Author Topic: Time to stop counting calories?  (Read 1640 times)

Hope

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Time to stop counting calories?
« on: August 27, 2015, 10:14:53 AM »
An interesting article/editorial in OpenHeart, an open access, online-only magazine:

http://tinyurl.com/okefu9y

Any thoughts from anyone?
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Rhiannon

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Re: Time to stop counting calories?
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2015, 07:07:22 PM »
Yes, it simply isn't about weight but what we eat. 

Incidentally, calorie counting is regarded by some experts on eating disorders a form of disordered eating. Many people who lose weight by calorie counting put it back on again.

ad_orientem

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Re: Time to stop counting calories?
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2015, 07:46:45 PM »
It rather depends upon what your goals are. At first you might want to count your calories so that you have a rough idea of your caloric intake. If the idea is to lose weight then you need to work on a calorie deficit so you need to have some idea. The problem for most people is that they cut too much and so quit rather quickly. A 200-400 calorie deficit is enough.
« Last Edit: August 28, 2015, 10:23:25 AM by ad_orientem »
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Rhiannon

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Re: Time to stop counting calories?
« Reply #3 on: August 28, 2015, 10:29:27 AM »
If you can cut out, say, added sugar from your diet, you'll hit that target easily without the need for knowing the calorie content of everything you eat. I know people who have eating disorders who obsess over every calorie and it isn't healthy. That said, keeping a food diary can be helpful at first because people often consume lots of extras without realising it. You don't need to calorie count to know that three extra biscuits haven't done you any good.

It's now thought to be better to focus on portion size, eating mindfully (so only eating what you really enjoy, when you are hungry and stopping when full) and adding lots of foods known to be good for us - an abundance of fruit and veg, nuts and seeds, olive oil etc.

Hope

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Re: Time to stop counting calories?
« Reply #4 on: August 28, 2015, 10:47:26 AM »
One of the interesting things I heard the author of this report say was that it we can cut out the carbs from sugary fizzy drinks, replacing them with the carbs from nuts and fruit, so much the better.  Anyone every decided to eat nuts after a long hot walk in the contryside.  Most of us want liquids!!
Are your, or your friends'/relatives', garages, lofts or sheds full of unused DIY gear, sewing/knitting machines or fabric and haberdashery stuff?

Lists of what is needed and a search engine to find your nearest collector (scroll to bottom for latter) are here:  http://www.twam.uk/donate-tools

Rhiannon

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Re: Time to stop counting calories?
« Reply #5 on: August 29, 2015, 10:15:59 AM »
Yes, a calorie isn't just a calorie and what we eat matters as much, if not more, than how much. For example, Hope, going by that recommendation for a long walk you could pack a bag of nuts, fruit and seeds and fill a flask with dilute natural juice using sparkling water if you really want fizz.