Eating poorly but staying under calorie goal

chevy88grl

Calories don't mean anything..... if you eat a banana and a doughnut they are the same calories, just being under your calorie goal will not help you lose weight.... you have to eat the right foods to lose weight... what do you think will help you lose more weight, a banana or a doughnut?

Well. I disagree. I could eat crap all day long and as long as I stick with my calories - I'm fine. I don't FEEL good but I'll still maintain (or lose) weight. So, while I could easily consume boatloads of CRAP food everyday and be fine... I wouldn't like the way I'm feeling.

A calorie is a calorie in that sense. Your body doesn't know if you've given it a banana or a donut. It simply knows it has food in it. The banana will obviously be the healthier choice, but I could eat the donut and as long as I'm staying with my calorie range - I won't gain weight.

LorinaLynn

Exactly! But did our ancestors worry about all of this back then? And I bet that most were fit and muscular due to their physical nature!

They probably didn't eat a lot of donuts.

Let's take people of my grandfathers' and great grandfathers' generations as an example. Mostly farmers and coal miners. Hard working menfolk. And the womenfolk were hard working, too, since there wasn't dishwashers and washing machines and throwaway diapers. Most of their food was from farming and hunting. Even if they weren't farmers, they still likely had their own chickens and a garden. When my mom was growing up during the great depression, she loved when her father went hunting and brought home rabbits, because that means she didn't have to "hold the beak" while one of her chickens got the ax. :indifferent:

So they ate a lot of meats, veggies and whole grains. And if they didn't eat well... they died. Period.

bigfluffyjujubird

eat well not re the calories but re the nutrients in fruit and veg. Lots of previous generations have had full fat milk, eggs, butter etc very little processed food and a bit of exercise and were a lot thinner. i dont think the processed stuff helps but i am a slave to it i try to have less now

eat junk occasionally, eat 3 meals a day, have reasonably healthy snacks, have chocolate if you want it but less like a snack size bar, drink but not every day try to take a day or 2 off, your liver needs a couple of days to recover after a days boozing, and do exercise!

SoulNeedsBeauty

Well if you eat under your calories just in donuts I am pretty sure over time you will lose fat. You may be a bit sluggish at first but your body will surely adapt to what environment it is given and perform as needed.

You will also lose lean mass (a substantial amount) due to not having enough protein intake.

Calories---> Scale weight
Macronutrients ---> Body composition
Micros ---> Health

Exactly! But did our ancestors worry about all of this back then? And I bet that most were fit and muscular due to their physical nature!

Jeeezzzzzzz of course they did not worry about that! because didnt eat donuts! they ate all raw food, full of nutrients and vitamins

gizmonel

I don't think anyone is arguing that food quality is not important but to place a firm answer on that food quality is whats most important is an understatement. Whether your calories come from mostly protein, carbs or fats if your calories are in excess you will gain weight be it in muscle form or fat form or a mix of both. I think we set ourselves up for failure most of the time because we become stubborn and beat ourselves up when we do eat what modern man has given us and to be honest even if we were to eat raw today the question still remains of the source of the food! Even organic is no longer organic any more.

glenr79

try eating lowfat mayonaise

glenr79

you are misguided..... a calorie is not a calorie.... I have a bachelor's in exercise science and a minor in diet and nutrition... for example this is called the thermogenic effect..... If you eat protein, or things with fiber you burn 27% of those calories immediately for digestion.... if you eat simple carbs you only burn 8% for digestion, and fat you only burn 3% for digestion..... so if you eat a lean 100 calorie piece of chicken, you are really only eating 77 calories, if you eat a 100 calorie donut you are really eating 92 calories.... ok that is one example.... Here is another reason why simple carbs and fat are different..... when you eat simple carbs and fat you spike your insulin levels... when this happens what you ate gets stored as fat.... If you keep your insulin levels even what you eat does not get stored as fat and will be used for energy instead..... also when your insulin levels are spiked you crave more food.... NOT ALL CALORIES ARE CREATED EQUAL

Calories don't mean anything..... if you eat a banana and a doughnut they are the same calories, just being under your calorie goal will not help you lose weight.... you have to eat the right foods to lose weight... what do you think will help you lose more weight, a banana or a doughnut?

Well. I disagree. I could eat crap all day long and as long as I stick with my calories - I'm fine. I don't FEEL good but I'll still maintain (or lose) weight. So, while I could easily consume boatloads of CRAP food everyday and be fine... I wouldn't like the way I'm feeling.

A calorie is a calorie in that sense. Your body doesn't know if you've given it a banana or a donut. It simply knows it has food in it. The banana will obviously be the healthier choice, but I could eat the donut and as long as I'm staying with my calorie range - I won't gain weight.

HMonsterX

Calories don't mean anything..... if you eat a banana and a doughnut they are the same calories, just being under your calorie goal will not help you lose weight.... you have to eat the right foods to lose weight... what do you think will help you lose more weight, a banana or a doughnut?

Err, I'm living proof that you're wrong on that one.

My diary is probably worse than the OP, and I've lost nearly 5 stone in 7 months, and judging by my gym performances most if has been fat. I stay under my calories, hit my macros, exercise 6 times a week..but i eat mostly crap.

Go figure...

glenr79

you are getting your macro's, but you are not getting your micro's.... it will catch up to you in the long run... you may not get fat but you are at a greater risk for cardiovascular diseases if you do not eat foods high in micronutrients

Calories don't mean anything..... if you eat a banana and a doughnut they are the same calories, just being under your calorie goal will not help you lose weight.... you have to eat the right foods to lose weight... what do you think will help you lose more weight, a banana or a doughnut?

Err, I'm living proof that you're wrong on that one.

My diary is probably worse than the OP, and I've lost nearly 5 stone in 7 months, and judging by my gym performances most if has been fat. I stay under my calories, hit my macros, exercise 6 times a week..but i eat mostly crap.

Go figure...

HMonsterX

you are getting your macro's, but you are not getting your micro's.... it will catch up to you in the long run... you may not get fat but you are at a greater risk for cardiovascular diseases if you do not eat foods high in micronutrients

Calories don't mean anything..... if you eat a banana and a doughnut they are the same calories, just being under your calorie goal will not help you lose weight.... you have to eat the right foods to lose weight... what do you think will help you lose more weight, a banana or a doughnut?

Err, I'm living proof that you're wrong on that one.

My diary is probably worse than the OP, and I've lost nearly 5 stone in 7 months, and judging by my gym performances most if has been fat. I stay under my calories, hit my macros, exercise 6 times a week..but i eat mostly crap.

Go figure...

I didn't deny that Glen. I was taking issue with your comment that you have to eat the right foods to lose weight. This clearly isn't the case. To get healthy, sure. But to lose weight, no.

glenr79

well I am just trying to say yes you will lose weight, but if you do it the healthy way you will lose it faster, and feel better, and the weight loss will be permanent and not temporary..... the whole goal of weight loss is for it to be permanent and to make you feel better.... so why not do it the right way?

Rae6503

just being under your calorie goal will not help you lose weight.... you have to eat the right foods to lose weight...

This statement here is what is causing problems. To lose weight, all you have to do is eat under your calories.

The problem with statements like this is it complicates things. People see this and start some 1200 calorie a day, "clean" diet that they can't stick with. Or they see that and never even start because they don't want to give up half the foods they eat. People need to realize that it IS simple. You CAN simply lose weight by eating at a calorie deficit. Even exercise isn't a requirement. I've seen people never try because they don't have time to work out.

Weight loss CAN be simple and easy. Eat at a small deficit for an extended period of time and eventually you'll accomplish your goals. Yes, hitting macros results in better body composition. Hitting micros results in better health. But start simple, just eat at a calorie deficit.

gizmonel

just being under your calorie goal will not help you lose weight.... you have to eat the right foods to lose weight...

This statement here is what is causing problems. To lose weight, all you have to do is eat under your calories.

The problem with statements like this is it complicates things. People see this and start some 1200 calorie a day, "clean" diet that they can't stick with. Or they see that and never even start because they don't want to give up half the foods they eat. People need to realize that it IS simple. You CAN simply lose weight by eating at a calorie deficit. Even exercise isn't a requirement. I've seen people never try because they don't have time to work out.

Weight loss CAN be simple and easy. Eat at a small deficit for an extended period of time and eventually you'll accomplish your goals. Yes, hitting macros results in better body composition. Hitting micros results in better health. But start simple, just eat at a calorie deficit.

Could not agree more!

HMonsterX

well I am just trying to say yes you will lose weight, but if you do it the healthy way you will lose it faster, and feel better, and the weight loss will be permanent and not temporary..... the whole goal of weight loss is for it to be permanent and to make you feel better.... so why not do it the right way?

Because i can't.

I don't like foods you consider "healthy". I physically cannot stomach it.

Plus, i know I'd never stick with it. The most important thing for me, besides calories, is doing it in a way i KNOW will be sustainable.

When i get to my goal weight, I'll maintain for a couple of months, then try to quit smoking and work on body comp.

tmarie2715

what do you think will help you lose more weight, a banana or a doughnut?

If they are the same caloric value, it will be equal, by definition. Losing weight strictly on doughnuts won't make you very healthy or do anytthing positive for your physique however....

Yes, because if you continue to stay under cals eating cheetos and Patron (as awesome as that sounds) you will become skinny fat (You are technically healthy BMI, look thin enough, but no tone, muscle definition, etc.).

tmarie2715

just being under your calorie goal will not help you lose weight.... you have to eat the right foods to lose weight...

This statement here is what is causing problems. To lose weight, all you have to do is eat under your calories.

The problem with statements like this is it complicates things. People see this and start some 1200 calorie a day, "clean" diet that they can't stick with. Or they see that and never even start because they don't want to give up half the foods they eat. People need to realize that it IS simple. You CAN simply lose weight by eating at a calorie deficit. Even exercise isn't a requirement. I've seen people never try because they don't have time to work out.

Weight loss CAN be simple and easy. Eat at a small deficit for an extended period of time and eventually you'll accomplish your goals. Yes, hitting macros results in better body composition. Hitting micros results in better health. But start simple, just eat at a calorie deficit.

I eat pretty healthy and am under cals, but without working out I am starting to look and feel skinny-fat. See my definition above.

ChasingHaven

just being under your calorie goal will not help you lose weight.... you have to eat the right foods to lose weight...

This statement here is what is causing problems. To lose weight, all you have to do is eat under your calories.

The problem with statements like this is it complicates things. People see this and start some 1200 calorie a day, "clean" diet that they can't stick with. Or they see that and never even start because they don't want to give up half the foods they eat. People need to realize that it IS simple. You CAN simply lose weight by eating at a calorie deficit. Even exercise isn't a requirement. I've seen people never try because they don't have time to work out.

This is spot on for me! A couple of years ago a lost 30 pounds- halfway to my goal weight at the time. Losing weight was the easiest it had ever been because I ate whatever I wanted, counting calories and staying within the guidelines for fat, carbs, etc on the counter I use. Absolutely NO exercise. I may not have been the perfect specimen of health, but since I lost the weight I was certainly healthier than I was.

I have gained the weight back and then some over the last few years (because I simply quit and gave up) but have started again just in the last few days. I've logged 2 days so far- neither in my calorie range yet - but I know I've got to be eating less than I was. I don't feel out of control now. And I do feel better about today's overage than yesterday's- because today's was homemade pork, potatoes and corn - and not a processed dinner!

Weight loss CAN be simple and easy. Eat at a small deficit for an extended period of time and eventually you'll accomplish your goals. Yes, hitting macros results in better body composition. Hitting micros results in better health. But start simple, just eat at a calorie deficit.

ChasingHaven

Not quite sure how my reply ended up inside the quote. I'm posting on my phone, and I can't see how to edit,lol. Here's my post alone.

This is spot on for me! A couple of years ago a lost 30 pounds- halfway to my goal weight at the time. Losing weight was the easiest it had ever been because I ate whatever I wanted, counting calories and staying within the guidelines for fat, carbs, etc on the counter I use. Absolutely NO exercise. I may not have been the perfect specimen of health, but since I lost the weight I was certainly healthier than I was.

I have gained the weight back and then some over the last few years (because I simply quit and gave up) but have started again just in the last few days. I've logged 2 days so far- neither in my calorie range yet - but I know I've got to be eating less than I was. I don't feel out of control now. And I do feel better about today's overage than yesterday's- because today's was homemade pork, potatoes and corn - and not a processed dinner!

tigersword

you are misguided..... a calorie is not a calorie.... I have a bachelor's in exercise science and a minor in diet and nutrition... for example this is called the thermogenic effect..... If you eat protein, or things with fiber you burn 27% of those calories immediately for digestion.... if you eat simple carbs you only burn 8% for digestion, and fat you only burn 3% for digestion..... so if you eat a lean 100 calorie piece of chicken, you are really only eating 77 calories, if you eat a 100 calorie donut you are really eating 92 calories.... ok that is one example.... Here is another reason why simple carbs and fat are different..... when you eat simple carbs and fat you spike your insulin levels... when this happens what you ate gets stored as fat.... If you keep your insulin levels even what you eat does not get stored as fat and will be used for energy instead..... also when your insulin levels are spiked you crave more food.... NOT ALL CALORIES ARE CREATED EQUAL

Calories don't mean anything..... if you eat a banana and a doughnut they are the same calories, just being under your calorie goal will not help you lose weight.... you have to eat the right foods to lose weight... what do you think will help you lose more weight, a banana or a doughnut?

Well. I disagree. I could eat crap all day long and as long as I stick with my calories - I'm fine. I don't FEEL good but I'll still maintain (or lose) weight. So, while I could easily consume boatloads of CRAP food everyday and be fine... I wouldn't like the way I'm feeling.

A calorie is a calorie in that sense. Your body doesn't know if you've given it a banana or a donut. It simply knows it has food in it. The banana will obviously be the healthier choice, but I could eat the donut and as long as I'm staying with my calorie range - I won't gain weight.

You're leaving out the fact that protein can also spike insulin levels, that your body doesn't need insulin to store fat, that insulin is what suppresses your appetite, that fat storage is a normal, constant daily function (and not the evil thing people try and make it out to be, seriously, where do you think every is stored until used? If it's not used immediately, it's converted to glycogen for use in muscles and the liver, and the rest is stored as fat, until needed.) Also, the thermogenic effect of food really isn't that major of a difference overall, besides, it's calculated in your BMR and TDEE, it's not like eating suddenly uses extra energy that's not already taken into account.