Success by counting cal.'s alone?

mbreed75

I see impressive weight loss sliders. And am curious if you met that by primarily following the macros that MFP set for you.
Did you just limit your calories and you lost weight?

mbow1977

For the first few months I didnt really pay too much attention to the macros and just concentrated on the calories and eating healthier, I lost 2 stone that way.
Now I want to tone up I am paying more attention to the macros and my protein to carbs ration, but if starting out, just eat healthy and keep under your cals would be my advice. Good luck

mbreed75

Thanks for the reply. BTW, New here! Obviously. This topic is in the wrong section sorry. But Since its here now, any more stories?

fatmanonadiet

im trying to start off by getting my body used to eating the suggested calories (and choosing healthier foods but eating more of them). Once im into the run of it im looking to re-start my couch to 5k training, so fingers crossed.

wibutterflymagic

At this point I am not at all interested in breaking down my nutrition. I've been eating healthier and keeping my calorie intake within my allotted range. Just changing the way I eat is enough of a challange, I don't need to worry about specfics with protein and carbs etc. I'm just looking to lose a little weight not become a fitness guru or bodybuilder so I don't see the point in calculating macros outside of what MFP figured for me.

mbreed75

Maybe macros is not the term i want to be using. I entered my initial weight and how much i want to lose by set time. and it gave me a recommended calorie intake. So what i mean to ask is, Can I expect to lose weight just by following the calorie recommendation? And/or has that worked for anyone?

leilaphoenix

Yes you will lose weight this way. However, I suggest seriously thinking about how to incorporate exercise into your routine for the following reasons. People to exercise are more likely to have achieved a real 'lifestyle change' where they then do not put the weight back on. Exercise will help you lose weight. Exercise will help you be more healthy. Exercise will help your body reform into a strong base once you start to lose fat.

Bobby__Clerici

I see impressive weight loss sliders. And am curious if you met that by primarily following the macros that MFP set for you.
Did you just limit your calories and you lost weight?

I customized my macro's to reflect my own goals, but the MFP default settings are fine unless you have a reason to change.

Mary067

I lost 30 pounds just watching my calorie intake alone. It can be done, but I will eventually have to start a workout program if I want to keep it off.

Djbass728

Yes, when I had a biking accident I could not workout - I kept my calories @ 1200 per day and did lose weight. I noticed it came off faster than I thought it would. Good luck!!!!!!!

Isrn2

Almost all of my weight loss has been by counting calories alone. I've walked and done some stationary bike, and as my weight dropped my natural daily activity increased, but I haven't hit the gym hard. I definitely need to do some toning, but still need to drop a bit more weight to make it easier.

Benji49

Yes, you can lose weight that way - until you get close to your goal and then you have to really start working at it. Also, if you have a significant amount to lose and you don't exercise then you are going to end up with "flabby bits" that will just annoy you.

The best suggestion I have is watch your calories, do some exercise (you don't have to gear up for body building or marathons) and look at this as a life style change - not a diet.

Good luck.

lynheff

I watch the calories. I always eat fewer carbs and more protein then recommended by mfp so don't worry about those numbers

Mcgrawhaha

you can lose the weight just by the simple calorie vs. calorie out method... but without any excercise, you might end up loose and flabby...

Musikelektronik

All I did was count calories. No exercise, no macros.

trogalicious

calories here. I'd like to think I've had a little success.

asmithstl

Yes you will lose weight this way. However, I suggest seriously thinking about how to incorporate exercise into your routine for the following reasons. People to exercise are more likely to have achieved a real 'lifestyle change' where they then do not put the weight back on. Exercise will help you lose weight. Exercise will help you be more healthy. Exercise will help your body reform into a strong base once you start to lose fat.

I completly agree - when I work out I don't want to eat the junk I used to crave, after I spend an hour at the Gym I don't want to couteract all that work I put in to eat an unhealthy meal or snack.

sandradev1

Eating at a calorie deficit of up to 20% of the TDEE WILL result in weight loss.

Working out/exercise WILL result in fitness.



Yes it works by counting calories alone, but exercise will help with your fitness and tone your body as it loses its weight.

DonM46

Calories only

dragonladywendy

I had a spinal operation and could not walk or work out. I concentrated on just eating to the MFP guidelines (1200 calories per day) and lost a staggering 2 stone (28 lbs). When I was able to walk again (very slowly) this increased my weight loss even more.

Since then, I've joined the gym (try and go once a week) and walk everyday and have upped my calories to just over 1400 calories a day and am still consistently losing.

It can be done, so the best of luck!

Feel free to add me :drinker:

hmadrone

Counting calories is the whole game, as far as I can tell.

But do strength training to maintain your lean body mass and cardio for your overall health, too.

tvanhooser

Counting calories and exercising. That's about it. I keep a general eye on the other stuff but don't stress too much over the Carb-Protein-Fat ratios although if I wanted to I could keep it. I know how to do it from my husband's diabetic nutrition class. But as long as I'm losing, I'm not going to try to enslave myself to numbers. I do keep a close watch on my fiber and sodium though for my own health reasons....sodium seems to make the biggest difference in my weight loss so I try to keep it to 1500/day. Fiber is just to counteract the stomach upset from my meds for my health issues. As long as I get that in and eat yogurt and cottage cheese loaded with probiotics, my tummy is happy with the meds, so I am too! ) 78 lbs down 37 to go and so ready to be done already!!

alpine1994

Maybe macros is not the term i want to be using. I entered my initial weight and how much i want to lose by set time. and it gave me a recommended calorie intake. So what i mean to ask is, Can I expect to lose weight just by following the calorie recommendation? And/or has that worked for anyone?

Yep! But it might not be on the same timeline. For example, if you chose your calorie goal to result in a 1lb loss per week, you might lose nothing one week and then lose two the next week, etc. It happened a lot to me that all month I would maintain even though I was following my calorie goals, then in the last week of the month all the weight would fall off. Strange! But generally yes, if you follow the calorie goals you will lose.

Like other posters said, exercise helps a lot. It allows you to eat more, and it also helps you change the shape of your body. I've notice that if I watch calories but don't exercise, I get smaller but still have the same jiggly shape. Working out really helps tone everything up.

crazybookworm

I didn't join MFP until I reached my goal and was in maintain mode. It took me 1 year and 2 months to reach my goal and I did it without counting ONE calorie. Yes, I had a general idea where I was when it came to my daily intake but I never tracked my calories. I lost my weight from cutting out certain things like soda. Watching my portion control, moderation and exercise.

I think MFP is fantastic and it has helped me with maintaining when it comes to seeing where I need to up my calories, etc. But I feel it rises confusion for some people. In my opinion the formula to losing weight is simple(the formula is simple, not the journey!) Exercise, Portion control, Healthy eating and Moderation!

I don't want it to sound like I am ragging on MFP at all. I love it here, and love the people I have met. You have to find a program that works right for YOU, and if this works than that's fantastic! I just don't want people to fall off the wagon or give up because of Calorie Counting confusion.

holliwood97

WOW i think you might have some success yes. Great job!!!

mbreed75

I work out for about 90 minutes every other day. Although I just started a couple months ago. Glad to hear tho that if i slack off at the gym i can still lose by dieting alone.

But mfp is recommending 1900 cal/day. It doesn't take exercise into the calculation. I recalculated my goals with exercise and without. It didn't change. Then i see many of you on 1200 calorie diets. I think i understand that since i am taller my body can burn thru more calories in a day. Can i trust mfp's recommendation?

Kahed58

I just started MFP about a week ago and really I feel at this point I can only concentrate on one thing at a time and that's the caloric intake. It seems to be working down as I'm down 5lbs so far. The tracking part is very easy and I feel encouraged by reading others blogs and having a few friends join me along my journey.

mbreed75

Congratulations on the loss. Keep it up! Now only if my body can get in gear.

sandradev1

It would not be wise to consider how many calories other people are eating. Everybody's body has different needs. Either use the numbers that MFP has given you, or you could find out your BMR and TDEE using the Road Map which a lot of people on here are using instead to assess their calorie goal. The following link will explain and give calculators.


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

MontyQ

Counting calories is what it's all about. There is no other way to lose fat.

Losing fat is more difficult if you become insulin resistant and have a ton of insulin floating around in your bloodstream, but counting calories alone will definitely suffice.

Bobby__Clerici

I work out for about 90 minutes every other day. Although I just started a couple months ago. Glad to hear tho that if i slack off at the gym i can still lose by dieting alone.

But mfp is recommending 1900 cal/day. It doesn't take exercise into the calculation. I recalculated my goals with exercise and without. It didn't change. Then i see many of you on 1200 calorie diets. I think i understand that since i am taller my body can burn thru more calories in a day. Can i trust mfp's recommendation?

When you exercise, MFP adds these burned calories into your daily goal.
You exercise and eat back those calories.
Your deficit is already built into your goal, so again, when you burn calories training, BANG!...more food to eat.
I love this system!