I’m attempting to accept the truth that my body will never look like it did when I was 18, sad, and mentally unwell. I am now 21, medicated, in a good relationship, and happier than I could have hoped. I’ve gained about 20kg (44ish lbs) in the last two years, and while happiness looks great on me, I don’t feel as healthy as I would like. I’m afraid that if I start tracking calories and weighing myself, I’ll slide back into unhealthy habits. So my only goal here is to fit in my beloved parachute trousers from last year lol.
Any tips on being healthier and reducing fat without tracking calories?
You might be asking if it’s feasible to lose weight by solely eating nutritious foods and not monitoring calories; the answer is yes! Eating nutrient-dense meals such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can naturally lead to weight loss because they have less calories and are more filling than processed foods.
Yes. It operates on the idea of “burning” more calories than you consume. So continue to consume your normal diet while increasing your physical activity.
Here’s a realistic approach to “burning off calories” through exercise. A 42-minute walk or 22-minute run would be required to burn off 229 calories from a bar of milk chocolate.
To be honest, it would be easier for you to cut your daily calorie intake while maintaining your current level of physical activity. You don’t need to “count” calories to know the exact quantity of calories in each food you eat and add up the totals. How do you ask? So, how about placing less food on your plate when you have a meal? (No going back for seconds!) If you do that for a few weeks, your weight will slowly but surely decrease.
You do not have to count calories, but they do. Every weight-loss regimen, regardless of how it is advertised, is based on consuming less calories than you burn. Some plans assign point values to meals and limit the number of points you can eat each day. Others will urge you to consume specific macros, provide extensive meal plans, or lists of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ foods, but the science behind it all simply calories.
If you want not to count them, that is acceptable. It still boils down to ‘eat less; move more’. Or simply ‘eat less,’ which is frequently more difficult to keep to. But it’s similar like driving down the highway with a piece of cardboard pasted to your speedometer.
“Is it possible to lose weight through exercise without counting calories?”
Yes, sometimes. As you exercise more, you are more likely to eat better because you feel better. This works best if you are young and/or have little to lose.
In general, however, it does not operate effectively. The issue is that the larger you get, the more negative habits you need to break. You need to literally retrain your thinking.
Exercise is fantastic, and you will feel so much better. You’ll feel more energetic and stronger. It’s a wonderful feeling. However, you do not know your baseline diet. If your TDEE suggests remaining around 2500 calories but you eat 4000 calories per day, “eat healthier” could mean that you’re still well over your desired calorie range.
Can you become debt-free, financially independent, or even wealthy without knowing how much money you spend each month?
Or, how much money do you make from your job, business, or investments?
In theory, you could…However, theory has never resulted in weight loss, increased wealth, or improved happiness.
Debt-free, financially independent, and wealthy people are keenly conscious of their finances.
They understand where it is going, how to grow it, and how to use it to their advantage.
The parallels between finances and fitness are striking.
Theory, whether financial or fitness/nutrition-related, always sounds fine on paper but must be applied to the real, frenetic, and chaotic reality we live in.
Yes, I completely agree with R. Krater Moon. It is impossible, buddy!
However, a calorie deficit does not imply that you must starve or go hungry.
Eat healthier foods. They should satisfy your hunger while also containing fewer calories.
Eating healthy will cause you to lose weight from all over your body.
This also involves your face. Because you can’t simply choose a location and lose weight there.
Weight loss does not work that way. You will lose it in every part of your body.
However, it appears that if you have a FAT FACE, you will have fat elsewhere.
In other words, losing it everywhere would be advantageous for you?
You can absolutely lose weight without tracking calories.
BUT…
You’ll need to have another way to track your meals.
The major objective for encouraging calorie tracking is to promote more conscious eating habits, rather than precise eating. While a straightforward weight loss strategy is to burn more calories than you consume, our bodies are far more sophisticated than that. Our metabolism does not function like a graphing calculator.
Understanding your portion sizes is a better and faster way to practise mindful eating. I’d recommend you to focus on two things on the nutrition facts label.
While calorie tracking can be an effective tool for weight management, it is not the only way to lose fat. Focus on eating entire, nutrient-dense foods, paying attention to your body’s hunger and fullness cues, and exercising portion management. Prioritise thoughtful eating habits and balanced meals that include a variety of macronutrients. Incorporate regular physical activity into your daily routine to aid in fat loss and general wellness. Remember that sustainable fat loss is about developing healthy behaviours that you can stick to over time. Visit my Quora profile for more intuitive eating suggestions!
I am sure you will lose weight without counting, if you eliminate out refined sugar and fructose (from juice etc, but only consume fresh fruit).
Eat protein-rich foods such as chicken, fish, ox meat, and eggs. Protein-rich foods keep you fuller for longer and have thermogenic qualities, meaning you need 20% of the calories from the food to metabolise it. Eat green vegetables such as green beans, Brussels sprouts, spinach, and kale; they have little calories yet keep you satisfied.
When your weight loss plateaus, incorporate cardio to burn extra calories while eating the same foods. (Protein-rich foods will assist you not lose muscle quickly.)
“How can I lose weight without counting calories?”
You do it indirectly by counting servings.
Calories are important, even if they are merely a bookkeeping mechanism and not the major driving force for biochemistry. Calories inhibit new lean growth and force loss. Less direct calories cannot drive fat to flow out of storage; instead, they might force fat into storage.
A diet plan must satisfy your hunger in order to be considered “effective.” Any plan that results in constant nagging and unending hunger cannot be claimed to “work” for you. There are no plan kinds that “work” for the majority. You must try on your own to see which type works best for you, if any at all.
You may have to tally the dreaded calories once or twice. You need to know what your baseline is for different foods. When the calories have been accurately recorded, make a mental and written note of the portion size–a palm-sized piece of chicken, a thumb-sized piece of cheese, a handful of rice, a cup of pasta, and so on. These are all common sizes that can be dealt with without a calculator or a bell curve chart.
If you set your baseline correctly, you should observe your weight drop in a normal manner–not too fast or too slow. You want your food program to be sustainable over time; otherwise, it will fail you.
Originally Answered: Can you lose weight without being in a calorie deficit?
No, that is not possible. To shed body fat, you must maintain a calorie deficit. It is the only way to lose fat. You should keep track of your calorie consumption throughout the day. Losing fat is not a simple task. This can only be achieved by performing some calculations while dieting. If you maintain a calorie surplus, you will undoubtedly gain weight.
Whatever you consume, make it count. This will help you achieve your everyday goals. First, determine your essential calorie intake and then arrange your diet accordingly. Ensure that your diet comprises the maximum part of protein in it. Carbohydrates should be kept low. Working out daily cannot help you, you need to focus mainly on your diet. What are your thoughts about the same? What do you guys think are there any other ways to lose fat other than being in a calorie deficit?