Calorie Limit ........... Does it matter what foods you eat?

sarahavery
sarahavery Posts: 167 Member
edited September 29 in Health and Weight Loss
Just wondered....if i stay within my limit that MFP has given me for calories, fat, protien, carbs, soduim, can i basically eat what I like?

Will i still lose weight?

this is what my friend does on her weight watchers diet
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Replies

  • sweebum
    sweebum Posts: 1,060 Member
    Yes, I eat what I want and try to stay close to the limits. A calorie deficit is a calorie deficit. But filling up on 100 snacks, or weight watchers dinners probably wouldn't make anyone feel full :smile:
  • plt55
    plt55 Posts: 111 Member
    yes stay on your calorie count a 1000 calories are a 1000 calories depends on your day sometimes I will waste 350 on a snickers because I need it lol other days i have a couple sandwiches green bean etc because I need more food
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    yes...I personally like to eat my face off, so I have to pack in the low calorie foods like fresh veggies and fruit...but if you're ok eating 5 things a day and have them high in calories, then it's ok, just make sure it has enough fuel for your body to be healthy...double check your calcium, iron, protein, etc to make sure you're getting enough...
  • Avalonis
    Avalonis Posts: 1,540 Member
    Just wondered....if i stay within my limit that MFP has given me for calories, fat, protien, carbs, soduim, can i basically eat what I like?

    Will i still lose weight?

    this is what my friend does on her weight watchers diet

    In theory, yes.

    HOWEVER - Eating bad foods will do a few things:
    You will feel STARVING, which could lead to binging and then failure.
    You will not get proper nutrition, which can leave you very tired and not feeling like working out.

    Both of those are terrible when trying to lose weight. You can have little cheats, like a handful of pretzels or a square of chocolate, but for 99% of what goes into your mouth it should be better choices like lean meat, chicken, fish, shellfish, veggies and fruits of any kind.

    Let me know if you want any support of ideas for good foods, snacks or tiny "cheats"
  • sharoniballoni
    sharoniballoni Posts: 163 Member
    Generally yes, a deficit is a deficit and you will lose weight. However, that doesn't say anything about your overall health or how hungry you'll be. If you care about those two things, you'll want to make sure to eat lots of healthy foods, especially veggies, to keep you full on few calories.
  • amysuemartin718
    amysuemartin718 Posts: 99 Member
    I've lost almost 30 lbs and unfortunately been eating out a lot during this time. I just make better choices at Fast Food and other restaurants.
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    Just wondered....if i stay within my limit that MFP has given me for calories, fat, protien, carbs, soduim, can i basically eat what I like?

    Will i still lose weight?

    this is what my friend does on her weight watchers diet

    In theory, yes.

    HOWEVER - Eating bad foods will do a few things:
    You will feel STARVING, which could lead to binging and then failure.
    You will not get proper nutrition, which can leave you very tired and not feeling like working out.

    Both of those are terrible when trying to lose weight. You can have little cheats, like a handful of pretzels or a square of chocolate, but for 99% of what goes into your mouth it should be better choices like lean meat, chicken, fish, shellfish, veggies and fruits of any kind.


    good answer
  • Scarlett_S
    Scarlett_S Posts: 467 Member
    It should be as simple as calories in, calories out - at least that is what they say on the Biggest Loser! Just remember that you will get more 'band for your buck' out of healthier foods that are lower in fat and sugar and high in protein.

    That said, I abide by an 80/20 rule myself because I have learned over the years that I can't just NOT have things I want to eat, or forbid myself, because I'll binge on them. So a few meals out of the week I may have a small portion of something I normally wouldn't eat, like a chicken quesadilla, or even an alcoholic drink, or a small dessert. The key for me is VERY small portions if I do that and I still log the calories to the tee!!! Another thing I do is bank some calories for the weekend - say 500 or 600 extra - either from exercise or food, and use them if I want to go to happy hour or dinner out. You just have to have control.

    I've been doing this since January. I've lost 62 pounds. I just make sure my weekly calorie intake is between 9000-9500 calories, or 1300-1400 daily if you are averaging. If I see I am over by the end of the week, I plan extra workout for Saturday or I lower my calories the last day.

    Most of the rest of the time I eat the same foods: egg white omelet with veggies and salsa for breakfast, grilled chicken salad for lunch, fish and a veggie for dinner, protein bar or shake for snack. High protein, low carb has worked well for me.
  • crozierb
    crozierb Posts: 61 Member
    This is the perfect article to answer your question! Even though this professor ate junk, he lost weight AND improved overall health by consuming fewer calories than he burned. Not to say you should go on a twinkie diet, of course ;)

    http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html
  • Fochizzy
    Fochizzy Posts: 505 Member
    No I don't worry about the food. I mean obviously I need to not become protein deficient or the like but overall, I don't have nutrient problems. I take a multi-vitamin, I drink a delicous breakfast shake that is high in protein (my biggest problem). And then I have the foods I love, Pizza, Fries, Wings and Pasta and then I make sure not to go over calories. If I start to feel bad I will reassess the nutrients, but when I try and cut the foods I love and the food I crave out I fail. When I take them in moderation considering that I can have only two pieces of pizza, or four wings I do ok. I personally don't end up hungerier later, but everyone is different!
  • k8edge
    k8edge Posts: 380
    I would think that you would want to make a change and eat more healthy food.

    If you eat crap then you will feel like crap and ultimately you will hinder your weight loss goals.
  • marie_2454
    marie_2454 Posts: 881 Member
    I focus more on how much I eat than on what exactly I'm eating. I eat fruit, vegetables, yogurt, and other healthy foods daily, but I also have at least half a serving of some kind of goldfish crackers daily too. They've become my addiction :smile: I just make sure that I stay within my calories. I very rarely go over on fat, and I don't worry if I go over on carbs or sugar since most of my sugar comes from fruit or yogurt. I just try to eat enough protein and get at least 25 grams of fiber a day. This works really well with me, but it might not work this well with everyone. If you're losing weight eating what you like and you're getting enough minerals and vitamins I wouldn't worry about it.
  • emsibun
    emsibun Posts: 208
    The closer you get to your goal weight the more the choices you make with regards to what you eat will become very important. I'd say start good habits now by making one change every few weeks. Aim to eat one more fruit and one more veg portion (within cals) every day for two weeks. Keeps that habit and add to it. Maybe change all pasta to wholemeal. Two weeks later change all rice to brown. Two weeks later no more soft drinks - only water.

    You'll be making great habits for when it becomes very important where those calories come from. The closer you are to your goal, the slower the weight loss is and it's a whole lot easier if you are full up and happy!
  • Bella1hud
    Bella1hud Posts: 530 Member
    We just have to make sure we generally follow a balanced diet to get all the nutrients we need. We don't want to end up thin... and sickly!
  • Atlantique
    Atlantique Posts: 2,484 Member
    Just wondered....if i stay within my limit that MFP has given me for calories, fat, protien, carbs, soduim, can i basically eat what I like?

    Will i still lose weight?

    this is what my friend does on her weight watchers diet

    In theory, yes.

    HOWEVER - Eating bad foods will do a few things:
    You will feel STARVING, which could lead to binging and then failure.
    You will not get proper nutrition, which can leave you very tired and not feeling like working out.

    Both of those are terrible when trying to lose weight. You can have little cheats, like a handful of pretzels or a square of chocolate, but for 99% of what goes into your mouth it should be better choices like lean meat, chicken, fish, shellfish, veggies and fruits of any kind.

    Let me know if you want any support of ideas for good foods, snacks or tiny "cheats"

    Agreed. There's a difference between creating enough of a caloric deficit for weight loss to occur and providing your body with decent nutrition.

    Another risk of just eating whatever you want within your calorie goal is the dreaded "skinny-fat", in which you lose so much muscle mass that even though you're smaller, you're actually flabbier than when you began.
  • Schwiggity
    Schwiggity Posts: 1,449 Member

    this is what my friend does on her weight watchers diet

    Then she's not really following Weight Watchers.
  • skinnyhopes
    skinnyhopes Posts: 402 Member
    Not really. I eat alot of junk food and lost 10 pounds without any problems.
  • MichelleB69
    MichelleB69 Posts: 213 Member
    What Avalonis said. I also think it depends on what your goals are...if you are only concerned with weight loss and the number on the scale, then no...it doesn't really matter that much; stay w/in your caloric range and eat what you want. But if you are truly trying to attain a healthy lifestyle, feel strong and improve your overall fitness, then it TOTALLY matters what you put in your mouth (or fuel your body with)

    I have gained and lost the same 10-20 lbs over the last 20 years, ever since gaining the college freshman 20. Attempted fad diets, Weight Watchers, etc.

    This time, I used MFP, combined with a personal trainer and a higher protein, lower (not NO) carb, CLEAN diet. The strength training and the clean eating has made a HUGE difference....in how I look AND in how I feel. Consistency in your eating plan is key; you can have occasional treats, but need to fuel your body with healthy choices for the majority of the time. The good news is, you can eat MORE if you choose clean vs. processed foods :)

    Best of luck to you!
  • RILEYRED
    RILEYRED Posts: 647 Member
    THAT'S HOW I DO IT, DON'T WANT TO SACRIFICE,LOL
  • kennie2
    kennie2 Posts: 1,170 Member
    As long as youre within your calorie, sodium, carbs, fat, sugar and all the other stuff then it shouldn't matter. However it'll be hard to fit the limits with just junk food. As you'd probably go over on sodium and fat before reaching your calorie limit.
  • skinnyhopes
    skinnyhopes Posts: 402 Member
    Another risk of just eating whatever you want within your calorie goal is the dreaded "skinny-fat", in which you lose so much muscle mass that even though you're smaller, you're actually flabbier than when you began.

    The skinny fat thing is true. I say this from experience. I'm thin but really flabby too. So you might want to cut back on junk.
  • cjjones007
    cjjones007 Posts: 602
    Just wondered....if i stay within my limit that MFP has given me for calories, fat, protien, carbs, soduim, can i basically eat what I like?

    Will i still lose weight?

    this is what my friend does on her weight watchers diet
    Yes, because if you are working to stay within range for Protein, Fat, carbs, Sodium, and Sugar - you are going to find you are still choosing some healthy choices :)
  • NewVonnie
    NewVonnie Posts: 683 Member
    Just wondered....if i stay within my limit that MFP has given me for calories, fat, protien, carbs, soduim, can i basically eat what I like?

    Will i still lose weight?

    this is what my friend does on her weight watchers diet

    In theory, yes.

    HOWEVER - Eating bad foods will do a few things:
    You will feel STARVING, which could lead to binging and then failure.
    You will not get proper nutrition, which can leave you very tired and not feeling like working out.

    Both of those are terrible when trying to lose weight. You can have little cheats, like a handful of pretzels or a square of chocolate, but for 99% of what goes into your mouth it should be better choices like lean meat, chicken, fish, shellfish, veggies and fruits of any kind.

    Let me know if you want any support of ideas for good foods, snacks or tiny "cheats"

    THIS ^
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Sure, you can eat whatever you want, but it's best if "what you want" is mostly healthy foods. You'll be more satisfied and have more energy.

    Not every choice has to be perfect. You're not a failure because you ate pizza or wings. As long as a solid 80% of your food is smart, some goodies or junk aren't going to undo that. I've had half a DiGiorno Rising Crust pizza once a week (sometimes more) every week since I started. I just make it fit in my calories by exercising a lot.
  • ladybg81
    ladybg81 Posts: 1,553 Member
    Yes, but keep in mind that 1400 of calories of McDonald's is not that much food vs 1400 of fruits, veggies, lean meats, whole grains, and low fat dairy.

    But, do what you will.
  • gymmgirl
    gymmgirl Posts: 7 Member
    Hi Sara! Good job on setting incremental goals and checking off what you've accomplished! You should be proud of yourself : )

    You can get by for a while eating whatever as long as it's in the calorie limits but eventually you will plateau and maybe even run out of energy to maintain your momentum. Quality calories are essential for continuing to push yourself in your workouts as well as keep your bones and other major organs healthy as well. Try to eat more unprocessed foods (translation; veggies, fruits and whole grains). Also don't be afraid to up your protein a little (not much) so you will continue to get stronger for better quality workouts. You have a great plan in place and tracking your progress on MFP is a great way to stay with it! Studies continue to come out that prove people who track their progress stay with their program and see more success.

    Keep up the great work and enjoy yourself!
  • Logicalpoots
    Logicalpoots Posts: 10
    Let me preface this by very clearly stating that I am still extremely obese, near four-hundred pounds, and everything I say should be taken with a grain of salt AND a spoonful of sugar (Mmm. That's tasty medicine!) until I prove myself further with successful weight loss and better health. Having said that, I have to state that I think the ubiquitous insistence that diet, nutrition, and fitness are all equally necessary for weight loss is at very least overstated, and perhaps even counterproductive, especially where the extremely overweight or morbidly obese are concerned. It should come as a surprise to no one that our plates are already both literally and figuratively overfilled. I am not trying to suggest that nutrition and exercise have no place in weight loss/maintenance efforts. I am however concerned that we may be discouraging weight loss for many, and thereby inhibiting progress toward better overall health with nutritional and fitness excellence combined with caloric restriction. Like the great philosopher Chris Rock once said of those telling him that after getting his G.E.D. he should now go to college: "SLOW DOWN! It should be obvious that high school was already kickin' my a.." So, to answer the question asked by the O.P., "Does it matter what foods you eat?", I would have to answer that in the short term, for weight loss, absolutely positively and without reservation NO IT DOESN'T. Of course, while I was writing this post I was enjoying a very healthful green curry shrimp and scallops with LOTS of vegetables, fairly low fat, low carb and low calorie, and now I'm going for a mile or two walk. What do I know? YMMV.

    Jeff
  • Funnybunnyboo
    Funnybunnyboo Posts: 87
    with what i have found, over the years of dieting, starving, no carbing, etc...i have learnt an awful lot.
    because i couldnt shift the weight, and i had diabetes, and high cholesterol, and also suffered with blood clots on the lungs, i had become very ill. my doctor, bless him, put me forward for a gastric bypass, and i shall forever thank him for doing that for me-6 stone lighter, i can honestly say these things, and know they were true for me.....
    if you dont learn to control your portion sizes...you will put on weight.
    if you dont control the types of food you eat, you still risk high cholesterol, and diabetes, stroke, hypertension, heart attacks...
    if you dont learn to love some form of excercise, you will put any lost weight back on, plus more, and it will be hardsr to shift.
    if you dont understand what food is really for, you have lost the reason for eating in the 1st place!!
    i did weight watchers...i ut on weight, i did slimming world-which i personally find the best commercial diet out there, and lost weight,as excercise isnt really promoted. i did rosemary conley's low fat regimes...omg boring tasting food, and didnt help, except for the excercise!!
    i did atkins, now for me, that worked brilliantly, but i was living with a mean spirite person, wh would leave all sorts of yummy food around, and i have no will power...so guess what-yup, fell off the diet wagon
    .my point really is this...when you fill up on rubbish food, its a bit like putting 2 star petrol, in a sports car, its not going to go too far before it brakes down, and our bodies are the same-food is nutrition, and good food keeps us going-taste is very important, so a little of what you fancy, will always do you good, but you ant live on it, and eventually, it will show..

    oooppps, soz about the rant,
    hope i didnt bore you too much, and good luck, add me if you want to!!
  • be_kris
    be_kris Posts: 47

    this is what my friend does on her weight watchers diet

    Then she's not really following Weight Watchers.

    Hehehe, love this response! lol
  • Sublog
    Sublog Posts: 1,296 Member
    Assuming you are hitting all of your macro-nutrient goals, then what you eat really does not matter for weight loss.

    See this thread for more info.

    http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=133634471
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