Eating junk food?

Wandering_1

Please help me understand something. I was reading some posts where some people are telling others they will lose weight & that it's okay to eat whatever they want from fried food to mcdonalds everyday as long as they stayed at or under their daily allowed calories. It doesn't make sense to me. Can you really lose weight by eating 10 snickers a day? A Big Mac for all 3 meals? What about the amount of fat, carbs, sugar, sodium? These are all contributing factors aren't they? Isn't the goal to lose weight by eating healthier? I could probably eat crusty French bread all day long but I'm pretty sure my butt wouldn't appreciate it. Am I wrong? Can I use up 1/2 my calories a day eating just bread? Makes my stomach hurt just thinking about it. Maybe I'm a food snob but I feel guilty eating a snack size almond joy.

I believe we all deserve the "cheat" days. Mine is eating out once a week having whatever I want. I can't do a Big Mac or Whopper but fried pickles are the bomb. I started MFP almost 2 months ago and I am most proud of my healthy living. I need to lose 70 more pounds and these first 12 pounds were difficult little suckers to get rid of but I am okay with that because I feel wonderful. I am just fine not eating a big fat juicy Whopper that I can have my way. Actually they aren't fat or juicy but yummy none the same. I loved them. Sometimes the craving is almost unbearable but I am so proud of myself when the craving ended and I didn't have to wipe ketchup and mayo off my face. I'm a pouter. I pout. I get over it.

So I ask again. Would I lose weight if I ate me a few Whoppers a week? Hmmm, come to think of it, I probably would. From throwing from all that fat now clogging my arteries.

lautour

Are you asking because you are interested in losing weight this way, or are you really just ranting? Do you want a burger but think you can't have it? Or are you happy not eating "junk" (burgers aren't junk!) and think your way is the best way?

I'm curious about what other people do. I love heavy meals with dessert. I hate eating lots of small, "healthy" meals but I know that way works for many. I've lost weight recently eating nothing but brownies and pizza for days (I was broke) but I was in caloric deficit so that's why I lost.

Wandering_1

Both.

svandever101585

All calories are not created equal. You may be able to lose weight like that but you will most likely not maintain the weight loss. You will also physically feel terrible and it would be difficult to build lean muscle. Your food is your bodies fuel. To live at a healthy weight and be strong with lean muscle you need to fuel your body properly. The fastest and healthiest way I have found to do this is to eat just enough calories that you are losing 1-2 lbs a week. For me that magic number right now is 1500. I try to stick to clean whole foods 80% of the time and the other 20 % that is where you sneak in the occasional cheeseburger or cheat meal. I stick to a diet high in lean protein and low in complex carbs and fats. What you put in your body to fuel it is kind of like what you put in your car. Some cars recommend that you run premium gas. Yes, they might run on regular but will they run as efficiently as they would if they were being fueled by what is recommended.

AJ_G

Here's the most important thing you need to know: THE ONLY THING REQUIRED FOR WEIGHT LOSS IS A CALORIE DEFICIT (burn more calories every day than you eat).

It makes ABSOLUTELY ZERO DIFFERENCE what the food is that you are eating in terms of weight loss.

Now this doesn't mean that you should just eat anything you want, it's also important to hit certain macronutrient and micronutrient goals to make sure that you are healthy, but in terms of losing weight, it makes zero difference.

snazzyjazzy21

Here's the most important thing you need to know: THE ONLY THING REQUIRED FOR WEIGHT LOSS IS A CALORIE DEFICIT (burn more calories every day than you eat).

It makes ABSOLUTELY ZERO DIFFERENCE what the food is that you are eating in terms of weight loss.

Now this doesn't mean that you should just eat anything you want, it's also important to hit certain macronutrient and micronutrient goals to make sure that you are healthy, but in terms of losing weight, it makes zero difference.

This ^^^

rdsxfn

Here's the most important thing you need to know: THE ONLY THING REQUIRED FOR WEIGHT LOSS IS A CALORIE DEFICIT (burn more calories every day than you eat).

It makes ABSOLUTELY ZERO DIFFERENCE what the food is that you are eating in terms of weight loss.

Now this doesn't mean that you should just eat anything you want, it's also important to hit certain macronutrient and micronutrient goals to make sure that you are healthy, but in terms of losing weight, it makes zero difference.

+1

I agree with this.

rduhlir

I am 14 pounds from goal and have literally ate whatever I have wanted. I have gotten McDonald's or Burger King, though if I want a burger I generally make it worth it and go for a Red Robin's. I have chocolate, or blackberry cobbler with ice cream and whip, on a constant basis. I eat milky way minis with no regret or worry. Why? Because I fit it in. Just as the others have said, for weight loss a calorie deficit is really the only major factor.

doIlhands

I had cheesecake for breakfast today, some reese cups, chips.. A&W on saturday, eat cereal all of the time..

I've lost 70+ lbs, and am less than 20lbs away from goal. Its working out pretty well for me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

jennifer_417

Here's the most important thing you need to know: THE ONLY THING REQUIRED FOR WEIGHT LOSS IS A CALORIE DEFICIT (burn more calories every day than you eat).

It makes ABSOLUTELY ZERO DIFFERENCE what the food is that you are eating in terms of weight loss.

Now this doesn't mean that you should just eat anything you want, it's also important to hit certain macronutrient and micronutrient goals to make sure that you are healthy, but in terms of losing weight, it makes zero difference.

This ^^^

This, but I will also add, because inevitably some hairsplitter will come in and make a big deal about it...UNLESS YOU HAVE A HEALTH CONDITION

Branstin

Here's the most important thing you need to know: THE ONLY THING REQUIRED FOR WEIGHT LOSS IS A CALORIE DEFICIT (burn more calories every day than you eat).

It makes ABSOLUTELY ZERO DIFFERENCE what the food is that you are eating in terms of weight loss.

Now this doesn't mean that you should just eat anything you want, it's also important to hit certain macronutrient and micronutrient goals to make sure that you are healthy, but in terms of losing weight, it makes zero difference.

+2

Unless there is a medical reason to cut out BK then don't do it. All foods in moderation.

pamperedhen

Here's the most important thing you need to know: THE ONLY THING REQUIRED FOR WEIGHT LOSS IS A CALORIE DEFICIT (burn more calories every day than you eat).

It makes ABSOLUTELY ZERO DIFFERENCE what the food is that you are eating in terms of weight loss.

Now this doesn't mean that you should just eat anything you want, it's also important to hit certain macronutrient and micronutrient goals to make sure that you are healthy, but in terms of losing weight, it makes zero difference.

Unless there is a medical reason to cut out BK then don't do it. All foods in moderation.

+3

mamadon

For the last year and a half, I have eaten whatever I wanted as long as I was at a calorie deficit. If I had a craving for something, I ate it. I lost weight pretty much every week. This included plenty of "healthy" foods. It also included ice cream, cookies, chips and fast food at times. It worked because I could see myself doing this for the rest of my life. If I had completely deprived myself of the foods I loved, i would have given up.

TimTomakin

The most common problem with IIFYM is that people assume that means you can eat fast food all day and as long as you hit your macros and calories you're good to go. While it is technically true that all you need to lose weight is a calorie deficit, you need to ignore the broscience and use common sense.

Your goal should be to GET HEALTHY not just lose weight. Eating fast food and boxed manufactured food product all day will absolutely not lead to better health. They are incredibly high in sodium, trans fats, sugar and a laundry list of junk that you probably shouldn't be putting in your body on a daily basis. Plus, eating a greasy burger or two before the gym probably won't benefit your energy levels.

With all that said, there's no reason you can't enjoy those kinds of foods once in a while, so long as you calculate them into your macros for that day. IIFYM is a great way to keep yourself sane while dieting by allowing you to eat the foods you love and still stick to your overall diet. However, your goal should still be to eat nutrient dense foods that compliment your macro ratio and leave you more satisfied (a full meal of lean steak, rice, sauted spinach vs a single hamburger).

vsoileau64

Well said

lemonsnowdrop

I ate a Cadbury egg and Peeps before bed last night. Don't feel bad about it at all.

Besides, what makes something "junk food" anyway?

Wandering_1

Thanks all for helping me understand. I have learned that what may be right for some may not be for others. We all have our own opinions and none are any better than the other. I'll be seeing a nutritionist soon and I'm pretty excited to see what she says. I am so happy to be losing weight and feeling wonderfully healthy. My doc is happy that my cholesterol levels are right where they need to be and I'm happy that I now eat grapes at midnight instead of the super size KitKats. I too had a Cadbury egg and it was a wonderful treat.

A big congrats to you all for your success.

diannethegeek

The Twinkie Diet: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/

The McDonald's teacher: http://newsfeed.time.com/2014/01/05/teacher-loses-37-pounds-after-three-month-mcdonalds-diet/

Both men lost weight eating what's generally considered and "unhealthy" diet.

AliceDark

What people don't seem to understand (or voluntarily ignore) is that losing weight does not automatically equal "getting healthy" (whatever the heck that means). If you ask "can I lose weight eating nothing but French bread," the answer is yes, you can, but you'll also eventually get scurvy. If you ask "can I have a healthy, functioning body eating nothing but French bread," obviously no. The first question is not the same as the second, and you shouldn't mix up the answers.

Wandering_1

What people don't seem to understand (or voluntarily ignore) is that losing weight does not automatically equal "getting healthy" (whatever the heck that means). If you ask "can I lose weight eating nothing but French bread," the answer is yes, you can, but you'll also eventually get scurvy. If you ask "can I have a healthy, functioning body eating nothing but French bread," obviously no. The first question is not the same as the second, and you shouldn't mix up the answers.

Thank you. I'm here to lose weight but to also get as healthy as I can be and also teaching my kids to eat healthy. I honestly didn't know you can lose weight by eating McDonald's everyday.

Strokingdiction

Please help me understand something. I was reading some posts where some people are telling others they will lose weight & that it's okay to eat whatever they want from fried food to mcdonalds everyday as long as they stayed at or under their daily allowed calories. It doesn't make sense to me. Can you really lose weight by eating 10 snickers a day? A Big Mac for all 3 meals? What about the amount of fat, carbs, sugar, sodium? These are all contributing factors aren't they? Isn't the goal to lose weight by eating healthier? I could probably eat crusty French bread all day long but I'm pretty sure my butt wouldn't appreciate it. Am I wrong? Can I use up 1/2 my calories a day eating just bread? Makes my stomach hurt just thinking about it. Maybe I'm a food snob but I feel guilty eating a snack size almond joy.

I believe we all deserve the "cheat" days. Mine is eating out once a week having whatever I want. I can't do a Big Mac or Whopper but fried pickles are the bomb. I started MFP almost 2 months ago and I am most proud of my healthy living. I need to lose 70 more pounds and these first 12 pounds were difficult little suckers to get rid of but I am okay with that because I feel wonderful. I am just fine not eating a big fat juicy Whopper that I can have my way. Actually they aren't fat or juicy but yummy none the same. I loved them. Sometimes the craving is almost unbearable but I am so proud of myself when the craving ended and I didn't have to wipe ketchup and mayo off my face. I'm a pouter. I pout. I get over it.

So I ask again. Would I lose weight if I ate me a few Whoppers a week? Hmmm, come to think of it, I probably would. From throwing from all that fat now clogging my arteries.

Google the twinkie diet.

Can you lose weight by purely looking at calories? Yes. Should you? Probably not. Macros and micros should be taken into account. This means that once you've hit your minimums of those, it's fine to indulge in something decadent as long as you stay under your calorie allowance and you'll still lose weight.

holothuroidea

If you're in a caloric deficit, your body will use your fat stores (and lean tissue if it has to) for energy and you will loose weight. So no, it does not matter what you eat.

However, eating a lot of junk food when you're restricting calories is a recipe for nutritional deficiencies. You have to make sure that the foods that you're eating are nutrient dense and also that your body gets all the protein and fat it needs. It is also a lot harder to maintain a caloric deficit when eating junk food because they're so rich in calories and low in everything else that you end up feeling hungry all the time.

I agree 100% with the poster who said that loosing weight and getting healthy are two completely separate things.

Cyan99

There's a difference between losing weight and being healthy. It's possible to be overweight and malnutritioned, and it's just as possible to be a "healthy" weight and malnutritioned.

Obviously it's okay to eat 'junk', fatty, sugary or takeaway foods now and again, it won't kill you! But if you eat nothing else you might end up weighing less but being unhealthy, having bad skin, bad body composition, weak hair nails bones etc. plus feeling tired, depressed etc.

Food is the fuel you give to your body - you get back what you put in.

RHachicho

You CAN lose weight eating junk food. But you won't be healthy. Also losing weight on junk food is very VERY hard as your body will lack vital nutrients and will bombard your brain with FEED ME spam. A little junk food every now and then won't hurt you much if at all though.

Let me tell you the story of someone who lived next to me in Kuwait basically she was one of these health obsessed people and she insisted that EVERYTHING her kids ate was fresh. Every single thing that went into their mouth. The result ... every time they came round our houses and ate one single thing from a can just a bit of canned tuna or canned mandarin slices they instantly got sick. Yes it's technically healthy but the truth is perfectly functioning bodies that have never had to deal with any kind of upset are well ... weak.

kristenveganvixen

You can still lose weight eating junk if calorie deficit, but you might become vitamin or mineral deficient if you aren't getting your RDA of these from healthy foods. It's better that what you do eat counts and is full of nutrients.

nancy10272004

Here's the most important thing you need to know: THE ONLY THING REQUIRED FOR WEIGHT LOSS IS A CALORIE DEFICIT (burn more calories every day than you eat).

It makes ABSOLUTELY ZERO DIFFERENCE what the food is that you are eating in terms of weight loss.

Now this doesn't mean that you should just eat anything you want, it's also important to hit certain macronutrient and micronutrient goals to make sure that you are healthy, but in terms of losing weight, it makes zero difference.

This ^^^

This, but I will also add, because inevitably some hairsplitter will come in and make a big deal about it...UNLESS YOU HAVE A HEALTH CONDITION

I used to be one of those people who ranted about how hard it was for me to lose weight because I have insulin resistance and take medication that prevents me from losing weight. Boo hoo!

Then I came here, decreased the number of calories I eat a day, increased the amount of moving around I do in a day and wouldn't you know it - I'm losing weight!

And I'm a dirty eater of the highest order. I'm going to Chipotle tonight for dinner. Bring on the guacamole, rice and beans!

AliceDark

What people don't seem to understand (or voluntarily ignore) is that losing weight does not automatically equal "getting healthy" (whatever the heck that means). If you ask "can I lose weight eating nothing but French bread," the answer is yes, you can, but you'll also eventually get scurvy. If you ask "can I have a healthy, functioning body eating nothing but French bread," obviously no. The first question is not the same as the second, and you shouldn't mix up the answers.

Thank you. I'm here to lose weight but to also get as healthy as I can be and also teaching my kids to eat healthy. I honestly didn't know you can lose weight by eating McDonald's everyday.

A lot of people don't realize they are separate things, which is why you see so many people burn out really quickly when they try to "diet." They go from "I was eating 3000 calories of McDonald's a day" to "I have to eat 1200 calories of lettuce and egg whites," which is insane. The amount of food and the nutritional makeup of the food are two different variables.

This is also why you'll often see us recommend adjusting one variable at a time, so people don't get completely overwhelmed. Continuing my dumb example...go from eating 3000 calories to 2500 calories a day of McDonald's first. Do that for a month or two and you'll start losing weight, because you're taking in fewer calories. Next, swap out one order of fries for some steamed veggies. That will have two effects - you'll lose more weight because steamed veggies usually have fewer calories than fries, and you'll be getting "healthier" (hate that word because it's super vague, but it works in this dumb example) because you're getting extra nutrients from the vegetables that you weren't getting before. But the key is in the first step -- you didn't have to cut out McDonald's to start the weight loss. All you had to do was eat a little less of it.

Xingy01

Some people find that changing their diet and eating only healthy foods is easier for them than having junk food around to binge on. Others find it easier to lose weight by eating what they normally eat, but smaller portions.

Depending on how overweight you are, losing weight on a less optimal diet could be preferable to eating massive amounts of healthier foods and staying overweight.

I've always eaten a very well-rounded diet. I love and consume a lot of vegetables and fruits. Most of my meat consumption is baked/boiled/grilled chicken. I don't like sweets, chips, or anything with too much sugar or salt. It just doesn't taste good to me. I'm still obese. I'm obese from eating large amounts of "healthy" foods. There are plenty of people who are healthier than I am who eat more junk food than I do.

It's unrealistic to think that anyone is just eating big macs every day. But could they be healthier than they currently are by consuming half their calories in what we think of as junk food? Sure, some people could.

rachaelbmh

One thing to remember is that not all calories are created equally. The amount of nutrients in junk food pales in comparison to that in a kale salad or piece of lean meat.

Losing weight and being and feeling healthy overall aren't the same thing. If your goal is to lose weight AND be healthy, then choosing healthful nutrient-dense foods like lean meats, fruits and veggies, nuts and seeds, high-quality dairy products (if you tolerate them well), and whole grains are your best bet. If foods don't serve any purpose except for emotional gain, then it might be wise to determine what else in life is making you seek those foods out.

Food should absolutely be enjoyable, but ultimately food is just fuel.

nomorebingesgirl2014

Great post

tennisdude2004

It's all about personal choice but the main thing to remember is:

Calories (deficit) = weight loss

Nutritional quality of food = health

Eat in a deficit and you will loss weight. Keep junk food limited in your overall diet and this should be healthier.

Most people claiming you can eat what you want are talking about general weight loss.