Not counting fruits and veggies
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Ivanapoutine
Posts: 28 Member
I find when I track calories I seem to start avoiding fruits. My head says, “well, that banana is more calories than that chocolate smoothie bar so go for the tastier option.” . Not a great habit to get into. I try to stay within a 1200-1600 cal day (depending on exercise). I was thinking of combining the weight watchers portion of not counting fruits and veggies (but also eating fruit within reason aka 2-3 servings a day) and then tracking everything else and try to stay between 1200-1400 (again depending on exercise) plus fruits and veggies. My hope is that it will encourage me to lean towards them as snacks or veggies as a main instead of saving my calories for crappier options. Any thoughts?
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Replies
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Well, it wouldn't work for me (I like to eat lots of fruits and vegetables) . . . but that doesn't mean it won't work for you.2
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Will you be lowering your calorie goal by 100-300, depending on your actual fruit and veggie intake?
2-3 apples could easily be 150-300 calories.4 -
Fruits and veggies still have calories, and those unaccounted for calories could become a problem. Whether or not they do... time will tell.3
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I don't understand the reasoning behind not tracking fruit and veggies. It's food that you ate. It has calories. The goal of tracking is to understand how many calories you are eating. Why would you not track everything that has calories?12
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janejellyroll wrote: »Well, it wouldn't work for me (I like to eat lots of fruits and vegetables) . . . but that doesn't mean it won't work for you.
This.
Although I did have a tendency to eat less fruit (not less veg) in the winter and so have been making a conscious effort to get around 3 servings lately, in addition to the veg I eat. That's the kind of approach that works for me. (I also have ideas about protein goals, the benefits of eating some nuts and seeds.) I don't tend to think of discretionary calories until those things are met.
Not logging fruit and veg would drive me crazy, though, since so many of my calories are from them that they'd be way off. And plus I log in part for nutrition information (I do it at Cronometer, but even at MFP vegetables contribute some things that are tracked, like fiber and protein), and seeing how sad that would look without my veg and fruit would make me sad.
But different things work for different people.1 -
I don't understand the reasoning behind not tracking fruit and veggies. It's food that you ate. It has calories. The goal of tracking is to understand how many calories you are eating. Why would you not track everything that has calories?
Have to agree with this. Some fruits can be more dense in calories than others. IE - Banana vs Strawberries or Watermelon vs Grapes3 -
I don't understand the reasoning behind not tracking fruit and veggies. It's food that you ate. It has calories. The goal of tracking is to understand how many calories you are eating. Why would you not track everything that has calories?
This!! I feel like you are over-complicating it. Track everything, you'd be suprised how many calories you wouldn't be logging..which will hinder your results.
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Ivanapoutine wrote: »My hope is that it will encourage me to lean towards them as snacks or veggies as a main instead of saving my calories for crappier options.
Can you elaborate on this?
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I had to get out of the "chocolate has fewer calories than a banana" cycle by figuring out how full I wanted to feel. If I just want a treat, I go for the chocolate. If I'm hungry and need to feel full or satisfied or something, I go for the banana. Both are awesome depending on what your needs are.12
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Just as some others above have said, it would be totally impossible for me. If I didn't restrict myself knowingly by weighting and logging, I't wouldn't be a problem for me to eat at least extra 1000+ calories from fruit alone and not even notice it until it's shows up on scale0
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I get what the OP is saying. How do I talk myself into eating the piece of fruit when what I want is the chocolate smoothie bar? Why not compromise and tell yourself you can have half a smoothie bar and half a piece of fruit, or mix some chopped fresh fruit into some chocolate yogurt or sugar-free chocolate pudding?4
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My reasoning is that I am avoiding healthier foods to eat what I am craving to stay within calories. I like fruits and veggies but if I’m being honest with myself, will more often choose the unhealthier option if my calories are limited to feel that satisfaction. As mentioned, if I decided to go this route (hence why I am asking opinions on this) I would strictly allow 1200-1400 max of calories, where as prior would be averaging around 1400-1700 when adding everything. In my mind I figure it would be a way of pushing myself towards healthier options (weight watchers method) but still tracking the foods that actually cause my weight gain. Example, if I go for that apple or veggies first, it would hopefully take the cravings away of wanting something less healthy. I completely understand tracking everything. And yes, I don’t like the idea that my nutritional info would be off. But I notice an unhealthy habit of fruit avoidance due to the calories though they are packed with nutrients. I really don’t want this to be a habit but I’m finding it difficult.6
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Personally I would advise that you continue to track calories for everything because that is just providing you data from which to evaluate what you want to do. Remember, you are in control here and information just keeps you informed...you can choose to eat more calories in order to include fruit, but to try to deprive yourself of data to pretend that somehow fruit doesn't contain calories...I don't see how that benefits you.4
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Ivanapoutine wrote: »My reasoning is that I am avoiding healthier foods to eat what I am craving to stay within calories. I like fruits and veggies but if I’m being honest with myself, will more often choose the unhealthier option if my calories are limited to feel that satisfaction. As mentioned, if I decided to go this route (hence why I am asking opinions on this) I would strictly allow 1200-1400 max of calories, where as prior would be averaging around 1400-1700 when adding everything. In my mind I figure it would be a way of pushing myself towards healthier options (weight watchers method) but still tracking the foods that actually cause my weight gain. Example, if I go for that apple or veggies first, it would hopefully take the cravings away of wanting something less healthy. I completely understand tracking everything. And yes, I don’t like the idea that my nutritional info would be off. But I notice an unhealthy habit of fruit avoidance due to the calories though they are packed with nutrients. I really don’t want this to be a habit but I’m finding it difficult.
Are you potentially over-complicating this? There are times when I have calories left and I know I can have some potato chips (which may not contain any of the additional nutrition I want that day) or . . . some roasted broccoli. Sometimes I choose the broccoli, sometimes I choose the potato chips. It's just the balance of being an adult. What's important is meeting your nutritional needs over time.
It's no different than balancing money, you know? Sometimes you see an awesome pair of boots you really want, but then you remember you really wanted to spend that money on rent so you do that. There are other times when you decide to buy the boots and then you spend less money for the next couple weeks.10 -
Do what works for you.2
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I find that giving myself ultimatums don't work. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Today I feel stressed out and want ice cream, so I save some calories today for ice cream. Tomorrow might be more calm so I'll eat fruit instead. What's consistent is my awareness of what I'm eating, how much of it I'm eating, and hitting my calorie target every day.4
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Maybe if you try thinking in terms of satiety instead of calories you'll find yourself working more fruit and veggies into your diet?
I mean... you could eat 2 Reeses Peanut Butter cups for 220 calories. Or almost 2 and a half medium-sized apples for the same amount of calories. Which one will keep you full for longer?
Sure, calories are king when it comes to weight loss... but satiety and nutrition are just as important to consider.
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Sometimes I find that if I really want a chocolate bar it is better to eat the chocolate bar rather than eating other things and three hours (or days) later still eating the chocolate bar but fixating on it in the meantime. You can get small portions of sweets to fill that craving.2
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Have you been counting then all along? I never quite understood the point of free fruit and vegetables, unless they are green leafy and or non starchy. It's hard to overeat on spinich leaves and kale, but easy on bananas, sweet potatoes, and corn. From what I have read it really comes down to consistently and what you have been doing all along for weight loss. Now maintenance, where 50 to 100 cals can matter, than yes I would. I do.0
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fitoverfortymom wrote: »I had to get out of the "chocolate has fewer calories than a banana" cycle by figuring out how full I wanted to feel. If I just want a treat, I go for the chocolate. If I'm hungry and need to feel full or satisfied or something, I go for the banana. Both are awesome depending on what your needs are.
I also often check my macros if it's toward the end of the day and I'm deciding on a snack. Low on fat gives extra bonus points to the chocolate. Low on fiber gives extra bonus points to the banana.
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