How many people do just calories in/calories out?
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Me me me. I just count calories and I'm 60 lbs down, from obese to the middle of the normal weight range. I eat whatever I want as long as it fits my calories. I learned by about a month in that I still need to incorporate a lot of 'healthy' options into my diet, because 1,700 calories of ice cream is not as satisfying for all day hunger as a balance of veggies, protein, carbs, and ice cream. Honestly, this method has been stupidly easy. I never feel deprived, I can eat out at any restaurant, get drunk from time to time, and still lose weight.0
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innerhottie wrote: »Wow... thanks for all of the replies.
I am heading back to the gym (I had gallbladder surgery in late November), but prior to that, I was doing about an hour and a half to two hours of cardio a day.
I'd recommend dropping half of those cardio days and getting some strength training in. You'll burn down the weight, strengthen your body, and look better than all cardio.
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Almost all diets work. The thing is finding one that works for you. Healthy and doable. South Beach worked for you. WW has worked for many. I've seen and experienced other diets working well. Calories in calories out works too. Its not the only way to go though, we each need to find what works for us.0
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Me too! I hate "working out" as I haven't yet found something I enjoy, but when it was warm and I went for brisk daily walks, I had plenty of calories to play with and was losing at a healthy rate.0
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I am all about calories in/calories out, but always keeping in mind the body's need for certain amounts of protein, carbohydrates and fats in order to facilitate healthy weight loss. Not all calories are created equal; I make an effort to eat whole foods where possible to ensure my body is getting the right calories. Good Luck!
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Any and everybody who has lost weight has done it doing "just calories in/calories out".
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_runnerbean_ wrote: »Yes, I do. I eat what I want as long as it's within my calories. I try to keep a vague eye on my macros (percentage of protein etc) but if I want a chocolate I eat it and log it. That being said, I try to eat healthily most days as I feel hungry if I don't eat enough protein.
^ exactly what I do and it works.0 -
I've been doing it for 6 months now and I'm down 61 lbs. I've never lost that much in my life. I always new that counting calories worked I just thought it was way to much of a hassle but MFP has made it super easy. I never feel deprived.0
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The only way for what?allanakern wrote: »that's literally the only way.
The only way to lose weight. Expend more calories than you eat. All the expensive fancy diets just make up a bunch of marketing crap to hide the fact that they are just creating a calorie deficit.0 -
clambert1273 wrote: »innerhottie wrote: »Wow... thanks for all of the replies.
I am heading back to the gym (I had gallbladder surgery in late November), but prior to that, I was doing about an hour and a half to two hours of cardio a day.
lol god that just sounds like punishment and torture to me lol but I despise cardio with every fiber of my being lol
It is my stress relief. Love it.
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Yes. And the reason your other "methods" that you listed worked too is because you were eating less than you were burning.
ETA: Counting calories works but I also pay attention to nutrition. Yes, you could eat 1200 calories of chocolate and still lose weight, but you'd probably feel pretty crappy.0 -
I do, in principal. It really is the only scientifically valid way of losing weight.
In practice I have found that as a result of trying to optimise my diet for weight loss I have changed the way I eat to make sure I still feel full but don't eat too many calories. So I eat more salads and vegetables, more fish, and more protein-rich things like cottage cheese and greek yoghurt. I eat less dressing and fewer biscuits and other things that don't fill me up but have lots of calories in.
By doing this I have reduced my sugar and fat intake and increased my protein intake, which is what many fad diets recommend. However, I have chosen which foods are on my 'banned' list, which are on my 'occasional' list and which foods I eat more of, so it doesn't feel like a fad diet and doesn't feel like someone else is making my food choices for me.
This also evolved gradually as I found that, for example, the slightly soggy shop-bought sandwiches that I was having for lunch cost me 500 calories, but if I had home-made soup it would only be 300 and I would still feel full. The gradual evolution meant that it was not so much of a shock to my body and has meant that even when I am not tracking my calories (as I wasn't during the Autumn) I still make better food choices.0 -
I have been at it for a year. I eat all of my exercise calories back. I have my ticker set on sedentary and to lose 2 lbs a week. I usually lose about .5 lbs- 1.5 lbs a week. On average. I'm sure it's because I go over my calories most days. I have lost a total of 53 lbs this year by doing calories in and out. I also am not perfect, and forgive myself immediately. I'm a food addict, and that's why i'm overweight. Feel free to add me as a friend, anyone looking for support!!0
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Every single diet is based on CICO just different ways of packaging it so you will buy the book, into the fad, pay membership fees
Took me 25 years of unsuccessful dieting - by which I mean it comes off but goes back on plus some to realise this
So this time I threw it all out the window ...I go to the gym for fitness goals, I wear a fitbit to track my TDEE closer and I eat fewer calories than I burn across the week
8 months in ...still working
I will always log now ...it is simple, I eat everything ...I make room for everything I love to eat and drink ...and I wear my purty new clothes with pleasure 0 -
That's what I do....0
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Yup. I figured out my TDEE and I went on a 15% deficit. I'm currently on a 10% deficit as I'm close to my goal weight.0
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That is all I do! Count calories - not macros or anything else... just calories.
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Thanks but this thread is about calorie counting, not losing weight. Counting calories is useful in some cases but is certainly not a requirement.tigersword wrote: »
The only way for what?allanakern wrote: »that's literally the only way.
The only way to lose weight. Expend more calories than you eat. All the expensive fancy diets just make up a bunch of marketing crap to hide the fact that they are just creating a calorie deficit.
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Calories in and calories out seems to work for me. I follow no "diet" per se, just aim to eat some fruits and veggies and move a little. I've lost 4.7 pounds this month, so it works. And I still have bread or lattes or a frozen burrito.0
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Raising my hand here too.0
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innerhottie wrote: »counted Points
Just curious, how many of you just count calories in and out?
Does it work for you?
Creating a caloric deficit is the only way to lose weight.
Point systems used by Weight Watchers and other diets are based off of calorie counting; they just make it a little simpler for people.
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You can eat whatever you want but foods that are healthier (more protein, fiber, less sugar/simple carbs) will make hunger go away. If you're not eating foods that make your hunger go away, you will inevitably eat more food.0
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Yup, that's what I do. The only macros I pay any attention to are protein and fiber, and that is for mostly satiety purposes and preserving lean body mass. Otherwise, I don't worry about things like sodium and cholesterol, because my BP is usually low normal, and my cholesterol levels are always optimal at my annual checks.0
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Thanks but this thread is about calorie counting, not losing weight. Counting calories is useful in some cases but is certainly not a requirement.tigersword wrote: »
The only way for what?allanakern wrote: »that's literally the only way.
The only way to lose weight. Expend more calories than you eat. All the expensive fancy diets just make up a bunch of marketing crap to hide the fact that they are just creating a calorie deficit.
Calorie counting and calories in calories out isn't quite the same thing, though we are talking about the latter. You can count calories and still be over in calories, but if you count them, realise you're eating too much and then eat less - counting so that you DON'T eat too much - then you will lose weight. Eating less calories than you burn is absolutely a requirement for weight loss, calorie counting just helps with that.0 -
Everyone does that, whether they focus on it or not. It works for gaining, maintaining and losing your weight. It's not really a "lose weight" strategy. It's just how they introduce people to the subject of weight loss.
I am not currently on any special diet - nothing with a name, anyway.
I really think the easiest way to do it is not to focus on a special diet. Unless you must, take your ideas from a variety of places. Pick some that you like, incorporates them, tweak as necessary.
There is no One True Way to lose weight. Whatever works for you is the best thing! 0 -
MarziPanda95 wrote: »
Thanks but this thread is about calorie counting, not losing weight. Counting calories is useful in some cases but is certainly not a requirement.tigersword wrote: »
The only way for what?allanakern wrote: »that's literally the only way.
The only way to lose weight. Expend more calories than you eat. All the expensive fancy diets just make up a bunch of marketing crap to hide the fact that they are just creating a calorie deficit.
Calorie counting and calories in calories out isn't quite the same thing, though we are talking about the latter. You can count calories and still be over in calories, but if you count them, realise you're eating too much and then eat less - counting so that you DON'T eat too much - then you will lose weight. Eating less calories than you burn is absolutely a requirement for weight loss, calorie counting just helps with that.
Exactly. It doesn't matter how you create a caloric deficit, whether it's by calorie counting or otherwise, just create one!0 -
It is the **only** thing that works for me. I really like large volume meals, so while I count calories, I also seek out foods that I can get more volume per calorie. It ends up being a win-win. I get more food and better nutrition because I am then eating food with much better nutritional content. I will also bank calories sometimes, but not much longer than a day or so. If I know that Saturday is going to be a big day, I will cut myself back on Friday about 400-500 calories. It works FOR ME. It may not and will not work for everyone. I also eat all times of the day. Eating in the evening has never made a difference in my weight. I love a bedtime snack, and I plan for it nearly each and everyday. 0
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This is my second go round at losing weight, and this time it has been much easier because I have approached it with an accountant's objectivity. Calories in, calories burned. I've been working hard to take the emotion, and pressure, out of dieting. 30 lbs down, 5 to go!0
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CICO is how I do fat loss. The things I do that allow CICO for fat loss possible, or at least easier are - in order of importance:
- Including dairy in my diet (essential for me)
- Exercise (cardio and strength in a format that I find motivating and affordable) Intense exercise can lower hunger levels
- Challenging my fear of hunger. I can bear it, I won't have to bear it for long, and it doesn't mean my diet has failed/I'm a failure/I'm back to being broke, hungry and abandoned at the lowest part of my life
- Logging
- Micros
- Having enough protein/fiber
- Lowering added sugars and total carbs
- Eating protein with my carbs
- Awareness of water weight patterns
- Going into ketosis (don't know why this as happening, but not being hungry really helps)
- Remembering why I want to lose weight
- Managing stress and using constructive or optimistic self-talk
- Staying busy (typing/crocheting/sketching fingers can't move food towards my mouth)
- Awareness of how different foods affect me, and eating healthier
- Having strategies for when family pushes food on me
- Avoiding triggering situations (i.e. don't go shopping/to the food court hungry)
- Researching restaurant menus and healthy snacks when I can't eat at home (i.e. travelling)
- Accepting that I'm obsessing over dieting, and enjoying it (checking out forums, trying out recipes, checking out obesity, weight-loss, and fitness research, chatting with friends)
- Challenging my fear of attention, and accepting what I lose with the weight. Isn't it weird, how being overweight has the power to make you invisible? I'm not as strong when I'm smaller, but I'm not vulnerable either.
- Trail jogging while obese (strangers will tell you how great you are doing)
- Success - people you know will tell you what an inspiration you are
There are many right ways to lose fat. Good luck 0
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