did you count your cals as a teen?

[arsenification]

The title^
Did you used to count your calorie intake as a teen? Or does any teen here count their calories? I heard we're not supposed to.
If not, how are you able to track that you're eating right to build muscle and gain some size as well as strength?

[NattyNation]

I personally do.

[Bruno93]

I started training at 16 but only really started counting at like 19-20. Counting calories is basicly ensuring that you're getting just enough to either grow and not get too fat, or cut without losing too much muscle in the process. Some people can do that just by going by their natural appetite, or eyeballing portions, others can't. I bulked up in my teen years and gained plenty of size without counting anything, but I also gained more fat than I wanted.

[ro98pt]

The title^
Did you used to count your calorie intake as a teen? Or does any teen here count their calories? I heard we're not supposed to.
If not, how are you able to track that you're eating right to build muscle and gain some size as well as strength?

Tbh it is personal preference. I think if you are older than 16 you start to have more maturity to make your own decisions. But be obsessive. If you're going out with friends/family don't track or just estimate without worrying too much. I say that because I was starting to get a bit freaky about counting macros at the late stages of my cut, and now I'm taking a break from it because I feel like I was starting to get a bad relationship with food. You can cut/bulk without counting, but it makes it a bit harder. Like I said, it is personal preference. If you are progressing without couting, good, if you are couting calories, don't let it get out of control and freak about details. You're a teen, life is more than counting every single gram of food you put in your body (that doesn't mean you shouldn't track, just be smart about it).

[WorldClassDBag]

Yea I was wrestling so I had to keep my weight on track.

[gabrielpozo5]

Nah I didn't give one fck. Ate whatever I wanted and got fat as fck. Don't recommend unless you have a crazy fast metabolism.

[Johnson107]

I counted calories at some stages as a teen. There is not much difference between doing it as a teen compared to as an adult, assuming you are in the right headspace, in my opinion.

[ro98pt]

I don't atm but I will if I need to cut to get in a weightclass.

I might start soon because my dirty bulk did an injustice to my stomach lol. As long as you don't get a bad relationship with food/get body dysmorphia you will be OK. Learn what to do and what not to.

THIS

I agree 100% because I felt/ still feel it on my own skin. Sometimes that extra fat / less muscle is better than getting an ED or any kind of unhealthy relationship with food/your body.

[Isaac30001]

Most people don't need to, teenagers or not. You can make gains just fine without doing so. If you want to, knock yourself out, but I would stay far away from it if you have a tendency to have an unhealthy relationship with food.

[Louissima]

I dont count calories, i just make sure i get around 180g of protein, thats easy to do with 6 meals each 30g, calories just come along, who cares enough to count them, count them when youre cutting