Calories and LCHF
aimos87
Posts: 55 Member
Hi, When you eat LCHF do you stay within a calorie allowance? I imagine this is difficult to do as fats are high in cals?
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It isn't are hard as it would seem. Often, it is hard for people to stay above their minimum calorie goal.2
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I'm actually finding it far easier to stay in my calories. When I eat now I actually feel satisfied because I have eaten so much fat and minimal carbs with my meals. I was struggling with binge cycles before.4
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Not really. The times I do go over calories its because I over eat and I know I'm overeating lol. This WOE has taught me to listen to my body and to recognize TRUE hunger from just wanting to eat cuz its delicous food lol. For example, I love wings. Low in carbs, but high in cals. Now, I WILL be full on 4 wings from Buffalo Wild Wings but sometimes I will cram in that last one cuz its so darn good not because I am still hungry. See? But when I really lock in and stay focused I will stay under cals because I feel satisfied with LCHF.3
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Same here! I tend to be under calories I monitor that pretty closely. A couple under days I don't mind but if it starts getting out of hand I work to fix it. I'm one that believes under 1200 Cal for an extended period is bad news so YMMV on that
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I used to track calories and found I was so satisfied from eating protein and fat that I naturally ate less without really having to try.
It's very common to see posts on here asking if it's safe to skip meals because people just aren't hungry.
It's much more rare to hear about uncontrolled hunger, but that does still happen to some. Leptin resistance may be the explanation there...5 -
When first going keto I did, but I get so full on fats and protein that I don't really pay as much attention to it now.0
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I have days when I have to have fat bombs to get to the MFP limit, otherwise I can't submit my diary. This is a whole other way of eating. I still log but I think I would do just as well if I didn't. I log mainly because some people like reading my diary since I eat a lot of ethnic foods and it inspires them to try new things. I have always been a serious foodie type person and love to play around with new recipes and ingredients. A habit that is serving me well with this WOE.2
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retirehappy wrote: »I have days when I have to have fat bombs to get to the MFP limit, otherwise I can't submit my diary.
You can log without hitting the "Complete My Entry" button and retain all functionality.
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I'm finding I eat far less volume than I used to. Idk the exact calories I took in each day previously, but my goal is set to 1800, and now i find it hard to meet this on many days.
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Awesome thanks everyone0
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Honestly? Yes. For me. I find it hard to stay within my calories most of the time.
On the upside, I'm at maintenance and have been for a couple of years. I got there via a non-high fat diet as a calorie counter and food logger then switched to keto for a health reason other than weight.
On the downside, this keto food is "fattening". Now that I'm using more oils, fattier cuts of meat, etc, when I log all that stuff in my diary it adds up fast. Fat is quite satiating for me so that is a good thing but the sad truth is I have had years of practice at excessive eating. I don't have any diseases/disorders/conditions that mess with my metabolism. I got fat because I ate too much too often.
Losing weight has never been a goal for me on keto. Good news is, I've not gained. Keto has helped me become aware of my eating habits (grazing, etc) that are unrelated to hunger. I'd love to be able to graze through a party nibbling on fatty nuts, cheese, salamis then have a fatty dinner, then have a fatty keto appropriate dessert. Can't do it. I'd be back where I started weight wise. Quickly.3 -
Some days are harder than others. There are some days that when you couple a keto coffee with a lunch and a dinner that I end up slightly over my daily's however for the most part you are satisfied with smaller portions of fat and protein.
I find myself skipping meals more than over eating.
Keto is amazing, I think I have found the one thing that will work for me and a new way of life. I am almost 4 weeks in and down 15lbs. My energy levels are through the roof, my attention span is better and more acute, I don't suffer from the afternoon crash, my moods are better, sex life is better just all around feel better than eating sugar.7 -
This is interesting - I am finding it hard to hit 1500 calories now i know why. I wrote on another thread that as a newbie gluten and wheat free I was worried I wasn't eating enough as I'm not used to my new way of eating and the dietician didn't mention that I'd be fuller.2
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retirehappy wrote: »I have days when I have to have fat bombs to get to the MFP limit, otherwise I can't submit my diary.
You can log without hitting the "Complete My Entry" button and retain all functionality.
This.
I never complete mine. I don't need MFP to be judgey or to lie to me with its goofy false predictions.
Of course I was always too hungry to worry about not completing due to calories, but still...
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I rarely complete my diary these days, I use it purely for myself, tracking and looking at my graph and progress. I don't need MFP telling me I am eating too much or will get fatter depending on what day it is. I look at the overall picture throughout the week.
Some days I am hungry, other days I am simply not, over the week those tend to even out.5 -
Yep. I've not "completed" my diary for a couple of years. I believe "completion" simply gives the 5 week projection and announces completion to your newsfeed if you have it checked in "settings" to announce. I unchecked that "box" long ago. My diary is open to my friends to look at if they choose to look. It's not real interesting. I also don't read or comment on pals food diaries or even check "like". I guess I could "like" that they kept one but since I didn't look at it, I don't know if I "like" it or not. LOL. Besides, it really shouldn't be important to others whether or not I like what they eat. If someone asks for suggestions, I look and offer an opinion.4
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I am trying to lose that last 6 pounds. I aim for 6 weeks of deficit (1250 cals) followed by 2 weeks of maintenance (1740 cals)...if I am hungry I will eat back up to half of my exercise calories, but I try to avoid that if I can manage it without being miserable.0
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Yes, I track and watch calorie counts on Keto. When I don't, I don't lose or I gain a bit. That said, I do find it easier to stay at or under calorie on Keto b/c I'm satisfied and not walking around like a hangry woman. But it's a fine line. With beef tenderloin and horseradish cream, glorious cheeses, deviled eggs, I can go overboard if I'm not tracking.2
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Hi, When you eat LCHF do you stay within a calorie allowance? I imagine this is difficult to do as fats are high in cals?
My first 6 or 7 months of LCHF I did not count anything. I read labels / nutritional information, and just eyeballed the portions. This worked for me up until the point when it stopped working. Then I started using MFP primarily to count carbs. In my experience, finding and eliminating the hidden carbs also eliminated hidden calories.
My opinion is, if you're making progress without worrying about calories, then that's fine. However, if you find you're not seeing the results you want, then it's time to start counting everything to make sure you aren't unintentionally slipping up somewhere.
Having said that, I definitely find I'm satisfied and not hungry, and I almost never hit my calorie goal. I've even been 'scolded' by the app for trying to complete my diary with < 1000 calories lol. Even eating high fat foods, I find it difficult to go over my limit -- I'm full long before then.
Cheers!2 -
I am new to MFP and LCHF, I do want to lose so I have a daily calorie goal, macro nutrient goals, and I track my exercise. I do this everyday, however I think once I reach my ideal weight I might not log in as much. I might continue to monitor my weight and make sure I dont go the wrong way. But for now I am all in on tracking everything!2
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tierrafuego wrote: »Yes, I track and watch calorie counts on Keto. When I don't, I don't lose or I gain a bit. That said, I do find it easier to stay at or under calorie on Keto b/c I'm satisfied and not walking around like a hangry woman. But it's a fine line. With beef tenderloin and horseradish cream, glorious cheeses, deviled eggs, I can go overboard if I'm not tracking.
Deviled eggs!! Thank you for reminding me about these delicious little things.
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I always keep an eye on calories but I am not as anal about it as I was before starting this WOE. As said before, I find that I often have not-hungry days and can't close my diary anyway so no big deal. Once you have adjusted to eating this way, it is much easier to 'hear' the signals that your body has been giving you all along and now that I can hear them and pay attention to them, I really don't over-eat the way I did before starting this WOE (even with super fatty delicious food
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retirehappy wrote: »I have days when I have to have fat bombs to get to the MFP limit, otherwise I can't submit my diary.
You can log without hitting the "Complete My Entry" button and retain all functionality.
I know, but I really don't want to eat below 1000 cals as my BMR is higher than that, so it keeps me on track. If I haven't paid attention to the numbers just entered the food and forgot about the meals, submitting reminds me if I went too low.
With this WOE I rarely go over my goal for the day, that usually involves lots of wine, chocolates, and being a slug for the day.0 -
It's so personal to each person. I have always been someone who has tracked and measured and counted calories and I continued to do that when I started keto in December. I didn't have a ton to lose so now that I'm getting down closer to where I think my goal weight will be I have been experimenting with loosely tracking meaning I keep track of really only my carbs and just eating what I know to eat when I want to eat it and I've still been doing well. Still lost a few pounds.
But I agree that if you get to a point where winging it is no longer working for you it might be a good idea to track more strictly and get an idea of where hidden carbs/calories might be so you can get back on track.1 -
I go back and forth but I'm currently tracking both carbs and calories.0
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Sometimes it is really hard to keep my calories in check...I'm either really hungry (or think I am) or just really want to be eating (love, love, love food!) I'm not trying to lose weight but want to burn off some of the extra fat layers over my muscles - have gained a few pounds since starting keto diet. I may consider switching to carb cycling which I've done in the past - mentally I may need the act of eating (more) to satisfy me
. For now....I'm giving keto more time to see if physically and mentally I can adjust and take advantage of the fat-burning. 0
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