Can you really eat anything and lose?

Yes. Not a lot of some things, but nothing I miss.

Yes... that is how it works. You can lose on whole foods, "clean foods" or straight Twinkies as long as you are at a deficit, a true deficit, working out with cardio and weights and so on.

Obviously there are more pro’s to eating better. Obviously! But I found out I am motivated and don’t get burned out so bad if I have my chocolate or my pizza or my fast food. So I take advantage of that! And I have 5 kids… I don’t feel like cooking 24/7 and working out and taking care of all of them and working full time! So if I can only manage to go grab subway at lunch or a cheesy cheddar burger, or eat some leftover pizza at least I am staying in my calories for the day which ultimately is what dieting is about.

Now if eating healthy works for you and drives you… then go for that! Just not really my thing and it doesn’t have really much to do with loosing weight. Its calories in and calories out.

That's what I do. As long as you don't go over your calorie limit usually you're good.

An acception might be if you have a food sensitivity/allergy to something you like. If that's the case then you probably won't lose as much when you are consuming those things.

I'd request a Food Allergy test from your Doctor if you can. It's pretty helpful in keeping you in tuned to what your body doesn't like in it.

I had mine done last year. Dairy is my main allergy issue *bummer 'cause I loove my chocolate milk*
I still consume dairy occasionally, but I see a definite slowing of my progress when I have too much too often.

My poor hubby has it worse off though...Dairy, oysters, banana's, beef, asparagus, eggs, gluten, whole wheat, spelt, and all yeasts are what he tested high on when he had the food allergen test done.

I eat anything I want, and have lost 80 lbs.

So... at least for me, yes.

Yes.

People get off track when they complicate weight loss.. it's simple science really, 3,500 cal a pound, and go from there, (whether its all junk or all "clean" weight loss is weight loss)

My diet isn't particularly good and things are moving in the right direction.

The heavier you are the more calories you can have a day. Lot more things will fit in it, nearly anything you want. As long as you keep excercising you will loose weight.
The smaller you get the harder you will have to try to eat clean to still loose any weight and fit your meals in your cal allowence.
You can not eat anything you want once you have 20lbs or less to loose. my personal opinion:)

Eating less calories because you are thinner isn't always true. I am around 145-150lbs and I eat around 2500 calories a day. Been maintaining for almost 2 years. So, being smaller does not always mean less calories.

There is not much I have cut out, just cut down. It would never work for me if I stopped cold eating my favorite foods. I just don't eat fast food anymore, that's the only change in diet that I have had. Otherwise, I just do portion control, you'll find yourself eating a lot less lot of the high calorie foods, because they take up such a huge part of your calorie intake for the day. Works for me.

For me personally, I can eat like 1000 cals a day of sugar and carbs and totally balloon. Alternatively I can eat like 2000 cals a day of very low carb and lose weight. I've tested this so many times - unfortunately it's low carb all the way for me!

AMEN!!

I am 6 foot, 60 pounds over weight, stay under 1500 most days, and eat pretty much anything and do not lose ANY weight. If I am careful not to eat more than 60 carbs and not too much fat, I lose weight. If I don't sleep, I gain weight! I think the principal is good, but our bodies react in different ways. Postmenopausal, metabolic syndrome? WATCH THE CARBS

I eat whatever I want and have my diary open for my friends to view. I make sure that I don't go over my goals and if what I want is going to send me over, I workout more and treat myself. My body is confused and doesn't know what I'm going to do next so it make my metabolism work harder (I guess that's what it's doing lol) Now everyone's body is different and I can't say what works for me will work for everyone.

So far I've lost 30lbs doing so and I plan to lose more. :drinker:

I eat whatever I want all day and lose. And by "whatever I want" I mean healthy foods that I tell myself are delicious and are exactly what I want until I get to like them. And then I like them and then I'm not lying to myself anymore!

Yes.
I just cut BACK on calorie-dense foods such as pizza, chips, and desserts, and increased the amount and frequency of salads and fresh vegetables.
I did NOT deprive myself of ANYTHING.
I'm on maintenance now and had 2 donuts this morning.

My food diary is open, I have eaten out four times this week....I lost 1.6lbs...not nutritionally the best week, but yes..you can still lose weight.

Just ask the Nutrition Professor from the University of Kansas and his Twinkie diet.

This is what I was thinking!