Opinions on calorie counting?
rebeccakbuckley
Posts: 6
I've heard a lot of pros and cons to calorie counting and I'm trying to decide what is best for me and my lifestyle. I would really appreciate any and all input! 
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Replies
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it takes some time to set up initially... getting all your foods into your database... but after that is done you only need to search if you eat something new. I tend to keep my foods similar all the time (sounds boring but i have a varied diet so its good) so i log in in the afternoons, check how i went that day and plan my meal for the next day... takes about 10 mins, only longer if i read the message board and post comments0
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Like any other dieting, it's hard to stick to.
Unlike most other dieting, it actually works over the long run.0 -
Depends on your goal, really.
If you're trying to lose weight, calorie counting is advised as you can see what you're taking in.
Calorie counting while maintaining weight is pretty important, you might accidentally go into a deficit and start to lose weight.
Calorie counting doesn't take much effort, the food you usually eat or have eat recently are all in a drop down menu that you can quickly log.0 -
I disagree with that. I tried calorie counting for 20 years. No one can do that for the rest of thier lives. Talk about eating disorders, obsessing over every little thing you put in your mouth, how many calories in it, can I afford to eat it, every single day for ever (yes, forever. if you stop, you will go back to eating like you did before, and get fat again. truth is if you restrict your calories, by the time you're at goal weight, you'll have to stay on a restricted amount for ever to maintain that weight).
I no longer have to count calories, or obsess over what I eat. I don't weigh everything, I don't spend half the day dreaming of my next meal, and doing mental math to work out what I can eat. I'm the least obsessed with food that I've ever been, and I'm actually losing weight consistantly like I've never done before, without always feeling I'm about to slip, cheat, fall off the wagon.
You decide. You want to weigh and measure and record your food, you go for it, but it seems to me the very definition of an eating disorder.0 -
I don't spend half the day dreaming of my next meal, and doing mental math to work out what I can eat.
You decide. You want to weigh and measure and record your food, you go for it, but it seems to me the very definition of an eating disorder.
I don't think I've ever had to do mental maths to choose what I eat... I'm sure it only happens when people have gone over a little too much; at least it's never happened to me.0 -
I disagree with that. I tried calorie counting for 20 years. No one can do that for the rest of thier lives. Talk about eating disorders, obsessing over every little thing you put in your mouth, how many calories in it, can I afford to eat it, every single day for ever (yes, forever. if you stop, you will go back to eating like you did before, and get fat again. truth is if you restrict your calories, by the time you're at goal weight, you'll have to stay on a restricted amount for ever to maintain that weight).
I no longer have to count calories, or obsess over what I eat. I don't weigh everything, I don't spend half the day dreaming of my next meal, and doing mental math to work out what I can eat. I'm the least obsessed with food that I've ever been, and I'm actually losing weight consistantly like I've never done before, without always feeling I'm about to slip, cheat, fall off the wagon.
You decide. You want to weigh and measure and record your food, you go for it, but it seems to me the very definition of an eating disorder.
I don't even know where to start on this.0 -
Oh feel free to start. If you want to. It's just my experience from being overweight and trying to control it for the last 20 years, and only my opinion. Which is what the OP asked for.0
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if you stop, you will go back to eating like you did before, and get fat again.
*raises the BS flag*
Maybe *you* did, but that is not to say OP or anyone else will. That's beyond presumptuous of you.
Counting calories is not an eating disorder, and if you actually think that I suspect you might REALLY be on the wrong website. The idea of weighing, measuring, and logging your food is so you gain an understanding of how much you are eating. Proper portion sizes are typically much smaller than we think they are, and overestimating is one of the big reasons people don't lose weight. I imagine after awhile of weighing a proper serving of cheddar cheese that I will become familiar with roughly how much it is, but since I'm just starting out my estimations are WAY off. Like I will lop off 3 oz of cheese thinking it's 1.5 oz. That is why I have a scale, to help me learn proper portions.
Also if the OP does some looking around and learns about BMR and TDEE they will see that what you call "restricting" isn't actually all that restricted.0 -
Shai, what are you doing on a calorie counting website? And what is your alternative method?0
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So according to your definition of an ED every baker and anyone who ever baked and weighs and measures has an eating disorder! Luckily the majority of people weigh their food log it don't obsess and carry on with their days. Your definition is a bit like blaming people getting lost on maps. Calorie counting is a tool it's up to the individual how they use it and approach it.I disagree with that. I tried calorie counting for 20 years. No one can do that for the rest of thier lives. Talk about eating disorders, obsessing over every little thing you put in your mouth, how many calories in it, can I afford to eat it, every single day for ever (yes, forever. if you stop, you will go back to eating like you did before, and get fat again. truth is if you restrict your calories, by the time you're at goal weight, you'll have to stay on a restricted amount for ever to maintain that weight).
I no longer have to count calories, or obsess over what I eat. I don't weigh everything, I don't spend half the day dreaming of my next meal, and doing mental math to work out what I can eat. I'm the least obsessed with food that I've ever been, and I'm actually losing weight consistantly like I've never done before, without always feeling I'm about to slip, cheat, fall off the wagon.
Your decide. You want to weigh and measure and record your food, you go for it, but it seems to me the very definition of an eating disorder.0 -
It will succeed if you are diligent. Like a rocket, the lift off (beginning) is the most difficult. But in short order, the program will remember what you normally eat. In time you will be able to almost correctly measure the food you normally eat by sight...took me about a year, but i still spot check.
I was hesitate and didn't want to have to take the time to measure and log...but in the end...it works.0 -
I've heard a lot of pros and cons to calorie counting and I'm trying to decide what is best for me and my lifestyle. I would really appreciate any and all input!
There are pro's and con's to all diets, whether its a restricted calorie diet (calorie counting) or a restricted food group diet (low carb).
Both of the diets work well and are healthily when followed properly. However there will be millions of people who cannot succeed on a low carb diet, just as there will be millions of people who cannot succeed with a calorie counting diet!
Best answer would be - give it a go, try it for a month. Give it the best shot you can and follow it to the letter and see how you find it.
It's possible it won't be for you at all, or you may find it easy and stick with it. You may find that it's okay and find some middle ground which will help you in your goals.
There's no one diet out that that suits everyone.
Good luck.0 -
Like any other dieting, it's hard to stick to.
Unlike most other dieting, it actually works over the long run.
Pst! Like every other healthy diet it works in the long term if it suits you.0 -
Try it out and see if it works for you - if it doesn't just stop. It's not one of those things that will take a lot of effort or time, and some people are successful at it while others are not, so why not test it out yourself?0
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I've heard a lot of pros and cons to calorie counting and I'm trying to decide what is best for me and my lifestyle. I would really appreciate any and all input!
just try it.
to me there are no cons.
also peeking at your goals/ profile, the info on proteind,fats,sugars etc in your macros will give you important insights into your dietary consumption for life at a young age.
like many,i only wish this easy and helpfull tool was available 20 years ago.
maybe then, we wouldnt have ridiculous posts using excuses for 20 year weight fails.
g luck.0 -
OMG. I am trying to reply to a previous post and don't know how to do it. You know how you can highlight a post on a tread and comment on that one or a portion of the name. Well I just tried it and wasn't successful. Tried to delete my comment and wasn't successful. Please ignore this post. Thank you have a great day.0
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I feel I have to count mine until I can kinda guess on my own how many calories are in each food. Otherwise I will just carry on over eating0
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I think it depends on you and your lifestyle to start with.
For example, I've always eaten fairly healthily but as soon as I went to uni, bam, it was what I could afford to eat not what I wanted to eat and so I gained a fair bit of weight over the span of the last few years. And all the unhealthy food I was eating started to increase in portion size when I got stressed or had big events coming up.
Calorie counting for me isn't about punishing myself when I eat too much or obsessing about going over the limit. It's to keep a record of where I'm going wrong so I can fix it (e.g. am I likely to gain weight when I eat noodles and if so how important are they to my daily diet? Can I remove them easily). Since I've started and been able to observe increases and decreases I've lost 48lb. I'm still waaay heavier than I should be but it's helped a lot to have kept a record and review it from time to time.0 -
I disagree with that. I tried calorie counting for 20 years. No one can do that for the rest of thier lives. Talk about eating disorders, obsessing over every little thing you put in your mouth, how many calories in it, can I afford to eat it, every single day for ever (yes, forever. if you stop, you will go back to eating like you did before, and get fat again. truth is if you restrict your calories, by the time you're at goal weight, you'll have to stay on a restricted amount for ever to maintain that weight).
I no longer have to count calories, or obsess over what I eat. I don't weigh everything, I don't spend half the day dreaming of my next meal, and doing mental math to work out what I can eat. I'm the least obsessed with food that I've ever been, and I'm actually losing weight consistantly like I've never done before, without always feeling I'm about to slip, cheat, fall off the wagon.
You decide. You want to weigh and measure and record your food, you go for it, but it seems to me the very definition of an eating disorder.
I was gonna bold all the crap in this post but...well let's just say I would have to bold it all.
Anyone can count calories for life if they want...it's not an indication of an ED.
I don't obsess over everything I put in my mouth...check my diary...chocolate bars, cookies, chips dip...along with chicken, salad, steak, pasta etc.
As for getting fat again yah I did htat for 20 years too...because I wasn't counting calories. 20 years of yo yo ing to my highest of 205 down to 165 for 20 YEARS never maintaining for more than 6 months...no counting calories...last 2 years at my lowest weight since my son was born...almost at high school weight because of counting calories...
As for the restriction I can actually eat more now and maintain than I could when I was at 165...imagine that...:drinker:
To the OP this poster seems a bit angry if you ask me. Counting calories and using a food scale is easy and if done consistently you will lose weight and maintain it. None of what this poster said is reality for most people here...my personal opinion on counting it works without drama, no restrictions except on the amounts but you can eat whatever you want as long as you stay in a reasonable deficit.0 -
I had the opposite experience - stayed fat for 20 years while not counting calories.Oh feel free to start. If you want to. It's just my experience from being overweight and trying to control it for the last 20 years, and only my opinion. Which is what the OP asked for.
Got lighter, fitter, stronger, healthier by counting calories and have found a way to maintain in a relaxed and sustainable way incorporating (but not obsessing about) calorie counting.0 -
Calorie counting is important but do not take it too seriously as a habit because it may become your obsession and we don't want, right?
You calorie intake depends on your age and daily activity, so if you are not active at all and eat whatever you want and do not limit your intake, you may result with gaining weight, and when I say not active at all, I mean just lying in bed, watching TV etc.
1200-1500 calories is the minimum limit for a woman, but only if her aim is to lose weight (including moderate exercise). But if your aim is to maintain your weight, the recommended calorie intake is 1600-1800 calories a day.
Healthy foods are your best friends so freely grab on to them and take out all the greasy stuff such as junk food and you won't have to worry about the calories AT ALL! You can eat bread, pasta and still be thin! But remember, limit your carbohydrates to 150g daily.
All in all, there are advantages and disadvantages in calorie counting, but the only solution is healthy nutrition and the problem will be surely solved. I guarantee it!0 -
As long as you don't obsess about it.
I once brought my food scale to a restuarant...0 -
I disagree with that. I tried calorie counting for 20 years. No one can do that for the rest of thier lives. Talk about eating disorders, obsessing over every little thing you put in your mouth, how many calories in it, can I afford to eat it, every single day for ever (yes, forever. if you stop, you will go back to eating like you did before, and get fat again. truth is if you restrict your calories, by the time you're at goal weight, you'll have to stay on a restricted amount for ever to maintain that weight).
I no longer have to count calories, or obsess over what I eat. I don't weigh everything, I don't spend half the day dreaming of my next meal, and doing mental math to work out what I can eat. I'm the least obsessed with food that I've ever been, and I'm actually losing weight consistantly like I've never done before, without always feeling I'm about to slip, cheat, fall off the wagon.
You decide. You want to weigh and measure and record your food, you go for it, but it seems to me the very definition of an eating disorder.
Whoa there. No. It sounds to me like YOU had disordered thinking about food already and are trying to place blame on the process of calorie counting.
First of all, anyone who starts counting calories has to be realistic about it. Don't ever let yourself become 'obsessive' about it in the first place. Obviously that's not healthy for anyone. If you can't handle it, don't do it. Don't force it. Take a break, come back & try again later. Not a big deal.
Secondly, whether you're 'counting calories' or not, you're restricting your intake in some way in order to lose weight. Lucky you, you can do it without having to hold yourself accountable. Or maybe not so lucky - sometimes people need to hold themselves accountable so they know they're not starving themselves and losing too much too fast. The way you talk in this post makes me worry a little that this might be an issue for you.
ETA that I realized I didn't answer the initial OP question - honestly, it's whatever works for you. You might find calorie counting totally easy & wonder why on earth you never did this before because it seems so easy, or you'll struggle a lot with it & hate that it's hanging over your head everyday. I think even if you hate it, doing it for a few months is worth it to at least get an idea of what your daily caloric intake should look like. I'm of the 'wow, this is so easy why did it take me so long to do this' variety & have been logging consistently since January. Calorie counting has made me a whole lot more realistic about weight loss goals & my understanding of food - particularly in regards to maintenance. For the first time ever, even when I go off track, I'm able to at least maintain my progress so I can pick up where I left off in a few months, rather than gaining back the 20lbs I lost & having to lose them again.0 -
It's sometimes difficult to log on every day, but I know if I let it slip too long , the weight just creeps back. It becomes a life style and allows you to eat the foods you love in moderation.0
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I think it's great because it really makes you realize what's in the foods you eat and what is a normal portion, after you understand that then you wouldn't have to do it if you didn't want to.0
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It depends on how badly You want to lose weight, because this is the one way that is GUARANTIED by the laws of the universe that it'll ALWAYS work. Think of it like this - You got three budgets in Your life now: monthly pay, data plan on Your phone and daily calories. :bigsmile: You can do whatever You like with them.0
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Pros - you don't have to give up anything for life (which is basically what you have to do with fat diets or you'll gain the weight back). You learn portion control.
Cons - If you're not doing it right and not weighing your food, it won't always work. So it takes a bit of time, and sometimes you really just have to guess.0 -
Works for me.................... Best of Luck0
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I couldn't get the physique I wanted until I started calorie counting. I lifted since high school and was underweight till about my early 20's. At early to mid 30's I woke up and realized i had gotten fat. Calorie counting taught me to how to cut, bulk and maintain with ease. Calorie counting destroyed my fear of carbs and fats. I also learned that setting calorie intake comes first and then macros comes second. You can have the most perfect macros, but if calories are set wrong then you will not see the intended result (gain, loss, or maintain).0
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I've heard a lot of pros and cons to calorie counting and I'm trying to decide what is best for me and my lifestyle. I would really appreciate any and all input!
Well first of all this is primarily a calorie tracking site of sorts, so consider that. I would imagine if I went to a keto forum and asked about low carb dieting or if I went to a paleo cave and chiseled a question on the wall with cave drawings to ask about a pototo -- in both cases I'd probably get somewhat of a biased answer.
Having said that...
I think it's certainly worth attempting for a couple of months to see whether or not this is a method that you can adhere to. In that time it may help you to become more accustomed to portion sizes and energy values of certain foods and you might learn more about the different macronutrients, and if you pay attention it may also help you learn about your energy needs. My opinion is that these pieces of information can all have value that can be applied to some extent even if you choose not to track long term.
So having said that, I think it's a great method for most people to use at least short term. I think it's a great method for some people to use long term. I think that additional techniques should be used at some point, such as environmental management and building awareness around hunger/satiety, and building better habits around food. All of this can be done while logging, in my opinion, so it's not an either/or scenario.
EDIT: I also think it's somewhat goal dependent. As of right now my opinion is that if your goal is to get very lean, tracking is probably your best bet for accuracy purposes. Competition level athletes that need to make a weight class for example.0
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