The BASIC weight loss strategy. No gimmicks.

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Replies

  • Therealobi1
    Therealobi1 Posts: 3,262 Member
    nice post - recommended it for a sticky
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member

    This is what becomes soooooooo frustrating about reading these boards, when people start of their posts with something along the lines of " Don't bother answering if you aren't going to agree with me or tell me what I want to hear." It's has to be either something or someone else's fault that I can't lose weight."

    The other bugaboo are those that rail about calorie counting - "Who wants to do that for the rest of your life?" To use an analogy here - your car has a gas guage and the gas pump tells you how much you are putting in. Without the gas guage people would litter the roads with cars that were out of gas. And if there wasn't an auto shut off on the pump we'd all be walking around with gas on our pants.

    What's so hard about monitoring the fuel that drives your body?
    Shouldn't the ultimate goal be: learning to appropriately fuel your body without having to count/weigh/measure?
  • sjaplo
    sjaplo Posts: 974 Member

    This is what becomes soooooooo frustrating about reading these boards, when people start of their posts with something along the lines of " Don't bother answering if you aren't going to agree with me or tell me what I want to hear." It's has to be either something or someone else's fault that I can't lose weight."

    The other bugaboo are those that rail about calorie counting - "Who wants to do that for the rest of your life?" To use an analogy here - your car has a gas guage and the gas pump tells you how much you are putting in. Without the gas guage people would litter the roads with cars that were out of gas. And if there wasn't an auto shut off on the pump we'd all be walking around with gas on our pants.

    What's so hard about monitoring the fuel that drives your body?
    Shouldn't the ultimate goal be: learning to appropriately fuel your body without having to count/weigh/measure?

    Why?
  • katya_be
    katya_be Posts: 227 Member

    This is what becomes soooooooo frustrating about reading these boards, when people start of their posts with something along the lines of " Don't bother answering if you aren't going to agree with me or tell me what I want to hear." It's has to be either something or someone else's fault that I can't lose weight."

    The other bugaboo are those that rail about calorie counting - "Who wants to do that for the rest of your life?" To use an analogy here - your car has a gas guage and the gas pump tells you how much you are putting in. Without the gas guage people would litter the roads with cars that were out of gas. And if there wasn't an auto shut off on the pump we'd all be walking around with gas on our pants.

    What's so hard about monitoring the fuel that drives your body?
    Shouldn't the ultimate goal be: learning to appropriately fuel your body without having to count/weigh/measure?

    Yes that is the ultimate goal, but since weighing/measuring only takes about 5 minutes of my day then why not just continue doing what works?
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member

    This is what becomes soooooooo frustrating about reading these boards, when people start of their posts with something along the lines of " Don't bother answering if you aren't going to agree with me or tell me what I want to hear." It's has to be either something or someone else's fault that I can't lose weight."

    The other bugaboo are those that rail about calorie counting - "Who wants to do that for the rest of your life?" To use an analogy here - your car has a gas guage and the gas pump tells you how much you are putting in. Without the gas guage people would litter the roads with cars that were out of gas. And if there wasn't an auto shut off on the pump we'd all be walking around with gas on our pants.

    What's so hard about monitoring the fuel that drives your body?
    Shouldn't the ultimate goal be: learning to appropriately fuel your body without having to count/weigh/measure?

    No. The ultimate goal should be learning what works for you to best fuel your body.
  • I have been very successful, 147lbs lost in 10 months, with the following plan. But I also have been very unsuccessful, gained 165lbs in 28 months because I lost my focus, drive and got depressed. Im on my way back and following this plan. Hope it helps, it comes down to calories in vs calories out. I made this in 2009. I am now revisiting it and have been on board for less than a week and I have double digit losses already. My official weigh in will be on Monday. Chaeck back to my page for my results. WE CAN ALL DO IT! KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE!

    The D.E.A.N. Diet

    D- Determination
    E- Excitement
    A- Attitude
    N- Never, Never, Never Give up!


    D- Determination, Make a personal decision to keep your sights set on reaching your goals and keeping your eye on the prize and be diligent in your fight!

    Step 1: Decide what your target weight is going to be, use the BMI calculator to help but YOU decide what your goal weight should be. Multiply your goal weight by 10 and this will be your maximum number of calories allowed in a day. Subtract 500 from your maximum daily calories and this will be the minimum allowed. Try and have a minimum of 2 fruits and 2 veggies a day and drink water, sugar free flavored water and teas and minimal diet sodas.

    Example: Goal weight of 200 lbs, your max calories will be 2000 and your min would be 1500.

    E- Excitement, be excited for whats to come from your new Dedication to your new personal health revival! Pump yourself up every day with self affirmation and positive thoughts; you are your own best coach!

    Step 2: Exercise at least 3 days a week, do 30 min of cardio 3 days a week and at least 15 min of weight lifting 3 days a week. You can do them both on the same day, but change it up each week and keep the body guessing. Do a min of 4 lifts of 3-4 sets of 10-15 reps and focus on the major muscles (chest, biceps, triceps, shoulders, back, legs) you’re not trying to be a body builder but just speeding up your metabolism.

    A- Attitude, Make sure your attitude reflects your Dedication and Excitement towards your path to the healthier you! Your attitude will show in your commitment to gym time and the honesty in your food log. Surround yourself with people that also exude this attitude, positive thoughts lead to positive results!

    Step 3: Adjust; you are not plateauing unless you have gone 2 weeks without a pound lossed, if you are than subtract 250 calories from your max and bump up your cardio by a day and move on. Never go below 1200 calories in a day. Never have the same calorie intake each day, make it range from your min to your max on a daily basis, keep your body guessing. The human body is the most adapting organism in the world, keep it guessing and change your routine often.

    N-Never, Never, Never Give Up! There will be times that you have not kept to your plan, it’s OK, you’re human. But remember your Dedication, Excitement and Attitude on your path to the healthier you! Keep your eye on the prize and know that you’re not remembered for your failures but how you react and achieve after you fail!

    Step 4: Record EVERYTHING you put in your mouth every day in a meal log. Eat whatever you want but be 100% honest to yourself and record it and don't go over your daily max's. If you do go over, don't worry and don't quit. You just get right back to it the next day. If you want to lose it faster cardio more! It's all about calories in versus calories out. Also it is very important for you to know that your weight fluctuates all day, so pick a time of day to weigh in and only weigh in at that time of day. It takes 3500 calories to equal 1 pound of fat. So burn it before you wear it!



    My Bio:

    I started this diet in hopes to win the war against my obesity, I have had double digit loss weeks and I have had double digit gain weeks! But I have always had my eye on the prize; the prize is reaching my goals. It took my doctor telling me that I was not going to see my kids grow up to get me to change my lifestyle. I have started many of diets and have lossed a whole lot of weight to only gain it all plus more back. You must be in a spot in your life that is going to motivate you to stay on track and bounce back in times of failure. I started this war January 2009 at 445 pounds and popping high blood pressure medicine. It is now September 2009 and I have lost 135 pounds and my blood pressure is 112/65 with not a pill taken! I still have 45 pounds to lose to reach my goals but I am dedicated, I am excited, I have a very positive attitude and I will never, never, never give up until I have reached my goals! This diet has worked for me and if you make it a priority in your life it will work for you. If you want to keep following my personal fight against my obesity I blog about it in order to keep my goals in my sights at all times. My blog page is located at www.deanables.blogspot.com. The name of my blog is The Big and Tall of it All; feel free to read about my ups and downs in my personal battle against my obesity and hopefully it will help and inspire you in yours! God bless and good luck in your new D.E.A.N. Adventure!

    -Dean Ables
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,990 Member
    Shouldn't the ultimate goal be: learning to appropriately fuel your body without having to count/weigh/measure?
    I believe it's subjective. Personally for me, I WILL NOT ever deny myself of cultural foods, desserts or eating out. So it makes sense to count when I do this or I'll easily exceed my total calories daily every time. Could I get away from counting, measuring, etc.? Sure I could, but just like spending money, you may sometimes forget the small things and in the end it all adds up.

    A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • RunningMyPugandPapi
    RunningMyPugandPapi Posts: 26 Member
    What's so hard about monitoring the fuel that drives your body?

    Seriously? Maybe it is easy for you, who presumably is allotted more calories, but by your own calculation, I only get to eat about 1400 calories a day. That's HARD.

    When a couple bites of cake for a co-worker's birthday takes away at least 1/10th of your entire day's food - that's hard.

    When you're jimmying together a "dressing" out of straight vinegar and black pepper at a salad bar to keep your all-veggie and lean protein lunch salad under 300 calories - that's hard.

    When you can't enjoy a nice dinner out with friends unless you pretty much fasted all day (or be the friend ordering a side salad, no cheese - I'm sure you'll get invited back) - that's hard.

    When you make veggie snack bags for work containing carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and celery - and run them through MFP to find that at 75 calories each, you've actually made a sizeable dent in your daily calories with vegetables alone - that's hard.

    I don't understand this obsessive need to pretend it is super easy to keep calories low. It isn't easy, and that's OK. Why can't we acknowledge that it is easy to understand but hard to do, and it is the only way to lose weight? That it sucks, but if you keep with it, you'll have success?
  • jimmmer
    jimmmer Posts: 3,515 Member
    What's so hard about monitoring the fuel that drives your body?

    Seriously? Maybe it is easy for you, who presumably is allotted more calories, but by your own calculation, I only get to eat about 1400 calories a day. That's HARD.

    When a couple bites of cake for a co-worker's birthday takes away at least 1/10th of your entire day's food - that's hard.

    When you're jimmying together a "dressing" out of straight vinegar and black pepper at a salad bar to keep your all-veggie and lean protein lunch salad under 300 calories - that's hard.

    When you can't enjoy a nice dinner out with friends unless you pretty much fasted all day (or be the friend ordering a side salad, no cheese - I'm sure you'll get invited back) - that's hard.

    When you make veggie snack bags for work containing carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and celery - and run them through MFP to find that at 75 calories each, you've actually made a sizeable dent in your daily calories with vegetables alone - that's hard.

    I don't understand this obsessive need to pretend it is super easy to keep calories low. It isn't easy, and that's OK. Why can't we acknowledge that it is easy to understand but hard to do, and it is the only way to lose weight? That it sucks, but if you keep with it, you'll have success?

    I think they're talking about monitoring your calories when you finally get to maintenance. You wouldn't be cutting calories for ever or else you'd disappear. Sooner or later you have to transition to a state of maintenance (unless you plan to run cut/bulk cycles, of course)... how do you handle that state? By logging still? Or by finding an intuitive system that works?
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    What's so hard about monitoring the fuel that drives your body?

    Seriously? Maybe it is easy for you, who presumably is allotted more calories, but by your own calculation, I only get to eat about 1400 calories a day. That's HARD.

    When a couple bites of cake for a co-worker's birthday takes away at least 1/10th of your entire day's food - that's hard.

    When you're jimmying together a "dressing" out of straight vinegar and black pepper at a salad bar to keep your all-veggie and lean protein lunch salad under 300 calories - that's hard.

    When you can't enjoy a nice dinner out with friends unless you pretty much fasted all day (or be the friend ordering a side salad, no cheese - I'm sure you'll get invited back) - that's hard.

    When you make veggie snack bags for work containing carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and celery - and run them through MFP to find that at 75 calories each, you've actually made a sizeable dent in your daily calories with vegetables alone - that's hard.

    I don't understand this obsessive need to pretend it is super easy to keep calories low. It isn't easy, and that's OK. Why can't we acknowledge that it is easy to understand but hard to do, and it is the only way to lose weight? That it sucks, but if you keep with it, you'll have success?

    I think they're talking about monitoring your calories when you finally get to maintenance. You wouldn't be cutting calories for ever or else you'd disappear. Sooner or later you have to transition to a state of maintenance (unless you plan to run cut/bulk cycles, of course)... how do you handle that state? By logging still? Or by finding an intuitive system that works?

    You will also find that it'll get slightly easier as you become more accustomed to what you can afford within your calories. You'll start thinking within your calorie goals (do I have an apple for a snack, or a hard boiled egg?) and get a gut sense of what "just right" looks like.
  • RunningMyPugandPapi
    RunningMyPugandPapi Posts: 26 Member
    Multiply your goal weight by 10 and this will be your maximum number of calories allowed in a day. Subtract 500 from your maximum daily calories and this will be the minimum allowed.

    800-1300 calories a day? Yikes. No thank you. I'll stick with the other guy - 1400 is hard, but your thing is impossible ;)
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,990 Member
    Step 1: Decide what your target weight is going to be, use the BMI calculator to help but YOU decide what your goal weight should be. Multiply your goal weight by 10 and this will be your maximum number of calories allowed in a day. Subtract 500 from your maximum daily calories and this will be the minimum allowed. Try and have a minimum of 2 fruits and 2 veggies a day and drink water, sugar free flavored water and teas and minimal diet sodas.

    Example: Goal weight of 200 lbs, your max calories will be 2000 and your min would be 1500.
    Uh, so if someone is 200lbs and they want to be 120, then their total max would be 1200 then you subtract 500 for a net of 700? Sorry, but it's stuff like this that complicates how BASIC weight loss works.
    Step 2: Exercise at least 3 days a week, do 30 min of cardio 3 days a week and at least 15 min of weight lifting 3 days a week. You can do them both on the same day, but change it up each week and keep the body guessing. Do a min of 4 lifts of 3-4 sets of 10-15 reps and focus on the major muscles (chest, biceps, triceps, shoulders, back, legs) you’re not trying to be a body builder but just speeding up your metabolism.
    While I'm a proponent of exercise, you'll notice I didn't mention it in the OP. Exercise is for fitness and health and NOT for weight loss. It contributes to one's TDEE though.
    Step 3: Adjust; you are not plateauing unless you have gone 2 weeks without a pound lossed, if you are than subtract 250 calories from your max and bump up your cardio by a day and move on. Never go below 1200 calories in a day. Never have the same calorie intake each day, make it range from your min to your max on a daily basis, keep your body guessing. The human body is the most adapting organism in the world, keep it guessing and change your routine often.
    A "plateau" is 6 weeks or more of no weight movement while being CONSISTENT. Anything less is a stall. The whole "calorie cycling" theory is a gimmick touted by "gurus" to sell more books. One can keep the same ROUTINE for years. Just changing the intensity, duration and resistance can be enough.

    It's a diet plan. And like most diet plans, 90% will fail because they aren't sustainable in the long run. While I don't disagree with the affirmations, I do disagree with the diet plan itself.

    A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Multiply your goal weight by 10 and this will be your maximum number of calories allowed in a day. Subtract 500 from your maximum daily calories and this will be the minimum allowed.

    Are you kidding? According to that formula, I'd eat 1650 at maintenance. My BMR is 1750. I cut at 1850 and maintain north of 2200. This might work if you have no muscle mass whatsoever, but I prefer to have a figure.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    Multiply your goal weight by 10 and this will be your maximum number of calories allowed in a day. Subtract 500 from your maximum daily calories and this will be the minimum allowed.

    Are you kidding? According to that formula, I'd eat 1650 at maintenance. My BMR is 1750. I cut at 1850 and maintain north of 2200. This might work if you have no muscle mass whatsoever, but I prefer to have a figure.

    Yea, that theory cuts my TDEE in half. No thanks...lol.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Shouldn't the ultimate goal be: learning to appropriately fuel your body without having to count/weigh/measure?
    I believe it's subjective. Personally for me, I WILL NOT ever deny myself of cultural foods, desserts or eating out. So it makes sense to count when I do this or I'll easily exceed my total calories daily every time. Could I get away from counting, measuring, etc.? Sure I could, but just like spending money, you may sometimes forget the small things and in the end it all adds up.

    A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    To count when you eat cultural comfort foods or to count daily til you die?
    I use the "trip meter" on my car when on road trips, or when I'm trying to learn more about my car, but I don't reset it weekly when I refuel for in town commuting.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Multiply your goal weight by 10 and this will be your maximum number of calories allowed in a day. Subtract 500 from your maximum daily calories and this will be the minimum allowed.

    800-1300 calories a day? Yikes. No thank you. I'll stick with the other guy - 1400 is hard, but your thing is impossible ;)
    Exactly. I'd be at 800-1300 as well. No thanks.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    Shouldn't the ultimate goal be: learning to appropriately fuel your body without having to count/weigh/measure?
    I believe it's subjective. Personally for me, I WILL NOT ever deny myself of cultural foods, desserts or eating out. So it makes sense to count when I do this or I'll easily exceed my total calories daily every time. Could I get away from counting, measuring, etc.? Sure I could, but just like spending money, you may sometimes forget the small things and in the end it all adds up.

    A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    To count when you eat cultural comfort foods or to count daily til you die?

    Elite athletes track their calories all the time. In my opinion, if the average joe is trying to be the best that they can be (cliche much), they will have to track everything forever.
  • jimmmer
    jimmmer Posts: 3,515 Member
    Shouldn't the ultimate goal be: learning to appropriately fuel your body without having to count/weigh/measure?
    I believe it's subjective. Personally for me, I WILL NOT ever deny myself of cultural foods, desserts or eating out. So it makes sense to count when I do this or I'll easily exceed my total calories daily every time. Could I get away from counting, measuring, etc.? Sure I could, but just like spending money, you may sometimes forget the small things and in the end it all adds up.

    A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    To count when you eat cultural comfort foods or to count daily til you die?

    Not being a ****, but aren't all foods cultural foods? I mean they all originated in some culture, somewhere. Or is it an Americanism that I haven't heard before?
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Shouldn't the ultimate goal be: learning to appropriately fuel your body without having to count/weigh/measure?
    I believe it's subjective. Personally for me, I WILL NOT ever deny myself of cultural foods, desserts or eating out. So it makes sense to count when I do this or I'll easily exceed my total calories daily every time. Could I get away from counting, measuring, etc.? Sure I could, but just like spending money, you may sometimes forget the small things and in the end it all adds up.

    A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    To count when you eat cultural comfort foods or to count daily til you die?

    Elite athletes track their calories all the time. In my opinion, if the average joe is trying to be the best that they can be (cliche much), they will have to track everything forever.
    wow. ok, not me.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    Shouldn't the ultimate goal be: learning to appropriately fuel your body without having to count/weigh/measure?
    I believe it's subjective. Personally for me, I WILL NOT ever deny myself of cultural foods, desserts or eating out. So it makes sense to count when I do this or I'll easily exceed my total calories daily every time. Could I get away from counting, measuring, etc.? Sure I could, but just like spending money, you may sometimes forget the small things and in the end it all adds up.

    A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    To count when you eat cultural comfort foods or to count daily til you die?

    Elite athletes track their calories all the time. In my opinion, if the average joe is trying to be the best that they can be (cliche much), they will have to track everything forever.
    wow. ok, not me.

    Not me either...lol. I'm just saying that I can see the need to track forever, so I wouldn't consider not tracking calories an end goal.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Shouldn't the ultimate goal be: learning to appropriately fuel your body without having to count/weigh/measure?
    I believe it's subjective. Personally for me, I WILL NOT ever deny myself of cultural foods, desserts or eating out. So it makes sense to count when I do this or I'll easily exceed my total calories daily every time. Could I get away from counting, measuring, etc.? Sure I could, but just like spending money, you may sometimes forget the small things and in the end it all adds up.

    A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    To count when you eat cultural comfort foods or to count daily til you die?

    Elite athletes track their calories all the time. In my opinion, if the average joe is trying to be the best that they can be (cliche much), they will have to track everything forever.
    wow. ok, not me.

    Not me either...lol. I'm just saying that I can see the need to track forever, so I wouldn't consider not tracking calories an end goal.
    hmm, to me it is. But then, I'm not tracking in maintenance (and didn't track to lose, for the most part, after the very beginning when the learning curve was steep).
  • Lemongrab13
    Lemongrab13 Posts: 206 Member
    I actually think putting it into practice is as simple as the method itself. And at the very least it's a LOT easier than these no carb, no sugar, no fat, no solid food diets :sick:
    I've never had results so quickly.

    The only thing I've found confusing with the TDEE is the activity level. I've read a million threads on it, and I'm still not sure if mine is correct. I workout 5-6 days a week (Stronglifts and running) for an hour each time, but the rest of the day I'm generally a sedentary student. I might walk an hour at a leisurely pace during the day.
    So I've set mine at moderately active.
    Too high?
  • sjaplo
    sjaplo Posts: 974 Member
    What's so hard about monitoring the fuel that drives your body?

    Seriously? Maybe it is easy for you, who presumably is allotted more calories, but by your own calculation, I only get to eat about 1400 calories a day. That's HARD.

    When a couple bites of cake for a co-worker's birthday takes away at least 1/10th of your entire day's food - that's hard.

    When you're jimmying together a "dressing" out of straight vinegar and black pepper at a salad bar to keep your all-veggie and lean protein lunch salad under 300 calories - that's hard.

    When you can't enjoy a nice dinner out with friends unless you pretty much fasted all day (or be the friend ordering a side salad, no cheese - I'm sure you'll get invited back) - that's hard.

    When you make veggie snack bags for work containing carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and celery - and run them through MFP to find that at 75 calories each, you've actually made a sizeable dent in your daily calories with vegetables alone - that's hard.

    I don't understand this obsessive need to pretend it is super easy to keep calories low. It isn't easy, and that's OK. Why can't we acknowledge that it is easy to understand but hard to do, and it is the only way to lose weight? That it sucks, but if you keep with it, you'll have success?

    I think perhaps you misinterpreted my final comment, or took it out of context. I was refering to the actual function of calorie counting, not the relative ease/difficulty of adhering to "X" number of calories. What is your target loss per week that puts you at 1400 calories? I pretty much have mine set for 1/2 lb/ week. My base mfp number was about 1850 - my TDEE minus 20ish % is 2335. I aim for 2300 to keep it in round numbers. Yesterday for dinner I ate 1/2 a 12" dominos thin crust pizza with pe, saus and veg - and had 4 beers. I was over for the day by 200. So I know I need to make up for that over the next few days.
  • Happymelz
    Happymelz Posts: 536 Member
    Multiply your goal weight by 10 and this will be your maximum number of calories allowed in a day. Subtract 500 from your maximum daily calories and this will be the minimum allowed.

    800-1300 calories a day? Yikes. No thank you. I'll stick with the other guy - 1400 is hard, but your thing is impossible ;)
    Exactly. I'd be at 800-1300 as well. No thanks.

    I would only get 980.

    No thank you!
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,990 Member
    Shouldn't the ultimate goal be: learning to appropriately fuel your body without having to count/weigh/measure?
    I believe it's subjective. Personally for me, I WILL NOT ever deny myself of cultural foods, desserts or eating out. So it makes sense to count when I do this or I'll easily exceed my total calories daily every time. Could I get away from counting, measuring, etc.? Sure I could, but just like spending money, you may sometimes forget the small things and in the end it all adds up.

    A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    To count when you eat cultural comfort foods or to count daily til you die?
    I use the "trip meter" on my car when on road trips, or when I'm trying to learn more about my car, but I don't reset it weekly when I refuel for in town commuting.
    Well my counting odometer indicates to me when I need to change my oil, so personally I'll count till I die. I've done it since I was 19 (and it's much easier with the technology now) and it's kept me quite consistent. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

    A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,990 Member
    Shouldn't the ultimate goal be: learning to appropriately fuel your body without having to count/weigh/measure?
    I believe it's subjective. Personally for me, I WILL NOT ever deny myself of cultural foods, desserts or eating out. So it makes sense to count when I do this or I'll easily exceed my total calories daily every time. Could I get away from counting, measuring, etc.? Sure I could, but just like spending money, you may sometimes forget the small things and in the end it all adds up.

    A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    To count when you eat cultural comfort foods or to count daily til you die?

    Not being a ****, but aren't all foods cultural foods? I mean they all originated in some culture, somewhere. Or is it an Americanism that I haven't heard before?
    Have some BALUT and tell me if you see that in America everyday.:laugh: Pizza and burritos (which aren't even Mexican in origin) are much different in America than from countries where they served.

    A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • tinselqueen
    tinselqueen Posts: 12 Member
    bump
  • jimmmer
    jimmmer Posts: 3,515 Member
    Shouldn't the ultimate goal be: learning to appropriately fuel your body without having to count/weigh/measure?
    I believe it's subjective. Personally for me, I WILL NOT ever deny myself of cultural foods, desserts or eating out. So it makes sense to count when I do this or I'll easily exceed my total calories daily every time. Could I get away from counting, measuring, etc.? Sure I could, but just like spending money, you may sometimes forget the small things and in the end it all adds up.

    A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    To count when you eat cultural comfort foods or to count daily til you die?

    Not being a ****, but aren't all foods cultural foods? I mean they all originated in some culture, somewhere. Or is it an Americanism that I haven't heard before?
    Have some BALUT and tell me if you see that in America everyday.:laugh: Pizza and burritos (which aren't even Mexican in origin) are much different in America than from countries where they served.

    A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    So by cultural foods, you mean foods that have not been Americanised in some way. They are served as they are consumed in their culture of origin?

    It's just a phrase I've never heard before.
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Shouldn't the ultimate goal be: learning to appropriately fuel your body without having to count/weigh/measure?
    I believe it's subjective. Personally for me, I WILL NOT ever deny myself of cultural foods, desserts or eating out. So it makes sense to count when I do this or I'll easily exceed my total calories daily every time. Could I get away from counting, measuring, etc.? Sure I could, but just like spending money, you may sometimes forget the small things and in the end it all adds up.

    A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    To count when you eat cultural comfort foods or to count daily til you die?

    Not being a ****, but aren't all foods cultural foods? I mean they all originated in some culture, somewhere. Or is it an Americanism that I haven't heard before?
    Have some BALUT and tell me if you see that in America everyday.:laugh: Pizza and burritos (which aren't even Mexican in origin) are much different in America than from countries where they served.

    A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    So by cultural foods, you mean foods that have not been Americanised in some way. They are served as they are consumed in their culture of origin?

    It's just a phrase I've never heard before.

    It's like the term, "what is your nationality?" Obviously, I'm American. However, my stock answer is "English, Irish, Italian...I have no idea on my father's side."
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    It's just a phrase I've never heard before.

    I've heard it when asking "why do you eat that crap"

    Mac 'n cheese
    Meat loaf

    etc. "Southern Foods" apparently.
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