Do you eat any foods as long as it's in your calorie limit

sharonandwyatt
sharonandwyatt Posts: 86 Member
edited November 14 in Food and Nutrition
Do you eat all types of food as long as they are within your calorie limit? I was wondering do you try and stay away from the white foods that we hear
about like Rice..flour...sugar and breads. I have lost a nice amount of weight since Jan 5 but I have noticed the scale isn't moving as much as it was. I was just wondering if I should be cutting out certain foods.
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Replies

  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    It's all about calories in versus calories out :)
  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
    Sure do!!

    As you lose weight your weight loss will slow. If you have room to drop your calorie intake a bit you can do that, just 100 cals then see how that goes over a few weeks (don't go below 1200 a day though). There is no need to cut out any food groups unless you have a medical condition that requires it.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    edited March 2015
    sharonandwyatt wrote: »
    Do you eat all types of food as long as they are within your calorie limit?

    No. Especially when I'm in a lower-intake phase, I pay very close attention to how I'm filling my macros.

    The higher the intake and/or burn, the less it matters.
  • jnv7594
    jnv7594 Posts: 983 Member
    Pretty much, yes. Still try my best to hit my macros though...especially my protein, but otherwise, I eat what I want as long as it fits in my calories. Since you're having trouble, are you making sure you are weighing and measuring ALL food you are eating, even prepackaged food? As the other person said, weight loss is calories in vs. calories out. It's not the type of food you eat, it's how much you eat. I would look to other areas where there my be issues before cutting out foods. Weigh and measure everything, and make sure the food entries you are using are accurate. So many in the database are incorrect, so be mindful of that.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited March 2015
    I don't cut out any foods, but that doesn't mean that I am not choosy about what I eat. I focus on filling my calories first with foods that meet my nutrition goals, and then with my extra calories I will have whatever else seems tasty that day.

    My personal nutrition goals include getting a certain amount of protein with each meal and overall, getting vegetables with each meal, getting fats like olive oil and that in avocado, and enough getting fiber, among other things. Thus, if a food doesn't contribute to my nutritional goals I will eat it more sparingly and only if I particularly like it. This means that I devote calories to cheese or ice cream happily when I have them but personally don't eat much, say, white rice or white bread (which I think is harmless and many quite enjoy and should eat, but is just not a food I care much about).

    I don't think it makes sense to think of foods as good and bad or to assume that if you eat certain foods within your calories you can't lose weight. It doesn't work that way. But I do think it makes it easier for me and that I feel better if I focus on eating a well-balanced diet with certain foods eaten in much higher quantities than others.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    I eat whatever I want with the caveat that I hit my macro/micro/calorie targets…

  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Yep, I try to reach my protein goal but other than that, totally.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    edited March 2015
    I eat any foods I want to eat. What I want has changed. I eat delicious foods, and aim for a nutrient dense, healthful (as I define it) diet, with some yummy treats (wine, chocolate...) when I want them.

    Since you specifically mention some heavily refined carbs, yes, I am choosy about the breads and grains I eat, and I don't eat much that has a lot of added sugar.
    I find that I am happiest, most sated, and most compliant when I limit my heavily refined carbs. YMMV.
  • TIME2WIN2015
    TIME2WIN2015 Posts: 1
    You should definitely check out flexible dieting. Krissy Mae Cagney has a great book out about counting your macros. You essentially can eat whatever you want as long as it fits within your daily macros (carbs, protein and fat).
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    TIME2WIN2015 wrote: »
    You should definitely check out flexible dieting. Krissy Mae Cagney has a great book out about counting your macros. You essentially can eat whatever you want as long as it fits within your daily macros (carbs, protein and fat).
    You eat "whatever you want" as long as your macros (and calories) are met?

  • Nouvelle_Sonia
    Nouvelle_Sonia Posts: 20 Member
    I eat any food, as long as I respect my 1200 calories limit.
  • SweatLikeDog
    SweatLikeDog Posts: 318 Member
    Your body burns different percentages of calories digesting different macros. 1000 calories of protein eaten can require as much as 300 calories to digest, while the same calories of fat would only require 50 calories to digest...http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ask-the-macro-manager-what-is-thermic-effect.html
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    Well, most of my food is classified as nutrient rich because that's how I've always eaten and what I enjoy eating, but when a food is high in calories and I feel like having it (no matter what color it is) I just do. And if I want it badly enough I just have it regardless if it fits my calories or not. There is always plenty of time to make up for that. An yes I've lost all of my weight like that, eating the whole color spectrum of things.
  • Lrdoflamancha
    Lrdoflamancha Posts: 1,280 Member
    I do not eat any "white" foods.... Or any high glycemic foods... But I am a type 2 diabetic and this is my blood glucose control method.
  • markja
    markja Posts: 270 Member
    It has to taste good if I'm going to eat it. That's my main rule. I've cut back on starches and sugars, too.

    I've found that almost anything labeled diet tastes like crap so I leave it alone, for the most part. Reduced fat mozzarella is ok, so is low fat milk.

    For me, it's about choices. Is rather enjoy a nice steak and skip the baked potato or dessert. For side dishes, asparagus or most any vegetable, two or more. If I have bread I'll skip dessert or, just share a bite of dessert with mrs.

    Everything you put in your mouth has a caloric cost. I've only got 1800 each day so, I think alot about what I'm going to eat.

    Stuff that I don't bother with includes: Rice, white bread, cheap cookies, cheap candy, chow mein, sugary breakfast cereal, restaurant mashed potatoes, mostly any kind of starchy filter food.

    I do still eat pasta, bakery bread, quinoa, baked potatoes and home mademashers. Sometimes I'll have fried potatoes but NEVER frozen french fries! They taste like grease and freezer to me.

    I eat lots of nonfat yogurt and cottage cheese, whole grain cereal, meats and fresh or frozen vegetables. And, I pay for my treats with extra walking or exercises.
  • SpicyBaconCake
    SpicyBaconCake Posts: 96 Member
    edited March 2015
    I have found that when I'm trying to hit a calorie goal, it goes a couple of ways.
    I eat whatever sounds good, use up all my calories, and either starve the rest of the day or say screw it and go over calories with something healthier.
    I block certain food groups from my diet, and end up either miserable and bitchy, or I go over calories giving in to those carb, sugar, chocolate, and soda cravings anyway.
    I focus on the most bang for my calorie buck, and I'm naturally drawn to healthier items that keep me full longer. I can have celery and peanut butter and some cottage cheese for the same caloric cost as a donut. Sometimes I go for the donut, pizza, and soda, but I'm starting to recognize(before its too late) that the other stuff will keep me full and give me the right kind of energy.
    Guess I'm trying to say, that for me, the more attention I pay to calories, the less I go for the calorie dense breads and junk. But I do not cut it out, as that has not worked out for me yet.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I eat to meet my calorie and macro goals. Generally, I'm eating about 80% what is traditionally thought of as "healthy" food. I also eat white food (toast each morning now), full fat yogurt and cottage cheese, red meat, etc.

  • HumboldtFred
    HumboldtFred Posts: 159 Member
    I eat whatever I want within my limits, but try to avoid processed foods and refined sugars. I try to be mindful of the quality of what I am eating. That being said, If I am hustling and pressed for time, I know the caloric value of a happy meal and that will just have to work for the day.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    i eat whatever i want, as long as it fits in (or close, some days LOL) to my calorie goals. i lose steadily and consistently, so for me, it works.
  • exerciseforhealth
    exerciseforhealth Posts: 15 Member
    I have only been a member for a couple of weeks but am struggling to find likeminded people. Most diaries I look at are attrotious! Not all calories have the same nutritional value. You can eat your allowance in *kitten* food and from what I see a lot of people do that.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    edited March 2015
    exerciseforhealth wrote: »
    I have only been a member for a couple of weeks but am struggling to find likeminded people. Most diaries I look at are attrotious! Not all calories have the same nutritional value. You can eat your allowance in *kitten* food and from what I see a lot of people do that.

    See, the thing with macro and micronutrients is that your body only needs a certain amount to function, the rest either goes down the toilet drain or has increasingly diminishing returns, or worse.. could build up to dangerous amounts. When you have your days planned and all your needs fulfilled and have extra calories to spend somewhere, why not spend them on something you really enjoy, regardless of its nutritional value? After all mental health is as important as physical health.
  • mamadon
    mamadon Posts: 1,422 Member
    I eat whatever I want. The portion sizes are just smaller.
  • joejward95
    joejward95 Posts: 104 Member
    For weight loss,then it doesn't matter what you eat, only how much you eat. That said, personally I try to stick to a pretty healthy diet ie Oatmeal and Banana for breakfast , fish and veggies for lunch etc...But this is mainly because getting sufficient nutrients helps your overall fitness. So if you're aiming to be as fit as you possibly can, eat as well as you possibly can, but if you're only looking to lose weight then just control your portions.
  • wick3tgirl
    wick3tgirl Posts: 47 Member
    it kinda goes 80-90% healthy, nutrient dense foods and 10-20% whatever I want as long as it fits. it makes me stay sane if I can have a chocolate treat every day/couple of days, since Im on a really low-cal diet. of course thats for losing weight, when I go into recomposition, Im gonna be more focused on macros, especially protein intake.
  • isulo_kura
    isulo_kura Posts: 818 Member
    TIME2WIN2015 wrote: »
    You should definitely check out flexible dieting. Krissy Mae Cagney has a great book out about counting your macros. You essentially can eat whatever you want as long as it fits within your daily macros (carbs, protein and fat).

    So in short you can't eat what ever you want
  • megomerrett
    megomerrett Posts: 442 Member
    It's a balance. Most days it's balanced through the day, all the food groups and mainly goes out of the window on weekends/birthdays etc. The main thing with a calorie controlled diet is realising that you can feel fuller for longer if you use more veggies and the right kind of slow release carbs. I've given up bread for a month and it's making me be a bit more creative with breakfast and lunch - it's including a handful of rolled oats in my breakfast smoothie.
  • isulo_kura
    isulo_kura Posts: 818 Member
    exerciseforhealth wrote: »
    I have only been a member for a couple of weeks but am struggling to find likeminded people. Most diaries I look at are attrotious! Not all calories have the same nutritional value. You can eat your allowance in *kitten* food and from what I see a lot of people do that.
    My question to you is why are you so concerned about what others are eating? If they ask your advice fair enough but not everyone has the same goals so making judgements about so called good and bad foods is how a lot of people got here
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    exerciseforhealth wrote: »
    I have only been a member for a couple of weeks but am struggling to find likeminded people. Most diaries I look at are attrotious! Not all calories have the same nutritional value. You can eat your allowance in *kitten* food and from what I see a lot of people do that.

    define "atrocious"

    none is recommending getting 100% of calories from ice cream or cookies.

    also 100 calories of ice cream = 100 calories of carrots…however, they aren to nutritional twins…

    different between calories as unit of energy and nutrition content of food.

    but thanks for judging everyones diaries as "*kitten*"….
  • asdowe13
    asdowe13 Posts: 1,951 Member
    exerciseforhealth wrote: »
    I have only been a member for a couple of weeks but am struggling to find likeminded people. Most diaries I look at are attrotious! Not all calories have the same nutritional value. You can eat your allowance in *kitten* food and from what I see a lot of people do that.


    Judges everyone's diary......................Keeps her diary closed!
  • ArkMom35
    ArkMom35 Posts: 225 Member
    I will eat anything as long as it fits in my goals, and most importantly, is worth it. Sometimes I'll check something and be like "no thank you!" and other times it's worth it to me to satiate myself. Obviously I try to aim for healthy meals, but I like my junky snacks.
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