Eat healthy or count calories?

I would say that even lots of healthy foods contain lots of calories, and not so healthy foods obviously don't always contain the nutrients your body needs. It seems to me that counting calories, at least until you get an idea of how many calories are in food you eat a lot, is probably the best bet of actually having a concrete method of losing weight. You burn more calories than you take in in a day, you burn fat. I've tried the 'eat healthy' method where I wasn't meticulous with calories, and I don't think I really lost any weight that way. It's good to keep track.


ETA: I'm not saying don't eat healthfully! You should try to combine the two and keep track of your healthy eating.

yes , it does make a difference. I think it is about nutrition when I try to get to my healthy weight. . I am actaully doing it both:: eat healthy and count calories. the ocasional chocolate or ice cream doesn't' count:)
However, what I noticed long time ago is that eating healthy gets me more energy, I am not hungry between meals and I mantain/lose weight.

the only unhealthy food is one eaten to excess.

It does make a difference. If you are trying to gain muscle and don't eat enough protein you won't gain muscle. If its all processed sugars it can slow down your weight loss.

I will say this though, if you are above 15% (for guys) or 25% (for women) body fat then you can make progress just by counting. But I don't know anyone who just counts calories and can get below that without making sure you are eating healthy too.

Mmm.. I count calories and eat whatever I want.

I usually use green veggies (which are low in calories) to make me feel full when I'm almost out of calories for the day. Also, an occasional splurge with a whole box of cookes to "reset your adjusted metabolism" is perfectly acceptable.

I would mix both and see if my body will be responding with weight loss/strength. Than I`d try to adjust depending on results, but one thing for sure I would not go straight one or another way. Same as few others said you need both nutrition and calories.

I've been doing both, but lately haven't lost anything. So I'm eating a little more (I exercise 6 days a week for 1 hr a day). Turns out I wasn't eating enough! But, I know that watching my calories and eating healthy makes me feel better and more energetic then on the days when I don't eat healthy.

You got it! I would go so far as to say that most people don't eat enough. I've designed meal plans for people and they are amazed at how much they eat on them but they start losing weight.

Counting calories. Google "twinkie diet " and you'll find out about a nutritionist that lost 27 pounds eating nothing but snack cakes. His vitals improved as well. Now, ot would be hard to gain muscle that way. And you probably increase your risk for some malady down the road. But the answer to your question about weight loss is calories calories calories. If you ate 1500 calories of taco bell per day you would lose weight compared to eating 2500 calories of lean fish and vegetables per day. But we'll have to address your constipation another day.

Counting calories. Google "twinkie diet " and you'll find out about a nutritionist that lost 27 pounds eating nothing but snack cakes. His vitals improved as well. Now, ot would be hard to gain muscle that way. And you probably increase your risk for some malady down the road. But the answer to your question about weight loss is calories calories calories. If you ate 1500 calories of taco bell per day you would lose weight compared to eating 2500 calories of lean fish and vegetables per day. But we'll have to address your constipation another day.

He ate more than just twinkies- I haven't looked at this in a while but I'm pretty sure he supplemented protein shakes and some form of veg.

Yes he did.

I think yes. If your eating healthy you can eat so much more for your 1200 calories. If you eat junk your going to be over when lunch is over : ) The junk foods don't have much in the way of nutrition....which is so important.

So you can eat junk and spend a zillion dollars at GNC, or you can eat nutritious food (with occasional treats!) to get everything you need.

Totally agree. Eating real food is way better than any supplements. I see people trying to get fit and spending tons of money on supplements that really maybe only help 1% if they are even effective at all. The only supplement I take is a protein shake post workout because it gets the protein to your muscles quicker than whole food.

GUYS,this program counts calories,it doesnt count how much u gonna take and how u gonna use!
1. Lots of people are under calories goal but have their level of fat sugarrs at 200-300% of daily 100% is ok 150% is ok,200 not.
u have 200-300% of sugar and fat eaten? your body will not put them in ur fat reserve because you are eating less calories,but it will use them as energy for every movement you make,meaning you fat stays.(speaking about sedentary people,if u make 1 hour running bike or whatever this is not a problem) BUT even if u dont have this problem Diabet is just waiting for u,or just the colesterol will deposit just after the exit of ur stomach making the way more narrow,making u digest in 30-180 minutes slower,so your body metabolism get slower and as defence mechanism u put more fat reserves.

2.too many proteins because of mass meat production is always bad coz of hormons and stuff,

3. Your body will not lose fat if u dont have enogh water and oxigen to burn and clean the body.meaning dink everytime ur body asks and make some cardio exercise to increase the income of oxygen,REMEMBER HUMANS WERE MADE TO HUNT THEIR FOOD!

4.not eating enogh carbohydrate can slow down metabolism heavily.

(sorry for my english)

AND TO ALL THOSE POPULATION WITH NO EATING CULTURE:
Please mcdonald(fast foods) is not a place to eat
Alcohol was invented to fight infections not to drink,but ok one glass of wine at lunch and ---->1<---- strong 30-50% alcoholic saturday night,but not more,and remember more alcohol u drink more water u need! alcohol reacts with water,u dont drink enogh? Alcohol will take it from your body
CHANGE YOUR FOOD ALL THE TIME

I go back and forth between eating healthy foods, and eating not so healthy foods but count calories. Does it make a difference when your trying to loose weight?

Teaching yourself to seek out and consume fresh, raw, local, seasonal, organic, fruits and veggies is more sustainable than counting your calories every day.

If you eat NOTHING BUT fresh, raw, local, seasonal, organic fruits and veggies, you can eat all you want, never have to log a thing, yet still be healthy, trim, and fit.

How about both?