficit by banning foods with high calorie density that are easy to overeat on. These work for a lot of people for the simple reason that they create a deficit, i.e. make them eat less than they're burning off. They won't work for everyone though, because it's kind of hit and miss whether you're *actually* at a deficit or not, because you're not actually counting the calories. So these kinds of diets will work for some people but not others. Some people will fail to lose, or even gain weight, on these diets, if they end up eating more than they burn off.0 -
You can find ways around nearly any restrictive diet. Depends on how creative you want to get and how desperate you are for whatever it is you crave.
Counting calories is just one approach to weight loss. Restrictive diets is another. I personally like cheesecake, pie, cookies, donuts, potato chips, etc. If I was on a diet that restricted/eliminated those a good 40 to 60% of my caloric intake would be gone.
I recently went without added sugar for a couple weeks (as a test) and found it hard to hit my calories. I've since gone back on the sugar and find it hard to hit my calories, but over not under =P0
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