Are calories REALLY all that matter?

enigrebua

I'm trying to stay under on everything, especially carbs, cause I eat wayyyy too many carbs. I try and make sure I get enough protein and fibre cause I tend to just eat crap but not much of it, which is almost as unhealthy as eating crap and loads of it!

brittanyjeanxo

My main concern is calorie intake, but I try to make sure I meet at least half of my macros and stay under my sugar. My parents are both diabetic so I very carefully watch my blood sugar. They also both have high blood pressure so I also really watch my sodium intake. I'm usually good about salt, but I usually end up going over a bit on sugars, but its not every day, so I don't mind. So for me, calories, then sugar, then sodium, then my other macros. I also take a daily vitamin to get my iron, calcium, etc. I believe that its better to be healthy all around rather than just eating low cal.

ETA: I also find I'm losing weight a bit faster than when I ONLY watched calories.

Savyna

I really have to watch calories because with my natural eating habits (currently) I consistently take in far less than 1200 calories, thus for the past few days I've been making an effort to eat above 1200 at least because I want to continue on with losing weight and let my body know that I'm not starving.

chrisdavey

Agree with Sunshine & Niner.

Hit your minimum protein & fat, stick to your calorie goal. Eat a variety of foods to cover all the micronutrients. Live long & prosper with your good health & low bf levels

SergeantSunshine_reused

No point? So if you aren't going to eat healthy foods then you should just stay overweight/obese?

You missed the point of what I said entirely.

What's the point of eating 1500 calories of bull****? Tracking macros allows a person to make sure they're getting adequate nutrition. You can eat whatever you want - healthy or junkie - and lose weight. A calorie is a calorie after all and a deficit is a deficit at the end of the day. I've lost 100# doing the most ridiculous things in the world but I wasn't healthIER. It was pointless when I look back on it. Just because a person is losing weight doesn't mean they're healthy. That's what we should be promoting - HEALTH. Just because a person goes from 290# to 140# doesn't mean they are automatically healthier because they're thinner. Skinny people have bad health too.

Tada.

Lol oh yeah because it is MUCH better to be obese. 290 pounds eating all healthy foods and you will still have MANY health problems. it is pretty hard to be eating 1500 calories of nothing. Since even "unhealthy" foods have nutritional value. Im sure if someone dropped 150 pounds they would be healthier. Able to move more and be more active, less stress on the heart, less stress on joints. Oh yeah that's not healthier at all. Being 290 and eating veggies is much better.

I never encouraged anyone to eat crap. I am a nutrition major and constantly studying it. Go read my original post where I gave what I do and actual advice.

ninerbuff

No point? So if you aren't going to eat healthy foods then you should just stay overweight/obese?

You missed the point of what I said entirely.

What's the point of eating 1500 calories of bull****? Tracking macros allows a person to make sure they're getting adequate nutrition. You can eat whatever you want - healthy or junkie - and lose weight. A calorie is a calorie after all and a deficit is a deficit at the end of the day. I've lost 100# doing the most ridiculous things in the world but I wasn't healthIER. It was pointless when I look back on it. Just because a person is losing weight doesn't mean they're healthy. That's what we should be promoting - HEALTH. Just because a person goes from 290# to 140# doesn't mean they are automatically healthier because they're thinner. Skinny people have bad health too.

Tada.

Health actually comes down to not being obese/very overweight, not being sedentary, getting enough rest, environment, not engaging in risk behavior (EX: smoking) and genetics.
It isn't just about food. You can eat healthy and be unhealthy, just like you can eat junk and be healthy.


A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

ladybug1009

What? Of course a person at 140 is healthier than a person at 270. Your food choices alone don't determine your level of health.

Depends. Just become someone may be at a healthier weight for their body does not necessarily mean that they are healthier than the individual that is 270 pounds. I have seen people that are in a healthy weight range and are extremely unhealthy compared to an individual that just got lapband surgery that weighs in at 260 lbs. All in all, it depends on each individual's health and their habits. You can't generalize that statement that just because someone is smaller means they are healthier.

This example is like me and my husband. He's a lot smaller than me and eats crap all the time. His arteries could be a lot worse than mine since he eats junk all the time. Just because he's at a healthy weight for his height doesn't give him a clean bill of health. And I'm not saying I have a clean one either being my bigger size.

shakybabe

I just eat healthier and dn't count anymore though when I first started I was calorie counting and when I first went wheat free/low carb I tracked for a few weeks. Once I knew cals for all usual meals I didn't bother as rarely make it over 1200 unless I add chocolate to satisfy my monthly cravings or add a brandy and coke or two!

Most carbs come frm veg/fruit.. Lunches and dinners are salad or veg with fish or meat, processed carbs are replaced with alternatives.. I use gluten free bread 1-2 times a week, no pasta, no rice with dinner , sweet poato allowed once a week, or occasionally once a month or less I allow oven chips or (white) jacket potato.

Drinks are just Yorkshire tea with meals and water throughout rest of day and I've been managing to exercise for at least 30mins a day most days...if miss a day, I try and do an hour the next day to make up. This is working for me (32lbs lost, 13" off tummy circumference, 7" off waist, 4" off boobs!)

tiffany0127

If your only goal is to lose weight - yes calorie deficit is all that matters . It will cause you to lose weight.
If you want to look good naked though adequate protein and fat intake is very important (along with strength training of course)
Sodium only masks fat loss. It does not slow it down

I track my Macros and calories, making sure to at lest meet the minimum for pro and fat. I also track sodium just so I know what to expect on the scale. Somedays I go over, get on the scale, and DON"T freakout because it is only water retention and I did not gain 5 lbs over night. Hehe

No days are perfect. I do what I can and don't let it control my life anymore than it already does

Very well put!

twilightsm

I try to stay under all my nutritional goals...

jasmineheaven

Yes Im one of those people but really I focus more on working out since my goal is to mainly get toned..not necessarily lose weight.

acstansell

I stay concerned making sure my calories are right on target or below but my protein is high. The first two weeks I did this, I was feeling very run down. I made shifts in my diet to include more protein and reduce my carbs and I've seen a difference in my energy levels.

vim_n_vigor

I think it really depends on the person. If I eat mostly protein, I can go almost to maintenance calories and still lose weight, pretty quickly even. I just can't afford it! If I eat a lot of sugar or sodium, I can eat well under my calories and not lose weight, or even gain quite a bit. I do think to a certain point, especially the more a person weighs, just limiting calories can be hugely effective. Once a person is close to weight goal and is working on more specific strength or endurance goals, what makes up your calories becomes more important.

ItsMeRebekah

I look at Calories, Fat, Protein, Fiber and Sodium. Salt is the hard one for me personally.

therealangd

calories are generally all i look at. that being said, i LOVE to eat and i'm hungry all the time! so in order for me to be able to eat as much as i would like i typically make semi-healthy choices which end up helping me meet my protein, carb, and fat goals.

This is me too. I love to eat. So I mostly eat whole, unprocessed food, so I get to eat a lot of it.

With some exceptions. Foods that are naturally high in fat like nuts and avocado, I do eat in moderation. And I do watch my protein though, to make sure I'm getting enough.

So with that mindset, I know I don't have to watch every gram of carb or fat or sugar etc.

Kymmu

I think if you have a healthy unprocessed diet of whole foods you don't have to obsess about calories.
I believe sugar makes us fat, so I'm careful about that.

erin023

I focus mostly on calories, but I make sure the things I eat are healthy calories (for the most part) and that usually takes care of the carbs, sodium, fat, etc so I don't have to worry about everything else.

brandysilvers

This study done a Kansas State University says that a calorie deficit and dropping down to a healthy weight should improve your health no matter what you eat to get there. The professor lost weight eating little debbie and hostess snack cakes for 2/3 of his daily calories and his health markers for cholesterol improved, and his body fat pecentage went down. It doesn't mean he was healthy just healthier than he was at the higher weight.

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

rpphillip

What? Of course a person at 140 is healthier than a person at 270. Your food choices alone don't determine your level of health.

please , believe me I know some verey skinny people that are not any better off health wise than someone that isoverwaight. being thin and unhealthy dose not make you feel good or look good. you need both. that is why of shows like the Biggst loser , promote good eating habits and exercise , and you may be able to loose that waight easy now while you are young. but waite untill you are a little older and exercise is not so easy and you are still eating all that crap, then you will fine you are not so smart after all.

StatutoryGrape

I try to stay under on calories, fat, sodium, and carbs. If I go over on protein or fiber, it's all good. If I screw up my sodium for a day, I don't stress--I just drink a ton of water and flush it out.

Sidesteal

please , believe me I know some verey skinny people that are not any better off health wise than someone that isoverwaight. being thin and unhealthy dose not make you feel good or look good. you need both. that is why of shows like the Biggst loser , promote good eating habits and exercise , and you may be able to loose that waight easy now while you are young. but waite untill you are a little older and exercise is not so easy and you are still eating all that crap, then you will fine you are not so smart after all.

Age typically reduces your TDEE through lower NEAT. It has nothing to do with food choices, and Biggest Loser does very little in the way of promoting healthy choices.

Sidesteal

If your only goal is to lose weight - yes calorie deficit is all that matters . It will cause you to lose weight.
If you want to look good naked though adequate protein and fat intake is very important (along with strength training of course)
Sodium only masks fat loss. It does not slow it down

I track my Macros and calories, making sure to at lest meet the minimum for pro and fat. I also track sodium just so I know what to expect on the scale. Somedays I go over, get on the scale, and DON"T freakout because it is only water retention and I did not gain 5 lbs over night. Hehe

No days are perfect. I do what I can and don't let it control my life anymore than it already does

^ This.

leodru

Primarily I watch calories - that being said I do find if I get in 6-8 servings of fruit and veg a day I will lose weight faster and even if over my calories I will still be down. I find diet soda triggers hunger in me so i try to avoid it. Ultimately I track calories but the content of what I eat does affect my weight lose - so from that perspective I dont consider all calories as equal because they have different effects on me nutrient wise.

rpphillip

If your only goal is to lose weight - yes calorie deficit is all that matters . It will cause you to lose weight.
If you want to look good naked though adequate protein and fat intake is very important (along with strength training of course)
Sodium only masks fat loss. It does not slow it down

I track my Macros and calories, making sure to at lest meet the minimum for pro and fat. I also track sodium just so I know what to expect on the scale. Somedays I go over, get on the scale, and DON"T freakout because it is only water retention and I did not gain 5 lbs over night. Hehe

No days are perfect. I do what I can and don't let it control my life anymore than it already does

^ This.

yes agree

frugalmomsrock

I really focus on staying under on calories, total carbs, and sodium (and fat, but I don't sweat if I'm over; I often am because I eat a lot of almonds, peanut butter, and avocado), and over on fiber (like--way over; 71 g yesterday), iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, calcium, and protein. I have trouble getting my potassium, but I try. I don't always get my iron all in either, but I pop a vitamin in the evening if I've fallen short.

I use the app, so I can see more things to track.

*oh, and I don't care if I go over on sugars because I eat a LOT of fruit and veggies.

ninerbuff

please , believe me I know some verey skinny people that are not any better off health wise than someone that isoverwaight. being thin and unhealthy dose not make you feel good or look good. you need both. that is why of shows like the Biggst loser , promote good eating habits and exercise , and you may be able to loose that waight easy now while you are young. but waite untill you are a little older and exercise is not so easy and you are still eating all that crap, then you will fine you are not so smart after all.

Like I mentioned in a previous post, actual health depends on many factors. Why is it that there are some healthy people who die from heart disease even though they eat healthy, exercise, sleep well etc. and then there are those who do none of that and live to be 90 and over while smoking, drinking heavily, etc.?
While I do believe that nutrition is important, just thinking that eating healthy alone cures the majority of health issues is misdirected. You can eat healthy and be overweight, sedentary, and have bad health.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

ninerbuff

please , believe me I know some verey skinny people that are not any better off health wise than someone that isoverwaight. being thin and unhealthy dose not make you feel good or look good. you need both. that is why of shows like the Biggst loser , promote good eating habits and exercise , and you may be able to loose that waight easy now while you are young. but waite untill you are a little older and exercise is not so easy and you are still eating all that crap, then you will fine you are not so smart after all.

Like I mentioned in a previous post, actual health depends on many factors. Why is it that there are some healthy people who die from heart disease even though they eat healthy, exercise, sleep well etc. and then there are those who do none of that and live to be 90 and over while smoking, drinking heavily, etc.?
While I do believe that nutrition is important, just thinking that eating healthy alone cures the majority of health issues is misdirected. You can eat healthy and be overweight, sedentary, and have bad health.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

LA723

Right now, I am concerned primarily with calories. I am eating healthier than I was before. I am also more conscious of my food choices. If I tried to track the other stuff, I'd drive myself crazy to the point of giving up. Maybe once I meet my weight goal I will evaluate my food choices IRT protein, fats, carbs, etc. It's not a priority to me right now, though.

jenniferijulia

Thanks for posting! I was curious about the same thing. It helps to learn from others with regards to nutrition and what works and what are healthier alternatives than just monitoring the calories. For someone who is rather new at doing this, it is a challenge to monitor the calorie intake after over-eating for so long. I was certainly curious about what effect sodium, sugar, protein levels would have on the loss of weight as well. It all comes down to common sense and healthy eating habits. We all know that fruits and veggies and proteins are good for us in controlled quantities, it is applying these lessons that is the hardes part.

Stacyanne324

At this point I really only watch my calories and if I'm under I'm happy. If there is one other thing I keep an eye on it's sodium because it affects the scale and is something I struggle keeping in line. I am about halfway to my goal weight and once I get there and start working more on maintenance and toning I'll look to keeping my other levels in line too.