Calories Only vs Keto, Macros

I have! I've lost 39 pounds through only counting calories. I eat whatever I want. Pasta, cheeseburgers, sushi, pizza, you name it. Now I don't eat nearly as much of that stuff as I used to, and I eat more "healthy food" that are lower in calories and fill me better, but I still eat the things I enjoy as well. I diet to live, not live to diet, and I enjoy eating too much to completely suck all the fun out if it.

Coming up on 50 pounds lost, eating 1600 calories of whatever I want each day. Most days I'm in the general ballpark of eating healthy, but other days, not at all. I pay no attention to macros other than to try to keep my protein up, which is rarely an issue because I am very carnivorous. I pay no attention to carbs whatsoever. While I do generally prefer lower carb foods, even keto dishes, if I feel like eating 800 calories of pasta for dinner, I go right ahead and do it and organize the rest of my food day so I come in at 1600 overall.

Today's menu:

Brunch: Philly cheesesteak sub (small one)
Snack # 1: Nature Valley crispy cream wafer bar: peanut butter and chocolate
Snack # 2: Pile of mini carrots
Dinner: Beef fajitas
Desert: Banana

mmmmmmmmmm

Tomorrow is BLT night here. Massive piles of bacon on a sub roll with real (non light) mayo. We never use diet/light ingredients, we just use smaller amounts of the real stuff.

Eating the foods you crave and love right up to your calorie limit can be a glorious thing, because you lose all the weight you're supposed to lose while denying yourself nothing.

Nothing wrong with keto and other plans like that, because they provide a structure that a lot of people like and they work just as well if you stick to the calorie limits. It's just a matter of preference. You gotta find what works for you.

I think nutrition is important, so I pay attention to it, but I lost weight (around 50 pounds in less than a year, at age 59, while hypothyroid) eating mostly the same foods I'd always eaten, just different portion sizes and proportions to hit my calorie goal. I didn't significantly change my exercise routine from what I'd been doing for several years. From time to time during that year, I fit in craft beer, wine, deep-fried foods, dessert, and sometimes went over my calorie goal (very occasionally by a lot) for special occasions.

I've done the same thing for almost 4 years since to maintain a healthy weight.

I didn't do keto, or low carb, or low fat, or bright line eating, or whole 30, or paleo, or . . . .

Just food, normal balanced nutrition, calorie counting. Worked great. Still working.

gooz71 wrote: »

So much talk about Keto Diet, Counting Macros, etc. Is there anyone who has lost weight just counting calories only and eating whatever they want as long as it was within your calorie goal? I almost feel like it’s impossible 😕

Pick me, pick me. I lost almost 80 pounds and have kept it off for over 2 years simply by counting calories. Keto was never going to work for me as it wasn't sustainable long term. It is also not an advisable way for me to eat when I am at a high risk of bowel cancer.