Counting calories..Or not
Replies
-
I weigh and log my food because i enjoy it, its just become part of my daily routine. I not only do it for the calories, but to see where i am with my macros and micros.
I would probably consider stopping if i hated it or if it was time consuming, but it only takes me a few minutes a day and shows me exactly how i'm doing. I hate guessing and wondering...
I understand people coming here just for the forum side of the site. Honestly, if i was forced to choose which to get rid of, the food diary or the forum, I'd choose the diary option. I spend a few minutes a day over there logging my food, but i spend multiple hours here on the forums.
ETA: I spent the first 40 years of my life eating whatever i wanted and remaining slim. This worked until all of a sudden it didn't. That's the only part that sucks and truly kittens me off!7 -
Traveler120 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »It's not true that it's time consuming, though, and I hate it when people try to make it sound like this big horrible burden or something people would only do if they were overly neurotic.
But sure, whatever.
It IS true that it's time consuming( for me). Unless you eat everything out of a box. I cook most of my meals from scratch. It's easy to scan a box, not so easy to count and measure everything you are putting in your meal for a family.
I cook everything from scratch and it is not time consuming for me at all. I have to put food needing to be cooked into some kind of pan or bowl so why not put it into a pan or bowl sitting on a scale? Food not needing to be cooked can be plated while the plate is on the scale.
Dump, note weight, hit tare, dump next ingredient. Rinse and repeat.
Until when? The end of time? Who wants to be a slave to the scale. Measuring or weighing should be a temporary learning tool to understand calories in food. After that, one should know enough about various foods and quantities that eyeballing should be sufficient for the long term.
"Should"... by whose reckoning and remit?
Why is there a should? Does it matter if someone else continues to use a kitchen scale or affect you in any way?
I'm not being facetious here, I'm trying, sincerely, to understand why there is a need to have a "winner" in this discussion. Why can't people just do what they prefer for themselves?6 -
janejellyroll wrote: »Traveler120 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »It's not true that it's time consuming, though, and I hate it when people try to make it sound like this big horrible burden or something people would only do if they were overly neurotic.
But sure, whatever.
It IS true that it's time consuming( for me). Unless you eat everything out of a box. I cook most of my meals from scratch. It's easy to scan a box, not so easy to count and measure everything you are putting in your meal for a family.
I cook everything from scratch and it is not time consuming for me at all. I have to put food needing to be cooked into some kind of pan or bowl so why not put it into a pan or bowl sitting on a scale? Food not needing to be cooked can be plated while the plate is on the scale.
Dump, note weight, hit tare, dump next ingredient. Rinse and repeat.
Until when? The end of time? Who wants to be a slave to the scale. Measuring or weighing should be a temporary learning tool to understand calories in food. After that, one should know enough about various foods and quantities that eyeballing should be sufficient for the long term.
If someone doesn't want to weigh long term, that's fine. But I think it's unnecessary to declare that others should stop weighing. I know, from experience, that I'm terrible at eyeballing. I have no problem weighing long term because it frees me up to think about other things. Using a tool to do something more efficiently doesn't equal being a "slave." Sometimes it's just the smartest way to solve a particular problem.
One of the other reasons I like the idea of weighing food is that the idea of cutting out foods when the scale creep happens doesn't appeal to me. I'd rather keep my food choices open and monitor my intake (and I'm a terrible eyeballer too) than go through a spell where I'm feeling deprived because my weight starts creeping up and lather, rinse, repeat for the rest of my life.
But again, this is me, and I know me, my personality, and what will work for me.4 -
I have been weighing and logging my food for years and I think of it as a very useful tool, just like a bunch of other tools I use.
I have to pre-plan menus for the week anyway so I might as well do it here. In fact, it's easier to do it on MFP than on paper. I keep an eye on my calories to make sure I'm not going over/under (I'm a terrible eyeballer too, especially meats and ice cream). My husband can't cook so I need to weigh his food to keep an eye on his calories and certain macro and micro nutrients. Weighing and logging doesn't take me more than a few minutes a day and I love the information it gives me.
I know lots of people who have gained, lost and maintained without ever counting a calorie or weighing anything. I just don't happen to be one of them.2 -
Before attending these boards I had been with Precision Nutrition. Over there we never count calories. In fact, they don't believe counting is a "leverage point"--meaning that it is not worth the time-investment. So I've never weighed anything in my life. If you cared, you could look at my food blog and you would see that my feedings are super clean, super boring, and my goals are met predictably. So counting isn't the only way.
Time investment is exactly my point when I say too time consuming.
The big misunderstanding from some people who posted on this blog, is that not counting means eat what you want.
No, that's not the case.
I watch what I eat very carefully. I am not the cleanest eater but I don't eat junk. IF has been my lifestyle for years( which probably makes not counting easier since I get 80% - 90% of my food intake in one meal).
To wrap this up, I think counting is a great tool. But also, I don't know anyone that counted all his/her life( maybe there are people that do, but I wonder how many). What happens when/if you stop counting?...
1 -
What happens when you stop using any tool you use without a replacement?
At maintenance I use mindful eating -- I eat to schedule, rarely snack, and watch portions. If I stop doing that I gain weight easily, but that's no argument against it being a good tool. Same for counting.
Again, you are getting pushback here not because people think you should count or that it's necessary, but this false idea that people who count are spending huge amounts of time or suffering through some burden or eating only boxed things. PN is one example, as they have an investment in telling people to use their tools so they build up how hard and time consuming it is to count which is, IMO, bogus. Lots of people don't want to count or find it doesn't fit their personally, great -- I think counting is worth doing briefly for anyone as it is educational, but I don't do it usually myself anyway -- but I don't get why the need to try and slam counting and people who count as if it's an inferior method or only something weirdos do.6 -
Traveler120 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »It's not true that it's time consuming, though, and I hate it when people try to make it sound like this big horrible burden or something people would only do if they were overly neurotic.
But sure, whatever.
It IS true that it's time consuming( for me). Unless you eat everything out of a box. I cook most of my meals from scratch. It's easy to scan a box, not so easy to count and measure everything you are putting in your meal for a family.
I cook everything from scratch and it is not time consuming for me at all. I have to put food needing to be cooked into some kind of pan or bowl so why not put it into a pan or bowl sitting on a scale? Food not needing to be cooked can be plated while the plate is on the scale.
Dump, note weight, hit tare, dump next ingredient. Rinse and repeat.
Until when? The end of time? Who wants to be a slave to the scale. Measuring or weighing should be a temporary learning tool to understand calories in food. After that, one should know enough about various foods and quantities that eyeballing should be sufficient for the long term.
I'm worth the (maybe) 2 minutes a day that I'm a 'slave to the scale' to stay on track.
7 -
I made a recipe that required weighing out 2.5 pounds citrus, there is no way could I eye ball it. The recipe would have been a disaster without my scale. It's always on my counter and doesn't take more than a moment to use.
I have learned a lot from weighing food, especially store bought breads. It's easy to spot which breads will have more calories then stated on their package.2 -
For as long as is necessary...Traveler120 wrote: »Until when?
If necessary...Traveler120 wrote: »The end of time?
No one. Do you really think anyone counts their calories because they want to be a slave to a scale?Traveler120 wrote: »Who wants to be a slave to the scale.Traveler120 wrote: »Measuring or weighing should be a temporary learning tool to understand calories in food. After that, one should know enough about various foods and quantities that eyeballing should be sufficient for the long term.
I see a lot of shoulds here. Woulda shoulda coulda... There is what is and then there is the story we tell ourselves...7 -
Is calorie counting really sustainable on a long term basis?
The theory of calorie in - calorie out is flawed from a thermodynamics perspective [1]. However, it seems to be working within the Western culture because most of the food consumed here is not really food but man-made food-type substances that are made in big plants [2].
And hence, the need to count those calories which can cause insulin spikes like crazy. Plus, the added preservatives come as a bonus.
When you eat mostly whole foods, cooked at home (coz all restaurants care about is taste which often comes at the cost of lots of oil, salt, and sugar), one will not have to count calories at all and the person will weigh less and feel awesome.
You'll literally burn more fat if you overload yourself with plants, vegetables, green leaves, nuts, fruits, etc. It's a concept called energy density [3].
But if we're talking burgers, Mac n Cheese, Store bought pasta, bread, etc and calling them food - then I guess caloric restriction does seem to help by starving the body where it begins to burn fat until a point after which it starts burning muscle.
Since we have a lot of folks here who count calories which is nothing wrong I think but was that a lie told by the fitness industry to get people all amped up about a concept that a 2nd grader can understand?
I'd ask you to talk to the fittest friends in your peer group and ask them if they count calories. Curious to know the answers across diff. geography.
References -
1. http://tim.blog/2008/02/25/the-science-of-fat-loss-why-a-calorie-isnt-always-a-calorie/
2. https://www.amazon.com/Food-Rules-Eaters-Michael-Pollan/dp/014311638X
3. http://nutritionfacts.org/video/eating-more-to-weigh-less/0 -
Ironandwine69 wrote: »Before attending these boards I had been with Precision Nutrition. Over there we never count calories. In fact, they don't believe counting is a "leverage point"--meaning that it is not worth the time-investment. So I've never weighed anything in my life. If you cared, you could look at my food blog and you would see that my feedings are super clean, super boring, and my goals are met predictably. So counting isn't the only way.
Time investment is exactly my point when I say too time consuming.
The big misunderstanding from some people who posted on this blog, is that not counting means eat what you want.
No, that's not the case.
I watch what I eat very carefully. I am not the cleanest eater but I don't eat junk. IF has been my lifestyle for years( which probably makes not counting easier since I get 80% - 90% of my food intake in one meal).
To wrap this up, I think counting is a great tool. But also, I don't know anyone that counted all his/her life( maybe there are people that do, but I wonder how many). What happens when/if you stop counting?...
That's a fair question.
What would happen if I were to stop counting?
Well, I also IF, but I eat within a window. I'd still eat within that window and to the schedule I currently eat. I pretty much know which foods have a good satiety/caloric ratio and would stick to them and would try my best to pay attention to my hunger cues, though they are admittedly broken. I would eat slowly and mindfully just to the point of being no longer hungry. I'd weigh daily like I do now and track the trend, making adjustments to intake as necessary to prevent scale creep.
So I know what I'd do, I just prefer to count calories and log because to me it removes an element of guesswork that would leave me feeling anxious.
Different strokes for different folks.2 -
Is calorie counting really sustainable on a long term basis?
The theory of calorie in - calorie out is flawed from a thermodynamics perspective [1]. However, it seems to be working within the Western culture because most of the food consumed here is not really food but man-made food-type substances that are made in big plants [2].
And hence, the need to count those calories which can cause insulin spikes like crazy. Plus, the added preservatives come as a bonus.
When you eat mostly whole foods, cooked at home (coz all restaurants care about is taste which often comes at the cost of lots of oil, salt, and sugar), one will not have to count calories at all and the person will weigh less and feel awesome.
You'll literally burn more fat if you overload yourself with plants, vegetables, green leaves, nuts, fruits, etc. It's a concept called energy density [3].
But if we're talking burgers, Mac n Cheese, Store bought pasta, bread, etc and calling them food - then I guess caloric restriction does seem to help by starving the body where it begins to burn fat until a point after which it starts burning muscle.
Since we have a lot of folks here who count calories which is nothing wrong I think but was that a lie told by the fitness industry to get people all amped up about a concept that a 2nd grader can understand?
I'd ask you to talk to the fittest friends in your peer group and ask them if they count calories. Curious to know the answers across diff. geography.
References -
1. http://tim.blog/2008/02/25/the-science-of-fat-loss-why-a-calorie-isnt-always-a-calorie/
2. https://www.amazon.com/Food-Rules-Eaters-Michael-Pollan/dp/014311638X
3. http://nutritionfacts.org/video/eating-more-to-weigh-less/
DUDE.
I was a 210 pound whole foods vegetarian.
Try again.13 -
Is calorie counting really sustainable on a long term basis?
The theory of calorie in - calorie out is flawed from a thermodynamics perspective [1]. However, it seems to be working within the Western culture because most of the food consumed here is not really food but man-made food-type substances that are made in big plants [2].
And hence, the need to count those calories which can cause insulin spikes like crazy. Plus, the added preservatives come as a bonus.
When you eat mostly whole foods, cooked at home (coz all restaurants care about is taste which often comes at the cost of lots of oil, salt, and sugar), one will not have to count calories at all and the person will weigh less and feel awesome.
You'll literally burn more fat if you overload yourself with plants, vegetables, green leaves, nuts, fruits, etc. It's a concept called energy density [3].
But if we're talking burgers, Mac n Cheese, Store bought pasta, bread, etc and calling them food - then I guess caloric restriction does seem to help by starving the body where it begins to burn fat until a point after which it starts burning muscle.
Since we have a lot of folks here who count calories which is nothing wrong I think but was that a lie told by the fitness industry to get people all amped up about a concept that a 2nd grader can understand?
I'd ask you to talk to the fittest friends in your peer group and ask them if they count calories. Curious to know the answers across diff. geography.
References -
1. http://tim.blog/2008/02/25/the-science-of-fat-loss-why-a-calorie-isnt-always-a-calorie/
2. https://www.amazon.com/Food-Rules-Eaters-Michael-Pollan/dp/014311638X
3. http://nutritionfacts.org/video/eating-more-to-weigh-less/
That's funny. Really. I got to morbidly obese eating whole foods as the majority of my diet. I lived with a chef who eschewed anything pre-made or convenience type foods and seriously disliked going to restaurants. Maintaining a 125+ weight loss eating pretty much anything I want, including store bought pasta, bread, burgers, etc.
10 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »Traveler120 wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »It's not true that it's time consuming, though, and I hate it when people try to make it sound like this big horrible burden or something people would only do if they were overly neurotic.
But sure, whatever.
It IS true that it's time consuming( for me). Unless you eat everything out of a box. I cook most of my meals from scratch. It's easy to scan a box, not so easy to count and measure everything you are putting in your meal for a family.
I cook everything from scratch and it is not time consuming for me at all. I have to put food needing to be cooked into some kind of pan or bowl so why not put it into a pan or bowl sitting on a scale? Food not needing to be cooked can be plated while the plate is on the scale.
Dump, note weight, hit tare, dump next ingredient. Rinse and repeat.
Until when? The end of time? Who wants to be a slave to the scale. Measuring or weighing should be a temporary learning tool to understand calories in food. After that, one should know enough about various foods and quantities that eyeballing should be sufficient for the long term.
If someone doesn't want to weigh long term, that's fine. But I think it's unnecessary to declare that others should stop weighing. I know, from experience, that I'm terrible at eyeballing. I have no problem weighing long term because it frees me up to think about other things. Using a tool to do something more efficiently doesn't equal being a "slave." Sometimes it's just the smartest way to solve a particular problem.
One of the other reasons I like the idea of weighing food is that the idea of cutting out foods when the scale creep happens doesn't appeal to me. I'd rather keep my food choices open and monitor my intake (and I'm a terrible eyeballer too) than go through a spell where I'm feeling deprived because my weight starts creeping up and lather, rinse, repeat for the rest of my life.
But again, this is me, and I know me, my personality, and what will work for me.
I'm exactly the same way you are. The scale, to me, is a tool that frees me to eat what I like and that's why I continue to use it.4 -
Is calorie counting really sustainable on a long term basis?
The theory of calorie in - calorie out is flawed from a thermodynamics perspective [1]. However, it seems to be working within the Western culture because most of the food consumed here is not really food but man-made food-type substances that are made in big plants [2].
And hence, the need to count those calories which can cause insulin spikes like crazy. Plus, the added preservatives come as a bonus.
When you eat mostly whole foods, cooked at home (coz all restaurants care about is taste which often comes at the cost of lots of oil, salt, and sugar), one will not have to count calories at all and the person will weigh less and feel awesome.
You'll literally burn more fat if you overload yourself with plants, vegetables, green leaves, nuts, fruits, etc. It's a concept called energy density [3].
But if we're talking burgers, Mac n Cheese, Store bought pasta, bread, etc and calling them food - then I guess caloric restriction does seem to help by starving the body where it begins to burn fat until a point after which it starts burning muscle.
Since we have a lot of folks here who count calories which is nothing wrong I think but was that a lie told by the fitness industry to get people all amped up about a concept that a 2nd grader can understand?
I'd ask you to talk to the fittest friends in your peer group and ask them if they count calories. Curious to know the answers across diff. geography.
References -
1. http://tim.blog/2008/02/25/the-science-of-fat-loss-why-a-calorie-isnt-always-a-calorie/
2. https://www.amazon.com/Food-Rules-Eaters-Michael-Pollan/dp/014311638X
3. http://nutritionfacts.org/video/eating-more-to-weigh-less/
Sorry. Incorrect. Move along...1 -
Is calorie counting really sustainable on a long term basis?
The theory of calorie in - calorie out is flawed from a thermodynamics perspective [1]. However, it seems to be working within the Western culture because most of the food consumed here is not really food but man-made food-type substances that are made in big plants [2].
And hence, the need to count those calories which can cause insulin spikes like crazy. Plus, the added preservatives come as a bonus.
When you eat mostly whole foods, cooked at home (coz all restaurants care about is taste which often comes at the cost of lots of oil, salt, and sugar), one will not have to count calories at all and the person will weigh less and feel awesome.
You'll literally burn more fat if you overload yourself with plants, vegetables, green leaves, nuts, fruits, etc. It's a concept called energy density [3].
But if we're talking burgers, Mac n Cheese, Store bought pasta, bread, etc and calling them food - then I guess caloric restriction does seem to help by starving the body where it begins to burn fat until a point after which it starts burning muscle.
Since we have a lot of folks here who count calories which is nothing wrong I think but was that a lie told by the fitness industry to get people all amped up about a concept that a 2nd grader can understand?
I'd ask you to talk to the fittest friends in your peer group and ask them if they count calories. Curious to know the answers across diff. geography.
References -
1. http://tim.blog/2008/02/25/the-science-of-fat-loss-why-a-calorie-isnt-always-a-calorie/
2. https://www.amazon.com/Food-Rules-Eaters-Michael-Pollan/dp/014311638X
3. http://nutritionfacts.org/video/eating-more-to-weigh-less/
That's funny. Really. I got to morbidly obese eating whole foods as the majority of my diet. I lived with a chef who eschewed anything pre-made or convenience type foods and seriously disliked going to restaurants. Maintaining a 125+ weight loss eating pretty much anything I want, including store bought pasta, bread, burgers, etc.
And you counted the mythical calories in those foods too, right?
3 -
Is calorie counting really sustainable on a long term basis?
The theory of calorie in - calorie out is flawed from a thermodynamics perspective [1]. However, it seems to be working within the Western culture because most of the food consumed here is not really food but man-made food-type substances that are made in big plants [2].
And hence, the need to count those calories which can cause insulin spikes like crazy. Plus, the added preservatives come as a bonus.
When you eat mostly whole foods, cooked at home (coz all restaurants care about is taste which often comes at the cost of lots of oil, salt, and sugar), one will not have to count calories at all and the person will weigh less and feel awesome.
You'll literally burn more fat if you overload yourself with plants, vegetables, green leaves, nuts, fruits, etc. It's a concept called energy density [3].
But if we're talking burgers, Mac n Cheese, Store bought pasta, bread, etc and calling them food - then I guess caloric restriction does seem to help by starving the body where it begins to burn fat until a point after which it starts burning muscle.
Since we have a lot of folks here who count calories which is nothing wrong I think but was that a lie told by the fitness industry to get people all amped up about a concept that a 2nd grader can understand?
I'd ask you to talk to the fittest friends in your peer group and ask them if they count calories. Curious to know the answers across diff. geography.
References -
1. http://tim.blog/2008/02/25/the-science-of-fat-loss-why-a-calorie-isnt-always-a-calorie/
2. https://www.amazon.com/Food-Rules-Eaters-Michael-Pollan/dp/014311638X
3. http://nutritionfacts.org/video/eating-more-to-weigh-less/
Maybe I'm the exception, but when I cook at home I'm also all about taste. Who wants to cook things that taste bad?
I am the fittest friend in my peer group. I do count calories. In my case, I see a direct connection between the two things.
I eat lots of fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans. Believe me, calorie counting works as well for people like me as it does for people who are eating from restaurants.7 -
Is calorie counting really sustainable on a long term basis?
The theory of calorie in - calorie out is flawed from a thermodynamics perspective [1]. However, it seems to be working within the Western culture because most of the food consumed here is not really food but man-made food-type substances that are made in big plants [2].
And hence, the need to count those calories which can cause insulin spikes like crazy. Plus, the added preservatives come as a bonus.
When you eat mostly whole foods, cooked at home (coz all restaurants care about is taste which often comes at the cost of lots of oil, salt, and sugar), one will not have to count calories at all and the person will weigh less and feel awesome.
You'll literally burn more fat if you overload yourself with plants, vegetables, green leaves, nuts, fruits, etc. It's a concept called energy density [3].
But if we're talking burgers, Mac n Cheese, Store bought pasta, bread, etc and calling them food - then I guess caloric restriction does seem to help by starving the body where it begins to burn fat until a point after which it starts burning muscle.
Since we have a lot of folks here who count calories which is nothing wrong I think but was that a lie told by the fitness industry to get people all amped up about a concept that a 2nd grader can understand?
I'd ask you to talk to the fittest friends in your peer group and ask them if they count calories. Curious to know the answers across diff. geography.
References -
1. http://tim.blog/2008/02/25/the-science-of-fat-loss-why-a-calorie-isnt-always-a-calorie/
2. https://www.amazon.com/Food-Rules-Eaters-Michael-Pollan/dp/014311638X
3. http://nutritionfacts.org/video/eating-more-to-weigh-less/
this is just wrong on every single level.
First, if you eat a plant based whole food diet, and consume more calories then you burn you will gain weight.
Second, when you put yourself in a calorie deficit you are going to burn muscle, that is just a fact. Even if your training and macros are spot on, you will lose some muscle in a calorie deficit.
Third - why would burgers and pasta not be considered food?
8 -
Is calorie counting really sustainable on a long term basis?
The theory of calorie in - calorie out is flawed from a thermodynamics perspective [1]. However, it seems to be working within the Western culture because most of the food consumed here is not really food but man-made food-type substances that are made in big plants [2].
And hence, the need to count those calories which can cause insulin spikes like crazy. Plus, the added preservatives come as a bonus.
When you eat mostly whole foods, cooked at home (coz all restaurants care about is taste which often comes at the cost of lots of oil, salt, and sugar), one will not have to count calories at all and the person will weigh less and feel awesome.
You'll literally burn more fat if you overload yourself with plants, vegetables, green leaves, nuts, fruits, etc. It's a concept called energy density [3].
But if we're talking burgers, Mac n Cheese, Store bought pasta, bread, etc and calling them food - then I guess caloric restriction does seem to help by starving the body where it begins to burn fat until a point after which it starts burning muscle.
Since we have a lot of folks here who count calories which is nothing wrong I think but was that a lie told by the fitness industry to get people all amped up about a concept that a 2nd grader can understand?
I'd ask you to talk to the fittest friends in your peer group and ask them if they count calories. Curious to know the answers across diff. geography.
References -
1. http://tim.blog/2008/02/25/the-science-of-fat-loss-why-a-calorie-isnt-always-a-calorie/
2. https://www.amazon.com/Food-Rules-Eaters-Michael-Pollan/dp/014311638X
3. http://nutritionfacts.org/video/eating-more-to-weigh-less/
Sorry. Incorrect. Move along...
Move along????Is this high school??
At least he provided sources, where are yours?
And I'm not saying I agree with what he said.2 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »Is calorie counting really sustainable on a long term basis?
The theory of calorie in - calorie out is flawed from a thermodynamics perspective [1]. However, it seems to be working within the Western culture because most of the food consumed here is not really food but man-made food-type substances that are made in big plants [2].
And hence, the need to count those calories which can cause insulin spikes like crazy. Plus, the added preservatives come as a bonus.
When you eat mostly whole foods, cooked at home (coz all restaurants care about is taste which often comes at the cost of lots of oil, salt, and sugar), one will not have to count calories at all and the person will weigh less and feel awesome.
You'll literally burn more fat if you overload yourself with plants, vegetables, green leaves, nuts, fruits, etc. It's a concept called energy density [3].
But if we're talking burgers, Mac n Cheese, Store bought pasta, bread, etc and calling them food - then I guess caloric restriction does seem to help by starving the body where it begins to burn fat until a point after which it starts burning muscle.
Since we have a lot of folks here who count calories which is nothing wrong I think but was that a lie told by the fitness industry to get people all amped up about a concept that a 2nd grader can understand?
I'd ask you to talk to the fittest friends in your peer group and ask them if they count calories. Curious to know the answers across diff. geography.
References -
1. http://tim.blog/2008/02/25/the-science-of-fat-loss-why-a-calorie-isnt-always-a-calorie/
2. https://www.amazon.com/Food-Rules-Eaters-Michael-Pollan/dp/014311638X
3. http://nutritionfacts.org/video/eating-more-to-weigh-less/
That's funny. Really. I got to morbidly obese eating whole foods as the majority of my diet. I lived with a chef who eschewed anything pre-made or convenience type foods and seriously disliked going to restaurants. Maintaining a 125+ weight loss eating pretty much anything I want, including store bought pasta, bread, burgers, etc.
And you counted the mythical calories in those foods too, right?
LOL - nope. Why should I? They were whole foods! Right?
Counting calories is actually kind of freeing - I don't have to worry about whether I can fit something into my calorie allowance, I actually know. I like knowing stuff.8 -
Ironandwine69 wrote: »Is calorie counting really sustainable on a long term basis?
The theory of calorie in - calorie out is flawed from a thermodynamics perspective [1]. However, it seems to be working within the Western culture because most of the food consumed here is not really food but man-made food-type substances that are made in big plants [2].
And hence, the need to count those calories which can cause insulin spikes like crazy. Plus, the added preservatives come as a bonus.
When you eat mostly whole foods, cooked at home (coz all restaurants care about is taste which often comes at the cost of lots of oil, salt, and sugar), one will not have to count calories at all and the person will weigh less and feel awesome.
You'll literally burn more fat if you overload yourself with plants, vegetables, green leaves, nuts, fruits, etc. It's a concept called energy density [3].
But if we're talking burgers, Mac n Cheese, Store bought pasta, bread, etc and calling them food - then I guess caloric restriction does seem to help by starving the body where it begins to burn fat until a point after which it starts burning muscle.
Since we have a lot of folks here who count calories which is nothing wrong I think but was that a lie told by the fitness industry to get people all amped up about a concept that a 2nd grader can understand?
I'd ask you to talk to the fittest friends in your peer group and ask them if they count calories. Curious to know the answers across diff. geography.
References -
1. http://tim.blog/2008/02/25/the-science-of-fat-loss-why-a-calorie-isnt-always-a-calorie/
2. https://www.amazon.com/Food-Rules-Eaters-Michael-Pollan/dp/014311638X
3. http://nutritionfacts.org/video/eating-more-to-weigh-less/
Sorry. Incorrect. Move along...
Move along????Is this high school??
At least he provided sources, where are yours?
And I'm not saying I agree with what he said.
Sources, a blog, a book and a video...
LMAO...
5 -
Ironandwine69 wrote: »Is calorie counting really sustainable on a long term basis?
The theory of calorie in - calorie out is flawed from a thermodynamics perspective [1]. However, it seems to be working within the Western culture because most of the food consumed here is not really food but man-made food-type substances that are made in big plants [2].
And hence, the need to count those calories which can cause insulin spikes like crazy. Plus, the added preservatives come as a bonus.
When you eat mostly whole foods, cooked at home (coz all restaurants care about is taste which often comes at the cost of lots of oil, salt, and sugar), one will not have to count calories at all and the person will weigh less and feel awesome.
You'll literally burn more fat if you overload yourself with plants, vegetables, green leaves, nuts, fruits, etc. It's a concept called energy density [3].
But if we're talking burgers, Mac n Cheese, Store bought pasta, bread, etc and calling them food - then I guess caloric restriction does seem to help by starving the body where it begins to burn fat until a point after which it starts burning muscle.
Since we have a lot of folks here who count calories which is nothing wrong I think but was that a lie told by the fitness industry to get people all amped up about a concept that a 2nd grader can understand?
I'd ask you to talk to the fittest friends in your peer group and ask them if they count calories. Curious to know the answers across diff. geography.
References -
1. http://tim.blog/2008/02/25/the-science-of-fat-loss-why-a-calorie-isnt-always-a-calorie/
2. https://www.amazon.com/Food-Rules-Eaters-Michael-Pollan/dp/014311638X
3. http://nutritionfacts.org/video/eating-more-to-weigh-less/
Sorry. Incorrect. Move along...
Move along????Is this high school??
At least he provided sources, where are yours?
And I'm not saying I agree with what he said.
why does one need sources to disprove false information?4 -
Ah yes, that well known reliable source Nutrition Facts that actually has very little interest in facts unless we're talking facts of the alternative variety.
I have indulged in a little experiment today. I thought I'd just have what I fancy and log it afterwards. I planned my dinner as i have some leftovers but also did a grocery shop.
I'm right on maintenance for the day, if it was an exercise day I'd have a little room for more. I seem to have naturally tempered the desire to eat all the things, partly because I'm actually stuffed at this point so won't need my dinner for hours yet (it's 3.50pm here, I eat dinner anywhere from 5pm-9pm).
Now whilst that is pretty satisfying and a nice test of how far I've come in terms of knowing what are appropriate amounts of foods for me to eat i don't know that I will wing it forever once I hit maintenance. As someone else said, the anxiety of knowing largely what I'm consuming vs some sort of perceived freedom that comes from not counting is the better choice for me. Everyone is different.
And yes, I also stayed overweight eating largely whole foods prepared at home, including 10 years as a vegetarian. I'm a foodie, I like to try things, I was a little over-enthusiastic about trying larger than necessary portions of those things.7 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »Before attending these boards I had been with Precision Nutrition. Over there we never count calories. In fact, they don't believe counting is a "leverage point"--meaning that it is not worth the time-investment. So I've never weighed anything in my life. If you cared, you could look at my food blog and you would see that my feedings are super clean, super boring, and my goals are met predictably. So counting isn't the only way.
Time investment is exactly my point when I say too time consuming.
The big misunderstanding from some people who posted on this blog, is that not counting means eat what you want.
No, that's not the case.
I watch what I eat very carefully. I am not the cleanest eater but I don't eat junk. IF has been my lifestyle for years( which probably makes not counting easier since I get 80% - 90% of my food intake in one meal).
To wrap this up, I think counting is a great tool. But also, I don't know anyone that counted all his/her life( maybe there are people that do, but I wonder how many). What happens when/if you stop counting?...
That's a fair question.
What would happen if I were to stop counting?
Well, I also IF, but I eat within a window. I'd still eat within that window and to the schedule I currently eat. I pretty much know which foods have a good satiety/caloric ratio and would stick to them and would try my best to pay attention to my hunger cues, though they are admittedly broken. I would eat slowly and mindfully just to the point of being no longer hungry. I'd weigh daily like I do now and track the trend, making adjustments to intake as necessary to prevent scale creep.
So I know what I'd do, I just prefer to count calories and log because to me it removes an element of guesswork that would leave me feeling anxious.
Different strokes for different folks.
Do you mind me asking, how long have you been counting?0 -
You know, I do know how you feel. 1 comment was you're on a calorie count website, but here's the thing. I was intaking basically all raw diet and feeling fabulous, but I found I was losing weight as quickly as I was when I was Calorie Counting on the "CalorieCount" website. I lost 10 pounds! So, even though I am sticking with my food plan, I've decided that I need to know for my own sanity how many calories I'm intaking in a day. I hope this is helpful to decide is it really important to count calories.2
-
Right now I do have to count every nugget...but I am right there with you. It is STRESSFUL for those of us that cook from scratch (not faux scratch with a box of this added to a can of that) with real ingredients. I do the effort of making my recipes through the app but it take dedication...and sometimes, dang it, I really just want to cook, eat, and me merrily free of counting.Ironandwine69 wrote: »
It IS true that it's time consuming( for me). Unless you eat everything out of a box. I cook most of my meals from scratch. It's easy to scan a box, not so easy to count and measure everything you are putting in your meal for a family.
1 -
coolvstar650 wrote: »
Right now I do have to count every nugget...but I am right there with you. It is STRESSFUL for those of us that cook from scratch (not faux scratch with a box of this added to a can of that) with real ingredients. I do the effort of making my recipes through the app but it take dedication...and sometimes, dang it, I really just want to cook, eat, and me merrily free of counting.Ironandwine69 wrote: »
It IS true that it's time consuming( for me). Unless you eat everything out of a box. I cook most of my meals from scratch. It's easy to scan a box, not so easy to count and measure everything you are putting in your meal for a family.
I cook from scratch six nights a week and I don't find it stressful at all to use the Recipe Builder. I'm not trying to discount your experience, but it's not the case for everyone who is counting calories and cooking a lot.7 -
Ironandwine69 wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »Ironandwine69 wrote: »Before attending these boards I had been with Precision Nutrition. Over there we never count calories. In fact, they don't believe counting is a "leverage point"--meaning that it is not worth the time-investment. So I've never weighed anything in my life. If you cared, you could look at my food blog and you would see that my feedings are super clean, super boring, and my goals are met predictably. So counting isn't the only way.
Time investment is exactly my point when I say too time consuming.
The big misunderstanding from some people who posted on this blog, is that not counting means eat what you want.
No, that's not the case.
I watch what I eat very carefully. I am not the cleanest eater but I don't eat junk. IF has been my lifestyle for years( which probably makes not counting easier since I get 80% - 90% of my food intake in one meal).
To wrap this up, I think counting is a great tool. But also, I don't know anyone that counted all his/her life( maybe there are people that do, but I wonder how many). What happens when/if you stop counting?...
That's a fair question.
What would happen if I were to stop counting?
Well, I also IF, but I eat within a window. I'd still eat within that window and to the schedule I currently eat. I pretty much know which foods have a good satiety/caloric ratio and would stick to them and would try my best to pay attention to my hunger cues, though they are admittedly broken. I would eat slowly and mindfully just to the point of being no longer hungry. I'd weigh daily like I do now and track the trend, making adjustments to intake as necessary to prevent scale creep.
So I know what I'd do, I just prefer to count calories and log because to me it removes an element of guesswork that would leave me feeling anxious.
Different strokes for different folks.
Do you mind me asking, how long have you been counting?
A little over two years, but I've been dealing with my weight issues for 40 years and tried lots of different solutions.
This clicks in a way nothing else ever has and has gotten me the results I've always wanted and never achieved.7 -
coolvstar650 wrote: »
Right now I do have to count every nugget...but I am right there with you. It is STRESSFUL for those of us that cook from scratch (not faux scratch with a box of this added to a can of that) with real ingredients. I do the effort of making my recipes through the app but it take dedication...and sometimes, dang it, I really just want to cook, eat, and me merrily free of counting.Ironandwine69 wrote: »
It IS true that it's time consuming( for me). Unless you eat everything out of a box. I cook most of my meals from scratch. It's easy to scan a box, not so easy to count and measure everything you are putting in your meal for a family.
I don't agree at all, and again I pointed out how I do it upthread in some detail. I rarely use the recipe function (which isn't that great, IMO), and don't find it stressful a bit. I really don't understand how putting ingredients on the scale when chopping makes it so much more burdensome or stressful. (And I say this as someone who is so lazy that I don't really like logging, but the actual weighing of the ingredients seems easier to do when actually cooking from scratch, IMO).4 -
Ironandwine69 wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »You're on a calorie counting website...
I thought this site was called "My fitness pal", not "counting calories.com"
This does explain all the pushback, though.
It's like going on a bodybuilder's site and saying, "All this heavy lifting, I'd rather lift the pink weights 10,00o reps, who's with me?"
Pretty sure there's gonna be some Push.Back.6
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.3K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 424 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions