Can you really lose weight eating whatever you want?

It's always how much you eat. You can eat 1,500 calories in donuts and still lose weight. Just like you could eat 3,000 calories in broccoli and gain weight.

I haven't cut anything out of my diet. If I eat it while I was fatter, I'm probably still eating. I just eat less of it, less frequently. 48lb lost in 475 days - that's 1lb every 10 days.

Its about finding what works for you, your body, your brain and your willpower.

If I ate what I wanted I would eat ice cream, drink beer and have steak n chips every day.
So I control my nutrients, kcals etc and prioritise proteins to keep me fuller for longer.

Well, the easy answer is that if you stay under your calorie limit , you will lose weight. WHAT you eat matters for health. You'll have more energy to enjoy life if you make smarter choices most of the time. 1500 calories of chips, cookies and McDonalds every day won't get you a ton of food. 1500 calories of mostly vegetables and fruits and ample lean protein is a LOT of food.

Yes, to an extent. But if you eat your 1,800 calories in junk, you'll find you're constantly hungry and feeling restricted. Just by logging what you'll eat, you'll find your habits start to change - I only have 600 calories for dinner, so I can't eat candy and ice cream because I know I'll be hungry. But that doesn't mean, if you're careful with your math, you won't have enough left over for a scoop of ice cream for desert. Moderation really is key.

Yes, you can, but if you pay attention your body will tell you if it needs more of one nutrient and less of another. As with anything, I try to balance the best I can and allow myself a small treat everyday so I don't feel deprived.

Technically, yes, if you eat less than what your body requires daily, you will lose weight regardless of what you eat.
For example, this professor demonstarted that with a twinkie diet in which he lost 27 lbs.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/

There are a few catchs though -
Eating whatever you want below that goal does not mean you will feel full or satisfied.

Also, for health and body composition, it is more than just eating less calories.

You may want to check out this link. A few people have mentioned IIFYM - if it fits your macros. This style of eating focuses on hitting you calorie goal and macronutrient goals while still including some of the food that you enjoy that may be less healthful. It is not "eating whatever you want" but does include eating things you want in moderation.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/817188-iifym

It is also mentioned in this link which is another great resource
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants?

Okay I seems most people on here eat what ever they want just as long it's under they're calorie limit. So which one is more important? What you eat? Or how much you eat?

Yes, you can really lose weight eating whatever you want. I lost 13 pounds and did so by eating what I wanted, but in moderation.

You can eat whatever you want and lose weight, but not whenever you want and however much you want. But it is much easier to make the goal not how many pounds you want to lose but what changes you are willing to make to reach that goal. Change the habits and the thought patterns that lead to the weight gain.

One thing I cannot stress enough, is portion control. Remember that a serving is about the sized of a person's fist. if any portion on your plate is greater than the size of your fist, you are eating multiple portions. Looking at how much a portion is on here, with the calorie counters, was a huge awakening for me. Try to eat at least 3 meals a day. A meal is like a piece of toast, an egg, and about a cup of fruit, washed down with a cup of milk or water. If you can't make it on only 3 meals a day, make it 3 meals and two snacks. But, a snack is still from the same calorie pool as the 3 meals.

Also pay attention to what your choices are. Do you really need that candy bar that you so crave, or is it just something sweet you crave and will a sweet piece of fruit kill that sweet tooth? Chocolate is a major weakness for me. Now, I am learning I can have it, but small portions. A Rollo out of the bag will solve the craving oftentimes, and I feel successful and still have plenty of food I can still eat. And the more of these choices we change along the way, the healthier we end up eating and then then our goal of eating better turns into weight loss. Also, is it worth it? Asking myself that on a non-healthy choice will usually change my mind. If you are at a wedding, and they have the best wedding cake ever, have a slice. But a Hostess Cupcake? Not so much.

Pay attention to why you are eating, too. Feeding your emotions will not lead to long term weight loss. Find out what your triggers are and avoid them. I avoid buffet places like the plague because I know I will succumb to trying "everything", and oh that dessert table! If it is because you are bored or need something to do with your hands, it's time to take up a hobby, something that keeps your hands occupied.

And don't use your triggers as scapegoats. Remember, just because you hit a trigger spot doesn't mean you have to follow through with that choice of eating that cake.

By the way, eating too few calories will cause your body to store fuel, (fat) . And your body becomes more efficient at burning the calories, and also leaves you with a larger calorie pool to work with the more you move and the more calories you consume.

Above all else, forgive yourself and just take each moment at a time.Just because you slipped at lunch doesn't ruin the whole rest of the day, Just start fresh in each now moment.

For pure weight loss, you can eat whatever you want as long as you're in a calorie deficit.

For overall health, it's a good idea to eat a variety of foods (which can include "junk").

Unless you have specific medical concerns, there is no need to cut out foods you like.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819925-the-basics-don-t-complicate-it

It really depends on each individual...everyone has different list of "whatever I want to eat" and different eating habit. For me it's impossible because I am 'neverfull" and what I want to eat is all that stuff with higher calorie count.

But it made me think...those who have better eating habit might not end up needing to lose weight at the first place anyway...

A calorie is a calorie and always will be a calorie!

Eat what you want but weigh, measure and log everything. Don't judge a portion based on the size it looks, weigh it. I've eaten what I want but not all the time and not to excess. Its a lifestyle change not a diet so it had to be sustainable. I have found that the more veg I eat over time the more I crave it if I haven't eaten as much for a day or 2. My tastes have changed - prior to this I'd quite happily scoff a large Dominoes Pizza, the thought now makes me feel physically sick. I really can't stomach greasy food now and find that lean protein with a selection of fresh veg keeps me feeling fuller for longer. My evening meal size has probably increased in size but the balance has changed with a small portion of lean meat or fish and a huge portion of roast veg. I eat chocolate every day (actually eating a bar as I type), have beer most weekends and one or 2 days a month I'll have a cheat day. Although this usually means I eat around maintenance (i've only gone over maintenance significantly about 3 times in the time I've been doing this).

That said, there are some foods I do now avoid as I struggle to show self control - Jaffa Cakes & Pringles are the 2 main ones but that's a small price to pay for the weight loss & gym/ fitness gains I've made.

Best of luck OP

My body is a strange device. When i eat healthy, i lose extremely slowly, like a pound a month (might be fine for some, but i'd like to be thin before my 50th birthday)...when i eat what i want, but keep it under calories, i lose much faster.
The drawback IS, stopping yourself once you've had a bit.

....I've definitely lost 5lbs as a result of literally only eating oreos and McD fries every day for a week after a slow month of weight loss eating healthy. Not proud of it & it felt gross but it is what it is.

From my friends who lost weight by eating "clean" (their words not mine), they said eating all that "boring and clean stuff" (again their words, not mine) helped them have more control on appetite and less craving. I did notice if I eat cookie/cake/fried foods, I do have more craving for the entire day...I guess it's indirectly sabotaging my weight loss.