Aside from calories...

Romans624
Romans624 Posts: 822
edited October 2024 in Food and Nutrition
What else do you look for in eating healthy. (certain nutrients, eating a certain style, amount, do you go by a certain diet, eliminate a type of food, etc)


I find that even if I am eating less cals, there are foods that don't help me on weight loss. At least not in their original form.

And lastly, do you see a big difference in weight loss when you add exercise (say 45 minutes a day) versus when you don't. Seems like a silly question but I have been kind of lazy about exercise lately.... and maybe that is why my scale isn't budging! lol
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Replies

  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    I only look at the calories.

    I already know my protein is good.

    Also, having a spell with no exercise actually helped my immediate weight loss, although that was probably just due to my body holding less water for muscle repair.
  • christine24t
    christine24t Posts: 6,063 Member
    there have been times where i don't exercise for a few days and i still lose weight. and then there are days where i don't go one day and i gain weight.
    as i get closer to my goal, i'm stressing less about exercising. maybe that sounds bad, but like right now, i haven't worked out since friday and i won't until tuesday. i used to freak out about that, but now i just roll with it because in real life you can't have everything perfect!
  • andrea198721
    andrea198721 Posts: 173 Member
    I've been trying to bake or broil everything....I look at calories but I'm also trying to look for healthier alternatives to what I used to like. I'm also watching my sugar because I go over just about every day.
  • andrea198721
    andrea198721 Posts: 173 Member
    Learned something new! I didn't know that your body holds water after you exercise...... Good to know!
  • Monica_has_a_goal
    Monica_has_a_goal Posts: 694 Member
    As I exercise my body adjusts while losing weight but then I need to bump up my exercise routine to keep burning it off.

    So I started with 30 min of walking, then added strength training of about 25 reps, and now im up to walking 6 miles and I keep losing.. so I suggest to keep bumping up the exercise when the scale seems stuck!
  • mandemonious
    mandemonious Posts: 217 Member
    Fiber
    Sodium
    Fat
    Sugar (I don't usually count the sugar in fruit)

    I stay away from: processed meat, refined sugar, refined flour

    Sometimes I cheat.

    In my view and based on a fair amount of research, whole foods are best.

    Anything that says "food" or "drink" on the package should probably be avoided (processed cheese food, orange flavored drink). Empty, non-nutritive calories laden with chemicals.

    As I said...sometimes I cheat. Everything in moderation right? 'Cept those veggies :wink:
  • Javajunkie67
    Javajunkie67 Posts: 167 Member
    Personally, I stay away from high carbs. Too many and I get a foggy brain, the carb coma. I know others that can eat them and go right on with their day. Even a correct portion of pasta can sometimes do it to me if I've had to many during the day. I usually stay under MFPs idea of carbs by 40-60 g.

    Sodium is another one on my watch list. Not for medical reasons, but because it makes me feel real bloated and super thirsty.

    Some are religious about the amount of fat they have.

    Getting the right amount of protein is hard and I have to plan it out, but I try real hard to hit the guide of .8-1.0 g per lb of body weight.
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    The more things you cut out/avoid, the more complicated and harder you make it for yourself.

    The main thing you want is sustainability, therefore make changes you can live with. Far better to eat healthier forever, and keep the weight off, than to eat healthy for a few months, then fall off and regain all that weight.
  • PrincessEliNa
    PrincessEliNa Posts: 524 Member
    Right now, I just look at calories, I know that's not the best, but like you, I've been a bit lazy when it comes to exercise :S
    I do take a Yoga class twice a week, but haven't done any hard core working out. I figure I'll lose the weight I gained over the summer (About 15 pounds) and then I'll work harder to take off the last 15 pounds that I've always wanted off.
    I do always make sure to drink 8+cups of water every day though. ;)
  • mlbazemore
    mlbazemore Posts: 252 Member
    CARBS! I try to watch my carbs carefully because eventhough an Atkins dosage of carbs, say 20g a day is way too low, most Americans (according to somewhere I've read or seen on tv) eat between 300-500g a day and that is WAY TOO MUCH, TOO MUCH. Try decreasing your carbs a bit, and increasing your fiber. I would also watch your sugar intake. Sugar doesn't have any calories and when you factor that into a low calorie count that's ok....but SUGAR+CARBS combine and store as fat in the body. I definitely wouldn't recommend not worrying about your exercise, but I can't preach either, I'm a little lazy with mine, but decreasing your carbs will promote weight loss alone without exercise. Just make sure that the carbs you are ingesting are GOOD CARBS, and not things that are made with sugar, refined flour, etc. Basically anything WHITE. We all have our days...don't let it get you down.
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    The only two things I really watch are sodium content (I have a heart condition, so high sodium is really not good for me) and sugar content (processed foods or fruits). High sugar foods make me have cravings for bad foods so I try to keep that under control. I also limit my dairy to 1 serving per day because I get crampy with more.

    As for working out, there's a big difference in how much I lose. I will drop water weight if I quit working out (usually 2-3 lbs), but then it slows down. My workouts are a big part of my life now. To me, it's just as essential as brushing my teeth twice a day or showering.

    As for losing weight, as long as what you eat in calories is less than what you burn, you will lose weight. You could eat nothing but lard, sit on the couch all day, and lose weight as long as you kept your calorie intake low enough. That would, obviously, be not the best decision for your quality of life (and probably give you a helluva case of the runs).

    Generally speaking, foods that are naturaly nutrient rich (whole grains, fruit, fresh vegetables, lean whole cuts of meat) are a good thing.
  • Romans624
    Romans624 Posts: 822
    Thanks for the responses.. I felt when I started 30DS that my muscles were sore and holding a lot of water. Sadly I have only done it three times and days apart. Now my muscles are sore because they NEED to move. So I am going to go on a walk today. Need to think about some things anyway. I also, like several of you, think that the processed, high sodium, foods are getting the best of me. And I have to look at my carbs a bit too. Not that I can't have them... but that they come from good sources most of the time.


    Wish me luck.... I need to start losing again!!! ugh!! :P
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    CARBS! I try to watch my carbs carefully because eventhough an Atkins dosage of carbs, say 20g a day is way too low, most Americans (according to somewhere I've read or seen on tv) eat between 300-500g a day and that is WAY TOO MUCH, TOO MUCH. Try decreasing your carbs a bit, and increasing your fiber. I would also watch your sugar intake. Sugar doesn't have any calories and when you factor that into a low calorie count that's ok....but SUGAR+CARBS combine and store as fat in the body. I definitely wouldn't recommend not worrying about your exercise, but I can't preach either, I'm a little lazy with mine, but decreasing your carbs will promote weight loss alone without exercise. Just make sure that the carbs you are ingesting are GOOD CARBS, and not things that are made with sugar, refined flour, etc. Basically anything WHITE. We all have our days...don't let it get you down.

    A classic example of overcomplicating.
    I do always make sure to drink 8+cups of water every day though. ;)

    Why do you think you need to drink 8+ cups of water a day?
  • Mmmary212
    Mmmary212 Posts: 410 Member
    I dont look at calories actually. I make sure my fat is high enough and my protein is sufficient and my carbs are low enough.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    I try for 130 grams of protein, 25 grams of fiber. That's pretty much it.
  • PB67
    PB67 Posts: 376
    Sugar doesn't have any calories and when you factor that into a low calorie count that's ok....but SUGAR+CARBS combine and store as fat in the body.

    LOLWUT?
    I definitely wouldn't recommend not worrying about your exercise, but I can't preach either, I'm a little lazy with mine, but decreasing your carbs will promote weight loss alone without exercise.

    Only if it leads to a decrease in calories.
    Just make sure that the carbs you are ingesting are GOOD CARBS, and not things that are made with sugar, refined flour, etc. Basically anything WHITE. We all have our days...don't let it get you down.

    Where are you getting your information? Because everything you've said is wrong.
  • carriel1976
    carriel1976 Posts: 129 Member
    I look at the number of calories and fats, try to stay away from foods that are high in carbs and sugars, and look for foods that are high in fiber and protein.
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    Interestingly, no one has said they choose their food base on taste...

    ...isn't taste important when deciding what you will eat?
  • SportyLadyPhotographer
    SportyLadyPhotographer Posts: 173
    I think taste is important people get fed eating the stuff they dont even really like and are more likely to cheat.
    Protein is very good-oily fish/ meat-(steak)
    fat free foods
    not to much sugar -natural sugars are ok - apples/pears/raspberrries ect
    iron is also very important-meat
    not too many carbs - pasta/bread ect
    :)
  • Hoppymom
    Hoppymom Posts: 1,158 Member
    I try to eat a balanced diet. I do watch sodium as I have high blood pressure. I am hoping that goes away with the weight loss. I also watch potassium as I have low potassium. Extra veggies are the key to that, so pretty simple.
  • Raf702
    Raf702 Posts: 196 Member
    What else do you look for in eating healthy. (certain nutrients, eating a certain style, amount, do you go by a certain diet, eliminate a type of food, etc)


    I find that even if I am eating less cals, there are foods that don't help me on weight loss. At least not in their original form.

    And lastly, do you see a big difference in weight loss when you add exercise (say 45 minutes a day) versus when you don't. Seems like a silly question but I have been kind of lazy about exercise lately.... and maybe that is why my scale isn't budging! lol

    i focus solely on the calorie content, then I look at grams of protein and carbs, fat's is the least of my worries. If it contains a certain amount of protein and carbs, I will eat it up. But regardless, if the calorie value of the food item fits within my calorie allowance for the day along with macro-nutrients. Then I will just consume and enjoy it.
  • kyle4jem
    kyle4jem Posts: 1,400 Member
    Interestingly, no one has said they choose their food base on taste...

    ...isn't taste important when deciding what you will eat?
    For me it's of HUGE importance.

    There are so many so-called healthy foods that I cannot eat: brown rice, wholemeal bread or wholegrain pasta... they all taste like cardboard to me :sick: But that's not to say that my diet is not wholesome. I eat a lot of fresh meat and veg, but also use tinned tomatoes, soups and 2-min, microwave rice for convenience.

    I have tried all kinds of designer diets and as you said before, HMonsterX... it just got all too complicated to keep up with long term and it meant I gave up in frustration and ended up eating more and more sugar (which is apparently ok, because it has no calories whatsoever! :noway: I must've missed that one in Organic Chemistry :ohwell: )

    I wholeheartedly believe that the reason I have lost weight so easily in the past couple of months and why I am convinced I will succeeded this time is because I eat all the foods I want to eat, as long as it falls within the limits of my calorie target for the week! I don't stress if I have a few drinks at the weekend, nor if we go out to eat. Likewise, I don't feel obliged to eat all my daily calories every day.

    There are foods which I've come to realise are calorie dense and I tend not to eat them often, but that's not to say I'll never have a baguette sandwich, fried chicken or lasagne ever again.

    I choose to live well and enjoy life... I'm just learning that I need to do so in moderation :laugh:
  • Mmmary212
    Mmmary212 Posts: 410 Member
    Interestingly, no one has said they choose their food base on taste...

    ...isn't taste important when deciding what you will eat?

    A high fat diet pretty much implies everything I eat is DELICIOUS! lol
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    I look at a few things:
    1. whole grain vs. refined
    2. fiber content
    3. source of fat
    4. amount/source of sugar
    5. calories
  • JennLifts
    JennLifts Posts: 1,913 Member
    I only look at protein/carb/fat I don't care how many calories it is.
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    I only look at protein/carb/fat I don't care how many calories it is.

    So you aren't trying to lose weight?
  • kaetra
    kaetra Posts: 442 Member
    My primary focus is calories and taste. I'm not eating ANYthing that doesn't taste good. Why would I waste calories eating something yucky when I can lick the bottom of a shoe for zero calories?

    I also watch sodium carefully because of my blood pressure, and I try to get as much fiber as I can. I don't worry about sugar, which I absolutely should try harder to watch, but I don't. If I'm within my calorie limits and I want something sweet (and fruit isn't killing the craving) I'll eat something sweet. I figure I'm not going to be giving up sweet things for the rest of my life, so I may as well figure out a balanced way to work it in with moderation.

    I think that's my favorite part about logging - the flexibility it gives you.
  • meerkat70
    meerkat70 Posts: 4,605 Member
    I keep an eye on protein, calcium and iron. Unfortunately, many of the items in the MFP database don't track these, so it can be hard to keep tabs.
  • meerkat70
    meerkat70 Posts: 4,605 Member
    I would have thought taste was a taken for granted. I eat good food.
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    I would have thought taste was a taken for granted. I eat good food.

    You'd think so wouldn't you! However, so many people mention "empty calories", forgetting that just because something isn't nutritionally dense, it's still worth having sometimes!
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