People At The Gym Don't Count Calories

Sorry to say that if you Don't Know Why you are counting calories, maybe you should quit counting them :-( ..

If you want to lose or gain weight and are not getting the results you want, then counting calories would be the first thing I'd suggest.

But that doesn't mean that's the reason people are at the gym - plenty want to improve other aspects.

Of course, yes, a lot of people would do better if they were counting calories.

*shrugs*

Some people count calories some people don't. I will count calories for a while and when I become to obsessed with it I will stop. It doesn't mean I stop weighing and measuring my food though, it just means that I don't spend the time to put every little item into a database.

I go to the gym regularly...5+ days a week for 2 years. Before that, I used to run on my home treadmill.

Do I count calories? Yes and no. I "track" calories most days of the week. I used to just keep a loose running tab in my head; lately, I have been tracking cals on MFP. Just to get a good idea how many cals I am actually eating. I also started logging food on MFP to meet my protein needs when I started strength-training.

Do I care if I go over once in awhile? Not really. I think for a lot of people who go to the gym on a regular basis, it is a bit more complicated than just counting calories. I know I care LESS about calorie counting now that I started strength-training and focus more on protein intake.

I don't count calories. I just eat till my micros are met.

Maybe they just mean they're not counting them religiously and logging everything they eat. Maybe they just kind of watch what they eat in general?

I don't know, just my two cents.

If you are asking people who are already in shape then that could be why.
They are only maintaining their weight and getting stronger so they are not as worried about calories as those who are losing weight do.

I do and all my friends that go to the same gym do as well. My personal trainer actually told me today to get the MFP app, and I proudly told her I already have it and log religiously!

I joined a gym about 5 weeks ago and I have been meeting people along the way. I always ask if they count calories and not a single person has said yes so far.

I am not comfortable enough to ask them why not- but I wonder about it. Why are WE all counting calories yet the gym regulars not even worried about it?

I'm not really getting the issue.

We on MFP are counting calories, in most cases to lose, or maintain weight at lost level. Some of us also go to gyms.

People at the gym who are not counting calories:
- are not trying to lose weight
- are trying to lose weight by another method (which will work fine if it is a calorie deficit, not neccesarily by counting)


My son goes to the gym several times a week. He is not counting calories nor trying to lose weight - since he isn't over weight in the first place.
he is trying to keep fit and build/maintain muscle - he does play sport so the gym is part of his sporty lifestyle.

What is the problem again?

I use MFP, I don't go to the gym, and I don't count calories.

I joined a gym about 5 weeks ago and I have been meeting people along the way. I always ask if they count calories and not a single person has said yes so far.

I am not comfortable enough to ask them why not- but I wonder about it. Why are WE all counting calories yet the gym regulars not even worried about it?

My initial response is that, just because they're at the gym, that doesn't mean they have a full spectrum approach involving both diet and exercise. Similarly, we have people here on MFP who are willing to count calories, but don't really want to do much exercise.

But it could be more complex. They may have grown up in or grown into a lifestyle that lessens their need to actively do that. Perhaps they've so far been able to naturally find that balance. Or perhaps they're following another diet that creates calorie restriction via another mechanism than tallying their consumption. My aunt dieted for a while without actually counting calories because she just used one of those pre-made-meal plans who delivered her meals to her doorstep. The calorie restriction came from them basically choosing her breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for the day.

I am at the gym lifting and or cardio 5-6 times a week. Because of that , i dont always log all my calories. Ive lost almost all of my weight counting and not counting. I KNOW that if i eat right and dont over do the portions its under control and there are days when i eat enough for 3 people. I work out hard and i know that is important for my body and with the calories i burn doing that i dont feel that i have to be so strict with my diet.

I have been on MFP for almost 2 years now and honestly all the counting and stressing over macros etc just stresses me out and is one more thing on my to do list every day. So even if i have a bad eating day, logging it isint going to change that fact. I know it was bad, i dont need red numbers to tell me that.

Besides i would rather have a deficit due to my workouts than cutting back on my food.

Honestly, if some random person at the gym asked me if I counted calories, I would say 'no'.

That seams too personal.

Honestly, if some random person at the gym asked me if I counted calories, I would say 'no'.

That seams too personal.

if that's as personal as you get, id hate to see how the big the shell is youre wearing