Dietary advice please....

jacqui_blanco
jacqui_blanco Posts: 3 Member
edited December 2 in Health and Weight Loss
Can anyone out there who's followed Slimming World or Weight Watchers shed any light on the quandary that I have? Both above mentioned diets advise that fruit and veg is a free food and you should load up on it (and this isn't to be counted in points etc.) - however, I much prefer to use MFP but the amount of calories I'm entering for fruit and veg sometimes amounts to half of my calories in a day - should I be counting these? What do other people do? Thanks Jacqui

Replies

  • Jams009
    Jams009 Posts: 345 Member
    edited June 2016
    Yes, count them. There's no such thing as a free food in the real world. Weightwatchers etc. are just money making schemes and put far too much emphasis on eating 'healthy' imo. If your primary goal is weight loss then calories trump everything else.

    The logic behind having these as free food, especially the veg is they fill you up with relatively low amounts of calories, which means that you will be less tempted to eat more calorie dense foods, resulting in a calorie deficit (in theory). They also have a lot of nutrients in them for the amount of calories, which is good for general health purposes. But ignoring general health, just for a moment, a calorie deficit is the ONLY thing that matters for weight loss. So if that is your main goal it should be your main focus.

    Hope that helps.
  • pebble4321
    pebble4321 Posts: 1,132 Member
    If you are using MFP - count them. Your calorie allowance has not been set up to allow for "free foods", the assumption is that if you eat something, you log it. You can see how the calories add up, so there's a good chance that if you don't log them, you won't be getting much (if any) of a calorie deficit.

    My understanding is that WW and SW give you a slightly lower allowance to allow for those "free" calories. I could be wrong here though, it's a lot of years since I went to WW and I know things have changed since then.

    Basically, I think you need to pick one system of logging and stick with it, mixing the two is just going to get confusing.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    They don't really limit them tbh - they talk about portion sizes and not going overboard particularly with the higher calorie fruits

    You have to choose between the two methods I think

    free foods are incorporated in the points and approaches of the two dietary plans - but at the heart of both it's about calories
  • jacqui_blanco
    jacqui_blanco Posts: 3 Member
    So what would you say is the correct number of cals per day for weight loss for a woman? I try to train each day (a combination of cardio and weights). Ta, Jacqui.
  • Jams009
    Jams009 Posts: 345 Member
    Depends on weight/height/age and activity level + individual differences in metabolism etc.

    I've been on here so long I forget how it works, but I think MFP has a function that will set your goals for you if you put your information in. I'm sure someone else will comment on it.

    Alternatively there are calculators online you can use to work it out. Search google for 'TDEE calculator' (TDEE=total daily energy expenditure) then subtract 500cal for a 1lb per week rate of weight loss, but don't go below 1200, which is the minimum amount you need to get all your essential nutrients. If 500cal takes you below that you'd be better sticking to 1200cal and stepping up your exercise instead.

    Tip: Set a goal and stick to it for a 4-6 weeks and see how much you lose on average, then adjust calories depending on whether you want to lose faster (harder) or slower (easier) - That's the best way to figure out how many calories works for you.
  • fabulousmo
    fabulousmo Posts: 41 Member
    i've been trying to stick with 1,200 calories a day. i "eat back" calories burned through exercise. in 4 months, i've lost over 20 pounds. it's no secret: caloric deficit results in weight loss.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    If you're using MFP count them.
  • suzyjane1972
    suzyjane1972 Posts: 612 Member
    Count them especially fruit. The concept of plenty of fresh fruit and veg is good nutritionally wise but the concept of eat as much as you want is seriously flawed.
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