Eating poorly but staying under calorie goal

TequillaLover89
TequillaLover89 Posts: 260 Member
edited October 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Thoughts..? Check out my open diary for examples. I don't stay under everyday, so no bashing :) Not to worried about it since my gw is 105 and cw is 108 ((I honestly think that is getting too low anyway)).

Just wondering, I don't want to start rapidly gaining anytime soon. When I lost weight I was eating super healthy and low cal, mixed with weight training ((which I still do twice a week)).
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Replies

  • thor1god1of1awesome
    thor1god1of1awesome Posts: 481 Member
    why dont you eat healthy and high cal if your worried about losing. There is an old saying I believe through and through..."You are what you eat"
  • Pangea250
    Pangea250 Posts: 965 Member
    Wow, that is some bad eating. But you're 21. And just 3 lbs. from your goal weight, which you yourself say is too low.

    What is your questions, anyway?
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    Not that I am criticizing... but even when I was 21, I couldn't drink every day.
  • _VoV
    _VoV Posts: 1,494 Member
    At 21, I wasn't any paragon of virtue in the nutrition department. You don't track sodium, but I'm guessing your intake is high. Fiber and protein are way too low. Could you maybe plan a meal or two with nutrient-dense foods like fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean protein each day? Then 1/3 of your calories could be junk-foodie, maybe.
  • TequillaLover89
    TequillaLover89 Posts: 260 Member
    Not that I am criticizing... but even when I was 21, I couldn't drink every day.
    Hey, I didn't drink last night lol. I live and a college town, and it's all about partying :) I'm not sitting at home alone drinking ((I couldn't do that)).
  • TequillaLover89
    TequillaLover89 Posts: 260 Member
    At 21, I wasn't any paragon of virtue in the nutrition department. You don't track sodium, but I'm guessing your intake is high. Fiber and protein are way too low. Could you maybe plan a meal or two with nutrient-dense foods like fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean protein each day? Then 1/3 of your calories could be junk-foodie, maybe.
    Thanks!
  • glenr79
    glenr79 Posts: 283 Member
    Calories don't mean anything..... if you eat a banana and a doughnut they are the same calories, just being under your calorie goal will not help you lose weight.... you have to eat the right foods to lose weight... what do you think will help you lose more weight, a banana or a doughnut?
  • Susay2942
    Susay2942 Posts: 211 Member
    The problem with bad habits is they will catch up with you. Your body may be able to hold the stamina for now...but your body like any machine or computer ... Garbage in Garbage Out.

    Its not too late. Just being here and asking questions will help get you on the right path... Hang in there and keep asking questions. There are NO STUPID QUESTIONS!
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    At 21, I wasn't any paragon of virtue in the nutrition department. You don't track sodium, but I'm guessing your intake is high. Fiber and protein are way too low. Could you maybe plan a meal or two with nutrient-dense foods like fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean protein each day? Then 1/3 of your calories could be junk-foodie, maybe.

    Actually, I do this anyway. I have a sweet tooth and I don't always like to cook.
  • oodlesnoodles
    oodlesnoodles Posts: 53 Member
    Calories don't mean anything..... if you eat a banana and a doughnut they are the same calories, just being under your calorie goal will not help you lose weight.... you have to eat the right foods to lose weight... what do you think will help you lose more weight, a banana or a doughnut?

    Glen, you are right on the money here. Too many people have this misconception that its all about calories....Nope!!! It matters WHERE you calories come from. The body metabolizes different foods in different ways. Abusing your body now just means more problems later. I know plenty of thin unhealthy people - trust me.
  • TequillaLover89
    TequillaLover89 Posts: 260 Member
    Calories don't mean anything..... if you eat a banana and a doughnut they are the same calories, just being under your calorie goal will not help you lose weight.... you have to eat the right foods to lose weight... what do you think will help you lose more weight, a banana or a doughnut?
    banana :) doughnuts are yucky anyway

    It's weird how I cut out things like mayo, sour cream, doughnuts, muffins, candy bars (except a fun size one the other night), ect out completely but somehow justify pizza and wings (w/out any kind of ranch sauce now at least) on a weekly or more basis.

    I had a mayo based product (maccaroni salad) for the first time in like a year yesterday because I tried some of my friends. It's confusing.
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    what do you think will help you lose more weight, a banana or a doughnut?

    If they are the same caloric value, it will be equal, by definition. Losing weight strictly on doughnuts won't make you very healthy or do anytthing positive for your physique however....
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    Calories don't mean anything..... if you eat a banana and a doughnut they are the same calories, just being under your calorie goal will not help you lose weight.... you have to eat the right foods to lose weight... what do you think will help you lose more weight, a banana or a doughnut?

    Calories mean EVERYTHING when it comes to weight loss. Google the Twinkies diet.
  • gizmonel
    gizmonel Posts: 24
    I am with Rachel on this one... not that we tag teamed or anything but really when you think about it. If we go by the ad age of you are what you eat that makes sense in some ways and makes no sense at all in another sense. I am not a scientific guy at all but the thermodynamics of the heat source of calories still apply... Eat a banana and your body turns it into sugars and uses it as fuel. Eat a donut and your body turns it into sugars and uses it as fuel in other words if both foods get turned into sugar what difference does it make what you eat for a weight stand point? Now if your into performance and want to build muscle etc. then yes watch your protein a little more and add in some good carbs etc. BUT to say nutrition over powers CALORIES when in todays society we have calorie surplus problem... Please give me a break people! Trying to optimize your nutrition for healths sake is like trying to do some thats impossible... Fight with nature, our bodies were meant to run on very little and practically anything we can feed upon... It wasn't until a few years ago that man interrupted this cycle and decided we needed balance eating!
  • gizmonel
    gizmonel Posts: 24
    what do you think will help you lose more weight, a banana or a doughnut?

    If they are the same caloric value, it will be equal, by definition. Losing weight strictly on doughnuts won't make you very healthy or do anytthing positive for your physique however....

    Well if you eat under your calories just in donuts I am pretty sure over time you will lose fat. You may be a bit sluggish at first but your body will surely adapt to what environment it is given and perform as needed.
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    I highly suggest you start trying to eat better quality foods now before it catches up to you later. I ate like garbage when I was younger, and when my activity level changed as I grew up and got a sedentary job, it caught up to me bigtime. I had to relearn how to eat entirely. Not an easy thing to do.

    It doesn't mean you can't have pizza and wings or whatever else, but just to learn to have it as part of a balanced nutritious diet. It's all about moderation and making sure you get sufficient nutrient intake from your food. Learn to cook and to enjoy doing it. Cooking can be a really fun activity if you are making things you love to eat.
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member

    Well if you eat under your calories just in donuts I am pretty sure over time you will lose fat. You may be a bit sluggish at first but your body will surely adapt to what environment it is given and perform as needed.

    You will also lose lean mass (a substantial amount) due to not having enough protein intake.

    Calories---> Scale weight
    Macronutrients ---> Body composition
    Micros ---> Health (and generally speaking, the above two will also effect health as well).
  • gizmonel
    gizmonel Posts: 24

    Well if you eat under your calories just in donuts I am pretty sure over time you will lose fat. You may be a bit sluggish at first but your body will surely adapt to what environment it is given and perform as needed.

    You will also lose lean mass (a substantial amount) due to not having enough protein intake.

    Calories---> Scale weight
    Macronutrients ---> Body composition
    Micros ---> Health

    Exactly! But did our ancestors worry about all of this back then? And I bet that most were fit and muscular due to their physical nature!
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    Exactly! But did our ancestors worry about all of this back then? And I bet that most were fit and muscular due to their physical nature!

    Of course they didn't worry about that, but it doesn't change my opinion on this matter :)
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member

    Well if you eat under your calories just in donuts I am pretty sure over time you will lose fat. You may be a bit sluggish at first but your body will surely adapt to what environment it is given and perform as needed.

    You will also lose lean mass (a substantial amount) due to not having enough protein intake.

    Calories---> Scale weight
    Macronutrients ---> Body composition
    Micros ---> Health

    Exactly! But did our ancestors worry about all of this back then? And I bet that most were fit and muscular due to their physical nature!
    They probably didn't eat a lot of donuts.
  • gizmonel
    gizmonel Posts: 24

    Well if you eat under your calories just in donuts I am pretty sure over time you will lose fat. You may be a bit sluggish at first but your body will surely adapt to what environment it is given and perform as needed.

    You will also lose lean mass (a substantial amount) due to not having enough protein intake.

    Calories---> Scale weight
    Macronutrients ---> Body composition
    Micros ---> Health

    Exactly! But did our ancestors worry about all of this back then? And I bet that most were fit and muscular due to their physical nature!
    They probably didn't eat a lot of donuts.

    Or a lot of anything for that matter hehehe.
  • hooah_mj
    hooah_mj Posts: 1,004 Member
    Good ol' college days....your young body can withstand most of that, just be careful that you're not setting yourself up for a lifetime of bad eating. Terrible habits are hard to break, but for now you're very young and your body ignores most of what you're doing to it....

    108...reallly :noway: how I remember those days...
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member

    Well if you eat under your calories just in donuts I am pretty sure over time you will lose fat. You may be a bit sluggish at first but your body will surely adapt to what environment it is given and perform as needed.

    You will also lose lean mass (a substantial amount) due to not having enough protein intake.

    Calories---> Scale weight
    Macronutrients ---> Body composition
    Micros ---> Health (and generally speaking, the above two will also effect health as well).

    But bananas don't have protein either.... But I agree that macro and micro nutrients are important, they just don't override calories, ever, like the one poster said.
  • jannalynne07
    jannalynne07 Posts: 9 Member
    Good ol' college days....your young body can withstand most of that, just be careful that you're not setting yourself up for a lifetime of bad eating. Terrible habits are hard to break, but for now you're very young and your body ignores most of what you're doing to it....

    108...reallly :noway: how I remember those days...

    my thoughts exactly :)
  • mcanavan05
    mcanavan05 Posts: 210 Member
    Calories don't mean anything..... if you eat a banana and a doughnut they are the same calories, just being under your calorie goal will not help you lose weight.... you have to eat the right foods to lose weight... what do you think will help you lose more weight, a banana or a doughnut?

    Calories mean EVERYTHING when it comes to weight loss. Google the Twinkies diet.

    You're nerdy excel chart is missing a trendline for your weight. I'm not a fan of MFPs charts either!
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member

    But bananas don't have protein either.... But I agree that macro and micro nutrients are important, they just don't override calories, ever, like the one poster said.

    Bananas have a little bit of protein dont they? Either way though, that wasn't my point. I was just trying to clarify that yes, it's absolutely calories in/out when you're talking about scale weight loss, and additionally, scale weight loss =/= body composition.


    You can eat at a deficit with terribly deficient macro intake and you'll lose weight just fine. You might not look great when it's done though.
  • gizmonel
    gizmonel Posts: 24

    Well if you eat under your calories just in donuts I am pretty sure over time you will lose fat. You may be a bit sluggish at first but your body will surely adapt to what environment it is given and perform as needed.

    You will also lose lean mass (a substantial amount) due to not having enough protein intake.

    Calories---> Scale weight
    Macronutrients ---> Body composition
    Micros ---> Health (and generally speaking, the above two will also effect health as well).

    But bananas don't have protein either.... But I agree that macro and micro nutrients are important, they just don't override calories, ever, like the one poster said.

    I think a large banana has 1.5g of protein ;)

    In my honest opinion physical exercise is king, calories are queen and everything else are just bonus points if you choose to focus on them,
  • gizmonel
    gizmonel Posts: 24

    But bananas don't have protein either.... But I agree that macro and micro nutrients are important, they just don't override calories, ever, like the one poster said.

    Bananas have a little bit of protein dont they? Either way though, that wasn't my point. I was just trying to clarify that yes, it's absolutely calories in/out when you're talking about scale weight loss, and additionally, scale weight loss =/= body composition.


    You can eat at a deficit with terribly deficient macro intake and you'll lose weight just fine. You might not look great when it's done though.

    Like Bart Simpson>
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member

    But bananas don't have protein either.... But I agree that macro and micro nutrients are important, they just don't override calories, ever, like the one poster said.

    Bananas have a little bit of protein dont they? Either way though, that wasn't my point. I was just trying to clarify that yes, it's absolutely calories in/out when you're talking about scale weight loss, and additionally, scale weight loss =/= body composition.


    You can eat at a deficit with terribly deficient macro intake and you'll lose weight just fine. You might not look great when it's done though.

    I'm not arguing with you. I'm arguing with the banana dude!
  • Jmayhem69
    Jmayhem69 Posts: 36
    Your diary doesn't look bad to me. I would suggest eating breakfast more regularly but I also remember drinking like you and not waking until lunch time most days!! You have good portion control and balance your intake well. Which is why you are 108....Trust me, 1 slice of cheese pizza per week is not going to kill you. 6 shots of booze every night might.
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