So I am back to counting calories but before that I have been on diets where I've restricted so much. I'm trying to find a way to watch my calories/portions but not feel deprived.

Anyway today I am at work and I had a craving for oreros, so I popped my 100 cal bag of popcorn and got a pack of oreros from the vending machine (240 calories) and thought to myself hey why can't I have them as long as it's not an everyday thing and within my calorie range?

So I wanted to know does anyone else eat whatever they want as long as it's within their calorie range?

Some days I will. Some days my goal is just to be under/at my calorie limit. These usually include weekends when the hubby is home and we always end up eating out.

I try to balance it will days were I also focus on carbs/protien/fat though. Well I don't count carbs, I do try to make sure my macros are somewhat balanced and my calories are not 90% from carbs or something.

However, my main goal is calories so I don't stress about the other stuff. Frozen yogurt and cookies tend to make frequent appearances in my calorie tracker and they have not hindered my weight loss!

I used to and it never got in the way of my weight loss- but I decided I wanted to eat healthier. I didn't like how I was eating. I wanted to take better care of my body. So I am trying to integrate veggies into my diet and slowly make junk food a minority in it.

I try to make sure that MOST of my food is healthy choices and not junk....especially because junk comes with a high calorie "pricetag"...however I definitely will eat a treat or something if it's within my calorie budget

Same here. Since I don't want to have too many restrictions I have some junk every once in a while but always make sure I don't go over my calorie limit. If I feel like it was a little too much then I try to cut back for dinner or do an extra round of cardio at the gym.

To an extent, not at every meal but I will splurge sometimes. The only problem for me is sugar makes me crave more sugar so I'm learning my splurges are safest on things that aren't sweet

This is me with chips. Eat some want some. I am trying to resist them.... but I caved this morning. I had some fritos but I only had 3oz and this is my last day I am gonna make sure of it.

Yep, and it's typically beer or champagne. With food, I almost always find a way to make whatever it is that I'm craving - but I also don't really have a sweet tooth, so I'm sure that helps.

If I want a burger, I'm making a satisfying 200 calorie burger instead of buying a 400 calorie burger. If I want pizza, I'm going to make a full personal sized one instead of having one tiny slice for double the calories.

It's not because I can't eat the junk, it's because I want to eat more of it, better quality, and make the calories work for me!

I eat what I want, with caveats. What I want is subject to intellectual rumination,meaning I try to think it through - remind myself that I always feel awful after eating X, or that eating Y always turns into a bad day of eating, etc. but if I still want it, I eat it. Granted, I don't count calories, though. I just try to eat less than I need, and move more than I'm naturally inclined.

Also, what I want has changed for the better with time.

Ultimately what determines success is one's ability to establish good dietary habits.

If you're the kind of person that can eat 240 calories of oreos every day and not have it affect any other part of your diet than I see no problem with it but most people find that those types of foods end up making it difficult to keep the rest of their diet on track.

I eat what I want within my calorie limit.

Granted I have decided a lot of foods aren't "worth" my calories, but in theory I can eat whatever I want.

No way. I certainly have times when I splurge. But for most days I wouldn't "waste" the precious calories I get on crap when I can get a whole bunch of great food that is fuel for my body!

Funny, I just wrote a blog post on this very thing...

http://jenhudsonmosher.blogspot.com/...-calories.html

Jen

I eat whatever I want and just watch my portion sizes. Most times, if I want something really calorie heavy (like Red Robin's Guacamole burger...Yum!) I eat only half and drink water with it.

There isn't anything I have completely restricted myself from EXCEPT for soda. Mountain Dew, specifically.

In the very beginning I did deprive myself of almost everything I loved, and I was so depressed! I HATED life! Then I started having what I love from time to time in moderation, which is key.

Also, to stay feeling full I eat protein of some sort at every meal. I'm never hungry.

Good luck and hope you find what works for you!

Yes. I never eat anything I don't want. I have retrained my body to want nutritious food most of the time, but since I still like them, ice cream and sweet treats are going to make an appearance on the regular.

I still have little treats now and then, but I now watch my portion size. So instead of the 5 or 6 cookies I would eat in one sitting, I eat 1 or 2, but only if I have exercised that day! Exercising gives me a few extra calories for a not so healthy snack--so I tell myself I can't have a snack unless I burn a specific number of calories (usually higher than I normally do) through exercise. I just can't live with out a cookie now and then!