What you eat matter?

sweetestthing
sweetestthing Posts: 102
edited September 23 in Health and Weight Loss
Aside from the obvious healthy reasons to not eat junk food, if looking at it from strictly a weightloss related question, can anyone tell me does it really matter what you eat as long as you keep below your calories? Has anyone tried this? I mean isn't this the basis of weight watchers? I am eating this fowl tasting veggie patch stuff that has so much calories and I am thinking I could be eating a big mac or 2 slices of pizza with same calories. WHY am I killing myself? Any thoughts? Happy weekend everyone!!

Replies

  • Simonscat
    Simonscat Posts: 249
    It's been done before. There was a documentary.
    This lady ate Mcdonalds for a time while counting her calories and lost weight!
  • mccorml
    mccorml Posts: 622 Member
    ive wondered that too are calories calories if i eat 1600 calories of protein is it the same as carbs idk :/ sorry for attaching this onto your question now you have more questions and no answers lol
  • SarahR1984
    SarahR1984 Posts: 212
    I've wondered this too. Isn't weight watchers just moderation? I'm been trying to eat healthy foods but wondered how bad it would be to have a junky meal every once and a while as long as I'm under my cals. Good question!
  • jessemerson86
    jessemerson86 Posts: 174 Member
    Look up the twinkie diet online....a professor ate pretty much all junk food and lost weight, but he became much more unhealthy...there are some topic threads about it if you want to search for them.
  • mfergie889
    mfergie889 Posts: 77
    A professor ate nothing but twinkies and hohos and a multivitamin for a while and lost weight.
    However, between the sodium and the fat, being lethargic and having bad skin, I have seen some skinny people who eat fast food and they look terrible. Just because you lose weight doesnt mean you wont see the other negative effects of eating garbage.
  • Dencrossgirl
    Dencrossgirl Posts: 501 Member
    A calories is a calorie, but you look better and be healthy if you eat that way. If you eat junk only you'll look like it.
  • Mal624
    Mal624 Posts: 1
    It matters because of the content of the junk food. You are more fat and empty calories that doesn't really satisfy you. That being said, I still eat sweets with a limit because it's one my hardest things to kick. I am still able to lose weight as long as I don't go overboard. The best thing to always do, is to go with a plan that you can stick with for the rest of your life. Eating stuff you don't like may help you lose temporarily, but eventually you'll get sick of it and go back to your old eating habits. Just eat in moderation and count everything.
  • ashley0616
    ashley0616 Posts: 579 Member
    You can lose weight eating whatever you want as long as you stay under your calorie goals. Some of the skinniest people have high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, etc.

    However, you could end up with high cholesterol, saggy baggy skin, low muscle tone, and generally an unhealthy body.

    You want to feed your body healthy food. Whole grains, high protein, veggies, fruit, complex carbs. Of course you can have cheat meals and no one stays 100% healthy food all the time. Aim for 80% healthy and 20% other. One cheat meal a week where you eat whatever you like, or once in a while having ice cream or pizza isn't going to hurt your diet. In fact, it will probably help. Shocking your body once in a while is very healthy and helps it keep losing weight.

    I hope that helped answer your question a little bit.
  • Thomasm198
    Thomasm198 Posts: 3,189 Member
    While a calorie is a calorie, not matter what it is in, it is also about the other things in the food (fat, sugar, sodium, protien, fibre, etc). So while a calorie is a calorie - a healthy calorie is vastly different from an unhealthy calorie.
  • oxavecamourxo
    oxavecamourxo Posts: 270 Member
    I'm not sure exactly, but I believe certain foods inhibit weight loss. I know diet sodas do.
  • mfergie889
    mfergie889 Posts: 77
    I just looked at your diary, what the heck is a veggie patch? At 600 calories, that already should be considered fast food!
  • markja
    markja Posts: 270 Member
    Not sure what you mean by, "foul veggie...same calories." Fat is 9 calories per gram and protein or carbs are 4 calories per gram. If you eat less fat you get less calories. If I eat a 6oz steak I get about 360 calories. If I eat a 6ox potato, I get about 240.

    That pizza probably runs 350+ per slice. The Big Mac is what 700? I can eat 2 bacon, 2 eggs and a slice of toast and still not get as much fat or as many calories. The only way the veggie stuff can have the same calories is to load it with ranch or blue cheese dressing = fat.

    To your point, a calorie is a calorie. However, felling full is something else again.

    All I can say is that a great volume of food makes me feel more full.

    Check my blog, I wrote on something related today.

    I hope you find your way and meet your goal.
  • oxavecamourxo
    oxavecamourxo Posts: 270 Member
    I just looked at your diary, what the heck is a veggie patch? At 600 calories, that already should be considered fast food!

    I think this is it:
    http://www.veggiepatch.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/18864/v/10
  • oxavecamourxo
    oxavecamourxo Posts: 270 Member
    Aside from the obvious healthy reasons to not eat junk food, if looking at it from strictly a weightloss related question, can anyone tell me does it really matter what you eat as long as you keep below your calories? Has anyone tried this? I mean isn't this the basis of weight watchers? I am eating this fowl tasting veggie patch stuff that has so much calories and I am thinking I could be eating a big mac or 2 slices of pizza with same calories. WHY am I killing myself? Any thoughts? Happy weekend everyone!!

    Is it really that bad? It looks pretty yummy. lol I don't really eat fried foods, but it still looks good!
  • purplespeckle
    purplespeckle Posts: 652
    Aside from the obvious healthy reasons to not eat junk food, if looking at it from strictly a weightloss related question, can anyone tell me does it really matter what you eat as long as you keep below your calories? Has anyone tried this? I mean isn't this the basis of weight watchers? I am eating this fowl tasting veggie patch stuff that has so much calories and I am thinking I could be eating a big mac or 2 slices of pizza with same calories. WHY am I killing myself? Any thoughts? Happy weekend everyone!!

    i'm keeping up with my calories too for 29 days and working out 6 days a week sometimes 7 and i've went from 182 to 178.2 so I'm assuming its either muscle or water weight. lots of the foods i eat are high in sodium. so even though i may be staying within my calorie limit i'm having way too much sodium. so i think food choice does really make a difference. especially with all the different ingredients in foods. another thing is protein....its important to have protein especially for breakfast...it keeps you full and curbs your appetite. and you don't have to have gross foods. go shopping and look at everyyy label. you'll find something you like.
  • kettlewitch
    kettlewitch Posts: 277 Member
    From a health point of view it does matter. You would lose weight if you just ate 5 mars bars a day but you would feel pretty bad. That said, if you are seriously overweight then getting those pounds off is very important and if eating some junk helps you stick to it then it's all about balance. I know that fresh food is much better but after a few days of piles of unsalted veg and steamed fish I switched to ready made low fat meals. Too much salt, although I am around my salt targets most days, and probably a lot less vitamins but it's working for me and I need to lose a lot of weight. I think it takes time to learn what your body needs and eventually, if you stick with it, you will get to grips with it
  • hyoung3
    hyoung3 Posts: 85 Member
    I've asked myself a simple question.... maybe this will help:
    Where do you want your calories to come from?
    If you read the label on any food product, it lists Calories and Calories From Fat.

    I want my calories to come from Protein and Complex Carbs that my body can
    use for fuel when exercising.

    As for the junk food diets.... maybe another question is necessary.

    If they ate Big Macs, etc. (which are high in fat) and they still lost weight,
    do you think they lost fat?

    Probably not.... they lost muscle because they were not consuming the
    correct proportions of protein vs. fat to fuel their exercises.

    If they were exercising, at all.

    They also were certainly not becoming more fit.... which should be a goal
    we all have if we want to enjoy life a little more.
  • mfergie889
    mfergie889 Posts: 77
    I just looked at your diary, what the heck is a veggie patch? At 600 calories, that already should be considered fast food!

    I think this is it:
    http://www.veggiepatch.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/18864/v/10

    That looks disgusting! It is just like any other cheese injected frankin-food.
  • roylawrence87
    roylawrence87 Posts: 970 Member
    Im a vegetarian. Ive lost a lot of weight. I am strong. I have the ability to do things that others will never be able to. Why? Because veggies give me super powers. :wink: Don't believe me? Look at Scott Pilgrim VS. The World.
  • NotAllWhoWanderAreLost
    NotAllWhoWanderAreLost Posts: 615 Member
    I guess it can be answered by asking yourself this:

    Do i just want to be skinny or do i want to be thinner and healthy?

    Your answer will tell you what you need to do


    That said, everyone likes to have a nibble of "junk" now and then... Make the junk food a small portion of your intake and you should be fine
  • NotAllWhoWanderAreLost
    NotAllWhoWanderAreLost Posts: 615 Member
    I just looked at your diary, what the heck is a veggie patch? At 600 calories, that already should be considered fast food!

    I think this is it:
    http://www.veggiepatch.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/18864/v/10

    That looks disgusting! It is just like any other cheese injected frankin-food.

    I kind of like those... but i only eat 3 and thats 150 calories.... its all in the portion control!
  • sweetestthing
    sweetestthing Posts: 102
    Aside from the obvious healthy reasons to not eat junk food, if looking at it from strictly a weightloss related question, can anyone tell me does it really matter what you eat as long as you keep below your calories? Has anyone tried this? I mean isn't this the basis of weight watchers? I am eating this fowl tasting veggie patch stuff that has so much calories and I am thinking I could be eating a big mac or 2 slices of pizza with same calories. WHY am I killing myself? Any thoughts? Happy weekend everyone!!

    Is it really that bad? It looks pretty yummy. lol I don't really eat fried foods, but it still looks good!
  • sweetestthing
    sweetestthing Posts: 102
    Aside from the obvious healthy reasons to not eat junk food, if looking at it from strictly a weightloss related question, can anyone tell me does it really matter what you eat as long as you keep below your calories? Has anyone tried this? I mean isn't this the basis of weight watchers? I am eating this fowl tasting veggie patch stuff that has so much calories and I am thinking I could be eating a big mac or 2 slices of pizza with same calories. WHY am I killing myself? Any thoughts? Happy weekend everyone!!

    Is it really that bad? It looks pretty yummy. lol I don't really eat fried foods, but it still looks good!

    yes it's gross! but its in the veggie section at market I thought would be good for me
  • Kristina0202
    Kristina0202 Posts: 188 Member
    I eat almost anything I want and I've lost weight. I do eat more fruits and vegetables than I did before, and I never go out to eat anymore, but for the most part I eat whatever I want.
  • sweetestthing
    sweetestthing Posts: 102
    I just looked at your diary, what the heck is a veggie patch? At 600 calories, that already should be considered fast food!

    I think this is it:
    http://www.veggiepatch.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/18864/v/10

    That looks disgusting! It is just like any other cheese injected frankin-food.

    I kind of like those... but i only eat 3 and thats 150 calories.... its all in the portion control!

    Yes each serving is 150 cals, but I have to eat my calories which is 1350 a day not including exercise. SO I was trying to fill it with veggie patch foods, but I would obviously rather have junk food, so I asked the question. But I do get it and thanks everyone for the great help!!
  • misty1208
    misty1208 Posts: 90
    haha i was wondering the same thing.
    Not only is it better for our bodies to eat healthier, but its ALOT more satisfiying to have a larger more filling meal vs. a small slice of pizza or some chocolate. :smile:
  • sbracken
    sbracken Posts: 79
    I'm sure you could. But then you end up skinny fat. Think stick-figure types that have no nuscle tone. And the damage to your health is greatly increased when you're eating junk, fatty, processed foods.

    By eating the right foods (and those vary by person) you gain the health benefits, while transforming your body into a fit, healthy, slender body. Think the cover model of M&F Hers, Oxygen and other women's fitness magazines.
  • AMSull19
    AMSull19 Posts: 37 Member
    In the long run, i think yes, it abosolutely matters what type of foods you eat. In the short term, not really because if you consume less calories than your body burns, you will lose weight. Its been my personal experience that I feel like what I eat...if i eat crap, i feel like crap. If your looking for long term weight loss and keeping the weight off, I'd try to learn to find healthy lower calorie foods that you LIKE to eat.
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