Is counting calories and exercising enough?

MB_Positif

I absolutely think it's enough. I have lost all of my weight by eating smaller portions of most of the same foods I ate before. I didn't really give anything up completely, except for Red Bull. That I gave up a few months before I joined MFP anyway because I was drinking at least one 16 ounce can a day and it was just ridiculous! Anyhow, right now I am eating at maintenance and not exercising due to health issues...and counting calories on it's own is working!

SunnyLuc87

Two years ago I lost 35 pounds by counting calories and jogging. I ate reasonably healthy, but my diet consisted of a lot of carbs because I just plain love carbs. I had the occasional treat as long as the numbers worked out, including sweets and beer. I kept up my exercising even after I lost that weight and I managed to keep it off (for the most part) for two years.

I recently started trying to lose weight again and did the same exact thing. This time I could not lose at all. In order to start losing again I had to change what I am eating. I can't eat all the carbs and sweets that I love so much. What changed? I have no idea! But I have had to start eating a lot cleaner, eating more lean protein and less starch & sugar.

I think all you can do is listen to your body. Ideally, your diet should be something you can live with for the rest of your life if you had to (maybe not the amount of calories, but the kinds of foods). So you don't want to be so deprived that you won't ever stick with it, but you don't want to indulge so much that you get zero results.

Sarauk2sf

I have not given up a single thing. I have lost my weight by hitting my calorie (for weight loss) and macro targets(for body composition) by portion control and planning, and by moving more.

magerum

I have lost, maintained, & bulked etc., all with calorie counting and exercise. I have very good control based on learning how to accurately track both. Works for me is the short answer. 140 lbs in 7 months.

kimad

Healthy lifestyle and exercise is enough. You need to look at this as a lifestyle change that moderation fits into.
I have never deprived myself of anything, becuase I know I won't stick to it. If you know you will binge if you give up bread, DONT give up bread, that isn't a lifestyle change... that's a crazy fad diet you won't stick to.

Maybe it works for some, and kudos to them, just be honest with YOU. You are the only you and know what you can handle.

Jiruchan

Well I've been calorie counting/exercising for about 5 months now, and I've been pretty satisfied with the results. It isn't as complicated as I thought it would be. Since my journey I can't say that I eat healthy 24/7, in fact, I eat most of what I had, I just cut out on the things that consist of a lot of calories: sweets and fast food for example. Can't cut pop out though lol, I tried that, it's too addicting to me. Although I replace it with Arizona tea at times.

nathan6878

I am doing a combo of mfp and weight watchers online. So I figure if I can keep under my daily calories on this site, and keep under my points on weight watchers I am doing good!!! Now there are days that I do mess up and so I get hard on myself to really watch what I eat!!! But if I can manage myself point and calorie wise I feel I have done a decent job.

yggdrasill2005

So grateful for your feedback. MFP is quite the community. I'm glad I decided to reach out today. Thanks so much!

caitlyn30

I love bread- once a day, sometimes twice. sweets I eat them. I didn't give up anything. I try to watch things w/ sodium more carefully but, thats about it. I will still eat it if it fits.:happy:

RealWomenLovePitbulls

your mindset is perfect, if you deprive yourself of anything, it is going to be hard to succeed, when i want something extra, i do a little extra exercise for it.

icimani

I'm with you - totally cutting out things that I really enjoy causes me to co crazy with it at some point. For me it's been all about serving size, and now counting calories and exercise.

I've sent you a friend request.

adamcheshier

Alot of people follow IIFYM which is (If It Fits Your Macros) and have great results. You can eat whatever you want but not AS MUCH as you want. This allows you to have cookies or bread or something you really enjoy eating but you have to remember you need to work the rest of your day around that meal. You can essentially have these "Cheat Meals" but that may mean later in the day you wont be able to eat as large of a meal as you normally would. You may have to cut back a little bit to hit your Macros. As long as you hit your macros for the day Carbs Fats and Proteins and are in a Caloric Deficit then you will not have to worry about gaining weight.

cwolfman13

I don't deprive myself per sei, but I do eat a lot healthier in RE to general nutrition than I used to. Cookies and cakes and sodas...those kind of things used to be routine parts of my daily diet and are now reserved for special occasions or when I'm really wanting something like that. Mostly has to do with my desire to eat more nutritious foods, but also found it more difficult to control my calories when I was still eating a lot of "junk food" even though I was counting them. I also find it easier to manage my macronutrients with more nutrient dense foods. Other than that, if you have a caloric deficit, you will lose weight regardless.

purpleipod

I have to eat everything in moderation to even attempt to stick to a weight loss plan. The minute I start saying "I can't eat this, this and this" all it does it make me angry and unable to stick to something.