So I can eat ANYTHING as long as it's in my calorie deficit?

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Allthingsglitter
Allthingsglitter Posts: 15 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I heard the way to lose weight is to eat no more than my deficit. But can I eat anything I wanted to and lose weight?

Lets just say I can only eat 1,400 in a day and for breakfast I would eat a sausage and egg breakfast sandwich from McDonalds (430 calories)
Lunch would be a Junior chicken from Mcdonalds (370 calories)
Then dinner would be something healthier like ground turkey and veggies (600 calories)

Would I still be able to lose weight even though all I am eating half the day is junk food? Technically I am still in the deficit.

Also, I am not active as I am doing a desk job so I won't be burning any calories through out the day.
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  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
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    Yes, if that combination of food adds up to fewer calories than you burn all day long, it will put you in a calorie deficit, which is the key to fat loss.

    BTW, you burn calories all day long whether you are sitting around during nothing or running a marathon. It would be differing amounts of calories, of course, but either way there are calories burned.
  • CaladriaNapea
    CaladriaNapea Posts: 140 Member
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    Yes, you can eat literally whatever you want and still lose weight--I en junk food and ice cream (my weakness). However, staying in a calorie deficit long term is easier if you find foods that are highly satiating for you. For me, that means foods with high fiber and high protein. Other people need high fat or high carb. It depends on you, but I would really recommend that you play around, experiment, and figure out what makes you feel the most full.

    FYI, you can do this at fast food places too. Most of them have healthier options and you can see if they work for you to help you stay within your calorie budget.
  • amtyrell
    amtyrell Posts: 1,449 Member
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    Yes if the goal if weight loss. For health you should attempt to eat healthy foods (veggies,lean meats,seafood,ect) and moderate junkfood (soda chips ect) .But enjoy and savor the treats.
  • DaniG_1987
    DaniG_1987 Posts: 40 Member
    edited March 2017
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    As other people have said, yes you can eat this way and lose weight. However, you are most likely not going to feel great during it and might even have a larger chance at not sticking with it. If you eat McDonalds for breakfast and lunch every day your body will be lacking important vitamins and nutrients and you will be consuming a lot of sodium, which will lead you to feeling bloated and probably more tired. If you eat healthier, fresher, food that gives you vitamins and nutrients your body needs you'll feel a lot better and you will still be losing weight.
  • neldabg
    neldabg Posts: 1,452 Member
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    Indeed! I sure did. Still, don't abuse the science. Just because you can lose weight without nutrient dense food, doesn't mean you should. Have your treats in reasonable amounts and get in your macros and micros as necessary.
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 4,991 Member
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    Ashleyjt_ wrote: »
    I heard the way to lose weight is to eat no more than my deficit. But can I eat anything I wanted to and lose weight?

    Lets just say I can only eat 1,400 in a day and for breakfast I would eat a sausage and egg breakfast sandwich from McDonalds (430 calories)
    Lunch would be a Junior chicken from Mcdonalds (370 calories)
    Then dinner would be something healthier like ground turkey and veggies (600 calories)

    Would I still be able to lose weight even though all I am eating half the day is junk food? Technically I am still in the deficit.

    Also, I am not active as I am doing a desk job so I won't be burning any calories through out the day.

    Yes. You can. You might be hungry during the day, or you might not. You do want to make sure that you are getting enough protien and good fats and nutrients. But you do not have to completely cut out any foods in order to lose weight.
  • try2again
    try2again Posts: 3,562 Member
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    Yes, but personally if all I had for lunch was a small chicken sandwich, I'd probably be ravenous by mid-afternoon and end up blowing all my calories for the day. :( Maybe if I rounded it out with some fresh veggies, berries, & Greek yogurt from home (which would only add about another 150 calories).
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
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    That would depend. Does McDonalds fill you up, or would you find yourself grabbing food here and there an hour later making sticking to your deficit harder? If the answer is yes, then yes, that's exactly how it works. It would be an acceptable diet, too, because eggs and chicken aren't the worst things you could do nutritionally either, as long as you introduce a bit more nutritional variety from time to time.
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
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    Be curious to see what a day logged like this would look like macro wise? I'm thinking add a couple of pieces of fruit as snacks for a couple hundred more calories and it wouldn't look too bad.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
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    Tacklewasher wrote: »
    Be curious to see what a day logged like this would look like macro wise? I'm thinking add a couple of pieces of fruit as snacks for a couple hundred more calories and it wouldn't look too bad.

    stb64gkk2fi8.png
  • Sheisinlove109
    Sheisinlove109 Posts: 516 Member
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    You can but I would be so hungry plus the salt in just one of those is insane.

    I have been losing consistently but eating mostly balanced. I will have a cupcake if I want it but it must fit in my calories. Lately I've eliminated the majority of that though because it takes up so many calories and sodium, takes two minutes to eat and leaves me hungry. Now I will eat one of those items over two days and eat apple/carrot/veggie/cheese to help fill me.
  • HGarcia1527
    HGarcia1527 Posts: 69 Member
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    Absolutely. But I wouldn't recommend it on a daily basis.
  • wellthenwhat
    wellthenwhat Posts: 526 Member
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    sunsweet77 wrote: »
    You can but I would be so hungry plus the salt in just one of those is insane.

    I have been losing consistently but eating mostly balanced. I will have a cupcake if I want it but it must fit in my calories. Lately I've eliminated the majority of that though because it takes up so many calories and sodium, takes two minutes to eat and leaves me hungry. Now I will eat one of those items over two days and eat apple/carrot/veggie/cheese to help fill me.
    I know, part of the reason I don't eat fast food is because it is so high calorie for what you get. I split a steak and shake meal with my boyfriend, and we still had a large calorie meal, even though we weren't super full.

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