Is it really necessary to count calories in order to have great success while cutting? I ask this because I am set on losing weight, and I'm not so much focusing on how MUCH I eat, as WHAT I eat. Obviously I am going to steer away from gorging on food. How many of you actually count calories, and how many of you never counted calories but made alot of progress on your cutting? And if you don't count calories, what kind of tips and tricks can you give to stay on track and shed some adipose.

I'm about seven weeks into my first major cut, after twenty years of eating what tasted good and going to the gym when I felt like it. For the first few weeks, I logged everything I ate into fitday.com to make sure I was not only eating the right AMOUNT of calories, but more importantly what my ratio of proteins/carbs/fat was. After a few weeks, I was having just about the same thing every day, and haven't counted calories specifically since then. One day every week and a half or so, I do log my food to make sure I'm still on track, especially if I introduce a new food into my daily plan.

Hope that helps!

Initially, yes it is critical to track food. The early phase of cutting, especially for the first time, is about learning how much of what to eat and when. Once you have a system down, you can ease back.

I advise you to track religiously for the first month. You'll thank me later.

Initially, yes it is critical to track food. The early phase of cutting, especially for the first time, is about learning how much of what to eat and when. Once you have a system down, you can ease back.

I advise you to track religiously for the first month. You'll thank me later.
No, I don't agree with that.

It might be difficult to get to a "fitness model" type look without counting calories, but it's not required to count calories to get to a healthy weight. In fact, I think it's a bad idea, because it makes it more difficult in the future to balance yourself into a lifestyle of regular consistent healthy eating in situations where you might not be able to track as closely as you'd like or may just not want to do it anymore.

I don't know how far away you are from your ultimate goal, but I would suggest that if you don't want to count calories, that you shouldn't count calories, unless you find that you're moving away from your goals, or you reach a weight loss plateau that you can't break through.

I have gone through short phases where I've counted calories, but for the most part, I'm a lot more comfortable when I eat just enough to keep from being hungry.

I find that it's easiest to get the correct food intake when I'm following the Superfoods Rx diet, from this book (http://www.amazon.com/SuperFoods-Rx-Fourteen-Foods-Change/dp/0060535679).

I concur with both the above posts (how's that for being PC).

Your goals should dictate your calorie counting efforts. If you're just trying to set a routine of healthy-portioned eating of healthy foods then it's not intrinsically necessary. If you've been eating healthy for a while and have a good routine set, yet haven't been seeing results over the long-term (months or more), then calorie counting might help refine the cutting efforts.

It's sounds like (if I may be so bold to glean this from just your opening statement) that Guava is right: just setting a routine of healthy eating might be more what you're looking for. Get used to eating those "healthy" foods and cutting out the junky high-fructose stuff before getting too serious. But realize you're setting a pattern not just for the short-term in doing this. If after a month or two you're comfortable with the foods and want to ramp it up, by all means counting calories can be a useful tool.

When you start to crave cottage cheese that last meal before bed, you know you're a healthy food dork :eat:.

I would fully recommend counting calories for a few reasons.

1) It keeps you on track for your daily goal and makes you accountable for any variances (i.e. cheat meals) in your diet. You are also able to look if you are getting enough of each macronutrient and more subtle things like fiber and vitamins if you use something like fitday.

With a long term goal of achieving a desired weight and body composition, it is important to achieve short term goals to give yourself a sense of achievement. Successfully meeting your target for the day does that for you.

2) Counting calories teaches you how calorie dense certain foods are, and may lead you to find healthier options.

I admit it will take somewhat of an anal personality to do it consistently, but it is worth it. If not, at least read the nutrition labels and understand what you are putting into your body! :tu:

Counting calories has its benefits of course. I mean, when I started doing it (I don't anymore) I soon found out that it took alot more food than I was used to eating to get to the calorie amount I needed to take in (when you focus on eating clean food). When your used to going to mickey d's everyday or something where your cramming 1200 calories at a sitting its a real wake up call. I also agree with Guava, I mean say you reach your goals, are you really going to keep counting calories to maintain what you achieved? I know i'm not, I focus on clean, healthier foods, and portion control. I guess you just have to decide for yourself. Give it a trial run...

If you don't have any idea of what you are consuming (u should first understand WHY it is "X" amount), how do you go about making alterations? It seems like it would be impossible as there is no available and tactile point of reference in which to work with.

I personally work w/macros (calories in simpler form which to me matters a GREAT DEAL), however I still have a starting point for myself and clients
so as to refer to down the road if/when alterations for further progression are needed.

Fitness is all about what goes in the mouth. Your diet and exercise habits reflect what you look like. Having said that, I'd definitely want to know a starting point (trying to attain one on target for you to make positive strides of course) so at least u know what DOES NOT work for you.

Nutrition comes #1 for me, weight training #2, cardio #3.
It is very important to know not only how much you are eating daily, but WHAT you are eating for those "KCALS" when u are eating them, with what, how much, for what purpose, etc.

Bedtime for this fella, night all,
~SC~

No, I don't agree with that.

It might be difficult to get to a "fitness model" type look without counting calories, but it's not required to count calories to get to a healthy weight. In fact, I think it's a bad idea, because it makes it more difficult in the future to balance yourself into a lifestyle of regular consistent healthy eating in situations where you might not be able to track as closely as you'd like or may just not want to do it anymore.

I don't know how far away you are from your ultimate goal, but I would suggest that if you don't want to count calories, that you shouldn't count calories, unless you find that you're moving away from your goals, or you reach a weight loss plateau that you can't break through.

I have gone through short phases where I've counted calories, but for the most part, I'm a lot more comfortable when I eat just enough to keep from being hungry.

I find that it's easiest to get the correct food intake when I'm following the Superfoods Rx diet, from this book (http://www.amazon.com/SuperFoods-Rx-Fourteen-Foods-Change/dp/0060535679).


I agree with a lot of what you're saying, but that wouldn't work for me. My stomach, or maybe my brain, does a terrible job of determining when I should stop eating. I need a predetermined number of kcals, otherwise I'd be counterproductive in a heartbeat.

I used to count calories when i started out. Years later, i never bother. Why? Because now i have a good idea of what i should eat to cut, what i should eat to maintain.

I actually disagree with you Guava, because i think the fact that you used to count cals has given you the knowlege base to not count cals and just make good choices. For example, portion control and healthy options is a great idea, but how do you know how far to control your portions. How do you know you are still not eating too much? And in actual fact, probably the opposite is true. I find when people switch to a clean diet, they under eat. Counting cals in the early stages often shows you that "damn, im only getting 1000 cals a day in now". And then you can increase.

Also, sometimes you are surprised how many cals are in some foods. I knew someone who switched to a clean diet, but would eat a whole bag of almonds, not realising how calorie dense they are. I would argue that Guava (and I) know what a good portion of almonds is through experience in the days we counted the calories. Just looking at the calories of something can be enough.

I would strongly suggest anyone starting out on this road, regardless of goals, spends a little time working out their calories based on a meal plan. You dont have to get a spreadsheet out and count each and every thing every day. But i think work out what you are going to eat roughly, and then look at the cals, and you can make ajustments, whether your goal is to just get more healthy, or to lose a few lbs.

Simply put, I track everything, so that I can make a change when necessary, whether it be an increase in carbs, to a decrease in fat etc. Without tracking everything, I wouldn't have a clue. It takes me about 5 minutes to formulate the data in Excel and about 2 weeks to get the routine engraved in my memory. :)

Well, I'm not sure there's a consensus opinion on this that will help bled12345. Your first post mentions both "losing weight", and that you are "cutting" and "want to shed some adipose". If your goal is to get to a more ideal weight, then you can probably avoid calorie counting. If your goal is to embark on a cut and lose body fat, then counting calories and tracking your macronutrient intake is the best method.

For me, it boils done to this - achieving a healthy weight and lifestyle requires you to eat healthy foods and control portion sizes. Achieving six pack abs requires tracking everything you eat. Your personal goal should dictate your path forward.

The only consistently successful method i found online that you don't have to count calories is intermittent fasting (IF). I'm only on my second week but i have lost a few pounds. I'm expecting my best results using this lifestyle.

Its becoming pretty popular it seems over some fitness boards. But like any method, some it will not work for, but i find going 16-20 hours without food a breeze.

Note: I'm assuming the transformations i've seen online are legit. :)