Does what you eat matter as long as you stay under cals?

I am curious to see what others reply, and where the information comes from more importantly. I am like you, I usually go over daily and even weekly my goal calorie burn, and am under my caloric intake daily because of it, but my diet really isn't the greatest. Just still struggle with finding healthier options that I actually think taste good, and am afraid if I fall off the excersize wagon, of course although I never want to go back to how I was, am so afraid if the "food" part of this weight loss and the app, and the tracking, and so forth isn't put in check, all of this will be for nothing, if I don't learn and get the food part of this under control.

You will lose weight if you are in a calorie deficit. Doesn't matter what you eat.

Now, am I suggesting people eat pizza, ice cream, and bread all day long? No. Am I suggesting a balanced diet in moderation? Why yes, yes I am.

I have lost my weight eating out, making food myself, eating pizza, drinking beer, all in moderation. I keep it in my calorie goal (most days).

ETA: You don't have to eat things you don't like or that don't taste good. You can also try new things in new ways. The key is to find something you can do the rest of your life.

I had fried ice cream tonight. #noregrets

Nope, doesn't really matter that much what you eat as long as you're eating at a deficit. But if you want your body to be healthy, you should try and eat at least some healthy foods. You can make healthy food taste just as good as junk food.

I don't take notice of anything but my daily calorie goal. And as it is 1200, I make sure to eat that amount. I regulary go a few over, but I still lose weight. And I eat junk. Which I'm not proud of. Obviously it won't be nutritious to the body, but no matter what you eat as long as you eat the calories calculated for you, you will lose weight.

You will lose if you are in a deficit. But how will you feel?

That being said you still can have your treats here and there.

I feel best when I eat a good portion of fruits veggies and proteins and I feel better also.

But heck I still enjoy my chips a hoy and icecream!!

Its about balance.

Makes a huge difference. Maybe not scale-wise but in terms of over all energy, nutrition and health!

I don't take notice of anything but my daily calorie goal. And as it is 1200, I make sure to eat that amount. I regulary go a few over, but I still lose weight. And I eat junk. Which I'm not proud of. Obviously it won't be nutritious to the body, but no matter what you eat as long as you eat the calories calculated for you, you will lose weight.

I'm with you on this one. I too am in a 1200 calorie goal. I'm usually under a smidge, or sometimes bang on but as long as I'm close to or a little over, eating what I want in moderation has been working for me.

I eat the entire spectrum and lose weight as long as I stay within my macros. It's the only lifelong, sustainable way and it feels effortless.

I tend to eat mostly healthy because I eat to make myself feel the best and that's what works. But I DEFINITELY have my treats!

I don't mean this question as in i can just eat cakes and pies all day as long as i stay under my calorie count.

I mean it in the sense of not having your diet completely together yet but still staying under your caloric goal. I know you have to eat healthier but MFP said in order me to lose 2lbs a week i have to burn at least 2,090 calories weekly. This week i burned 3,536 but my diet wasn't the greatest. For the most part i stayed under my cals but again, my diet wasn't the best

For pure weight loss, you could actually "eat cakes and pies all day long" as long as you come in under your calorie goal. To be "healthy" you also must give consideration to how much protein, carbs, and fats you get in, as well as micro nutrients like vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber content. Also, many people have trouble with hunger if they eat too many calorie dense foods in comparison to nutrient dense foods. Increased hunger can lead to be non compliant with your diet. So whether or not what you eat "matters" depends entirely on context.

Nope it really doesn't matter. It's not ideal, but so long as you're at a deficit, you will lose.

This

If you've only got 1,500 calories to play with per day, the reality is it's pretty hard to feel full whilst eating high calorie foods. I could blow those calories on one meal and then be hungry all day which would such. There's no way I'm going to eat a whole bag of sweets on my way home from work as a snack anymore, because I won't have any calories left for a satisfying dinner.

So I prioritise planning 3 reasonably healthy, satisfying meals per day. If I spend 300 calories on breakfast, 400 on lunch and 500 on dinner (for example), that leaves me with another 300 calories for snacks (or more if I exercise). So I might choose to blow those calories on a doughnut or a couple of glasses of wine, or I might go for several smaller, healthier snacks, depending on how I feel.

But I only have the calories to spend on treats because I've eaten sensibly for my main meals or have exercised, leaving me with spare calories to enjoy.

You will lose if you are in a deficit. But how will you feel?

That being said you still can have your treats here and there.

I feel best when I eat a good portion of fruits veggies and proteins and I feel better also.

But heck I still enjoy my chips a hoy and icecream!!

Its about balance.

This is well said. I will add that many of us find that eating too much sodium interferes with weight loss by increasing our body's tendency to retain water. As you go along, you will likely begin to make healthier choices. The secret to success for me has been portion control and patience. It took a long time to gain the weight and it doesn't fall off quickly.

For weight loss, it really doesn't matter. It's about calories in verse calories out. But as far as health, that's a different story

I personally just try to eat a balanced diet that includes the foods that I love, but in moderation. I have cake, cookies, whatever , but in moderation. I practice portion control.

I don't think it matters when it comes to fat/weight loss. But, for instance, both my parents developed Type 2 diabetes (even though one of them lives a really active lifestyle and was muscular and in the normal weight range). So, I have chosen to not eat sweet junk foods. I still love my sugar, so I do eat a fair amount of fruits (but I keep this in check). I want to keep the weight off for the rest of my life (I'm in my 20s). I also want to have a healthy body for the rest of my life. I have no interest in taking pills to regulate my blood sugar and my blood pressure. Not happening. I've seen it (my mother), and it's no fun. So, I choose healthier foods for the long haul (past weight loss).

But, again, when it comes to losing weight, it really doesn't matter. There are people who have lost weight eating at McDonald's for every meal. That Supersize Me guy was just overeating constantly, which is why he gained weight in that documentary.