Does anyone eat whatever they want just within calories?

CherokeeBabe

I balance it, partly it's what I want, and partly making better decisions overall with everything I eat. If I plan to eat lasagna in the evening, I eat salad or generally much lighter foods during the day, exercise, etc, that kind of thing.

luv2bpampered

I'm under a dietician's care and this is what she has me on. I lose the weight very slowly, but it's working, and the best way to permanent weight loss is slow. I believe that doing it this way, I won't gain it back because I don't feel deprived, and I can still enjoy social outings, etc.

tinydancer4

I sort of mix the two - I do try and eat more healthily than before overall, but if I want a treat then I will have one if it fits into my calories.

I find it is better if you eat healthier foods as they're usually lower in calories so you feel fuller and can eat more. I can eat three full meals a day and have several snacks and still stay within 1250 calories as long as I'm careful about what I'm eating.

Also as someone else said, I don't drink my calories anymore, I stick to water. I tried to work out which foods I really loved so that I could fit them into my daily calories, but I try and avoid "wasted" calories now - calories that I was consuming for the sake of it without even considering that something else might be a better choice.

MrsWilsoncroft

I know I would probably lose more faster if I didn't do this but I eat whatever I want just stay under my calories is that ok? Does anyone else do this? I feel like if I don't eat what I want I give up early and easier.

hi

I tend to keep an eye on my carbs and fat intake aswell as keeping my calories low.
This works best for me but everyone is different. x

70moretogo

I monitor my caloric intake as well as what types of foods I am consuming. I keep a balance between proteins, carbohydrates, and etc. because I want not only to be fit but healthy as well. This, I have found, is more of a priority since I reached over forty. My skin, body, and pretty much everything else reacts a great deal quicker to a poor diet then it did when I was 20. :happy:

CassieReannan

I don't. I try to make sure I hit under my carbs, fat, sodium and sugar macros. In saying that, no one is perfect and life does tend to get in the way.

I just don't get how eating 1500 calories of chocolate is better for you than 1500 of nutrients your body really needs...

mmessinger0718

I eat what I want because I don't believe in depriving my body of anything ( what's the point of living if you not happy right? ) but I do notice that while I might eat something out of my normal meal times, it's much healthier now than it was even two months ago. I try to eat a lot of veggies throughout the day because they are lower in calories and very filling but if I want a cookie, I'm going to eat a cookie. Just try to stay within your calorie goals and make healthier choices for snacks. If you want chips, eat baked chips instead of the greasy (but oh so good) regular chips. If you are craving cookies - eat one instead of two. It's all about being happy with your life, but also making sure that you stay in good health.

Feel free to add me if you would like. I try to keep the motivation going not only for myself, but for the people that have the same goals as me - Getting HEALTHY!!!!

Fathima0712

yes...but i eat EVERYTHING in moderation.. instead of eating lots of cake and no healthy food...i eat what i want in smaller portions as snacks and have healthier meals..

i have lost 11 pounds in 2.5 months doing this kinda eating and some moderate workout!

chuisle

People have probably already said this but...if it fits your macros!

Second add on: make sure you are getting enough nutrient dense food. ei veggies and fruits.

Mostly...READ THIS: http://www.wannabebig.com/diet-and-nutrition/the-dirt-on-clean-eating/

No, seriously, READ IT.

allison0820

for the most part that is what I do..... if I go out I have what I want... but at home I keep healthier options.. but still have chips that I log and if I eat too many I just have to cut back somewhere else within that day... or I just go over... I don't let going over be the end of everything for me... like everything else... it will be alright!

Sam3622

Mostly ....

I look at labels and ask myself ... is this food really worth it ... is there some better alternative? There is food I will not give up ever (chocolate) .... but dark chocolate provides a stronger flavor ... for less sugar.

I have made changes and will probably make more. If I try to make a 180° change .... I won't stick to it.

A agree with this completely. I always shop around and see what brands do a better quality product than the one im looking at. I always try and buy things that are reasonably low in sugar and sat fat. I haven't given up chocolate either just eat in moderation and make sure i get all my nutrients into my diet before adding any extra "empty" calories when i fancy a treat.

bellyake3

yup..no denying myself anything..leads to binging secretly later.

simonelane

Yes, I try to eat what I want but I stay within in a certain amount of calories. I have to admit I don't keep track. So, I need to do that.

LeenaRuns

It's not just about quantity of calories, it's about quality of calories, if what you are going for is overall health. You've heard it before, and you'll hear it again: don't skip your fruits and veggies.

This.

Bobby_Clerici

I do NOT!
Sure, you can lose weight fine, but people who do this will never reach peak condition.
I am not interested in mere weight loss but getting my body is tip top shape, and no matter what the snivelers say, we still are what we eat.
That's reality.

shellsrenee01

This is why my food diary is private...I know I still eat "crap" food and am hoping to halt that habit soon. However, like others have said, I eat a LOT LESS of it than I used to. I try to make better decisions when I can and hopefully one day the better decisions will outnumber the "bad" ones.

I did have a mini-food victory last night. I wanted some cookies but didn't have the calories for them...so I went for a swim to burn about 500 calories. When I was finished, I no longer wanted the cookies. I had watermelon instead and banked about 400 calories. Yahoo! :bigsmile: The old me would have eaten the cookies and said screw the workout, lol.

brandiseagroves

I also tend to eat what I want in much smaller portions. I do make healthy choices 95% of the time, but if I go out...or if I am on vacation, or at a movie...I tend to get whatever I want and share it, or box up half....whatever it takes not to ruin my entire weeks efforts. I do protein shakes for breakfast (still have my coffee)...then usually pretty good lunch....subway, or tuna....something not to high in calories, but also something that I want/like. I also usually do good for dinner...my son, 7, loves baked chicken...seems like we have that a lot..lol....

But....if I want chocolate, I have it...if I go to a resturant and I want pasta, or something fried....or dessert...yum...I have it...at least a little of it, enough to satisfy the WANT....because lets face it...it is a WANT, not a NEED. I have lost over 125 pounds...so, I often think to myself....is this food worth going back to the old me...is it worth feeling the way I use to feel....the answer is ALWAYS NOOOOO!!! so, I allow treats in moderation...I never deprive myself of what I want, I just don't over do it.

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.

^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.

Care to elaborate more than just 5 words?

loneworg

Hells yeah!
edit to clarify: I do eat what I want but I am learning to make better food choices...its a process for me

MichelleC2012

The only thing I totally gave up is soda....even diet soda. After a month without it, I took a sip and was disgusted by the taste....loving that
I do eat whatever I want but the foods that I want now are good choices. I experience wanting an apple so badly that I can taste it. Other foods I have that happen with are broccoli, watermelon, bananas, strawberries....that's my short list of absolute faves. When I do have something that some would consider "off limits" i.e. pizza, sweets...etc., I'm cautious about how much.
That seems to be the overall answer here.
I have noticed that if I tell myself that I can't have something, I end up wanting it that much more and then when I would finally give in, I go way way overboard whereas if I just allow myself a small serving of whatever it was, I would have been satisfied with that. Deprivation doesn't help, it totally hinders.
Love me some Jorge Cruise, btw

floridafifi

I try to do that but it doesnt always work that way. I end up eating more so i try not to eat what I love. I'll save it for a cheat day.

loki3981

As a great person on here suggested and I know follow - 80/20. 80% great, 20% not great. Works well for me.

Vince_1964

For the most part ... I do make conscious decisions not to eat certain foods. Like last week, I was at a working dinner, ate the sandwiches we ordered (but removed one slice of the bread on a triple-decker club) and did not eat the cookies that came with it. I looked up the calories online for Jason's Deli cookies - they were about 300 calories a piece. So I decided that on my 1600-calorie per day plan, a cookie was not worth almost 20% of my daily intake. So, yes, I eat what I want - I haven't eliminated beer, wine, etc - but I am much more aware of the choices I make.

wk9t

I've lost 59 lbs eating whatever I want. I stay under on calories and I go to the gym 3 - 4 days a week.

ryanmax99

I eat what I want but stay within my calories.If I want more to eat,I go out and exercise to burn some calories.Have lost 62 pounds in 7 months.

darylinny

I sort of mix the two - I do try and eat more healthily than before overall, but if I want a treat then I will have one if it fits into my calories.

I find it is better if you eat healthier foods as they're usually lower in calories so you feel fuller and can eat more. I can eat three full meals a day and have several snacks and still stay within 1250 calories as long as I'm careful about what I'm eating.

Also as someone else said, I don't drink my calories anymore, I stick to water. I tried to work out which foods I really loved so that I could fit them into my daily calories, but I try and avoid "wasted" calories now - calories that I was consuming for the sake of it without even considering that something else might be a better choice.

This^^^

I mix as well, if you deny yourself something you'll only binge later on. In the begining I totally restricted what I ate, after I reach a certain point I started to reintroduce food that I loved (properly portioned now) but always overate. I wouldn't totally eat 1200 calories of junk in a day and think that was okay, but I don't eat 1200 calories of "fuel food" either. There's a balance that can be achieved....and hitting the gym for an extra 30 minutes a day doesn't hurt either.

tinamaan1976

Hi
i have stopped eating sweets which i didnt eat much sweets anyway but my weakness was bread.
i stopped eaiting bread and lost half a stone in 2 weeks...

i eat other carbs like rice,potatoes but watching for example if i had carbs for lunch will not for dinner or the other way around. Our bodies do need a bit of carbs anyway...

i have bought low cal biscuits so i eat if i really want to or cereal bars...

for some reason i have more of a sweet tooth since i have started with this diet than before...

hope this helped!!

SilkyHotspur

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.

Care to elaborate more than just 5 words?

Technically you can eat whatever you want, under your calories, and lose weight. But is that your goal...i would say only party, the goal is to lose weight and be healthier. If you eat carrots every day, and nothing but carrots, you'd lose weight, but wouldn't be healthy. And it sets you up for failure in the future, as you really have not gained any self control over the food you eat.

For me, nothing is off-limits, if I want beer and burgers, i'll eat them, chocolate, bread, etc.. The overused term is "moderation", and when I say moderation, I don't mean one beer, one burger and half the fries every day, or a couple times a week....i may have a burger once a month...if that.

lisasays

NO! There are so many health risks if you eat whatever you want (well, if you are like me and what you "want" to eat are chips and chocolate). I am eating as whole as possible right now and vegan and trying to not only lose weight and get fit, but to get as healthy as possible. I actually prefer whole foods now because I have been eating them for so long. Processed makes me feel like crap! Doesn't mean I wont occasionally have some dark chocolate or coconut ice cream or chips, but those are treats.
My goal is a long, healthy life, not just a thin body.

tanyaslosingit

Yes, though "whatever I want" has actually changed since beginning my weight-loss campaign! I now make healthier choices and those choices will continue to evolve as time goes on! In the beginning, there was a lot more dairy and refined sugar in my diet; but now more fruits and vegetables.