Do I HAVE to count calories?

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Replies

  • shmerek
    shmerek Posts: 963 Member
    I'm just beginning to try to lose weight, and I think that counting calories might just be more effort/more destructive or discouraging...thoughts?


    Seriously? No, this is WRONG. YES, you should be eating REAL food, but not "as much as you can possibly stuff into yourself". It is absurd to think you will not gain weight by eating unlimited amounts of anything. It is STILL calories in verses calories out!

    By "stuff into yourself" I only meant that you should never deprive yourself of eating until you are full. Calories are not all the same. That is why counting calories is a short term solution at best, eventually it will catch up to you. What you need is wholesome food which will not harm you. Modern research has proven that deprivation causes metabolism to slow and results in weight gain. Conversely, some foods are known to increase metabolism and eating more can actually help you lose weight along with appropriate activity. I apologize for the silly way in which I approached the subject and alienated people. I do actually know my stuff when it comes to nutrition but my weakness is proper communication. I successfully passed practice exams for dietician registration but I prefer to learn on my own rather than spend structured time in a classroom setting. WHAT YOU EAT is far more important than HOW MUCH when it comes to controlling your weight. Sorry for getting carried away with "stuffing" .
    ps. people who look at my diary notice a lot of sugar in my diet when I am out and get thirsty like in a mall etc. but I also mitigate the sugar intake by muscular activity which uses sugar as energy (if you examine my logs you will see my fitbit goal is a marathon every day)
    Please cite the "modern research" proving your point please.
  • _HeartsOnFire_
    _HeartsOnFire_ Posts: 5,304 Member
    Are you aware of some of these PepsiCo brands?
    Quaker oats
    Tropicana


    These brands are usually associated with nourishing food, but, for the sake of profit, they have morphed into purveyors of even worse garbage: quaker makes granola bars which are candy in disguise and tropicana is made from concentrated sugar water. You fools who believe this garbage is food deserve what you get. LOL

    giphy.gif
  • NOMORECARS
    NOMORECARS Posts: 156
    I'm just beginning to try to lose weight, and I think that counting calories might just be more effort/more destructive or discouraging...thoughts?


    Seriously? No, this is WRONG. YES, you should be eating REAL food, but not "as much as you can possibly stuff into yourself". It is absurd to think you will not gain weight by eating unlimited amounts of anything. It is STILL calories in verses calories out!

    By "stuff into yourself" I only meant that you should never deprive yourself of eating until you are full. Calories are not all the same. That is why counting calories is a short term solution at best, eventually it will catch up to you. What you need is wholesome food which will not harm you. Modern research has proven that deprivation causes metabolism to slow and results in weight gain. Conversely, some foods are known to increase metabolism and eating more can actually help you lose weight along with appropriate activity. I apologize for the silly way in which I approached the subject and alienated people. I do actually know my stuff when it comes to nutrition but my weakness is proper communication. I successfully passed practice exams for dietician registration but I prefer to learn on my own rather than spend structured time in a classroom setting. WHAT YOU EAT is far more important than HOW MUCH when it comes to controlling your weight. Sorry for getting carried away with "stuffing" .
    ps. people who look at my diary notice a lot of sugar in my diet when I am out and get thirsty like in a mall etc. but I also mitigate the sugar intake by muscular activity which uses sugar as energy (if you examine my logs you will see my fitbit goal is a marathon every day)
    Please cite the "modern research" proving your point please.

    PLEASE CITE YOURS
  • shmerek
    shmerek Posts: 963 Member
    I'm just beginning to try to lose weight, and I think that counting calories might just be more effort/more destructive or discouraging...thoughts?


    Seriously? No, this is WRONG. YES, you should be eating REAL food, but not "as much as you can possibly stuff into yourself". It is absurd to think you will not gain weight by eating unlimited amounts of anything. It is STILL calories in verses calories out!

    By "stuff into yourself" I only meant that you should never deprive yourself of eating until you are full. Calories are not all the same. That is why counting calories is a short term solution at best, eventually it will catch up to you. What you need is wholesome food which will not harm you. Modern research has proven that deprivation causes metabolism to slow and results in weight gain. Conversely, some foods are known to increase metabolism and eating more can actually help you lose weight along with appropriate activity. I apologize for the silly way in which I approached the subject and alienated people. I do actually know my stuff when it comes to nutrition but my weakness is proper communication. I successfully passed practice exams for dietician registration but I prefer to learn on my own rather than spend structured time in a classroom setting. WHAT YOU EAT is far more important than HOW MUCH when it comes to controlling your weight. Sorry for getting carried away with "stuffing" .
    ps. people who look at my diary notice a lot of sugar in my diet when I am out and get thirsty like in a mall etc. but I also mitigate the sugar intake by muscular activity which uses sugar as energy (if you examine my logs you will see my fitbit goal is a marathon every day)
    Please cite the "modern research" proving your point please.

    PLEASE CITE YOURS
    You are the one making the ridiculous claims here buddy, therefore you should back them up otherwise it is just unsubstantiated bollocks. That is kind of how it works, it isn't my job to prove your point it is your's so have at it.
  • NOMORECARS
    NOMORECARS Posts: 156
    My original statement was that all calories are not the same. Two of my earlier posts backed this up with research. These facts have been common knowledge for many years. Are you honestly telling me that not a single MFP member has ever seen any of the research? If that is the case, why do we even have this forum?
  • NOMORECARS
    NOMORECARS Posts: 156
    I'm just beginning to try to lose weight, and I think that counting calories might just be more effort/more destructive or discouraging...thoughts?


    Seriously? No, this is WRONG. YES, you should be eating REAL food, but not "as much as you can possibly stuff into yourself". It is absurd to think you will not gain weight by eating unlimited amounts of anything. It is STILL calories in verses calories out!

    By "stuff into yourself" I only meant that you should never deprive yourself of eating until you are full. Calories are not all the same. That is why counting calories is a short term solution at best, eventually it will catch up to you. What you need is wholesome food which will not harm you. Modern research has proven that deprivation causes metabolism to slow and results in weight gain. Conversely, some foods are known to increase metabolism and eating more can actually help you lose weight along with appropriate activity. I apologize for the silly way in which I approached the subject and alienated people. I do actually know my stuff when it comes to nutrition but my weakness is proper communication. I successfully passed practice exams for dietician registration but I prefer to learn on my own rather than spend structured time in a classroom setting. WHAT YOU EAT is far more important than HOW MUCH when it comes to controlling your weight. Sorry for getting carried away with "stuffing" .
    ps. people who look at my diary notice a lot of sugar in my diet when I am out and get thirsty like in a mall etc. but I also mitigate the sugar intake by muscular activity which uses sugar as energy (if you examine my logs you will see my fitbit goal is a marathon every day)
    Please cite the "modern research" proving your point please.

    JUST CHECK SEVERAL POSTS BACK
  • NOMORECARS
    NOMORECARS Posts: 156
    If you want to be in shape, yes. Yes, you do.

    You do not need to count calories to be in great shape. Athletes 100 years ago did not even know what calories were.
    Yes but there is this little thing called progress you know? There is no way an athlete from 100 years ago could compete with a modern athlete with science, nutrition and training methods on their side

    It's too bad more people in this forum don't read modern science about not all calories being the same and non-nutritive chemical substances destroying our health.
  • NOMORECARS
    NOMORECARS Posts: 156
    I'm just beginning to try to lose weight, and I think that counting calories might just be more effort/more destructive or discouraging...thoughts?

    You DO NOT NEED TO COUNT CALORIES. Eat as much as you can possibly stuff into yourself, just be sure that everything you eat is FOOD. You will be healthy beyond belief in several months. p.s. Doritos and Pepsi is not food. Stay out of bakeries, bakeries do not sell food. Candy stores do not sell food. 90% of your local supermarket shelves are filled with substances which are not food. People can never become obese by eating food.

    Seriously? No, this is WRONG. YES, you should be eating REAL food, but not "as much as you can possibly stuff into yourself". It is absurd to think you will not gain weight by eating unlimited amounts of anything. It is STILL calories in verses calories out!

    Seriously, when you nourish your body properly you will discover natural limitations on how much you can eat because your body will tell you when it has had enough. This does not happen with food-like substances from a bakery, candy store or Doritos bag. Contrary to popular belief, it is not calories in/calories out. Eating too little will put your body in starvation mode and slow your metabolism. Eating more will quite often help in losing weight as long as you only eat food. Chemicals which resemble food such as Doritos do not have this same effect and the calories in/calories out theory will indeed occur. Deprivation is an extremely idiotic and ineffective method of losing weight.
    Bollocks

    You are what you eat. Enjoy.
  • NOMORECARS
    NOMORECARS Posts: 156
    Are you aware of some of these PepsiCo brands?
    Quaker oats
    Tropicana



    These brands are usually associated with nourishing food, but, for the sake of profit, they have morphed into purveyors of even worse garbage: quaker makes granola bars which are candy in disguise and tropicana is made from concentrated sugar water. You fools who believe this garbage is food deserve what you get. LOL
    So because Quaker also make granola bars their 100% oats cereal doesn't count as food?
    And Tropicana juice made from 100% fruit juice (not concentrate) has somehow morphed into sugar water?


    LOL
  • sisterlilbunny
    sisterlilbunny Posts: 686 Member
    boy-that-escalated-quickly-anchorman.gif
  • _HeartsOnFire_
    _HeartsOnFire_ Posts: 5,304 Member
    A calorie IS just a calorie. That's it.

    Nutritional value is a WHOLE different topic all together.

    That is all.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    I recommend it.

    It took me 4+ years to lose 45 lb without counting calories.

    Since I've been counting calories, I have lost 76 lb in less than 13 months. It has honestly NOT been that difficult. I've gone to bed with a growly hungry tummy like 6 times IN A YEAR...

    So eh, I am a big believer in counting calories.
  • _HeartsOnFire_
    _HeartsOnFire_ Posts: 5,304 Member
    I'm just beginning to try to lose weight, and I think that counting calories might just be more effort/more destructive or discouraging...thoughts?

    You DO NOT NEED TO COUNT CALORIES. Eat as much as you can possibly stuff into yourself, just be sure that everything you eat is FOOD. You will be healthy beyond belief in several months. p.s. Doritos and Pepsi is not food. Stay out of bakeries, bakeries do not sell food. Candy stores do not sell food. 90% of your local supermarket shelves are filled with substances which are not food. People can never become obese by eating food.

    Seriously? No, this is WRONG. YES, you should be eating REAL food, but not "as much as you can possibly stuff into yourself". It is absurd to think you will not gain weight by eating unlimited amounts of anything. It is STILL calories in verses calories out!

    Seriously, when you nourish your body properly you will discover natural limitations on how much you can eat because your body will tell you when it has had enough. This does not happen with food-like substances from a bakery, candy store or Doritos bag. Contrary to popular belief, it is not calories in/calories out. Eating too little will put your body in starvation mode and slow your metabolism. Eating more will quite often help in losing weight as long as you only eat food. Chemicals which resemble food such as Doritos do not have this same effect and the calories in/calories out theory will indeed occur. Deprivation is an extremely idiotic and ineffective method of losing weight.
    Bollocks

    You are what you eat. Enjoy.

    And I'm full of awesome. So yeah, I guess I am what I eat...
  • midwestspitfire
    midwestspitfire Posts: 46 Member
    I'm just beginning to try to lose weight, and I think that counting calories might just be more effort/more destructive or discouraging...thoughts?

    You DO NOT NEED TO COUNT CALORIES. Eat as much as you can possibly stuff into yourself, just be sure that everything you eat is FOOD. You will be healthy beyond belief in several months. p.s. Doritos and Pepsi is not food. Stay out of bakeries, bakeries do not sell food. Candy stores do not sell food. 90% of your local supermarket shelves are filled with substances which are not food. People can never become obese by eating food.

    Seriously? No, this is WRONG. YES, you should be eating REAL food, but not "as much as you can possibly stuff into yourself". It is absurd to think you will not gain weight by eating unlimited amounts of anything. It is STILL calories in verses calories out!

    Seriously, when you nourish your body properly you will discover natural limitations on how much you can eat because your body will tell you when it has had enough. This does not happen with food-like substances from a bakery, candy store or Doritos bag. Contrary to popular belief, it is not calories in/calories out. Eating too little will put your body in starvation mode and slow your metabolism. Eating more will quite often help in losing weight as long as you only eat food. Chemicals which resemble food such as Doritos do not have this same effect and the calories in/calories out theory will indeed occur. Deprivation is an extremely idiotic and ineffective method of losing weight.
    Bollocks

    You are what you eat. Enjoy.

    And I'm full of awesome. So yeah, I guess I am what I eat...

    giphy.gif
  • kjo9692
    kjo9692 Posts: 430 Member
    Damn, I think Bill would be the type of person to suggest to wear one of these too:

    222804d1364162585t-opinion-im-very-concerned-bbry-needs-improve-perception-catintinfoilhat.jpg

    You know, to avoid the government and aliens from controlling us, and the food industry too.

    To all of your advise:

    28681-nicki-minaj-Hell-no-gif-LuBd.gif
  • ktkdmommy
    ktkdmommy Posts: 95 Member
    I'm just beginning to try to lose weight, and I think that counting calories might just be more effort/more destructive or discouraging...thoughts?

    Unless you have a real grasped on how YOUR body works with food and or exercises, then yes you will probably have to count cals to maximize your weight loss. Is it necessary, no, not at all, I've never counted anything in my life up until a couple months ago, just because I wanted to make a real go at a "bulk".

    The one things about counting calories, is that you can let it consume you, just like the weight on the scale.



    I totally agree with this. it can completely become an obsessive compulsive thing. if you are seeing results without counting than you know yourself well enough to not worry about it.. on the other hand, some people just don't realize how much they are eating until they put it all down on paper and it can really be quite suprising.
  • shmerek
    shmerek Posts: 963 Member

    JUST CHECK SEVERAL POSTS BACK
    Ya a blog post by one guy proves nothing. I am talking about actual peer reviewed studies. Otherwise you are talking horse ****.
  • shmerek
    shmerek Posts: 963 Member
    A calorie IS just a calorie. That's it.

    Nutritional value is a WHOLE different topic all together.

    That is all.

    Can I have an Amen!!
  • klaff411
    klaff411 Posts: 169 Member
    I'm just beginning to try to lose weight, and I think that counting calories might just be more effort/more destructive or discouraging...thoughts?

    You DO NOT NEED TO COUNT CALORIES. Eat as much as you can possibly stuff into yourself, just be sure that everything you eat is FOOD. You will be healthy beyond belief in several months. p.s. Doritos and Pepsi is not food. Stay out of bakeries, bakeries do not sell food. Candy stores do not sell food. 90% of your local supermarket shelves are filled with substances which are not food. People can never become obese by eating food.

    Yes you can. Its about portion control as well. You can't just eat 8 ozs of chicken and a whole 12 oz steak and expect not to gain weight.
  • klaff411
    klaff411 Posts: 169 Member
    I'm just beginning to try to lose weight, and I think that counting calories might just be more effort/more destructive or discouraging...thoughts?

    This is the wrong kind of thinking. This is just vilifying food and confusing people who are looking for real information. Portion control is everything and calorie counting is a big part of it.

    I never vilify food. I vilify the corporations which tell us that their garbage is food.

    I agree with that. But what your saying in your original post is that portion control doesn't matter. Remember your talking to people many times who may have never considered that -- something which might be self-evident to you or me.
  • Fenrissa
    Fenrissa Posts: 116
    Counting calories is definitely more effective, imo. You can lose weight without it but calorie counting makes it much easier once you get into the habit of it.
  • snazzyjazzy21
    snazzyjazzy21 Posts: 1,298 Member
    If you want to be in shape, yes. Yes, you do.

    You do not need to count calories to be in great shape. Athletes 100 years ago did not even know what calories were.
    Yes but there is this little thing called progress you know? There is no way an athlete from 100 years ago could compete with a modern athlete with science, nutrition and training methods on their side

    It's too bad more people in this forum don't read modern science about not all calories being the same and non-nutritive chemical substances destroying our health.

    I take great insult to that. And also wonder what your science sources are because they obviously aren't the same as mine. Because mine say calories are a unit of energy and therefore are all equal. Just like a mile is a mile regardless of who walks it.
  • sisterlilbunny
    sisterlilbunny Posts: 686 Member
    How are there not more cat gifs in this thread? Or popcorn? I mean 9 pages in, seriously!
  • NOMORECARS
    NOMORECARS Posts: 156
    If you want to be in shape, yes. Yes, you do.

    You do not need to count calories to be in great shape. Athletes 100 years ago did not even know what calories were.
    Yes but there is this little thing called progress you know? There is no way an athlete from 100 years ago could compete with a modern athlete with science, nutrition and training methods on their side

    It's too bad more people in this forum don't read modern science about not all calories being the same and non-nutritive chemical substances destroying our health.

    I take great insult to that. And also wonder what your science sources are because they obviously aren't the same as mine. Because mine say calories are a unit of energy and therefore are all equal. Just like a mile is a mile regardless of who walks it.
    It's too bad you can't be bothered researching what happens to your body right after you eat. Your science would tell you a lot more if you looked at it once in a while. Imagine how insulted I feel about all these idiots attacking me. But that only serves to explain why 70% of Americans are obese.
  • NOMORECARS
    NOMORECARS Posts: 156
    Counting calories is definitely more effective, imo. You can lose weight without it but calorie counting makes it much easier once you get into the habit of it.
    There are calories which build your body and there are calories which destroy your body. You can lose weight either way but there are many thin people who have one foot in the grave. If you want to count calories, at least count the right ones. How much you weigh isn't always an indicator of your health. I advocate eating properly and not worrying about calories. When you are healthy from eating properly you will have so much energy that your weight will automatically stabilize and it won't even seem like you're trying.
  • NOMORECARS
    NOMORECARS Posts: 156
    I'm just beginning to try to lose weight, and I think that counting calories might just be more effort/more destructive or discouraging...thoughts?

    This is the wrong kind of thinking. This is just vilifying food and confusing people who are looking for real information. Portion control is everything and calorie counting is a big part of it.

    I never vilify food. I vilify the corporations which tell us that their garbage is food.

    I agree with that. But what your saying in your original post is that portion control doesn't matter. Remember your talking to people many times who may have never considered that -- something which might be self-evident to you or me.

    I should have said it differently. When your body receives proper nutrients it will feel satisfied and there will be no need for portion control. The human brain has a set point which tells you when enough food has been eaten, but eating substances without any nutrients constantly triggers hunger because the body does not get what it needs, no matter how much you eat. That is why I say calories are different; some foods satisfy and some don't.

    I appreciate your rational response without any attacks. Thank you.
  • Beckilovespizza
    Beckilovespizza Posts: 334 Member
    I always count my calories, I find it's the most effective way to keep a track on things including healthy and not so healthy foods. Either way u can keep an eye on ur intake and adjust where u need to. It's worked for me.
  • snazzyjazzy21
    snazzyjazzy21 Posts: 1,298 Member
    If you want to be in shape, yes. Yes, you do.

    You do not need to count calories to be in great shape. Athletes 100 years ago did not even know what calories were.
    Yes but there is this little thing called progress you know? There is no way an athlete from 100 years ago could compete with a modern athlete with science, nutrition and training methods on their side

    It's too bad more people in this forum don't read modern science about not all calories being the same and non-nutritive chemical substances destroying our health.

    I take great insult to that. And also wonder what your science sources are because they obviously aren't the same as mine. Because mine say calories are a unit of energy and therefore are all equal. Just like a mile is a mile regardless of who walks it.
    It's too bad you can't be bothered researching what happens to your body right after you eat. Your science would tell you a lot more if you looked at it once in a while. Imagine how insulted I feel about all these idiots attacking me. But that only serves to explain why 70% of Americans are obese.

    We're not talking nutrition, we're talking energy. A calorie is a unit of energy. Every calorie has the same potential energy. Consume more potential energy than you use and your body will store it. Don't consume enough and your body will turn to said stores to get its energy. 70% of American's are obese because they consume more calories than they burn.

    I'm not disagreeing that some foods provide more nutritional benefits than others, I'm just disagreeing that calories should be disregarded in favour of 'healthy eating' that makes your weight 'automatically stabilize'.
  • NOMORECARS
    NOMORECARS Posts: 156

    You couldn't think of anything silly to say about nuts I see.

    No, because I don't know you.
  • Exactly. Preachy just don't cut it. I loathe cut and dry self righteous statements like that.