Can you really lose weight eating whatever you want?

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Replies

  • Froggymcconnell
    Froggymcconnell Posts: 92 Member
    this is interesting topic.

    For me I did have to watch what I ate to lose the weight.

    I started off eating what I sued to just less of it but it wasn't working so I changed things and now eat different things, cut out takeaways, no sugar in cups of tea etc etc and its made huge difference.
  • MrsATrotta
    MrsATrotta Posts: 278 Member
    Yes and no. I personally never deprive myself if I want cheesecake I'm gonna have cheesecake BUT maybe just a few bites. Calorie count is pretty important. On the other hand you don't want to eat foods high in fat sodium and sugar bc that could very well stall your weight loss and you wouldn't be truly healthy.
  • navygrrl
    navygrrl Posts: 517 Member
    I have been much more successful with weight loss this time because I haven't demonized any foods or food groups. If I want ice cream or a piece of chocolate cake or a glass of wine, I plan it into my day. Knowing that nothing is really off-limits sort of calms my cravings.
  • bizgirl26
    bizgirl26 Posts: 1,795 Member
    I chose to not eat anything I wanted on most days . I just found I was hungry more often so I eat really healthy for at least 5 days out of the week and then for 2 of the days I still watch my calories but eat the foods that arent always the best choices. This has worked really well for me.
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
    Sure you can, but you might feel like you're starving all the time! Here is an example of what I used to eat, compared to what I eat now, with about the same calories for each meal.

    Breakfast - A bowl of sugar sweetened, out of a box cereal with skim milk.
    Now. Steel cut oats, made with almond milk and 1/2 cup fresh fruit.

    Lunch - A frozen 'light' dinner.
    Now. A whole plate of veggies with light ranch (or not), 2 slices of Healthy Life 35 calorie bread, spicy mustard, lettuce, tomato and lean turkey or chicken.

    Dinner - Frozen pizza
    Now. A large fillet of grilled salmon (or any lean chicken, lean beef, shrimp, etc.) basted with a fresh orange juice/maple reduction, tons of grilled veggies (with lots of flavor, I may add) and brown with wild rice.

    Snacks - cookies, popcorn
    Now. A banana smothered in almond butter, chocolate dusted almonds, greek yogurt, etc.

    I do have to cook more, but I love the new flavors that spices, herbs and marinades add to the food. I have a LOT less sodium now and my blood pressure has dropped. I'm also able to have a treat, such as a small Buttefinger Blizzard, once a week. I'm still losing weight and I'm rarely hungry anymore. And, if I have a good workout, I eat even MORE food and still lose weight!

    You can do what you want, eat healthy food and treat your body like its the only one you have, fill it with nutrients, or fill it with garbage. Your choice. You'll still lose weight, calorie for calorie, but you probably wont feel as well.
  • cheesevixen_staci
    cheesevixen_staci Posts: 153 Member
    I can personally eat whatever I want. I've never had a big sweet tooth so I don't eat sweets, and I don't like a lot of red meat so generally I eat lean meat (Unless the hubby comes home wanting hamburgers or spaghetti ). Plus I love water.

    If you are only concerned about losing weight. Than, no, it doesn't matter as long as you stay in your calories, but it'll probably cause a slew of health issues in the future. However, if you want to be healthy it's important you eat food that is good for you, and stray away from the bad stuff for the most part.

    When I'm tempted to splurge on a really good meal, say we order pizza, I'll split up what I eat. I want 4 slices of pizza right then and there, but if I restrain myself I can eat 2 now, and save 2 for a different meal. It's rare, but it happens lol. I had pancakes and bacon for breakfast and lunch, but Im also following it up with grilled chicken and vegetables for dinner.
  • sokkache
    sokkache Posts: 220 Member
    How much you eat is crucial in losing weight. But eating healthy and not eating too much, that's unbeatable. You feel good and you're losing weight.
  • Ely82010
    Ely82010 Posts: 1,998 Member
    Okay I seems most people on here eat what ever they want just as long it's under they're calorie limit. So which one is more important? What you eat? Or how much you eat?

    I eat what I want, but what I DONT'T eat or want is probably what most of the people in MFP eats and wants. Are you confused yet???
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    Both are important. Moderation is key, but also hitting your macros, calorie goals, and exercise goals is important as well.
    I eat whatever I want, but I also balance it with greens, fruits, ect. But I never deprive myself of foods that some people label as "junk".
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    Mostly, I eat what I want (HBP so sodium restricted). I just don't eat as much as I want.
  • laoliviabeachbum
    laoliviabeachbum Posts: 21 Member
    I have PCOS so I follow a low GI foods diet as much as possible. If I ate 1500 cals of chocolate, crisps and bread a day it wouldn't work for me. So for me it's how much AND what I eat.
  • healingnurtrer
    healingnurtrer Posts: 217 Member
    It's always how much you eat. You can eat 1,500 calories in donuts and still lose weight. Just like you could eat 3,000 calories in broccoli and gain weight.

    Yep, true. Except I don't think it's physically possible to eat 3000 calories worth of broccoli in one day... our stomachs aren't big enough. :tongue:
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    I have PCOS so I follow a low GI foods diet as much as possible. If I ate 1500 cals of chocolate, crisps and bread a day it wouldn't work for me. So for me it's how much AND what I eat.

    That is true, medical issues are an exception to the rule.
  • blooming_soul
    blooming_soul Posts: 22 Member
    If the majority of your calories is from garbage food, your body will be starving for nutrients and will hold onto the fats/carbs/sugars/sodium that you are in-taking. It will be harder to lose weight because your body will be in "starvation mode". If your body is totally satisfied nutrient-wise, and you have small portions of unhealthy snacks it wont make a big difference. You will find over time that the more veggies and lean protein you eat, the less your body craves the garbage food.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    If the majority of your calories is from garbage food, your body will be starving for nutrients and will hold onto the fats./carbs/sugars/sodium that you are in-taking. It will be harder to lose weight because your body will be in "starvation mode". If your body is totally satisfied nutrient-wise, and you have small portions of unhealthy snacks it wont make a big difference. You will find over time that the more veggies and lean protein you eat, the less your body craves the garbage food.

    That is not what starvation mode is.
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1077746-starvation-mode-adaptive-thermogenesis-and-weight-loss
  • ScottH_200
    ScottH_200 Posts: 377 Member
    If the majority of your calories is from garbage food, your body will be starving for nutrients and will hold onto the fats/carbs/sugars/sodium that you are in-taking. It will be harder to lose weight because your body will be in "starvation mode". If your body is totally satisfied nutrient-wise, and you have small portions of unhealthy snacks it wont make a big difference. You will find over time that the more veggies and lean protein you eat, the less your body craves the garbage food.

    Bull...
  • ScottH_200
    ScottH_200 Posts: 377 Member
    I had my annual physical last Friday. My doctor hadn't seen me since I started losing weight 7 months ago and was shocked when he looked at my current weight vs last years physical.

    He asked me, "how did you lose that weight?"

    My reply, "the only way I know how to lose weight..."

    His reply, "and that is?..."

    My reply, "eat at a calorie deficit consistently!..."

    His reply, "by watching your carbs?..."

    My reply, "no, by eating whatever I want to eat, just less of it..."

    Rocket science, eh?
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    Agree with above. Denying yourself what you like is just making it harder for yourself. If your goal is pure fat loss then it doesnt matter WHAT you eat.

    To quote a friend from a year or two ago:

    1) Hit your micro/macro goals

    2) Create a moderate calorie deficit

    3) Stop micromanaging crap that doesnt matter


    It's that simple.
  • amwbox
    amwbox Posts: 576 Member
    Yep. Eat whatever. Just eat less of it. I just lost over 20 lbs on a diet most composed of baked potatoes, fried eggs, and chocolate cake.

    If that tells you anything about my *terrible* diet...which still results in weight loss with caloric restriction. :D
  • fatcity66
    fatcity66 Posts: 1,544 Member
    Both.

    Yes, you can lose weight eating whatever you want with a calorie deficit, but...

    I don't buy the whole "all calories are created equal" stance.
    How do you explain that someone on a low carb diet can eat MORE calories and still lose weight? I know, because I've done it.
    Just a thought for discussion...
  • fatcity66
    fatcity66 Posts: 1,544 Member
    This may be one reason...
    http://www.today.com/health/low-carb-diets-may-burn-most-calories-847511
  • SixteenthOfJuly
    SixteenthOfJuly Posts: 11
    Yes. You can eat 600 calories worth of unhealthy food and lose weight rather than 2000 calories with healthy foods,
    But you should stick to 1200 worth of vegetables (I don't want to get stampede by a bunch of people saying I'm promoting "starvation mode")
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Yes. You can eat 600 calories worth of unhealthy food and lose weight rather than 2000 calories with healthy foods,
    But you should stick to 1200 worth of vegetables (I don't want to get stampede by a bunch of people saying I'm promoting "starvation mode")

    Nope again.

    Assuming 2000 calories is a deficit for you, you can lose weight eating 2000 calories fo "unhealthy" food or 2000 calories of "healthy" food.
    See the twinkie diet I linked earlier.
    If your deficit is 1200 calories and you eat 1200 calorie of "unhealthy" food, you will lose weight. If you eat 2000 calories of "healthy" food, you would actually gain.
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    OP: Yes, you can lose weight eating whatever you want, AS LONG AS you keep a calories deficit.

    WHAT you lose, however, be it fat or muscle, is dependant on other things, lifting, etc.

    Can you get healthy eating whatever you want? Thats a different subject....
  • MinimalistShoeAddict
    MinimalistShoeAddict Posts: 1,946 Member
    Net calories (surplus or deficit) are all that matter for your changing your weight.

    Macros and exercise matter for body composition.
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    Net calories (surplus or deficit) are all that matter for your changing your weight.

    Macros and exercise matter for body composition.

    A perfect summation <3
  • indignantgnome
    indignantgnome Posts: 60 Member
    It's always how much you eat. You can eat 1,500 calories in donuts and still lose weight. Just like you could eat 3,000 calories in broccoli and gain weight.

    This guy knows what he's talking about. He's done amazing, and eats all sorts of unhealthy things. :) He's also completely freaking awesome, btw.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Net calories (surplus or deficit) are all that matter for your changing your weight.

    Macros and exercise matter for body composition.

    A perfect summation <3

    Agreed. But I would add "for body composition and health".
  • fatcity66
    fatcity66 Posts: 1,544 Member
    I see no one wants to touch the low carb phenomenon. LOL
    I'm not necessarily promoting it as a weight loss method, but the evidence is there. Just wondering if anyone has an explanation for it, or just thoughts on the matter?
    I for one, have been doing it intermittently, along with exercising, calorie deficit, and 1-2 "cheat days" a week. So far it works better than anything else I've tried, and I know I'm losing fat because I'm showing more definition without much strength training.

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