Do I Need to Count Calories?

Viking Power

Viking Power

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Just curious:


I have a good 15% bodyfat or 60-80 pounds to lose (maybe more FFS!)-------------->Does that mean I don't need to worry about counting calories if I follow the clean eating guidelines in the FAQ's?

Sorry, if it seems like a dumb question its just that I have started out to lose bodyfat on MANY occasions by counting calories only to quit in frustration because frankly, I don't like being that obsessive and anal. I have enough to worry about with financial responsibilities, work, etc. Why add another burden that is a constant one like counting every freakin' calorie that enters my mouth.

Comments?
 
You should still be concerned with your overall caloric intake, however you will have less cause to be concerned with it if you truly eat cleanly. Obviously the potential exists for you to create a caloric surplus if you cram your face with enough chicken breasts, cruciferous veggies and brown rice, nevertheless you're going to have a much harder time doing so.
 
Wally Champ said:
You should still be concerned with your overall caloric intake, however you will have less cause to be concerned with it if you truly eat cleanly. Obviously the potential exists for you to create a caloric surplus if you cram your face with enough chicken breasts, cruciferous veggies and brown rice, nevertheless you're going to have a much harder time doing so.
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Makes sense. Thanks for the response!
 
what do you think of this idea - count calories obsessively for awhile - just long enough to see what your ideal caloric intake is for your goals. after you've maintained that for a few weeks you will know what to eat and how many times a day to eat and you can maintain those habits without counting forever. this will take some discipline. it will be easy to sneak in extra calories when you're not counting. but if you can overcome that obstacle it may be a worthwhile plan.
 
Hulk Hogie said:
what do you think of this idea - count calories obsessively for awhile - just long enough to see what your ideal caloric intake is for your goals. after you've maintained that for a few weeks you will know what to eat and how many times a day to eat and you can maintain those habits without counting forever. this will take some discipline. it will be easy to sneak in extra calories when you're not counting. but if you can overcome that obstacle it may be a worthwhile plan.
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I do like this idea, but unless you eat the same foods consistently it would be nearly impossible to make this work. I don't tend to eat the same foods for days on end which I guess is my bad since it would make tracking nutrition a hell of a lot easier.
 
You don't need to be anal about it. Just remember that a chicken breast has 100 calories, a glass of skim milk has 90 calories, etc. etc. Then just quickly add them up in your mind and eat accordingly. That's what I do and works great for me.. Unless your diet is so varied that you're hardly ever eating the same things..in which your diet is probably crap.
 
Clean food can cost more money, so most buy in large at stores such as Costco to curb the cost.

If you do that, you have a lot of staple foods around that your are often eating (beef, eggs, spinach, almonds, etc). Get familiar with those and then cost the random stuff off hand through your day. Once you get the general idea, you won't need to count any more.


Do you need to count? What are your goals? If you don't have any idea how many calories you consume, how do you up or down that number to enact the change you want? Cleaning up your food will progress you to a point. When you get a plateau, you may then need to consider cal counting.
 
I used to count calories all the time and it made me feel depressed, I was acting like a girl.
Of course, if you have a fight lined up then of course you need to take it more seriously but if you are worried about your appearance in general then I wouldn't bother counting. I just don't see it (being totally ripped) as being worth obsessing about. The principles of training hard and eating the right foods should lead to a good physique in general, I think too many guys are obsessed over stuff and it's not healthy for the mind.

I should note though that I used to be a classic 'hardgainer' so I'm bound to be relaxed over the issue.

*heads off to Yummy Pizza Bar*
 
counting calories will give you an idea about what and how much u can eat and still feel good. if you are cutting weight this is very important i think but if you are just losing slowly just worry about eating the right foods in the right amounts and exercising
 
Viking Power said:
I do like this idea, but unless you eat the same foods consistently it would be nearly impossible to make this work. I don't tend to eat the same foods for days on end which I guess is my bad since it would make tracking nutrition a hell of a lot easier.
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oh yeah? well fuck you then. just kiddin. good luck with whatever path you take. in the end i think it is all a matter of personal discipline and learning what works for you personally. suerte!
 
I always found that when I count calories religously, I adhere to my diet much better. The thing about being overweight is your idea of what constitutes a regular sized meal or snack is distorted. Counting calories is just one way to combat it.

fitday.com is a good website to keep track of your calorie intake.
 
GunsforGuevara said:
I always found that when I count calories religously, I adhere to my diet much better. The thing about being overweight is your idea of what constitutes a regular sized meal or snack is distorted. Counting calories is just one way to combat it.

fitday.com is a good website to keep track of your calorie intake.
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well said.
 
IronMaidenfan#1 said:
I used to count calories all the time and it made me feel depressed, I was acting like a girl.
Of course, if you have a fight lined up then of course you need to take it more seriously but if you are worried about your appearance in general then I wouldn't bother counting. I just don't see it (being totally ripped) as being worth obsessing about. The principles of training hard and eating the right foods should lead to a good physique in general, I think too many guys are obsessed over stuff and it's not healthy for the mind.

I should note though that I used to be a classic 'hardgainer' so I'm bound to be relaxed over the issue.

*heads off to Yummy Pizza Bar*
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I'm talking about. When I count calories I end up completely obsessive about it and really question as to whether this is good for a person psychologically. What's next? Counting how many times I brush each tooth?
 
GunsforGuevara said:
I always found that when I count calories religously, I adhere to my diet much better. The thing about being overweight is your idea of what constitutes a regular sized meal or snack is distorted. Counting calories is just one way to combat it.

fitday.com is a good website to keep track of your calorie intake.
Click to expand...

Good point!
 
If you have 60-80lbs to shed there's no way you're at 15% body fat. 15 percent would be considered healthy for a male. You're probably looking at 30%-40%
 
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