Is there a limit??

sweetnessnc

I was just wondering yall...ok..say if you are allowed 1500 cals...is it ok to eat whatever you want as long as you stay in your range??

healthyfoxx

Yeah, pretty much.

I like focusing on food quality as well (I'm certainly not perfect at it, though!), but you can eat all junk and still lose if you are eating less calories than you burn. Eating healthier foods will help you get your vitamins and minerals as well, though.

EmilyPikachu

It's best to eat healthy foods. Don't eat a bunch of junk food til you reach your limit. You will seriously limit our intake and you'll be hungry. Eating fiber-filled foods and fruits and veggies help fill you up and you'll use up much less calories with fruits and veggies!

jennifer_417

Pretty much. People will debate this matter endlessly, but unless you have a health condition, all that is necessary for weight loss is to eat fewer calories than you burn.

Joannah700

Losing weight is a matter of intaking less calories than you're expending. So if you need 1750 a day just to go about your daily business - you will lose weight if you only eat 1500 calories a day.

That being said, while it doesn't matter what you 'spend' those calories on to lose weight, you will retain more of you muscle or lean mass if you make sure you have adequate protein. Many people like to do this - because they want to look toned and fit. They will also tell you to work your muscles through either lifting or some sort of resistance training.

Now if you have different health goals other than losing weight - you might also want to focus on the nutrition aspect of what to eat. Which I'm sure you'll hear about.

I recommend reading through these threads and then asking any follow-up questions you may have:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1161603-so-you-want-a-nice-stomach

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1343719-get-rich-quick?hl=get+rich+quick&page=1

Jim_Barteck

As long as you stay within your calorie limit, you *will* lose weight....However,

- If you're not getting enough protein, then your body will get it anyway - from your muscles. So if you want to maintain your metabolism and avoid becoming "skinny fat," then you'll want to make sure you're meeting your protein macro daily. It takes 3500 calories to lose a pound of fat, but only 600 calories to lose a pound of muscle. So you can get some drastic weight loss by not eating enough protein, but I can pretty much guarantee that you'll wind up regretting it.

- You'll also want to make sure you're drinking enough water and meeting your fiber macro as well. Both are necessary for proper digestion and eliminating waste. Lots of people find that they're not losing weight because they wind up retaining water and digested food in their bowels because they're not eliminating it (read: pooping) efficiently.

- I always recommend a general multivitamin to anyone embarking on a weight loss program. By definition, any weight loss program involves giving your body less than it requires to maintain your current weight. It can be extraordinarily difficult to cover the universe of necessary vitamins and minerals while also maintaining a caloric deficit. A multivitamin can "fill in the gaps" and prevent hunger cravings because your body is deficient in one thing or another.

tmauck4472

Apparently yes it's true as long as your within your calorie limits you can eat whatever you want....1500 calories of twinkies and you should lose weight. I did eat a bag of reece mini cups one day, I don't suggest you try it.
I have found that eating less processed foods as in foods from a box or can or fast food has been my biggest help in losing what I've lost. But you do what's best for you.

libbydoodle11

There shouldn't be a limit as long as you are within your calorie count. I suppose one could load up on 1500 hundred calories worth of twinkies if they wanted to. I tend to opt for healthier options the majority of the time and budget in ice cream, chips or cookies every now and then.

Tickwomp

Exactly. You can eat pretty much anything as long as you remember "if it fits your macros". I CHOOSE to eat lots of nutrient rich calories- mostly raw, unprocessed foods. You can lose weight eating only McDonalds, however weighing less and being healthy are two completely different concepts.

A good macro split for most people is 40/40/20. I take in more protein and less carbs than that, but everyone needs to figure their needs out for themselves.

neanderthin

If your reaching your macro, micro nutrients and fibre requirements then your golden.

pucenavel

Yes.

Stick and a half of butter a day - you will live to be skinny and old.

^sarcasm

FoxyLifter

Here's how I see it:

~For weight loss: calories in < calories out.
~For body composition: get enough protein and lift heavy.
~For overall health: get enough fat, micronutrients, water, rest, maybe some cardio.
~For your sanity: don't eliminate a whole group of foods for no medical reason.

If you're only worried about the number that a scale gives you, then it's all calories in/calories out.

beautifuldisasta

There have been studies where people lose weight even eating junk food as long as its under the daily calories, but and this is a big BUT lol, you wouldn't be doing your body any favors nutritionally and you wouldn't be able to eat as much as you can eating lots of healthy veggies etc. Eat to nourish your body and it will love you for it

sweetnessnc

I love you guys! Not only do you offer encouragement, but also do good sound advice. I see what you mean when you say "skinny fat" though. I have lost over 100 lbs and have skin from doing multiple diets and losing the weight too fast. I didn't know I was messing up my body by doing so...but I know now. And also because I lost it the wrong way, I lost a lot of muscle and it is EXTREMELY easy for me to gain weight. I have been dieting for years and my weight has been up and down. 289.5 at my highest and 138 at my lowest. I don't mean to ramble..I'm just tired of the lose skin and I'm ready to build up some muscle but I guess to be honest..I really don't want to do the work. It's going to be tough. I have always lost weight by walking and just dieting. But I know it's time for me to start strength training. Losing the weight isn't the problem...it's toning and keeping it off that's the problem. Thanks yall..thank you for your input.