A calorie is a calorie.......or is it??????

egdanger1
egdanger1 Posts: 59 Member
edited November 12 in Food and Nutrition
I have learned one truth during this long journey to a healthy, fit, well-toned, tight body, the hard way............

A calorie IS a calorie when it comes to general weight loss....... BUT

A calorie IS NOT a calorie when it comes to health and nutrients

A calorie is NOT a calorie when it comes to defeating the "SOFT AREAs"

A calorie is most assuredly not a calorie when it comes to MY ABDOMINALS........Ughhhhhhh

This has been the missing piece of the puzzle for me going from "nice body" to "wow, I love your arms/abs/etc

By they way, if anyone is peeping my diet, don't judge me (lol), yesterday was a BAD CHEAT day, out for lunch and on top of that I couldn't resist the pizza anymore that my husband bought 2 days ago.
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Replies

  • Lauraph
    Lauraph Posts: 79 Member
    Good point!

    Yes, I came to this realization a couple of years ago as well. I counted my "calories" and got thin.... and sick... eating crap. Lots of fat-free and low-calorie "food".

    Amazing what high quality calories can do! I can't see all my muscles yet, but y body can run faster and cycle farther than it could when I was not eating right.

    Chase health not weight loss and good things will come.
  • ItsLessOfMe
    ItsLessOfMe Posts: 374 Member
    Most definetly. I posted something like this about 6 months ago and got attacked. Everyone said exactly that a calorie is a calorie and you will still loose weight. Well that might be true but if I wanted to reduce my waist size and actually be healthy I had to drastically change my eating habits. I really didnt know how to do that so I ate everything in moderation. Problem with that is my body always craved more junk. I'm now doing Jaime Easons program and eating clean 6 times a day no junk. I will let you know how it goes
  • egdanger1
    egdanger1 Posts: 59 Member
    Good point!

    Yes, I came to this realization a couple of years ago as well. I counted my "calories" and got thin.... and sick... eating crap. Lots of fat-free and low-calorie "food".

    Amazing what high quality calories can do! I can't see all my muscles yet, but y body can run faster and cycle farther than it could when I was not eating right.

    Chase health not weight loss and good things will come.

    I like that quote- Chase health not weight and good things will com. I will have to use that.
  • egdanger1
    egdanger1 Posts: 59 Member
    Most definetly. I posted something like this about 6 months ago and got attacked. Everyone said exactly that a calorie is a calorie and you will still loose weight. Well that might be true but if I wanted to reduce my waist size and actually be healthy I had to drastically change my eating habits. I really didnt know how to do that so I ate everything in moderation. Problem with that is my body always craved more junk. I'm now doing Jaime Easons program and eating clean 6 times a day no junk. I will let you know how it goes

    Please let me know how that program works out......Usually people who swear by "a calorie is a calorie" are satisfyed with just loosing pounds and not their overall health or sculpting the body.
  • pattan59801
    pattan59801 Posts: 142
    bumping
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    Calories ---> Bodyweight
    Macronutrients ---> Body composition
    Micronutrients ---> Health


    I'm generalizing.
  • servilia
    servilia Posts: 3,452 Member
    Calories ---> Bodyweight
    Macronutrients ---> Body composition
    Micronutrients ---> Health


    I'm generalizing.

    This.
  • hkulbacki
    hkulbacki Posts: 187 Member
    This was an interesting article on 'lazy calories' vs. 'active calories'

    http://www.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/nutrition-weight-loss/almighty-calorie?cm_mmc=BicyclingNL-_-847370-_-03162012-_-the_almighty_calorie
  • PBmaria
    PBmaria Posts: 854 Member
    Please let me know how that program works out......Usually people who swear by "a calorie is a calorie" are satisfyed with just loosing pounds and not their overall health or sculpting the body.

    And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! To each their own :)
    Maybe they'll change their minds after a while.
  • _Kitten_Kate
    _Kitten_Kate Posts: 520 Member
    Chase health not weight loss and good things will come.

    I am quoting this elsewhere....
    Lovely.
  • Stefanie7125
    Stefanie7125 Posts: 462 Member
    bump
  • skinnylove00
    skinnylove00 Posts: 662 Member
    PEOPLE!! PLEASE teach me what a macronutrient is and how i can eat the right amount of low carb/high protein diet so i can get those illusive abs everyone feigns over!!! really, i am all ears!
  • Amberchalon
    Amberchalon Posts: 207 Member
    I agree-- 150 calories worth or oreo cookies isn't the same as say a bowl of fruit that is 150 calories. I'm glad that you're sharing your thoughts-- I find it truly amazing when someone says something and people start attacking them!
  • Sabresgal63
    Sabresgal63 Posts: 641 Member
    Thats funny that you posted this as I was thinking the exact same thing today.........you can most definitely stay within your calories, but are they healthy choices? Are they loaded with fat, sugar and salt? I have a very big problem in that area. Thanks for posting:bigsmile:
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    PEOPLE!! PLEASE teach me what a macronutrient is and how i can eat the right amount of low carb/high protein diet so i can get those illusive abs everyone feigns over!!! really, i am all ears!

    Macros = protein, fats and carbs

    Shoot for a minimum of 1g of pro per lb of lbm, .35g of fat per lb of bw and fill in the rest of the cals how you please. Maintain a caloric deficit and profit
  • egdanger1
    egdanger1 Posts: 59 Member
    Calories ---> Bodyweight
    Macronutrients ---> Body composition
    Micronutrients ---> Health


    I'm generalizing.

    I like this!!!
  • egdanger1
    egdanger1 Posts: 59 Member
    This was an interesting article on 'lazy calories' vs. 'active calories'

    http://www.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/nutrition-weight-loss/almighty-calorie?cm_mmc=BicyclingNL-_-847370-_-03162012-_-the_almighty_calorie

    Thank you for sharing the article. I will make sure to read it tomorrow.
  • egdanger1
    egdanger1 Posts: 59 Member
    Please let me know how that program works out......Usually people who swear by "a calorie is a calorie" are satisfyed with just loosing pounds and not their overall health or sculpting the body.

    And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! To each their own :)
    Maybe they'll change their minds after a while.
    You are absolutely right. Everyone has an individual goal.
  • healthyliving_girl
    healthyliving_girl Posts: 290 Member
    very well said. I was trying to explain this to my friend...when she started on a "diet" and I told her that the orange was worth more than...say a cake pop. And she said that she felt like she was wasting her calories on the orange. 0_o

    :sigh:
  • mrsvatitagain
    mrsvatitagain Posts: 275 Member
    Great post!
  • iqnas
    iqnas Posts: 445 Member
    bump
  • bademasi
    bademasi Posts: 180 Member
    bump
  • egdanger1
    egdanger1 Posts: 59 Member
    PEOPLE!! PLEASE teach me what a macronutrient is and how i can eat the right amount of low carb/high protein diet so i can get those illusive abs everyone feigns over!!! really, i am all ears!

    I have just started on this particular part of my journey. But I started by researching good v. bad carbs. What I gleaned from this was to strive for more whole grain products (cereals, rice, bread, crackers) and products without a lot of added sugar. To stay away from baked goods (cookies, cakes, pies, white bread), white rice and regular pasta. As far as protein, instead of eating a starch with my meal, I will usually eat 1/2 extra serving of the meat (lean meat). Also, I have learned that eggs are not the enemy. I have not totally deprived myself of these things. But I have made a significant cut in my consumption.
  • egdanger1
    egdanger1 Posts: 59 Member
    Thats funny that you posted this as I was thinking the exact same thing today.........you can most definitely stay within your calories, but are they healthy choices? Are they loaded with fat, sugar and salt? I have a very big problem in that area. Thanks for posting:bigsmile:

    This was also my problem. I was all happy about staying within my calorie goal, but I was always wondering why I was not loosing my Soft spots. Well, there you have it.
  • egdanger1
    egdanger1 Posts: 59 Member
    I agree-- 150 calories worth or oreo cookies isn't the same as say a bowl of fruit that is 150 calories. I'm glad that you're sharing your thoughts-- I find it truly amazing when someone says something and people start attacking them!

    So true!!!
  • egdanger1
    egdanger1 Posts: 59 Member
    very well said. I was trying to explain this to my friend...when she started on a "diet" and I told her that the orange was worth more than...say a cake pop. And she said that she felt like she was wasting her calories on the orange. 0_o

    :sigh:

    Thats funny!!!
  • Temple_Fit
    Temple_Fit Posts: 299 Member
    bump
  • 70davis
    70davis Posts: 348 Member
    bump
  • bjohs
    bjohs Posts: 1,225 Member
    Not all calories are not created equal... that's for sure! :)
  • dlyeates
    dlyeates Posts: 875 Member
    I totally agree.....and I'm still learning. (Don't look at today.....I ate out too much but really had no other choice).

    Bumping to read the articles when I'm not tired!!
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