How far do you take counting calories?

Blacktie.

So everyone how far do you take tracking calories in?

I'm weighing pretty much everything these days. i do leave out things like veg that has a tiny amount of calories and just allocate 100 calories to all that but everything else I weigh.

Please let's not let this turn into a carbs/gluten/paleo debate.

COH

I don't count a single one

Alf Veedersane

I've a pretty good idea what I get through my 'breakfast' and lunch and I have a good enough idea of what i'm having for dinner. But I'm not inclined to start weighing stuff out partly because i don't do bulking or cutting and partly cos it invariably means having to wash something afterwards.

desultory

I've a rough idea. No real clue though, when I want to eat excess I go wayyyy past what's needed without a doubt and the same with losing it. Diet consists of pretty much just chicken eggs and brocolli at the moment anyway

Hanley

All this stressing about everything nutrition related is probably hurting your cut...

Davei141

Ah i might track every once in a while loosely, counting everything every day would be draining.

Bruno26

When your counting calories it's like your always in a diet- this is unsustainable.
When you eat the right foods - stop counting, punishing and starving yourself and just eat when hungry and stop when full.

You can't say a calorie is a calorie because the body reacts differently to different kinds of calories .

Calories count but don't count calories.

It is indisputable that you can go over your recommended calorie intake as long as you eat the correct foods (nsng) and still lose body fat.

I don't count calories. I tried it. I lost weight. But I was miserable and became absolutely obsessed with it.

It's a good exercise for someone starting out on a weight loss/weight gain programme because it can open your eyes to what you're eating, but long term it's not for me.

MrStuffins

Bruno26 wrote: »

When your counting calories it's like your always in a diet- this is unsustainable.

Not true! I've been counting my calories now for over two years. Works like a charm

Essien

[Deleted User] wrote: »

It's a good exercise for someone starting out on a weight loss/weight gain programme because it can open your eyes to what you're eating, but long term it's not for me.

I'd be the same as this.

I counted meticulously for a few months last year and lost ~2 stone. Above all else it showed me just how easy it is to overeat. Now I'm not as concerned about counting, my food quality in general is a lot better than last year so it's that bit harder to overeat.

Some days I will, some days I won't.

Bruno26

MrStuffins wrote: »

Not true! I've been counting my calories now for over two years. Works like a charm

It is true- you've been on a diet for two years! Fair play that it works for you though- I couldn't do it.

Bruno26

Essien wrote: »

I'd be the same as this.

I counted meticulously for a few months last year and lost ~2 stone. Above all else it showed me just how easy it is to overeat. Now I'm not as concerned about counting, my food quality in general is a lot better than last year so it's that bit harder to overeat.

Some days I will, some days I won't.

Are you saying it's harder to overeat because you feel satiated due to quality of real food? Higher fat / protein / lower carb?

Essien

Bruno26 wrote: »

Are you saying it's harder to overeat because you feel satiated due to quality of real food? Higher fat / protein / lower carb?

Because of real food, yes, regardless of it being high carb or high fat though.

MrStuffins

Bruno26 wrote: »

It is true- you've been on a diet for two years! Fair play that it works for you though- I couldn't do it.

Well, everyone is "on a diet". I've just been making sure I don't eat too much. I eat whatever I want.

AltAccount

I counted meticulously and weighed food (and lived in MyFitnessPal) for the first many months of trying to lose weight. It gave me a much better understanding of how much I was eating, and more importantly where I was coming across opportunity cost decisions of one snack versus another, or a calorie dense small portion versus a far more satisfying larger portion with loads of veggies or whatever.

Nowadays I'm still regularly putting stuff into MFP, but I'm far less diligent about it because I've recalibrated my portion size and general diet.

Davei141

Bruno26 wrote: »

Are you saying it's harder to overeat because you feel satiated due to quality of real food? Higher fat / protein / lower carb?

You are trolling at this stage. Because there is no such thing as real food that isn't low carb food and high fat/protein. :rolleyes:

It is important to weigh foods and count once at the very least so you can judge from eyeballing how many calories your portions are.

Blacktie.

Hanley wrote: »

All this stressing about everything nutrition related is probably hurting your cut...

I'm not stressing about it I'm just a bit of a meticulous person I guess. Also this is the first time I'm trying to get properly lean. Isn't it kind of a requirement when trying to get to lean levels of bodyfat%. Somewhere between 8-12%.

Mellor

Bruno26 wrote: »

It is true- you've been on a diet for two years! Fair play that it works for you though- I couldn't do it.

Everyone has a diet. Whether they realise it or not.

Blacktie. wrote: »

I'm not stressing about it I'm just a bit of a meticulous person I guess. Also this is the first time I'm trying to get properly lean. Isn't it kind of a requirement when trying to get to lean levels of bodyfat%. Somewhere between 8-12%.

After a while you should be in a some what of a routine and know what's about typical for breakfast, lunch, dinner etc. No matter what you decide to have.

Some meals will be over, other will be under. It'll average out.

diarmuid05

Has anybody on here had success with a calorie controlled diet where the calories came from carbs??

Blacktie.

diarmuid05 wrote: »

Has anybody on here had success with a calorie controlled diet where the calories came from carbs??

Do you mean a diet of just carbs and no fat or protein? Recipe for disaster if you do.

TimeToShine

Did it for the first two/three months as well as weighing most food but now I just estimate based on how it looks. I don't think it's very sustainable long term - it's great to give you a rough benchmark though and it's something that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

diarmuid05

Blacktie. wrote: »

Do you mean a diet of just carbs and no fat or protein? Recipe for disaster if you do.

I'm not promoting it.... i'm asking has anybody achieved it?

Blacktie.

TimeToShine wrote: »

Did it for the first two/three months as well as weighing most food but now I just estimate based on how it looks. I don't think it's very sustainable long term - it's great to give you a rough benchmark though and it's something that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

That's my plan. Just to do it while I'm cutting which is about another 2 months and then leave it for a while and maybe count for anoher month while bulking and play it by ear then.

I'm not promoting it.... i'm asking has anybody achieved it?

I seriously doubt it. Protein and fats are essential to continue living!

diarmuid05

Blacktie. wrote: »

I seriously doubt it. Protein and fats are essential to continue living!

OK let me turn it on its head...

Are the successful calorie counters the ones who cut out carbs and ate protein & fats

OR
Are they the ones who kept eating the same stuff* that made them fat... but just ate less of that same stuff*??

stuff = diet including carbs/sugar

Blacktie.

diarmuid05 wrote: »

OK let me turn it on its head...

Are the successful calorie counters the ones who cut out carbs and ate protein & fats

OR
Are they the ones who kept eating the same stuff* that made them fat... but just ate less of that same stuff*??

stuff = diet including carbs/sugar

Both can be successful. One would just be easier and make you feel better than the other but once calories are lower you'll be losing weight regardless.

diarmuid05

Blacktie. wrote: »

Both can be successful. One would just be easier and make you feel better than the other but once calories are lower you'll be losing weight regardless.

If both "can" be successful...

how long do you think i'll have to wait for somebody to post with their carb/sugar diet success story?

Alf Veedersane

diarmuid05 wrote: »

If both "can" be successful...

how long do you think i'll have to wait for somebody to post with their carb/sugar diet success story?

Everyone eats carbs and sugar? The extent of their carb and sugar intake is key.

If someone reduces the quantity of 'stuff' that made them fat, then that 'stuff' will make up a smaller % of their diet.

But most people will introduce a little more unprocessed food rather than just reduce the quantity of the 'stuff' that made them fat, which will further reduce the % of 'stuff'.

Davei141

diarmuid05 wrote: »

If both "can" be successful...

how long do you think i'll have to wait for somebody to post with their carb/sugar diet success story?

Maybe if you started making a bit of sense it would take less time.

diarmuid05

Davei141 wrote: »

Maybe if you started making a bit of sense it would take less time.

What i am trying to say is...

Of all the people that have successfully lost weight...

Has anybody achieved it without changing the make up of their diet.
Have they achieved it by simply eating less i.e. counting calories

Alf Veedersane

diarmuid05 wrote: »

What i am trying to say is...

Of all the people that have successfully lost weight...

Has anybody achieved it without changing the make up of their diet.
Have they achieved it by simply eating less i.e. counting calories

If they're eating a lot of poor quality food, they'll usually change their food choices and eat better food. If someone has a pretty poor diet, I'd be surprised if they just scaled back the quantities and lost weight and sustained that.

Davei141

diarmuid05 wrote: »

What i am trying to say is...

Of all the people that have successfully lost weight...

Has anybody achieved it without changing the make up of their diet.
Have they achieved it by simply eating less i.e. counting calories

Well that is a completely different point entirely. Why the stuff about carbs and sugar? Ever read the nutritional information on most junk food? It has an abundance of carbs and fat because they are cheap and tasty, so if somebody switches from Dominoes for dinner to Dr Oetker for dinner each I would imagine they could lose weight if they were in a deficit. The success rate of people swapping rubbish food for a bit less calorific rubbish food long term would be pretty low i would imagine.

MrStuffins

diarmuid05 wrote: »

OK let me turn it on its head...

Are the successful calorie counters the ones who cut out carbs and ate protein & fats

OR
Are they the ones who kept eating the same stuff* that made them fat... but just ate less of that same stuff*??

stuff = diet including carbs/sugar

Well, i'm a successful calorie counter and I didn't change too much. Started by cutting out fizzy drinks and switching to water (with some dilute). Then switched to Low Fat milk, then switched to Brown Bread (no real difference in calories but it's just better for me) etc etc. Just small incremental changes. But I still eat now what I ate then. I haven't got the healthiest of diets but I just don't "overeat" anymore really.

Before I started using MFP, I had no idea I was consuming so many calories. Everything adds up.
I'm trying to lose a stone before my holiday in July at 1 lb per week. I consume a little bit more than my break-even calories each day and I supplement the deficit by walking to work, walking from work and training BJJ. I'm actually ahead of schedule with the weight loss.

Next step is to really start a healthy "diet" but for the time being i'm eating well enough and dropping the weight so one step at a time.

diarmuid05

Davei141 wrote: »

Why the stuff about carbs and sugar?

I believe it's what makes us fat...
I believe removing it from our diets will result in weight loss no matter what else or how much you eat

diarmuid05

I'm trying to see if anyone has done it by some other method

Essien

diarmuid05 wrote: »

I'm trying to see if anyone has done it by some other method

You mean you want to know if anybody has lost weight while eating a lot of carbs?

Blacktie.

diarmuid05 wrote: »

What i am trying to say is...

Of all the people that have successfully lost weight...

Has anybody achieved it without changing the make up of their diet.
Have they achieved it by simply eating less i.e. counting calories

That's what I done at the beginning and I've lost ~7kg but my diet was pretty spot on as it was.

Alf Veedersane

diarmuid05 wrote: »

I believe it's what makes us fat...
I believe removing it from our diets will result in weight loss no matter what else or how much you eat

So basically, a low carb-high fat diet where you get to eat as much as you want and lose weight?

Et tu, Bruno?

Davei141

Well i got to my leanest ever eating a kilo of potatoes a day. Never felt better either.

Blacktie.

diarmuid05 wrote: »

I believe it's what makes us fat...
I believe removing it from our diets will result in weight loss no matter what else or how much you eat

Ok well now I think you're trolling. Hi pseudo Bruno!

ALL. PLEASE SEE BEGINNING OF POST

Please let's not let this turn into a carbs/gluten/paleo debate.

diarmuid05

Davei141 wrote: »

Well i got to my leanest ever eating a kilo of potatoes a day. Never felt better either.

Cheers,

I'd be interested in hearing more about that...

diarmuid05

Blacktie. wrote: »

Ok well now I think you're trolling. Hi pseudo Bruno!

ALL. PLEASE SEE BEGINNING OF POST

I was just laying my cards on the table... not Bruno by the way... although we do agree on a lot of things...

I just want to hear about success stories that are specifically from calories counting not from diet changes

Blacktie.

diarmuid05 wrote: »

I was just laying my cards on the table... not Bruno by the way... although we do agree on a lot of things...

I just want to hear about success stories that are specifically from calories counting not from diet changes

I'd say it's extremely rare that they're exclusive of each other.

Alf Veedersane

diarmuid05 wrote: »

I just want to hear about success stories that are specifically from calories counting not from diet changes

Most people make at least some changes to their diet when they're calorie counting, especialy if their diet is poor.

Davei141

diarmuid05 wrote: »

Cheers,

I'd be interested in hearing more about that...

IF 16/8 split that consisted of 3/4 meals a day, each meal consisted of about 300g of potatoes, vegetables/beans (proper beans like kidney etc) and a protein/fat source (Eggs, liver, cheese, chicken, beef, fish etc) Not a lot to it, felt fantastic and worked out a few times a week. Weekends would consist of taking it easy with a boatload of roast potatoes and chicken thighs/legs or burgers/ Spanish omelettes etc. I didn't eat any junk, everything i ate had nutrition, including my carb source...

diarmuid05

Blacktie. wrote: »

I'd say it's extremely rare that they're exclusive of each other.

Without sounding like a troll again....

If you turn that on it's head

Has anybody ever failed to lose weight when they counted calories but didn't improve their diet?

Blacktie.

diarmuid05 wrote: »

Without sounding like a troll again....

If you turn that on it's head

Has anybody ever failed to lose weight when they counted calories but didn't improve their diet?

You're not going to find answer to these questions here. I'm sure some people have but I put that down to mis reporting what they're eating. Anyway people who would have not improved their diet would not be on this forum reading these threads.

conzy

I would not count stuff like ketchup, milk in tea, leafy salad, small portions of tomato etc but everything else gets counted.

Its not actually a huge inconvenience and i like having the stats / that level of control over my diet. Scales is the most used appliance in our house :pac:



Build sandwiches / baps on the scales and zero after each ingredient. **

** You may die if you eat bread

mulbot

diarmuid05 wrote: »

Without sounding like a troll again....

If you turn that on it's head

Has anybody ever failed to lose weight when they counted calories but didn't improve their diet?

We'll I've worked with people who lost weight but failed to lose much body fat when they didn't improve diet

Blacktie.

conzy wrote: »

**

** You may die if you eat bread

Got a good laugh out of that. Now people are looking at me funny.

Rubber_Soul

diarmuid05 wrote: »

I'm not promoting it.... i'm asking has anybody achieved it?

It's completely anecdotal but this guy has http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/

runawaybishop

diarmuid05 wrote: »

What i am trying to say is...

Of all the people that have successfully lost weight...

Has anybody achieved it without changing the make up of their diet.
Have they achieved it by simply eating less i.e. counting calories

Yes. I am currently cutting and have just reduced portion sizes. My protein intake is fixed though.