I hate counting Calories- any other methods?
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LOL so much this^This is a calorie counting website...
Other than that, just eat the "bro foods" - chicken and rice.0 -
This may sound backwards but counting on this site actually lets me think LESS of food.
Any other "diet" I've ever followed made me scrutinize everything I ate so I wouldn't eat anything "bad". Made me horribly obsessed with all the things I couldn't have.
Counting calories I can eat what I want within my goal. As soon as I log it I don't have to think about it anymore.0 -
The only thing absolutely required for fat loss is a calorie deficit. Having said that, if your goal is fat loss there's not really any way out of counting calories to ensure you are in said deficit.
On the other hand there are a ton of diets out there, and a lot of them work. But the one thing they all have in common, if they actually work, is a calorie deficit. Some of them will tell you they work without counting calories but if weight is lost calories were counted some how to create the required deficit.
Whether you are counting calories, points, or macros, to be successful at fat loss, you will have to count something so why not take the middle man out and just count the calories?0 -
Well, it really wasn't easier than calorie counting (kinda more difficult really) but when I was recovering from an eating disorder, I saw a nutritionist. She moved me from counting calories to something similar to the diabetic exchange, where I was encouraged to eat a certain amount of Starches, Fats, Protein, Dairy, and Fruits and Veggies a day. It made it a little more complicated for me, though, because if I'm having 2% Fruit Greek yogurt, I then got into trying to decide if I counted it as a Dairy, or as a Protein and a Starch, or a Protein, Dairy, Starch, and Fruit. Now, it is just easier for me to know that it is 140 calories.0
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I am doing the eat to live lifestyle change. No counting calories, and the weight is coming off effortlessly (I do exercise as well). Not only that, but I am SOOO healthy. I have IBS and have had no stomach problems since I started, and I also have clearer skin and no food cravings. It is awesome. I love eating this way.0
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Try naming them.
Go buy them all matching overalls and call them your minions.0 -
Low carb is a good way, but with most of the better plans you'll still be counting something; most of the worst ones you'll simply be eating meal for meal what someone else tells you, which is not sustainable, imo.
If you don't want to count anything, but want a decent blueprint for weight loss, I posted the below in another thread recently, and you may find it of benefit. If any of my friends or family asked me what they should do to lose weight, this is almost exactly what I would tell them:My suggestion would be nothing overly special, namely eat more real food (ie less processed food), cut out/ cut back the added sugar (including alcohol, at least during weight loss), and only eat starches, grains and bread in moderate amounts.
Try that for a while, weigh yourself at least once a week (first thing in morning, pre-food, post-bathroom), if losing, carry on, if not cut back more on the added sugar, starches, grains and bread until you are. Exercise and get at least a 30 min walk every day if you can. When you lose what you wish to lose, add back in the things you cut out, little by little, until you're holding your weight.
If you feel hungry AND your intake is reasonable, swap some of the carbs in your diet for fat/ protein, as these will fill you, and help you stick to the plan.
I know this is probably extremely simplistic, but it would be the advice I would have given to my past self, with the benefit of hindsight and what I know now
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it's math. the question is really why does the math make you hungry?
maybe you are not eating full enough meals so that the tracking of insignificant calories and your hunger get paired as though one is responsible for the other?
when i opted to go from eating 5 meals around 250 calories to three solid meals around 400 with smallish snacks, i felt much better despite the number being the same. you have to know the numbers to know where you stand.
i tried intuitive eating for a week (no logging) and found that my natural tendency was to eat to maintain. it didn't put me in a debt necessary for weight loss. i think you have to really question why heightened mindful awareness of calories is making you hungry? is it really the knowledge or is it how you are portioning your meals?0 -
Constantly thinking of food helps me, personally. Once I found my stride, found foods that kept me full, I'd be on this website several times a day just staring at my plan for the day and being proud of how good I'll do if I can just stick to that plan.
HA! Hahahaha. Thanks for this.0 -
I don't understand why you are here, if you don't want to count.
I plan my meals the night before, maybe 10 mins. of my time.
I weigh/measure my food every day.
I lose weight.
The end. :bigsmile:
So when you hit a "plateau" how will figure what is wrong?? Just wondering......0 -
Thank you
This is exactly why I posted this topic. I needed inspiration.Not sure when mfp became specifically a calorie counting site.
You could try low carbing, 5:2 to get you around daily cal counts. The meal plans thing sounds like a good short cut too. Cal counting is something mfp gives you a nice free easy to use tool to do. But mfp also provides help advice and inspiration as well as a way of logging weight and measurements.
Cal counting is tried and tested but if it doesnt suit you by all means experiment - you may well end up realising cal counting is the only way. Or you could find something else works for you.0 -
I really appreciate all the sincere comments. I was really inspired.
Thank you all.0 -
No. There's no other way.
I agree that I don't like obsessing over what I'm eating and counting, but its the only way.0 -
You might try Beyond Diet. I did it for the 14 day accelerated plan and you just follow what they tell you to eat and you lose weight. They have a website too, but it was not user friendly and I ended up still logging into the MFP. I eventually got tired of the same foods and started eating what I want and logging on MFP. You can't beat this site for the support and accountability to help you lose weight. They take the guesswork out of counting calories and tell you how many calories and nutrition facts there are in what you eat. It works so give it a try. Best of luck.0
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No. There's no other way.
I agree that I don't like obsessing over what I'm eating and counting, but its the only way.
It may be the only way you have been able to succeed at but that does not mean that it's the only way for everyone.0 -
Your story sounds a lot like mine. It took me 6 months to realize what I was doing wasn't working. I didn't know what to eat and was guessing at my nutrition. I found this amazing nutrition program that has completely changed my body. It's so easy and so wonderful. I have more energy. It worked so fast. In 30 days I had a completely different person. I lost 20 pounds and I've kept it off. After 2 babies in the last 4 years I tried working out and exercising and counting my calories on myfitnesspal but it was just too much work. I'm not talking about a magic diet pill or anything. It's an all natural nutrition program. So you are giving your body the right nutrients. It doesn't have to be this hard and you can see results. Email me at sns628@gmail if you are interested in finding out more and I can help you!
Sarah
Gosh and I wonder how much you'll charge for this help?0 -
Recently I have read the book "Eat What you Love Love What you Eat" Michelle May, M.D. and I am enjoying a new way to live and enjoying the same meals with my family again. This book has you think of food as fuel and not as a reward. I have been at the same weight for the past month and now I just experienced a one pound lost. Keep in mind that I still log every day and exercise so that I burn 500 to 2000 calories a day. Remember this is healthy journey, not a quick fix. Good luck to you and what every works for you.0
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You could try 5:2 in the way people not on a calorie counting site do it perhaps? i.e. only counting calories on the two fasting days and "eating normally" on the other five days a week. Maybe that would reduce the feeling of daily food obsession?
My friend has lost weight this way, over a year. I do a "fast" day every now and again when I feel like it, but primarily calorie count, as it's working well for me.
There is a 5:2 forum on here somewhere, if you do a search.
If you hate counting calories and can tolerate occasional extreme deprivation better than low level constant deprivation, 5:2 intermittent fasting might be for you. You build in your calorie deficit by eating very low (500 cals) on two non consecutive days during the week. It means only counting two days out of the week, when you are going to feel pretty obsessed with food anyway due to physical hunger. Works well for people who can tolerate discomfort knowing that they can eat normally the next day.0 -
I initially lost 55lbs by limiting my carb intake to just a portion (or two at most) a day and upping my lean proteins, veggie, and fruit intake, and pretty much eliminating sweets. I also cut out most dairy. No calorie counting was involved. By carb I mean bread products and starchy vegetables. Some people include fruit and leafy veggies in with their carbs and I did not. When I hit a plateau I would spend three days eating only lean proteins and veggies (no fruit, dairy, sugar, oils, etc) and that usually got me right back on track. During those cleanses I would not limit how much I could eat, just what I could eat. During that whole time I also drank very little alcohol.
I kept it off for about three years but over the last year some started creeping back on (10-15lbs) so I got on here. I’m dating a chef so I’ve found that calorie counting is a better fit for my life these days. I don’t mind it so much and I’ve taken off the weight I put on over the winter (and then some)!
I think it’s all about finding something that works for you and your life. It’s true that most weightloss plans are counting calories in one way or another, but many are not nearly so structured or exact. Do what works for you. Good luck!0 -
You could try the "No S" Diet. I like to count calories but if I didn't I think I would give this one a whorl. It seems OK to me if you won't count calories and I know some people that have had a lot of success on it. I just like to have my snacks and count calories so I'm not going to do it.0
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IF, or 5:2 or 16:8 or whatever version you follow isn't a magic solution for weight loss - you still need to be cognizant of how many calories you require to lose and how many are in the foods you are eating.
sorry - just had to get that out there....carry on0 -
This is a calorie counting website...
QFT0 -
I saw this infomercial for 21 day fix (ok stop laughing) most of it I ignored but in her food plan she has these little different sized and colored containers used to track your food. Like the small blue one for fats, bigger green one for protein, etc. You just fill them up and when you're done eating them all you're done. It's really just portion control, which is what calorie counting is but this might be easier for you. I'm sure you can replicate what she's doing without buying the whole weird program. Just a suggestion.
Weighing and counting calories works very well, but the only thing that really works is what you can stick to.
You could always switch to a Plant based whole foods diet, they promote NOT counting calories and just focus on good nutrition with lots of veggies :-)0 -
So there are a number of things you can do but ultimately it's going to boil down to your ability to form food related habits that allow you to keep calories managed. It's still calories in vs calories out regardless of whether those calories are tracked.
Additionally, you'll have some "rules" or some sort of a framework around your eating habits. Some of these things get labeled as "broscience" within the context of a tracking model but in the context of a non tracking model they can help people maintain satiety and reduce the likelihood of overeating. They are not one-size-fits-all rules that are universally true, however.
Some things I'd consider doing would be as follows:
- Eat 3 meals per day with minimal snacking in between.
- Allow yourself to experience hunger for about 30 minutes prior to eating and identify that hunger.
- Eat mixed meals (meals containing protein/carbs/fats) and I'd probably consume fibrous vegetables with each meal for satiety, 1-2 servings/meal. The interview I posted below goes into this in more detail.
- Eat mostly whole and minimally refined foods and limit the consumption of heavily refined and energy dense/nutrient sparse foods.
- Consider occasional or intermittent logging while implementing the above to use that as a check on energy intake. Conversely, if you are ALREADY logging I would keep to it, and gradually remove the logging and/or the food scale use.
- You may want to consider environmental effects on food intake, such as positioning energy dense/heavily refined "junk food" in less visible and less accessible locations in your home and making whole/nutrient dense foods more present in your environment. This will influence you to choose those nutrient dense/calorie sparse foods more frequently and the "junk" food less frequently and it will also cause you to think about those calorie dense/highly palatable foods less often.
- If you implement the above and still have issues with satiety you may want to consider whether or not your food (through preparation (cooking methods), seasonings, or food selection) is hyperpalatable and if so, you may want to tone it down a notch to see if this effectively causes you to eat less.
-Maintain proper hydration.
- Consider documenting (in a simple journal) hunger and why you are choosing to eat what you choose to eat.
This is not a complete list. This is also not something where all techniques are going to work for all people. This is simply a framework around which you can start to build food habits to help you adhere to an energy intake that may get results.
Finally, non tracking dieting methods have worked for people in varying capacities, but it's not the same as "just eating without logging". It's a trade off.
Logging only forces you to learn the habit of logging. If you can manage to stick to a reasonable calorie intake you make progress without necessarily having to implement the above (although some of the above can make it easier!). It is for this reason that people who log may look at the above list and think "what a bunch of nonsense". But the trade-off is that having some sort of a framework around your meal structure/frequency and eating habits MAY allow you to not have to log -- and if you're the type of person that just goes nuts having to log food this trade off can be worth it.
I like calorie counting as a method for many people short term and for some people long term. There are benefits to it even if it's not done for long periods of time. All of my clients START by tracking.
But suggesting that everyone must track is ridiculous.
Some additional resources:
Good post by Steve Troutman on this very topic:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Body-Improvements-LLC/206180602737670
Mindless Eating (book)
Georgie Fear interviewed by Armi Legge:
http://evidencemag.com/weight-loss-habits/0 -
I hated it too until I realized it helps me in countless ways I didn't imagine. If you don't feel ready to count calories, at least start with measuring your portion sizes. That will help give you an idea of what portions look like and naturally cut down the calories (unless you're eating three servings of the portion!).
I was once a hater though and now I don't even notice it.0 -
I think if you tend to eat pretty healthy selections - e.g., less processed, more whole, you can follow the food plate model and do well. I would recommend tracking and measuring every once in a while to check in on your calories though. I actually found my food plate meals earlier in the day were a bit light on kcals (averaging 300-400), which was probably making it harder to eat as planned at night. and I needed to add in snacks and a little fat. However, if you want to be more flexible with your food choices (e.g., eating out, having desserts more regularly), you will do much better if you track since those things add up so quickly).0
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It's not the only way no, but no matter what diet or method you choose you will only lose calories if you eat at a calorie surplus. I calorie count so that I can still have all of my favorite foods and eat them in moderation.
I personally calorie count not to obsess about food but so that I can take my mind off of it once in a while and have a positive relationship with food.0 -
I get that some might not logging, but really, to be successful at losing weight, and maintaining that loss, we need to be cognizant of what we're eating. It's obvious that we're here because just eating the way we want to eat naturally doesn't work for us; it does for some people, believe it or not. I hate those people.
Whether we're counting WW points, grams of net carbs, calories, portion sizes, cookies out of the bag, whatever, we need to be counting something to ensure that we're not eating too much, right? By saying "I hate counting calories" what you're really saying is that you don't like having to keep track. I get that but if eating whatever you wanted didn't work for you before, it won't work for you now, either. You'll need to find something that you can track which will help you to make sure you are eating few enough calories to lose weight.
That's not saying you can't lose weight without tracking, because you certainly can. By eating less calories than you burn. But not tracking makes it more difficult and less likely to succeed because you're just guessing. You could certainly lose weight by eating only salad with veggies and no dressing, oils or butter, and a plain chicken breast for every meal. You'd be assured that you're only getting about 1000 calories per day without counting but you're certainly going to get sick of eating that way after a very short period of time. And then you'll start obsessing about the things you can't eat. IMHO, it's better to count calories and be able to eat what you want as long as it fits in your calorie goals and macros for the day. If I want a piece of chocolate, I have the piece of the chocolate and I log it when I do.0 -
Just eat clean; or go vegetarian; or cut out all crap and eat half of the rest; run many miles a day or something similar and eat whatever you want. Eat half of everything including crap.
I bet these things would work.
After logging for long enough you'll just know portion control etc.
Only you can know what will work best for you in the end. Counting calories really works IMO.0 -
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