If it fits in my daily calories...

Acg67

Fit this among many other burgers into my cals

Double brie stuffed jucy lucys topped with more brie and pancetta

FitLink

I agree with the OP to an extent. I can see the logic for an occasional indulgence- if you simply have to have it, make it fit your calories, and it isn't so bad. But to justify long-term unhealthy eating so long as you don't go over your calories is delusional, to an extent. You'll still lose weight, but you won't feel as well as you could, and simply lowering your caloric intake doesn't make you healthy.
There's a person I'm friends with on here with that perspective and it drives me nuts. If you want to lose large amounts of weight, eating fast food and drinking sodas every day is not a good way to get there. You may be able to do it, I'm not saying it's impossible... but you're really not doing yourself any favors.

Trust me, you are her "friend" in social network terms only, not an actual friend.

lind3400

Fit this among many other burgers into my cals

Double brie stuffed jucy lucys topped with more brie and pancetta

HOLY MOTHER I would give my left foot for that hamburger

Margentine

AliciaStinger

I have to disagree with that. People who believe that they can lose weight on some magic supplement while eating whatever they want are hopeful at best, and complete idiots at worst -- but realistic people realize that getting healthy requires sacrifices. That doesn't mean that they should give up everything that brings them pleasure - in fact, I read an article that said that people were less likely to overindulge if they had a little of something on a regular basis (and, to be clear, a double burger is HARDLY "a little"). Knowing that you can eat your favorite food (be it ice cream or fried chicken) every once in a while AS LONG AS IT'S IN MODERATION is part of being a realistic dieter - and it's much better to plan out these indulgences so that they fit into the died, as opposed to accidentally going 1,000 calories over.

Another thing to keep in mind is how hard it is for us average people to stick to any diet, let alone one where there's no room to "slip up." I would never have lost my 37-and-counting pounds if I couldn't have a burger or some pasta and garlic bread every once in a while. Saying that I can't eat those things is ensuring that I will fail at my diet, if I even choose to start. These are unrealistc expectations for most people - and I'm not sure why that bothers you, but as others said, it shouldn't; it doesn't affect you in the least. However, if people were saying "hey, I'm eating deep-fried pork and Snickers bars three meals a day, and I just can't figure out why I'm not losing weight," then I would probably be a little annoyed by their stupidity. This is still a different situation than "I've been doing really good, but I've just gotta have a _______."

One more thing to consider is that my weight has come off almost entirely due to diet; the only exercise I get in an average MONTH is standing up part of the day at work. I never believed that I would be able to lose weight - especially so much - without even breaking a sweat. For me, simply cutting down on the calorie intake helped me lose a (fairly quick)18 pounds. Making healthier choices took off another 10 pounds. Keeping under my calorie goal for an extended period of time has taken care of the rest of my weight loss to date...which includes fitting in the occasional (but much needed) White Castle burgers or Chicago hot dog with everything on it. (By the way, I would also like to know where one might find a double burger for only 400 calories. It would make it a lot easier to fit them into my 1400 calories (or less) per day - and thinking about these things makes me crave them.)

jennifer52484

The question that comes to mind is Why would they eat it if they really knew how bad it was for their health?
I mean moderation is key. I don't know you or your lifestyles and I don't look at peoples food journals and judge them either.
Everyone has a reason behind why they ate what they ate. That is fine.. Just don't let the "excuses" get the best of you. We are all here for the same or similar reason(or at least that's what I thought).

txsgirlK

Wow, people are mean.

FitLink

Agreed. I can see the logic for an occasional indulgence- if you simply have to have it, make it fit your calories, and it isn't so bad. But to justify long-term unhealthy eating so long as you don't go over your calories is delusional, to an extent. You'll still lose weight, but you won't feel as well as you could, and simply lowering your caloric intake doesn't make you healthy.
There's a person I'm friends with on here with that perspective and it drives me nuts. If you want to lose large amounts of weight, eating fast food and drinking sodas every day is not a good way to get there. You may be able to do it, I'm not saying it's impossible... but you're really not doing yourself any favors.

if it drives you nuts, DELETE said person..... problem solved.

Not so simple when you know them IRL. They know where I stand and we agree to disagree on that, but I still support her efforts. I just strongly feel she could be doing better. But as a lot of people in this thread have said, her perspective is that she can change the amounts she eats and get where she wants rather than not being able to eat the way she likes. /shrug. So we agree to disagree.

No doubt you drive her crazy with your judgmental ways as well.

secretlobster

Mmmm nooooo ... that's not it.

(Here's a hint: telling people that are losing weight while still eating food they enjoy, at a reasonable portion, they aren't making healthy decisions? Wrong. Because weight loss in and of itself is making them healthier. Add in the fact that they are also likely doing multiple days a week of cardio? Healthier, still.)

There's more to health than pounds on a scale.

You do realize that most of us spend 90% of our time exercising and eating well right? Why berate someone for having an indulgence that fits perfectly fine in their calorie and macronutrient goals for the day?

NO one is forcing you to eat a pile of nachos every day, and what we are talking about is not going to Burger King or McDonald's all day long every day and staying under our calorie goals. Perspective goes a very long way.

You guys are using terms like "force" and I just don't understand why. If you really despise people who encourage people who are trying to lose weight to eat healthier foods MOST of the time, then I'm sorry. No one has the ability to force someone else to eat "their" way, it's not possible. No one is saying "never eat junk food". A lot of the argument that is in this thread is due to very black-or-white thinking that is so erroneous it's almost laughable. We all have our own paths to success. If ice cream is part of your daily diet, that's totally fine. I don't think you're unhealthy for it and I am not making a judgment about how healthy you are. But I think it's DOWNRIGHT IGNORANT to forget the fact that *what* you eat is as important, if not moreso, as *how much* you eat.

HardcorePork

this thread makes me crave cheeseburgers....











...it's SO UNFAIR when people on MFP start SABOTAGING ME

IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym

The question that comes to mind is Why would they eat it if they really knew how bad it was for their health?
I mean moderation is key. I don't know you or your lifestyles and I don't look at peoples food journals and judge them either.
Everyone has a reason behind why they ate what they ate. That is fine.. Just don't let the "excuses" get the best of you. We are all here for the same or similar reason(or at least that's what I thought).

You answered your own question: "MODERATION IS KEY".

I use no excuses and am healthier now that I've put on weight and lost body fat than I have been in years, certainly moreso than when I weighed 100 pounds and had a body fat percentage of 24%. I eat a ton more now, mostly healthy and clean, but do not exclude anything from my lifestyle, until I have to for training.

tsh0ck

Mmmm nooooo ... that's not it.

(Here's a hint: telling people that are losing weight while still eating food they enjoy, at a reasonable portion, they aren't making healthy decisions? Wrong. Because weight loss in and of itself is making them healthier. Add in the fact that they are also likely doing multiple days a week of cardio? Healthier, still.)

There's more to health than pounds on a scale.

Pounds lost on a scale represent an increased measure of health. Minutes at the gym represent an increased measure in health. You don't have to eat lettuce grown under the sun reflected off a tropical rainbow to get your body an increased measure of health. True story.

DeanneLea

"...but if this is a daily or weekly occurrence"

What's wrong with splurging on a weekly basis? I'm not going to give up eating out on the weekends and beers to please people like you that are "bothered" by what I do with my own body lol. I've been splurging every single week since I started losing weight and have enjoyed every minute of it. Last time I checked, it's more important to make a lifestyle change rather than deprive yourself of the things you love. If someone wants to eat a small piece of cake every night within their calorie budget, so be it. Those things keep people on track and avoid a possible dieting/deprivation melt down in the future.

I think I'll have a beer tonight.

dinosnopro

this is how I look at my daily caloric intake.

I. I fill my macros (protein, fats and carbs) from whole food sources when possible, I may have a protein shake from time to time.
2. If calories remain after macro requirements are met, eat whatever the hell I want but stay within my calorie goals
3. give zero f***s as to what anyone else does, or what any thinks about what I do.

beckyinma

If you're going to eat a burger....make it a REAL burger, not some skimpyassed cardboard POS. And plan for it...like me

Can I has cheeseburger?!!!!

OMG I want one. I think I'll have one on Friday night after my kick-*kitten* karate class... mmm hmmm

DeanneLea

You don't have to eat lettuce grown under the sun reflected off a tropical rainbow to get your body an increased measure of health. True story.

This is fantastic.

dinosnopro

I think they could stand side by side and yell equally loud

FitLink

Mmmm nooooo ... that's not it.

(Here's a hint: telling people that are losing weight while still eating food they enjoy, at a reasonable portion, they aren't making healthy decisions? Wrong. Because weight loss in and of itself is making them healthier. Add in the fact that they are also likely doing multiple days a week of cardio? Healthier, still.)

There's more to health than pounds on a scale.

Can you read? HEALTHIER! Many peoples' goals are to be healthIER, and losing weight, in and of itself, does indeed make one healthIER. Cardio X3/week? EVEN healtIER!.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

eating a burger and fries if you like it and still staying on track: normal.

end of story.

It depends on how many calories that person has for the day mind. If they are on something like 1200 calories, burger and chips will leave very little room for other meals: normal.

Remembering that it comes down to net.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

Fit this among many other burgers into my cals

Double brie stuffed jucy lucys topped with more brie and pancetta

invite me over for dinner . . . please? pretty please? Just wait until Friday.

Elizabeth_C34

Mmmm nooooo ... that's not it.

(Here's a hint: telling people that are losing weight while still eating food they enjoy, at a reasonable portion, they aren't making healthy decisions? Wrong. Because weight loss in and of itself is making them healthier. Add in the fact that they are also likely doing multiple days a week of cardio? Healthier, still.)

There's more to health than pounds on a scale.

You do realize that most of us spend 90% of our time exercising and eating well right? Why berate someone for having an indulgence that fits perfectly fine in their calorie and macronutrient goals for the day?

NO one is forcing you to eat a pile of nachos every day, and what we are talking about is not going to Burger King or McDonald's all day long every day and staying under our calorie goals. Perspective goes a very long way.

You guys are using terms like "force" and I just don't understand why. If you really despise people who encourage people who are trying to lose weight to eat healthier foods MOST of the time, then I'm sorry. No one has the ability to force someone else to eat "their" way, it's not possible. No one is saying "never eat junk food". A lot of the argument that is in this thread is due to very black-or-white thinking that is so erroneous it's almost laughable. We all have our own paths to success. If ice cream is part of your daily diet, that's totally fine. I don't think you're unhealthy for it and I am not making a judgment about how healthy you are. But I think it's DOWNRIGHT IGNORANT to forget the fact that *what* you eat is as important, if not moreso, as *how much* you eat.

This is a direct contraditction to your first comment in this thread which is why people are confused about what your point is, me included now:

The "omg dont judge otha pplz" comments are coming from people who don't/won't/can't eat healthier. Look at the post "can I eat Burger King for breakfast" - Literally everyone in that thread says "go for it!!".

Sadly, this is not a site for people who want to eat healthier, it's dominated by people who eat 1200 calories worth of junk food who still lose weight.

You also said:

I don't know anyone who eats clean 100% of the time. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try to eat WELL MOST of the time.

EXACTLY what I just said and what everyone else has said this entire thread. You continue to disagree but I have no idea why since now you seem to agree ... again???



People on here are fully aware that there's more to being healthy than pounds on a scale. No one here is advocating a diet with junk food all day every day, and that is my point. I have no idea why you got so worked up about people saying it's fine to eat a little junk here and there as long as it's not something you do full time all the time.

bcattoes

Not all cheeseburgers are that unhealthy. You can make them at home and they're just fine.

So true. For the life of me I can't figure why anyone would spend the time and money to get a fast food burger when it's cheaper and faster to make a healthier, tastier and bigger burger (or taco, or sandwich, or wrap, or whatever) at home.

secretlobster

Pounds lost on a scale represent an increased measure of health. Minutes at the gym represent an increased measure in health. You don't have to eat lettuce grown under the sun reflected off a tropical rainbow to get your body an increased measure of health. True story.

Glad to know I had increased my health when I was eating 1200 cals a day on 100-calorie snack packs and fast food, working out 7 days a week, getting sick on a monthly basis, but saw pounds drop.

PS: I LOVE CHEESEBURGERS. I will not debate cheeseburgers.

jennifer52484

People asked why it bothers me... after reading through this thread, I have found my answer. It bothers me because its loaded with fat, sodium, cholesterol and who knows what else. If I never ate another burger in my life, I would be okay with that. Everyone is different. My topic was not "EVERYONE MUST FOLLOW WHAT I DO" It was my opinion. and I am pretty darn happy with the turn out.

Unfortunately, what you said bothered you was OTHER PEOPLE saying "if it fits in my calorie goal, I'll eat it." You most certainly were saying you believed everyone SHOULD "follow what you do." You DIDN'T say it bothered you to EAT those foods, but that it bothered you that OTHER PEOPLE ate them. You opinion is fine--so long as it applies ONLY to you.

Well if you are most certain...

txsgirlK

Mmmm nooooo ... that's not it.

(Here's a hint: telling people that are losing weight while still eating food they enjoy, at a reasonable portion, they aren't making healthy decisions? Wrong. Because weight loss in and of itself is making them healthier. Add in the fact that they are also likely doing multiple days a week of cardio? Healthier, still.)

There's more to health than pounds on a scale.

I don't believe weight loss in itself makes you healthier. I would like to see the cholesterol levels and blood pressure readings of the people losing weight by eating junk food (and I'm talking about daily junk food, not the occasional indulgence). I bet mine is lower even though I weigh more.

JustJennie1

Mmmm nooooo ... that's not it.

(Here's a hint: telling people that are losing weight while still eating food they enjoy, at a reasonable portion, they aren't making healthy decisions? Wrong. Because weight loss in and of itself is making them healthier. Add in the fact that they are also likely doing multiple days a week of cardio? Healthier, still.)

There's more to health than pounds on a scale.

I don't believe weight loss in itself makes you healthier. I would like to see the cholesterol levels and blood pressure readings of the people losing weight by eating junk food (and I'm talking about daily junk food, not the occasional indulgence). I bet mine is lower even though I weigh more.

Yup.

You could be thin as a rail but have high cholesterol, glucose through the roof and lots of other health issues going on that you're not aware of.

Sure you're losing weight eating junk food but the havoc it's wreaking on your body just isn't worth it.

Elizabeth_C34

I don't believe weight loss in itself makes you healthier. I would like to see the cholesterol levels and blood pressure readings of the people losing weight by eating junk food (and I'm talking about daily junk food, not the occasional indulgence). I bet mine is lower even though I weigh more.

LOL yeah. I was 220 lbs with perfect bloodwork and blood pressure eating McDonald's, at least least 3500mg sodium, and 3000 calories of mostly junk food every day at my heaviest weight.

Furthermore, the whole "my bloodwork is perfect" argument only goes so far. The damage caused by obesity is long-term, not short term. So your point is well taken anyway since the long-term damage from consistently poor eating habits is more serious.

Again, no one is advocating eating McDonald's every single day. We are talking about a rare indulgence here. Again, perspective.

Bmontgomery613

I have been fat a very long time. I have "dieted" many many many many times. I wouldn't let myself have those things that I like. No matter the REASON for me liking them, I like them. Since I did not allow room for them, I would get 10 lbs into it and get hangry and quit. I was still fat. This time, I am doing it differently. I am learning how to have my cake and eat it too. My labs have gone from "bad" to perfect. I am the smallest I have been since middle school. You know what I dont like? Kale. So, I dont eat it. I like burgers. I like fries. I like cupcakes. I had a cupcake last night. I made them with my daughter. She and I both really enjoyed them. Try and tell me I cant have a cupcake, I may just have to make a really really big one and proceed to bury a person in it.

Well said. Yesterday was a co-worker's birthday and there were cupcakes. I didn't have one because I had already eaten too much earlier, but if I hadn't I certainly would have had one of them. It's all about moderation and knowing what will and won't fit into your daily goals. I didn't get fat from eating M&M's and McDonald's french fries...I got fat from eating pounds of M&M's and super sized orders of McDonald's french fries.

This...a thousand times this!

boggsmeister

Oh hells yeah. never thought about using pancetta on a burger. Why let that pesky water get in the way of all that salted pork fat goodness?

StartingAnewDay

This is why my diary will always be closed.

It stops rubbernecking.

^^^^^^THIS^^^ and judgementalism.. SMH..