"calorie counting will get you no where"

Prettypiglett

Down 150 pounds by counting calories. It is only possible if the person committed and stick to it. I still need to lose somewhere between 40-50 pounds. I have upped my calories now as I decided to lose less per week as I want to eat more for a while without going crazy.

I love this quote, it gives me hope as I am still trying Well done on your fantastic achievement x

thistimeismytime

says my 100 pound roommate. I snapped back at her. I couldn't help it, I got defensive. That comment alone was enough to shut down my entire day, and I'm convinced it was the reason I wandered up to the counter at panera and ordered a brownie without even thinking about what I was doing. I've been doing MFP for a while and I've seen little to no results. Half of it is that I can't seem to disconnect the emotional connection I have to food. Also, working out every day almost never happens. However, even weeks when I manage it somehow and eat right, the numbers barely go down and if they do, they go right back up again. Is it true.. will calorie counting really get me no where? I dont know. feeling defeated.

Girl, you CAN do this, you have to change your MIND to change your body. No one can figure that out for you hon, but we are all are rooting for you. BELIEVE you are capable of change. Acknowledge that hard work pays off, then execute your plan to the very best of your ability. If you have patience, your body and health will change for the better!! Best wishes! Don't listen to negative people, there are ALWAYS people who will try to bring you down. Brush them off like the dust they are, and then DO YOUR THING!!

christenwypy

I hope it gets us somewhere. Mathematically, it makes logical sense. If you decrease your calories you will lose weight. How can it be any other way?

I know also though that fats and sugars need to stay pretty low as well. I would add that to your goals if you haven't already.

You don't have to work out every day. You also input that in MFP as well. I put in that I work out 3 days and it tells me what I should eat accordingly. Then if I work out more I figure it's a bonus.

I don't think the same thing works for everyone. I know people who lost hundreds of pounds and never counted calories but instead say they started "eating clean." Others have done it by counting. Some only worked out and never changed their diets.

I would really say not to get discouraged. Cut out as much sugar and trans fat as you can and keep close to your calorie goal. If you go over, work out to get back under again. It'll come off. You can do it!

CyberEd312

Oh Crap!! you mean I have been going about this all wrong!!! Grr!! I can't believe calorie counting doesn't work........... LOL All kidding aside yes it (calorie counting) is just one tool in a host of them that can be used but to me it is a very important one. Food is what got alot of us Fat (Some of us off every chart, me,me,me... I was beyond super morbidly obese) so by learning calorie counting, the amounts of calories in food, reading labels, etc... it was the best way for me to hold myself accountable to the amounts of calories I was consuming... At the end before my AHA moment my dietician figured I was consume over 8000 calories a day and I was none the wiser to the amounts I was eating until I started working with her and realizing this.. So I for one am standing in the corner of calorie counting as being a very vital process for my weightloss, and I think my ticker doesn't lie... I am 34 months into this new lifestyle and I will guarantee you that calorie counting WILL be part of my permanent lifestyle from here on out.... That much I know.....

Jessyfai

Ur body might be like mine. Calorie counting alone does not help. And u cant starve ur body, otherwise it will store all calories and u will nevrr lose weight. I hace to look at the whole picture of my meals. No more processed foods, what nutritional value do those give to our bodies? Low calories, i do count... but its got to b healthy stuff. Make it worth puttibg in ur body.
then its ok to endulge a little, but not a lot. And dont give up. Stay with ur calorie goals and look at the other health components of the food u put in ur body.

Heaven71

says my 100 pound roommate. I snapped back at her. I couldn't help it, I got defensive. That comment alone was enough to shut down my entire day, and I'm convinced it was the reason I wandered up to the counter at panera and ordered a brownie without even thinking about what I was doing. I've been doing MFP for a while and I've seen little to no results. Half of it is that I can't seem to disconnect the emotional connection I have to food. Also, working out every day almost never happens. However, even weeks when I manage it somehow and eat right, the numbers barely go down and if they do, they go right back up again. Is it true.. will calorie counting really get me no where? I dont know. feeling defeated.

If it's not working, you are not trying. Maybe you just aren't ready. Good luck on your goals.

thistimeismytime

I'm here to get fitter, and to share my imput and knowledge about nutrition and weight loss with others even at the expense of not being popular with some of my statements, this thread obviously one of them. My point is and always will be that until someone makes fundamental changes in their overall attitute to food, exercise, stress etc, that simply by counting calories almost all will not find longterm weight loss or health. That 95% failure rate isn't something I pulled out of a hat, it's reality. I'm not saying it won't work, but chances are it won't.

You may or may not be winning at losing weight, but you're certainly not winning at being a nice, encouraging person.... maybe you should work on that a little now that you've got ALL this figured out and perfected better than MFP and better than all the rest of us mere mortals.

IveLanded

You know, I think you are on the verge of a big break thru if you let it happen.........I just said this in another thread, your mental and emotional state is Just As IMPORTANT as what you eat and how much you work out. You recognize that you have a negative emotional connection with food........the next step is tackling that so you can be successful and be who you DESERVE to be.

Yeah.. well I realized I had an emotional connection to food years ago haha, can't seem to get to the root of it though. and I can't stop.. I'm scared it will never change and will always stop me from being who I want to be.

Have you gone to therapy?

I didn't get any success in my weight loss until I had the mental connection taken care of too and fully realized that I deserved more than I was giving myself.

ivansmomma

I haven't read all of the posts here, but the majority of them are 'spot on'. You get out of this what you put in, your calories should be nutritious, not junk, and a reasonable amount of exercise/activity is good, too. Don't go on a 'diet' as you will fall off very soon. I am not losing weight right now, but I have also come to the realization that I am eating healthy, getting a fair amount of exercise/activity and feel good. I have also decided that the number on the scale is just that - a number. It is not my LIFE SCORE!! Most of us are not going to lose like the commercials on TV, magazines, etc., or the Biggest Loser. You can't let other people decide for you, and you can't blame other people for the emotional eating. Find out why the emotions surface when something like this happens. Take care.

Austin1988

If a 95% failure rate is any evidence, then counting calories doesn't work.

So if you aren't counting calories, why are you on MFP where the biggest thing is logging food and keeping track of calories, among other things.

It may say swiss milk on the side of the bus, as in advertising, but the bus doesn't necessarily go to Switzerland. j/k

I'm here to get fitter, and to share my imput and knowledge about nutrition and weight loss with others even at the expense of not being popular with some of my statements, this thread obviously one of them. My point is and always will be that until someone makes fundamental changes in their overall attitute to food, exercise, stress etc, that simply by counting calories almost all will not find longterm weight loss or health. That 95% failure rate isn't something I pulled out of a hat, it's reality. I'm not saying it won't work, but chances are it won't.

i remember you from another website. you are just being a pain in the rear! go do something positive.

counting calories and exercising does work, if you do it. that is the problem, a lot of people just don't do it and then wonder why the program doesn't work. i am learning so much and i am already losing weight without feeling like i have cut off an entire food group or something.

it works and it's easy, but i have to give up my cookie binges, go figure!

LOL.............I still binge on cookies periodically, I win.

So, if that number isn't something you pulled out of a hat, go ahead and provide your sources please. It sounds much more reliable when someone gives sources for throwing out a huge statement like 95% fail rate.

nicoleleighward

Exactly!!

12by311

If a 95% failure rate is any evidence, then counting calories doesn't work.

Huh? Did I miss something? Where did '95% failure rate' come from? There are thousands of ppl here who prove that counting calories does work!

For how long?

The CHANGE you make while counting calories and becoming aware of the types of foods you are putting in your body is where success lies.

thistimeismytime

You know, I think you are on the verge of a big break thru if you let it happen.........I just said this in another thread, your mental and emotional state is Just As IMPORTANT as what you eat and how much you work out. You recognize that you have a negative emotional connection with food........the next step is tackling that so you can be successful and be who you DESERVE to be.

LOVE THIS!! Listen to her--she's SPOT ON!

Pankakefacebetch

Counting calories has made me 27 pounds lighter and my journey isn't over :-)

happythermia

*hugs* Ignore your idiot roommate.
Counting calories has helped me lose - even before I started exercising. The number that MFP gave me works for me (so far) but a lot of people say that it skews too low so you might need to up your calories (I'm probably a broken record here since I'm sure many have brought it up) but check this site out:

http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/

See what it gives you and try that for a little while. Don't be scared of higher calories. I plan to jump on the bandwagon once my weight starts stalling lol.

Don't give up & most importantly, ignore the idiots. Oh and don't let the random brownie here and there bring you down! It happens :-)

LuckyLeprechaun

If a 95% failure rate is any evidence, then counting calories doesn't work.

Huh? Did I miss something? Where did '95% failure rate' come from? There are thousands of ppl here who prove that counting calories does work!

For how long?

2 years and easily maintaining......for me.

jbdowns35

You and I sound a lot a like in how we view food. I have found that what works for me is having a plan. Every Sunday morning I sit down and write out my menu for the week. I figure out what I am going to eat, day by day, meal by meal, snack by snack. Am I successfull 100% of the time... no.. but I will take 95%!!! It really has made the biggest difference with my will power. It takes the last minute choice away from me.

I use that list to grocery shop and do as much prep for the week as I can.(bake or grill chicken for lunches during the week, measure snacks into snack baggies, chop up fruit which will keep) I then post it on a dry erase board in the kitchen so I can easily pack lunches and snacks and take out the appropriate meats for dinners.

I do this too, it is a life saver!!!! So glad I finally got a good system down for meal planning & sticking to it. I save time & money & it really makes me stick to my guns, plus I have so much extra time to fit in my workouts.

andreanicole686

Counting calories gets you to a smaller dress or pant size! People who usually don't know what they are talking about or have never tried to lose weight say these types of things. It seems like the biggest thing you need to work on is breaking away from emotional eating. If your mind isn't into it you will NOT lose the weight. There are plenty of people on this site that can use themselves (me included) on why counting calories does work. But it has to be a lifetsyle change NOT a diet.

madkison77

EXACTLY!!! LOL

conidiring

Most of the 95% fails happen when people stop doing what they are doing when they reach their goals and go back to their "old ways". So, is it the "calorie counting" fail or is it the "diligence" fail?

PattyMallo

Calorie counting works, if you're counting your calories correctly and measuring properly. It's so easy to say one cup and count those calories, when in fact, you've really had a cup and a half. Miscounting or measuring is only cheating yourself.

Because there was a time that WW wasn't working for me, so I decided to visit Jenny Craig. Within six months, I had lost 30 pounds. I have kept that weight off for 20 months! I joined MFP to keep me on track eating "normal" food, making healthier choices.

So, don't get discouraged. COUNT those calories --- and count them properly! Good luck --- YOU can do it!! :happy:

447eliz

I consider it more of a lifestyle change then calorie counting. It is all about choices. Also, I have found eating every two to three hours has helped me keep my metabolism up. I have thyroid problems, so making smart choices on what I eat and how I eat, and making sure to consume enough calories so my body will function, has help me feel better than I have in years. Stay positive and surround yourself with supportive people. Make sure you know that it is all about you and not what other are doing and think. Everyone's body is different and reactions differently. Just find your groove and it will all work out. Stay focused and motivated.

Weighinginwithmy02

have you ever thought about cognitive behavior therapy for your emotional eating?

gemiwing

says my 100 pound roommate. I snapped back at her. I couldn't help it, I got defensive. That comment alone was enough to shut down my entire day, and I'm convinced it was the reason I wandered up to the counter at panera and ordered a brownie without even thinking about what I was doing. I've been doing MFP for a while and I've seen little to no results. Half of it is that I can't seem to disconnect the emotional connection I have to food. Also, working out every day almost never happens. However, even weeks when I manage it somehow and eat right, the numbers barely go down and if they do, they go right back up again. Is it true.. will calorie counting really get me no where? I dont know. feeling defeated.

Sorry you're having a rough go of it right now. The idea of 'counting calories' didn't work for me- stay with me here lol- it didn't work because I was trying to restrict my food intake too low. I had a correlation of eating less was 'good' and if I was 'good' that meant I ate less. "Eat less move more" was a lie for me because I didn't understand the bigger picture. I would be 'good' and restrict restrict restrict- only to lose it all in an 'emotional' (ie, last ditch effort by my body to get some calories in me) eating splurge. Then- restart the cycle of feeling 'bad' because of a 2x2 inch square of flour and eggs.

Far better to fuel ourselves than to starve. If I were to take a person and put them in a box- only feed them less and less food.. would I be good then? No. So why do I give myself a pass to do the same to me? Starving myself now won't fix the overeating in the past.

What changed my thinking was finally seeing whether I ate or didn't had NO bearing on whether I was 'good' or 'bad'. The terms have lost their meaning.

So that brownie? I would eat it and enjoy it. Log it- account for it and make room for it in a sensible eating plan. Then remember nothing but good things about the brownie and me eating it- no longer is my food chained to guilt and remorse.

So I no longer 'count calories' in the same way I was before- now I'm adding up fuel and making sure I have enough for the busy life I have planned. I will never be 'bad' because of what I ate again- I am liberated and free. Hope this rambling made sense

natalienovella88

I havent read anyones comments so if its been said already ignore this one, but you cant just try to do really well one week and then stop working out/eating right the next. Eating right is more than just calories. Your body needs fuel and nutrients to lose weight too. You have to make sure you are eating lean proteins, veggies, and fruits. Brownies will get you nowhere-Not counting calories. I know it is hard. I want a brownie probably everyday but if you can set a goal to work out at least 3x a week and track your eating daily, then you will see results. There is just absolutely NO WAY that if you are eating right and exercising that the lbs won't come off. I used to have a personal trainer and he told me that even if you workout every day for 3 weeks you wont start seeing the results until 2-3 weeks later. You can't expect results over night or even in just a week. You really have to try for MONTHS and MONTHS, NO STOPPING. It took me 5 months just to lose 30 lbs and I never gave up, never stopped. You can totally do it. You got this! just keep your mind set postive and ignore the roommate.

umachanxo

I've been calorie counting since September 2011, and I've lost 23 lbs. My waist has gone from 40" to 27".
Pick up the 30DS Jillian Michaels and do it as much as possible. You CAN get results. You have to set your mind to it and stop focusing on the negative.

You have to eat a proper amount and balance nutrition, also. Eating 1200 calories worth of unhealthy foods is going to be a slow, unhealthy process. Check out the forums or make a thread for some easy, cheap, healthy recipes to go on!

Good luck.

joepat21

The ONLY way to lose weight is to have a calorie deficit at the end of the day. No matter what diet you do, it's the calorie deficit that ultimately determines your weight loss. Last year I read about a Professor in Utah that sought to prove that premise by going on a diet of nothing but candy bars. He watched his calorie intake and tool some vitamin supplements and ended up losing weight due to the calorie deficit. There are things you can do in manipulating the macronutrients that you ingest and exercise that you perform to target more fat loss vs. LBM, but the basic premise of lower calorie intake still remains in tact.

dandy_girl

I am using mfp, not as a calorie counting tool, but as a way to journal my food. My focus is the food pyramid (now called My Plate). It's a great way for me to see if I'm eating enough of the RIGHT stuff. The calorie count is a side effect. Meaning, on days when I'm getting 5-6 servings of fruits and vegetables, I tend to be low on calories. On days when my "bread" or sugar counts are too high- those are the days I go over.

Maybe instead of a calorie goal- make a "healthy" goal, like getting all of your fruits and veggies in each day.

Hang in there! You will find your way soon!

grinch031

The ONLY way to lose weight is to have a calorie deficit at the end of the day. No matter what diet you do, it's the calorie deficit that ultimately determines your weight loss. Last year I read about a Professor in Utah that sought to prove that premise by going on a diet of nothing but candy bars. He watched his calorie intake and tool some vitamin supplements and ended up losing weight due to the calorie deficit. There are things you can do in manipulating the macronutrients that you ingest and exercise that you perform to target more fat loss vs. LBM, but the basic premise of lower calorie intake still remains in tact.

How does ignoring all the science that goes on into the bio-chemical processing of energy except the 1st law of thermodynamics helping anyone? Its not. People need to stop talking about candy bar diets that are completely unsustainable and unhealthy.

kanmuri

I wasn't losing weight, even if I went to the gym 3 times a week and saw a nutritionist. Once I started counting my calories, it started going down. It just makes sense. If you put too much petrol in a car, it'll overflow; it's the same thing for your body. But food alone is not a solution. You need to start exercising more. I use to hate the gym; now I go 5 times a week and I ask for more