Counting Calories.... Is it really necessary?
Mpalamar
Posts: 33 Member
Hello! I find the task of counting calories so daunting. I mean... Is it really necessary? I eat extremely healthy, I have cut 99% of fat, (bad) carbs, and sugars from my diet. I eat no junk food at all.
Here is my typical Monday-Friday:
I drink water all day long (minus my morning coffee that I cannot function without - and the most unhealthy thing I consume on any given day). I work out in the morning before work, and I try to throw in bits and pieces while at work - I have raised my desk so I stand all day (and do a rapid march for an hour at my desk), I replaced my chair with an exercise ball (if it's quiet I will do some crunches on my exercise ball) - and when I'm not at my desk I'm in the warehouse unloading trucks with 100's of lbs of product (sometimes 1000's of lbs). I walk my dogs 3 times a day. When I'm home from work I prep and have dinner (which is always a healthy meal), then I clean the house. I usually sit down long enough to watch a movie at the end of the day to wind down before bed. Otherwise, between 5am and 8pm I am constant go-go-go.
Do I burn more calories than I eat? Absolutely! How do I know, because I DO count them... I just really hate doing it and I don't feel it really all that necessary.
Opinions?
Here is my typical Monday-Friday:
I drink water all day long (minus my morning coffee that I cannot function without - and the most unhealthy thing I consume on any given day). I work out in the morning before work, and I try to throw in bits and pieces while at work - I have raised my desk so I stand all day (and do a rapid march for an hour at my desk), I replaced my chair with an exercise ball (if it's quiet I will do some crunches on my exercise ball) - and when I'm not at my desk I'm in the warehouse unloading trucks with 100's of lbs of product (sometimes 1000's of lbs). I walk my dogs 3 times a day. When I'm home from work I prep and have dinner (which is always a healthy meal), then I clean the house. I usually sit down long enough to watch a movie at the end of the day to wind down before bed. Otherwise, between 5am and 8pm I am constant go-go-go.
Do I burn more calories than I eat? Absolutely! How do I know, because I DO count them... I just really hate doing it and I don't feel it really all that necessary.
Opinions?
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Replies
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If you lose weight or achieve your goals, it works. If not, it's good to count.0
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Hello! I find the task of counting calories so daunting. I mean... Is it really necessary? I eat extremely healthy, I have cut 99% of fat, (bad) carbs, and sugars from my diet. I eat no junk food at all.
Here is my typical Monday-Friday:
I drink water all day long (minus my morning coffee that I cannot function without - and the most unhealthy thing I consume on any given day). I work out in the morning before work, and I try to throw in bits and pieces while at work - I have raised my desk so I stand all day (and do a rapid march for an hour at my desk), I replaced my chair with an exercise ball (if it's quiet I will do some crunches on my exercise ball) - and when I'm not at my desk I'm in the warehouse unloading trucks with 100's of lbs of product (sometimes 1000's of lbs). I walk my dogs 3 times a day. When I'm home from work I prep and have dinner (which is always a healthy meal), then I clean the house. I usually sit down long enough to watch a movie at the end of the day to wind down before bed. Otherwise, between 5am and 8pm I am constant go-go-go.
Do I burn more calories than I eat? Absolutely! How do I know, because I DO count them... I just really hate doing it and I don't feel it really all that necessary.
Opinions?
short answer? No. it isn't necessary.
longer answer? If you stop losing / aren't losing and don't know why, logging is really the best tool to look back at so you can make changes.
Also, no need to cut anything out of your diet. You don't have to do that. It isn't really necessary. Your body needs fat and carbs. I've never seen a "bad" food, either. I had a few beers last week and they didn't stab me or anything.
Demonizing food is gonna do more harm than good.0 -
No, counting calories is not necessary. It's a tool, just like any others. Some people have long term success with it and feel like it has helped them change their mind set to make good choices.
But lots of people lose weight all the time without counting calories, or there wouldn't be so many fad diets out there. If you don't like it, don't do it.0 -
You have to be in a calorie deficit in order to lose weight. Some people can just "eat healthy" to create that deficit without actually tracking calories. I personally, cannot, and many others here can't either.
For what it's worth, you probably shouldn't cut all fat out of your diet, and you don't have to eliminate carbs and sugar to lose weight. What do you actually eat after cutting out all of that?0 -
I say, try not logging for a week maybe two and see what happens.0
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Hello! I find the task of counting calories so daunting. I mean... Is it really necessary? I eat extremely healthy, I have cut 99% of fat, (bad) carbs, and sugars from my diet. I eat no junk food at all.
Here is my typical Monday-Friday:
I drink water all day long (minus my morning coffee that I cannot function without - and the most unhealthy thing I consume on any given day). I work out in the morning before work, and I try to throw in bits and pieces while at work - I have raised my desk so I stand all day (and do a rapid march for an hour at my desk), I replaced my chair with an exercise ball (if it's quiet I will do some crunches on my exercise ball) - and when I'm not at my desk I'm in the warehouse unloading trucks with 100's of lbs of product (sometimes 1000's of lbs). I walk my dogs 3 times a day. When I'm home from work I prep and have dinner (which is always a healthy meal), then I clean the house. I usually sit down long enough to watch a movie at the end of the day to wind down before bed. Otherwise, between 5am and 8pm I am constant go-go-go.
Do I burn more calories than I eat? Absolutely! How do I know, because I DO count them... I just really hate doing it and I don't feel it really all that necessary.
Opinions?
Well... What's your goal? Are you trying to lose weight? Are you losing weight? It all depends on you. For me, counting calories isn't difficult and it doesn't get in the way of anything I am trying to do.
Best regards,
Mark0 -
First off cutting 99% of fat from your diet is a bad thing. Dietary fat is necessary and not what makes people fat.
To answer your question, is calorie counting necessary? No, it is not. That being said, I personally feel it is the best option for most people. I would rather spend the 5 minutes a day it takes me to weigh and track my food then eat a restrictive diet. I love that I can have sugar and not have to worry about it. Most people can't eat a restrictive diet long term. If you can, more power to you.
Also how extreme your goals are can make a huge difference. I could probably maintain a healthy weight for my height without counting calories. I probably couldn't' be as lean as I am now without doing it. And this is after 3 years of consistently counting. Most people who are new to dieting will be horrible at estimating calories or even being calorie conscious. I had no idea how many calories were in what when I first started. You can easily eat too many calories in a day even if you eat a diet completely based on whole foods.0 -
Hello! I find the task of counting calories so daunting. I mean... Is it really necessary? I eat extremely healthy, I have cut 99% of fat, (bad) carbs, and sugars from my diet. I eat no junk food at all.
Here is my typical Monday-Friday:
I drink water all day long (minus my morning coffee that I cannot function without - and the most unhealthy thing I consume on any given day). I work out in the morning before work, and I try to throw in bits and pieces while at work - I have raised my desk so I stand all day (and do a rapid march for an hour at my desk), I replaced my chair with an exercise ball (if it's quiet I will do some crunches on my exercise ball) - and when I'm not at my desk I'm in the warehouse unloading trucks with 100's of lbs of product (sometimes 1000's of lbs). I walk my dogs 3 times a day. When I'm home from work I prep and have dinner (which is always a healthy meal), then I clean the house. I usually sit down long enough to watch a movie at the end of the day to wind down before bed. Otherwise, between 5am and 8pm I am constant go-go-go.
Do I burn more calories than I eat? Absolutely! How do I know, because I DO count them... I just really hate doing it and I don't feel it really all that necessary.
Opinions?
You could try not counting for four weeks and see what happens. Everybody is different in this regard. I can maintain without counting, but I can't lose. Other can lose but they can't bulk.0 -
Some people are really good at losing weight through intuitive eating. And that's great! If you're achieving your goals then it's not necessary to count calories.
Others, like myself, are just really bad at knowing how much to eat. For us, calorie counting is a great tool. There are other ways to create calorie deficits (through cutting out foods or choosing different diets) and everyone needs to find what's right and sustainable for them. For me that happens to be calorie counting.0 -
Necessary no, but just like my bank account, I'm not just gonna hope that I'm not withdrawing and depositing money and guessing I got an idea of what the balance is.
My question is if you're on a calorie counting site, and don't want to count calories, what's your expectation?
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 nutrition0 -
I like to check in with MFP on occasion to see how my typical daily diet is going. In a recent case, I learned that a slice of Costco pizza is 700 calories, and I was eating two of them! So while I hate the counting game as well, if you stick to familiar foods and know from past counting experience that you are below your daily "burn", then I'd agree with the rest of the members that it is not necessary.
I'm confused why you're even asking the question, though. If you are eating less than you burn and are as active as you are, then I would think it has become evident by now that calorie counting is not necessary. Am I missing something?0 -
I eat extremely healthy, I have cut 99% of fat, (bad) carbs, and sugars from my diet. I eat no junk food at all.
I did not know eating healthy is eating 1% fat. Misinformed about your fats.
Also no it is not needed to get to your goal. There has not been one day I accurately log in food.0 -
Different things work for differnt people. I started out my weight loss not tracking and i did lose weight. But for me I needed a tool to get me through the long haul. Maybe it is a crutch for me now since I am my goal weight. i like using the app instaed of writing it down or try to tracking in my head. I eat fairly healthy but allow myself treats and "bad foods." I am not that strict as I was using the app as I was when I started since I am at my goal weight. I don't count every vegetable but do still watch my portons and still weigh things if I am not sure. So far that has worked for me. been at my goal weight for a few months. Bets of luck! :bigsmile:0
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This is just my opinion, but you could be eating perfectly healthy food and still not be in balance with what your body needs. I have been here over 2 years, lost a lot of weight and I am probably going to be logging for a while to come. Some meals I know the calories and macros off the top of my head. I still weigh it out. Some things I don't eat that much, so I need the information of logging to make sure my day is balanced.
I really had no idea how much or the nutritional content of the things I was eating prior to logging. Of course you don't have to, but how will you just 'know' that you're meeting your macros and keeping your body healthy while losing the weight?0 -
love this answerNecessary no, but just like my bank account, I'm not just gonna hope that I'm not withdrawing and depositing money and guessing I got an idea of what the balance is.
My question is if you're on a calorie counting site, and don't want to count calories, what's your expectation?
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
counting just makes it really easy, there are no longer any unknowns once you start0 -
No, it isn't necessary. You can lose weight without it, especially if you're eating healthy food.
If you want to skip the counting, do that. You can always switch later.
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Also, no need to cut anything out of your diet. You don't have to do that. It isn't really necessary. Your body needs fat and carbs. I've never seen a "bad" food, either. I had a few beers last week and they didn't stab me or anything.
Demonizing food is gonna do more harm than good.
In my case, I did have to cut from and alter my diet ... otherwise I'd be in trouble - my diet used to consist of eating out EVERY SINGLE DAY (both breakfast and lunch) my dinner was either fast food or fatty foods. I ate junk food like it was going out of style. I was severely depressed and I ate to comfort myself.. what can I say LOL - I'm only human!
What do you actually eat after cutting out all of that?
I eat a lot of fruits and veggies, nuts and lean meats mostly. Maybe I exaggerated a bit on that percentage lol - but I have cut mostly all refined or processed foods and many starches as well.
Thank you everyone for your replies, I think I was having a moral issue and feeling guilty about wanting to stop counting calories LOL - I feel a lot better about it now! Thank you everyone! 0 -
Also, no need to cut anything out of your diet. You don't have to do that. It isn't really necessary. Your body needs fat and carbs. I've never seen a "bad" food, either. I had a few beers last week and they didn't stab me or anything.
Demonizing food is gonna do more harm than good.
In my case, I did have to cut from and alter my diet ... otherwise I'd be in trouble - my diet used to consist of eating out EVERY SINGLE DAY (both breakfast and lunch) my dinner was either fast food or fatty foods. I ate junk food like it was going out of style. I was severely depressed and I ate to comfort myself.. what can I say LOL - I'm only human!
What do you actually eat after cutting out all of that?
I eat a lot of fruits and veggies, nuts and lean meats mostly. Maybe I exaggerated a bit on that percentage lol - but I have cut mostly all refined or processed foods and many starches as well.
Thank you everyone for your replies, I think I was having a moral issue and feeling guilty about wanting to stop counting calories LOL - I feel a lot better about it now! Thank you everyone!
Emotional eating happens. Some of us got big with that tactic. I know you were exaggerating on the fat % cut out. If you are losing weight without counting then don't fix what is not broken.0 -
First off cutting 99% of fat from your diet is a bad thing. Dietary fat is necessary and not what makes people fat.
To answer your question, is calorie counting necessary? No, it is not. That being said, I personally feel it is the best option for most people. I would rather spend the 5 minutes a day it takes me to weigh and track my food then eat a restrictive diet. I love that I can have sugar and not have to worry about it. Most people can't eat a restrictive diet long term. If you can, more power to you.
What he said. I love that I can have half a chocolate bar without thinking 'am I going to gain weight for this?'0 -
If you're cutting out entire macros (all fats) then I guess it's not necessary.
Cutting out fat is a very old school way to diet. We've come a long way (nutritional knowledge wise) since the 1960's. Dietary fat doesn't make you fat, it's actually necessary for many bodily functions.
Cutting out entire macros & all sugar, "bad carbs" (whatever those are) may backfire, unless you intend to eat that way for the rest of your life.
It's not like I eat a lot of fast food......but I know need to manage it. I make room for it (Culver's) once a month.0 -
You don't necessarily have to calorie count every day.
If you eat cereal for breakfast, weigh the cereal and see the calories. Don't track the calories but weight the same amount out until roughly you know by sight a good portion.
Know how many calories are in the bread you eat, meat etc, and the oil,
Don't count if but roughly In your head you can think 'this meal is about 600 calories.
If you eat oatmeal, by portion packs and know your limits.
Once you are aware of the rough calorie contact, automatically you will be able to know whether you've over eaten that day or not, without it taking over your life.0 -
This question is analagous to "Is a hammer necessary to drive a nail?"
The correct answer is of course "no"...but most people find that it is the tool best designed to meet the desired outcome.0 -
You don't need to cut 99% of fat to lose weight... There's good fats and bad fats, just like there's good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. It's as simple as calories in versus calories out. So, to make sure you're eating less calories than you're burning, I'd say counting calories is crucial to weight loss for most people.0
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This question is analagous to "Is a hammer necessary to drive a nail?"
The correct answer is of course "no"...but most people find that it is the tool best designed to meet the desired outcome.
Like^0 -
love this answerNecessary no, but just like my bank account, I'm not just gonna hope that I'm not withdrawing and depositing money and guessing I got an idea of what the balance is.
My question is if you're on a calorie counting site, and don't want to count calories, what's your expectation?
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
counting just makes it really easy, there are no longer any unknowns once you start
As a banker, I love your answer! The people that don't keep track of the money going in and out are the ones that have issues with said accounts. Counting calories just makes sense, just like keeping an account of your money!0 -
Eating "healthy" is a pretty vague and it's definition really depends on who you ask. If you ask me, I'd say a healthy diet is eating all of my favorite foods but staying at my calorie goal, and my macro targets for the day.
Eat all of the "healthy" foods you want, if you don't calorie count or measure properly you will probably be over eating and not even realize it. yes, you can gain weight eating seemingly healthy foods if you eat at a calorie surplus.
Long story short, count the calories it makes it easier. I gained weight not because I was guzzling 10 bags of Doritos per day, but I was achieving a small calorie surplus each week because I wasn't aware of impact my food choices were making.
You calorie count on my fitness pal not so you can obsess over food but so that you can forget about it once in a while and enjoy it. Calorie counting is a great tool, take advantage of it.0
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