Does calorie counting work ?

jatkinson90 · August 2018

Hi I’m new to this and was wondering if calorie counting actually works I’m so trapped in the mind frame of following slimming world

livingleanlivingclean · August 2018

Yes..... Tracking (accurately) is going to get you the best results imo, you're taking out the guess work.

The most accurate logging is using a food scale to weigh everything possible, measuring the few things you can't weigh, and using accurate database entries

ninerbuff · August 2018

ANY DIET plan has you counting calories. You CAN'T lose weight unless you consume less than you burn. The difference with MFP and counting is that it's FREE. And unless you're willing to stay on one of those diet plans for LIFE, chances are weight regain will happen because they really don't teach you anything since most stuff is already figured out for you.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

jillstreett · August 2018

Absolutely yes, if you are honest. I find myself writing it down, adding it up, and then any time I add something else to it, I even re-ad the whole thing. It's simple math, but it makes me feel better. I also project my whole day, while I drink my coffee, and write it down. I don't have to eat exactly that, I can add or subtract or swap things out, but starting with a general idea each morning is very helpful and helps me stick to healthy choices. I will say that I have used measuring spoons and cups, but have NOT used a food scale, not once, and I have lost 46 pounds in 44 weeks with diet and exercise and simple math. My biggest suggestion is to round up on things that are not labeled/ things that you have to guess if you don't have a measuring tool. I understand that a lot of folks on here will say, for example, if a yogurt says 100 calories for X ounces and you weigh it and it's over X ounces, then the 100 calories is obviously too little and not accurate, therefore you can't trust packaging. For me, I trust packaging and then round up for things that are harder to track or that I can't measure. This happens daily. I think my coffee is 65-70 calories with cream and a touch of sugar, but I always call it 100 calories because I don't use a measuring spoon to make it. I think that my peanut butter sandwich is 150-190 calories of PB but I always call it 200, because I don't use a tablespoon to measure it. Things like that if I don't have access to measuring tools at work, etc. If you can't find nutrition facts, have a small portion and guess high. If I had a small piece of birthday cake for someone's bday at work, I call it like 400 calories, even though it may only be 250-300, and then eat lighter, leaner choices the rest of the day. It works, it's a balancing act with prepackaged or restaurant foods sometimes, but it works to just count calories. 100% yes.

shaf238 · August 2018

Definitely. But you need to log your food and be as accurate as you can. And as @jillstreett said, you have to be honest with yourself.

rsj7799 · August 2018

All the big diet plans count calories, they just try and hide that from you to make the plan easier to stick to.

estherdragonbat · August 2018

For pure weight loss, absolutely. Over time, you start to notice that certain foods give you more 'bang for your buck' in terms of satiety, while others make you feel hungrier faster. So your eating habits might change. I notice that when it comes to snacking, I look for something higher-protein like roasted chickpeas or a piece of string cheese over stuff like Veggie Straws or Popcorners Chips, which are primarily carbs and salt. (Note: I love carbs. I usually eat at least 50% carbs daily. BUT I find that they're at their most satiating for me when there's protein involved. You might find that a different macro split works better for you.)

quiksylver296 · August 2018

Different things work for different people. Creating a calorie deficit works all the time, but calorie counting is not the successful dieting technique for everyone.

dsboohead · August 2018

Yep...it works. Keep it as a part of your day...like brushing your teeth....taking a shower...logging on this site. Plus....its FREE!
Logging on your diary gives you access to tons of food entries and restaurant foods to pull from.
It is something I do everyday to stay accountable!

corysmithsmail · August 2018

Like everyone has said, counting calories works. It seems obsessive and overwhelming at first. But I've been doing it for so long now I can just about look at something and kind of just now how many calories things are give or take. I draw the line at weighing my food. It helps and would probably help me lose weight faster. But I average about 2lbs a week loss already so I am fine with my measuring cups lol.

Kathryn247 · August 2018

It totally works. Anyone who wants to sell you something is trying to keep you as a customer, not necessarily help you be successful.

pinuplove · August 2018

I can't imagine why anyone would think it wouldn't, provided you do it correctly.

Aine_60 · August 2018

Absolutely it works. It's fool proof.
You must be accurate though, so actually weigh your food, sounds like a hassle, but it'll become second nature very soon. It'll also soon help you realise what is actually a normal portion size and it might help you make wiser choices.

amyjoan1 · August 2018

Counting calories for me is really just being accountable and responsible and can help me plan out better my meals, snacks.

AnvilHead · August 2018

A calorie deficit (consuming less calories than you expend) is what works. Counting calories, if done correctly, is a reliable/helpful method of achieving that.

melissamacneil1970 · August 2018

yes, most def especially when combining with exercise I lost 13lbs in 1 month

shadow2soul · August 2018

Nope. Not at all.

/sarcasm :drinker:

In all seriousness though I count calories, use a food scale for accurate portions, and use a Fitbit to adjust what my intake should be based on my activity.

amgreenwell · August 2018

As far as I know it is the ONLY thing that works, not fad diets, not detoxes, not even overexercising. CICO is the way to go

tinkerbellang83 · August 2018

jatkinson90 wrote: »

Hi I’m new to this and was wondering if calorie counting actually works I’m so trapped in the mind frame of following slimming world

The only difference between slimming world and counting calories is that the plan for Slimming World is inherently so low calorie that you don't have to count them, you're still losing weight through a calorie deficit.

The problem with this is that the Slimming World plans can seem quite restrictive and you may end up (as many of my friends who follow slimming world do) bingeing every few weeks because you feel like you're missing out on certain foods. Plus you're paying for the privilege.

Whereas when you're logging your calories you can eat a little of what you like more regularly, factoring it in to your calorie allowance.

This is how MFP calculates your calorie allowance for loss:

HeidiMightyRawr · August 2018

Yes.

There are many different diets and approaches to losing weight, but ultimately they all work by creating a calorie deficit. If you're in a calorie deficit, you'll lose weight. If you're in a surplus, you'll gain.

This doesn't mean that you'll get on with calorie counting. Some people don't like the constant tracking and weighing things out etc, and if you really don't like something you're less likely to stick to it. It does work though.

Machafin · August 2018

Yes of course!

belleflop · August 2018

quiksylver296 wrote: »

Different things work for different people. Creating a calorie deficit works all the time, but calorie counting is not the successful dieting technique for everyone.

So awesome! Calorie counting works as it helps people create a caloric deficit! Long term, imo, it can create a lot of stress and can start to have diminishing returns if you only use a weight scale to track your progress. I think the most benefit from counting calories is to help people understand how many calories they are actually putting in their bodies.

paperpudding · August 2018

A calorie deficit works for weight loss

Calorie counting is only a tool to achieve that.

As a tool I don't think it works for everyone - some people find better tools for them, , in organised programs like WW or in creating methods of their own - reducing portion sizes or eliminating high calorie things without actually counting calories.

I am a fan of calorie counting and as a method it worked for me.

But there are other methods that work better for some other people.

Lillymoo01 · August 2018

I lost plenty of weight by simply exercising more while watching what I was eating. Once I got closer to my goal I had more success with calorie counting and have continued to do this throughout my year + of maintenance.
While it can be a great tool, calorie counting won't work for everyone though. However, CICO works for everyone. The key to weight loss and success is finding the right tools for you to work with it.

Does calorie counting work ?

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