Does anyone eat whatever they want just within calories?

jofjltncb6

That's how I started, but then I naturally transitioned into making better choices. With limited calories, I realized that if I was to get all of the necessary nutrition that was optimal, I needed to make better, more nutrient-dense choices. From there, I eventually adopted a primarily whole food, grain free way of eating.

And for the inevitable respondents who will say that it doesn't matter what you eat as long as you're under your calories, take note of their age. In my opinion, based on my own observations, this approach tends to work well for a lot of people when they're younger, but not so much when they're older.

meshashesha2012

i can't do that. if i did then i'd have days where i ate nothing but 3 candy bars or 4 bags of chips and a pack of hot dogs. i really need to pay attention to my macros now.

i think if i didnt work out as hard as i do it wouldnt make a difference. it's damn near impossible to get through a tough lifting routine or a sprint HIIT session if you've only had a small popcorn and a coke as fuel

bulbadoof

I did this for the first couple of days, but my body is very sensitive to what I put in it. I realized that eating gross high-carb food didn't satisfy me as much as eating nutritious foods rich in fiber and protein. I have more energy, I'm less hungry, and I just feel better during my day.

What I do is I take something I like, but would consider "off-limits", and I figure out what I like about it. For example, a gingerbread cookie or cinnamon roll is sweet, soft to bite into with a crispy edge, and spicy. Well, so are cinnamon-sprinkled sweet potato wedges, and I don't feel sick after I eat a serving of those.

sjohnson1961

i've lost 26 pounds just through calorie counting and running, i ignore sugar and fat and the rest

chickentunashake

I don't. I make conscious decisions regarding the healthfulness of everything I eat. For me that's part of the "lifestyle" versus "diet" part. I am fueling my body, and trying to do it well.

Granted, I didn't adopt that sort of thinking til i was in my mid 30s...

Same here. 95% of food i put in my mouth is being made by conscious decision what is being needed to refuel my body to stay active ans strong.

MinMin97

Yes, sort of. I really need my calories to count. So although I cater to my desire for a treat, I make sure my macros are great, so my body is nourished and I feel truly satisfied...ultimately supporting me in this diet effort for the long haul!

LoveleeB

Kinda, sorta, maybe, not really

Awkward30

I did it that way and I found I was still hungry a lot. You can get more satiating food per calorie if you eat better. Granted I still have something "unhealthy" damn near every day as I have no interest in depriving myself of something I really want

ngressman

I do that sometimes, but when I do sometimes I end up with using all of my caloric intake up before dinner. Then I am hungry. All calories aren't the same. I try to add foods that will fill me up, so that I don't have the problem of being so hungry that I give in, and go crazy. Plus for me it is learning to eat what my body needs to be healthy.

HMVOL7409

No I don't/haven't done this. I wanted to change how I ate completely for my life and eating foods that helped get me fat were not part of that goal. I want food that fills me up nutritionally. We didnt want to buy junk bc you are more inclined to binge and I have seen that happen many times on here. We did cheat meals, not binge days, once every 2 weeks or so. By doing this I was to never have to deal with a binging episode. Since I'm now in maintenance I have been reintroducing those foods back in moderation. Honestly it's not even stuff I crave anymore either. People say you can't live like this and that's pure BS. You have control over what you eat; I rather eat healthy now over junk anyway.

redscylla

A university professor proved that as long as you cut calories, you can eat junk food. He lost 27 pounds eating garbage food.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html

MileyClimb

I do because I find if I don't I feel deprived and am liable to binge .

rachaelwendt

I used to just mind my calories...but now I'm focusing on macronutrients (carbs, fats, protein), in attempt to reach my full potential.

Jacwhite22

No...I eat whatever I want within my macros. Calories are just one thing I track...

i_am_losing_it

I do, but I look at things to see if they are "worth" as much calories as they have. Since I am going. to do this for the rest of my life I do not plan on eating special foods that do not fit into mine or my families lifestyle or budget. Plus I like good tasting food

lucylAnneMason

Yeah what i do, i just eat less of it and i'm loosing weight... i figured that there where less calories in a bag of crisps than there was in a banana =P an i don't crave anything this way... i feel healthier

Dawn200321

Yes I do this as well....

jching29

I don't eat whatever I want...but if I've been working hard at making healthy choices and I decide I want Mickey D's, why not? I just adjust the rest of my day's calories to fit around it.

TexanThom

I have lost over 50 lbs. since Feb. doing just that. Don't let people tell you that you can't. Of course I would have lost more, but I am still happy with what I've done.

ChristiH4000

I have been doing this for quite awhile. I think it may slow down my progress, but I figure that as long as I'm working on it and losing, that's all that matters.

elise9832

I have started watching what types of foods I eat because in order to keep my calories within my target of 1,200 - 1,400 per day without being super hungry I need to be careful what I choose. If I eat "empty" calories I end up going over my limit because I'm starving an hour later!

chiera88

I DO!!!!!

shavon007

No when I do that it slows down my metabolism. So I try my best to eat only healthy foods.

lizziebeth1028

A university professor proved that as long as you cut calories, you can eat junk food. He lost 27 pounds eating garbage food.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html

yes....but it is so unhealthy for you. Even skinny people can drop dead of hardening of the arteries.

xiala

I usually have a hard time getting enough calories.
But I also watch my carbs and protein.

Cliffslosinit

No...I eat whatever I want within my macros. Calories are just one thing I track...

This is the mentality I'm trying to learn^^^

I don't want JUST weight loss. I truly want to be healthy doing it!!

gr8dayao

Yes. If I deny myself what I really want, I am more likely to binge on it later which causes more damage to weight loss than just eating a little bit when I want to staying within calories.

redcat17

I do. I just watch the portion sizes. For instance, I have a little dark chocolate most days. The rest of the time, I try to stick with all healthy choices. Don't sweat the small stuff.

Captain_Tightpants

For weight loss - yes.
For health - no.

that's about as simple as I can put it.

BigDaddyBRC

Everything and everyone