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Is it what you eat, or how much

Makoce
Makoce Posts: 938 Member
edited January 12 in Health and Weight Loss
Im eating about 1,600 calories atm for my TDEE.
I find it hard, eating lower calorie healthy items to get to my goal. I usually end up under.
Today, though, I splurged a bit on jimmy deans & ramen/ other high calorie things that arn't really that good for anyone!

Im still under my goal at this point in the day, and I wont go over -- my question is, as long as you stay in budget, and get a few healthy things in there for the day, can you still lose weight?
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Replies

  • monty619
    monty619 Posts: 1,308 Member
    its both.
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    It is both. It takes quite a few healthy things to get proper nutrition for long term health. The occasional splurge isn't going to affect the long term, though.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    For me it's how much, not what. I can totally control my weight with my food intake (without exercise) regardless of what I eat. I love fast food and junk and although it may not be the healthiest options I'm fine as long as I stay in my calorie budget.
  • EvanKeel
    EvanKeel Posts: 1,903 Member
    Im still under my goal at this point in the day, and I wont go over -- my question is, as long as you stay in budget, and get a few healthy things in there for the day, can you still lose weight?

    Of course you can. You can probably also do so in a healthy manner--"healthy" being a subject term that's influenced by an individual's needs as well as our own perspectives and opinions.
  • gpizzy
    gpizzy Posts: 171
    I think there are two schools of though - some people say so long as calories in is less than calories out, it doesn't matter what you eat - you will still lose weight.

    Some say - everything needs to be healthy calories.

    I think scientifically it's so long as cals in is less than cals out, you're good to go. However, your body is obviously healthier with healthier food. A few bad items won't kill you though.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,251 Member
    Out of curiosity: do you eat/drink low fat dairy, and low fat dressings etc?
  • dogo187
    dogo187 Posts: 376
    i agree with above...its both!

    eating crap will eventually catch up with you, even if you are under your calorie goal every day...
  • whitmars106
    whitmars106 Posts: 118 Member
    I had tried "eating clean" for awhile, and found that extremely difficult to meet my calorie requirements. Instead of white or wheat items, opt for whole grain. It's good for you, and helps you meet your caloric needs. These can be breads, cereals, tortillas, crackers, etc. If you like avocados, try adding them to your food. They can be up to 300 calories give or take, and those are great for you as well. Sometimes I can't always eat up to 1,790 that I'm allowed, but as long as I eat at least to 1,200, I'm satisfied. Maybe increase your portions on fruits and vegetables, or have larger snacks. There's ways to eat all your calories. And, yes, it is both. I'm not saying you are, but one can't expect to lose weight or get healthy by eating McDonald's once a day just because it "fits" in their calorie budget.

    On a side note, don't let Ramen be a normal part of your food routine. They have an ungodly amount of sodium in them, and you'll retain water, thus making you think you're gaining weight, or just not losing.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    For me it is how much. Now I will say that I have made some adjustments I eat a lot more vegetables, I drink a lot more water (see Big Bertha in profile pic), and I almost always limit the amount of starches/carbs in a meal but thats to save calories. I still think for now, maybe it'll change when I get closer to goal, simple portion control is working for me.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,251 Member
    For me it's both. If I ate ramen, I'd have a hard time not eating a ton more. And I'd be bloated like there's no tomorrow. :smile:

    Eating clean gives me energy and a happy belly.
  • dsjohndrow
    dsjohndrow Posts: 1,820 Member
    Harvard just did a study and they found that it matters what you eat, and how much. Their diet is whole and unprocessed foods, and fruit, veggies, low fat dairy, whole grains and heavy on the protein and healthy fats like avocados, eggs, meat, poultry, fish and beans.
  • koshkasmum
    koshkasmum Posts: 276 Member
    Depends. Do you just want to be slim or do you want to be slim and healthy? If just slim, eat whatever you want within calorie limits. If slim AND healthy then eat lean meats, fish, eggs, poultry, lots of fresh fruit and fresh vegetables in variety, whole grain breads and cereals and low fat dairy products. Avoid empty sugar and fat calories and excess sodium (ie: most fast food and much processed supermarket food).

    Good eating.
  • Makoce
    Makoce Posts: 938 Member
    Out of curiosity: do you eat/drink low fat dairy, and low fat dressings etc?

    Low fat dairy yes, low fat dressings and all that no. I dont like that stuff.
  • pholbert
    pholbert Posts: 575 Member
    Everything in moderation.
  • Jonesie1984
    Jonesie1984 Posts: 612 Member
    its both.


    ^^^ THIS. And macros matter. So if you're under calorie but eating poor quality food it pretty much defeats the purpose.
  • kimberliiw
    kimberliiw Posts: 242 Member
    For me it's how much, not what. I can totally control my weight with my food intake (without exercise) regardless of what I eat. I love fast food and junk and although it may not be the healthiest options I'm fine as long as I stay in my calorie budget.
    I'm in the Mokey boat on this one. Although whenever possible I try to eat healthy.
  • EvanKeel
    EvanKeel Posts: 1,903 Member
    but one can't expect to lose weight or get healthy by eating McDonald's once a day just because it "fits" in their calorie budget.

    Why not? It seems kind of a silly generalization. A sausage mcmuffin is 370 calories. That's just under 18% of my calorie goal. I could easily eat one of those for breakfast every day and lose weight in a healthy way while staying in my calorie goals. I don't b/c it would end up doing annoying things to my macros for the rest of the day, but I certainly could if I wanted to badly enough.
  • moustache_flavored_lube
    moustache_flavored_lube Posts: 849 Member
    There is more to health than the number on the scale. Choosing your foods carefully is one of the best things you can do for your long term health.


    Choosing foods with good fats, protein, and fiber will leave you feeling satisifed and full for longer which for most people means less calories are consumed over all.

    Eating clean is much more important to get from 18% body fat - 10% bodyfat than it is when you are going from 30% to normal.
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    For me it's both. If I ate ramen, I'd have a hard time not eating a ton more. And I'd be bloated like there's no tomorrow. :smile:

    Eating clean gives me energy and a happy belly.

    This. It's what I eat that keeps me from eating too much!
  • VeggieKidMandy
    VeggieKidMandy Posts: 575 Member
    I think its more of what you eat rather than how much...I mean its obvious that if you eat 6 ounces of kale vs 6 ounces of cheetos that it is the more healthy option to eat the kale, even though you are eating the same , if not more of the kale, you will walk away with more nutrients and health benefits. So in short, in my opinion, depending on what you are eating , its more of what you eat rather than how much. And if it is unhealthy for you, then it is how much you eat rather than what it is.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,251 Member
    Out of curiosity: do you eat/drink low fat dairy, and low fat dressings etc?

    Low fat dairy yes, low fat dressings and all that no. I dont like that stuff.
    So instead of eating ramen because you're "under" why not eat full fat dairy?
  • savingsunday
    savingsunday Posts: 148 Member
    You can still lose weight staying under your calories but you should be looking at your health as a whole and not just at weight.

    Staying in your calorie limit is important but so is eating well. You can't deprive yourself of things you enjoy or else you will set yourself up for failure. But those things you enjoy that aren't the healthiest should be treats rather than the norm. If you're looking deeper than calories you want to pay attention to your macros (i.e. protein, carbs). Nutrients are an important part to being all around healthy. You also want to watch your sodium. :)

    Personally, I find that when I eat well then I feel well. The less I eat of the "bad" things the less appetizing I find them. There are plenty of healthier things that have higher calories and are more filling. Don't get me wrong, I am far from perfect but I've definitely have developed healthier habits.

    Ultimately though, you have to find what works for you. But weight loss shouldn't be just a diet. Try experimenting with healthy things that you may not normally eat or cook with. There are lots of healthy things that have a bit more calories to help you meet your goal.
  • Makoce
    Makoce Posts: 938 Member
    Out of curiosity: do you eat/drink low fat dairy, and low fat dressings etc?

    Low fat dairy yes, low fat dressings and all that no. I dont like that stuff.
    So instead of eating ramen because you're "under" why not eat full fat dairy?

    The ramen was just what was made with dinner today not really my choice, my parents eat very unhealthy and refuse to purchase healtier foods because theyre "expensive" or whatever excuse they have. I had a crap-ton of oranges, bananas, strawberries, blueberries and yogurt, and thats all they got me for "healthy foods". So it's what I make due on ... not sure what else to do. Ive had the talk with them about the groceries for months now.
  • koshkasmum
    koshkasmum Posts: 276 Member
    Lots of fruit and veggies 5 to 10 servings per day is not really hard. Half an orange at breakfast, half an apple for a snack, lettuce tomato and sprouts on your sandwich, one or two small servings (half a cup) of veggies with dinner and a piece of fruit for dessert and you're set.

    I hate lo cal dressings as well because they often replace the fat with sugars and end up tasting too sweet for me. I go with a small amount of regular dressing - one or two teaspoons - and mix it in really well, or with a squeeze of lemon and some herbs. Or one of those spray on ones. Or make your own vinaigrettes - that way you control the oil.
  • Moxie42
    Moxie42 Posts: 1,400 Member
    I've lost weight before by simply eating at enough of a deficit but still eating a lot of processed, junky food. However, I didn't learn good habits by doing that and eventually I gained it back. Once I started eating better, I could eat more and still stay under my cals, and I also felt better physically and mentally. It's the difference between trying to get healthy, and simply losing weight. You can lose weight but not be healthy- possible but not in your best interest overall.
  • Hbazzell
    Hbazzell Posts: 899 Member
    For me it's how much, not what. I can totally control my weight with my food intake (without exercise) regardless of what I eat. I love fast food and junk and although it may not be the healthiest options I'm fine as long as I stay in my calorie budget.

    This makes me worry that you're more concerned with losing weight than being skinny. Even if you are 100 lbs your arteries could be clogged and you could be making yourself very sick with that mindset. Just be careful. My grandma was very thin when she died of a major heart attack.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Strictly speaking of weight loss, it's calories in and calories out. A calorie is a calorie...100 calories from a piece of cake is no different than 100 calories of spinach other than the nutritional value and the havoc it can wreak on your blood work. I know a lot of people who eat like total **** but they maintain a calorie deficit and lose weight. I also know some very strict vegetarians and clean eaters who are very over weight...even though they have great nutritional habits, they over eat their calories and are, thus, fat.

    Health and nutrition are a completely different matter. In that RE, it absolutely does matter. It also matters if you have certain fitness goals and body composition goals.

    So, if you want to lose weight and also have proper nutrition and be overall healthier, then they both matter.
  • Makoce
    Makoce Posts: 938 Member
    Strictly speaking of weight loss, it's calories in and calories out. A calorie is a calorie...100 calories from a piece of cake is no different than 100 calories of spinach other than the nutritional value and the havoc it can wreak on your blood work. I know a lot of people who eat like total **** but they maintain a calorie deficit and lose weight. I also know some very strict vegetarians and clean eaters who are very over weight...even though they have great nutritional habits, they over eat their calories and are, thus, fat.

    Health and nutrition are a completely different matter. In that RE, it absolutely does matter. It also matters if you have certain fitness goals and body composition goals.

    So, if you want to lose weight and also have proper nutrition and be overall healthier, then they both matter.


    That is a very good way to put it. So, I could eat cake, chips, candy, chocolate, and anything riddling with grease all day, stay under calorie intake, and still lose weight. But somewhere down the line, it would eventually catch up to me, and determent my health. So that is why, not just losing weight, but changing your habits is more important than the pounds?
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Strictly speaking of weight loss, it's calories in and calories out. A calorie is a calorie...100 calories from a piece of cake is no different than 100 calories of spinach other than the nutritional value and the havoc it can wreak on your blood work. I know a lot of people who eat like total **** but they maintain a calorie deficit and lose weight. I also know some very strict vegetarians and clean eaters who are very over weight...even though they have great nutritional habits, they over eat their calories and are, thus, fat.

    Health and nutrition are a completely different matter. In that RE, it absolutely does matter. It also matters if you have certain fitness goals and body composition goals.

    So, if you want to lose weight and also have proper nutrition and be overall healthier, then they both matter.


    That is a very good way to put it. So, I could eat cake, chips, candy, chocolate, and anything riddling with grease all day, stay under calorie intake, and still lose weight. But somewhere down the line, it would eventually catch up to me, and determent my health. So that is why, not just losing weight, but changing your habits is more important than the pounds?

    Bingo....

    A co-worker of mine is only 36 years old...he's not even remotely close to being overweight but his diet is extremely high in saturated fats...he also works out...runs...lifts weights, etc. He just had triple bypass surgery.
  • freerange
    freerange Posts: 1,722 Member
    Yes
This discussion has been closed.

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