Do you consider how many calories you consume each day?
Posted by clfhw@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 155 comments
As somebody who has a history of disordered eating (so apologies if this sounds silly), I still always find myself considering the amount of calories in food, regardless of my weight situation and diet goals.
Especially those who are not trying to lose weight - do you try to avoid eating too many calories each day, or are you not really concerned? Are you just trying to make good choices with occasional indulgences, and then dealing with any weight issues if and when they arise?
Relationships with food are rather personal, though I'd be interested in hearing if there is somewhat of a general consensus.
Away-Ad4393@reddit
Yes I’m aware of how many calories I eat but I don’t count them, if I eat a lot of calories one day I cut down a little the next.
BambiiDextrous@reddit
I don't calorie count but I could hazard a reasonably close guess. I just go off apetite and what seems like sensible portions.
Distinct-Lion4658@reddit
Yes I currently track them every day and am currently aiming to hit my maintenance calories. Main reasons is I'm trying to break my habit of binge eating where I eat way too much and very poor quality food. On days I binge I average 3500kcal which is a big surplus.
I'm also planning on entering a deficit soon to lose weight until I hit a healthy body fat% so I'll keep tracking then.
My ultimate goal is to sort of be aware of how much calories are in everything I eat and be able to mentally figure out how much I've had and have left throughout the day without needing to track on my phone which I currently do
Opposite_Radio9388@reddit
No. I have a history of disordered eating and I want to focus on joy and what makes my body feel good when it comes to food. I actively avoid caloric information because seeing those numbers can trigger restriction, and I'd rather be someone who feeds myself than someone who feels they can't or shouldn't.
faroffland@reddit
Just wanted to share I had a restrictive ED and was underweight between the ages of around 15-23, and as a 34yo my BMI hovers around 29/30 which is solidly overweight/borderline obese. People don’t realise but it happens to A LOT of us. If you are happy and stable, that is the most important thing - I just think I can’t be ‘perfect’ in all areas of my life and keeping my mental health stable takes a lot of energy, so if I’m overweight fuck it, I’m ok with that over restricting and hating myself.
CosiDuci@reddit
What about overweight-induced health issues? It CAN result in those (not saying it must, although I thing above a certain level of obesity it is inevitable) if you’re not „healthy“ anymore due to being overweight , is being happy more important to you?
Dramatic-Doctor-7386@reddit
I aspire to get to this level. I am honestly exhausted by the food and body checking at this point.
ribenarockstar@reddit
JOY IS A MACRO!!!!
I'm in a very similar boat to you - I try to avoid restriction and have a historically bad relationship with food/ the numbers. I'm also fat, so it's tricky.
vasesofviolets@reddit
Nope, literally never look at the calorie info. I listen to how hungry I feel and what I want, and respond to that
insomnimax_99@reddit
Lol, if I did that I’d be so fat I wouldn’t fit out the front door.
Opposite_Radio9388@reddit
It's likely that you wouldn't be. People who focus on calorie information tend to also restrict certain foods, which leads to a heightened fixation on them as being too "tempting" or "dangerous." Many people find that when you allow yourself to eat what you like, and notice how it makes you feel, you develop a better relationship with food and your body that tends not to involve significant weight gain.
infieldcookie@reddit
This is just simply not true or a good portion of the population wouldn’t be obese.
GwdihwFach@reddit
That's only good advice for people who don't struggle with binging or have an otherwise difficult relationship with food. You see evidence of this in r/loseit and other weight loss subreddits. Many of us unfortunately do not find it easy to intuitively eat.
ReactionCreepy428@reddit
Jealous of people who don't struggle with food noise.
GwdihwFach@reddit
Same!
Polldit220@reddit
…and if you “want” pizza every day?
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
You don't.
When I was first in recovery from my eating disorder I went through a phase of eating lots of rubbish, all the stuff I'd deprived myself of for years and years and suddenly had mental 'permission' to enjoy. My psychologist said that's very common and normal.
It only lasted a few weeks, you get it out of your system and want proper nutrition most of the time and are happy to have pizza just when you really fancy it.
Invisible_Stalkbug@reddit
You can have pizza that isn't rubbish
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
True but that wasn’t the point I was making.
StarryCloudRat@reddit
If you actually allow yourself to eat pizza every day, it’ll get old after a few weeks and you’ll stop craving it every day.
Trancer79@reddit
I worked in the kitchen of a pizza restaurant for about 2.5 years when I was younger. I'd have a pizza every shift as a staff meal, 6 shifts a week, sometimes double shifts.. that theory does not check out!
mdmnl@reddit
Who doesn't?
Taylor_Kittenface@reddit
Same, I have a history of disordered eating and GERD. My medication means I have to eat twice a day, I have a roll mid afternoon and a quarter tin of beans for tea. A bar of chocolate here and there or a yoghurt, but I think most of my calories come from drinks. Isotonic lucozade feels like a full meal when I can't eat.
Domb18@reddit
I’ve been using my fitness pal to track them for around 12 years: every day, good or bad.
I’ve lost around 6 stone since tracking them and it helps me maintain my current weight, or drop some weight if needed.
NumeroRyan@reddit
It’s so easy to overeat without looking at calories in my opinion.
You think, oh I’ll have a couple of custard creams, eat 5 and that’s 400 of calories.
I track everything I eat to make sure my macros and calories are in check, but that’s also because I’m always bulking/cutting from the gym.
doegrey@reddit
It’s good to bear in mind if you have a weight goal but also stay healthy about it.
However it does frustrate me seeing “an adult needs 2000 calories a day” plastered everywhere which isn’t helpful. Many people don’t need that at all.
CosyColouringBooks@reddit
I had never ever counted calories or even checked to see how many I was eating until I ballooned to 15 and a half stone which was the heaviest id ever been. I've lost 4.5 of that now and i now count calories and am way more cautious about what I eat because I pile it on so easily!
ConnorMartyn@reddit
Yes. I run a lot and and regularly hit 30k steps a day (average for this week is 31k) so plan accordingly (macros, calories) to make sure I don't lose weight.
Swolsworthington@reddit
Understanding the caloric value of food is not disordered eating or bad habit. In fact it’s a good thing. You wouldn’t just spend money without checking your bank balance. The issue comes with people becoming obsessive. Think of it as weekly budget rather than obsessing over the daily.
Opposite_Radio9388@reddit
I know this is a common way of thinking, but it's odd to me as someone who doesn't track calories. When I'm out of money, I'm out of money, but the idea of a calorie 'budget' is an invention, based, generally speaking, around the avoidance of weight gain.
Swolsworthington@reddit
Calories are a unit of measurement. The same way a pound sterling has a value. You don’t need to track calories down to the micro but you should have an understanding of what food “costs” from a caloric and health value.
Tracking your food is essential for general health and wellbeing.
Wight gain and weight loss are different to fat loss/gain this is what many misunderstand and have trouble with from my ow experience
whynotehhhhh@reddit
As someone who eats whatever I want whenever I want and has no issues with weight or health, I have to disagree.
I also have education in nutrition and work as a nutritionist (not a clinical nutritionist) and never suggest someone counts calories unless I believe they are accidentally under eating.
You can have a goal of eating only 1,500 calories a day but that says absolutely nothing about the quality of the food. You could be eating those calories in fries. Calories tell you absolutely nothing about how healthy you are eating.
Hellohibbs@reddit
This is the view of someone who values quantity over quality surely? I’d pay £30 for something I could make at home for £3.
BrowsingOnMaBreak@reddit
No, and tbf even when I had an active ED I never thought about numbers, either on the scale or calories.
fiveofspades94@reddit
No, but I used to count calories on my fitness pal, so I have a general idea of when I'm eating too much cereal/pasta/rice. Life's too short to count every calorie, I exercise and keep active, and just try to eat mindfully and not stuff myself till i'm bloated, equally not eating a tiny portion and still feeling peckish after a meal. Live laugh eat.
Bustakrimes91@reddit
I do OMAD and have for about a decade now. I’ve never had any weight gain since starting and it means I get to eat absolutely anything I want and don’t have to restrict my diet at all. Even if a meal is unhealthy and high calorie, it doesn’t make me gain weight because I’m not eating anything else throughout the day.
To be transparent though, I also had eating issues and this was the only way I could recover and get to a healthy weight.
majoons@reddit
What time do you have your OMAD? I tried this method and I get hungry by 8pm
SunAndStratocasters@reddit
By 8pm? Why are you waiting that long? Eat in the middle of the afternoon and then you only have to make it through the morning and a few hours before you're winding down for the night...
PiskieW@reddit
Does your OMAD consist of a pudding in addition to the main event?
Golden-Pheasant@reddit
No. Previously anorexic and a long history of disordered eating as I tried to find a way past it. I CANNOT count calories in any way shape or form, its too easy for me to slip back into damaging thoughts and behaviours. I have struggled for a long time to get to the point I am now.
I eat to fuel my body, what does it need, what gives me health and energy. I consume a lot of fibre and protein to fill me up, cut out alcohol, eat the rainbow of fruit and veg, and avoid ultra processed food where at all possible.
I only exercise through walking, some swimming, and occasionally racket sports. I tried running and that became obsessive (lost a LOT of weight that way) so had to stop despite feeling health benefits from it.
I accept that I will always have to be mindful of the way my brain works and adapt to it.
Real-Box-7144@reddit
I do, it maybe unpopular but I have to because I gain weight so easily. It’s hard as it can trigger old habits of ED but I decided to split my time up between days of over indulgence which are allowed then days where I eat what I need to survive in terms of nutrition and maintenance. I always joke I can gain weight looking at a cookie 🫠
flosiraptor@reddit
I never did, in fast I was actively opposed to it. About a year ago I started keeping half an eye on the calorie points of my meals and, lo and behold, I've lost over four stone. Intuitive eating is great but it definitely doesn't work for everyone!
RowRow1990@reddit
I don't look at them, I found when I did it became a bit of an obsession and it didn't help.
I eat what I want, mostly in moderation and exercise where I can.
mimeycat@reddit
Nope. But I need to soon, as I have to go on a 2-week 800 cal a day liver shrinkage diet to get my gallbladder out… that’s not going to be fun.
e-pancake@reddit
at the minute I am vaguely aware of calories but I try not to think about them. I’m fresh out of a ‘I can’t even think about calories or it’ll ruin my week’ period which was preceded with a ‘I can’t *not* think about calories or it’ll ruin my week’ period. it’s been rough getting a reasonable balance
HumorNecessary7836@reddit
Yes. I think about the amount of calories I consume from the moment I wake up, to the moment I go to bed. I weigh myself every single morning. I’ve been doing this since I was 12, and I’m almost 36 now. (Female if that matters). I quite often write down how many calories I’ve consumed that day in a diary. I check everything. I walk around the supermarket looking at calories before I put anything in my basket. Unfortunately I don’t think I’ll ever do any differently.
Dramatic-Doctor-7386@reddit
I hear you. I'm in the same boat. Are you fucking exhausted too?
Laescha@reddit
I'm sorry, that sounds exhausting and time consuming.
MrMotorcycle94@reddit
Yes because I'm either bulking, cutting or maintaining my bodyfat and when I stop tracking the bodyfat creeps up
Laescha@reddit
I don't. I try to eat as many different fruit and veg as I can each day, I aim for 7 portions but at the minute I'm normally closer to 4-5 because of kitchen issues that are taking a while to fix. I avoid meat and pay attention to how I feel, and I also exercise a lot.
I'm fat, my stamina and energy are good, my heart rate and blood pressure are both great - so I'm happy.
zephyrmox@reddit
Yes. If I did not there is zero chance I would not gain significant amounts of weight.
BeanOnAJourney@reddit
I try not to eat like a glutton but I don't calorie count.
Dramatic-Doctor-7386@reddit
I have been counting my calories almost every day for 20-odd years.
These days I don't count them with the aim of under-eating, and my weight is healthy and stable, but I sometimes find the whole thing exhausting. I am aware it's probably not psychologically healthy but it's a bit of a comfort blanket now. I find if I stop doing it, I slowly begin to gain weight, and I don't want to do that.
emimagique@reddit
No, life's too short
Curious-Anywhere8567@reddit
Yes, roughly in my head, but it’s important to me to stay slim. I’ve never been bigger than a size 8 and I’d like it to stay that way. It might not be important to you
Browneskiii@reddit
No to an extent. I'll eat when I'm hungry, but I have a rough idea on what I'm doing, sometimes I'll pig out, sometimes I'll just not eat a meal. Whatever I'm craving I'll go eat. I listen to my body, and not what a food packet says.
I'd say I'm mostly healthy, I'm a little bulky but not to the extent that it messes with anything in my life.
People care far too much about little things.
CurvePuzzleheaded361@reddit
No. I used to. I have been keto for 8 years and because the food is so satiating, it is very hard to overeat. Lost 4 stone without trying and maintained that now for 7 years. Sometimes i might look out of curiosity but not often.
Creative-Solution@reddit
I eat what I want.. but my general goal is to eat more calories, so that fits into it nicely
Nialcu@reddit
Only when seriously dieting
VastInvestment2735@reddit
yes when I was late teens I had to actually try to gain weight and I know roughly how many calories are in most day to day things, I'm sure i'll be out 150 or so either side but once you know how many calories are in things its hard not to count.
maybedara2@reddit
Never, if you improve the quality of the food you are eating, your body will do the calorie counting for you and tell you when to stop.
LittleSadRufus@reddit
Learning mindful eating is also helpful. Eat more slowly, think about how full you are, and stop when you're no longer hungry rather than once you're full
theotherquantumjim@reddit
Yeah no I’m like the Cookie Monster when I eat. I’ve tried to slow down but can’t. Counting macros is the only way for me to maintain or lose weight
FFTypo@reddit
Not to be one of those annoying people but this is extremely tone-deaf. I’m glad that works for you but the indisputable fact remains that for many people, their body does NOT tell them when to stop.
It’s a myth that overweight people only eat junk food.
EpponeeRae@reddit
Unfortunately not everyone gets accurate hunger signals, even when on a high quality whole food diet
Cakeo@reddit
Everyone should be aware this is nonsense.
silver_x12@reddit
Someone with disordered eating here.
I don't count calories, I gained so much knowledge more than anything with a charity weight management programme.
I try to eat nutritious food as a main meal, but I don't mind if I have more high calorie foods. I found a balance that works for me. But I don't look, as other have said, its about what makes you happy and listening to the body.
Trishshirt5678@reddit
I don’t consider calories but I do consider types; if I gave eggs and toast for breakfast then that’s protein and carbs then I’ll have at least 4 types of vegetable in my evening meal, probably with another veggie protein then I’ll top up with fruit (and chocolate) but I don’t fret about buttering my toast or sautéing my veg in a bit of oil.
Agreeable-Item-7371@reddit
I don’t count calories and never have. If I gained a lot of weight though and I wanted to lose it, I would be more mindful of how many calories I was eating.
DeirdreBarstool@reddit
I’m always aware of it. I try to stick to 1200 cals or fewer Sun-Thurs so I can eat what I want at the weekend and not gain weight. But then I feel guilty about the calories I consume at weekends…
My partner always says if I was on mastermind my specialist subject would be how many calories are in any given food ha.
I don’t think this is abnormal really for women. My friends are the same.
Agreeable-Item-7371@reddit
You won’t gain any lasting weight even if you ate double that for a few days. It would just be water weight.
StarryCloudRat@reddit
This is a starvation diet and likely harming your health.
Cakeo@reddit
Is be bloody starving. Think I'd rather just exercise more 😂
ultraboomkin@reddit
Do you feel quite hungry?
Cakeo@reddit
I'm eating my second breakfast right now
Megacityone1@reddit
This is interesting, I currently have a similar ish approach as I'm actively trying to lose a few kg.
I'm a woman too but I'm tall (5ft8) and pretty active, so my TDEE maintenance calories is close to 2400 and cutting is 1900. I also have some medical stuff that means I have to snack regularly or I get really dizzy and shaky. If I ate 1200 calories I think I'd be on the edge of passing out!
This is why calorie counting needs to be looked at in a larger context - it's so personal and involves lots of complex factors
DeirdreBarstool@reddit
I’m shorter (5 ft 5) and not so active (1 hr walk per day).
I’ve found I need to average 1800 over the week to maintain my weight. The weekends definitely do some heavy lifting!
Realistic-Analyst-23@reddit
I do similar. Mon to Thurs is restricted. I don't really care too much about that as I'm busy at work anyway. Then at the weekend I eat what I want. I never really over eat much though. I also try to go running at the weekend so that also helps.
ReactionCreepy428@reddit
I do because I am a short woman and find it very easy to overeat. I struggle quite badly with food noise so I struggle with eating intuitively.
HorseyBot3000@reddit
I’m a 5’1” woman of course i do
FFTypo@reddit
I keep a (probably very inaccurate) account of it in my mind at all times. I was an obese child and still go through periods where I gain weight rapidly, although I haven’t come close to obesity again since.
It’s less of a “I’m going to weigh all my food and keep track of stuff” and more of a “that dinner probably had close to 1000 calories, I won’t have dessert.
FakeNordicAlien@reddit
I log everything with My Fitness Pal. I eat what I want (as far as finances allow!) and don’t restrict, but I do log, because I know how easy it is for food things to get out of control when you weren’t raised with a healthy mindset towards food, and far too often, the answer to why am I feeling so crap lately? turns out to be something like huh, I’ve been averaging 25g of protein a day for the last four months or I really thought I was eating more than 1-2 vegetables a day or 800 calories is not enough food. (There have been other times when the problem has been wow, I had no idea I just ate 2700 calories in that meal, which is probably a more common issue.)
Logging everything works for me. It may be the opposite for some people, especially if you tend to obsess over it. There are people at both ends of the spectrum, ones who obsess over their diet and weight, and ones who are in denial about it. I’ve spent my life surrounded by people in denial about pretty much everything that’s wrong in their lives, and I’ve learned that for me, knowledge is what helps me stay as healthy as possible, physically and mentally. For others, the thing that keeps you healthy might be to pay less attention to it. YMMV.
Longjumping-Toe-8643@reddit
So sad to see some of the comments here from the ladies.
Would you say you feel more pressured to maintain a certain weight/look because society still links women's attractiveness to their size?
adequatemum@reddit
No I don't care what society thinks, I want to maintain my weight because when I was 15 stone I started developing symptoms of sleep apnea, I was uncomfortable in my own skin and clothes, I couldn't run around after my kid. Basically all of my health issues disappeared when I lost the weight and I don't want to go back to that. Also it's so much harder to literally do anything as a fat person, getting up from sitting is hard and exercise is really hard. I really enjoy walking and it was embarrassing getting out of breath so quickly and my knees hurt.
InternalBumblebee7@reddit
Not because of society but because when i was 15 stone my knees hurt, back ached, couldnt climb the stair without getting out of breath, developed diabetes, high cholesterol. I was unhealthy. Its not about the size, but my own health.
Loud_Fisherman_5878@reddit
For me this is definitely the case. I am older now and don’t really care what society thinks (and don’t even really know what society calls ‘the ideal body’ these days) but I was a teen in the 00s and I don’t think any woman made it through that unscathed, what with teen magazines telling you how to ignore being hungry, ‘rings of shame’ being drawn on celebrities, Victoria Beckham being weighed (or someone trying to weigh her, cant remember if she did it or not) on TV after having a baby.. awful stuff but very difficult to completely unlearn.
Longjumping-Toe-8643@reddit
I remember those days. There was a big size 0 craze and anything else was sneered at. Even a young Charlotte Church would be under scrutiny for carrying puppy fat.
WeekendWithoutMakeUp@reddit
As a woman who lost 4 1/2 st back in 2023, it's wild how differently you get treated as a slim person vs fat. I wasn't even that aware of it when I was fat, but then suddenly I wasn't invisible anymore. People were holding doors for me, strangers were complimenting me, I notice people looking at me on the street. I'm sure it's the same for men, there's no doubt there is so much conscious and unconcious fatphobia out there.
Longjumping-Toe-8643@reddit
Totally agree with you on how much fatphobia exists. I lost almost 3 st after COVID in 2020. I didn't particularly view myself as fat prior to that as I've always worked out and was a powerlifter type build.
After losing weight, even strangers on a night out started complimenting me on how how 'ripped' I look. People also randomly started talking to me about working out and diet etc. This is from both men and women.
fickle_tartan@reddit
I just want my clothes to fit me and not have to get a whole new wardrobe, I don't give a shit about what society thinks.
PiskieW@reddit
I'm intrigued as to how you know who the ladies are? Probably obvious to most, but not me
Front-Pomelo-4367@reddit
I do track them currently, because I have the desk job + free snacks combo, and when I did my summer-winter wardrobe switch last year I was surprised by how many things I suddenly didn't fit. I gain weight solely in my hips and thighs, so all my lovely summer dresses mask the issue very well because they all still fit me perfectly.
I don't usually pick/plan my foods around a calorie allowance, and I'm not super strict about it, but I've found that logging them does mean that I'm a bit more conscious of the fact that I do not need to reach for the fifth snack of the day solely because I'm bored. And things like "stopping for a coffee doesn't mean I also have to stop for a cake every time, look at the calorie difference". If I go over my allowance I don't usually care too much, since I'm usually at/beneath it
Initial-View-4758@reddit
I do keep track of my calories each day, but just out of general curiosity and a love of data. It doesn't stop me eating what I want though, I just eat it and log it. I find it interesting to see that some days it'll be 1300-1500, then others could be 2000, or 2500. I think my highest day was around 2800.
I also keep track of my weight for the same reason, and find it interesting how even though my calorie count per day can fluctuate quite a bit, my weight doesn't. Although, the app I use shows daily calorie amount, and also a monthly average, worked out to per day. It seems my monthly average is usually similar, so even though there's days I can eat nearly double what I 'should', because there's days I'll naturally eat under the 'recommended amount', it evens itself out over the month.
I just find it all interesting.
Positive-Mud-11@reddit
Yes always figure it out every day. I’m chronically ill and live off 500-1000 a day unfortunately, need to get it higher somehow!
Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit
I have a long history of disordered eating too and am delighted by the fact I no longer think in kcals.
I no longer consider my body or weight too much. I'm overweight. But I don't care. The options are let my body just be, or a lifetime of anxiety and stress and obsession. It's so exhausting and depressing, so...no more.
StarryCloudRat@reddit
The only time I ever look at calories is if I’m trying to figure out if something on a restaurant menu is going to be enough for how hungry I’m feeling. Like, is this a small plate or is this going to fill me up?
The rest of the time, it’s not something I look at. I eat what feels satisfying to me.
adequatemum@reddit
Yes because calorie creep is really easy. I lost 5 stone last year and my goal is to maintain my current weight. I like to feel full so I generally have one large meal a day that is mostly high fiber veg and the rest of the day I eat like a sparrow. I avoid ultraprocessed items like the plague and that has worked out very well for me so far. I'm 5"5 and because of current work demands have quite the sedentary lifestyle so there isn't a huge amount of room for manoeuvre in terms of calorie intake.
yoy78@reddit
I’m in a fat loss phase at the moment so I am tracking calories. It’s also helping me learn portion control and hidden calories etc because if I don’t educate myself while I’m doing this it will all go back on again when I stop tracking eventually (tracking should not be a part of the rest of my life)
Sugarlips_80@reddit
Yes and no. I have disordered eating and at the moment due to many life stresses am in a period of relapse. I try to make mindful choices depending on home my body and mind are feeling at the time. One thing I try to do especially is move away from the notion of "good" food and "bad or indulgence" food.
Food has nutritional value yes but labeling it is good or bad is damaging for me. It is just food. Food i need to survive, food I may eat for emotional reasons, food I may eat for nutritional reasons. Just as my body is neutral I try to give the same neutrality to food.
This extends to calories. I do calorie count at times but I see it as a budget not a limitation. By that i mean I have a budget of daily calories and I eat what I feel like eating within that budget. Sometimes I go over, sometimes I am under but mostly it evens out. Does this mean I may make more nutritional choices, maybe but I also eat what I want, when I want. This is what works for me after years and years of issues around food and a lot of self work. It isn't perfect and takes intention but it is better for me than fiaxating on the calories in all food etc.
Artificial100@reddit
I have a rough idea in my head of whether I’ve likely under or over eaten in terms of calories for the day, and have a rough idea of what those calories comprised of, but I’ve never counted specific figures.
a2021username@reddit
I just boxed off a 5 pack of cookies on the train to Cardiff from Paddington.
We have not passed Reading yet.
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
Absolutely not. I had an eating disorder for decades, no way am I dong that shit now I'm free of it!
-Incubation-@reddit
I'm someone who's into fitness, and even before I was, I still calorie counted (now about 5 years in). Some things might surprise someone if they didn't track what they ate, eg. The discrepancies of calories in things like spreads, sauces or even 'healthy' things like avocados or nuts.
For me, I've learned not to stress if I go over or if some days aren't the most ideal, it's life, it happens. It's better to take a breath and crack back on to your usual eating than just say 'fuck it' and keep on binging. I tend to not focus on daily averages but look at my weekly calorie amount.
Imo as long as you aren't massively restricting yourself with what foods you can eat (restriction makes temptation/binging on said foods more likely), or the calories you consume (if for weight loss a small deficit is one thing, a deficit of 1000 calories a day is another) then I see no real issue in tracking.
gemmajenkins2890@reddit
I am currently on my umpteenth weight loss go around.
I am actively tracking my calories, to a number pre set within an app in line with how much I need to lose and how quickly I want to lose it.
I check the calories of pre packaged foods, but I haven’t quite got the discipline to be weighing out homemade/whole foods so I wing it.
I have found tho that more often than not, my estimates on whole/homemade foods is way over.
Would explain why I’m actually losing this time! lol
Ok-Wrangler-4696@reddit
When I was young I could eat literally anything and stay pretty lean. In my 50's now and do monitor what I eat. I'm pretty fit, and do physical exercise nearly every day, but it's never as much as what I did when I was young. So.. I don't count calories as such, I just try and think of what I eat has to be burned off..
Trancer79@reddit
Never given it a single thought.
divehairdontcare@reddit
When I had disordered eating and an unhealthy obsession with food and weight then yes I automatically did calorie count everything every day in my head. Now that I have a much more neutral relationship with food, I don't think about food as much in general at all, and it doesn't ever cross my mind to count calories now. If you'd have told me this 5 years ago I wouldn't have believed it! I was so entrenched in diet culture back then.
mdmnl@reddit
Did a month or so of diary/app tracking every crumb and morsel to get a sense of what my usual diet entails but I would never pick an individual meal or ingredient just based on calories.
If I want to indulge ( like last night) the packet of cookies gets opened. If I am trying to cut back, I know what to minimise.
I do intentionally low-fat days in preparation for giving platelets and somehow that seems harder than a week of low calories!
DukeSunday@reddit
Yeah I do nowadays. Long term medication I need has a side effect of making my appetite all screwy; when I first started taking it I put on almost 30kg in 18 months. Lesson learnt.
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
Not really.
Mentally I could work it out pretty quickly as I do know roughly how many calories are in different ingredients.
But I tend to just eat when I'm hungry, don't rush my food, and stop when I'm full. Tends to keep me in check.
Cakeo@reddit
I look at calories if I think it's going to be too low. I do k minimum a day so don't want to waste space on low calorie food.
fickle_tartan@reddit
Up until my early 30s I never paid the slightest bit of attention to calories, ate whatever I wanted and never had any issues because I always worked very active jobs and burned a shit load of calories naturally, even as a woman with a naturally lower starting point.
Now I work from home at a desk, combined with getting older, I've had a lot of issues with maintaining a healthy weight. I am generally fairly aware of how many calories are in almost everything I eat, but it doesn't stop me from eating way too many a lot of the time, unfortunately.
himit@reddit
I did, when I was trying to lose weight. But I'm aware it's a slippery slope so I always try to consider it in very general terms rather than exact.
mmmkarmabacon@reddit
Nope. I do think I run a bit of a "healthy meal/less healthy meal" kind of internal monitoring system. Like, if I had fish and chips for dinner one day then the next day I'll go for something home cooked and not fried, but it's not strict.
I have stayed at around 63kg for my whole adult life and occasionally wondered why that is. I guess my hunger signals must pretty consistently mirror my activity levels. I also like vegetables and don't enjoy McDonalds or sodas etc.
Specialist_Emu7274@reddit
I don’t. But I did used to track so obsessively I can estimate it
BigDumbGreenMong@reddit
I've always tried to keep myself fit, but with work, family, and life, I generally go through phases of being really on top of diet and exercise, or just being too busy to exercise and stress eating a lot of junk.
Throughout this cycle, what generally works for me is intermittent fasting - I just skip breakfast, eat lunch around mid-day, and don't eat anything after dinner at around 7pm.
Even when I'm going through a shit phase, this at least stops me from piling weight on.
I don't religiously count the calories, but I keep an eye on the amount, and type, of food I'm scoffing. And if I know I'm eating bad food, I try to counter it with extra fruit/veggies for fibre - so I still get to eat a pork pie, but I'll have a carrot and an apple as well.
quaveringquokka@reddit
I don't count calories. I am overweight but not dramatically and my weight is very stable. So I don't think it's led to disaster/I'm not continually gaining weight. The thing I'm more aware of is activity and trying to move around a decent amount each day. Then I don't worry about the food side of things. So far so fine.
ceb1995@reddit
Not really, I joined the gym back in October so i do weigh myself every couple of weeks to make sure I m not losing weight. I have tracked a couple of days just to see that I was generally getting what's apparently enough as I m hoping to gradually get stronger and try to make balanced choices.
Aetheriao@reddit
I check calories only to see if I want to eat it.
For example i don’t really check in general but if I’m going to get like a ready meal I’ve literally seen 1.2k calorie ready meals that I won’t even like that much lol. So if I have two options and one is like 60% more calories I’ll just get the other one. Sometimes I look and go yeah but it still looks banging aka “it’s worth it” so I eat it anyway. Or I had this yogurt I absolutely loved until I realised it was like 800 calories a container and I was SMASHING that container. It simply wasn’t worth 800 calories, I could’ve eaten a half tub of Ben and jerries for that. And I was more “satisfied” from that as an enjoyable food than the former so I stopped buying it.
Otherwise not really generally.
barriedalenick@reddit
Never have done and I manage to keep a stable weight. I do reduce intake if I add a few pounds but I do a load of exercise so it generally isn't an issue. Food is a joy and I can't be arsed to count calories
Vast_Resolve_8354@reddit
Yes, but I am a type 1 diabetic powerlifter so I have an excuse at least.
On special occasions (holidays, birthdays, xmas etc) I'll just count carbs if possible for insulin dosage reasons, but will not worry too much about calories.
miz_moon@reddit
I’m a recovered anorexic and I track my calories to make sure I’m eating enough because I do a lot of exercise and my appetite is poor
Loud_Fisherman_5878@reddit
Hm, I thought I didn’t but this has got me thinking as I realised I actually do! I also have a history of ED so I don’t let myself check how many calories there are in something when making a decision whether to eat it or not and luckily this has stopped being a habit, but these days I weigh carbs like pasta just to make sure I’m eating enough as I do quite a lot of exercise but get too tired when I undereat.
AdventurousPhysics80@reddit
I also go through phases of calorie counting, but I've done it for so many years that now it's just instant rather than exact numbers - so i know roughly how much most meals will be. I prefer that to having to measure everything out as it can just get so consuming - life's too short to stressing about calories 24/7.
SUMMATMAN@reddit
I don't tend to consider calories much, but I do consider how much vegetables, fibre, protein, and make sure sugar and sat fat aren't overly high. I find if you get the former, and avoid snacking much, it's easier to avoid the latter.
SapphicStoner99@reddit
I have a history of ED. Now I never weigh myself. I never weigh food, I never log food, I never look at the nutritional value. I spent some time eating whatever I fancied so that my body would trust that I would give it food it wanted. After a while I what I was fancying was a balanced diet, loads of veg and also cakes when I fancy. I think very little about what I’m eating other that what do I fancy and how can I make it.
insomnimax_99@reddit
Yes, I do.
I try to stick to 2000 or below it.
I don’t literally pull out a calculator and do the maths though, I just approximate.
LegolasleChat@reddit
Selectively I do look. Most days I have a vague comprehension of what I'm eating. But the some days I buy a packet of Bourbon biscuits and throw caution to the wind.
DismalPhysicist@reddit
No, I don't usually think about calories. For ultraprocessed food or fast food I have a vague idea of the calories, but I just use those to choose a sensible portion size, I don't track them or think about it the next day. For homemade food I have no idea, I just try to eat a decent amount without overdoing it. No history of disordered eating, pretty stable healthy weight.
Available-Spray2576@reddit
Yes, I am trying to lose weight so I watch my calories. It's worked well so far. It is pretty surprising how quickly they add up ngl
PopperDilly@reddit
I go through phases where i calorie count and when i dont. But generally, I always keep in mind things like fried foods. For example at pizza express, a tiny half portion of halloumi bites is 350 calories nearly!
Calories themselves dont concern me, as in I dont overthink it too much.
Bullseyesuccess@reddit
Yes. I am trying to lose weight and I also train very hard in the gym, so I need to ensure I am eating enough to get me through my workouts while still being in a calorie deficit.
Thomas5020@reddit
Yes.
I actually like food, so if I don't track I'll end up 500lb. Made it half way there, then decided it was time for change.
prustage@reddit
There was a time when I needed to lose weight and I became very calorie conscious. I built up a good mental database of calorie content and could tell you how many calories where in everything I ate. As the day progressed I kept a mental running total of what I was consuming.
I am now at my ideal weight and have been for long enough to regard it as stable. I still count calories though., it has become automatic and I dont think that is a bad thing.
It is useful and, I think, responsible to be aware of the nutritional and energy content of the food you consume.
You don't have to keep to the rules - but you still need to know when you are breaking them.
Puzzled-Barnacle-200@reddit
I don't track calories, but I do try to be mindful. If I do eat higher caltoeus one day, I'll try to be more conscious and make better choices over the next few days to balance it out.
Forever tracking calories isn't necessarily an issue. Obesity is a huge problem in our society, and we could benefit from people being more aware of what they are eating. Calorie tracking only becomes unhealthy if it causes toy emotional distress and interfers with your life. If someone cooks/bakes for you and you can't know exactly what is in it, can you still comfortably eat the food? If so, you're probably fine.
AuroraDF@reddit
Yes. I've been doing it for years. But it doesn't help. I just can't stop. And I'm overweight.
DanS1993@reddit
I was about to comment a similar thing! I consider the amount of calories I’ve had right after eating way too much. Vow to do better next time and then don’t. Wishing us both the will power!
MoonShineWashingLine@reddit
I need to gain weight but struggle to get enough calories in with my restricted diet (chronic gut issues and vegetarian) so no, I just try and eat as much as possible. I'm not exactly your average human though 😂
loops1204@reddit
No or I get obsessive about it
melanie110@reddit
Calories no but protein yes.
I’ve had a gastric sleeve over 2 years ago and I need to try and get a minimum of 60g a day so whilst it does track colonies, I’m more interested in protein intake
Dutch_Slim@reddit
Yes, but to ensure I’m getting enough, not to restrict.
ultraboomkin@reddit
Yes, I started counting calories last year and have lost 30kg / about 5 stone. Gone from 15 stone to 10 stone and I feel amazing.
It’s so easy to just “accidentally” have a few too many snacks and eat in a surplus without thinking, at least for me. So even though I’ve completed my weight loss, I’m still counting calories for the indefinite future, I just find it very helpful as I don’t really think about what I eat throughout the day.
I’ve also just started working out, so tracking my nutrition and protein is important. And I also like to track my fibre intake because I like keeping my gut in rhythm.
The app I use (Nutracheck) is really easy to log food on and it tracks nutrition of everything you eat.
dbltax@reddit
Nope. I'll pay attention to things like sugar and sat fats etc but calories are less relevant.
Reddit____user___@reddit
Sometimes, out of morbid curiosity. But mostly no.
I just eat what I can afford. I try to only eat when I’m properly hungry, though that isn’t always the case.
My days can tend to peak and trough too though. I can easily eat like a pelican on one day from dawn until dusk and beyond, whilst eating like a humming bird on the days either side of it, for no apparent reason in either regard.
Imaginary_Bird538@reddit
Exactly as you said in the middle. I try to make good choices with occasional indulgences, but I don’t monitor calories. If the jeans start getting a bit too tight I’ll focus on lighter meals and cut treats for a bit, maybe do a bit more exercise. But I’m never counting calories.
I may occasionally look before I buy something. Ie. I might weigh up the taste vs calorie overload of buying ice cream vs frozen yoghurt, and then make a decision. So sometimes it factors in to what goes in the trolley. But I don’t consider it on a daily basis.
Good-Gur-7742@reddit
I have a history of disordered eating and I cannot count calories or I will take it way too far.
Ok-Rain6295@reddit
Yes. One, I’m in semi-recovery from an eating disorder. Two, if I don’t I will eat myself into morbid obesity (again). I do not have an off switch when it comes to food.
Mazzerboi@reddit
I do, but I’ve been out the gym for 6 months atm so don’t want to get fat. If i kept up my eating as if i was working out, i would 100% get fat.
I’m planning on returning to the gym later this month/early June, which means I’ll go back to eating whatever I want and disregarding calories etc
TheAnxiousPangolin@reddit
Yes, I keep track of what I eat and my macros every day, and have done since around 2018. It’s helped me reduce to, and maintain, a healthy weight for my height and helps me understand where fluctuations come from rather than beating myself up about it. I also have a problem with my blood sugar (though not yet diagnosed with diabetes), so it helps me to control what I can in regards to that so I’m healthier for longer.
a-liquid-sky@reddit
Being pregnant is the first time since I was about 14 that I have not looked at calories/tracked my food, and just tried to eat lots more fruit/veg/calcium. It's quite liberating.
VolcanicBear@reddit
I track macros (and indirectly, calories) but I'll look at the nutritional composition of something more than I will its overall calories.
PM-me-your-cuppa-tea@reddit
I have had disordered eating in my past but currently do need to lose weight so I'm doing very light calorie counting, I don't obsess and measure healthy or whole foods but I measure treats
Previously, I didn't count calories but I did make sure I was eating healthily, I used macros as a bit of a pseudo control thing, so I wouldn't look at calories or fats or carbs but I would track fibre, protein and vitamins to make sure my diet was balanced.
Then I got into Deliveroo and gained a tonne of weight. Thus my light calorie counting now.
constipated_coconut@reddit
i do, i don’t know how much to eat without counting 🫠 it doesn’t take too much of my time so i’m not too fussed, also helps me reach my gym goals
nomadic_weeb@reddit
Nope, I eat however much I need to not be hungry and mainly focus on how much I enjoy the food rather than how many calories are in it
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