Do you count veggies and fruit?

I do count veggies and fruit. Fruits are not particularly low-calorie, and some veggies can add up too (broccoli, for example). Even though they are good calories, they are still calories and should count toward your daily total. I would be underestimating calories consumed by 100-200 calories or more if I didn't count any fruits or veggies, depending on the day. Average bananas, for example, are about 100 calories each.

When I count calories I tend to not count vegetables (other than the high carb ones like potato, sweet potato, sweetcorn and peas).

I would usually consider non-starchy veg to be a 'free food' but since fruit can be quite high in cals, I would tend to count that, or limit to 2 pieces per day (if I was going for healthy eating rather than counting).

To be honest I think the calorie counts for veg on here are a bit out. Well, to be fair, the veg may have that many calories but not all of the calories in veg are absorbed (people often report on here seeing ahem undigested food in the toilet). Whether they are absorbed or not, it's very unlikely that you will severely hinder your goals with calories from vegies :flowerforyou:

Although veggies and fruit are a much better alternative to chips and cake they still contain calories and should be counted. Those calories can add up and keep you from losing weight even if you are exercising. I didn't realize how much extra sugar I was consuming until I started tracking them and that extra sugar can really hurt your efforts.

My philosophy is, like others, if it goes in my mouth I count it.

I count everything....every calorie adds up and can easily put you over for the day in either cals, sugars, carbs, ect.

I do not count most veggies. I only count the ones that are high on the glycemic index or are higher starchier veggies, like corn, potatoes, carrots etc. All other veggies are a free food for me.

Fruit I always count because its higher in calories and sugar.

Count everything!!!!

I've had a mindset a bit like yours, that so long as I train hard I will bung in as many veges as I like. My overall diet in terms of quality is healthy. It has worked for the "big pounds", but I'm starting to realise that to really get into my body fat % I need to start getting precise.

I've looked at a lot of opinions on body-building sites etc etc, and all of them concur that the need for a slight calorie deficit is irrespective of the make-up of those calories. That the food must be of healthy types is a given, but that doesn't mean you can eat as much as you like if you are trying to reduce fat.