When counting calories...

When it comes to losing weight, I usually have good results when placing myself in a calorie deficit. Im doing this now. I hear a lot that it doesn't matter what you eat, as long as you're staying within your "calorie budget". Is this true? I mean personally I would not waste 500 calories on a piece of cake or something that has empty calories... but even for people who think this way, is It true?

Replies

jjpptt2

It is, yes.

Think of it like a bank account. If you save more than you spend, the account gets bigger. If you spend more than you save, it gets smaller.

Your body is similar... it doesn't mater how you manage your intake, only that you do.

quiksylver296

Yes. It's true. You can blow all your calories on chocolate cake, and still lose weight if you are in a calorie deficit.

But you'll probably be hungry and lacking essential nutrients. That's why people recommened a well-rounded diet.

TiffanyLoveG

Thanks

kami3006

Calorie deficit for weightloss.

What you eat determines health, satiety, and helps with body composition.

Two separate but related things.

sunfastrose

Just to point out - 500 calories of cake might not be as nutrient dense as other choices, but it doesn't mean it doesn't have any nutrients.

kami3006

sunfastrose wrote: »

Just to point out - 500 calories of cake might not be as nutrient dense as other choices, but it doesn't mean it doesn't have any nutrients.

Yep...high energy is uaually from fat. Also some protein and micro nutrients thrown in there. mmmm

TiffanyLoveG

kami3006 wrote: »

sunfastrose wrote: »

Just to point out - 500 calories of cake might not be as nutrient dense as other choices, but it doesn't mean it doesn't have any nutrients.

Yep...high energy is uaually from fat. Also some protein and micro nutrients thrown in there. mmmm

Yeah, trust me I definitely appreciate the nutrition in a nice piece of homemade chocolate cake

But I'm eating 1200 calories a day so I'm saving MOST of my calories for big and nutritious meals.

AnvilHead

Speaking purely in terms of weight loss, nothing matters but calories.

Speaking in terms of general health, body composition, energy levels/workout performance, satiety, etc., overall nutrition matters a great deal.

Sure, you could lose weight eating nothing but cake and soda every day - but it's a bad idea nutritionally and you'd spend a lot of time being miserably hungry. Ideally, you eat a reasonably balanced, nutritious diet which includes things you enjoy and doesn't unnecessarily/arbitrarily exclude any macronutrient, food or entire food group.

glassyo

sunfastrose wrote: »

Just to point out - 500 calories of cake might not be as nutrient dense as other choices, but it doesn't mean it doesn't have any nutrients.

I'm a firm believer that there's no such thing as an empty calorie food.

kami3006

TiffanyLoveG wrote: »

kami3006 wrote: »

sunfastrose wrote: »

Just to point out - 500 calories of cake might not be as nutrient dense as other choices, but it doesn't mean it doesn't have any nutrients.

Yep...high energy is uaually from fat. Also some protein and micro nutrients thrown in there. mmmm

Yeah, trust me I definitely appreciate the nutrition in a nice piece of homemade chocolate cake But I'm eating 1200 calories a day so I'm saving MOST of my calories for big and nutritious meals.

Of course you should.

Are you sure 1200 is an appropriate goal for you? That's usually for the particularly short, sedentary, older ladies.

TiffanyLoveG

Of course you should.

Are you sure 1200 is an appropriate goal for you? That's usually for the particularly short, sedentary, older ladies. [/quote]

To be honest, I have no idea what is appropriate for me, I just picked the lowest caloric goal I could sustain for a few months. I eat from 12pm-8pm and usually have no hunger on 1200 cals a day (unless I stay up too late and its 12am). The only problem I run into is slightly less endurance energy in the gym some days.

I stay full from using my calories on protein and lots of veggies and not things like cake

kami3006

Well, ideally, you should want to eat as much as you can* while still losing at a healthy rate. That is determined by your stats: height, weight, age and how much you have to lose.

*I don't mean stuffing yourself, but enough to feel energized and to fuel your body and workouts.

kshama2001

TiffanyLoveG wrote: »

kami3006 wrote: »

sunfastrose wrote: »

Just to point out - 500 calories of cake might not be as nutrient dense as other choices, but it doesn't mean it doesn't have any nutrients.

Yep...high energy is uaually from fat. Also some protein and micro nutrients thrown in there. mmmm

Yeah, trust me I definitely appreciate the nutrition in a nice piece of homemade chocolate cake But I'm eating 1200 calories a day so I'm saving MOST of my calories for big and nutritious meals.

Many posters have mentioned that they were fine on 1200 calories...until they weren't, and dealing with issues like hair loss, etc.

https://www.aworkoutroutine.com/1200-calorie-diet/

mike_bold

from the reputable news source that is CNN

here is a link to a guy who lost weight only eating (mostly) twinkies. Not something I would do, I like the feeling of my tummy being full so tend to eat less of the highly processed foods.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html

TiffanyLoveG

kshama2001 wrote: »

TiffanyLoveG wrote: »

kami3006 wrote: »

sunfastrose wrote: »

Just to point out - 500 calories of cake might not be as nutrient dense as other choices, but it doesn't mean it doesn't have any nutrients.

Yep...high energy is uaually from fat. Also some protein and micro nutrients thrown in there. mmmm

Yeah, trust me I definitely appreciate the nutrition in a nice piece of homemade chocolate cake But I'm eating 1200 calories a day so I'm saving MOST of my calories for big and nutritious meals.

Many posters have mentioned that they were fine on 1200 calories...until they weren't, and dealing with issues like hair loss, etc.

https://www.aworkoutroutine.com/1200-calorie-diet/

Wow, thats interesting! Definitely going to try and find what works for my body and try eat a realistic amount of calories! Thanks for the info!

TiffanyLoveG

mike_bold wrote: »

from the reputable news source that is CNN here is a link to a guy who lost weight only eating (mostly) twinkies. Not something I would do, I like the feeling of my tummy being full so tend to eat less of the highly processed foods.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html

Haha, thats funny. Crazy though! I think ill stick to more nutritious foods for now

AnnPT77

kami3006 wrote: »

TiffanyLoveG wrote: »

kami3006 wrote: »

sunfastrose wrote: »

Just to point out - 500 calories of cake might not be as nutrient dense as other choices, but it doesn't mean it doesn't have any nutrients.

Yep...high energy is uaually from fat. Also some protein and micro nutrients thrown in there. mmmm

Yeah, trust me I definitely appreciate the nutrition in a nice piece of homemade chocolate cake But I'm eating 1200 calories a day so I'm saving MOST of my calories for big and nutritious meals.

Of course you should.

Are you sure 1200 is an appropriate goal for you? That's usually for the particularly short, sedentary, older ladies.

Not even always appropriate for us shorter, sedentary granny types (though sometimes, sadly, it is). At almost 63, 5'5" (admittedly not super short, but not tall), weighing low 130s, sedentary outside of intentional exercise, 1200 net would put me in a hospital bed in under a year . . . if I could stick to it.