Does it matter what's in the calories?

I am calorie counting and have just started. I work 3rd shift so my schedule/patterns are all out of wack! (but I do take vitamins daily) I know that we need to eat healthy as well as counting, but I want to know if there are strict and specific foods or does  the majority of food intake need to be healthy? Basically if you have a dietary intake of 1800 calories and you reach that at the end of the day does the sodium,carbs,fat ect. make a difference or is a calorie a calorie?

Technically, a calorie really is a calorie for the purposes of weight loss.  You could eat 3 slices of cake daily and that's it, but as long as you undercut what you are burning you would still lose weight.  Granted, you want to eat healthy obviously so you get the most bang for your buck.  Some things help keep you full longer and are better in my opinion for losing weight - like protein and fiber.  Also, if you don't eat enough protein when you are restricting calories you are more likely to lose muscle with the fat, which means you might get thinner but you will still be flabby.  So calories are calories, but some are used more efficiently than others.

You may also want to consider the things we get from foods besides calories.  Vitamins and minerals?  Women need calcium, iron, folate, magnesium, etc.  Don't forget about vitamins A, E, D, C, K, etc.  You won't find a lot of things like that in a piece of cake.  Which is why if you are really trying to be healthy, rather than just lose weight, you should try to eat a balanced diet including whole grains, fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and dairy.  And maybe take a multivitamin ;)

Good luck!

 

Thank you! That's what I was looking for. I know I need to eat healthy but I still wanted a little of my favorites as long as the majority is healthy for my sake not just the weight. Thanks again.

Of course, I do not really reccommend the cake diet ;).  It was just an example.

Your diet needs to consist of a reasonable balance of healthy fats, proteins, and carbs. You certainly can't survive long term (or be healthy) on 1800 calories of butter, 1800 calories of turkey, or 1800 calories of bananas.  You need to aim for a healthy balance between all three, choosing foods that you like and which work with your lifestyle.

Personally, I aim for 90% of my food being reasonably healthy.... and I aim for eating healthy and within my calorie budget 90% of the time. (After all, in school, a 90% is still an A!)

=^..^= MOLLY

Hi Pook,

   My main goal is to get healthier but I hear what you're saying.  I'm working toward whole graing pasta and breads, lean meats and a good assortment of fruits & veggies.  But I budget in my after dinner mints and most nights a dark wine at bedtime.  As the others have said balance is the key.  Best of luck,

Pat

Your fat calories should not account for more than 30% of your total calories. You can figure your amount of fat calories this way... 1 gram of fat is 9 fat calories so, take your total amount of fat grams and times it by nine, this is your total fat percentage, then divide that number by your total calories, that number should not be more than 30%, if it is you are eating too much fat and should consider changing your diet to a lower fat diet.  Example:  you have a total of 40 fat grams times that amount by nine and you have 360 divide that by say 1500 calories and your total fat % is 24%. That is below the 30% that is okay.   You cannot eat a lot of cake, cookies, or chocolate bars as the fat to calorie ratio is too high and you will not lose weight, you may even gain.  Just keep your fat below 30% of your total.   Hope this helps.    Good luck with your diet! 

When it comes down to it, a calorie is a calorie for weight loss purposes.

But even if you are only concerned with weight loss, to get the majority of your calories from protein and complex carbs because it will keep you fuller longer, and you'll be less likely to overeat. If you eat too much sugar, it creates a spike in insulin which makes your body start to store the sugar as fat.

Birdy22, you just totally contradicted yourself.. 'A calorie is a calorie' followed by 'If you eat too much sugar then your body starts to store the sugar as fat'...

The heavier you are, the easier it'll be to get away with 'calorie is a calorie', but when trying to go for low bodyfat %'s, or muscle mass, you have to start focusing on not only how many calories, but how 'clean' those calories are... Not that you wan't an all carb/protein diet either, there is a balance, good fats, good carbs, good protein... The body's metabolic chart is quite, uh daunting, and even a seasoned biologist would have trouble following everything. So its not exactly straight forward, and not everyone breaks things down the same, so you'll have to figure out whats best for 'you'..