Is it really all about calories?

MrsDutt

Obviously on MFP the focus is on the amount of calories you consume vs the amount of calories burned. This does make sense of course and aids to weight loss.

Before I would starve myself when trying to loose weight and all it ended up in was me gaining it all back plus 2 cents.

This time it is definitely a complete lifestyle change, something I can continue doing for the rest of my life. I am in no hurry to lose the weight and even if it takes me a year to loose the 16 pounds I will be ok with it.

The aim for me though is not just weight loss but also a healthier lifestyle. Now my question is, do you focus most of your energy counting calories or do you focus on making healthy choices (despite of the calories).

Eg. Today I made a cold meat wrap with avocado in. Now avocado is very healthy but it is not very low in calories. Should I be botherred by the calorie amount or about the fact that I just had a healthy wrap and not a zinger burger ( The calories in the wrap was almost the same as would have been in a KFC burger)?

I want to improve my skin, the tone of my body, healthy hair and nails, not just purely weight loss.

Hope I am making some sense of what's going on in this brain of mine.

Thinkthinstaythin

Well, it depends on the food. It is in both. Avocado is very healthy and good for the skin but also high in fat. You need to keep a healthy balanced diet of 1200 ponds to get some weight lose in your future. I recommend salads whole wheat. try a vegan day once in a while. Also, NO MORE COKE. DIET. NONE! Crystal light is good. Green Tea boosts your metabolism a lot. Try drinking 8 cups a day. If you get hungry CELERY. It is negative in calories. If you feel like you will go over your limit. A 30 minute brisk walk a day or every other day is also good. Calories are important. So are carbs. Keep track of them carry a note book around. If your at a restaurant salad dressing on the side. You can dooo it!!!!! C: It is about will power!

superbabesuperhot

Hi u will find that if u eat healthy with lots of fruit and veges and do not drink booze. Also no processed food ie chips ,lollies. When u are out make healthy choices. There will be room in your calorie allowance for good fats ie raw almonds, avocado. The key simply is to choose a clean healthy diet and refuse to put crap into your body. U will find your body will respond ie skin,hair body looking great.If u nourish ur body with good food u will see and feel the difference.

MrsDutt

I do an exercise DVD every other day for 30 minutes so I get some in. Now the thing is, I do not drink any soda or snack on chocolate or any of that. In fact according to me I am eating fairly healthy. I'm not making it that big a deal but was just wondering if I ate a burger every lunch instead of a healthier (same calorie) lunch would I still loose weight? I am sure your body would be affected negatively in many more ways if i did opt for the unhealthy choice.

vickivickib

hi,
at the moment my focus is calories but i have alot of weight to lose.
i used to be alot slimmer and very fit and i didnt count calories, i just ate fresh unprocessed foods.

I would say if your main goal is to become healthier rather than slimming down things like avacado would be fine, oviously eating them all day everyday wouldnt be good for you, but as long as your eating a wide range of heathy foods there shouldnt be a problem.

i would say that healthier choices should always come first its no good having only a few lettuce leaves a day and being left to tierd to even get out of bed is it?

hope all goes well on your journey.
vicki

MrsDutt

Thanks Vicki makes perfect sense.

superbabesuperhot

ps- Educate yourself about making food choices to get maximum vitamin and nutrition.U will find it will become easier as u go along.Also remember that a occasional treat meal of not so healthy food is o.k-it is what u do the majority of the time that matters.I recommend no artificial sweeteners as i feel they are unnatural and could cause cancer-my mum has been fighting cancer and she would drink diet coke by the truck load.

jonnyman41

as you have so little to lose anyway I would aim for healthy most of the time but allow yourself a little bit of what you fancy now and again (within your cals) as this is something to do for life. How realistic would it be for you if you only ever ate fresh greens/very lean meat for the rest of your life. For some people that is the total switch that they do but it means that they have to be very controlled for ever, for others it is a balance between what is practical and normal for the way they live. I suspect that the all or nothing approach is more needed for people who have really bad eating habits and a lot to lose but you already have proven restraint if only needing to lose a little weight.
NB do remember though that a little bit of what you fancy really does mean a little bit and not an every day treat.

kimmianne89

I try to eat healthy calories and as little empty calories as possible. So I will eat nuts etc even though they are high because they are full of goodness. I think for weight loss it doesn't matter so much when you are in the overweight/obese section and sticking with just calories would do but if you're in healthy/overweight then it matters what calories they are x

herownkindofwonderfull

I focus on calories, carbs, fats, fiber, sodium, and protein.

i shoot for higher protein and higher fiber
less sodium

and i try to never go over my fats or carbs.

i also focus on these in regards to healthy sources of healthy fats, etc. ie: avocados, olive oil, etc.


it's a combination of all of it.

yarwell

200g of olive oil or 450g of sugar would give you 1800 calories a day but neither are a sustainable diet, so it is indeed NOT all about calories.

Protein is primary as its name suggests, there are essential fats and oils you need to eat as you can't make them and there's a whole range of minerals, vitamins, trace elements you need to acquire from a range of other foodstuffs.

Variety is the spice of life.