Does calorie counting really work?

2»

Replies

  • good2bthaking
    good2bthaking Posts: 325 Member
    I say yes , it does help. But also, watch what you eat. You want to be sure you are getting a well balanced diet to fuel your body properly. I not only use this site, but I keep a food and exercise journal as well. Good luck Helen and if you feel you need friends to help you, then go ahead and add me if you would like. thanks!!
  • ShawnaCurley
    ShawnaCurley Posts: 82 Member
    I have been one of these people that has alway's said counting calories don't work. That is, until I started doing it! LOL! I then actually realized just how much I had been consuming. It's a shock when you first start doing it, but once you do it for awhile it becomes second nature. I am at a point now, where I can look at a food item and come pretty close to the calorie intent.

    So I am a firm believer that counting calories works!

    Don't give up! Your on the right path! Good luck on your journey! :flowerforyou:
  • xxmzangel
    xxmzangel Posts: 119 Member
    It really does work, as long as your calories are the right ones. You want to make all your calories count, meaning, make and keep you full. I don't feel as though I have to explain the evil that can come with eating too few calories, seeing as a number of people already.

    Just make sure you're eating enough of the right stuff and you should be good. :)
  • starkitty4
    starkitty4 Posts: 17 Member
    I'm in my first week of calorie counting and so far I'm enjoying it but finding it a little confusing so I'm going to read those links I saw in here to get my head around it a bit more.. Feel free to add me as a friend guys x
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Of course it does...if you are consistent and precise as possible. Weight loss is 100% math....you consume fewer calories than you need to maintain then you will lose weight. It's science.
  • NicoleRaeB
    NicoleRaeB Posts: 20 Member
    I believe it does work because before I started counting my calories, I would just workout and try to watch what I eat. But I was never able to really lose any weight. Now I've started MFP and so far I've lost 6 lbs in 2 weeks. :happy: You just have to make sure you eat enough calories and make sure they're "good" ones for you, not just bad food and staying underneath your goal.
  • Dreya711
    Dreya711 Posts: 79 Member
    It is normal to see a gain in the beginning. You muscles are in shock and tend to retain water while they "repair". I usually have to take a day off from exercise before I do my Friday weigh in to let the water come off.

    Alot of people who come on here and fail are expecting instant results. It's not easy and it's not going to happen in a week. If you have patience and stick with it, YOU WILL be successful!

    Love and needed this ^^^^^^
  • Tristaan
    Tristaan Posts: 125 Member
    Yes! It works if you're honest, and consistent. Also, are you getting enough water/liquids? Making sure I get 64 a day is a must for me to keep seeing the scale moving down. If I don't get enough water a couple days in a row, I start retaining it.
  • CassieReannan
    CassieReannan Posts: 1,479 Member
    Yes!!!!! It really does, and is a way of life for me now/
  • ToBeAStrongerMan
    ToBeAStrongerMan Posts: 36 Member
    I've lost a few kg doing it, and I think many others have successfully as well. Just make sure you also incorporate some exercise in the mix as well (cardio and strength).

    At the very least, I think it will greatly improve your knowledge on nutrition which is a great step in making healthier choices in the long term

    Good luck :)
  • CorgiGal90
    CorgiGal90 Posts: 8
    That's me right now! I just started counting and such and I gained weight! How frustrating!
  • CorgiGal90
    CorgiGal90 Posts: 8
    Do you have to eat back the calories you burn during exercise?
  • acogg
    acogg Posts: 1,870 Member
    According to your profile you have very few pounds to lose so the final pounds will be very slow. The walking is probably more important with so few pounds to lose. You will tone up, get stronger and fitter which is much more important than a couple or three pounds.
  • jamielu81
    jamielu81 Posts: 5 Member
    I think calorie counting is the only way to do it! When I track with My Fitness Pal I do awesome!!!!
  • AestheticStar
    AestheticStar Posts: 447 Member
    It does help, at least it has for me. I never used to watch how much I ate for meals (usually try to make the highest calorie count for breakfast), & then dwindle down by evening so I'm not overloading myself. But I usually burn over 1,200 calories six days a week, but I try to keep my food intake to 1,200 like it's supposed to be, or I go a little over.
    I've lost 7 pounds in four months, even though I'm on a 2 pounds a week..(it just doesn't work that way for me haha).
    It might take time to see the pounds come off, 'cause mine seems to take at least the whole month to get two pounds off, but I'm also packing on muscle, which can cause that to happen. Maybe doing a little more increased cardio to burn off the fat, it can help to burn off the pounds.
    I only had ten pounds I wanted to lose, & it always seems those ten are the stubborn ones.
  • AestheticStar
    AestheticStar Posts: 447 Member
    Do you have to eat back the calories you burn during exercise?

    I never eat them all back.. If I did, I'd be going over 2,000 calories since I exercise so much. I eat maybe 200-400 of them back, if that. I try not to.
  • MsSarahMurphy
    MsSarahMurphy Posts: 1
    You might be putting on weight because you are gaining muscle. Muscle is heavier than fat.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories