Can I eat whatever I want as long as I stay under my calorie

debussyschild

Sure... but that's only if you LIKE the effects of a diet lacking in essential vitamins and minerals...

Eating 1,200-1,300 calories in the form of sweets, fried foods, alcohol, food loaded with saturated fats (anything from McDonalds, pretty much), will probably result in weight loss, but you're derriere won't look any better unless you eat the right stuff!!!

Not to mention it's incredibly unhealthy to eat just whatever as long as you're staying under your calorie goal. In comes the term "skinny fat", which is the condition of being lighter in weight but lacking in muscle tone. This comes from eating less but also not exercising very much. Eating "whatever" i.e. foods that are generally bad for you, can result in you storing much more visceral fat, which means fatty organs. *****High amounts of visceral fat in seemingly fit individuals is a big contributor to type II diabetes.*****

debussyschild

Can I eat whatever I want and still lose weight as long as I stay under my calorie goal? (I want to eat about 1,200 - 1,300 calories daily.)

Calories are calories but I have noticed that if I eat too much sugar etc. I get hungrier more often which makes it harder to stay under my calorie target. If I eat things that are nutritional and lots of protein I find that I am less hungry.

"Calories are calories" is a big fat myth. Not all calories are created equal. You mentioned sugar, so take beer or liquor for example (alcohol is a sugar). High in calories per serving. One 12 oz beer can range from 100-200 calories. One 1 oz shot of liquor can range from 100-150 calories, maybe higher. Sure you can easily drink 500 calories in one mixed drink, but is it nutritive or in any way healthy for your body? Not really... Eating sugar in lieu of complex carbohydrates spikes your insulin, which results in a huge drop after the spike. During this drop, you start craving sugar again. Eating complex carbohydrates causes your body to gradually release insulin to regulate your blood glucose levels so that you don't experience a spike in insulin levels and the subsequent drop.

Acg67

Sure... but that's only if you LIKE the effects of a diet lacking in essential vitamins and minerals...

Eating 1,200-1,300 calories in the form of sweets, fried foods, alcohol, food loaded with saturated fats (anything from McDonalds, pretty much), will probably result in weight loss, but you're derriere won't look any better unless you eat the right stuff!!!

Not to mention it's incredibly unhealthy to eat just whatever as long as you're staying under your calorie goal. In comes the term "skinny fat", which is the condition of being lighter in weight but lacking in muscle tone. This comes from eating less but also not exercising very much. Eating "whatever" i.e. foods that are generally bad for you, can result in you storing much more visceral fat, which means fatty organs. *****High amounts of visceral fat in seemingly fit individuals is a big contributor to type II diabetes.*****

eating in a caloric deficit will result in weight loss

and skinny fat is from eating less and not exercising enough? so no one would get skinny fat from lots of running and large deficits since they are exercising a great deal

debussyschild

I asked because it is VERY HARD to get in proper food in this crappy place I live in.
I live with my family right now. It's crappy because they only have bad foods here.
Like TV dinners, they bring fast food home for most meals, they don't even have canned foods.
Oh..and they have A LOT of ramen noodles. There ARE some things like protein shakes, but I don't know if they will be good.
I will drink the protein shakes anyway, though. 'cus I will get used to them.

That being the case, it sounds like it is time to volunteer to go shopping with them. Make suggestions to have some reasonable modifications to the menus. Then volunteer to do some of the cooking. Don't expect them to buy into a wholesale change. But you may steer things in a better direction.

This is a very good suggestion. From the sound of it, your parents aren't in the habit of buying healthy foods or foods that you can cook easily but are also healthy. If money is an issue, there's no shame in dressing up Top Ramen. Cooking up some chicken, then dicing and tossing it into the noodles with some frozen (make sure you cook them first, works better that way) veggies can turn a 59 cent bag of Top Ramen into a fairly nutritious and filling meal. You can try adding browned and drained ground beef and veggies to a beef flavored Top Ramen, too. I live on a very tight budget, but with a cook book and some basic cooking skills and ingenuity, my husband and I hardly ever eat out or eat food that is unnecessarily bad for us.

debussyschild

Sure... but that's only if you LIKE the effects of a diet lacking in essential vitamins and minerals...

Eating 1,200-1,300 calories in the form of sweets, fried foods, alcohol, food loaded with saturated fats (anything from McDonalds, pretty much), will probably result in weight loss, but you're derriere won't look any better unless you eat the right stuff!!!

Not to mention it's incredibly unhealthy to eat just whatever as long as you're staying under your calorie goal. In comes the term "skinny fat", which is the condition of being lighter in weight but lacking in muscle tone. This comes from eating less but also not exercising very much. Eating "whatever" i.e. foods that are generally bad for you, can result in you storing much more visceral fat, which means fatty organs. *****High amounts of visceral fat in seemingly fit individuals is a big contributor to type II diabetes.*****

eating in a caloric deficit will result in weight loss

and skinny fat is from eating less and not exercising enough? so no one would get skinny fat from lots of running and large deficits since they are exercising a great deal

I believe I mentioned that lack of exercise contributes to being skinny fat. Yes, you can lose weight if you are in a proper caloric deficit, but you will be far from healthy. Women's Health Magazine has a very informative article on just what this means:

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/type-2-diabetes

lthomas42

Yes with a but. You'll lose weight, but you wont be any healthier if you eat garbage. Plus, you'll get more actual food out of low cal, healthy foods like veggies and lean meats than you will out of fast food and other not so good for you stuff.

garlic7girl

Okay to answer, "yes you can" but why? Think of turning yourself insideout...we could see your organ systems. Don't you want your insides to be as healthy? Treats are good but eat the veggies and fruit and whole grains bc they make the insides beautiful. Happy journey!!!!!!

annacataldo

yes; but you need to get in the mentality that "ok, this snickers bar is 400 calories; but..what else could i ahve instead" you could eat an entire meal that would stuff you full for hours for 400 calories, or you can have a snack that leaves you hungry, sugar crashing, etc until you eat the full meal you shoudlve had in the first place. not to mention that "whatever" foods can raise your blood pressure, give you diabetes, cause heart attacks, and such. im definetly not perfect in my eating but i just stick to under my calories; try to eat as healthy as i can; and only sometimes, as a treat in a moment of weakness, exchange some calories for "bad" items. but the 1200 calories of pizza at dinner doesnt fill me for the entire day, so why would i want to do that?

Nomomush

Depends on your goal. If it's just to lose weight, then yes. Expend more calories than you intake. Otherwise, no, your nutritional macros matter.

dat5053

You can eat whatever you want and still loose weight, but it's a better idea to try and eat healthier. It makes the weight loss so much easier, and I've also found that you stay full much longer when you eat healthier things than you do eating anything else. In the long run it will be easier for you to maintain your weight having learned healthier eating habits. Plus you will not just be thin, you will also be healthy.

chickybuns

I eat whatever i want and have lost weight doing it. I also exercise a lot so I can eat. Of course it's better to be healthier, but I have no problems with energy as long as I sleep enough. At the beginning of the year, I will try eating healthier...it's so hard.

katyejean

Yes, to some extent. However, the greatest gains made are from eating natural foods and eliminating processed foods completely. It took me awhile to figure this out!

Agreed! I've cut out as much processed food as I know of in my daily eating, and it's already made a huge different in the month since. I wouldn't go wasting my calories, but your best option would probably be to find healthier alternatives that are close to what you are really wanting. That way you can eat more, but healthier at the same time.

capriciousmoon

Can I eat whatever I want and still lose weight as long as I stay under my calorie goal? (I want to eat about 1,200 - 1,300 calories daily.)

I know it works for some people, but it didn't really work for me.

In the house I'm living in now they don't buy food ahead or store any in the house (aside from maybe one or tow snack items and milk) and shop every night for food unless they have some leftovers. When I first moved in dinners were usually hot pockets (2 per person), frozen pizza (half per person), or frozen breaded chicken patties (2), and potato chips were considered a side dish. No veggies at all, corn and mashed potatoes only.

I tried to watch my calories and portions, but wasn't able to lose any weight at all. I didn't really lose anything until I started getting my own food.

Oh, trust me... I try. It's a little tiring when they yell no way, don't fill our fridge up with crap we don't eat. s:
I guess they enjoy being unhealthy.

I guess it helps that there was a lot of room since they don't buy any food, but having a crisper drawer to store your things in shouldn't be too much to ask... I would say "Maybe you don't eat this, but I will"

UsedToBeHusky

Yes. You can eat whatever you want, but not all at once. You have to practice moderation and attempt to balance unhealthy foods in your diet with healthier ones to keep your macros in check. It might require some planning on your part, and it will definitely require some self-control, but it absolutely can be done.

fallenangelloves

I guess it depends on what you are wanting most... Being skinny or being healthy because they don't both always go hand in hand. You can be skinny and healthy too, but you need to be careful what you put in your body.

I eat whatever I want, but I want to eat healthy food that tastes good... So it takes a little more effort!

debussyschild

Nope! That's like asking if the only thing that really matters is calories.

I'd say there's a lot more at stake than just calories.
It's best to consider what kinds of calories they are, and the other contents of the food, such as cholesterol, fiber, vitamins and minerals, etc.

you are confusing weight loss and health.

I think we can all agree that, yes, you CAN lose weight by eating whatever you want as long as you maintain a deficit. BUT, that's just not the best advice. Typically speaking, when people eat "whatever", they make unhealthy food choices. Eating foods high in sugars and fats--keep in mind, I'm talking junk food here i.e. food mostly lacking in good nutrition but high in calories--is a great way to become prediabetic even if you are working out moderately. Although, working out even moderately (walking 30 minutes once a day) can go a long way to preventing prediabetes.

You can have ANYTHING you want, but moderation is the key. You can't have cake and cookies every day. You shouldn't eat McDonalds every day. It's just not healthy for you. Once in a while is okay, in my opinion. Plus, eating healthier foods results in a lot more than just preventing prediabetes and other conditions associated with poor nutrition. It also makes you LOOK and FEEL better.

Acg67

You can have ANYTHING you want, but moderation is the key. You can't have cake and cookies every day. You shouldn't eat McDonalds every day. It's just not healthy for you. Once in a while is okay, in my opinion. Plus, eating healthier foods results in a lot more than just preventing prediabetes and other conditions associated with poor nutrition. It also makes you LOOK and FEEL better.

Why couldn't someone have a cookie or two every single day if let's say it equated to 5% of total kcal intake for the day? Context is key here

kmbrooks15

You can have ANYTHING you want, but moderation is the key. You can't have cake and cookies every day. You shouldn't eat McDonalds every day. It's just not healthy for you. Once in a while is okay, in my opinion. Plus, eating healthier foods results in a lot more than just preventing prediabetes and other conditions associated with poor nutrition. It also makes you LOOK and FEEL better.

Why couldn't someone have a cookie or two every single day if let's say it equated to 5% of total kcal intake for the day? Context is key here

That's what I do. I use Skinny Cow ice cream or candy and Snackwells cookies. They are preportioned (so no fudging on the measurements!) and range from 100-150 calories. I have one at lunch and one at supper. That's my "dessert" and satisfies my sweet tooth (which has been the biggest issue for me!). When I've dieted before and completely deprived myself, I'd get frustrated and give up eventually. Now that I'm using MFP and allowing myself those small, low-cal treats, I'm having a LOT more success. It's about balance.

HMonsterX

Surely the most important thing here, especially for the OP, is sustainability.

For me it's better for my overall health to not eat 100% healthy 100% of the time, as i know within a few weeks i'd fall off and binge. So, i eat 70% healthier 100% of the time. This is far more enjoyable, and makes it far more likely i will stay with it forever, which in turn is much healthier in the long run.

This also stops any cravings, knowing full well i can eat literally whatever i want, whenever i want it, as long as i hit my macros and keep my calorie deficit. Sure, I'll never be 100% healthy. Oh well. I'll just settle for 80% healthier and enjoy it along the way!

ChasingHaven

Yes. You can eat whatever you want, but not all at once. You have to practice moderation and attempt to balance unhealthy foods in your diet with healthier ones to keep your macros in check. It might require some planning on your part, and it will definitely require some self-control, but it absolutely can be done.

^ This! This I found was the easiest way ever to lose weight! It's really a lifestyle change you want to make stick, rather than a 'diet' of lettuce and fruit you're going to get bored with and quit.

I started out eating whatever I felt like, keeping the calories in range and the macros ( fat, carbs, protein, etc) where they needed to be. It doesn't take long before you'll start choosing healthier options so that you can get more "bang for your buck" with your food. I found the veggies I like the best and stir fry with chicken breast- i' d rather trade a giant plate of this than have a small double cheeseburger any day. But if I do feel like a cheeseburger, I log it and eat lighter the rest of the day to stay within my ranges. If I'm not deprived constantly, I find I can stay with this!

Baked Lays, 100 calories Hostess treats, Skinny Cow and Weight Watchers ice cream- these are all good alternatives to the 'normal' junk food. They help with keeping things in moderation and they will help keep you from feeling deprived. Subway is a great fast food alternative, but on those days when it was fast food with the gals at lunch? I used my fast food app I downloaded to see what my best choices at the restaurant we were at. This can be done!

It may not be 100% healthy, but there's no doubt it's a healthier change from what got me to 204 lbs! And isn't reaching my goal weight and losing 60-70 pounds healthier in the long run too?

Good luck!

debussyschild

You can have ANYTHING you want, but moderation is the key. You can't have cake and cookies every day. You shouldn't eat McDonalds every day. It's just not healthy for you. Once in a while is okay, in my opinion. Plus, eating healthier foods results in a lot more than just preventing prediabetes and other conditions associated with poor nutrition. It also makes you LOOK and FEEL better.

Why couldn't someone have a cookie or two every single day if let's say it equated to 5% of total kcal intake for the day? Context is key here

I hate to be redundant, but I believe I mentioned that those kinds of foods should be eaten in moderation. One cookie a day isn't going to kill a diet. It's cookies, followed by buger king, followed by fried chicken every day diets that are incredibly unhealthy. PERIOD.

Acg67

You can have ANYTHING you want, but moderation is the key. You can't have cake and cookies every day. You shouldn't eat McDonalds every day. It's just not healthy for you. Once in a while is okay, in my opinion. Plus, eating healthier foods results in a lot more than just preventing prediabetes and other conditions associated with poor nutrition. It also makes you LOOK and FEEL better.

Why couldn't someone have a cookie or two every single day if let's say it equated to 5% of total kcal intake for the day? Context is key here

I hate to be redundant, but I believe I mentioned that those kinds of foods should be eaten in moderation. One cookie a day isn't going to kill a diet. It's cookies, followed by buger king, followed by fried chicken every day diets that are incredibly unhealthy. PERIOD.

You can't have cake and cookies every day

no mention of moderation in that statement

Breed4522

A professor of human nutrition at Kansas State University ate 500 Kcals under his maintenance level of twinkies and other sugar loaded processed foods for 10 weeks in an expeiriment and lost weight.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html