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Is counting calories/macros destroying our enjoyment of food?
Replies
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leanitup123 wrote: »Love reading everyone's opinions on the subject. Though many of you are saying that counting calories has no negative influence on your enjoyment of food, do you think it has had an effect on your relationship with food (example: looking at 2 choices on a menu and seeing only numbers, choosing the lower calorie option, etc.)?
Not really. I order what I want, eat the amount that fits into my calorie goal and take the rest home.
But how do you know the calories to the point you know it fits? This is what I struggle with
Good question. If calories are available on the menu or website I start there, knowing it's an estimate. If not I break the food down into component parts and use the opportunity to practice eyeballing portions in the serving, i.e. ~4 oz salmon, ~1/2 c veg, ~1/2 c rice and so on. I add calories for sauce/oil/butter (anywhere from 1 tsp to 1/4c depending on if it's a touch of olive oil on the veg or something swimming in butter sauce). From this I decide how much I can eat and fit in my calories. It's all approximate, but I also know that underestimating one restaurant meal won't do anything to undermine my weight-loss goals, as long as I'm being honest as I can with my estimates. After that I dig into my food stress-free and enjoy another meal with the leftovers.
BTW, it may sound complicated but this takes me about 20 seconds in real life because I've been doing this for so long it's pretty automatic.
I'd love to take you to some of my favorite local places to see how you'd log what they make. XD
Do you just make your estimates and use quick add?0 -
We enjoyed food too much in the past. That's how we all got fat.0
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peckchris3267 wrote: »We enjoyed food too much in the past. That's how we all got fat.
I don't agree that "we ate too much food" is equivalent to "we enjoyed food too much." I think the difference is small but significant.5 -
clicketykeys wrote: »leanitup123 wrote: »Love reading everyone's opinions on the subject. Though many of you are saying that counting calories has no negative influence on your enjoyment of food, do you think it has had an effect on your relationship with food (example: looking at 2 choices on a menu and seeing only numbers, choosing the lower calorie option, etc.)?
Not really. I order what I want, eat the amount that fits into my calorie goal and take the rest home.
But how do you know the calories to the point you know it fits? This is what I struggle with
Good question. If calories are available on the menu or website I start there, knowing it's an estimate. If not I break the food down into component parts and use the opportunity to practice eyeballing portions in the serving, i.e. ~4 oz salmon, ~1/2 c veg, ~1/2 c rice and so on. I add calories for sauce/oil/butter (anywhere from 1 tsp to 1/4c depending on if it's a touch of olive oil on the veg or something swimming in butter sauce). From this I decide how much I can eat and fit in my calories. It's all approximate, but I also know that underestimating one restaurant meal won't do anything to undermine my weight-loss goals, as long as I'm being honest as I can with my estimates. After that I dig into my food stress-free and enjoy another meal with the leftovers.
BTW, it may sound complicated but this takes me about 20 seconds in real life because I've been doing this for so long it's pretty automatic.
I'd love to take you to some of my favorite local places to see how you'd log what they make. XD
Do you just make your estimates and use quick add?
Sometimes I use quick add if it's hard to pick apart the components, especially in sauces, those are often a wag and I try to overestimate a little. I have celiac disease so most often I'm ordering meals with broiled meat/fish, vegetables and potatoes or rice, all easy to identify and guesstimate fairly accurately. Sometimes I can order pasta, then I go with 1 cup pasta and 1/4 cup of sauce (usually primavera, or marinara if I'm sure it's safe). Salads I estimate each part in my head (1 boiled egg, 3 oz chicken, 1 oz cheese, etc.) then do a quick add. None of this is particularly accurate but it works well enough so that I don't see an impact on my weight loss and like I said, I get to practice portion control 2 -
I use a rough estimate in my head by what I have learned is likely the highest "calorie per gram" value for something then I guess at the weight. If I'm eating something at home that I don't know the info for, it's even easier because I could just weigh the portion.
For example:
Most pizzas, pastas, and breads are under 3 calories/gram even with the creamiest sauce, some way under. In fact most typical dinner meals with any ingredients or combinations surprisingly rarely go any higher than that with many being way under (yes, even most deep fried foods).
Most pies are under 2.5 kcal/g unless it's pecan then it's nearly 5 kcal/g.
Most chocolates, candy bars, crackers, cookies, chips...etc are under 5.5 kcal/g (a few things like butter cookies can go a bit higher but not by much while dark chocolate can clock anywhere up to 6)
Most soups are under or around 1 kcal/g even cream and cheese based ones, with brothy soups being way under.
Most cheeses are under 4.5 kcal/g with softer and fresh varieties being usually under 3.5.
... and so on
I'm able to take one look at a dish and do a quick add of that, or I just log a similar food from the database. It's near instantaneous and doesn't take much thinking because I've been doing it for years. Before I acquired these skills when I was first starting I used to just log any random thing from the database that even remotely resembles the dish I'm eating. I didn't eat things I didn't know the count for frequently enough to worry about my estimate being off even by 1000 calories which is very unlikely, but if I did I believe I would have made it work without letting anxiety rule my life.5 -
clicketykeys wrote: »peckchris3267 wrote: »We enjoyed food too much in the past. That's how we all got fat.
I don't agree that "we ate too much food" is equivalent to "we enjoyed food too much." I think the difference is small but significant.
Agreed.
The people I know who are most into really appreciating food are not fat. Something like the slow food movement (which is about appreciating and enjoying food) is not related to increased obesity, IMO.
I think a lot of obesity relates to fast and mindless eating.
It's like when people claim that they can't not eat fast food or packaged sweets and that magically made us fat. IMO, homemade stuff (or various other restaurant stuff that is not nearly as commonly eaten) is much more delicious. The other stuff is just really cheap and convenient, so it gets overeaten.5 -
Too much food went into our mouths, that's how we got fat.clicketykeys wrote: »peckchris3267 wrote: »We enjoyed food too much in the past. That's how we all got fat.
I don't agree that "we ate too much food" is equivalent to "we enjoyed food too much." I think the difference is small but significant.
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clicketykeys wrote: »peckchris3267 wrote: »We enjoyed food too much in the past. That's how we all got fat.
I don't agree that "we ate too much food" is equivalent to "we enjoyed food too much." I think the difference is small but significant.
I agree. I enjoy food just as much now as when I was overweight.3 -
Honestly, I'm enjoying food more now that I am counting calories than I was before. Granted I've only been on MFP for 2 months. But I like that I'm losing and having more control over my meals. I was eating too much before and I had digestive issues. I did not realize that I was overeating per se (I knew I had gained weight). I was worried that I had some serious digestive problems--but when I started using MFP and eating close to the calorie goal it was giving me, my digestive problems DISAPPEARED. I now realize I was eating too much--at my normal weight I would be quite petite and my system just couldn't handle that much food. Since I no longer have those problems my life overall is better and I enjoy the food I am eating. I am cooking more rather than eating out, so that I know what I'm eating, and my meals are tastier, no digestive issues and I make sure I am cooking and eating stuff that I really enjoy and that it is healthy for me. I still eat a lot of the things that I ate before but just in smaller portions--about half the size.5
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Calorie counting let me try new things and have more variety to my food. Though some things dont taste as good as they used to. For example I used to love pasta but now I don't really like it anymore. Though now I really love chicken when before I though it was only ok.1
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I've found the exact opposite. Being more mindful of what makes up the food I eat makes me more appreciative of each little part.3
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It really did if I don't prep the food myself. So family dinner at my mom's been really rough. Stuff on the table blew the cal intake limit off the roof with just few bites. Sometimes I miss the time that I can eat fried stuff without knowing how bad it really is1
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For me, it's just the opposite. MFP, calorie counting and tracking macros, has really turned my life around, for the better. To be brief; I became disabled, after the birth of my youngest daughter (who is now 19). Can only move very short distances with 2 crutches or I'm in my wheelchair.
More recently I also developed an autoimmune disease and have angina (heart disease is rife in my family). During this time, I piled on the weight because my calories burned decreased drastically overnight, and my diet didn't. If anything I probably ate a lot less. But it was the wrong type of foods and my calorie intake increased. I will be 50 next month.
3 years ago I was borderline severely obese, and my blood tests results were terrible. I needed to lose weight, my health was deteriating. It would need to be mainly through diet alone, as exercising in conventional terms was impossible. Before discovering MFP, I'd tried many diets, some with medical assistance, I managed to lose some weight, but nothing lasted. I was 14st 3lb at my heaviest 3 years ago. Struggling through difficult diets I managed to lower my weight to 12st 12lb. Better but not good enough, blood test results were still bad. Every time I stopped "dieting" my weight would start to increase again.
Then 17 months ago I discovered MFP, my life saver, (literally). I have given up "dieting" finally, for ever. Knowing I can track daily, for life and my food plan fits my life. It takes moments, everyday and has become a daily habit (a bit like, brushing my teeth), just something I do, but in return I'm healthier.
At first I stuck to my calorie target and my weight was moving in the right direction. Then reading the blogs and forums, I educated myself, learning about macros and about balance. Since then I have logged everything, every day and I now weigh 11st 6lb (another 3lb loss, will give me an overall weight loss of 3 stone.) Which will also mean I'm a healthy weight for my age/height. My GP was amazed at not just my weight loss, but the change in my blood tests, they are all now within the healthy range. Before my hair was falling out and I lost my finger nails, 18 mths later, they are healthier, thicker and stronger than they've ever been. My hair dresser is amazed, that changing my diet has had such an effect on my hair. Was the finest/thinnest/driest hair she had ever cut, especially because of my age. But now it's really healthy again.
I have a weekly allowance, which allows me more flexibility daily. I alternate from a small deficit and maintenance calories, knowing that I can happy eat this way for life. It's flexibility allows me to "enjoy life" again. Not worry about eating out for example. I had lost any interest in food, but now I love food again. I make every calorie count and won't waste calories on mindless eating or foods I don't like. So easy to track and has really changed my quality of life for the best.
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I've found the exact opposite. Being more mindful of what makes up the food I eat makes me more appreciative of each little part.
Being mindful of food isn't the same as calorie counting though. I spend a great deal of my time being mindful of my food, where and how it's grown, quality, nutrient and calorie content, etc. But weighing and measuring each bite I consume is beyond mindful. Mindful is just that, using your mind. Thinking about it and being aware.
Weighing and logging could be a good way to learn to be mindful though.0 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »I've found the exact opposite. Being more mindful of what makes up the food I eat makes me more appreciative of each little part.
Being mindful of food isn't the same as calorie counting though. I spend a great deal of my time being mindful of my food, where and how it's grown, quality, nutrient and calorie content, etc. But weighing and measuring each bite I consume is beyond mindful. Mindful is just that, using your mind. Thinking about it and being aware.
Weighing and logging could be a good way to learn to be mindful though.
which was exactly my point2 -
I feel that counting calories not only destroys my enjoyment of food but of life itself. I've been struggling to find a diet and lifestyle that will lead to becoming thinner without all that counting and measuring, and although I've had some modest success (-19 pounds), once again I've hit a wall of weight varying up and down 2-3 pounds and not really changing.2
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2snakeswoman wrote: »I feel that counting calories not only destroys my enjoyment of food but of life itself. I've been struggling to find a diet and lifestyle that will lead to becoming thinner without all that counting and measuring, and although I've had some modest success (-19 pounds), once again I've hit a wall of weight varying up and down 2-3 pounds and not really changing.
If you aren't losing then just eat a little less than you are now.1 -
I kinda like when restaurants offer calorie info, because sometimes when you are eating out it's out of social expectation rather than just for pure pleasure. If you have many such events, eating with abandon at each one could certainly derail your diet plan. So it's nice to be able to know calories or if they have a "lighter" menu for those times when you need to stick to your plan but can't say "sorry but I'm on a diet". When I eat out for pure pleasure on my "free" day, I could care less about what the calories are or how much I eat. I follow my plan religiously 6 days a week and on day 7 I eat however I want, as much as I want and I'm still leaning out nicely. Works great for me! But yeah, sometimes I already had my "cheat day" and so I gotta keep it from turning into a "cheat week" so I say YAY on the calorie info on menus.0
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I'm having difficulty understanding how tracking something ruins the enjoyment of it. We had homemade tacos yesterday and I entered and weighed every ingredient as I put it on my plate; it took me 3-4 minutes. Then I enjoyed eating tacos like everyone else in the family.
If it makes you miserable to know that you are eating too many calories and/or an unfavorable macros mix: how is avoiding that understanding of your diet going to benefit you in any way?1 -
leanitup123 wrote: »Is counting calories/macros destroying our enjoyment of food? Interested in hearing your thoughts on this.
I think putting on untold pounds of fat made me stop enjoying food. Its been a long journey but food fuels my body. I have some very tasty meals but my goal is to give my body what it needs along the way.
My aim is to make that as healthy and as tasty as possible. Over time I learned that doesn't mean eating a load of *&%$ all the time. My bottom line was what's more important to me? Everyone makes that decision for themselves. There's no right or wrong.0 -
I'm getting really creative in my work cafeteria lately, that's an added bonus of being acutely aware of calorie and macros.0
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Bry_Lander wrote: »I'm having difficulty understanding how tracking something ruins the enjoyment of it. We had homemade tacos yesterday and I entered and weighed every ingredient as I put it on my plate; it took me 3-4 minutes. Then I enjoyed eating tacos like everyone else in the family.
If it makes you miserable to know that you are eating too many calories and/or an unfavorable macros mix: how is avoiding that understanding of your diet going to benefit you in any way?
It's not the knowledge that ruins it. But people are different. Having to weigh every ingredient ruins it for me. I just don't like to cook that way. I'm a little bit of this, little bit of that cook. Whether I"m making a recipe I've made a hundred times or am making for the first time I rarely measure anything. Why is it so hard to understand that different things drive different people crazy?3 -
Hell, no. Quite the opposite. When I plan for a meal that fits into my macro goals, I can enjoy and appreciate it to the fullest, without any guilt. So tracking my food makes me enjoy it more, not less.3
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Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »I'm having difficulty understanding how tracking something ruins the enjoyment of it. We had homemade tacos yesterday and I entered and weighed every ingredient as I put it on my plate; it took me 3-4 minutes. Then I enjoyed eating tacos like everyone else in the family.
If it makes you miserable to know that you are eating too many calories and/or an unfavorable macros mix: how is avoiding that understanding of your diet going to benefit you in any way?
It's not the knowledge that ruins it. But people are different. Having to weigh every ingredient ruins it for me. I just don't like to cook that way. I'm a little bit of this, little bit of that cook. Whether I"m making a recipe I've made a hundred times or am making for the first time I rarely measure anything. Why is it so hard to understand that different things drive different people crazy?
Yeah for me food used to be about taste, smell, texture- the present moment while eating. Now it is about guilt, or not having another taste to savor because that would put me above calories, or about not being able to have it at all. Even when I can have something my mind is now so focused on the MATHS of it all most of the enjoyment the savoring the senses in the moment is pretty much ruined.3 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Bry_Lander wrote: »I'm having difficulty understanding how tracking something ruins the enjoyment of it. We had homemade tacos yesterday and I entered and weighed every ingredient as I put it on my plate; it took me 3-4 minutes. Then I enjoyed eating tacos like everyone else in the family.
If it makes you miserable to know that you are eating too many calories and/or an unfavorable macros mix: how is avoiding that understanding of your diet going to benefit you in any way?
It's not the knowledge that ruins it. But people are different. Having to weigh every ingredient ruins it for me. I just don't like to cook that way. I'm a little bit of this, little bit of that cook. Whether I"m making a recipe I've made a hundred times or am making for the first time I rarely measure anything. Why is it so hard to understand that different things drive different people crazy?
I agree that it's not the knowledge that ruins it. I am NOT a numbers person, and cook the way the last poster quoted, does. It is tedious for me to weigh every single thing, and add it up. And when you realize you can't have the amount of food you want, it makes a lot of foods for me, not worth it, like cashews, or the pizza I like. I know I can get lower calorie pizza, thin crust, whatever, but that isn't what I like, so I can't enjoy it. (I am also short, and have a low number of calories - 1300 a day).2
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