does diet really matter?

Well I'm talking about losing weight, not health wise. I just want to lose weight because I cant eat healthy all the time due to the fact I'm poor and still live with my dad.

They say you cant out-exercise a bad diet. But I kind of dont believe that. I mean I dont eat complete junk but I dont eat completely healthy either. somewhat in between.

So from what I heard can you still lose weight even if your diet is just ok if at the end of the day you had less then 2,000 calories. MFP says I should eat 1350, so weather I have a cheeseburger or a salad but still come out to 1350 will I still lose weight?

Plus I also add in my TDEE which is about 2140 and my calories burned at the gym which is 300cals 5 days week.

Is that enough to lose weight, because I hope I'm doing this right. Thank you!

Can you lose weight by eating less than 2140 calories, whether it's good quality calories or bad ones, absolutely. Will it be all fat? Probably not. But you do not need to eat all clean calories. Try the 80% rule (which is what I do). And try to clean up some of your bad choices. Instead of getting french fries, get a side salad or veggies (all free options if you go out to dinner). But realistically, if you are trying to cut to a very low body fat, then you will want to eat as healthy as possible. BTW, if your TDEE is 2140, you should be eating around1800 calories (20% less than TDEE), since you only have 10 lbs to lose. You can not aim for 2 lbs per week with that little to lose.

ps- If you aren't weight training, you should start. Even if it's getting a few resistance bands to start with.

The line about not out exercising a bad diet isn't about what you eat but how much you eat. Lots of people think that if they workout then they don't need to count calories because they did some exercise.

You can lose weight eating Twinkies and drinking Mountain Dew as long as you stay in your calorie budget. You might not be very healthy but you can be slim.

Weight loss depends entirely on diet.

So yes, diet does really matter. Completely and utterly.

You can burn 10,000 calories doing 24 hour cardio marathons 7 days a week...

If you intake 10,000 calories in the same time, you are doing nothing but spinning your wheels in place.

Does diet matter?.....no. (ouch I just cringe saying that). But all you need to do to lose weight is to stay in calorie deficit. Stay consistent with that calorie goal, log everything and you'll be fine. I see that you're 18 and still living at home so I understand you get whatever is on the menu that night. Maybe try and convince Mom and Dad to prepare a few more healthy meals a week and make sure they have some fruits and veggies at home for you. :flowerforyou:

I had a burger on Sunday from Jack in the Box, and I didn't even feel guilty about it. I eat pretty clean but I love beer and I love burgers so I wont cut them out completely, but it was a Jr Jack and I practice moderation. As long as you are doing what you can, eating healthy when possible and eating at a deficit you will be fine.

you are only looking at one small part of the equation. yes 1300 calories is 1300 calories no matter how you consume it BUT you've left out Sodium, carbs, fats, sugars, ect. Excessive Salt causes water retention causes bloating. Refined sugars, bad fats, and junk carbs cause excessive fat stores and so on. Unless your dad is holding you at gun point, no, you do not have to eat whatever he brings home. Is it okay to 'cheat' here and there? Yup! Are any of your excuses for eating poorly valid? Nope.

Losing weight is 80% diet.

It absolutely matters.

Eat a deficit..you will lose weight.

I have $50 or less a week for food and I still manage to eat healthy- fruits and veggies and stuff.... (just don't look today cuz I am sick) but a lot of peanut butter oatmeal. It all is good. I eat a lot of frozen veggies as well not the healthiest but cheap and are still veggies. I am not sure what your budget is but at least make an effort to make it work.

First off, healthy foods aren't necesarily expensive...in fact, they are usually cheaper. Fruits and vegetables cost less than junk food...shopping and preparing your own meals is cheaper than fast food and eating out...water (tap) is cheaper than soda...whole grain chips/crackers don't cost any more than other junky, salty snacks...

Secondly, there is more to it than just weight loss and/or maintaining a "healthy" weight...I know people that are at perfectly healthy weights that eat mostly garbage and they have high cholesterol levels, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, etc. I myself have suffered all of the above and was overweight to boot. Since making this lifestyle change, I'm not only losing weight, but I'm eating healthier foods as well...my carbs primarily come from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains...my proteins are primarily lean and my fats are primarily good fats from olive oil, canola oil, avocados, lean meats, etc (I try to keep my Sat Fats at or below 15 and no Trans Fats allowed). My blood sugar has regulated and is normal...my blood pressure has gone from 162/115 on average to 130/89 and falling. My LDL is trending down and my HDL is trending up. I've also noticed a huge difference in my energy levels and my general outlook on life. It certainly helps that I've lost 10 pounds over the last 8 weeks or so, but my numbers are trending down primarily due to making better decisions in RE to what I'm putting in my body, as well as exercise.

For losing weight, you need a calorie deficit. Period.

Exercise will affect your fitness.

Quality of food will affect your overall health.

Is that enough to lose weight, because I hope I'm doing this right. Thank you!

Yep, that's fine for now.

Lol i dont think some of you get what I'm asking. Yes I know there ways to eat healthy and I will try my best to. Its not like im planning to eat mcdonalds cheeseburgers everyday and work out and expect to lose weight. I know thats not gonna happen. But I mean some days I just have to eat whatever my dad brings wheather its a frozen dinner, fast food, or salads. And I cut out a lot of junk and soda too. So I'm not trying to eat like crap and expect results. I'm just asking on the days I have to eat somewhat bad will it hold me back. Even if at the end of the day I only ate 1350-1400 and burned a total of 2400 including my TDEE

LOL I get what you're saying! And no it's not a big deal now and then. I've noticed that the people who are super strict and have BAD foods tend to "cheat" more and lose less. I lost 30 lbs in just a couple months. I had no BAD foods but I also wanted to eat as much as possible so I tried to eat wholesome foods. But once a week I gave myself a day to eat what I wanted, and (I don't know how it worked) but I lost the most amount of weight after that day! So you'll be fine if you're doing your best to eat healthy, you don't have to be a robot!