How do people who don't count calories lose weight??

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angelicprettyy
angelicprettyy Posts: 143
in Health and Weight Loss
Seriously. This baffles me. I know people can eat healthily, like lots of veggies and lean meats and stuff, and that is probably why they lose weight without counting, but... what if they go over? Under? How do they not worry about counting calories? A bunch of my friends eat whatever they want and probably go over their macros but they don't gain. I'm just confused... How?
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Replies

  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
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    Because they either aren't eating as much as you think or move more than you....or both.
  • ColeCake292012
    ColeCake292012 Posts: 247 Member
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    I'm just as baffled as you!

    I've tried eating intuitively, but it just doesn't come naturally to me. We are all born with a natural intuition as to what to eat for our bodies, but in this day and age society shows us differently. I think counting calories is a pain in the butt sometimes, but I have no other option!
  • snazzyjazzy21
    snazzyjazzy21 Posts: 1,298 Member
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    I lost like 20lbs without counting. I just ate less. I had no concept of macros or anything, so I didn't worry that I wasn't getting enough protein etc.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
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    they probably don't eat as much as you think. maybe they skip breakfast. or dinner. or lunch. they probably don't look at the clock and say "oh, it's 7pm, time for dinner" regardless if they're hungry or not. maybe they have a big salad for dinner or something. maybe they don't snack.
  • PinUp2014
    PinUp2014 Posts: 79 Member
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    I did Phase One of South Beach for an easy two months straight (DON'T).

    I dropped 30 pounds....but I zero energy, zero brain function, and was so freaking skinny fat it was disgusting.


    So yes, they're probably unaware of their intake (up or down) but you have to imagine that we can't know what their daily burn is either.
  • Erinelda
    Erinelda Posts: 96
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    When I have lost weight without counting anything I only ate when I was hungry. So that means I would skip many meals and sometimes miss entire days. My body doesn't want to be super fat.
  • LunaZuriel
    LunaZuriel Posts: 77 Member
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    For me, I do not believe in Calories, they're just a form of something to stress me out more. I'd rather eat as much veggies as I want, without worrying about calories cause I know it's healthy, natural, and good for my body. Now, if it was something like cereal or oats or pasta's which I do not eat, cause I blow up like a balloon. I don't care about calories.
    I did a diet a a year ago called Plant Strong, were all I ate were things that were grown from the ground, and I ate as much as I want, and lost 60 pounds within 6 months, but fell off that wagon, but only gained back 20 pounds. I never weighed my food, because I find it very weird, and like I said I don't believe in calories, however I do believe in sugar.
    I'm trying to get back on the band wagon with Plant Strong again, cause it was the best diet that worked for me.
  • 1daylate1dollarshort
    1daylate1dollarshort Posts: 45
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    My SO lost 100lbs without counting ****. I can't do that, but he did very successfully. He just switched regular pop for diet, ate smaller portions and substituted a salad for a burger once a day. Three years later he was 100lbs lighter.

    It's definitely restricting calories, but he wasn't counting them at all or putting them into a database like this lol. Not like me. I enter everything generally right after I eat it. I know the calories in most things. He never has the slightest idea.

    Whatever works. I have to keep a close eye on them. But that's how he lost weight without counting them. Very well too!
  • sammys1girly
    sammys1girly Posts: 1,045 Member
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    When I was younger, I could eat whatever, whenever and just not gain. I guess some people just have a very fast metabolism.
    Jump ahead 20 years and now at 43, I gain so much more quickly than before and started counting calories...something i never thought I'd ever do. ; (
  • skinnyinnotime
    skinnyinnotime Posts: 4,141 Member
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    I lost like 20lbs without counting. I just ate less. I had no concept of macros or anything, so I didn't worry that I wasn't getting enough protein etc.

    Same here the first 2 times I lost my baby weight, it was the third time I found mfp and began my fit and healthy lifestyle.
  • traceywoody
    traceywoody Posts: 233 Member
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    I have come to learn that people who say that they can eat what they like, must just like to eat exactly what they burn. I ignore it now when someone says that.
  • spirit095
    spirit095 Posts: 1,017 Member
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    Just before I started using MFP, I lost weight by making my meal and snack portions smaller and by exercising. I still eat pretty similarly now that I'm tracking my food.
  • Widadita
    Widadita Posts: 176 Member
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    I know people who eat whatever they want and I mean, processed food, sugar, cakes you name it and they don't gain a single pound! I guess they're just lucky they have such high metabolism. I think it's the same thing with the people who don't count calories.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 8,984 Member
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    I know many people who have lost weight or who have always been at a healthy weight and they have never counted calories.

    Obviously they manage to eat at a calorie deficit or maitenance level without actually counting.

    Counting is only a tool - a very handy tool for many people - but it's a means to an end, not the only way to get there.
  • klaff411
    klaff411 Posts: 169 Member
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    For me, I do not believe in Calories, they're just a form of something to stress me out more. I'd rather eat as much veggies as I want, without worrying about calories cause I know it's healthy, natural, and good for my body. Now, if it was something like cereal or oats or pasta's which I do not eat, cause I blow up like a balloon. I don't care about calories.
    I did a diet a a year ago called Plant Strong, were all I ate were things that were grown from the ground, and I ate as much as I want, and lost 60 pounds within 6 months, but fell off that wagon, but only gained back 20 pounds. I never weighed my food, because I find it very weird, and like I said I don't believe in calories, however I do believe in sugar.
    I'm trying to get back on the band wagon with Plant Strong again, cause it was the best diet that worked for me.

    Calories are real. They represent units of energy.

    Just because you don't 'believe' in science doesn't mean that its not true. Plant matter contains carbohydrates and sugars. Carrots, peas, broccoli, you name it. Very few veggies are not high in kcal or carb counts. Yes, it has high net fiber. But without fats and protein you are going to experience very difficult weight loss. What you lost was 20lbs of water weight. A lot of veggies may not contain super high cal counts but you can bet you were hitting the ceiling on carbohydrates and sugars.

    What you need to do is focus on portion control and balancing your diet with fats and proteins. I would suggest looking at paleo.

    That kind of diet your doing [plants only] isn't going to last beyond a few months. Come on now. You need to find a lifestyle that works. Not a diet that's a silly fad.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
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    Counting calories is the most accurate but not the only method.. It helps to be more precise, but it isn't strictly necessary if you can just "eat less." I never liked that way because it seemed so vague and hard to quantify. But plenty of people do fine with that approach.
  • detarrevo
    detarrevo Posts: 45
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    I have lost weight without counting before. I was eating more fruit and eating less salt, lost a maybe 5 pounds in a month.
    Sadly gained it all back. I think counting works better for me, my weight loss has been much more consistant.
  • sally884
    sally884 Posts: 51
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    I always wondered this as well...I lost 30 pounds about 4 years ago simply by eating well (no fast food) and exercising. It was simple and easy. Now after a baby it doesn't work that way anymore...I think your metabolism in some people is just different.
    My fiends eats like Crap and has always been thin..however thinking back in her 8 years ago she actually has gained probably 20 pounds...just slowly
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
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    For me, I do not believe in Calories, they're just a form of something to stress me out more. I'd rather eat as much veggies as I want, without worrying about calories cause I know it's healthy, natural, and good for my body. Now, if it was something like cereal or oats or pasta's which I do not eat, cause I blow up like a balloon. I don't care about calories.
    I did a diet a a year ago called Plant Strong, were all I ate were things that were grown from the ground, and I ate as much as I want, and lost 60 pounds within 6 months, but fell off that wagon, but only gained back 20 pounds. I never weighed my food, because I find it very weird, and like I said I don't believe in calories, however I do believe in sugar.
    I'm trying to get back on the band wagon with Plant Strong again, cause it was the best diet that worked for me.


    If you do a plant based diet you're just limiting calories in a different way. But it's the calorie deficit that causes weight loss, whether you believe in it for not.

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