Can you truly eat whatever you want as long as it's under your goal?
emilyvictoria7
Posts: 102 Member
I tend to try and eat relatively well most days, and I've been losing steadily the whole time. I've mostly be at or ~100kcal under my goal but some days like today I've eaten mostly junk. Stopped at Tim's for a late breakfast and munched a serving and a half of kettle chips for a snack instead of making something. I still have plenty of kcals for supper and don't anticipate going over by nutritionally I've had a very high carb day. So is that really all it needs to be - under your calorie goal? It almost seems too easy...
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it's not complicated, although there are companies who take advantage of the fact that people are usually poorly educated on nutrition. Carbs, fats, protein (and micronutrients too) matter, but not for weight loss. Last night I had some calories left at the end of the day and chose to use them for a serving of cheetos and two treat size chocolate bars. I regularly eat cinnamon buns, cookies and cakes and I'm not gaining weight because it fits in my calorie goal.8
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Yep, that's it!6
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That's all it needs to be.1
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If it will help in some way, I've been using MFP for 28 days and I've eaten whatever I wanted providing it's stayed around 1200 calories/day. If I go over 1600, I do cardio for 1-2hrs (whichever I feel like.)
The last 28 days I've "lost" almost 5lbs (but due to PMS I'm expecting the scale to read 8lbs within the week as my trend has been going.)
I always stay well hydrated. Each day I have at least 50oz of water (usually 70oz.)
Ofcourse, I lose a lot faster when I don't eat anything bad at all, but that's not fun, nor sustainable. Never punish yourself for being healthy.5 -
Yep! Calories are all that matters when it comes to fat loss.
Keep in mind that if you eat out more than usual and/or eat a higher number of carbs that usual, you may see a higher number on the scale next time. That's 100% normal due to water retention - it doesn't mean you need to cut cals or make any changes. Just stick with it!
~Lyssa3 -
The wording.. 'eat what you want" is false... because most of us want to keep eating what we want..that's the problem. Also .. for me, when I eat yummy junk it leaves me hungry and feeling horrible and i have to eat something sensible on top of the junk later and it wrecks my calorie goal.
Maybe my blood sugar is unstable and some of you don't reel from eating like that.
But if you can eat a piece of chocolate cake for dinner and feel great ..go to bed..and still lose weight. Go for it!2 -
yup2
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In terms of weight loss you will lose, regardless of what kinds of foods you eat, as long as you're in the correct calorie deficit for your weight loss goals. However, you should focus on what's a sustainable way of eating-an all Twinkie diet will cause weight loss, if you're at a calorie deficit, but it would get old pretty quick, (and the same goes for an all Brussels sprouts diet, shudder lol).
No need to cut anything out that you like, or make drastic changes to your diet-but pay attention to what foods make you feel fuller, longer. Also, what foods do you currently eat that have lower calorie substitutes? What foods do you eat now that are calorie bombs and you won't miss cutting back on? And what lower calorie foods, and foods that have a high satiety level for you, can you add to your menu?2 -
Yup.
I've had wine, cookies, and pizza in the last week and actually lost a bit more than my goal.3 -
Honestly you can but for me personally my abs don't show if I eat junk (I only have like 2-4 cuts anyway) and I get bloated and feel bad and stuff. Once in a while doesn't hurt though0
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If you're trying to lose weight, yes.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Thanks everyone! I do lots of low calorie replacements - cauliflower rice, zuchinni noodles, low far everything from milk to cheese and yogurt. Vegetable straws over chips. Halo Top vs. Ben and Jerry's. So on days when I do eat out and still maintain a deficit, or even just eat at maintence (once in 85 days so far I believe) I'm going to let myself relax a bit!2
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crzycatlady1 wrote: »In terms of weight loss you will lose, regardless of what kinds of foods you eat, as long as you're in the correct calorie deficit for your weight loss goals. However, you should focus on what's a sustainable way of eating-an all Twinkie diet will cause weight loss, if you're at a calorie deficit, but it would get old pretty quick, (and the same goes for an all Brussels sprouts diet, shudder lol).
No need to cut anything out that you like, or make drastic changes to your diet-but pay attention to what foods make you feel fuller, longer. Also, what foods do you currently eat that have lower calorie substitutes? What foods do you eat now that are calorie bombs and you won't miss cutting back on? And what lower calorie foods, and foods that have a high satiety level for you, can you add to your menu?
Literally the best advice! Calorie bombs. That's my problem. I eat normally then have a calorie bomb or two go off but don't notice it as the big big to look at and that's how I e gained weight. Last week I couldn't believe how many calories in tahini! I never had a clue. Assumed it was healthy. Being Greek Ive found Greek bread/pittas and dips are the reason Greeks have curves! Culturally we have learnt to often have dips and bread and olives in addition to dinner and we don't count it. ERROR!!!! No more dips for me lol1 -
Not under your goal, but up to your goal. The deficit is already accounted for by MFP.1
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If I go over on say my sugar or fat and remain under calorie I don't seem to lose weight but I do maintain. So I'm watching that now also.0
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That's all there is to it. I have both bulked and cut on a wide variety of foods, and only really started narrowing down food choices for two reasons: preference, and ease of prep.1
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Two extremes here:
1. Eating "perfectly healthy" (whatever you decide that to mean); and
2. Eating your calorie goal in Twinkies.
We're human; we're not going to eat perfectly healthy. It's just not going to happen.
By the same token, eating 1X00 calories in snack cakes is just unsustainable.
But I believe that, beyond strictly 'CICO', which some people swear by, food choices DO matter--to an extent.
When it comes to weight loss, especially with people with considerable weight to lose, food choices are less important than controlling portions. But if you do it right, healthy options mean you can eat until you're full and not have to worry as much about blowing your calorie goal.
I personally do what I call 'paleo-ish', and I personally recommend that everyone at least entertain it as an eating plan, though you don't have to adopt it fully; I don't. I try to eat reasonably close to paleo, but I draw the line at their fancy, overpriced paleo-friendly alternatives to condiments, seasonings, dressings, etc. Also, when there's something I really want to eat that's not paleo-friendly, I just eat it, making sure I don't deviate more than once every few days. To be totally honest, sugary things don't even cross my mind--if they did I'd allow myself a small indulgence, but again, no more than once or twice a week.0 -
Two extremes here:
1. Eating "perfectly healthy" (whatever you decide that to mean); and
2. Eating your calorie goal in Twinkies.
We're human; we're not going to eat perfectly healthy. It's just not going to happen.
By the same token, eating 1X00 calories in snack cakes is just unsustainable.
But I believe that, beyond strictly 'CICO', which some people swear by, food choices DO matter--to an extent.
When it comes to weight loss, especially with people with considerable weight to lose, food choices are less important than controlling portions. But if you do it right, healthy options mean you can eat until you're full and not have to worry as much about blowing your calorie goal.
I personally do what I call 'paleo-ish', and I personally recommend that everyone at least entertain it as an eating plan, though you don't have to adopt it fully; I don't. I try to eat reasonably close to paleo, but I draw the line at their fancy, overpriced paleo-friendly alternatives to condiments, seasonings, dressings, etc. Also, when there's something I really want to eat that's not paleo-friendly, I just eat it, making sure I don't deviate more than once every few days. To be totally honest, sugary things don't even cross my mind--if they did I'd allow myself a small indulgence, but again, no more than once or twice a week.
I should clarify before I make someone mad by appearing to not bow at the 'CICO' altar:
CICO is king. But food habits (that is, repetition of healthy food choices) can make it easier to meet your calorie goal.3 -
Yes. Calories in VS Calories out!0
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Two extremes here:
1. Eating "perfectly healthy" (whatever you decide that to mean); and
2. Eating your calorie goal in Twinkies.
We're human; we're not going to eat perfectly healthy. It's just not going to happen.
By the same token, eating 1X00 calories in snack cakes is just unsustainable.
But I believe that, beyond strictly 'CICO', which some people swear by, food choices DO matter--to an extent.
When it comes to weight loss, especially with people with considerable weight to lose, food choices are less important than controlling portions. But if you do it right, healthy options mean you can eat until you're full and not have to worry as much about blowing your calorie goal.
I personally do what I call 'paleo-ish', and I personally recommend that everyone at least entertain it as an eating plan, though you don't have to adopt it fully; I don't. I try to eat reasonably close to paleo, but I draw the line at their fancy, overpriced paleo-friendly alternatives to condiments, seasonings, dressings, etc. Also, when there's something I really want to eat that's not paleo-friendly, I just eat it, making sure I don't deviate more than once every few days. To be totally honest, sugary things don't even cross my mind--if they did I'd allow myself a small indulgence, but again, no more than once or twice a week.
I should clarify before I make someone mad by appearing to not bow at the 'CICO' altar:
CICO is king. But food habits (that is, repetition of healthy food choices) can make it easier to meet your calorie goal.
at the CICO altar! And I completely agree with the subsequent statement. 2 -
When it comes to weight loss, especially with people with considerable weight to lose, food choices are less important than controlling portions. But if you do it right, healthy options mean you can eat until you're full and not have to worry as much about blowing your calorie goal.
In my short time here, this concept has been the biggest eye-opener of all. So much so that I have a hard time eating all the way to my goal some days.
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Silentpadna wrote: »
In my short time here, this concept has been the biggest eye-opener of all. So much so that I have a hard time eating all the way to my goal some days.
My wife eats the same way I do, and we both have that problem (she more than I).
I'd contend that any restriction of processed food might yield the same result. But as opposed to writing my own rulebook, I choose 'paleo'.0 -
You will lose weight faster if you consume a higher amount of your calories from protein rather than fat/carbs.0
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Depends on what you "want" if all you wan are snickers and twinkies it will be difficult to stay below your goal due to the true lack of satiation.
The key here is to meet a balance between caloric deficit and sanity. If you eat all of your calories at lunch in the form of a whole chocolate cake by 8pm you're going to feel like knawing your arm off. I am so tired of this advice "eat what ever you want just stay below your calories"
It completely ignores the truth of dieting/habit change psychology, biology of hunger, blood sugar/chemistry, and a person's energy needs. (ie a 60 yo sedentary man has different dietary requirements than that of a 28 year old nursing mother) Did you know that nursing mothers actually need lots of carbs and good fats. And depending on how much milk she produces she could burn up to an additional 1000kCal per day. Some people experience extreme hunger pangs that are more difficult for them than others during dieting.
It is incredibly rude and dismissive for anyone to tell you that your dieting approach is wrong that you should be able to just eat what you want just stay under the calorie goal. Everyone's physical composition is different, hormones, mental stress, and energy needs among other things can effect dieting success. Dieting is a function of managing all of that. To make it seem so "simple" is to undermine the effort required and therefore can undermine a new dieter's motivation when there are "blips" and failures along the way. It's unsupportive.
The supportive point of would be: Dieting is a tiered approach
- Calories come first. If you are over calories you won't lose weight.
- Next monitor Macros. You have to determine for yourself what balance of macros helps you maintain your desired
caloric deficit while minimizing discomfort. Discomfort is normal, but why experience more than necessary.
- Next Proper Hydration. Proper hydration is key in body functions. It can also help reduce fatigue. Often times when people over eat is due to fatigue and stress.
- Next is your micros. Eating a good variety of foods especially from fruits, vegetables and meats helps ensure that your body is receiving what it needs. It will also help keep your blood sugar stabilized to ensure you are getting what you need from your so that your mood and body function is optimal.
- Finally add in Physical Exertion. This should match your goals (Cardio - Weight loss, Resistance for muscle protection) While Physical exercise is not the key driver, it can help push you closer to your goals, help prevent relapse, and re
So if you need a quick pithy thing to quote:
Calories count first, so count calories first.
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Yes it's exactly how it works.
In my experience though, the closer you are to your goal, so harder it is to get away with it
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Yup! I've lost 20 lbs eating absolutely whatever I want. Just as long as I was under my calorie goal. It also prevents junk food binges because you don't feel deprived. I eat healthy most of the time but I allow myself treats because they taste good
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