Are calories really king?!
Options
ShaeSweetness
Posts: 61 Member
So, what the opinion here about eating whatever you want as long as it fits in your calories, orrrr actually trying to fill your day with only healthy options. This is tough for me because i absolutely despise salads and most vegetables. I hate veggie burgers and whole wheat breads and just a lot of stuff your technically supposed to eat while "dieting". But i saw a light at the end of the tunnel when i started hearing about eating within your calorie range and still losing weight. Anyone have experience with this style of dieting (still eating mainly what you want instead of dying with salads). Ive made some better choices like cutting fast food out (for the most part) as well as soda and limiting my juices but i just cant do salads and veggie burgers and letttuce boats instead of tortillas for my tacos..i just don't have it in me! Right now im eating mac and cheese and a pork chop which is a small portion and fits within my calories and this makes me happy! so if this is still a way to lose weight, ill be stoked.
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Replies
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It depends on what your definition of "healthy options" actually is... and different people find different things work for them.
Personally, I am less focused on calories right now and not actively trying to lose right now either (though I could stand to lose 15-20 lbs., but will get back to that later). But I am heavily focused on macros (carbs in particular, protein as a secondary) because I don't make my own insulin. Not eating carbs, and taking insulin timed and dosed to properly process protein consumption is very important to me.
It is unlikely that these same things are important to you. So the answer is to customize your own plan in a way that works for you. This will likely take some time for trial and error if you don't yet know what works and doesn't work.1 -
Calories for weight loss/gain.
Macros for satiety and adherance.
Food choices for physical and emotional health.
Exercise for health and fitness.62 -
Yes calories are king (and queen!) when it comes to weight loss. You can lose weight eating pretty much anything. Eating a well rounded diet is important for overall health, so I would encourage you to look at come ways you could do that and still fit in what you like. For example, fruits and vegetables covers so many things far beyond just "salads and veggie burgers". There are hundreds of foods that qualify, and I am sure you will like some of them. A well rounded diet can also sometimes assist in weight loss by aiding appetite control if you have a good breakdown of macros, or with energy and overall feeling if you are getting your correct amount of vitamins and potassium, etc. So there is some value in it. But by far what is most important is the calories.
I lose weight by eating a balanced diet, but balanced means sometimes having "bad" things as well. Yesterday I had a big McDonalds burger and fries. I eat plenty of rice, bread, pasta, etc. I do try for whole wheat, whole grain versions when I can, but I also eat some of the white variety of them as well. Do what you can do. I eat lean meat like chicken breast, as well as seafood and salmon, and I do try to eat fruits and vegetables. That means salads sometimes, but it also can mean banana, pineapple, mango, oranges, strawberries, avocado, tomatoes, broccoli, etc. But I also have plenty of tacos with real beef (i do aim for leaner beef) and real taco shells. I love cheese and sour cream and lots of other things. I can still find plenty of ways to enjoy what I am eating and lose weight without feeling like I need to eat like a rabbit.
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Um, I think if you look around the forums a little you'll find that is the most common recommendation here. The key to long term weight loss/management is that your WOE be sustainable for you, and to force yourself to eat things you hate, or to forbid yourself the foods you love, is not sustainable. Not to say a person shouldn't be open to new foods, or strive to improve the nutritional profile of their diet, but it's certainly not the key to weight loss. That is eating fewer calories than you burn.
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ShaeSweetness wrote: »So, what the opinion here about eating whatever you want as long as it fits in your calories, orrrr actually trying to fill your day with only healthy options. This is tough for me because i absolutely despise salads and most vegetables. I hate veggie burgers and whole wheat breads and just a lot of stuff your technically supposed to eat while "dieting". But i saw a light at the end of the tunnel when i started hearing about eating within your calorie range and still losing weight. Anyone have experience with this style of dieting (still eating mainly what you want instead of dying with salads). Ive made some better choices like cutting fast food out (for the most part) as well as soda and limiting my juices but i just cant do salads and veggie burgers and letttuce boats instead of tortillas for my tacos..i just don't have it in me! Right now im eating mac and cheese and a pork chop which is a small portion and fits within my calories and this makes me happy! so if this is still a way to lose weight, ill be stoked.
I ate whatever I wanted before I was pregnant and lost 40 pounds and currently postpartum and eating what I want WITHIN CALORIE RANGE, I currently lost 34 pounds with 20 to go! But losing quite drastically.8 -
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rickiimarieee wrote: »ShaeSweetness wrote: »So, what the opinion here about eating whatever you want as long as it fits in your calories, orrrr actually trying to fill your day with only healthy options. This is tough for me because i absolutely despise salads and most vegetables. I hate veggie burgers and whole wheat breads and just a lot of stuff your technically supposed to eat while "dieting". But i saw a light at the end of the tunnel when i started hearing about eating within your calorie range and still losing weight. Anyone have experience with this style of dieting (still eating mainly what you want instead of dying with salads). Ive made some better choices like cutting fast food out (for the most part) as well as soda and limiting my juices but i just cant do salads and veggie burgers and letttuce boats instead of tortillas for my tacos..i just don't have it in me! Right now im eating mac and cheese and a pork chop which is a small portion and fits within my calories and this makes me happy! so if this is still a way to lose weight, ill be stoked.
I ate whatever I wanted before I was pregnant and lost 40 pounds and currently postpartum and eating what I want WITHIN CALORIE RANGE, I currently lost 34 pounds with 20 to go! But losing quite drastically.
Well, but in fairness, you haven't been able to eat at all for a while, right? Hope you are doing better and/or got the medical attention you needed. 1 -
rickiimarieee wrote: »ShaeSweetness wrote: »So, what the opinion here about eating whatever you want as long as it fits in your calories, orrrr actually trying to fill your day with only healthy options. This is tough for me because i absolutely despise salads and most vegetables. I hate veggie burgers and whole wheat breads and just a lot of stuff your technically supposed to eat while "dieting". But i saw a light at the end of the tunnel when i started hearing about eating within your calorie range and still losing weight. Anyone have experience with this style of dieting (still eating mainly what you want instead of dying with salads). Ive made some better choices like cutting fast food out (for the most part) as well as soda and limiting my juices but i just cant do salads and veggie burgers and letttuce boats instead of tortillas for my tacos..i just don't have it in me! Right now im eating mac and cheese and a pork chop which is a small portion and fits within my calories and this makes me happy! so if this is still a way to lose weight, ill be stoked.
I ate whatever I wanted before I was pregnant and lost 40 pounds and currently postpartum and eating what I want WITHIN CALORIE RANGE, I currently lost 34 pounds with 20 to go! But losing quite drastically.
Well, but in fairness, you haven't been able to eat at all for a while, right? Hope you are doing better and/or got the medical attention you needed.
You are correct, eating more and more slightly daily! Doing better daily, no medical professional has been helpful lol. Even before though I was at a steady loss but now it’s coming off more quickly (assuming it’s from the water retention coming off from labor and surgery)!1 -
I eat ice cream every day and lose weight!9
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ShaeSweetness wrote: »So, what the opinion here about eating whatever you want as long as it fits in your calories, orrrr actually trying to fill your day with only healthy options. This is tough for me because i absolutely despise salads and most vegetables. I hate veggie burgers and whole wheat breads and just a lot of stuff your technically supposed to eat while "dieting". But i saw a light at the end of the tunnel when i started hearing about eating within your calorie range and still losing weight. Anyone have experience with this style of dieting (still eating mainly what you want instead of dying with salads). Ive made some better choices like cutting fast food out (for the most part) as well as soda and limiting my juices but i just cant do salads and veggie burgers and letttuce boats instead of tortillas for my tacos..i just don't have it in me! Right now im eating mac and cheese and a pork chop which is a small portion and fits within my calories and this makes me happy! so if this is still a way to lose weight, ill be stoked.
I eat a pretty balanced (vegetarian) diet. I started with just focusing on calories and noticed that I was less hungry when I ate more protein and fiber. I was also a bit concerned about iron when I had my bloodwork done and it came out lower than ideal. Not serious enough for supplements, but concerning enough for me to want to pay attention.
Very little of what I eat stands out as "diet" foods. It's just normal foods in controlled portions. I make room for treats and snacks. What has happened over time is that I've cut back on bakery items. I keep my homemade desserts to 200 calories or fewer per serving. Last week, I made meringues. This week it's a lighter version of blueberry crisp. Also, because I'm focused on protein, iron, and fiber I find I'm eating less of the snacks that are basically low-fiber carbs and salt. (Veggie straws and pop chips come to mind as examples.) Not that I've eliminated them, but if I can get roasted chickpeas or weigh out some dry cereal—Kellogg's Krave and Quaker Corn Squares each give me 30% of my iron RDA in 30 grams—I'd rather that.
And yes, you can definitely lose weight so long as you eat at a deficit. Just know that some calorie-dense foods will be more filling and/or nutrient-dense than others.
Basically, you can eat whatever you want. You may not be able to eat as much as you want whenever you want.5 -
Sure you can scarf down whatever you want as long as you are in your caloric range, but most people find that without lifestyle changes, ultimately the portions get bigger and bigger and before you know it you are eating the same as before.
The problem with eating whatever you want is that typically it can be foods that encourage your brain to crave more, especially refined carbs, salt and saturated fat.
I too don't particularly like salad. I don't think I have ever had a day where salad is my main course or is present everyday. Low calorie doesn't necessarily mean eating like a rabbit.
Having said all this, vegetables are a good way to make you feel full without loading up on calories. They are also very important for health so if you aren't getting enough, your weight loss isn't going to be worth anything if you end up with crappy overall health. Veggies provide essential vitamins and minerals as well as much needed fiber.
One of the above posters mentioned that veggies don't have to be boring. There are plenty of great recipes out there for veggies to taste great!
I just finished frying some cauliflower and chopped garlic in olive oil and mixed it with fried mushrooms and onions, served over 2 scrambled eggs and 2 pieces of back bacon (the lean stuff). That meal (at 2.5 cups) has only 425 calories, tastes delicious and is loaded with protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals.
Another way I incorporate more healthful veggies is to make mashed potatoes with half potatoes and the other half cauliflower. I use chicken stock in the mix to add flavor instead of the traditional milk and butter. Sometimes I just make mashed cauliflower and use condensed cream of mushroom soup to flavour it up.
As far as fruit goes, skip the juice and opt for whole fruit. Again the fiber, vitamins and minerals and it's not processed like juice typically is. If cutting out juice is hard, try half the amount and water it down and work towards using juice just to flavor water instead of a whole glass of juice.28 -
Shae, you say you "despise salads and most vegetables." The odds are that most of us, including myself, have never tried .0001% of the edible fruits and vegetables there are. That's because there are over 390,000 varieties of edible plants in the world. When it comes to fruits it's more astounding. Bananas alone have 1,600 varieties. Combinations make our choices endless.
Because my wife and I are diabetic we use Splenda a lot when we bake. Pineapple Rhubarb is one of my favorite pies. There is only one vegetable I won't eat since infancy. That's beets. Love the rest.
As others have mentioned, exercise is really important. We are in our late 70s but still swim 2 1/2 hours a week and use weight machines a couple hours a week at the Y. That, and eating some meat and a lot of vegetables, and some fruits, keeps our diabetes well under control and helps with dexterity.
Enjoy life and be healthy, Shae.5 -
This is what happens when you eat too much salad because you "think you should"...
But seriously... eat food you like, within your calorie limit. I lost 70lbs just fine doing only that. Of course aim for decent nutrition, but don't be scared of some chocolate, ice cream or pizza if you want it!
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estherdragonbat wrote: »Basically, you can eat whatever you want. You may not be able to eat as much as you want whenever you want.
That's the important bit that a lot of people forget!
And there are some people who find that they're unable to restrict themselves to a small portion of something they love, and they have a tendency to overeat that food. Those people might find it more helpful to eliminate the food completely, at least for a while. (I cannot have unrestricted access to Pringles!) But in general, it shouldn't be necessary to completely cut out any food unless you have an allergy.Sure you can scarf down whatever you want as long as you are in your caloric range, but most people find that without lifestyle changes, ultimately the portions get bigger and bigger and before you know it you are eating the same as before.
That's why using a food scale is so important, especially when starting out. And even when you think you're doing well with eyeballing portions, if the weight starts creeping back on then it's time to revisit your portion sizes.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10634517/you-dont-use-a-food-scale/p1
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I wanted to note, as is often the case when this question comes up, some people seem to think there are only two choices - eat a diet of only 100% healthy and nutritious food, or just stuff yourself with junk food. But with a little common sense and mindfulness, which is much easier when you log accurately and consistently, you soon learn how to eat foods you enjoy and fit in treats while eating a diet that keeps you satiated and energetic and healthy. So eat some lean protein, lots of veggies, some fruit, whole grains, fish, etc then have a weighed out, reasonable portion of ice cream. :drinker:26
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ShaeSweetness wrote: »So, what the opinion here about eating whatever you want as long as it fits in your calories, orrrr actually trying to fill your day with only healthy options. This is tough for me because i absolutely despise salads and most vegetables. I hate veggie burgers and whole wheat breads and just a lot of stuff your technically supposed to eat while "dieting". But i saw a light at the end of the tunnel when i started hearing about eating within your calorie range and still losing weight. Anyone have experience with this style of dieting (still eating mainly what you want instead of dying with salads). Ive made some better choices like cutting fast food out (for the most part) as well as soda and limiting my juices but i just cant do salads and veggie burgers and letttuce boats instead of tortillas for my tacos..i just don't have it in me! Right now im eating mac and cheese and a pork chop which is a small portion and fits within my calories and this makes me happy! so if this is still a way to lose weight, ill be stoked.
I also hate salads! I have been losing steadily since Jan 1st just sticking to my macros I eat whatever I want. Mind you, I try to eat filling healthy things (oatmeal, eggs etc) to keep me full but ...girl you will never catch me wrapping my tacos in lettuce wraps haha. Today I've had a bagel...eggs...homemade chicken pot pie....avocado....a chocolate bar....oatmeal with maple syrup/apple. Stick with macros and cals and you are good! Just dont eat all your macros as junk food and ur golden 2
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