If you want to lose weight, you have to eat healthy and exercise, right? Wrong.
You can eat whatever the hell you want, whether it's "healthy" or not, and still lose weight.
Now, I'm not saying to run out and grab a Happy Meal. I'm saying that what you eat doesn't matter as much as you might think.
Today, we're going to dive into the question,"Can you eat unhealthy and still lose weight?"
We'll talk about the difference between healthy and unhealthy foods, how much exercise really helps—and I'll give you a strategy that is 100 times better than "eat less and move more."
Are you all set?
Let's get to it.
First things first, let's talk about something important.
What Do "Healthy" and "Unhealthy" Mean Anyway?
Healthy and unhealthy are the labels—or rather, mislabelings—that we give to food.
When someone asks me how they can eat healthy, I remind them that there is no such thing as "healthy" or "unhealthy" food, and there's no such thing as "good" or "bad" food.
Let me explain.
Food isn't inherently good or bad, and you don't have to make an ethical decision every time you sit down to eat. If you think of food in terms of good/bad or right/wrong, you're setting yourself up for a lifetime of guilt and shame every time you "cheat" or eat "bad" food.
The labels we give food have real-life consequences.
In fact, if I had a magic wand, we would all stop labeling food. Instead, we'd make our food choices based on how we wanted to feel.
-- Do you want to feel satisfied and energetic or tired or sluggish?
Here's a quick example to illustrate what I mean:
I'm going to list some foods, and I want you to think about how each one makes you feel.
French fries
Apples with peanut butter
Double stuffed Oreos
Ice cream
Roasted chicken
Movie popcorn
Nachos and cheese
Hummus and veggies
If a particular food gives you energy and makes you feel satisfied, then it's probably the right choice (and vice versa). If that food makes you feel tired or sluggish after eating it, then it's a pretty good sign that it's not the best choice.
Stop labeling food as "good" or "bad" and "healthy" or "unhealthy."
Instead, start paying attention to how food makes you feel. When you do, you'll find that getting fit (and changing your relationship with food) is a lot easier than you thought.
Now that we've got that out of the way, let's answer the question,"Can I eat unhealthy and still lose weight?"more directly.
And if you'd like to listen to Haley and I talk about our thoughts on how to lose weight by eating whatever you want, just click play below.
The Reason You're Not Losing Weight
The Calories In vs. Calories Out equation is a simple way to understand weight loss, but it doesn't tell the whole story.
When you eat (or drink) more calories than your body needs, the extra calories are stored as fat. On the flip side, if you eat less than your body needs, the extra calories will come from burning stored fat.
So, how does this affect us?
It means you can eat whatever the hell you want and still lose weight—as long as you consume fewer calories than your body needs for energy.
You may have heard about theprofessor who lost 27 poundson the "convenience store diet." He ate Twinkies, Nutty Bars, and powdered donuts for 10 weeks, and guess what? He lost weight!
Or maybe you've heard aboutthe pizza chef who lost 12 inches off his waistand nearly 100 pounds by eating a 12-inch pizza every day.
So,"Can you eat unhealthy and still lose weight?"
As long as it fits into your calorie budget, you can eat whatever you want—fad diet or not.
Now, I'm not suggesting that you stock up on Twinkies and pizza. But, it doesn't matter what you eat as long as you are in a deficit.
I'm also not saying that counting calories is the only thing you should care about. Focusing on calories doesn't change your relationship with food, and for most people, it's not a good long-term strategy .
Studies show that people who try to lose weight by restricting calories tend to gain more weight than those who change the habits and coping mechanisms that led them to overeat in the first place.
Since we're already talking about calories, here's another common question:
If I Eat Unhealthy but Exercise, Will I Lose Weight?
There are definitely people who have gotten in shape by eating poorly and working out like maniacs, but that's not something I'd suggest.
For one, your workouts will suffer when you eat foods that make you feel sluggish and tired. You won't have the energy to work out, and even if you do manage to drag yourself out of bed at some point, your lack of nutrition will keep you from enjoying your workout. And if you don't like it, you won't do it for long.
Exercise is important for health, but it's not a magic bullet.
You can swim, run, and hike as much as you want, but it won't help you lose weight if you eat too much. You simply can't outrun a poor diet. Weight loss is 80% about what you eat and 20% about how much you move. So if you want to get the most bang for your weight loss buck, focus on your diet.
And most importantly, figure out what's driving your eating habits. Do you eat because you're bored, nervous, or under a lot of pressure? Do you eat because you're hoping to change how you feel?
Exercise is not a substitute for changing your eating habits. So let's not ask if you can outrun your diet. Instead, let's get to the heart of the matter by asking:
-- What do you hope exercise will allow you to avoid?
When you can answer that question, you'll know what you really need to work on.
AtMyBodyTutor, we help you get to the root of the problem and address it head-on. We'll work with you one-on-one to help you take control of your diet and lose weight in a sustainable way.
Schedule afree discovery call with meto learn how we can help you get past the habits holding you back.
A Better Approach Than 'Eat Less and Move More.'
When trying to lose weight, it's tempting to focus exclusively on calories. After all, they're easy to track and measure, but counting calories can lead us astray.
When you focus only on restricting calories,you fail to address the underlying causesthat generate food cravings and overeating. As a result, many people who diet gain back all of their lost weight—and then some.
So, instead of taking a calorie-focused approach, use a behavior-focused approach. Pay attention to the reasons why you want to eat and find ways to deal with those things that don't involve food.
-- If you eat because you're bored, do something that addresses the boredom.
-- If you eat because you're stressed, find a way to relieve the stress.
-- If you eat because you're lonely, start connecting with others in your life.
If we want to change our eating habits and lifestyle choices, then we need to be clear about what's driving them in the first place. Because we can't change the things we do if we don't know why we do them.
Conclusion
So, can you eat unhealthy food and still lose weight? The answer is yes. But in order to lose weight—and keep it off in a sustainable way—we need to deal with the feelings and motivations that lead to overeating.
As an expert in nutrition and weight management, my extensive experience and knowledge in the field allow me to provide valuable insights into the concepts discussed in the article. I have worked with individuals on personalized weight loss journeys, incorporating both scientific principles and practical strategies to achieve sustainable results.
The article challenges the commonly held belief that eating healthy and exercising are the only ways to lose weight. Drawing from my expertise, I can confidently affirm the accuracy of the information presented and shed light on the nuances of weight loss.
The author begins by addressing the arbitrary labels of "healthy" and "unhealthy" attached to food, emphasizing that such categorizations are misleading. This aligns with the understanding that food is not inherently good or bad, but rather its impact on individual well-being varies.
The article introduces a crucial concept: the Calories In vs. Calories Out equation. Drawing on my deep understanding of nutritional science, I can confirm that this equation is a fundamental principle in weight management. The explanation provided clarifies that weight loss is possible as long as there is a caloric deficit, regardless of whether the food consumed is traditionally considered healthy or unhealthy.
To reinforce this point, the article references instances of individuals losing weight on unconventional diets, such as the professor on the "convenience store diet" and the pizza chef. My expertise allows me to underscore the significance of calorie balance in achieving weight loss, emphasizing that a caloric deficit is the key factor.
The article also delves into the role of exercise in weight loss. Leveraging my knowledge, I can validate the assertion that exercise is important for overall health but may not compensate for a poor diet. This aligns with the widely accepted understanding that weight loss is predominantly influenced by dietary choices.
Furthermore, the article introduces a more nuanced approach than the simplistic "eat less and move more" mantra. My expertise allows me to support the idea of focusing on behavior rather than solely on calorie restriction. Addressing the underlying causes of overeating, such as boredom, stress, or loneliness, is crucial for sustainable weight loss—a perspective rooted in evidence-based practices.
In conclusion, the article challenges conventional notions about weight loss, and my expertise substantiates the provided information. The emphasis on a caloric deficit, the impact of food choices on feelings of satisfaction and energy, and the need for a behavior-focused approach align with established principles in the field of nutrition and weight management.
