Is it all about calories?

emg9

Is dieting literally all about calories? Obviously i know there are certain things you NEED in your diet to be healthy and to keep a healthy metabolism.
But if there was one thing i loved, for instance chocolate.. and i'd had a day where i'd only eaten like 1100 cals and i had say, 600 left.. would it be terrible for me to fill up that 500 cals by eating chocolate? haha i wouldnt actually do that.. i'm just curious.

I find it hard to fill up my daily calorie goal and sometimes its at like 8pm and ive got loads of fruit, yoghurt, chocolate and bits and bobs i crave, but i'm not that 'hungry' and feel like i shouldn't eat them.

also, i mean this question in the sense that, say i was having an off day like, it was someones birthday or something and i'd had cake for lunch, would it be okay, as long as i don't over do it on the cals for dinner? hmmmmmmm

Sidesteal

Is dieting literally all about calories? Obviously i know there are certain things you NEED in your diet to be healthy and to keep a healthy metabolism.
But if there was one thing i loved, for instance chocolate.. and i'd had a day where i'd only eaten like 1100 cals and i had say, 600 left.. would it be terrible for me to fill up that 500 cals by eating chocolate? haha i wouldnt actually do that.. i'm just curious.

I find it hard to fill up my daily calorie goal and sometimes its at like 8pm and ive got loads of fruit, yoghurt, chocolate and bits and bobs i crave, but i'm not that 'hungry' and feel like i shouldn't eat them.

also, i mean this question in the sense that, say i was having an off day like, it was someones birthday or something and i'd had cake for lunch, would it be okay, as long as i don't over do it on the cals for dinner? hmmmmmmm

I'm going to try and provide a one stop answer to summarize all of the above, assuming you do not have any medical conditions that require you to eliminate or restrict certain foods:

Hit your calorie and macronutrient goals (protein/carb/fat).
Select "mostly" whole and minimally processed foods and allow yourself "some" junk food like cake or chocolate.

In other words eat mostly "heatlhy" foods and let yourself have your treats.

And don't make it any more complicated than that.

IronSmasher

And depriving yourself of something for no good reason doesn't often end well

emg9

thats the answer i was hoping for.. haha! thanks

txlissa62

I've been doing just fine allowing myself to have treats now and then. Sometimes I find myself with a lot of calories left, so I'm able to have ice cream. It hasn't hurt me at all.

susiebear29

CHOCOLATE IS GOOD!!! (in moderation of course!!)

AJ_Pete

Is dieting literally all about calories? Obviously i know there are certain things you NEED in your diet to be healthy and to keep a healthy metabolism.
But if there was one thing i loved, for instance chocolate.. and i'd had a day where i'd only eaten like 1100 cals and i had say, 600 left.. would it be terrible for me to fill up that 500 cals by eating chocolate? haha i wouldnt actually do that.. i'm just curious.

I find it hard to fill up my daily calorie goal and sometimes its at like 8pm and ive got loads of fruit, yoghurt, chocolate and bits and bobs i crave, but i'm not that 'hungry' and feel like i shouldn't eat them.

also, i mean this question in the sense that, say i was having an off day like, it was someones birthday or something and i'd had cake for lunch, would it be okay, as long as i don't over do it on the cals for dinner? hmmmmmmm

I'm going to try and provide a one stop answer to summarize all of the above, assuming you do not have any medical conditions that require you to eliminate or restrict certain foods:

Hit your calorie and macronutrient goals (protein/carb/fat).
Select "mostly" whole and minimally processed foods and allow yourself "some" junk food like cake or chocolate.

In other words eat mostly "heatlhy" foods and let yourself have your treats.

And don't make it any more complicated than that.

The thread should have ended here. Well said.

Bobby_Clerici

Of course not.
Mere weight loss is about calories and nothing else, but optimal health is about clean eating as well.

IronSmasher

If it had ended, nobody else would've seen it

AllisonST

I want to add that - while keeping within healthful eating and calorie limits - I also am trying to listen to my body. I don't just eat back calories because I am "supposed to." If I am not hungry, I don't eat. This is a somewhat-controversial topic on these boards, but for me, part of the overeating comes from not listening to my body cues.

emg9

that's the problem i have. I eat breakfast, i'm full. I eat healthy lunch, i'm full, and then i eat dinner. My calories never add up to my limit. I'm normally left with like 500 or something, i'm concerned this will muck up my metabolism? but i don't want to eat more for the sake of it when i'm not hungry.

AllTehBeers

And here I thought it was all about the benjamins.

emg9

And here I thought it was all about the benjamins.

'calories' is dieting lingo. we're not all experts.

A_Valerie

And here I thought it was all about the benjamins.

'calories' is dieting lingo. we're not all experts.

i think she was joking, benjamins are $100 bills

IronSmasher

And here I thought it was all about the benjamins.

'calories' is dieting lingo. we're not all experts.

i think he was joking, benjamins are $100 bills

She was joking... and so was she

emg9

And here I thought it was all about the benjamins.

'calories' is dieting lingo. we're not all experts.

i think he was joking, benjamins are $100 bills

She was joking... and so was she

hahah

psuLemon

If you have trouble getting enough calories, then you should start eating higher calorie items: nuts, avocado, cooking all meats in extra virgin olive oil or my personal favorite, taking a spoon and peanut butter jar and digging in. There are a few potential issue long term if you consistently under eat; lose of lean body mass and your metabolism will slow down as it will adapt.