Does it matter what you eat as long as you don't pass your c

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jcolon20
jcolon20 Posts: 2
in Food and Nutrition
I wanna lose atleast 50lbs. I find it hard to believe that as long as i dont go over my calorie count then its ok and i'll still lose weight. Is this possible? I am eating fruits, going to gym 4x/week for 2 hrs and drinking lots of water by the way, but i also want to enjoy certain foods. Is that ok? what is best to stay away from and what is acceptable?
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  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
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    Yes it's okay but if you take it to ridiculous levels by eating cake and cookies all day you will have some health issues that may pop up.

    Best bet is to eat whole and minimally processed foods for "most" of your diet and then throw in some junk food here and there to keep you happy.
  • Cold_Steel
    Cold_Steel Posts: 897 Member
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    Find what works for you. The only 100% reliable advice you will ever need is in one simple word "moderation."
  • _Bro
    _Bro Posts: 437 Member
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    ^Sidesteal is right on point about this..

    A calorie is a calorie.. everything past that is nutrition.
    Nutrition in the long term always matters.
  • rgrange
    rgrange Posts: 236 Member
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    as long as you don't go over your calorie limit you'll lose weight. For example, I enjoy alcohol and drink it often, so I make sure to leave room for alcoholic beverages by eating less than I would had I not planned on drinking later.
  • carrie_eggo
    carrie_eggo Posts: 1,396 Member
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    Think of your calories like money. You can spend your whole weeks paycheck on lottery tickets but when it comes down to the end of the month you can't pay the mortgage. The same thing goes with your body...you can spend your calories on the fun stuff but when it's all said and done your body doesn't get the important nutrients that it needs.

    It's ok to have some fun once in awhile....just budget. :)
  • HartsHeart
    HartsHeart Posts: 49 Member
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    I have really enjoyed this thread. I have really learned a lot. Thanks for posting this to the group & thank you all for your answers. :O)
  • MJ7910
    MJ7910 Posts: 1,280 Member
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    from personal experience when i first started out i was just eating whatever and felt like i didn't have much energy. i was still below calories. when i started eating nutritious food with protein, vitamins, etc i felt so much better like i had more energy and it has also helped me preserve lean mass and burn fat. helps me keep my endurance for working out too. so that's why i eat good things. sure, in the end, it is about the calories. but i find i can eat a lot of great tasting foods that have good nutrients too.
  • Going4Lean
    Going4Lean Posts: 1,077 Member
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    When i was loosing the weight myself I was eating the same things I always ate , but I was having smaller portions.
    I also walked alot and without noticing myself people started telling me i was loosing weight.
  • hdlb123
    hdlb123 Posts: 112 Member
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    Technically - No, it doesn't matter what you eat as a long as you stay under your calorie goal.

    But if you eat things that are good for your body, you will feel a whole lot better then if you eat snickers and cheese burgers all day long. And you don't want to be counting calories for the rest of your life, making some healthy changes/choices will help you keep your weight off in the long run.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,695 Member
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    I wanna lose atleast 50lbs. I find it hard to believe that as long as i dont go over my calorie count then its ok and i'll still lose weight. Is this possible? I am eating fruits, going to gym 4x/week for 2 hrs and drinking lots of water by the way, but i also want to enjoy certain foods. Is that ok? what is best to stay away from and what is acceptable?
    You have to get in your essentials and vitamins for the body to work efficiently. But once you have and have leftover calories to spare, it basically doesn't matter what you eat to fulfill it.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ComeAroundSundown
    ComeAroundSundown Posts: 69 Member
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    In simple terms, all you need is a caloric deficit to lose weight. Look up the guy who lost 26(?) pounds by eating twinkies every day! Although as the other posters have stated - adequate nutrition is significant. Health isn't solely about being in a healthy weight range :)
  • summer827
    summer827 Posts: 516 Member
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    Think of your calories like money. You can spend your whole weeks paycheck on lottery tickets but when it comes down to the end of the month you can't pay the mortgage. The same thing goes with your body...you can spend your calories on the fun stuff but when it's all said and done your body doesn't get the important nutrients that it needs.

    It's ok to have some fun once in awhile....just budget. :)

    Exactly how I think of it! I often "save up" or "earn" calories for something really worthwhile and I don't feel deprived. I never tell myself that there is any one food that I cannot have.
  • anulle2009
    anulle2009 Posts: 580 Member
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    I think it will work to a point! I have lost what I have lost watching what I eat but still enjoying the good stuff. But i have hit a block were the weight is not coming off as fast anymore. It gets annoying
  • vxmittyxv
    vxmittyxv Posts: 122 Member
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    Think of your calories like money. You can spend your whole weeks paycheck on lottery tickets but when it comes down to the end of the month you can't pay the mortgage. The same thing goes with your body...you can spend your calories on the fun stuff but when it's all said and done your body doesn't get the important nutrients that it needs.

    It's ok to have some fun once in awhile....just budget. :)

    Why is it that everything alot becomes so clear when it is put in terms of money. Just a thought. LOL
  • sandspur2012
    sandspur2012 Posts: 12
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    This is very relevant to your question.

    http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html
  • koosdel
    koosdel Posts: 3,317 Member
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    Calories determine how much you lose, macros determine what you lose (and how you look).
  • EricMurano
    EricMurano Posts: 825 Member
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    Another thing to think about is satiety. 300 calories of chocolate is a lot smaller in volume than 300 calories of vegetables. You'll feel really full if you eat 300 calories of vegetables than you would the chocolate.
  • EricMurano
    EricMurano Posts: 825 Member
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    *double post*
  • capriciousmoon
    capriciousmoon Posts: 1,263 Member
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    I think the main problem that comes from eating what people label "junk foods" is because it is easier to underestimate the calories in some of those foods. If you keep a calorie deficit you'll lose weight. It's just best to eat mostly healthy to get proper nutrition and have more energy to exercise.
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
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    I think it comes down to this question -
    do you wana lose weight or do you wanna be healthy?

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