Pizza for weight loss?

ReaderGirl3 · May 2016

I eat pizza several times a month (had it last night). Not a big deal.

Wicked_Seraph · May 2016

I strongly advise against taking a 12-year-old's advice "to heart" when it comes to health and nutrition.

I understand wanting to lose weight - trust me, all of us do. You're welcome to take my words with a grain of salt, but trying to eat a punitively restricted diet will do nothing to help you. You'll lose weight, yes, but it won't fix the cause of the weight gain in the first place. Without making an effort to make LIFELONG changes in how you approach food, you'll continue to be tripped up by the same pitfalls and continue to cycle between feast and famine.

Chocolate, pizza, ice cream - all of these are things you can (and should!) enjoy. The whole point of this is to become more aware of how and why you eat, and to make changes necessary to be able to approach food from a healthier perspective. Last night, for example, I had ice cream in a waffle bowl. With exercise, I was still in a deficit. Was it The Healthiest Ice Cream Ever? Hell no! But it was delicious, and I don't feel deprived

WinoGelato · May 2016

mom2wessarah wrote: »

sashayoung72 wrote: »

I just peaked at your diary and I am seriously concerned, someone mentioned 800 calories but you didn't even have that for the day, another day was even lower, are you logging everything? You cannot sustain on that amount of calories. Please follow guidelines, they are there to keep you HEALTHY!!!

Why keep to 800 as a goal -- long story, in my head anyway:

This is my 4th time trying to lose the weight I lost and gained back. First was Weight Watchers (with my husband), which I loved. They taught me for the first time what a portion is. I even worked there; led classes once I became a lifetime member. However, getting a new job with unexpected travel made me quit WW. Slowly,I gained back.

Did a medically supervised 500 calorie a day diet. I found it worked well and I wasn't hungry. Gained the weight back.

Fast forward to a husband who's gained back, even done lap band surgery and gained back. I wanted to jump start my weight loss, then move back to a weight waters diet. However, Medifast worked so well for me, at around 1000 a day, I wasn't hungry and lost about 70 lbs in 8 months.

Kept that off for several years. The boredom in my job, unhappiness in my marriage, not moving and eating late at night, made me lose weight. I know it was totally my choice to eat badly and not move, I'm not making excuses, I knew what I was doing was wrong, but at the time didn't care. Found myself at the highest weight of my life, and that's even after having twins! My husband isn't any motivation, as he's overweight, doesn't like his job and uses that an an excuse to not move his body.

My 12 year old said, "mom you should go on a diet" so I took that to heart. I thought I'd go back to what "worked". Medifast as a jump start. I'm so afraid I will not lose weight and want to keep it to about 2 lbs per week, I'm doing Medifast. However, I get so busy during the day, sometimes I'm too busy to eat, thus the low count. At the end of the day I don't want too much either.

I know I need to eat better to maintain, or I'll be back in the same rut. Just need to convince myself of that and implement. I have made a good friend that loves the outdoors and we often walk or hike on the weekend. I'm doing it to make my body stronger, but a seven mile hike doesn't hurt for CICO.

So, thank you for all the comments about fitting the pizza into my lifestyle. I'm trying to take to heart the quote about needing to keep a "diet" you can live with and be happy with to maintain. I know I can't do it on such a low intake. I'm getting thee and all the support here is helping. Thanks to everyone for your comments.

OP I strongly suggest you spend some time reading the links embedded within this post:

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10260499/i-like-old-posts-and-i-cannot-lie/p1

You will find so much helpful information about how to use this tool, how to set appropriate calorie targets, how to log accurately, how to stay motivated...

You've been successful a number of times over the years, but it sounds like you've had issues maintaining your success. I think part of the reason is that the way that you went about losing was too aggressive and not something that is sustainable. This is not a diet. This is not temporary. You don't need a jump start. This needs to be something you can do forever. There are lots of external factors that can influence our success rate - jobs, marriages, kids, illness, injury, etc. Developing a program that can adapt with those external factors is critical to long term success.

I strongly urge you to set a more reasonable calorie goal (1 lb/week would likely be appropriate), eat a variety of foods you enjoy within that calorie goal, log everything honestly and accurately, and exercise if you enjoy it - eating back a portion of those calories earned. Stick with that basic premise for 3 months and I think you will find it to be effective and manageable.

You need a plan that you can stick with. Medifast and/or a very low calorie target is not it. The word "diet" shouldn't even be something you talk about. Diets are temporary, so are jump starts and quick fixes. Please read those links and please reevaluate your approach.

Good luck.

michelle24p · May 2016

I love pizza. I wont willingly order it but if it is around i will eat the toppings and cheese just for the satisfaction. I still lost weight. Although now that I am closer to my goal I have to be more disciplined. Plus there are days when you wont eat the perfect meal. And if a meal has gone overboard, call it a cheat day and go for it. Then the next days go back to healthy eating.

WinoGelato · May 2016

Are people actually reading what the OP posted? She's inquiring about eating less than 500 cals of pizza as part of a total 800 cal intake on an average day. This is not a cheat day. She needs to be eating far more total calories, and worrying about whether 500 cals of pizza is ok should not be the top priority.

Also, 2 slices of pizza isn't a cheat meal, on any intake.

JeromeBarry1 · May 2016

All things in moderation. Except water.

Nachise · May 2016

The reason why people fail to maintain their weight loss is because they start out with unrealistic eating patterns. I could see 800 calories as part of an intermittent fasting regimen, but long-term weight loss involves a balance of diet and exercise that will have you eating at a deficit until you reach your goal. 800 calories a day is not balance.

I_Will_End_You · May 2016

mom2wessarah wrote: »

sashayoung72 wrote: »

I just peaked at your diary and I am seriously concerned, someone mentioned 800 calories but you didn't even have that for the day, another day was even lower, are you logging everything? You cannot sustain on that amount of calories. Please follow guidelines, they are there to keep you HEALTHY!!!

Why keep to 800 as a goal -- long story, in my head anyway:

This is my 4th time trying to lose the weight I lost and gained back. First was Weight Watchers (with my husband), which I loved. They taught me for the first time what a portion is. I even worked there; led classes once I became a lifetime member. However, getting a new job with unexpected travel made me quit WW. Slowly,I gained back.

Did a medically supervised 500 calorie a day diet. I found it worked well and I wasn't hungry. Gained the weight back.

Fast forward to a husband who's gained back, even done lap band surgery and gained back. I wanted to jump start my weight loss, then move back to a weight waters diet. However, Medifast worked so well for me, at around 1000 a day, I wasn't hungry and lost about 70 lbs in 8 months.

Kept that off for several years. The boredom in my job, unhappiness in my marriage, not moving and eating late at night, made me lose weight. I know it was totally my choice to eat badly and not move, I'm not making excuses, I knew what I was doing was wrong, but at the time didn't care. Found myself at the highest weight of my life, and that's even after having twins! My husband isn't any motivation, as he's overweight, doesn't like his job and uses that an an excuse to not move his body.

My 12 year old said, "mom you should go on a diet" so I took that to heart. I thought I'd go back to what "worked". Medifast as a jump start. I'm so afraid I will not lose weight and want to keep it to about 2 lbs per week, I'm doing Medifast. However, I get so busy during the day, sometimes I'm too busy to eat, thus the low count. At the end of the day I don't want too much either.

I know I need to eat better to maintain, or I'll be back in the same rut. Just need to convince myself of that and implement. I have made a good friend that loves the outdoors and we often walk or hike on the weekend. I'm doing it to make my body stronger, but a seven mile hike doesn't hurt for CICO.

So, thank you for all the comments about fitting the pizza into my lifestyle. I'm trying to take to heart the quote about needing to keep a "diet" you can live with and be happy with to maintain. I know I can't do it on such a low intake. I'm getting thee and all the support here is helping. Thanks to everyone for your comments.

I'm reading this thinking you're setting yourself up to lose and regain weight again. Don't you want to stop that cycle? If so, doing the same things you did in the past is obviously not going to work. Read over what you wrote, you'll see it.

kshama2001 · May 2016

WinoGelato wrote: »

layak wrote: »

pizza seems like empty caliries to me

Depending on the toppings, pizza has fat, carbs and protein. It's quite the opposite of empty calories, it is one of the most comprehensive from a macro nutrient standpoint.

FYI, the USDA considers the solid fats in pizza to be empty calories. http://www.choosemyplate.gov/preschoolers-empty-calories

I do have pizza once a month or so. Stopping at two pieces would not satisfy me. I do eat a big salad with it, and am now able to stop at three pieces.

TR0berts · May 2016

layak wrote: »

pizza seems like empty caliries to me

You're doing pizza wrong.

JayRuby84 · May 2016

800 goal is not a good thing for anybody, not even my 7 year old son eats that little. You need more and to find a healthier goal. Pizza is fine in moderation.

CasperNaegle · May 2016

We make pizza's at home all the time. You can find great flat breads, no fat cheeses, low fat meats, veggies and have a really great meal that fits in your macros.

avingers · May 2016

Nothing wrong with pizza! About once a week I buy the pre maid pizza dough from trader joe's and we make our own mini pizzas at home. With the right toppings, my pizza comes out to be under 300 cals. Paired with a side of veggies, it's totally satisfying.

hhnkhl · May 2016

You can have pizza everyday and lose weight. A slice isn't going to damage your weight.

ashleyjongepier · May 2016

I've lost 150+ lbs and eat pizza weekly or bi weekly, sometimes within my calories, sometimes over. Love me some pizza!

Adiemus200 · May 2016

Pizza is okay in moderation. Eating 800 callories a day is not okay. Please reconsider changing your callorie allowance for the day. I would be so hungry and grumpy on 800.

lemurcat12 · May 2016

kshama2001 wrote: »

WinoGelato wrote: »

layak wrote: »

pizza seems like empty caliries to me

Depending on the toppings, pizza has fat, carbs and protein. It's quite the opposite of empty calories, it is one of the most comprehensive from a macro nutrient standpoint.

FYI, the USDA considers the solid fats in pizza to be empty calories. http://www.choosemyplate.gov/preschoolers-empty-calories

I do have pizza once a month or so. Stopping at two pieces would not satisfy me. I do eat a big salad with it, and am now able to stop at three pieces.

In other words, cheese.

I find 2 pieces of pizza satisfactory (one piece if it's Chicago style). I also eat it with a salad, and tend to like lots of vegetables on it. I also enjoy making my own where I can have more for no more calories. I add cheese to my homemade pizza too, as well as many other foods (and I eat it on its own as dessert sometimes). I do consider cheese a treat or extra, but the idea that it would turn any food that contained it into "empty calories" seems odd. I had a 2-egg omelet with broccoli, spinach, and feta this morning, guess that also had empty calories, but it was not an empty calorie meal, IMO, and neither is a pizza with broccoli and spinach (which is a common enough topping).

Anyway, rant about pizza aside :-) I'd urge the OP to read the links that WinoGelato gave. They are great and very educational about using MFP. I read most of them soon after arriving here and have always been glad I did.

richardgavel · May 2016

Pizza, burgers, fries..all part of my pre weight loss diet. And part of my diet now, but I make it myself and control ingredients and portions better than a restaurant ordered version. And because I can eat the home versions whenever I want, I don't crave the worse versions.

rankinsect · May 2016

kshama2001 wrote: »

FYI, the USDA considers the solid fats in pizza to be empty calories. http://www.choosemyplate.gov/preschoolers-empty-calories

The only solid fats in a pizza should come from cheese, which is an excellent source of vitamin B12 and calcium and a good source of protein and vitamin A.

KetoneKaren · May 2016

mom2wessarah wrote: »

I was very busy at work today and only had time for a small snack. With little food in the house, I got the kids Domino's for dinner. Starving, I had two pieces and figured I'd make up for it the rest of the week. Well, after looking up the nutrition info, turns out two pieces of what I had is 470 calories and 50 carbs (I know calories are most important for weight loss, but trying to keep carbs under 100 as well), which fits just fine into my daily amounts. I hope everyone is right about what’s most important is CICO!

I took a peek at your food diary. I can tell you are a busy person. I am not sure this will help, but if you could eat breakfast or at least drink a protein shake in the morning, it might start your day out with a little protein, which a busy mother of two with a job outside the home could use. As far as the pizza goes, it is neither the best nor the worst food choice...and there is no reason why you can't eat pizza unless it's a trigger food, in which case you might want to avoid it for awhile until you can handle it. I think if you like pizza you should plan it right into your diet! Hope this helps.

Pizza for weight loss?

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