Opinions on calorie counting?

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Replies

  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,590 MFP Moderator
    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.
  • MityMax96
    MityMax96 Posts: 5,778 Member
    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.
  • annhunt7587
    annhunt7587 Posts: 126 Member
    I think it helps get you used to portion sizes which is a plus. For me I find it a bit of an eye opener when you put in certain foods and makes me change my mind before adding something to my plate. If I don't lose weight at the end of the week I can easily see where I have gone wrong!
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    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.
  • scrittrice
    scrittrice Posts: 345 Member
    Someone (not I) wrote this on a different post the other day, and I think it's brilliant. (Hope I'm not stepping on any toes by quoting and not attributing):

    <<Think of tracking your intake and exercise like tracking your checking account. Would you ever go to a store and swipe your debit card without ever knowing what your balance is to spend or what the price of the item your buying is? Eating without tracking is exactly this.

    Who would ever go to Best Buy and just start writing a check for the prettiest washer and dryer or fanciest computer just because you were "hungry to have one"? Blind eating is just like blind spending.

    Would any of us irresponsibly ask the question, "Hey when can I stop checking my balance at the bank? It's getting old seeing how much money I have or don't have every day . I just want to relax and spend freely and assume that I have unlimited funds available". Or how about, "Hey, I'm going on vacation for 2 weeks...can't I just blow a bunch of cash that I don't have and just worry about the overdraft fees later when I get home?"

    I would hope not.

    Your friendly Registered Dietitian >>
  • emalethmoon
    emalethmoon Posts: 178 Member
    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.
  • jrline
    jrline Posts: 2,353 Member
    If you have a smartphone this app is awesome makes it so easy and can even just scan the barcode on lots of items.
    You can do anything you set your mind to just stay positive.

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  • muggzie399
    muggzie399 Posts: 116 Member
    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!
  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    Until science comes up with something better this is all we have. No matter what DIET you go on they are all calorie counting. Does it matter whether you call them calories or points or cards or getting boxed pre measured meals, or shakes? Someone counted the calories at some point.
  • JoeCWV
    JoeCWV Posts: 213 Member
    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.
  • beachgirl172723
    beachgirl172723 Posts: 151 Member
    It's a great informational gathering tool. Once you get an idea of the cals you will probably know by eyeballing or feel of satiety levels. You probably won't do it for a lifetime but just as a means to get from point a to b and then maybe afterwards to touch base here and there and see where you are at. I love it because I'm an information/ numbers kind of person.
  • jbjb9001
    jbjb9001 Posts: 4
    I thought I was doing fine by eating the right foods but calorie counting has shown me proper portion control. By logging everything you eat, you can easily see just what adjustments to your eating and activity level are necessary to lose the weight. It has never been easier, especially having the ability to scan items and recipes. No math equations involved.
  • kurotoshiro
    kurotoshiro Posts: 7 Member
    I think it's a good idea to find out roughly how many caloies are in things you regularly eat, and based off of that you can make estimates of how much you're eating. That's what I do. I usually only check on fMFP if I've eaten somehing unhealthy and want to know how much I've consumed approximately. I think when you're eating well, you don't really need to count calories as much because you're giving yourself good fuel and as long as you aren't going overboard you should be able to stay within your limits.

    It's up to you though, everyone is different! There's no right or wrong :)
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    This is a calorie counting site- there is going to be a great deal of pro-calorie counting- so I'm honestly not sure where you were looking for in terms of answers.
    I disagree with that.
    You're welcome to- but if you aren't big on calorie counting- why ARE you here??
    I tried calorie counting for 20 years. No one can do that for the rest of thier lives.
    I don't understand how- if you did it for 20 years you should have gotten to a very stable point with it- and 20 years is a long time- so proof you can do it for long stretches. I fail to see the hang up
    Talk about eating disorders,
    what eating disorder?
    obsessing over every little thing you put in your mouth,
    I don't obsesses- I'm diligent and thorough but that isn't "obsessive".
    how many calories in it, can I afford to eat it,
    these questions are answered with counting- that's why it's a useful tool for many people.
    every single day for ever (yes, forever. if you stop, you will go back to eating like you did before, and get fat again.
    WRONG.
    If I stopped I'm sure I would be perfectly fine- I was never fat- and have never been fat- but I am counting calories to get the most out of my food and move forward on my strength and fitness gains.
    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).
    that's true for any weight- you have to exercise some self control in order to maintain the body you have- not matter if you are 100 pounds or 400 pounds- if you eat more than your current maintenance requirements you will gain weight.

    You MUST use some sort of restriction/moderation to maintain your body. Period- at any weight.
    I no longer have to count calories,
    how is that working for you
    ??
    or obsess over what I eat.
    you shouldn't have been obsessing if you were counting either.
    I don't weigh everything,
    neither do I- I weigh certain things- but not EVERYTHING.... and I still count.... still looking fabulous and getting it done. it's not always the way I want- but it's happening.
    I don't spend half the day dreaming of my next meal,
    I do that counting or not- because I'm ALWAYS hungry- counting or not.
    And I also don't spend half my day tracking- which is another complaint people have "I don't have time for that" It takes me all of 5 min to log my food for the whole day. easy peasy.
    and doing mental math to work out what I can eat.
    meh- it's not that overwhelming to have some forsight on what you are planning to eat.
    I'm the least obsessed with food that I've ever been, and I'm actually losing weight consistently like I've never done before, without always feeling I'm about to slip, cheat, fall off the wagon.
    glad you're moving forward- but you put way to much thought into all of this- it's not that complicated.
    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.
    you have a very strange definition of "eating disorder"

    it's a tool.
    no more.
    no less.
    it allows you to accurately and with great knowledge make decisions.

    If you don't know what numbers you are working with- how can you eat "more" or eat "less"

    eat more than what- or eat less than what? You don't know if you aren't tracking.

    There are many paths- it is not right or wrong. But using logic and science and the right tools can REALLY REALLY make it easy.

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