Can I eat what I want if I stay under my calorie goal?

spantz1
spantz1 Posts: 17
in Food and Nutrition
I'm trying to lose weight but eating veggies is not my thing. I am staying under my calories, is that enough? I am walking 10000 steps a day (3 one mile walks minimum a day)

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Replies

  • khall86790
    khall86790 Posts: 1,100 Member
    As long as you stay within your calorie goal, in theory you should lose weight. However, you have to make sure you are logging everything properly.
    You don't have to eat vegetables to lose weight, it helps because it takes up a portion of your plate, but it's not necessary. Do you like fruit? You could just try to substitute vegetables with fruit?
  • LadyPippen
    LadyPippen Posts: 59
    You'll need low glycemic foods to also help with weight loss.
  • spantz1
    spantz1 Posts: 17
    I can eat fruit sometimes, but its been so long eating fast food and soda. I cut out soda 6 weeks ago and 2 weeks ago cut out most fast food since I cant afford 1200 calorie burger :ohwell:

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  • jnn0409
    jnn0409 Posts: 171 Member
    I think somewhere on here I read awhile ago that yes you can lose weight eating twinkies and only twinkies while staying under or at your calorie goal...now is it the healthiest no but will you still lose weight yes. I eat whatever I want but in moderation and as long as it fits in my calories, although it doesn't mean I stuff my face with crap all day. I make sure to fit fruits in and veggies (i'm not a big veggie person either.) I guess in the end it's what you want...
  • efirkey
    efirkey Posts: 298 Member
    If you are under your calories and walking 3 miles a day, that is a great start. I don't think you need to eat vegetables to lose weight, but eating vegetables does allow you to eat more food over all.

    I would keep doing what you are doing for a few weeks and re-evaluate then.
  • herebeeri
    herebeeri Posts: 39 Member
    Start off staying under your calories eating what you want to eat. If you're anything like me after a couple of weeks you'll automatically be choosing healthier foods because they fill you up/make you feel better. You may even find you want to eat vegetables, but don't worry about it too much straight away - take it one step at a time :)
  • spantz1
    spantz1 Posts: 17
    Start off staying under your calories eating what you want to eat. If you're anything like me after a couple of weeks you'll automatically be choosing healthier foods because they fill you up/make you feel better. You may even find you want to eat vegetables, but don't worry about it too much straight away - take it one step at a time :)


    Thanks! That's exactly what I am going to do.

    Bill
  • keepingm0tivated
    keepingm0tivated Posts: 39
    -- eat fewer calories and be more active -- I do think you can eat anything as along as your burn more than you consume.

    The Dietary Guidelines (USDA) encourage you to find the balance that's right for you between calorie intake (food) and calorie expenditure (physical activity). That balance is unique to each person, and it depends on many factors, including the goal weight you set for yourself and whether you're trying to lose weight, maintain your weight, or prevent gradual weight gain over time.
    I think of it like this,
    When you take in the same number of calories that you use up, the scale dishes are balanced, and your weight stays the same. That's what you strive for if you want to maintain your current weight. If more calories come in from food than you burn up in activity, the scale tips to the left, and you gain weight. On the other hand, if your body uses more calories than come in from food, the scale tips to the right, and you lose weight. Weight management is simply a matter of calorie input and calorie output
  • WinnerVictorious
    WinnerVictorious Posts: 4,733 Member
    I'm trying to lose weight but eating veggies is not my thing. I am staying under my calories, is that enough? I am walking 10000 steps a day (3 one mile walks minimum a day)

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    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/822501-halp-my-sandwich-isn-t-clean
  • wmoomoo
    wmoomoo Posts: 159 Member
    Losing weight doesn't mean you have to eat only vegetables. As long as you stay under your calories goal, meeting all the macros, you will be fine. But make sure you log calories for everything.
  • darkguardian419
    darkguardian419 Posts: 1,302 Member
    IIFYM. Learn it, love it, don't abuse it.
  • efirkey
    efirkey Posts: 298 Member
    I think part of the reason people fail at losing weight is they try to make too many changes at once. It is an all or nothing approach that seldom works.

    It's like
    quitting alcohol cold turkey
    quitting pizza cold turkey
    quitting cheese burgers cold turkey
    quitting chocolate cold turkey
    quitting soda cold turkey
    and on and on and on
    and then forcing yourself to exercise on top of that

    no wonder we fail
  • gaylaworrell
    gaylaworrell Posts: 9
    I've spent the last 20+ years eating mostly from drive thru bags and have never been a big vegetable fan. A couple of years back, I cut the fast food and soda and started with simple things like carrots and celery and raw broccoli with ranch dressing. Last fall when I decided it was time to start losing weight, I added a few different vegetables into the variety and have even discovered that I really like Kale of all things! Staying under calories and exercising will work but as you make some progress and get a little more motivated, try some different things. You may find something you really like!
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    Start off staying under your calories eating what you want to eat. If you're anything like me after a couple of weeks you'll automatically be choosing healthier foods because they fill you up/make you feel better. You may even find you want to eat vegetables, but don't worry about it too much straight away - take it one step at a time :)

    This is good advice. Veggies are good for you and I'd encourage you to find some that you like and work them in. But they're not necessary for weight loss.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Oversimplification, but basically:

    Calories = weight loss
    Macros = energy (carbs), body composition (protein), fats (healthy body functions and hormones)
    Micros = health.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Oversimplification, but basically:

    Calories = weight loss
    Macros = energy (carbs), body composition (protein), fats (healthy body functions and hormones)
    Micros = health.

    I like this. Nice simple way to get to the bottom of the differences.
  • Hellbent_Heidi
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
    Can you? YES
    Will you still lose weight? YES
    Is this an ideal way to get healthy? NO
    Should you keep trying to incorporate healthier choices into your diet as you progress? YES, YES, YES

    You might find that if you get away from eating unhealthy 'junk food' that your body will stop craving that stuff, and you'll develop taste for better things...

    Good luck, and please keep trying new things till you find some choices you love (they are out there somewhere!!) :drinker:
  • JessicaP327
    JessicaP327 Posts: 64 Member
    I think somewhere on here I read awhile ago that yes you can lose weight eating twinkies and only twinkies while staying under or at your calorie goal...now is it the healthiest no but will you still lose weight yes. I eat whatever I want but in moderation and as long as it fits in my calories, although it doesn't mean I stuff my face with crap all day. I make sure to fit fruits in and veggies (i'm not a big veggie person either.) I guess in the end it's what you want...

    Haha I just found out that the replacement faux-Twinky is called the "Cloud Cake" (or something like that), I've never liked twinkies, I just thought that was amusing, otherwise, I have nothing really to add to this thread.
  • AlyssaJoJo
    AlyssaJoJo Posts: 449 Member
    I'm guessing you're losing weight to be healthy, and I'm guessing you got here by being unhealthy, so I would say no. You can't just eat whatever you want an expect a good outcome. If you are eating healthy foods that aren't veggies you're going to be golden. If you're eating a big mac every day you're going to kill your muscel mass and have a heart attach soon. Just saying.
  • Luvmesumkenny
    Luvmesumkenny Posts: 779 Member
    Oversimplification, but basically:

    Calories = weight loss
    Macros = energy (carbs), body composition (protein), fats (healthy body functions and hormones)
    Micros = health.


    EAT ALL THE FOOD!
  • dare2love81
    dare2love81 Posts: 928 Member
    Oversimplification, but basically:

    Calories = weight loss
    Macros = energy (carbs), body composition (protein), fats (healthy body functions and hormones)
    Micros = health.

    Well said, Sara. I may add this to my blog as reference. :drinker:
  • Piscesgrl227
    Piscesgrl227 Posts: 8 Member
    Try juicing the vegetables. I find when I drink a fresh vegetable juice with some fruit added to it, it doesn't taste that bad.
  • madrose0715
    madrose0715 Posts: 463 Member
    I was facing an 80+ pound loss a year or so ago. I have, over many months, made small changes, little by little. It pays off huge. I am now down 52 pounds. Don't overwhelm yourself. Make little steps each and every day and RECOGNIZE those changes. Eventually, it will snowball on you, a year from now...well, you will be surprised at the difference!
  • t_rog
    t_rog Posts: 363 Member
    Start off staying under your calories eating what you want to eat. If you're anything like me after a couple of weeks you'll automatically be choosing healthier foods because they fill you up/make you feel better. You may even find you want to eat vegetables, but don't worry about it too much straight away - take it one step at a time :)

    Totally agree with this. Do what you can for now. With time, you'll start getting more creative and exploring more. Incorporating lots of veggies and fruit simply makes this whole process easier, and as someone said, you get to eat more!
  • sPaRkLiNgLYFE
    sPaRkLiNgLYFE Posts: 609
    i'm glad you asked that question because i've been eating whatever i want while staying within my calorie goal, i'm hoping that if i maintain my exercise regimin i will lose weight.
  • iulia_maddie
    iulia_maddie Posts: 2,780 Member
    Oversimplification, but basically:

    Calories = weight loss
    Macros = energy (carbs), body composition (protein), fats (healthy body functions and hormones)
    Micros = health.
    Sara gives great advice as always.
    You can eat only chocolate all day and lose weight if you mantain a caloric deficit. Will you be healthy and full? Will your body get all the nutrients it needs? No.
  • JulesAtkinson1
    JulesAtkinson1 Posts: 219 Member
    I think part of the reason people fail at losing weight is they try to make too many changes at once. It is an all or nothing approach that seldom works.

    It's like
    quitting alcohol cold turkey
    quitting pizza cold turkey
    quitting cheese burgers cold turkey
    quitting chocolate cold turkey
    quitting soda cold turkey
    and on and on and on
    and then forcing yourself to exercise on top of that

    no wonder we fail

    Well said.:drinker:
  • ZHawk1123
    ZHawk1123 Posts: 215
    Yeah, in theory.

    But if you actually eat healthily, you will feel and look a million times better than you would if you just tried to eat whatever and stay under your calorie goal.
  • RobinvdM
    RobinvdM Posts: 634 Member
    The basic formula is calories in < calories out. If you want to eat 1500 cals of potato chips you will lose weight. You won't be healthy per se, and youll likely be very hungry, but the only thing that matters is eating less than you burn. If you want to increase that base number, do exercise. Then you get your 1500 plus your workout calories, and who doesn't want that?!

    ETA: 1500 is just a random number.
    PLUS: I eat cookies, wine, fondue, pizza.. it all works if it fits in your budget. I don't ONLY eat that, but I do not like the idea of deprivation for weight loss.
  • WinnerVictorious
    WinnerVictorious Posts: 4,733 Member
    Yeah, in theory.

    But if you actually eat healthily, you will feel and look a million times better than you would if you just tried to eat whatever and stay under your calorie goal.

    so if i eat 35 bananas a day, i'll look and feel a million times better? bananas are a healthy food, are they not??

    weight loss is not about "what", it's about "how much".
    nutrition is about "what".

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