Always been curious about this

roz112
roz112 Posts: 77 Member
edited November 8 in Food and Nutrition
Is the whole "listen to your body when its full" mantra really legit or is calorie counting way more important? I mean there's been times where i eat a 900 calorie burger at a restaurant where i've been full but not super stuffed and other times when i eat something with way less calories and been so full. I know all about calorie dense foods and foods with fiber keep you more full etc etc but im wondering throughout the day is it better to listen to your body or plan out your meals based on calculated calories and set times during the day when you should eat even if you're not particularly hungry at that particular time. And i know overall calories throughout the day is what matters and not when you eat them but if you're full is it bad to still eat if you can fit it in your calorie budget? Im not very good at explaining but i hope you guys kind of get an idea of what im asking here lol
Oh and this is just for general weight loss/ curiosity

Replies

  • sodakat
    sodakat Posts: 1,126 Member
    I don't think it matters when you eat or how much you eat, as long as you eat at a deficit, assuming you want to lose weight.

    Now, a 900 calorie burger is a whole separate discussion, at least it would be with my calorie allotment!
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    The key is to meet your body nutrients' requirements for good health and properly fueling your workouts while eating at a deficiency to lose weight. I prefer getting close to the nutrients levels (calorie counting) set by MFP or whichever plan you decide to follow. I budget my calories for the week because I have high and low calorie days.
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    edited November 2014
    I don't go by the whole...listen to your body thing. Because my body will likely tell me to eat a whole pizza. And then not realize how full I am till it's gone.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    Hunger signals (and lack of) are controlled by hormones. Those hormones fluctuate, it is part of the body's survival mechanisms. It is possible to be not eating nearly enough and yet not feel hungry. It is possible to be eating too much but feeling starving all the time. So, no, listening to your body isn't always the best thing to do.
  • roz112
    roz112 Posts: 77 Member
    Awesome, thanks for the help guys!
  • wilsoncl6
    wilsoncl6 Posts: 1,280 Member
    It doesn't really matter when you get your calories in the day but you shouldn't try to stuff them all in one meal. Doing so might not allow the energy you need for your daily activities. Sometimes I just don't feel like eating anymore just to try to meet my suggested caloric needs during the day so I don't. However, I keep track of it and that allows me some room to exceed my goal on other days. It is all about focusing on the long term impact while fueling yourself for your daily energy needs and eating at a caloric deficit.
  • JeffseekingV
    JeffseekingV Posts: 3,165 Member
    Listening to my body got me fat. I need to have calories defined by caloric numbers in order to keep my diet in check. I try to curb hunger by eating foods with high fiber but low caloric values in order to feel full. But getting enough macros/micros this way is challenging.
  • Lonestar5775
    Lonestar5775 Posts: 740 Member
    I find I'm better off not listening to my body other than if you feel you're full bordering on nausea. But whatever works for you is probably what you will stick with the longest.
  • lynn1982
    lynn1982 Posts: 1,439 Member
    I_Will_End_You wrote: »
    I don't go by the whole...listen to your body thing. Because my body will likely tell me to eat a whole pizza. And then not realize how full I am till it's gone.

    This. At least for me. And cookies. It will tell me to eat the whole box of cookies.

    If you can listen to your body and your body tells you that it's full at a reasonable amount, then listen to it. I know I can't always rely on my body and that's why I count calories. That being said, I'd also say - listen to your body if you feel full and still have calories left at the end of the day (as long as this isn't happening too often), and if you've eaten all of your calories for the day but you feel famished, then listen to your body and eat something.
  • CorlissaEats
    CorlissaEats Posts: 493 Member
    I don't subscribe to the whole "listen to your body" way of thinking anymore. I followed it for years, have gallstones and other minor health issues as a result. Your body lies to you.

    My body frequently has me eating less than 1000 cals per day, and its an ongoing struggle to find ways to add enough calories to my day. Sometimes I think it's a wonder I ever got fat. Many of my favorite and mainstay foods are naturally low calorie. It's rare to feel hunger signals, I just start feeling ill from low blood sugar. It's my goal to have least 900 cals in my lunch bag each day to eat by 5pm now because otherwise I under fuel.

    And then there are days where I want to eat everything in sight because I am legitimately hungry and there is no "off" switch. A glass of water and 20 minutes doesn't make it go away and eventually the entire pizza or pan of brownies is gone. This masked the problem with my under eating until life happened. Too many of these days got to me when I injured my knee. :\

    5 years and -53lbs later...It's all about balance. Getting the high and low days to level out. Getting enough fuel for your life.
  • astrose00
    astrose00 Posts: 754 Member
    I_Will_End_You wrote: »
    I don't go by the whole...listen to your body thing. Because my body will likely tell me to eat a whole pizza. And then not realize how full I am till it's gone.

    Hehehe
  • JeffseekingV
    JeffseekingV Posts: 3,165 Member
    I_Will_End_You wrote: »
    I don't go by the whole...listen to your body thing. Because my body will likely tell me to eat a whole pizza. And then not realize how full I am till it's gone.

    About the only way to combat this is to try to take some type of break. ie.. eat 2-3 slices and then take a 20 min break to allow your body to catch up to what you are eating. That works SOMETIMES and is pretty impractical but anyway.
  • ljashley1952
    ljashley1952 Posts: 275 Member
    It probably depends on how fast you eat, also. It takes some time for the message that you are full and satiated to get to where it needs to go. I've heard that it takes around 30 minutes. I have no idea if that's accurate or not, but it isn't an immediate response. If someone wolfs down a burger the body does not yet know that it is full and you will keep wanting to eat more. If you eat slowly and pick at your food for 30 or 40 minutes those signals have time to kick in. That has been my experience.
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