Count Calories - Or Not Count Calories

[jcolson]

Whats the word on calories?

Give your input about if you think calorie counting is necessary, even or a bodybuilder?

[Power_Strike92]

Its a personal preference for most. I count them.

[MelodyMaker]

Since energy balance determines weight loss and weight gain, I find them rather important. I count them...

[juliacheh]

For most optimal results in body recompositioning yes.

[franko man]

much easier to achieve your fitness goals when you know exactly how much you're feeding your body with, and much easier to make adjustments lateron.

[feelsg00dmayne]

i've been cursed to a point where if i didn't count, i'd be a fatass.

[PhiSig2298]

Depends on your goals and how efficient you want to be.. I know plenty Of guys who have successfully bulked and cut without counting calories.

It may seem like a hassle to count at first, but it gets easy pretty fast as long as you weigh/measure foods and create a database

[dukend]

Depends on your goals and how efficient you want to be.. I know plenty Of guys who have successfully bulked and cut without counting calories.

It may seem like a hassle to count at first, but it gets easy pretty fast as long as you weigh/measure foods and create a database

This. I think if ANYTHING, any person who is serious about reaching fitness goals should calculating EVERY calorie for at least a couple of days or a week or two (then they can go on and estimate WAY better in the future..)


What I do, is calculate pretty much every single calorie during the week, and allow myself to estimate on the weekends... (since I take the lady out to good restaurants in chitown on the weekend)

[Electricheadd]

For most optimal results in body recompositioning yes.

^^This^^

You can't make an educated decision about nutrition without first knowing what your eating.

[jcolson]

What about the accuracy of how we count calories, and how they are measured. The Calorimeter?

Also, the way the body digests them can alter calorie amount. i.e.

Fats and fiber
Partially used fats - ketones

[phal]

What about the accuracy of how we count calories, and how they are measured. The Calorimeter?

Also, the way the body digests them can alter calorie amount. i.e.

Fats and fiber
Partially used fats - ketones

What about it? If you 'count' and keep consistent you can make adjustments when necessary. If you don't and just eat blindly then you're up the creek without a paddle - that's not to say you CANNOT make progress without counting, it's just not optimal.

[jcolson]

This. I think if ANYTHING, any person who is serious about reaching fitness goals should calculating EVERY calorie for at least a couple of days or a week or two (then they can go on and estimate WAY better in the future..)

I like this method better.

[waatsgood]

For the average joe, they can probably get away with portion control and moderation. But like others have stated, for optimal results, it is necessary.

It also helps many with sanity because it allows them to eat treats worry free (IIFYM

[BunkMoreland]

haven't tracked cals for close to 2 years

[generaltso2]

I used to count cals but got sick of it. I wouldn't let myself eat out when friends suggested it because I wanted to stick to my 'perfect' plan I created. So I dropped that and now I just stick to the nutritious foods you find in all those 'clean' lists and eat when I'm hungry, stop when I'm satisfied. Feels good man.

[MakeABanana]

Not necessary, but it can definitely help, especially amongst us folk who tend to overeat (or undereat). I have friends who have successfully cut and bulked well without counting.

[jcolson]

What about it? If you 'count' and keep consistent you can make adjustments when necessary. If you don't and just eat blindly then you're up the creek without a paddle - that's not to say you CANNOT make progress without counting, it's just not optimal.

I definitely think it is s good idea to know what you are eating. I don't mean to say NOT counting calories to mean that you eat whatever you want, but I would rather think of it more in terms of portions.

Just me

[LiftHeavy85]

haven't tracked cals for close to 2 years

which at implies at one point you did.

OP if you cannot determine the calorie intake of most meals off the top of your head then I suggest counting until you get a firm grasp of the calories in certain foods.

[Lambert99]

Would you say you're doomed to a life of kitchen scales then?

I've been counting for a short while and I just find it well annoying having to get a bowl out and weigh the amount of rice I'm putting in the pan every single time to make sure I get the same amount. Likewise with pasta, porridge etc.

[jcolson]

haven't tracked cals for close to 2 years

Good to hear! You look like your doing just fine bro!

What do you guys think of Rob Faigins idea? He doesn't allow calorie counting on the NHE plan. He strictly forbids it.

[Electricheadd]

Would you say you're doomed to a life of kitchen scales then?

I've been counting for a short while and I just find it well annoying having to get a bowl out and weigh the amount of rice I'm putting in the pan every single time to make sure I get the same amount. Likewise with pasta, porridge etc.

At some point you can eyeball it pretty close. My wife makes fun of me because I can eyeball a scoop a peanut butter within 3-4g.

[Malkira]

What about the accuracy of how we count calories, and how they are measured. The Calorimeter?

Also, the way the body digests them can alter calorie amount. i.e.

Fats and fiber
Partially used fats - ketones

We don't actually measure food with a calorimeter, we use the Atwater factors for macronutrients. These were initially determined by his respiration calorimeter, but generally when people throw "calorimeter" around they are implying a bomb calorimeter and not human respiration calorimeter.

[phal]

I definitely think it is s good idea to know what you are eating. I don't mean to say NOT counting calories to mean that you eat whatever you want, but I would rather think of it more in terms of portions.

Just me

I don't mind if someone does or does not count. What I quoted, which was what I was responding to - was about your question regarding how accurate 'calories' really are and how we burn them.

If you're consistent (that is, with your intake/calories), how accurate our interpretation of how calories are used doesn't mean much. What matters is the end result, and for most people this means tracking and making sure their progress is optimal.

[PhiSig2298]

Would you say you're doomed to a life of kitchen scales then?

I've been counting for a short while and I just find it well annoying having to get a bowl out and weigh the amount of rice I'm putting in the pan every single time to make sure I get the same amount. Likewise with pasta, porridge etc.

Its more annoying not to count and then trying to figure out why clothes fit tighter & the scale isn't moving

[braggable]

Its more annoying not to count and then trying to figure out why clothes fit tighter & the scale isn't moving

^This.


For me personally, counting cals > doing cardio.

[PhiSig2298]

^This.


For me personally, counting cals > doing cardio.

Didn't recognize you with the new avi!

Diggin the guns!

[Lambert99]

Its more annoying not to count and then trying to figure out why clothes fit tighter & the scale isn't moving

Fair point.

Another thing that annoys me because I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to measuring things. My protein shake says mix 350ml water (I use milk to improve taste and up my intake) with one 'rounded' scoop (the spoon is included), but how the hell can you know how rounded the scoop should be. I can do 2 different 'rounded' scoops both having a completely different amount of powder in them. Bit picky but things like that frustrate me cos I can't be accurate.

[PhiSig2298]

Fair point.

Another thing that annoys me because I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to measuring things. My protein shake says mix 350ml water (I use milk to improve taste and up my intake) with one 'rounded' scoop (the spoon is included), but how the hell can you know how rounded the scoop should be. I can do 2 different 'rounded' scoops both having a completely different amount of powder in them. Bit picky but things like that frustrate me cos I can't be accurate.

That's easy.. It should tell you weight (most likely grams)

Weight it out in grams.


Or..




Skip the shake and enjoy some chicken, deer, elk, beef, fish, etc

[phal]

Fair point.

Another thing that annoys me because I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to measuring things. My protein shake says mix 350ml water (I use milk to improve taste and up my intake) with one 'rounded' scoop (the spoon is included), but how the hell can you know how rounded the scoop should be. I can do 2 different 'rounded' scoops both having a completely different amount of powder in them. Bit picky but things like that frustrate me cos I can't be accurate.

Does your protein powder include a serving size listed in grams? If you want to be that accurate (to each their own) you can use a scale.

[Lambert99]

Does your protein powder include a serving size listed in grams? If you want to be that accurate (to each their own) you can use a scale.

That's easy.. It should tell you weight (most likely grams)

Weight it out in grams.


Or..


Skip the shake and enjoy some chicken, deer, elk, beef, fish, etc

Yeah, good idea, it's 45g.

In your experience is there much of a difference between different brands of whey protein? My mate thought it was pretty good that mine seemed to have alot of amino acids included.