Should I count calories to lose weight or just eat less?

Question

I'm a female that's 5'2 and 37 years old. I don't eat unhealthy but I think I was eating too much. I weigh 193 pounds, but recently lost about 25 pounds because I was heavier. I stopped eating out as much and cut my portions so I lost the weight. I know for my height, I need to be like 120 pounds but I just want to lose about 53 pounds to be around 140 pounds. I think you need a little fat when you are older like me. I'm doing this as a lifestyle change and with exercise, so do you think I should count calories or just eat less?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

You can just eat less if that works for you. If you don't lose any weight or lose weight too quickly that's when you need to start counting. Lots of people do both. Start out with just eating less. The heavier you are the higher your TDEE so the more you can eat and lose weight. As you get closer to a healthy weight and can only eat 1500ish calories that's when they start to count because its so easy to go over that.

Bryce · Answer

Eat meat, eggs, cheese, non-starchy vegetables, peanut butter, butter, and whole milk products.  They satisfy your appetite, don't make you fat, and are very nutritious.  Avoid carbohydrates, especially wheat and sugar.  They make you fat and hungry.  I have found that to be a very good way to keep my weight under control.

? · Answer

A calorie deficit does one thing -- keeps you hungry. Why do you want to go around hungry all the time?

https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/keto

Mamawidsom · Answer

You'd be wise to do both until you have a really good feel for how much you need. By cutting portion size and decreasing fast food you are also decreasing calories. The key is going to be making continuous adjustments to reach your goal. If eating less works for your right now, bravo! Down load an app like MyFitnessPal or Lose It! and start tracking what you eat. You don't even need to limit calories, but just understand what you eat, the nutritional value of those foods, and when you eat should help you make more lifestyle changes. You can use an online TDEE or even a BRM calculator to know how many calories you should be eating. If you calculate your BMR or TDEE based on your goal weight and then eat that many calories, you should lose weight and get used to the "right" amount of food. You may also find that an inexpensive food scale will be very helpful. OR, you an read some books on lifestyle eating plans (keto, paleo, vegan, raw, whatever) and select one that you think you can follow. Depending on your food preferences, cravings, and health factors, one of these may be easier and or better for you to adopt.

What you seem to have already acknowledged is that you have been a chronic overeater and that pattern has but you into the obese category. This puts a strain on your vital organs and joints, and significantly increases your risk of diabetes, heart failure, arthritis, cancer, and Alzheimer's. Good luck.

What you seem to have already acknowledged is that you have been a chronic overeater and that pattern has but you into the obese category.  This puts a strain on your vital organs and joints, and significantly increases your risk of diabetes, heart failure, arthritis, cancer, and Alzheimer's.   Good luck.

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Should I count calories to lose weight or just eat less?

4 Answers