Quantity vs Quality Which is more important

Mveler
Mveler Posts: 274 Member
edited September 28 in Health and Weight Loss
Ok so I know ultimately that quality is the most important!

But when losing weight, does it really matter what the quality is as long as the quantity fits within the barriers?

Replies

  • milaxx
    milaxx Posts: 1,122 Member
    I go for quality over quantity every time. I don;t just want to lose weight, I want to be healthy. I've known more than my fair share of sickly, thin people
  • TwinMamma09
    TwinMamma09 Posts: 140
    I am going to go with quality also. I have a friend that can stick within her calorie goal eating garbage and she still ends up gaining weight. Eating the right fuel for your body is so important. I have to remind myself of this all the time though. LOL
  • laddyboy
    laddyboy Posts: 1,565 Member
    If I had it to do over, I'd choose quality over quantity. I also want healthier not just thinner.
  • lorenwade
    lorenwade Posts: 7
    I kinda disagree with the question in the first place. The best thing about being healthy is you, for the most part, can eat more food per calorie when you eat healthy. So I choose both!
  • Sarahmeridith
    Sarahmeridith Posts: 298 Member
    I try to eat super healthy low calorie (lots of raw veggies ect) that way its really good for me but because its so low calorie I can eat a lot of it !
  • laddyboy
    laddyboy Posts: 1,565 Member
    Plus you can eat twinkies and stay within your calorie range and lose weight. You might look good on the outside but on the inside you're all soft and creamy. Not good. Visceral fat (fat around the organs), is not good.
  • katschi
    katschi Posts: 689 Member
    I choose quality over quantity as well.

    When I choose quality, my body is better nourished and I don't suffer from binges like I do when I eat crap.
    If I eat crap, I'm always searching for more and more junk to cram in my mouth.
    No thanks.

    I agree with laddyboy ... healthier not just thinner.
  • MovesLikePuma
    MovesLikePuma Posts: 122
    I completely agree with quality. Before I started eating healthier, I was ALWAYS hungry and thinking about food. Now that I am eating healthier, lean meats, fruits and vegetables, I don't ever feel hungry.
  • tssa
    tssa Posts: 93 Member
    For me, it's definitely quality.

    After changing my eating habits, I've noticed I've become sort of a food snob. Creamy soups, grease-ladden foods, fried dishes, and sugar-loaded drinks just don't appeal to me anymore. Before, I used to LOVE Jack In the Box burgers, but now I don't even miss them. My weakness is pizza, but I've came up with a great solution to that. I make my own at home and if I just have to have some Pizza Hut pizza, I allow myself 1 or 2 small slices.

    I love bbq too, but even with that, I make my adjustments. It's been working for me so far. :happy:
  • lizzil0
    lizzil0 Posts: 181 Member
    I found out quickly that all calories aren't created the same- I'm immediately hungry after eating a bar filled with sugar and carbs, but the same amount of calories for an egg fried in butter really lasts and makes me full.
  • Mveler
    Mveler Posts: 274 Member
    It is so funny many of you mention being hungry when eating unhealthy and not hungry when you are eating healthy. I have found on my healthier days that I am not hungry.

    I am hoping to move my husband to healthy. Right now he is dieting and I am very proud of him. But he still wants his burgers and pizza every week. I need to find healthier (TASTY) options of these foods because this is what he lives on!
  • milaxx
    milaxx Posts: 1,122 Member
    It is so funny many of you mention being hungry when eating unhealthy and not hungry when you are eating healthy. I have found on my healthier days that I am not hungry.

    I am hoping to move my husband to healthy. Right now he is dieting and I am very proud of him. But he still wants his burgers and pizza every week. I need to find healthier (TASTY) options of these foods because this is what he lives on!
    Google for healthier burger and pizza. They exist. Also check out Rocco DiSpirito's book and the Eat this, Not That blogs on Men's Health.com They list better substitutes for the things he likes.
  • milaxx
    milaxx Posts: 1,122 Member
    I kinda disagree with the question in the first place. The best thing about being healthy is you, for the most part, can eat more food per calorie when you eat healthy. So I choose both!
    The problem is the diet food industry has convinced us that we can have both and honestly often times you can't. Those low cal yogurts are full of sugars and food coloring whereas, plain, natural yogurt or better yet, 0% Greek yogurt that you add your own fruit to is far better for you .
  • mielikkibz
    mielikkibz Posts: 552 Member
    I kinda disagree with the question in the first place. The best thing about being healthy is you, for the most part, can eat more food per calorie when you eat healthy. So I choose both!

    ditto, and being 'healthy' doesnt' mean squat if i'm miserable, everything in m oderation
  • FitCoachJen
    FitCoachJen Posts: 139 Member
    Quantity for me. I can't stand not feeling satiated, and I've been known to go over my caloric limits just to stop feeling hungry. Quantity = volume, and I can eat a lot more salad and feel content than I can with something calorie dense (it's not fair, right?).


    Then again, if it came down to eating a brownie versus a salad for dinner....it would depend on my willpower. 98% of the time I'll eat the salad, if it's colorful enough :-)
  • lorenwade
    lorenwade Posts: 7
    I kinda disagree with the question in the first place. The best thing about being healthy is you, for the most part, can eat more food per calorie when you eat healthy. So I choose both!
    The problem is the diet food industry has convinced us that we can have both and honestly often times you can't. Those low cal yogurts are full of sugars and food coloring whereas, plain, natural yogurt or better yet, 0% Greek yogurt that you add your own fruit to is far better for you .

    Well... that's part of my point. That fake "healthy" food isn't healthy at all. And certainly not filling. Eat something truly healthy and you can eat more of it per calorie than you can for unhealthy food. The great thing about eating healthy is you get quality and quantity per calorie.
  • srp2011
    srp2011 Posts: 1,829 Member
    Yes. Aside from the overall health benefits, I have repeatedly seen weight loss stall when calories come primarily from junk even if they are technically within the allowable amounts (my own experience and looking at the food diaries of many people on the forums complaining of 'plateauing"). It may work for a little while, but eventually your body rebels if it is not getting the right fuel, just like a high performance car if you put in crap fuel. Maybe because it takes more energy to digest and extract calories from lean protein or fiber rich foods, maybe because of effects on blood glucose and insulin levels related to fat storage, maybe because eating healthier makes you feel better and you're more likely to exercise, or push harder during workouts... whatever the reason, it does matter.
  • Black_Swan
    Black_Swan Posts: 770 Member
    I prefer a big quantity of good quality, haha...
  • suzycreamcheese
    suzycreamcheese Posts: 1,766 Member
    for pure weight loss purposes, quantity is what counts. Quantity of calories, not quantity in weight

    I think id rather have a big mullerlight than attempt to try and stop at a half a pot of delicious thick and creamy clotted cream yoghurt or a large dollop of extra light mayo, than a fraction of a teaspoon of full fat stuff


    It really depends on what it is though. Some diet foods i dont even think are worth the low cals
  • mielikkibz
    mielikkibz Posts: 552 Member
    for pure weight loss purposes, quantity is what counts. Quantity of calories, not quantity in weight

    I think id rather have a big mullerlight than attempt to try and stop at a half a pot of delicious thick and creamy clotted cream yoghurt or a large dollop of extra light mayo, than a fraction of a teaspoon of full fat stuff


    It really depends on what it is though. Some diet foods i dont even think are worth the low cals

    you got it there, tofu, brocolli, etc, etc. .ick
  • slim_photographer
    slim_photographer Posts: 310 Member
    this a question similar to Which do you prefer: fame, money or brains? Choose brains and you'll have all three.
    With Quality you can also have a pretty Quantity,
    examples:
    500 cals of fruit compared to 500 cals of hamburger.
    200 cals of nuts compared to 200 cals of candy
    and the list go on... this could actually be a good post "List you fave Eat this no that food substitutes"
  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    If you are eating quality foods you will have more quanity.
  • pyro13g
    pyro13g Posts: 1,127 Member
    I think to many people manage calories via exercise resulting in too much quantity. Yes, I spun it towards exercise because unsustainable exercise patterns, just like an unsustainable diet, are just as deadly to the goal.
  • simplysara9
    simplysara9 Posts: 521
    I think quality trumps quantity any day. I would not want to eat 1000 calories worth of cookies in a day and feel like crap when I could eat quality foods and feel good. Yes, I could still lose weight eating 1000 calories worth of cookies but it is not helping me become any healthier. With eating more quality foods you can have higher quantities of those foods for the most part so you will stay full longer.
  • mielikkibz
    mielikkibz Posts: 552 Member
    this a question similar to Which do you prefer: fame, money or brains? Choose brains and you'll have all three.
    With Quality you can also have a pretty Quantity,
    examples:
    500 cals of fruit compared to 500 cals of hamburger.
    200 cals of nuts compared to 200 cals of candy
    and the list go on... this could actually be a good post "List you fave Eat this no that food substitutes"

    but that fruit does nothing to fit the cravings for a nice medium rare hamburger, and sometimes I just need a chocolate kiss or three. . .all in moderation
  • suzycreamcheese
    suzycreamcheese Posts: 1,766 Member
    theres nothing wrong with a good medium rare hamburger, as long as youre not talking about some crappy big mac or suchlike. Good quality burger in a lovely crusty bread roll with a heap of salad is a not an unhealthy meal. Its not necessarily low cal, but its a nice high protein high carb meal, and great for athletes
  • myofibril
    myofibril Posts: 4,500 Member
    It depends on what your goal is ultimately.

    If your goal is to simply lose weight and you are not concerned where the weight comes from then quantity.

    If you goal is improving body composition (the ratio of fat to muscle you have) and general health then quality.

    I however agree with the gentleman who said this is a false dichotomy. You can have quantity AND quality with a decent fat loss programme....
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