Opinions on calorie counting?

As long as you don't obsess about it.

I once brought my food scale to a restuarant...

It's sometimes difficult to log on every day, but I know if I let it slip too long , the weight just creeps back. It becomes a life style and allows you to eat the foods you love in moderation.

It depends on how badly You want to lose weight, because this is the one way that is GUARANTIED by the laws of the universe that it'll ALWAYS work. Think of it like this - You got three budgets in Your life now: monthly pay, data plan on Your phone and daily calories. :bigsmile: You can do whatever You like with them.

Works for me.................... Best of Luck

I've heard a lot of pros and cons to calorie counting and I'm trying to decide what is best for me and my lifestyle. I would really appreciate any and all input!

Well first of all this is primarily a calorie tracking site of sorts, so consider that. I would imagine if I went to a keto forum and asked about low carb dieting or if I went to a paleo cave and chiseled a question on the wall with cave drawings to ask about a pototo -- in both cases I'd probably get somewhat of a biased answer.


Having said that...

I think it's certainly worth attempting for a couple of months to see whether or not this is a method that you can adhere to. In that time it may help you to become more accustomed to portion sizes and energy values of certain foods and you might learn more about the different macronutrients, and if you pay attention it may also help you learn about your energy needs. My opinion is that these pieces of information can all have value that can be applied to some extent even if you choose not to track long term.

So having said that, I think it's a great method for most people to use at least short term. I think it's a great method for some people to use long term. I think that additional techniques should be used at some point, such as environmental management and building awareness around hunger/satiety, and building better habits around food. All of this can be done while logging, in my opinion, so it's not an either/or scenario.

EDIT: I also think it's somewhat goal dependent. As of right now my opinion is that if your goal is to get very lean, tracking is probably your best bet for accuracy purposes. Competition level athletes that need to make a weight class for example.

As long as you don't obsess about it.

I once brought my food scale to a restuarant...

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Yeah I think that is a bit much....just guesstimate what it is you ate, and then add about 300 calories to it in that situation.

I think it greatly depends on your personality and how you approach calorie counting.

I would not advise it for anyone who is or has suffered from an eating disorder unless they are under professional supervision.

Otherwise just look at it as an educational tool. Play with a few calculators and learn what your body needs and how that changes within your normal routine. Start logging food. When I started I was surpised more than once that something I thought of as "healthy/lower calorie" really wasn't, and I was better off eating something more normal and enjoyable to begin with. It taught me appropraite portion sizes, what to expect my macros to look like if you eat a certain way, and how to put together a balanced meal. If you really commit to logging accurately for few months to a year most people find they learn how to eat healthy and can intuitively maintain without having to log for the rest of their lives. Counting calories does not have to be something you have to do forever, but it can cartainly help you develop good habits that you can carry with you for the rest of your life.

This. I think the question for the OP is what are your goals, why do you have doubts. If it's a history with ED, then talk to a professional about whether this is really a good idea.

For me, though, it's doesn't play into obsession or over restricting at all and when people make such assertions they are clearly speaking more about their own issues than calorie counting. I don't think I needed to count to lose or would need to to maintain (I lost once before and maintained for years without it), but for me it makes it easier and more enjoyable. I have a way of eating that I enjoy and that I consider healthy and can modify that to have fewer calories. I started logging the modified version (how I'd eat now if MFP or the like weren't available) and saw that I was eating fewer calories than reasonable, so used the tool to adjust. Similarly, I used it to experiment with how different calorie levels worked as I increased exercise, with different macro breakdowns, and just to be able to watch what I'm eating so I remember to get a variety of vegetables, enough of various micros and fiber, etc. This part of it may be burdensome to some, but I find it interesting and an added attraction.

I didn't regain before because I didn't know how to eat. I went through stuff that stupidly led me to stop exercising, stop weighing myself, and then gradually to stop eating the healthy way I prefer to. Had I been counting (and weighing) I think it could have helped, because it would have been easier to make the eating less all or nothing. As it is, the only time I really think about calories is the end of the day when I decide whether to include extra fruit or dairy with dinner or have some ice cream. That depends on my calories for the day and I am sure I would do the same basic calculus without MFP. I find logging fun, though. Maybe some day I won't, shrug.

I never counted calories and was fat for 25 years. I started counting calories in February (after 3 or 4 false starts over the past 5 years) and have dropped 60+ pounds. I'd say, if you're ready for the commitment, it can work wonderfully. Also I think the phone app for this site helps a whole lot. I used to use Sparkpeople and I never had as much luck because I found the food database difficult to navigate.

I disagree with that. I tried calorie counting for 20 years. No one can do that for the rest of thier lives. Talk about eating disorders, obsessing over every little thing you put in your mouth, how many calories in it, can I afford to eat it, every single day for ever (yes, forever. if you stop, you will go back to eating like you did before, and get fat again. truth is if you restrict your calories, by the time you're at goal weight, you'll have to stay on a restricted amount for ever to maintain that weight).

I no longer have to count calories, or obsess over what I eat. I don't weigh everything, I don't spend half the day dreaming of my next meal, and doing mental math to work out what I can eat. I'm the least obsessed with food that I've ever been, and I'm actually losing weight consistantly like I've never done before, without always feeling I'm about to slip, cheat, fall off the wagon.

You decide. You want to weigh and measure and record your food, you go for it, but it seems to me the very definition of an eating disorder.

Seems that no matter what diet you choose, you are counting. People count their sugar, carbs, sodium. Losing weight sensibly it is about using portion control. Not deciding what you think is good or bad. Just read this AM where people were discussing the matter of pizza and McDonalds on MFP. I agree you can have them sensibly. You however, wouldn't make it a part of a DAILY diet.

I have lost 28 pounds since May. I could not have done it without counting my calories. It is amazing looking back on how I ate without caring what I was beginning to look like.

I think it is the greates thing I stumbled upon. IMO!

I've been counting calories for 505 days now. I lost 65 pounds (which is more than I originally planned) and got myself into excellent physical condition. I never did the weight/measure thing though. My point is that you should start out slow and then proceed with caution. I began losing weight immediately once I started logging. I have the phone app, so it is very easy and convenient. I suggest to the OP; give it a try. Go to whatever level you are comfortable with and see if it works. If it's working proceed accordingly. If it doesn't work, then make adjustments. Most importantly is to become more healthy.

For me county calories is no more obsessive than checking my bank statement, balancing my checkbook.

PS. I also check the weather every day and plan how I am going to dress on the forecast. I take an umbrella if rain is predicted, and put on more clothes if the weather is cool/cold. Hmm. I must have a financial disorder and a weather disorder as well. I enjoy my disorders so I think I'll keep them.