Ignoring Calories???
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Only you know what is going to work for your body. It can't hurt much to try out smarter choices for a week or two, and you'll be able to tell if it's working for you. Although the site is based off of calorie tracking (in AND out), no where does it say you can't make adjustments for your lifestyle. Be aware of what you are eating, move more, and you should be good to go.
And if you notice a slowing of your loss, or even a gain, it's easy enough to start tracking again. If you are only going over by a small bit, why not add some cardio? Take a walk in the evening, or swing by the gym for a quick session.0 -
Just to clarify, I'm not looking to over-indluge or do anything extreme. If I have a day where I eat toast for breakfast, a mid-morning snack of yogurt/granola, lunch of fish/chicken with steamed/grilled veggies, afternoon snack of fruit, dinner of lean meat/veggies I will end up right at or over my calories. That means no nuts instead of fruit, or no milk with breakfast or I go over my calories. I have hit my goal weight, I enjoy working out about 4 times a week, and I don't have any issues with serving sizes or portion control.
over-indulging is indulging too much, which is what you're doing if you're going over your cals due to indulgences. Figure out the things you enjoy the most, then surround them with other foods that fit into your macros. Don't cut out the foods you like the most in favor of foods you like least. That doesn't make much sense, and will be harder to sustain long term.
Have the yogurt instead of the toast... that kind of thing.0 -
First, why are you eating only 1400 calories when you are already at a goal weight - more or less? Are you 5 foot nothing? Because any 30 year old woman needs more than 1400 calories as a base.
Are you exercising? If yes, then you need even MORE calories. Rework your goals here to "Lose 1/2 lb per week," which is where you should be set. Eat the exercise calories. You'll have plenty of room for a small snack of nuts and yogurt and a sprinkle of granola.0 -
Yes, it's called clean eating. I don't count calories, I aim to eat 5-6 small meals a day (5 on non workout days, 6 on workout days) and I just manage portion sizes. I've lost 5.6 lbs this last week.
Clean eating still leads to weight gain if you're eating too much. Similarly, weight loss can be achieved on an all McDonald's diet, as long as your cals are where they should be.0 -
It's really just about portions. I was on 1300 calories for some time. Still try and aim around there, and I ate a lot of peanut butter. I can't give up the stuff I like just because I'm limiting myself.0
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yes me too! post if you have timeOh and I also have a recipe for granola that is to die for...so you can still have granola when eating clean
I'd love that receipe. I've never tried granola but it sounds lovely! 0 -
I try to include a half serving of nuts on a regular basis, at least on work days when I can use 6 almonds as a mid-morning snack and maybe 6 later at night when I'm starving while cooking dinner. If not almonds, I'll eat cashew halves & pieces because you get more per serving than whole cashews. Then again, I'm one that does eat pretty much what I want in moderation & not everyday, as long as I stay within my daily calorie count. It's working for me.0
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Advice for yogurt/granola - Eat vanilla yogurt with Kashi Go Lean Crunch - 1/2 cup each is 190 cals. They are awesome together! I'm not a huge greek yogurt fan and normal granola has too much sugar. I wish there was less sugar in the yogurt but I don't eat it every day.0
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I usually eat fat free greek yoghurt and add fresh fruit and honey to it. I even add dried fruit sometimes or just have plain honey and yoghurt. You can eat yoghurt and calorie count at the same time. I am not sure about Granola, I don't really eat it, but like a poster said before, make your own and that way you know what is in it. Good luck!0
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Girl, I eat handfuls of almonds all day long & they aren't hindering my loss. Don't deny yourself the things you love, especially a combo so ridiculously healthy, like yogurt & almonds. You're missing out on so much lean protein, amino acids, probiotics, vitamins & minerals.
That combo is chock full of nutrition, calories schmalories, balance those nutrients instead.0 -
Almonds are great to eat but like the others said, you want to watch the portion size. I get the 100 calorie packs and I'll have 1 pack with my lunch or as a snack. It's just enough for me to get in my fix.
As far as granola, same thing. Portion it out. Try it as an added item to yogurt in the morning for breakfast. I wouldn't recomend handfuls of it. Also, as a substitute, try the Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal. Simular to Granola but has lots of protein. I have a 1/2 cup of that in my yogurt with a cup of frozen blueberries or a banana mixed it. It keeps me satisfied until I eat lunch.
Good luck!!
Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Weight Loss Tools0 -
Just to clarify, I'm not looking to over-indluge or do anything extreme. If I have a day where I eat toast for breakfast, a mid-morning snack of yogurt/granola, lunch of fish/chicken with steamed/grilled veggies, afternoon snack of fruit, dinner of lean meat/veggies I will end up right at or over my calories. That means no nuts instead of fruit, or no milk with breakfast or I go over my calories. I have hit my goal weight, I enjoy working out about 4 times a week, and I don't have any issues with serving sizes or portion control.
I'm trying to figure out how all that adds up to 1500+ calories. That doesn't sound right to me at all. Are you sure the entries you're using to log these foods are accurate?0 -
Agree. I eat an ounce of almonds, walnuts, flaxseed, pumpkin seed or other nuts/seeds a day for omega-3s. Can't overdo it 'cuz they're big calorie/fat items; even good fats are calories. Yes, if you want to increase your raw fruit and veggie consumption, you have to ignore the carb/calorie overage but I don't worry about it much. I eat large amounts of green veggies and lots of fruit, routinely blowing my carb/fiber limit. No worries. Still steadily losing. BUT I don't eat meat at all, fish maybe once a week or less, limit my starches (potatoes, rice, grains) to about a cup a day, and very little dairy/cheese/eggs so I have more calorie leeway there. Works very well for me.You can still eat almonds and granola, you just have to manage the portion sizes.
But yes, you can forgo calorie counting and use other means to monitor your progress, like measurements or how your clothes fit, etc.0 -
I agree with the posters that say 1400 is too low for maintenance. When I hit maintenance, MFP recommended about 1450 calories a day for me. Based on the suggestions in New Rules of Lifting for Women, my baseline is now 1845 a day, and I eat back my exercise calories. Depending on what you do for exercise, you can afford to add quite a bit of calories to your daily intake. Try weight training if you don't already do it. It helps you burn more throughout the day than straight cardio and you can eat more of the healthy foods you enjoy. I'm 4'11" and 113 pounds and haven't gained anything in the 4 months since I increased my calories.0
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I eat granola and yogurt almost every day for breakfast and sometimes for a snack.
Yes, granola has carbs - but it is also loaded with fiber and lots of good stuff.
After much searching, I found, and really like, Cascadian Farm Organic Fruit and Nut Granola. 210 calories for 3/4 cup serving, Total fat 8%m Cholesterol 0%, Sodium 3%, Potassium 4%, Total Carbohydrates 13% (dietary fiber 3g, 12%, sugars 15g, other carbs 21g) Protein 4g (Ingredients: Whole grain oats, sugar, rice, sunflower oil, raisins, tapioca syrup, rice maltodextrin, sunflower seeds, almonds, molasses, drued cranberries, sea salt, soy lecithin, malted barley extract, vanilla extract)
I add Chobani Lowfat Greek Yogurt (love the Pineapple with th granola (160 calories) - 21 g of carbs but it is also loaded with 13 g of protein. By the end of my days, I'm usually running too high in protein rather than carbs - even though I eat a lot of granola and yogurt.
Since all granola is going to have sugar (unless you make it yourself) and plenty of carbs (then there's no way to measure the carbs) - Perhaps you could just cut back on the serving size of granola (each 1/4 cup would be approximately 70 calories), but use the full portion of the single cup size of yogurt? This way you get all the additional protein (think of the benefits - not the negative side of yogurt) and the granola you crave.
(I also like the Kashi Cinnamon Harvest Whole Wheat Biscuits with plain yogurt - yum)0 -
Oh and I also have a recipe for granola that is to die for...so you can still have granola when eating clean
I'd love that receipe. I've never tried granola but it sounds lovely!
Here you go! http://glutenfreegirl.com/homemade-granola-gluten-free/
As a note, unless you want rock hard dried fruit in your granola, add the dried fruit AFTER it's done baking!0 -
i eat almonds, avocado or olive oil every day. and i always fit in the cals just fine. stick to one serving, and you'll be fine.0
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is the yogurt/granola you're buying loaded with added sugar or something?0
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Peek at some of my diary days. I also have the base intake set at 1420 cal without exercise... (ignore my wine... Haha!) I eat yogurt and almonds all the time. Perfect snacks! I went to the bulk barn and bought raw whole almonds and sat at the table afterwards and made little Saran wrapped packs of 15 almonds each... 104 calories for 15 almonds! Perfect to stick in your purse or pocket for that in between meals snacks... And as for yogurt, you can buy the sugar free/fat free ones that only have 45 calories... Go ahead, throw a spoon of granola in and you still have an approximate 100 cal snack!
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Actually, I'm 5' 2" 0
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There are some healthy foods that I want in my daily diet but I end up avoiding because they are fairly high in calories compared to what I should eat each day (about 1400 cals). Some examples are almonds and yogurt with granola.
Since I'm missing out on some great healthy food because I'm too busy focusing on my calories, I'd like to somewhat ignore my calorie intake and just focus on the food itself. Has anyone else done this and if so did it work?
Yes.
I do this. I do not count calories but simply eat the healthy foods that I want when I want. I've cut out all processed foods and on occassion (like once a month) I'll eat something I love like Chinese food (which I know is likely processed but it's my once a month treat to myself)
As far as does it work? I think my results speak for themselves. I've lost 30+ lbs in roughly 12 weeks (about 3 months) might be 14/15 weeks... I'd have to go back and check for the exact week ratio but it's roughly three months I know that much. I've also lost a fair bit of inches. I'll be getting a new seamstress measurer (not sure of the right term atm) as my old one has mysteriously disappeared... I blame pixies and nixies playing tricks on me. *nods and chuckles*0 -
I agree with the posters that say 1400 is too low for maintenance. When I hit maintenance, MFP recommended about 1450 calories a day for me. Based on the suggestions in New Rules of Lifting for Women, my baseline is now 1845 a day, and I eat back my exercise calories. Depending on what you do for exercise, you can afford to add quite a bit of calories to your daily intake. Try weight training if you don't already do it. It helps you burn more throughout the day than straight cardio and you can eat more of the healthy foods you enjoy. I'm 4'11" and 113 pounds and haven't gained anything in the 4 months since I increased my calories.
I'll do more research on the recommended calories from some other places. I'm 5'2" and 117lbs. I work out about 4 times a week- cardio twice a week and weights twice a week (some weeks I can squeeze in a 5th workout depending on work and my kids). Maybe I'm a bit low in cals, or maybe some of the foods I choose in the database are off...my portion sizes are dead on and I even weigh my food at home to make sure my meats are measured properly.0 -
Girl, I eat handfuls of almonds all day long & they aren't hindering my loss. Don't deny yourself the things you love, especially a combo so ridiculously healthy, like yogurt & almonds. You're missing out on so much lean protein, amino acids, probiotics, vitamins & minerals.
That combo is chock full of nutrition, calories schmalories, balance those nutrients instead.
LOL...thannks for making me smile. You summed it up in one word...BALANCE. That's all I'm trying to find, the right balance.0 -
Anytime chicka!
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