Is counting calories necessary?

[Mr. Solo Dolo]

I dont usually count calories, but i see many of you do. how do you go about counting calories? Sometimes you dont know how many calories a meal contains. Do you give an estimate... or how?

[underPAR]

I use FitDay.com to track my calories. They have a huge database of foods, but I usually add my foods manually (based on their nutrition labels).

For restaurant foods, you can get most of the data online. Most people would be shocked to know the calorie/macro count in their favorite restaurant dishes.

After doing this for awhile, you get a feel for counting calories, and you don't have to be as precise.

[Mr. Solo Dolo]

I use FitDay.com to track my calories. They have a huge database of foods, but I usually add my foods manually (based on their nutrition labels).

For restaurant foods, you can get most of the data online. Most people would be shocked to know the calorie/macro count in their favorite restaurant dishes.

After doing this for awhile, you get a feel for counting calories, and you don't have to be as precise.

awesome man! thanks!

[rainieravesouth]

it's helpful for some, but definitely not necessary. you can make gains or lose fat without doing so.

just try it out and see if it's for you.

[sunngodd]

it is for me, i'd probably undereat or overeat quite frequently if I did it that way. I hope to one day have enough experience to go by how I feel

[libert]

Lately I've been estimating calories without logging in anything, with a bit of experience and reading labels it's not that hard really. Though I must say I've been using FitDay for a long time prior to this so I have a pretty good idea how many protein/calories certain foods have (e.g. chicken breast, eggs, milk). Seems to be working well for me.

[rainieravesouth]

Lately I've been estimating calories without logging in anything, with a bit of experience and reading labels it's not that hard really. Though I must say I've been using FitDay for a long time prior to this so I have a pretty good idea how many protein/calories certain foods have (e.g. chicken breast, eggs, milk). Seems to be working well for me.

yeah, this is how i've been too. it may not be as exact, but is there really a difference between 2500 cals and 2600 cals? to the average joe just looking to get in shape, no. but if you're a pro BBer/ or in some contest, yes, you definitely want to count.

[Alphagame]

Another good place to get information on food content is nutritiondata.com

[EddieG200]

You dont have to but it actually helps a lot. do it for a several days or a week, then if you decide it's to cumbersome you can just remember how many of what portions you had and use it for your future meals.

[Ibballard]

I dont usually count calories, but i see many of you do. how do you go about counting calories? Sometimes you dont know how many calories a meal contains. Do you give an estimate... or how?

Used to. Don't anymore. Unless you're actually micromanaging for a competition or very specific goals, it's counterproductive to be that anal retentive about your eating habits, because chances are that your body has a much clearer picture of your BMR+activity caloric expenditure than you do. And if you actually pay attention and eat right, you can much more accurately cover your caloric bases than by following fitday or calorie counting etc.

[LS2Stew]

Used to. Don't anymore. Unless you're actually micromanaging for a competition or very specific goals, it's counterproductive to be that anal retentive about your eating habits, because chances are that your body has a much clearer picture of your BMR+activity caloric expenditure than you do. And if you actually pay attention and eat right, you can much more accurately cover your caloric bases than by following fitday or calorie counting etc.

This is the best answer so far, calorie counting is worthwhile for beginners to a diet but after a while you know how many calories are in a meal etc and can listen to your body a bit better.

[angelusnexx]

IMO it is important to count calories at first. I know a lot of people that used to but do not anymore. I plan on counting for a few years and going off estimates after that. I have only been counting for 4-5 months and it is already very easy to eyeball things now.

At first though yeah I would count/weigh. Your perception of 2 tablespoons of peanut butter could actually be 4 tablespoons for example. Just that would be an additional 200 calories you did not know you were getting. Make mistakes like that throughout the day and what you think is a deficit could actually be an excess of calories.

[gain20]

Well, i use to and still do sometimes when i try new foods. But now, i basically know how many calories are in certain foods, especially meats.

[Ibballard]

At first though yeah I would count/weigh. Your perception of 2 tablespoons of peanut butter could actually be 4 tablespoons for example. Just that would be an additional 200 calories you did not know you were getting. Make mistakes like that throughout the day and what you think is a deficit could actually be an excess of calories.

I do agree with this. People have very wrong perceptions of the nutritional content of the foods they eat. They either vastly underestimate the calories in their junk food or so called "healthy food", or they overestimate the calories of their meals when trying to gain. Doesn't mean you need to track your calorie intake daily, but at least get a good baseline of what you're taking in, and how many calories the foods you eat have.

[imccarthy]

Unless you are a competitive physique athlete, no.