Does anyone eat whatever they want just within calories?

math1182

I eat what I like, but in smaller quantities.

A rule I set myself is that my dinner plate must be half full of salad or veggies (luckily I like both!) That for me is a balance I can happily live with for the rest of my life. If you start banning/denying yourself things that you enjoy, I don't think I would stick with it in the long term.

I like chocolate in the evening, while I am reading. Another 'little rule' I set myself, to keep things in check, is that I can eat one chocolate as I start each new chapter. I know that I am only going to read a maximum of 4 chapters before I go to sleep, so I'm keeping my snacking under 200 cals, but I'm enjoying the chocolate and don't feel deprived.

Good Luck

Hollyjd1019

if you cut things out completely you are more likely to binge and gain it back. If you learn to eat foods in moderation and never feel cheated I don't think you will have a problem doing it for life.....

^^^^I agree with this.

I think that I had to learn control over food and not the other way around. If I want something sweet then I will have it but not mindlessly having a HUGE portion like I used to and not even enjoying it. For me, I've had to learn to control what portions I eat not necessarily what I eat. And whether I'm really hungry and/or is the calories in whatever really worth eating?

MalloryCurrent

Since starting MFP I have been eating a lot better. Mainly because I want to stay under those calories, so in turn I am still eating what I want, just wanting something different now. We don't eat Fast Food as much and even when I do eat out, its nothing like I used to eat. I love that with MFP I am making better choices! I'm no longer dieting, just living a healthier lifestyle! And adding exercise is a big key, for me, to losing the weight. But I try to look at it as training for my goal of running in the color run which is a 5k than exercising to lose weight.

amtru2015

ok dollydye...here's my thing, i do watch what i eat because i always remind myself that food is for nutrition, so even if you are staying within your calories, your body wont necessarily be healthy. So yes i eat lots of veggies and fruit and lean meats. That being said, i eat probably one bad thing a day. I dont feel guilty, and im still losing weight....try it out

jofjltncb6

I wonder...if there's a longitudinal study looking at HOW folks lose weight and how successful they are in keeping it off after 10 years. We know most people gain it all back "and then some". Why is that?

My guess would be that they drastically altered the way they eat/live. It got weight off, but it wasn't something they could be happy with and do long-term. Old habits return, so does the weight. That's why slight alterations and moderation are so important. They are sustainable.

Agree with your conclusion, but not with your prescription...at least not for everyone. Certain types of people succeed with slight adjustments, but there is a different type of person who does better with drastic, 100%, all or nothing, cold turkey approaches. Most of these people know it if that's the type they are, but just in case, if you've tried gradual changes your entire life and they just haven't "stuck" with you, then you might want to consider trying a 100% approach (at least once). It can't hurt and it might just be the difference you need for long-term success.

drcrimson

I wrote a blog entry about this recently. I think you can eat whatever you want within the calorie limit on a single day. There are nutritional downsides to this on a long term basis and especially for those with conditions like type 2 diabetes.

Yolodiet.com

HMVOL7409

So I wonder for those who continue to eat unhealthy choices; as long as it is under their calorie goal will have continued success not only here but in keeping that weight off for life? I'm sorry but if you don't make some sort of change in the type of food you eat; you are setting yourself up for failure later.

I think exactly opposite. if you cut things out completely you are more likely to binge and gain it back. If you learn to eat foods in moderation and never feel cheated I don't think you will have a problem doing it for life.....

Ok, but where did I state to cut things out completely? This was more towards those that say they eat fast food everyday and various high fat/calorie foods but hey if they are under their goal it's ok. Ok but in the long run for maintenance that approach doesn't neccessarily work.

nangel4u

Yes....I just try and add in more vegs and fruits and drink more water :-)

Hmwarren84

I eat whatever I want and try to stay in my calorie limit. But I do make better choices now than I used to. Oh, I also stopped drinking calories and only drink water.

MisterTEZ

So I wonder for those who continue to eat unhealthy choices; as long as it is under their calorie goal will have continued success not only here but in keeping that weight off for life? I'm sorry but if you don't make some sort of change in the type of food you eat; you are setting yourself up for failure later.

^Well said!

^^I agree

This report shows why it's important to make better food choices

http://kool1017.com/america-is-the-fattest-nation-in-the-world-and-getting-fatter/

sphyxy

I used to diet that way, just shoving whatever in my mouth as long as I didn't go over calories, but I started changing my habits.

I figure, why eat 500 calories of garbage that only leaves me hungry in an hour when I can have a 500 calorie dinner consisting of a yummy side salad and a filling LARGE dinner? I eat more than I used to, even though portions are smaller, and I am always satisfied.

jennifer072107

I do this. If I say no, I cannot have any ice cream at all....no chips at all and things like that, I would binge really badly (like I did lastnight). I usually do just fine, but yesterday I was VERY stricked and only ate very healthy things, but by lastnight i completely lost control. The way I see it for myself is, if I have calories I need to stay under, I eat healthy for the most part, but if I want chips, i do what they say is 1 serving and do that. or if I want a cookie, I do what their serving says rather than okay I want 5 cookes instead of I should have what they say is a serving size. THis is helping me learn how to eat in moderation. But as I am going with this journey, i am starting to see where i could use those calories rather than what I really want. Its a learning process for me. Ive been under my calorie intake for the time i have been on here so I guess what I am doing is working.

monicamk1975

I ate whatever I wanted in the begining and have slowly been getting better about my food choices. At first, all I cared about was losing weight and now I've really been focusing on eating healthy and really fueling my body with the better choices. It makes a world of difference and got me off of a 3 month plateau.

Umeboshi

I eat whatever I want, but healthier choices tend to keep me full longer, so I always keep that in mind.
Not depriving myself is what keeps this sustainable and an actual "lifestyle change" for me.

KaleidoscopeEyes1056

I eat a lot of what I want, but I always make sure to include fruits and veggies. I love fruits and veggies, so that's not really a big deal to me, though.

lilylight

Yes, I don't worry about not eating certain foods. Personally, I've found that if I try a diet that has too many restrictions, it doesn't last. ...Having said that, since I started this, I'm definitely eating a lot more fruits and veggies, just because you can eat more of them.

lilmzzgreeneyez

i am always watching my sugar fat and sodium intake. so no. i eat foods within my calorie limiit if they are low in those areas. not just wahtever i want.

Mceastes

Basically yes. But then I don't dislike healthy foods so it's not like eating whatever I want = Oreos and nachos. I eat fruits, veggies, salads, oatmeal, lean meats, etc. But I also work in pizza, burgers and ice cream. I read labels and am mindful, but honestly if I'm really, really wanting pizza, then I have pizza and don't feel bad about it and don't gain weight because of it if it fits in my calories for the day. Having said that there are plenty of times I turn down what I want because it's just too unhealthy (why doesn't any restaurant make nachos for under 1000 calories??? - I just can't do it, it's too overboard on the calories and fat).

janemem

I totally eat like crap, I just eat less of it. I figure that'll only take me so far though and at some point I'll have to clean it up some. But until then I'll ride the pizza and swiss cake rolls as far as they'll take me, lol.

LOL! Good for you! :-D :laugh:

TonyStark30

Surely we all should be eating what we want within calories by default that would make us all the weight we want to be forever. No?

AntWrig

So I wonder for those who continue to eat unhealthy choices; as long as it is under their calorie goal will have continued success not only here but in keeping that weight off for life? I'm sorry but if you don't make some sort of change in the type of food you eat; you are setting yourself up for failure later.

^Well said!

^^I agree

This report shows why it's important to make better food choices

http://kool1017.com/america-is-the-fattest-nation-in-the-world-and-getting-fatter/

So wrong on many levels.

nevertoolate2

I eat what I want but do make healthier choices over much of what I eat. It just means that if I fancy some bad foods I can have them, but in moderation and generally when I have the calories available, either in my daily allowance or because I stick in some extra exercise so that I can afford them.

Some diets like Atkins and Dukan promote eating or restricting certain foodtypes. I suppose you could maintain those diets within a calorie limit too but a recent study in Sweden suggest those diets do not have a lasting impact upon obesity but have seen an increase in cholestoral levels and associated heart problems.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2157532/Atkins-diet-causes-heart-disease-risk-linked-surge-cholesterol-levels.html

If that is the case it reinforces that healthy eating is as important (in the long term if not the short term) as just watching the calories.

Kara_xxx

Surely we all should be eating what we want within calories by default that would make us all the weight we want to be forever. No?

It depends what you want. I depends entirely on what your goals are. If appearance is all you're after and you're happy with "skinny fat" then you can probably get by on that rule.

However if you want to be fit and healthy, for example for sports performance, then you can't have half your calories coming from cake and alcohol.

And if you want to be lean rather than skinny fat then you would most certainly have to make serious changes.

nhga47

This is my second day on insanity, and I am trying to stick with their elite nutrition guide as I plan my meals. I work night shift so its a bit harder for me to stick to the 5 meal a day thing, but I am motivated to get rid of this $@!## beer gut. Now I just need to have the will power to stay off of the beer for the 60 days. Today, I was successfull and think that I made pretty healthy food choices. I used to work on commercial kitchen equipment, and the sites that I had to see in the kitchens really made me think about what I was puting in my body! I can't stand fried foods/process foods much anymore. Good luck, and I say always look at the labels of what you are about to eat and ask yourself if its worth it. "My two cents"

AntWrig

Surely we all should be eating what we want within calories by default that would make us all the weight we want to be forever. No?

It depends what you want. I depends entirely on what your goals are. If appearance is all you're after and you're happy with "skinny fat" then you can probably get by on that rule.

However if you want to be fit and healthy, for example for sports performance, then you can't have half your calories coming from cake and alcohol.

And if you want to be lean rather than skinny fat then you would most certainly have to make serious changes.

This is not correct.

From a body recomp stand point (body image) you can get away with eating anything you want in MODERATION. Even elite athletes follow this. Usain Bolt was eating McDonald's before he broke the Olympic World Record.

Kara_xxx

I think there is a big difference with what Hussein Bolt gets away with considering his training load and lean body mass (and associated metabolism) and what your average MFP poster gets away with will be VASTLY different.

You can be assured that Hussein Bolt's diet would not include Maccie D's on a daily basis!

People can have a very different idea of what 'moderation' actually means.

Going4Lean

I ate everything when i was loosing weight, just less of it. For example i was eating over 6 servings of rice in one meal and then i started eating less about 2 servings. I loved my rice and still do.

AntWrig

I think there is a big difference with what Hussein Bolt gets away with considering his training load and lean body mass (and associated metabolism) and what your average MFP poster gets away with will be VASTLY different.

You can be assured that Hussein Bolt's diet would not include Maccie D's on a daily basis!

People can have a very different idea of what 'moderation' actually means.

You cited athletes, so I gave you an athlete. For body composition eating whatever you want is perfectly fine WITHIN moderation. If you reach your overall macros for the day you're good. Yes, that includes the "average MFP".

Swissmiss

I would say yes as long as you are not living on chocolate, ice cream, candy, cookies, etc. You get the point.:bigsmile:

JennLifts

hell yes I do! IIFYM