Veggie Overload? Calorie Counting Veggies.

dmz1983
dmz1983 Posts: 32 Member
I tend to follow Joel Fuhrmans approach when it comes to vegetables. I am not a vegan but vegetables are the main focus of all of my meals. I count all of my non starchy vegetable calories but I find that even when I go over my limit, my weight drops (below ideal). Is there some sort of absorption difference with non starchy veggies? Should one leave them out of the equation when counting calories? Anyone else experience this?

Replies

  • Chunkahlunkah
    Chunkahlunkah Posts: 373 Member
    edited April 2018
    Hmm, does anyone know if fiber impacts the calorie count? There's that carb counting technique where people subtract fiber grams from total carbs to get net carbs. Does that mean those fiber/carb grams can be subtracted from the calorie count since fiber isn't absorbed? (Or does the calorie count already take that subtraction into account?)

    Did a quick google search, saw this:
    The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that fibers fermented by bacteria provide about 2 calories per gram of fiber. Insoluble fibers travel to the intestine with very little change. Instead of being digested, insoluble fibers increase bulk, soften stool, and shorten transit time through the gastro-intestinal tract. Because these fibers are not digested at all, the FDA estimates that insoluble fibers do not contribute any calories.
    https://fiberfacts.org/fibers-count-calories-carbohydrates/

    So if you're eating a lot of fiber and going over your calorie limit due to fiber-rich foods, you might be over much less (or not even at all) when taking into account fiber's impact on calorie absorption. This wouldn't matter much/at all for people eating a moderate amount of fiber, but those who are eating a lot, I could see how that would be enough to make the calorie totals slightly inflated and result in a weight loss greater than one would expect at that calorie level.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    dmz1983 wrote: »
    I tend to follow Joel Fuhrmans approach when it comes to vegetables. I am not a vegan but vegetables are the main focus of all of my meals. I count all of my non starchy vegetable calories but I find that even when I go over my limit, my weight drops (below ideal). Is there some sort of absorption difference with non starchy veggies? Should one leave them out of the equation when counting calories? Anyone else experience this?

    What do you mean by your "limit?" How did you arrive at your "limit?" If you're losing weight, your "limit" isn't your maintenance level of calories...that's all it means.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited April 2018
    You should count them, but you may want to increase your total calories. Neither MFP nor some other calculator is perfect when it comes to calculating what you need, and if you are using MFP remember it does not take into account exercise unless you add it in (and its sedentary is SUPER sedentary, so most are likely at least lightly active).
  • Katzedernacht
    Katzedernacht Posts: 266 Member
    I count it all, ok not all, those 3 leaves of kale yesterday? Nope, but the green peppers today with rice, yes
  • dmz1983
    dmz1983 Posts: 32 Member
    I think I need to bump up my calories. I add in my exercise but my activity is marked as sedentary. Thanks all!
  • WilmaValley
    WilmaValley Posts: 1,092 Member
    I do count calories for the veggies I eat.