Anyone lost weight by NOT counting calories?

24

Replies

  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member

    Is this why you still have 98 lbs to go? Or so your profile says.

    I'll keep my processed foods, white bread, sugar, etc. I'll weigh my veggies thanks.

    Just because I havent updated my weight on here....doesnt mean my weight loss isnt real. I rarely use this site and NOW i remember why!! Ignorance of the rest of the users makes me stay away.

    Update? Your account is new as of May 2014. You just had to set it up correctly the first time, unless you're saying you lost 115 lbs in three months. Don't be mad if the misinformation you entered confused people.

    And why stick around the calorie counting website and tell us our method is madness? To help us see the light? Yeah, thanks
  • AnthonyThrashD
    AnthonyThrashD Posts: 306 Member
    The point of calorie counting is to bring a bit of science into weight management, and it makes it easier. I've had friends gain weight on some "magical" weight loss programs. They created calorie surplus on those weird diets.

    You don't need to join Weight Watchers. You don't need to buy a diet book. You don't need to join a gym. You don't need to order XFactor 30lbs in 30 days! pills. You don't need to exclude foods you love from your diet.

    Figure out your daily caloric needs, get a digital kitchen scale, track the calories, create a deficit, and you will lose weight.

    I've seen this posted a lot of times on this forum "Calories in/Calories out - it's simple, but hard"

    best of luck OP
  • keefmac
    keefmac Posts: 313 Member
    I'd be lost without my freshly toasted Ham Pitas for lunch!.
  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member

    Just a bunch of nonsense.

    Some people's bodies can't break down carbohydrates? Really? Wow, just wow.

    Yes really,,,,your body breaks down bread and chips good for you!!! NOT all people can tolerate bad carbs....

    Carbohydrate Intolerance

    It is the inability of the body to completely process carbohydrates (sugars and starches) due to lack or inadequate amount of one or more of the enzymes needed for their digestion. Lactose Intolerance is the most common one but the inability to break down starch is also common.

    - See more at: http://www.foodreactions.org/intolerance/carbohydrate/index.html#sthash.jAQtFdxU.dpuf

    Do you know what happens when a lactose intolerant person consumes lactose? My body doesn't "hold on" to the lactose. I don't gain or fail to lose weight because I consume lactose. Nope. It causes diarrhea, stomach cramping, gas, loud gut gurgling, and a lot of discomfort. The same is true for other carbohydrate intolerances. The inability to digest a sugar/carbohydrate does not make the body hold on to it. It makes the body expel it in a VERY painful way. There's also no, "Suddenly, I thought I might have this intolerance!" Things like hereditary fructose intolerance (commonly called carbohydrate intolerance) cause vomiting, jaundice, enlarged liver, and a host of over symptoms. Missing enzyme based intolerances commonly cause people to lose weight and struggle to eat because they don't know what is causing the problem and eating becomes associated with agonizing pain. You eat less and cautiously when you don't know why but 2-3 hours after you eat you are in the bathroom for an hour clutching your stomach.

    To the OP: I have lost weight in the past by not counting calories. Both times I lost major weight in the past (30-50 lbs), I gained it all back over the course of 2 years. Lose 30 lbs, slowly gain it back, and some. Lose 50 lbs, slowly gain it back, plus a little more.
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  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member

    Just a bunch of nonsense.

    Some people's bodies can't break down carbohydrates? Really? Wow, just wow.

    Yes really,,,,your body breaks down bread and chips good for you!!! NOT all people can tolerate bad carbs....

    Carbohydrate Intolerance

    It is the inability of the body to completely process carbohydrates (sugars and starches) due to lack or inadequate amount of one or more of the enzymes needed for their digestion. Lactose Intolerance is the most common one but the inability to break down starch is also common.

    - See more at: http://www.foodreactions.org/intolerance/carbohydrate/index.html#sthash.jAQtFdxU.dpuf

    You may have had to restrict certain foods due to a medical issue. This doesn't mean that normal, healthy people need to do the same, now does it?
  • Derp_Diggler
    Derp_Diggler Posts: 1,456 Member

    Just a bunch of nonsense.

    Some people's bodies can't break down carbohydrates? Really? Wow, just wow.

    Yes really,,,,your body breaks down bread and chips good for you!!! NOT all people can tolerate bad carbs....

    Carbohydrate Intolerance

    It is the inability of the body to completely process carbohydrates (sugars and starches) due to lack or inadequate amount of one or more of the enzymes needed for their digestion. Lactose Intolerance is the most common one but the inability to break down starch is also common.

    - See more at: http://www.foodreactions.org/intolerance/carbohydrate/index.html#sthash.jAQtFdxU.dpuf

    No

    That website is there to sell you stuff you don't need, by convincing you you have an issue.

    Please post some actually research that proves carb intolerance. :laugh:


    This. As the saying goes, "There's a sucker born every minute".
  • gypsy_spirit
    gypsy_spirit Posts: 2,107 Member
    YES!!! 115lbs....

    Low/NO Carb/HIGH protein! 90% Eggs, meats and cheese! its HARD to get started, but it pays off. No sugar, White foods at all!!!

    Why on earth would anyone be weighing VEGGIES??? that doesnt make much sense!! Toss that kitchen scale....and stop the madness!!

    Like someone previously said...Counting Calories allows you to eat anything. Some people cannot break down breads, sugars so your body holds on to them...myself included!! Once I realized that....it was so much easier!! I still struggle....and I gained a few pounds back, but always know where to go to get back on track!!

    Stop with the processed (easy) foods....they are killing you!!

    When you say that your body "holds on to breads, sugars" what does this mean? Holds them where and for how long? Plus, getting 90% of your nutrition from eggs, meat and cheese is really unhealthy. Your body is not going to be very forgiving to you for long.
  • KseRz
    KseRz Posts: 980 Member
    Of course people have lost weight without counting. Weight watchers, Paleo, etc. all generally work because they reduce calories through the choice of foods. The advantage to calorie counting is that literally no food is off the menu and you can accurately track your nutrition goals along the way. The trade off, of course, is taking the time to weigh and measure your food. Find something that works for you, but you need to commit no matter what approach you take. That part doesn't change.

    I just lost more weight by following the advice in this post.
  • SISDONNAK
    SISDONNAK Posts: 21 Member
    I have been keeping a calorie log for at least 30 years. I have maintained my weight, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol consistently. I am the mom of 3 adult children and 4 grand babies. I wouldn't stop counting calories if you begged me to.
  • GuybrushThreepw00d
    GuybrushThreepw00d Posts: 784 Member
    Well I kind of still measure things but I am not counting calories, in fact I am going over calories and everything else quite a bit, but I am losing weight. I have started The Fast Metabolism Diet by Haylie Pomroy

    No wheat, dairy, caffeine, dried fruits (& more). Talk about rigid. :noway:
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I did. Then gained it back, because I had to cut things to lose weight... and obviously didn't learn moderation while cutting them out.
  • KseRz
    KseRz Posts: 980 Member
    It is the inability of the body to completely process carbohydrates

    Could also be interpreted as eating way too many carbs and sitting on your *kitten* and not moving.
  • Derp_Diggler
    Derp_Diggler Posts: 1,456 Member
    "I'll keep my processed foods, white bread, sugar, etc. I'll weigh my veggies thanks."

    So let's say there is a newbie who needs to lose 50 lbs. and is eating 2,200 calories on average. He/she determines that a drastic cut to 1,400 calories is called for, which obviously cannot be easy.

    And you would honestly advise that person that part of those 1,400 calories should be empty calories of sugar and white bread, which would do absolutely nothing to fill that person up? You have to be kidding me.

    A calorie may just be a calorie, but satiety is even more important. If you are starving at 7PM because you've eaten junk to get you to your calorie limit, you will fail your diet miserably and never lose weight.

    .
  • GiveMeCoffee
    GiveMeCoffee Posts: 3,556 Member
    "Did I say that was all I ate .. Nope and I've had no problem staying full because I include carbs, yes those evil carbs into my diet that also includes lots of protein & fat."

    So let's say there is a newbie who needs to lose 50 lbs. and is eating 2,200 calories on average. He/she determines that a drastic cut to 1,400 calories is called for, which obviously cannot be easy.

    And you would honestly advise that person that part of those 1,400 calories should be empty calories of sugar and white bread, which would do absolutely nothing to fill that person up? You have to be kidding me.

    A calorie may just be a calorie, but satiety is even more important. If you are starving at 7PM because you've eaten junk to get you to your calorie limit, you will fail your diet miserably and never lose weight.

    Yes I would give this person the advice of including carbs into their well balanced diet. How is white bread an empty calorie?

    I've lost a little weight over the past 18 months and have included pasta, white bread, lots of gelato, and I bake at least once a week.

    Looking at my ticker I'm glad I've failed so miserably.
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  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    "I'll keep my processed foods, white bread, sugar, etc. I'll weigh my veggies thanks."

    So let's say there is a newbie who needs to lose 50 lbs. and is eating 2,200 calories on average. He/she determines that a drastic cut to 1,400 calories is called for, which obviously cannot be easy.

    And you would honestly advise that person that part of those 1,400 calories should be empty calories of sugar and white bread, which would do absolutely nothing to fill that person up? You have to be kidding me.

    A calorie may just be a calorie, but satiety is even more important. If you are starving at 7PM because you've eaten junk to get you to your calorie limit, you will fail your diet miserably and never lose weight.

    How do you figure that white bread is an empty calorie? :huh:

    And no, it would not be difficult to include white bread and sugar into a 1,400 calorie day. You can make a sandwich for 300-400 calories easily. And have a snack cake at the end of the day.

    Your argument is ridiculous.
  • cyndiee1
    cyndiee1 Posts: 24
    I never logged what I ate before and at first I lost about 10 lbs, then found that I wasn't losing any more. That is when I joined MFP to get an idea of how much I was eating. My focus is not calories, but I'm not answering this to debate what people choose to track (do what works for you). Since tracking what I eat, I've lost an additional 5 lbs and have 5 more to go. So in answer to the original question, I think if you have a lot of weight to lose, you might be able to not log/count to start, but it gets more difficult as you get closer to your goal weight and counting helps you see what you need to adjust. I think is also easy to misjudge how much you are eating if you don't log. Some people are religious about weighing every morsel that goes into their mouth. I, personally, do not have the time to do that and if it takes me a little longer to lose this last 5 lbs because I didn't weigh every oz., I can live with that.
  • George_Baileys_Ghost
    George_Baileys_Ghost Posts: 1,524 Member
    Yup
    tapeworm-diet-adbiomedical-ephemera-or--a-frog-for-your-boils
    ornamentedbeing-6lszxi2g.jpg
  • ksolksol
    ksolksol Posts: 194 Member
    Going back to the OP question -- are you picking your battles in terms of how accurate you are on the logging? On low-cal items such as veggies, I don't worry about getting it precise down to the gram. On the oil, starches, etc. I'd want to be more exacting. If you eyeball the veggies close enough, would that help make it a little less hassle?

    I cook a lot, so I hear you. I'm finding MFP is easier on that front than I thought it would be.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    To the OP yes I did...my first 25lbs.

    Then I came here and realized that part of that 25lbs was muscle..not just fat.

    Mainly because I really wasn't watching my protien, was eating probably 1200 calories a day, to the point I couldn't exercise much.

    It also meant I had to cut out certian foods as well. I did this for 3 years and yo yo'd that same 25lbs for 3 years.

    But by counting, even to the point of weighing veggies etc I have lost an additional 25+ lbs and maintained most of the muscle I had left. I am not weak and can push and pull and lift some damn heavy weights (for me).

    Use the recipe builder or save the meal. But let's be frank here...logging homemade meals is done everyday by lots of people who don't give up because "it's too hard" or " to time consuming"
  • DamePiglet
    DamePiglet Posts: 3,730 Member
    "I'll keep my processed foods, white bread, sugar, etc. I'll weigh my veggies thanks."

    So let's say there is a newbie who needs to lose 50 lbs. and is eating 2,200 calories on average. He/she determines that a drastic cut to 1,400 calories is called for, which obviously cannot be easy.

    And you would honestly advise that person that part of those 1,400 calories should be empty calories of sugar and white bread, which would do absolutely nothing to fill that person up? You have to be kidding me.

    A calorie may just be a calorie, but satiety is even more important. If you are starving at 7PM because you've eaten junk to get you to your calorie limit, you will fail your diet miserably and never lose weight.

    Not kidding you at all.
    For me, having part of my diet coming from foods that are on your "empty" list makes for a sustainable way of life and maintainable weight management..

    As for the OP... there are many who also just do "portion control" of anything they eat; they're in a calorie deficit, but don't actually COUNT the calories... just ingest fewer.
  • gypsy_spirit
    gypsy_spirit Posts: 2,107 Member
    Yup
    tapeworm-diet-adbiomedical-ephemera-or--a-frog-for-your-boils
    ornamentedbeing-6lszxi2g.jpg

    :laugh: @ the "NO BATHS" and :sick: @ "easy to swallow"
  • GBrady43068
    GBrady43068 Posts: 1,256 Member
    So let's say there is a newbie who needs to lose 50 lbs. and is eating 2,200 calories on average. He/she determines that a drastic cut to 1,400 calories is called for, which obviously cannot be easy.

    And you would honestly advise that person that part of those 1,400 calories should be empty calories of sugar and white bread, which would do absolutely nothing to fill that person up? You have to be kidding me.
    Says you. Bread can be quite filling..that's WHY I include carbs in general in my diet. Even "evil" white bread if that's what you like...so long as you account for the calories. I'm not going to hold myself up as a paragon of logging because I've been quite bad at it recently but I'm going to point the finger square at myself rather than a particular food type for the slowdown in loss.

    And there's nothing wrong with sugar in moderation if that's what you want...tell yourself "No sugar ever again...." and you're setting yourself up to eat the whole container of cookies when the temptation is too great...instead of just allotting for the ONE cookie to take care of the craving and keeping the weight loss happening.
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    "I'll keep my processed foods, white bread, sugar, etc. I'll weigh my veggies thanks."

    So let's say there is a newbie who needs to lose 50 lbs. and is eating 2,200 calories on average. He/she determines that a drastic cut to 1,400 calories is called for, which obviously cannot be easy.

    And you would honestly advise that person that part of those 1,400 calories should be empty calories of sugar and white bread, which would do absolutely nothing to fill that person up? You have to be kidding me.

    A calorie may just be a calorie, but satiety is even more important. If you are starving at 7PM because you've eaten junk to get you to your calorie limit, you will fail your diet miserably and never lose weight.

    How do you figure that white bread is an empty calorie? :huh:

    And no, it would not be difficult to include white bread and sugar into a 1,400 calorie day. You can make a sandwich for 300-400 calories easily. And have a snack cake at the end of the day.

    Your argument is ridiculous.

    I eat a bagel every moring. It's yummy, and interestingly enough, it holds me over until lunchtime. Imagine that. :happy:
  • DamePiglet
    DamePiglet Posts: 3,730 Member
    Yup
    tapeworm-diet-adbiomedical-ephemera-or--a-frog-for-your-boils
    ornamentedbeing-6lszxi2g.jpg

    mmmmm... tape worm cleanse! My fav!
  • dawnyloutwo
    dawnyloutwo Posts: 1 Member
    When i logged the calories i found myself craving things more than ever and for the first time in my life (and I'm 40) got the urge to want to binge and purge. However doing the calorie thing meant that i did learn and have a good idea of what my favourite foods calories/values are and what works for me is simply not eating goodies and big portions and just having a little of the naughty stuff with lots of salad and healthy food. Luckily i didn't have a lot to lose but needed to retrain my sweet tooth and my lack of willpower. I'm still eating the same amount as when i logged the calories but haven't had any urges to binge so it wasn't because i was hungry, must just be a psychological want what you can't have thing!
  • KseRz
    KseRz Posts: 980 Member
    Yup
    tapeworm-diet-adbiomedical-ephemera-or--a-frog-for-your-boils
    ornamentedbeing-6lszxi2g.jpg

    mmmmm... tape worm cleanse! My fav!

    There is a sunlight cleanse
  • ILoveGingerNut
    ILoveGingerNut Posts: 367 Member
    Generations of women have lost/maintained weight without counting calories. It does help though if you are struggling to lose despite doing all the right things (or you think so). Most often we underestimate what we eat. That's all.
  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    I eat a balanced diet of all the food groups. People can individually do as they see fit, but I am not going to throw any food group out of my life. It's neither sustainable nor healthy for me. By counting calories, and by exercising regularly, I lose weight at a healthy rate of approximately a pound a week. I do weigh and measure things. It becomes second nature after about three months. Until then, just.... what can I say. Bear with it. It takes time to change habits.