Correct Calories but not Healthy Food?

Resa52

Question for everyone. A big part of this journey for my husband and I has been portion sizes. Since we started measuring (and frankly, just paying attention!) nearly three weeks ago, we realized that our average meals are 4-5 servings for EACH of us, if not more. I was regularly consuming 2500-3000 calories a day and a majority of it was junk food.

Since we've been tracking, we've both been doing great hitting our calorie goal and eating "real" portions instead of each of us eating enough for the entire family on our own. I do, however, have to admit that I haven't replaced everything with healthy foods. For example, my breakfast is usually two 100 calorie granola bars and I'm much more likely to make a 130 calorie serving of chips and salsa as a snack than I am to make myself a big salad. I also rely on microwave meals for my lunch (but have replaced the 600 calorie ones with the 300 calorie alternatives)

If I'm not going over my calories, I'm feeling full and satisfied, and AM eating healthy food as well, is it "bad" that I haven't dropped all the junk food?

deprek

I'm curious about this myself. Since I've started I've eaten more salads, incorporated more yogart and tried to find healthier snacks but I'm also eating regular (non-diet) foods/meals and just measuring amounts, watching portion sizes and counting the calories. I seem to be doing ok losing but I'm wondering if I can continue and still lose for the long-term???

Resa52

That's exactly where I am. I'm more likely to sit down with some yogurt than finish off half a carton of ice cream these days, but that doesn't mean I've stopped drinking non-diet pop or won't occasionally have a (measured out, fits into my calorie allotment) bowl of ice cream as well.

So, can you make healthier choices but not become a 100% healthy eater and still be successful?

jesz124

To be honest it sounds perfect to me. Youve managed to improve your eating habits and hit your macros whilst still eating the foods you enjoy. I think thats what we should all be striving for. Your's sounds like a sustainable plan that would be easy to stick to. Well done x

tekwriter

I still have somethings that are not healthy too. Although a lot of times some healthy foods can be very high in calorie like the avocado. I think you have a good balance right now. If you feel like eating healthier at some point then you will.

Cherylllyn

The way I figure it...everything in moderation is fine, as long as you eat the food that your body needs.

Sarauk2sf

Not bad at all.

Sarauk2sf

To be honest it sounds perfect to me. Youve managed to improve your eating habits and hit your macros whilst still eating the foods you enjoy. I think thats what we should all be striving for. Your's sounds like a sustainable plan that would be easy to stick to. Well done x

^^this

CSO200

I think you can lose weight this way, but to maintain and improved your health you likely should keep trying new healthy foods to see how you can improve. I suspect the healthier foods would give you more energy to make it through your day and be able to exercise to improve your healthy as well.

Unknown

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megsmom2

You can certainly lose if you're at a calorie deficit eating not so healthy food. And there's no reason not to have those things sometimes. The secret though is in moderation and making better choices...oftener. Eating healthier food may feel like a big change, and in the short term is a bit more trouble sometimes, but in the long run, it pays off in better health. And really...choosing more fruits and veggies gives you more to eat...more satisfaction, longer. So...don't make big changes all at once, take it one meal or snack at a time...but start making those changes. You'll be glad you did.

kaee13

I think you're doing great. After some time, you may want to start incorporating healthier alternatives, but you've taken a big, greatstep! Slow aand steady wins the race, after all.

linbert57

As long as you feel satisfied with what you are eating. I would maybe keep an eye on the sodium as you are eating processed foods. But all in all, good choices. Good for you for cutting down on the portion sizes!!

AllergicToExercise

You've made a lot of changes already and are losing weight. If I were you, I'd stick with that for a while and then in the future if the weight loss stops, you can look at what else you can cut back on then. If you cut out absolutely everything from square 1, where do you go from there?

Well done on what you've achieved so far.

Craigamears

Healthy food is a very debatable topic here on MFP. The orthodox Paleo folks have one idea. The Dean Ornesh diet folks have another. There are some who say it doesn't matter what you eat as long as it fits your calories. The latter group are usually younger. Older and hopefully wiser folks say to eat the least processed foods that fit your lifestyle.

The spectrum is broad. Personally, I believe the closer you can go towards the whole organic food side the better. Would I eat at Taco Bell... of course but it would not be my first choice. Your best carbs if you eat grains, would be complex because of their slower burn and nutrients. Grass fed beef would be best eaten at the least temperature that would kill bacteria descending into the generic roll of hamburger meat you pick up at your local big box store at the least end. Fruits in your season.

These are the ideals... McDonald's drive through when you have 5 minutes before your next stop is a reality sometimes but should not be the norm. Or.... be skinny with hypertension, kidney disease, cancer and every other possible nutritionally related disease other than obesity!

pspetralia

The way you are doing it is perfect because you are slowly improving or changing your eating habits. If you changed everything at once you would be more likely to say screw it. Good job!!!

squindles

To be honest it sounds perfect to me. Youve managed to improve your eating habits and hit your macros whilst still eating the foods you enjoy. I think thats what we should all be striving for. Your's sounds like a sustainable plan that would be easy to stick to. Well done x

^^^^^THIS^^^^^

WendyTerry420

There is no such thing as "junk" food, only junk diets. If you are hitting your calorie and macronutrient goals, then you are winning. In fact, as another poster stated, this is the way to maintain a healthy diet that you can stick with the rest of your life.

Depriving yourself of the occasional "fun food," is a recipe for failure. Eat for nutrition *AND* for pleasure, and consistently take in the amount of energy (calories) that your lifestyle requires. Yes, it's that easy. Yes, you can do it. And NO, you should NOT feel guilty because you eat chips and salsa or granola bars. Both of those are healthy choices, within the proper context. Both of those provide your body with nutrients and energy. Just don't eat the whole bag of chips or the whole box of granola bars. You see?

Crankstr

To be honest it sounds perfect to me. Youve managed to improve your eating habits and hit your macros whilst still eating the foods you enjoy. I think thats what we should all be striving for. Your's sounds like a sustainable plan that would be easy to stick to. Well done x

^^this

vjohn04

Girrrrlllll

Take a sneaky peak at my diary. I eat plenty of "junk food" and do just fine!

Just keep within your calorie limit and you'll do fine! :flowerforyou:

amandapye78

I was wondering this myself. There are days when I just crave something bad and greasy

spartans1958

i think you are doing great. Portion control is just about the whole thing.

robot_potato

You are doing great. You are trying healthier foods, and minding your serving sizes. If I cut out all junk food, I don't think I'd have the will to do this. Had a poutine for dinner while watching the hockey game last night (there I go doing stereotypical Canadian things again). It was delicious and fun, and now I'm back to eating good. Had a banana/berry/greek yogurt/chia smoothie for breakfast and I've got sweet potato, zucchini, butternut squash and asparagus to use this week I still have my junk food, but I've traded chips for crispy minis and nuts.

Robin_Bin

It makes perfect sense. Good for you!

Trying to change everything at once is just too hard for most people. Even the people who say they like the "jump into the deep end" method usually end up backing off the whole thing.

It's great that you feel satisfied with the correct calories. That's often a problem with people who are eating too many calorie-dense foods. They don't get to eat much, so they aren't satisfied. Luckily that's not the case for you. (And it may mean that you were eating healthier than you realize.)

You may notice other patterns about when you over-eat or tend to eat foods that don't satisfy you or that you don't feel are healthy. As you notice them, play around with other changes and see how they work for you. For instance, I've found that of the prepared foods I eat, sometimes two very similar meals (e.g., mac & cheese) are quite different in nutritional content and number of calories. I've also found that I can add some spices and even a few vegetables to one mac & cheese that I like, making it even healthier, more filling and still well under half the calories of another brand.

Don't deprive yourself or quit eating things you love -- variety can provide even better nutrition than just one thing, even if it's "health food". And feeling deprived or like this is just a short-term change, makes it much more likely that the results will be temporary instead of a healthier lifetime. On the other hand, if there are things you don't enjoy, consider dropping them off your menu. I love good bread, but bad bread just isn't worth it, even if a restaurant puts it in front of me for free. And this site has some wonderful, healthy recipes and food ideas -- when you're ready, enjoy finding new things that you like and which may be good for you too.

Great start!

(I've collected some of the ideas I like best about how to use MFP, see http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Robin_Bin/view/how-to-use-myfitnesspal-427993 if you're interested.)

mlm821

to read later

jzammetti

Think about it: have you ever noticed thin people eating anything yummy like birthday cake, chips and salsa, big fat steaks? I remember watching thin people eat and thinking, How do they eat that crap and stay small??!!??!!

I think you are doing it right. Best of luck to you!

crazy4fids

I really think portion control is a big part of it. I too was constantly over-eating. Just because you are hungry and can eat a foot long sub doesn't mean you should.

It's a shame that it is cheaper to order a foot long sub and throw half of it away...same with all those "value meals". They are all way over what a healthy portion size should be.

Other things to take into consideration are using healthier substitutes in your recipes. Like oatmeal rasin cookies. Instead of butter, you can use fruit puree, same with eggs. I have just gotten into this substitution stuff and am making my first batch of oatmeal, walnut cranberry cookies today, except I am altering the recipe and using pumpkin puree for the butter and applesauce for the eggs. I might throw in a tablespoon or two of butter just to satisfy that need for fat in a cookie.

RobinvdM

STAYING successful means finding what works for you right now, and going with it until you're ready for the next step which (I promise you) you will naturally progress towards. If it means eating the same stuff you usually do, only this time in correct moderation then knock yourself out. That works for you, run with it. That's what got me started. Just watching portions. Easy.

One step at a time!:flowerforyou:

IMYarnCraz33

Yepperz!
I don't think you have to eat absolutely "clean".
I eat what I want, and stay within calories and have lost quite a bit of weight.
If what you're doing is working for you, GREAT!
You don't have to totally change everything.

If it's a goal to eat absolutely clean, I would think to slowly wean yourself off the junk. (so theres less chance of crashing).
The way I see it, if you're body is used to a lot of junk food and you try to eat totally clean, you're body will have withdrawals--and you could end up crashing hard.

taso42

If I'm not going over my calories, I'm feeling full and satisfied, and AM eating healthy food as well, is it "bad" that I haven't dropped all the junk food?

Nope

EZaccone85

You've unlocked the secret to long-tern sustained good health and weight loss. Congrats!

agree!!!