what you eat vs how much you eat

akvz
akvz Posts: 7
in Food and Nutrition
does it matter WHAT you eat, or just how much (in calories) you eat? confused
«1

Replies

  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
    calories are all that matters for weight loss.

    better foods, less junk for over all health
  • lmeola18
    lmeola18 Posts: 35
    calories are all that matters for weight loss.

    better foods, less junk for over all health

    This exactly
  • cbmcphillips
    cbmcphillips Posts: 801 Member
    calories are all that matters for weight loss.

    better foods, less junk for over all health

    This exactly

    right there with you...
  • innocenceportrayed
    innocenceportrayed Posts: 569 Member
    Everything is fine in moderation, a calories is a calorie but you want veggies, fruit, whole grain/wheat, meat, over junk.
  • Brendajo510
    Brendajo510 Posts: 153
    calories are all that matters for weight loss.

    better foods, less junk for over all health

    Lower Cal is definitely a good start!
  • SusanMcAvoy
    SusanMcAvoy Posts: 445 Member
    Yep, it's all about the calories. But do eat nutritious foods for your overall health.
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
    Everything is fine in moderation, a calories is a calorie but you want veggies, fruit, whole grain/wheat, meat, over junk.

    skip the whole grain wheat brainwashing and yes to the rest
  • sarahsummers12
    sarahsummers12 Posts: 128 Member
    Depends on if you want to be healthy or not really... you need to make you sure get enough protein so you don't lose muscle while losing weight - obviously the healthier food you eat the better your overall health will be. And plus - healthy food is usually lower in calories so you get to eat more whilst losing weight :-)
  • Athena413
    Athena413 Posts: 1,709 Member
    calories are all that matters for weight loss.

    better foods, less junk for over all health

    I completely disagree with the first statement.

    I think the quality of your calories can greatly affect whether you lose weight or not. It's different for every person. If you're body is sensitive to carbs, obviously a low-calorie/high-carb diet is not going to be beneficial to you because your body is just going to convert all those carbs in to sugar and you're just going to maintain and/or gain. If you eat nothing but crap food, but you're still under on calories, you're going to be malnourished. You will lose weight, but you can expect a plateau eventually...and you'll most likely feel like crap, too.
  • Lift_hard_eat_big
    Lift_hard_eat_big Posts: 2,278 Member
    does it matter WHAT you eat, or just how much (in calories) you eat? confused

    Yes it matters what you eat as well as how much. Whether you are cutting or bulking.
  • TheRealParisLove
    TheRealParisLove Posts: 1,907 Member
    calories are all that matters for weight loss.

    better foods, less junk for over all health

    This can be the case if you are under age 45, have no food allergies, are not taking any prescriptions (even birth control can change weight loss efforts) and are in good to excellent health. Unfortunately, for every rule there are always exceptions.

    If you have food sensitivities or allergies, eating those foods will throw your metabolism off. Also, some foods are known to cause inflammation and create weight gain even when eating at a calorie deficit. Just keep switching up your strategy until you find something that works for you.
  • RawTriGal
    RawTriGal Posts: 190 Member
    the problem with making unhealthy choices is you may often choose empty calorie foods with little to no nutritional value, leaving you feeling hungry and reaching for more. if you make choices of lots of fresh fruits and veg you'll be getting the vitamins and nutrition you need as well as feeling satisfied.
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
    calories are all that matters for weight loss.

    better foods, less junk for over all health

    I completely disagree with the first statement.

    I think the quality of your calories can greatly affect whether you lose weight or not. It's different for every person.

    no it really isnt. every person who is in a caloric deficit will lose weight.
  • jazee11
    jazee11 Posts: 321
    I agree with the other posters about the calories. I suppose you could eat a days worth of twinkies if you wanted to. You might not feel so great but I guess you could do it. The health part comes in handy but is not always necessary.
  • Leeannboswell
    Leeannboswell Posts: 63
    Everything is fine in moderation, a calories is a calorie but you want veggies, fruit, whole grain/wheat, meat, over junk.

    skip the whole grain wheat brainwashing and yes to the rest

    Yup, read this book, "Wheat Belly" by Dr. William Davis. Unbelievable!!
  • justjenn1977
    justjenn1977 Posts: 437 Member
    calories are all that matters for weight loss.

    better foods, less junk for over all health

    ^^ couldn't have said it better myself
  • erinmick2
    erinmick2 Posts: 32 Member
    Everything is fine in moderation, a calories is a calorie but you want veggies, fruit, whole grain/wheat, meat, over junk.

    skip the whole grain wheat brainwashing and yes to the rest

    I'm curious... Care to elaborate? :smile:
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    Depends on whether you want to be healthy or just lose weight...
  • jbmyer
    jbmyer Posts: 4
    I can only answer for myself here. For me it does matter just as much what I eat. My body does not process a lot of grains well or sugary things, even some fruit. I have found I can consume a bit more calories when they are not from these foods and still lose weight a bit easier.
  • Dark_Roast
    Dark_Roast Posts: 17,689 Member
    I agree with the other posters about the calories. I suppose you could eat a days worth of twinkies if you wanted to. You might not feel so great but I guess you could do it. The health part comes in handy but is not always necessary.

    I wonder how long it would take to be completely sick of Twinkies, if that was all you ate?
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
    Everything is fine in moderation, a calories is a calorie but you want veggies, fruit, whole grain/wheat, meat, over junk.

    skip the whole grain wheat brainwashing and yes to the rest

    I'm curious... Care to elaborate? :smile:

    grains are ok but we dont need them and they are not an optimal food choice for weight loss. Many here will defend grains to death, but there is no real need to put them in your body. I do not have allergies to grains, but when I cut them out, everything got better. Give it a try.
  • fmbomzo
    fmbomzo Posts: 382 Member
    Not sure. When I eat cleaner, I tend to eat less calories automatically. I find it hard to consume a lot of calories when I focus on eating lean protein, small amts of fruit and plenty of veggies. So is it the clean eating that it is the root of it all or the "less calories side effect"?
  • KeepOnMoving
    KeepOnMoving Posts: 383 Member
    I am probably going against the grain some what. I think calories play a role in it but not in how some may think.

    You have calories from fat: Nuts, meat, fried food, whole milk, whipping cream. etc.
    You have calories from zero fat: Example, gummy bears. Soda. etc. But that is sugar that effects you in other ways.
    You have calories in vegetables.

    I have in the past year lost weight and kept it off by going over my calorie goal most of the time. I guess the trick is the types of food you eat. If you eat many fruits and vegetables, fat free milk, low cal snacks. lean proteins, Now that is better than having a high fat foods yet staying under your calorie goal.

    I don't understand the point of protein shakes. Why not eat real food and get your nutrition? If your wanting to stay permanently trim, I would want to change my habits for life. (easier said than done)
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    I feel like people make this wayyyy too complicated. It's not that deep. Eat your protein, get a wide variety of vegetables and some fruit, make sure you get some healthy fats, and do with the rest of your calories however you see fit.

    Adjust the plan as necessary to take in to account metabolic conditions, allergies, intolerances, etc. For the most part, we're really not all that different.

    In other words: Stick to your calories, get your nutrition, enjoy the rest.
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member

    I don't understand the point of protein shakes. Why not eat real food and get your nutrition? If your wanting to stay permanently trim, I would want to change my habits for life. (easier said than done)

    protein shakes or adding protein powder into your diet is a quick efficient and relatively inexpensive way to get more protein without all the extra calories of "normal" food.

    I cant see why I cant do protein shakes or add it to my yogurt for the rest of my life.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I can only answer for myself here. For me it does matter just as much what I eat. My body does not process a lot of grains well or sugary things, even some fruit. I have found I can consume a bit more calories when they are not from these foods and still lose weight a bit easier.
    Ditto
  • jbmyer
    jbmyer Posts: 4
    Everything is fine in moderation, a calories is a calorie but you want veggies, fruit, whole grain/wheat, meat, over junk.

    skip the whole grain wheat brainwashing and yes to the rest

    I'm curious... Care to elaborate? :smile:

    grains are ok but we dont need them and they are not an optimal food choice for weight loss. Many here will defend grains to death, but there is no real need to put them in your body. I do not have allergies to grains, but when I cut them out, everything got better. Give it a try.

    So you do think it matters what not just how much
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
    Everything is fine in moderation, a calories is a calorie but you want veggies, fruit, whole grain/wheat, meat, over junk.

    skip the whole grain wheat brainwashing and yes to the rest

    I'm curious... Care to elaborate? :smile:

    grains are ok but we dont need them and they are not an optimal food choice for weight loss. Many here will defend grains to death, but there is no real need to put them in your body. I do not have allergies to grains, but when I cut them out, everything got better. Give it a try.

    So you do think it matters what not just how much

    no..I dont think it matters if all you want is weight loss. A calorie is a calorie. If you want all the benefits of health AND weight loss, then yes, your choices matter.
  • chauncyrenayCHANGED
    chauncyrenayCHANGED Posts: 788 Member
    I def agree for the most part, but when I dropped my sodium to less than 1500 per day I saw crazy results!
  • innocenceportrayed
    innocenceportrayed Posts: 569 Member
    Everything is fine in moderation, a calories is a calorie but you want veggies, fruit, whole grain/wheat, meat, over junk.

    skip the whole grain wheat brainwashing and yes to the rest

    I'm curious... Care to elaborate? :smile:

    grains are ok but we dont need them and they are not an optimal food choice for weight loss. Many here will defend grains to death, but there is no real need to put them in your body. I do not have allergies to grains, but when I cut them out, everything got better. Give it a try.

    So you do think it matters what not just how much

    no..I dont think it matters if all you want is weight loss. A calorie is a calorie. If you want all the benefits of health AND weight loss, then yes, your choices matter.

    I'm not huge on whole grains, but I love whole wheat. =/

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