NO MORE CALORIE COUNTING
Replies
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sweetangelkitten wrote: »
Hello and my goal is to grow into my natural size and accept myself
I found this forum by googling "health forum" . I want to grow into the body I was designed to have and not worry about calories or my size
But what if your natural size was unhealthy? If you ended up with being under or overweight, vitamin deficient, suffered from preventable illnesses, etc, would you still think that your natural size was the best thing for you? Or what if your natural size made you feel poorly about yourself?
I haven't counted calories or logged food in years. But without some type of guideline I could easily get into an unhealthy weight range. What tools you choose to use really doesn't matter as long as you can remain healthy and be content with your fitness levels, appearance, etc. Some people struggle with needing to use more tools, but for others it's just natural tendency and/or habit. And quite a few people fall somewhere in the middle, often using some guidelines and tools to stay in those healthy ranges.
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sweetangelkitten wrote: »Nony_Mouse wrote: »sweetangelkitten wrote: »That is why I said to use whatever means you plan to use. Some people go by how their clothes fit. If they get snug or you find yourself buying bigger sizes you might reconsider your plan. My point is to keep an eye on things. I still don't know how I managed to keep buying bigger clothes without stopping to think I was doing something wrong. Don't be me... please.
If I buy larger clothes then I am working to try to accept that and see where my natural body is
If it leads you to being overweight, then what it means is that you're ingesting more calories than your body needs. Nothing to do with your 'natural' body. We're actually (unfortunately) extremely well disposed to gain weight easily, because we evolved in times that fluctuated between food plenty, and food shortage. Our bodies had to take advantage of the times of plenty to balance out the times of shortage, or we'd be extinct.
Is your goal weight loss, OP? The statement above suggests not, in which case I'm somewhat perplexed as to what your goal is? If it's just to eat wholesome foods and let what happens happen, I'm not sure why you need a website for that. Maybe a HAES (healthy at every size) community?
Hello and my goal is to grow into my natural size and accept myself I found this forum by googling "health forum" . I want to grow into the body I was designed to have and not worry about calories or my size
I sincerely hope that works well for you.
My "natural size" (the size I stayed at for several decades without calorie counting) was between 180 and 190 pounds. I've been vegetarian for 45 years, eating lots of healthy whole foods.
At my height, that weight was class 1 obese. I stayed class 1 obese (in the 180s) for a dozen years even when I became quite active, doing vigorous workouts 6 days most weeks, and even competing as a masters athlete.
Throughout, I accepted myself, and appreciated my body. What I couldn't accept, finally (at age 59!), was the effect on my health: High cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, damaged joints & connective tissue, and more.
All my health markers (lipids & BP) are perfect now, and my joint problems are much less painful much less often, at a healthy weight (BMI 22). Speaking for myself only, 5 or 10 minutes daily for calorie logging is a completely trivial price to pay for the health benefits.
I hope that your approach works well for you, sincerely. But, speaking as a concerned old internet auntie, I hope you'll consider the health implications of body weight, not just the psychological dimension, while you're young. I wish I'd done that, for sure.
Best wishes!24 -
sweetangelkitten wrote: »
If I buy larger clothes then I am working to try to accept that and see where my natural body is
Ok. Sounds like you have it all worked out in your head then.
I am unaware of any forums that cater to your philosophy. When you think about it they may not have anything to discuss if they are all just listening to their bodies.
HAES???2 -
sweetangelkitten wrote: »spinnerdell wrote: »Eating wholesome food when I was hungry led to a 70 pound weight gain over the years. Counting calories allowed me to lose that weight and maintain the loss. Wishing you a better outcome with your eating plan.
Why does this lead so many people to weight gain? We weren't counting calories a couple hundred years ago or even a hundred years ago... Seems unnatural to be measuring and counting, we should eat when we are hungry >,<
Well... my idea on this is..... the environment has changed and we have not.... highly palatable, energy dense foods.... add in easy access at cost per calorie.... decreased energy expenditures... humans like to get cheap energy and do the least we can..3 -
I will likely not count calories indefinitely, but I have really learned a lot while I have. I have learned that I literally cannot eat too many vegetables. It is not physically possible, so I probably won't continue to weigh every ounce of cauliflower I eat. But there have been some really informative surprises. (Peanuts! Who knew?) I am two pounds away from as low as I want to go, but if I found myself getting heavier than I wanted, I would not hesitate to start counting again -- just so I could be better informed about what's going into my body.2
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sweetangelkitten wrote: »Nony_Mouse wrote: »sweetangelkitten wrote: »That is why I said to use whatever means you plan to use. Some people go by how their clothes fit. If they get snug or you find yourself buying bigger sizes you might reconsider your plan. My point is to keep an eye on things. I still don't know how I managed to keep buying bigger clothes without stopping to think I was doing something wrong. Don't be me... please.
If I buy larger clothes then I am working to try to accept that and see where my natural body is
If it leads you to being overweight, then what it means is that you're ingesting more calories than your body needs. Nothing to do with your 'natural' body. We're actually (unfortunately) extremely well disposed to gain weight easily, because we evolved in times that fluctuated between food plenty, and food shortage. Our bodies had to take advantage of the times of plenty to balance out the times of shortage, or we'd be extinct.
Is your goal weight loss, OP? The statement above suggests not, in which case I'm somewhat perplexed as to what your goal is? If it's just to eat wholesome foods and let what happens happen, I'm not sure why you need a website for that. Maybe a HAES (healthy at every size) community?
Hello and my goal is to grow into my natural size and accept myself I found this forum by googling "health forum" . I want to grow into the body I was designed to have and not worry about calories or my size
I sincerely hope that works well for you.
My "natural size" (the size I stayed at for several decades without calorie counting) was between 180 and 190 pounds. I've been vegetarian for 45 years, eating lots of healthy whole foods.
At my height, that weight was class 1 obese. I stayed class 1 obese (in the 180s) for a dozen years even when I became quite active, doing vigorous workouts 6 days most weeks, and even competing as a masters athlete.
Throughout, I accepted myself, and appreciated my body. What I couldn't accept, finally (at age 59!), was the effect on my health: High cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, damaged joints & connective tissue, and more.
All my health markers (lipids & BP) are perfect now, and my joint problems are much less painful much less often, at a healthy weight (BMI 22). Speaking for myself only, 5 or 10 minutes daily for calorie logging is a completely trivial price to pay for the health benefits.
I hope that your approach works well for you, sincerely. But, speaking as a concerned old internet auntie, I hope you'll consider the health implications of body weight, not just the psychological dimension, while you're young. I wish I'd done that, for sure.
Best wishes!
Exactly this for me, as well.
I was happy to be a plump little granny after a lifetime of physically active work. I was, in fact, an obese little granny. My health and well-being gradually deteriorated to the point where I needed to change or experience a very limited life full of pain.
I wish I had accepted the deleterious effects of my excess weight as easily as I accepted the weight itself.6 -
Our “natural bodies”, so to speak, are meant to be moving frequently, hunting and gathering foods instead of driving to the store, and eating minimally processed foods. The truth is, it would be very difficult to use your natural body cues to successfully maintain health because those cues evolved (or were intelligently designed) under circumstances which no longer exist in most of the world. You have internet access and so it is safe to assume you in no way lead a “natural” human life. If we gave up all the modern conveniences I do believe many humans would be easily self regulating their health. I mean, if there are only 3 ripe pears in reach, maybe that’s enough for today. Do I really want to climb, expend all that energy, and risk a possibly fatal fall?
Not to say calorie counting is necessary for everyone, but I don’t think natural body cues are the answer in the modern age either. Even if you grow your own food with no mechanical assistance, agriculture is not what we are “naturally” adapted for and it makes food too convenient.7 -
People in geriatric decline disappear from view. So, some of us mistakenly think that long life means vibrant aging. Those of us who have spent much time in senior facilities, independent living, assisted, skilled, etc. know this not to be true. For every person 85 years old you see out and about, there are ten inside with bags and tubes and wheel chairs. Reckless living is not a good idea, but I would urge folks who have not had much exposure to aging not to get too enamored with long life, meaning 85+.12
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sweetangelkitten wrote: »Not me. I gained a lot of weight eating wholesome foods and eating when I was hungry.
There are others who are basically doing what you are doing so you are not alone.
Whatever your goals are I wish you the best of luck.
Thank you! I can't seem to find anyone on here who isn't counting calories sadly...
Well considering this is a community for a calorie counting app, that shouldn't be particularly surprising.4 -
sweetangelkitten wrote: »spinnerdell wrote: »Eating wholesome food when I was hungry led to a 70 pound weight gain over the years. Counting calories allowed me to lose that weight and maintain the loss. Wishing you a better outcome with your eating plan.
Why does this lead so many people to weight gain? We weren't counting calories a couple hundred years ago or even a hundred years ago... Seems unnatural to be measuring and counting, we should eat when we are hungry >,<
We moved a lot more a couple of hundred years ago. Half of my family were farming river bottom and the other half on mountain land that you couldn't plow without hitting coal. Hard work and no time to eat even if you were hungry. Maybe a ploughman's lunch of bread and cheese, but nothing like the amount of calories most of us eat for lunch now.
I wish you luck with intuitive eating. But remember that you are going to feel hungry sometimes when you really aren't.0 -
sweetangelkitten wrote: »Yep, that's right! I'm done counting calories and tracking everything I eat! I'm eating wholesome foods and eating when I am hungry. Doing what feels natural! Anyone else here with me on this?
Nope. I ended up here because I did that. Not everyone needs to count calories, but I do. If it works for you—awesome!2 -
OP - Have you previously suffered from an eating disorder? I ask because some of your statements sound like they are an attempt to correct from having previously unhealthy feelings about your body and weight loss. If that is the case, I understand why you would want to make this adjustment and focus more on being accepting of yourself than your particular weight.
As I mentioned earlier though, and it's especially the case if you are recovering from an ED, is that you need you need to have at least some degree of monitoribg your intake to make sure you are getting enough energy and nutrients. If you "naturally" eat very little, that is still a cause for concern.
This was my question as well, some of OPs comments triggered my spidey sense. OP please address this question if you’ve ever suffered from an ED or some disordered thoughts about food and your body. It will change the advice people are going to give you.10 -
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OP will be back on MFP in about 8 months wanting advice and motivation. Just watch and see...13
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thatjodiegirl wrote: »
Not in a calorie deficit.8 -
thatjodiegirl wrote: »OP will be back on MFP in about 8 months wanting advice and motivation. Just watch and see...
I she does whe won't be the first nor will she be the last to come back seeking a different method. Over the years I have changed my ways of doing things because the previous ways didn't work.
If she has struggled with ED's in the past this might be the best approach until she is ready to seek help. Also many people that have been thin all of their lives lives this way. They eat when they are hungry and stop when they are no longer hungry.
We don't even know if this girl is overweight.9 -
I am sort of with you, but also agree with the others that if you are not careful even eating healthy foods when you feel hungry can lead to weight gain. If you don't want to count calories, then you must exercise portion control. If you counted calories, you know what the correct portions look like i.e. a playing card size of meat is a serving, handful of fruit, etc. with vegetables, I don't worry quite so much about how much I eat because they are so low in calories depending on how they are prepared. I have some of the single serving fruit cups that I save and then use them to measure out a single serving of my chosen fruit and I try to buy the fruits packed in water rather than syrup.3
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Also, the lifespan a couple hundred years ago was like 30-40 years. We can can expect to live much longer than that now, even being obese. We aren’t exactly the same natural beings as we were back then. I think modern living is more ideal, even if that means I have an abundance of food and need to count how much I consume.
Average life expectancy was lower due to a high childhood death rate - chances of dying before 6 was 20%. Once you got past that, 60-80's was pretty typical beyond times of plagues and wars.
Yes, especially if you take maternal childbirth deaths out of the equation.
However not sure how this relates to intuitive eating.
If intuitive eating works for anyone, that's great, but it's not natural seems a strange reason to be against calorie counting.
We do lots of things that are not natural - contraception, vaccination, driving cars, wearing clothes ..... modern life involves many 'unnatural things' , not sure why that is a problem?
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I'm really happy for you. I use to be able to trust my body with intuitive eating but after years of medication and IUD something changed. I use to be able to eat a lot more without gaining weight. Problem is once you get more fat cells they never ever go away, they only Shrink. So now I have to contend with all these extra fatcells inhabiting my body and constantly signalling me to eat more and more because their purpose is to be filled with fat. As a result I can no longer trust my body to moderate my caloric intake, but I hope it all works out for you. 7
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Counting calories is freeing because it means that if I want to eat something all I need to do is look at my calories and not wonder if I have enough calories for it or end up not eating things I like just to be safe.
If eating without counting works for you, why not? Best of luck to you!8 -
sweetangelkitten wrote: »spinnerdell wrote: »Eating wholesome food when I was hungry led to a 70 pound weight gain over the years. Counting calories allowed me to lose that weight and maintain the loss. Wishing you a better outcome with your eating plan.
Why does this lead so many people to weight gain? We weren't counting calories a couple hundred years ago or even a hundred years ago... Seems unnatural to be measuring and counting, we should eat when we are hungry >,<
If you really think about it, people ate food when it was available. Eating when hungry is not exactly "natural" because first humans didn't have enough food abundance at all times to have to make that choice. If we're going to go with what's natural, that would be eating food whenever you see it or storing it for the purpose of eating it when there is no food available.
The circumstances are different right now, so we have to use our heads and deploy strategies to combat our natural tendencies. Food is always available and we're way less active than we used to be. If the romanticized idea of eating when hungry and limiting your food choices is the strategy that works for you, go for it! It wouldn't work for me because many of my food preferences are high calorie "healthy" foods.10 -
sweetangelkitten wrote: »Nony_Mouse wrote: »sweetangelkitten wrote: »That is why I said to use whatever means you plan to use. Some people go by how their clothes fit. If they get snug or you find yourself buying bigger sizes you might reconsider your plan. My point is to keep an eye on things. I still don't know how I managed to keep buying bigger clothes without stopping to think I was doing something wrong. Don't be me... please.
If I buy larger clothes then I am working to try to accept that and see where my natural body is
If it leads you to being overweight, then what it means is that you're ingesting more calories than your body needs. Nothing to do with your 'natural' body. We're actually (unfortunately) extremely well disposed to gain weight easily, because we evolved in times that fluctuated between food plenty, and food shortage. Our bodies had to take advantage of the times of plenty to balance out the times of shortage, or we'd be extinct.
Is your goal weight loss, OP? The statement above suggests not, in which case I'm somewhat perplexed as to what your goal is? If it's just to eat wholesome foods and let what happens happen, I'm not sure why you need a website for that. Maybe a HAES (healthy at every size) community?
Hello and my goal is to grow into my natural size and accept myself I found this forum by googling "health forum" . I want to grow into the body I was designed to have and not worry about calories or my size
I think that's a good choice to make if you believe it will make your life and mental health better. I made that choice when I was 300+ lbs, but I wasn't fooling myself into thinking that's what my natural body was supposed to be like. I made the choice of staying obese fully aware of what that may cause. When my blood tests became concerning, I understood what that meant and what I needed to do if I wanted to fix that. I lost weight and I fixed my scary stats.
If you want to take your mind off food and just let your body settle where it wants to settle with your current habits, I fully support you in that endeavor, but please keep this post in mind if it settles somewhere unfavorable like underweight or severely overweight. You may need to make a choice then, to accept the health risks and the possibility of a shorter lifespan or to change something.5 -
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sweetangelkitten wrote: »spinnerdell wrote: »Eating wholesome food when I was hungry led to a 70 pound weight gain over the years. Counting calories allowed me to lose that weight and maintain the loss. Wishing you a better outcome with your eating plan.
Why does this lead so many people to weight gain? We weren't counting calories a couple hundred years ago or even a hundred years ago... Seems unnatural to be measuring and counting, we should eat when we are hungry >,<
I didn't count calories 40 years ago. I was a lot more active then.6 -
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sweetangelkitten wrote: »Best of luck in finding what works best for you.
unfortunately for me, eating "healthy" without calorie counting is why i was obese most of my life. even after loosing 100lbs twice. I'm a victim of my own portion creep. even in maintenance this time around i should do check ins with the scale and diary every few weeks even if i don't do so daily.sweetangelkitten wrote: »spinnerdell wrote: »Eating wholesome food when I was hungry led to a 70 pound weight gain over the years. Counting calories allowed me to lose that weight and maintain the loss. Wishing you a better outcome with your eating plan.
Why does this lead so many people to weight gain? We weren't counting calories a couple hundred years ago or even a hundred years ago... Seems unnatural to be measuring and counting, we should eat when we are hungry >,<
a couple of hundred years ago our access to food and what foods as well as our actiivty level was VASTLY different. you can't really compare the two.
Easy, don't eat the processed food
That's not how it works. I got to 300 lbs and more than 90% of my meals were home prepared and home processed from basic ingredients. We even make our own tomato sauce and sometimes yogurt. I eat more store-bought foods now because the calories are convenient (still eat predominantly home prepared foods), and I'm no longer morbidly obese because I don't eat nearly as many nuts and olive oil as I used to. It's not about processed food, it's about food security. Most people don't have a food availability problem so they tend to overeat.24 -
Hi there! I applaud your idea to not count calories. Back in times in which people did not know the nutritional content of food, there was no calorie counting, as you write. People had to develop and cultivate a knowledge of their bodies which most of us, I believe, have lost. When one is in harmony with her body (the emotinal and mental bodies align with the physical body), then I do believe that we can intrinsically know what is right for our consumption.
However, even the issue of hunger becomes boggy when considering the contemporary way of moving through the world in a first world country. So many of us are practiced as associating other emotions with hunger, that unearthing "actual" hunger is going to take quite a journey of discovery. Hunger has become much more conflated than it was before grocery stores and easily accessible foods, for example.
I do think that the ideal life would be to NOT count calories and to eat when hungry. But each of these aspects require a very long process of excavation. Imagine being able to listen to and TRUST the body? I mean, right? That's so important...but also very challenging. So, I would keep your goal in sight but also be practical about how you can achieve it. In order to understand the path toward this, many things in the mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical body need to be resolved.
Jenn2
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