Do you eat healthy or just under a certain calorie mark?

LisaLouisiana

Healthy all the way.
If you eat things like fruit and veg you can actually eat more, with more choice and variety. When I look at other diary's I often see, McD's, KFC and other fastfoods, which can almost take up a day's calories in one go.
With the way I eat I can eat throughout the day and still stick to the calories. Processed and fastfood in the long run is not good for you.

^^^^Exactly!^^^^

ChadB74

I eat to hit my calorie goal. I wouldn't say it's 100% healthy because "experts" will always debate what's healthy for you. Top 5 things I stopped doing for the past 70 days since joining.

1. Ate at least 3 packages of cookies a week, now none
2. Drank at least 6 liters of Mountain Dew a week, now none
3. Would eat until my stomach felt full, now just 1 to 1-1/2 serving size portions per meal
4 Would only eat about 2 huge meals a day plus 1 snack (cookies), now 6 meals/snacks a day spread out
5. Would eat out at fast food (Burger King, McDonalds, Taco Bell) at least 4 to 5 times a week, Now none

I still have a hamburger every now and again but mostly veggie burgers now. I have some pizza now and again. I guess the easiest way to put it is; once every 2 weeks, I treat myself to something that wtill most likely put me over a daily calorie goal but it settles any cravings I might have and stops me from going back to old ways.

So eat healthier but don't sacrifice foods you love too much because we have all been there where we'll go on a binge and fail our diets because we went cold turkey without taking baby steps.....

HealthyGinny

I don't eat that healthy but I do try and I also make sure that I don't go over my calorie mark most days. What about you?

On days I'm not having an epic binge crisis (like today ), I try to eat really healthy because I know it's better in the long run and it just makes me feel loads better

ddwin

I'm more mindful of what I'm putting in my mouth. More natural foods (veggies, beans, eggs, meat) and not so much of the processed foods. It's a slow go for me either way I go, but I feel better when I don't have the wheats, sugars, and dairy.

angiechimpanzee

I use to concentrate on just the calories to try and lose weight but I now take into consideration what I am eating. I find that the healthy choices bring the calorie content down all on their own and by eating more protein instead of processed carbs I am feeling fuller and eating less.

This.

caseythirteen

I do a bit of both. I try and make healthy choices but am not always perfect but I also try to keep at or under my calorie goal 5 days of the week (rarely happens on weekends). SInce this is something I will be sustaining for a lifetime, I'm not too strict either way. I try and get a good balance and keep processed food to a lower level. My favorite days are when I'm under my calorie goal AND I've had enough of the main vitamins & nutrients that I don't need to supplement with vitamins in pill form.

jesswait

I aim for both, but I also eat a reasonable portion of 'unhealthy' things.

kr1stadee

When i first started this I used to eat whatever I liked as long as I stayed within my calorie allowance - I lost 23lb's so I must have been doing something right!

Now my weight loss has slowed down a lot and I have started eating a lot healthier and exercising regularly to get myself back on track - just do what is right for you

My plan exactly. I don't eat "clean" yet.. I allow myself to eat real food, and junk. I've given it all up in the past and ended up failing many many times. I'm just about at 30lbs lost, so I'm doing something right!!

I've said from the beginning: I will eat what I want in moderation until it starts to affect me negatively. I had pizza twice lately, and both times, my lips were swollen for a few days. Time to give that up!! I'll just pick up some ingredients so that when the family wants pizza, I can have my pizza too!!

Gramps251

If you eat healthy you'll be able to eat more. A couple weeks ago I got busy and went through a drive-thru a couple of times. Just a sandwich (no sides) had as many calories as 2 of my 3 meals a day. I didn't go over my calories but had to eat less. I'd rather be full so I eat healthy.

bcattoes

"Eating healthy" means different things to different people, but since I've been eating this way for decades while remaining healthy I can safely say that I eat healthy.

And I try not to go over on calories too often.

alaskaang

Eat Healthy. When I'm good about WHAT I eat, the calories take care of themselves.

ninjakowski

I eat reasonably healthy, generally stay away from fast foods and most processed foods\.
I find if I eat junk food too regularly I start to lose control and just can't stop myself eating it. Its easier to stick to healthier foods and not worry about trying to control the crazy cravings I get with junk food.

I also like to eat quite a lot, I hate having to worry about portion sizes and its much easier when I can eat until I'm satisfied rather than restricting the amounts of everything. I'm not obsessive though and don't stress over a slip up here or there.

I let myself go a bit on the weekends (we get pizza, have pancakes for breakfast etc) - helps keep me sane during the week. Its a good routine that works well for me, I enjoy all my food and have been maintaining my weight quite easily.

CarlaMichelle

I try to always eat Clean. I'm eating healthy. i try to stay under 1600 calories but if my healthy food takes me over that mark i'm okay with it.

bcattoes

My plan exactly. I don't eat "clean" yet.. I allow myself to eat real food, and junk. I've given it all up in the past and ended up failing many many times. I'm just about at 30lbs lost, so I'm doing something right!!

I've said from the beginning: I will eat what I want in moderation until it starts to affect me negatively. I had pizza twice lately, and both times, my lips were swollen for a few days. Time to give that up!! I'll just pick up some ingredients so that when the family wants pizza, I can have my pizza too!!

This post confuses me. Why would you not eat "real food" if you were eating "clean"? I realize people have varying definitions of "clean" but in general clean food would be more real than other (unclean??) food.

Also, waiting until you have health problems to eat healthy is a dangerous gamble. Some health problems are impossible or very difficult to correct.

And pizza can be healthy. It's just like any other meal. If you use healthy ingredients it healthy. If you use crap ingredients, it's crap.

WendyTerry420

Both! I aim for a ratio of 80/20, so most of my calories are nutrient dense, but then I leave some room for fund foods like simple carbs, etc.

tracypk

I find that when I eat healthy, as others have said, I can eat more. Foods that are high in nutrition make me feel and look better. I don't need to wait to get old to see how eating healthy will pay off, I see it daily. When I take care of my body I can tell. When I eat crap I feel like it. When I feel like crap I want more crap and I tend to get lazy. I've read that eating healthy isn't neccessary for weight loss, but I do feel a lot better if I get what my body needs from veggies and stuff.

kenazfehu

Kind of a mix. I think that my basic diet is relatively healthy, but we have processed food around too. As we run out of fresh stuff, I have more processed food in my diet for a few days. I try to stay under the top of my calorie budget also but am not always successful.

corneredbycorn

I try to stay around 1500 calories and keep my fat at or over 40%. Other than that, I really just can't bring myself to care, especially since most of my food is homemade so it's not like I'm eating a bunch of super processed stuff or fast food.

CanadaLiz

Both I guess.

I eat under my calorie goal, and am currently utilizing the south beach diet idea (phase 1 - no carbs).....I am a carb addict! I'm eating way less than my calorie goal due to external/stress factors recently but I'm not hungry. I've never been a huge junk food/sweets/fast food person but the odd McDonalds meal certainly found it's way into my stomach.

I love breads, pasta and the like but am steering clear of anything carb (except the odd glass of wine) for the next few weeks.

julesboots

I go back and forth. Lately, it's back (am eating waay too much sugar). I know I can cycle it around when I'm more active. Activity dictates things for me. No activity=bad eating.

2Y1Y1Z2

I've lost 90 lbs since last September and never counted a calorie, but now I'm thinking I need to start as these last 5 lbs are ticking me off! LOL

sobriquet84

the only way I lose weight is if I make my calories count, not just count my calories.

but, you're young..

if I eat 1400 calories of CRAP i will not lose weight. if I eat 1400 calories of nutrient dense and low glycemic sources of calories with a good amount of protein and quality fats, I WILL lose weight.

deb3129

I try to eat as healthy as I possibly can. This whole process started for me because I wanted to be healthier. So I try to make everything that I do a step towards that goal. The weight loss is fabulous, but feeling healthier is my motivator. Best reinforcement for me was my doctors visit a couple of weeks ago and the lab results that followed!

LauriePar

I try to eat healthy because it's the only way I can get enough food to be satisfied and still stay under my calorie goals.
I do throw in a cookie or other treat here and there to maintain my sanity.

that's' me exactly! Good luck on your journey!

ashleyk12

I am trying my best to eat healthier and to stay under my calorie goals But on the occasion I do have a sweet treat.

2rnip

I eat mostly crap food yet I managed to lose 40 pounds in just over two months

DesireeLovesOrganic

healthy