Can you lose weight without counting calories????

RsR36

RsR36

New member
I know, its a silly question. But really...is it possible to lose weight without knowing exactly what your calories are? It seems like I am gung ho, and aware of all I eat. I keep a food journal, and track every morsel.....Do I lose weight? Most of the time.

But it never fails....after a while, I start to resent the process. I am there right now. I hate having to be so aware, so diligent. Skinny people don't do it. They don't write down every friggin thing that touches their lips. So I start to feel like why should I? But the resentment leads me to rebel. You know the feeling..."HA I just ate a brownie, and I am not gonna write it down either!" It's almost a liberating feeling. So it continues, and next thing you know, bad habits are back and so is the weight.

Guess what I am asking....has anyone lost significant weight by making the small changes everyone is always talking about? Can just ramping up exercise a little and making a few smarter choices really provide results? Or am I doomed to being a slave to a food diary/calculator for life?? Everyone says you have to make it a lifestyle, and I don't think I can keep a food journal for the rest of my life, any suggestions?
 
one of the things keeping a food journal should be teaching you and the reason why a person shoudl do it -- is to teach you awareness of what you are eating and to be aware of portion sizes...

the lifestyle change is about building new habits... that big habit should be awareness of what you're eating...
 
I haven't kept a food diary regularly, I haven't written down every single calorie I've eaten, but somehow I've managed to lose about 100 pounds. I did it slow, I did it the way that it worked for me.

Some people need to write down everything they eat. Not writing it all down it suddenly becomes easier to not remember those snacks you ate earlier, or that you doubled your portion of carbs at lunch, or whatever the case may be. Then as time goes on, like you mentioned, the mentality behind the journal becomes, "well if I eat this, I'll have to write down that I ate it, and I know I'll regret it."

I don't limit anything from my diet, I've just become very good about portion control, and as I've lost weight I've implemented an exercise routine that fits for me. I eat well most of the time, I exercise because I enjoy it and I'm still losing weight. If what you're doing works for you, stick with it! Maybe try changing some things up but if you find that something doesn't work never hesitate to take a step back and reevaluate!
 
Yes you can lose weight without knowing every calorie. In fact focusing on every single calorie leads you to constantly think about food. Stay connected to when you need to eat versus when you want to eat. Skinny people don't keep food journals because they pay attention to their internal cues - they eat only when they are hungry and stop eating when they no longer need fuel for their bodies. Start with a journal and then once you really get connected with your internal signals you probably won't need it.
 
After getting bored and failing with the calorie counting and food journal, I finally decided that since it was a lifestyle change, I'd just focus on a healthy lifestyle, instead of losing weight. I cut out the junk and processed food, I made sure to drink lots of water, fruit/veggies at every meal, ate more protein (I've always been a carb fiend), and added in more exercise. I eat several small meals and snack on fruit. I'm never hungry and I don't get any cravings for any of my old binge foods. I've lost a little over 30lbs now, and I'm still losing 1-2lbs a week. This is what's been working for me.

Having said that, its what I learned with all the calorie counting and food journaling that I'd done in the past, that helps me make good choices now.
 
I don't count calories and so far I have lost 14 pounds.
I do write down what I eat but it reads like this

Food
Before workout: 1/4 bagel w/ peanut butter
Breakfast: 3/4 Bagel w butter
Snack: Yop
Lunch: Ham and cheese sandwich w/ mustard
Snack: Grapes
Supper: Noodles w/ gravy, chicken w/ sauce

So as you can see it is not specific such as 4oz chicken w/ 2 tablespoons bull's eye ect.
I write it more so if I have a not so good day but I thought, oh it wasn't THAT bad, I see all that's written down and go 'oh it was that bad I will have to be a bit better about it from now on'
 
i prefer keeping track of my calories i feel like i am in more control... and then at the end of the day if i have enough extra calories i am able to treat myself... to something like that naughty brownie you were talking about =P
 
I track calories less closely than I used to, but that is only because careful counting and tracking has enabled me to see exactly what I was eating...what I should be eating more of...what I should be eating MUCH less of...etc. I do still track, but I'm not nearly as obsessive about it as I used to be.
 
lifecoachkarin said:
In fact focusing on every single calorie leads you to constantly think about food. .
Click to expand...

I think this is definately where I am at right now. All the obsessing over every single bite has me thinking about nothing but food, and that isn't normal.

I finally decided that since it was a lifestyle change, I'd just focus on a healthy lifestyle, instead of losing weight.
Click to expand...
Having said that, its what I learned with all the calorie counting and food journaling that I'd done in the past, that helps me make good choices now.
Click to expand...

Wallaby, thank you! This is exactly what I wanted to hear. That this exact thing is possible. I have kept the food journal, and measured every gram. I know what portions look like..I just don't want to have to do it forever in order to succeed. You have given me hope again!!

Food
Before workout: 1/4 bagel w/ peanut butter
Breakfast: 3/4 Bagel w butter
Snack: Yop
Lunch: Ham and cheese sandwich w/ mustard
Snack: Grapes
Supper: Noodles w/ gravy, chicken w/ sauce
Click to expand...

Mystic I kinda like this approach as a way to wein myself off of the obsessiveness, yet still have an idea of what I have eaten. Thank you for the idea, I just might borrow it.

Thank you everyone who has replied. The ideas and thoughts have helped me out. It's gotten me past that moment of giving up, and back in the drivers seat again. I knew joining this website was a good idea! Thanks again!!
 
I hate the counting calories thing too! I'm keeping tabs on what I eat and putting it in my diary

http://weight-loss.fitness.com/weight-loss-diary/27257-downtowns-daily-diary.html

But I do think it's important to be aware of portion sizes. For example, I like Mini wheats cereal. A portion size is something like 24 biscuits, so I count out 24 biscuits. At least I used to until I realized that 24 was too much. That stuff fills you up!

So, instead of counting calories, I look at portions. Salads fill me up too. You can load up with veggies and use some sprinkled feta and about a tablespoon of flavorable dressing and not have to worry about portions with veggies. Load up!
 
Hi Downtown....I am pretty good with portions. I usually pre-bag my snacks and stuff so I am not tempted to sit down with the whole thing!! Measuring doesn't bother me too much.

I do like your idea about the salad and veggies. I try, and go in streaks with my veggies. I think I need new ideas on how to prepare them so I don't get bored. I was on a salad kick, then got sick of it. Then I discovered those steamer bags for the microwave....I steamed just about everything you could imagine....then I got sick of those too...I just need variety...I am learning and experimenting, and someday I'll get it.
 
maleficent said:
....the lifestyle change is about building new habits... that big habit should be awareness of what you're eating...
Click to expand...

i fully agree with you on this. and trust me changing the lifestyle is one of the most difficult things to do!
 
I've lost 13 pounds so far...and I haven't "counted" them in the sense of writing them down and totaling them up....


However IMHO you need to have a "rough" idea to make sure you're in a caloric deficit..
 
I think after a bit you'll start to be trained so well you won't even need to count calories. You'll know when your over doing it. In fact your body will tell you by being in pain.
 
counting calories is a tool to train you so you become more in tuned to what your eating. once you get the hang of it you most likely wont need to count. however if you want to lose weight faster i have found that keeping a calorie diary that i have lost more weight. but you have to do what best works for you. good luck on your weight loss.
 
I agree with a lot of the posters here. I understand that "resentment" from having to write everything down.

What I discovered is that I was "rebelling" against something that I needed to deal with -- something psychological.

When I'm committed, writing down what I eat (calories and all) becomes more about keeping track of what's going on in my world -- like when I look at my bank statement to see how much money I have.

I use calories that way too -- I have a set amount of calories to eat a day (based on my height/weight and how fast I want to lose) -- and I count them because it's like a "budget."

I know that if I'm "good" during the first 2/3 of the day, I can splurge later. If I have a craving, I can figure out whether it fits into my day or not (or even how much of a "splurge" fits into my day).

I would say, use it as a tool to help you, rather than looking at it as a prison warden.

Yeah, it true that skinny people don't have to do it, but like someone else said, it's because they either listen to their bodies or count up the calories in their head. It may seem easy, but it's not necessarily the case!
 
For what it's worth, I did calorie counting quite reliably for several months - until I got the hang of it. I don't record my calories every day now - the experience gave me a much better understanding of what's 'ok' and what's not.

Also - if you make enough changes that you start to gain weight (by adding new foods to your regular line-up or removing old ones) you can go with calorie counting for a couple weeks to re-educate yourself but you can do so knowing that it's temporary. In fact, you can use it as motivation. As long as you eat well enough that you're meeting your goals (either losing weight or maintaining) then you don't have to count the calories ;)
 
This is an old thread but I have just embarked on a weight loss diary that chronicles my attempt to lose 15 lb, not counting anything, or even being on a 'diet'. (Well I am counting pounds, I guess!).

I have counted various food stuffs and nutrients over three decades now and I still managed to put on weight and have a messed up attitude towards food. I have 100% confidence that not being on a 'diet' will work, that I will lose that 15 lb again, learn what works for me and what doesn't, and be able to keep it off this time.

But these are scary and uncharted waters for me, and the temptation to just go back to some calorie-controlled intake is great, even though I know that just doesn't work for me.

If it takes me a year to lose this 15 lb but be sane about it, that's ok with me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top