As long as you have the calories eat it?

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clynn84
clynn84 Posts: 18 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Okay, so I am a little confused.. I see on here a lot people saying things like "I'm craving potato chips, chocolate, etc..." and then I see responses that are "If you have the calories left eat it!" I thought to lose weight it wasn't just about counting calories. I thought you also had to watch what types of foods you eat and also watch macros like carbs, fat, saturated fat, and sodium. Am I going about this all wrong? I just don't see how you can eat whatever as long as you stay under a certain number of calories and still lose weight. Just saying. It doesn't make sense to me.
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Replies

  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
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    Should you try to eat nutritious foods as much as possible? Yeah.

    Is it going to hurt your ability to lose weight to have a little junk now and then? Nope.

    A lot of people find it much easier to build some treats in, rather than try to restrict everything. The best plan is the one you can do forever, and I don't think I could cut out anything forever.


    As I'm typing this, I'm eating a bowl of Lucky Charms :tongue:
  • stephdeeable
    stephdeeable Posts: 1,407 Member
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    Should you try to eat nutritious foods as much as possible? Yeah.

    Is it going to hurt your ability to lose weight to have a little junk now and then? Nope.

    A lot of people find it much easier to build some treats in, rather than try to restrict everything. The best plan is the one you can do forever, and I don't think I could cut out anything forever.


    As I'm typing this, I'm eating a bowl of Lucky Charms :tongue:

    All of this.


    Also, can I have the marshmellows?
  • Dollymaker
    Dollymaker Posts: 65 Member
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    Should you try to eat nutritious foods as much as possible? Yeah.

    Is it going to hurt your ability to lose weight to have a little junk now and then? Nope.

    A lot of people find it much easier to build some treats in, rather than try to restrict everything. The best plan is the one you can do forever, and I don't think I could cut out anything forever.


    As I'm typing this, I'm eating a bowl of Lucky Charms :tongue:

    I agree! I HAVE to have a treat of some kind every day....past experience has taught me that if I completely deprive myself of all things JUNK I will end up bingeing and never going back to my plan. You have to eat to lose! Makes sense to me. :smile:
  • clynn84
    clynn84 Posts: 18 Member
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    Right, I get the once in a while thing.. I actually build treats in myself, but I'm saying there are those people who I see eating crap everyday and have sodium levels out the roof and high sat fats and are losing more weight than me.. I mean I really wish I could eat whatever I want and lose weight.
  • clynn84
    clynn84 Posts: 18 Member
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    And you can add me and look at my diary if you want, but I changed my goals this morning so days prior to today are probably going to look like I have gone over. :)
  • babyblooz
    babyblooz Posts: 220 Member
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    Right, I get the once in a while thing.. I actually build treats in myself, but I'm saying there are those people who I see eating crap everyday and have sodium levels out the roof and high sat fats and are losing more weight than me.. I mean I really wish I could eat whatever I want and lose weight.

    I see that you are frustrated about this. Honestly? I would just do what *you* need to do and stop paying such close attention to what other people are doing. You're just going to make yourself crazy!
  • mwbulechek
    mwbulechek Posts: 162 Member
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    I am eating normal foods. I eat out at restaurants several times a week. I do not eat back my exercise calories, I stay under my calorie goal and so far, without fail have lost 3-4 pounds a week. Only thing I really try to avoid is sugary treats. It is working for me!
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
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    This is called IIFYM (if it fits your macros). It doesn't mean that you should just eat a bunch of junk food to reach your macro goals. What this means is that you should try to eat healthy/nutritious food like 80-90% of the time, but if you're really craving a donut and you have room for it in your calorie and macro goals the other 10-20% of the time you should eat the donut. It's a way to be healthy but still get to indulge once in a while. For many, using IIFYM makes this more sustainable because they don't feel deprived.
  • YAYJules
    YAYJules Posts: 282 Member
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    Right, I get the once in a while thing.. I actually build treats in myself, but I'm saying there are those people who I see eating crap everyday and have sodium levels out the roof and high sat fats and are losing more weight than me.. I mean I really wish I could eat whatever I want and lose weight.

    Don't waste your time and energy worrying about the progress of other people. That will only drive you insane. Celebrate the milestones you make, no matter how small, because it all adds up in the end. You got this.
  • IronPlayground
    IronPlayground Posts: 1,594 Member
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    Right, I get the once in a while thing.. I actually build treats in myself, but I'm saying there are those people who I see eating crap everyday and have sodium levels out the roof and high sat fats and are losing more weight than me.. I mean I really wish I could eat whatever I want and lose weight.

    I don't know what people you are referring, but if you looked at these folks' macros (carbs/protein/fat) you may find they are inline along with calorie deficit. You will see people refer to IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros). This refers to eating nutrient dense foods 80-90% of the time and fitting in snacks 10-20% of the time.

    ^Nevermind, Justsomerandomgirl beat me to it!
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
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    Right, I get the once in a while thing.. I actually build treats in myself, but I'm saying there are those people who I see eating crap everyday and have sodium levels out the roof and high sat fats and are losing more weight than me.. I mean I really wish I could eat whatever I want and lose weight.

    weight loss = calories in v calories out

    health = exercise, proper nutrition (i.e. giving your body everything it needs), healthy food, less healthy foods in moderation (no need to eliminate them altogether)

    thin people can get metabolic diseases like diabetes, heart disease etc too
  • Tiffers1759
    Tiffers1759 Posts: 102 Member
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    Don't waste your time and energy worrying about the progress of other people. That will only drive you insane. Celebrate the milestones you make, no matter how small, because it all adds up in the end. You got this.
    [/quote]

    AMEN!!!!
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
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    If I'm craving, for instance, chocolate, and I eat a couple of fun sized Snickers bars, I'm going to be satisfied.

    If I'm craving chocolate and instead eat, for instance, carrot sticks, I'm not going to be satisfied. I'm probably going to eat carrot sticks, dipped in Ranch dressing, then realize I'm still not satisfied and start dipping potato chips in that Ranch dressing, and end up consuming a lot more calories than a couple of fun-sized Snickers.

    I still pay attention to my calories and macros. I still eat healthy more than 80% of the time, but if there's room for something more indulgent and I really want it, I'm going to have it.

    My macro goals are currently at 50% carbs (I run and do better on more carbs than others), 20% protein (which leaves me at 115g, more than the recommended 1g per pound of lean body mass), and 30% fat. I pretty much only pay attention to protein, and a little bit to fat. Some days this week, I fell short on protein, but my weekly average still ended up 51%carb, 22% protein and 27% fat. That's close enough in my book! :smile:
  • MLibby84
    MLibby84 Posts: 87
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    I agree with Lora..
  • mityjoe67
    mityjoe67 Posts: 15 Member
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    Right, I get the once in a while thing.. I actually build treats in myself, but I'm saying there are those people who I see eating crap everyday and have sodium levels out the roof and high sat fats and are losing more weight than me.. I mean I really wish I could eat whatever I want and lose weight.

    I see that you are frustrated about this. Honestly? I would just do what *you* need to do and stop paying such close attention to what other people are doing. You're just going to make yourself crazy!

    The other thing to remember is that everyone's body is different and responds to different things. I do agree about not paying attention to others and just focusing on yourself. The only person you can impact is yourself and it is just finding the right balance of things to help you.
  • Rawr1978
    Rawr1978 Posts: 245 Member
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    I eat junk...very small amounts. You won't catch me eating a bag of chips, but I will divide a sub throughout the day, and a snack may be two Hot Rods. I count my squares of chocolate, also
    Overall, I eat fairly low-calorie, and am losing weight.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,867 Member
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    Right, I get the once in a while thing.. I actually build treats in myself, but I'm saying there are those people who I see eating crap everyday and have sodium levels out the roof and high sat fats and are losing more weight than me.. I mean I really wish I could eat whatever I want and lose weight.

    When it comes to weight loss, a calorie is a calorie...150 calories from a piece of cake or a cookie is no different thatn 150 calories from eating a couple of apples. Carbs don't make you fat...fat doesn't make you fat...protein doesn't make you fat. Eating at a caloric surplus makes you fat...eating at a deficit results in weight loss.

    Now...from a nutritional standpoint...well, that's an entirely different story altogether. Just losing weight doesn't necessarily mean good nutrition just as good nutrition doesn't necessarily mean weight loss.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
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    Right, I get the once in a while thing.. I actually build treats in myself, but I'm saying there are those people who I see eating crap everyday and have sodium levels out the roof and high sat fats and are losing more weight than me.. I mean I really wish I could eat whatever I want and lose weight.

    When it comes to weight loss, a calorie is a calorie...150 calories from a piece of cake or a cookie is no different thatn 150 calories from eating a couple of apples. Carbs don't make you fat...fat doesn't make you fat...protein doesn't make you fat. Eating at a caloric surplus makes you fat...eating at a deficit results in weight loss.

    Now...from a nutritional standpoint...well, that's an entirely different story altogether. Just losing weight doesn't necessarily mean good nutrition just as good nutrition doesn't necessarily mean weight loss.

    This.
  • Articeluvsmemphis
    Articeluvsmemphis Posts: 1,987 Member
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    Right, I get the once in a while thing.. I actually build treats in myself, but I'm saying there are those people who I see eating crap everyday and have sodium levels out the roof and high sat fats and are losing more weight than me.. I mean I really wish I could eat whatever I want and lose weight.

    don't over think this, and that's very easy to do (over-think) with so much INFORMATION out there. eat what ya like, don't starve, exercise, drink some water, see results.
  • mmddwechanged
    mmddwechanged Posts: 1,687 Member
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    If I'm craving, for instance, chocolate, and I eat a couple of fun sized Snickers bars, I'm going to be satisfied.

    If I'm craving chocolate and instead eat, for instance, carrot sticks, I'm not going to be satisfied. I'm probably going to eat carrot sticks, dipped in Ranch dressing, then realize I'm still not satisfied and start dipping potato chips in that Ranch dressing, and end up consuming a lot more calories than a couple of fun-sized Snickers.

    I still pay attention to my calories and macros. I still eat healthy more than 80% of the time, but if there's room for something more indulgent and I really want it, I'm going to have it.

    My macro goals are currently at 50% carbs (I run and do better on more carbs than others), 20% protein (which leaves me at 115g, more than the recommended 1g per pound of lean body mass), and 30% fat. I pretty much only pay attention to protein, and a little bit to fat. Some days this week, I fell short on protein, but my weekly average still ended up 51%carb, 22% protein and 27% fat. That's close enough in my book! :smile:

    Exactly this^. And the best part is that this is simple so I can spend my time thinking about other things as well.

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