are calories all just calories?

unknownndoll
unknownndoll Posts: 161 Member
edited September 2024 in Food and Nutrition
with all the many types of diets out there it almost becomes confusing and more and more complicated.

my question is, if you are getting your calories from good carbs, proteins, and fats, and using common sense, eating fruits and veggies, no white flower, sugars, starches, and mostly a balanced healthy diet, is that good enough? do you need to get nitty gritty and follow all these different things, count every gram, severely restrict even good carbs, or stay in certain percentages? So basically as long as you are eating healthy, and staying within your calories is that ok? (back to more basics, you know?)

Replies

  • poustotah
    poustotah Posts: 1,121 Member
    I was using common sense before I joined MFP and I wasn't losing weight. My mom and dad both have diabetes and I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with my last baby so I got used to following that kind of diet which restricts certain sugars. I was eating 1600 calories a day and getting nowhere. Now I eat around 2200 calories a day just to maintain my weight. Now I fill those calories with whole grains, veggies, protein, etc. So I would think that using common sense would be enough BUT apparently it's not.
  • unknownndoll
    unknownndoll Posts: 161 Member
    I was using common sense before I joined MFP and I wasn't losing weight. My mom and dad both have diabetes and I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with my last baby so I got used to following that kind of diet which restricts certain sugars. I was eating 1600 calories a day and getting nowhere. Now I eat around 2200 calories a day just to maintain my weight. Now I fill those calories with whole grains, veggies, protein, etc. So I would think that using common sense would be enough BUT apparently it's not.

    well, i agree that sugars are not too great for anything anyway, so whole grains, veggies, proteins, etc is common sense to me. that dosnt seem too extreme- like no grains, no fruits, stay under this, stay under that... you know?
  • SylvieJacques
    SylvieJacques Posts: 113 Member
    One thing I would add and this fall in the common sense category... stay away from Salt, sodium as much as you can. It's amazing when you start comparing labels of equivalent products.
  • kdiamond
    kdiamond Posts: 3,329 Member
    With my husband, he was always eating good (whole wheat, etc) but ate too much. So for him it was about portion control and he had to count every calorie/gram/etc to make sure he was eating the right amount. At some point, this all becomes automatic.

    I cannot stress this enough to everyone, if you stick within a balanced range - I like 40% carbs, 30% protein, 30% fat - you will lose weight if you stay within your calories. I believe it is all about balance. You need the right nutrition to keep your metabolism moving. Don't confuse yourself with all of these fad diets, low carb, South Beach, Atkins, etc.. - in the long run you'll never keep it off. Just eat healthy, and right, and you will do fine. :)
  • DBranchaud
    DBranchaud Posts: 827 Member
    I heard that you should eat lot's of fibre and drink water.
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