Do you count calories on MJ?

[Aliceisagooddog]

Just that really, does anyone not count calories and still lose weight?

What else are you going to do? It doesn't melt fat, you still need to be in deficit. Do you understand how these medications work?

I've never counted calories.. probably why I'm fat..

I'm just eating sensibly and probably how your supposed to and over 2 stone down ..

I wouldn't know where to start, say I made Spaghetti bolognaise, how do you know how many calories are in it?

I counted during the first 3-4 weeks, but once I had a rough idea how many calories/protein I was eating, I stopped. It makes me too obsessive and it isn't healthy for me. I eat intuitively and some days I eat more and sometimes I eat less but it all balances out.
I've lost 4 stone in the last 6 months and still losing.

I really don't need to.... 9 weeks in and any hunger is sated with a couple of mouthfuls !!

Any need for the rudeness?
You can be in a calorie deficit without having to track. Many people on mounjaro do not count their calories.

There will be different opinions on this but personally I have not counted calories in the 4 months + that I’ve been using MJ.
I am eating better because I don’t crave fatty foods or chocolate and prioritise protein when eating, I am also eating a lot less. I’ve had consistent losses every week so haven’t felt the need to calorie count

I don't count calories, it's an active decision not to. I eat less, and eat better food, no snacking. I'm about 14 weeks in and I have lost 4st 4lbs.

I do because I have a factual/logical mind, for me if you don't measure it you can't manage it. I measure calories, weight, steps, measurements, blood pressure etc. Improvements motivate me, and any issues I can deal with as I have the information I need.

I can see for others who are more emotionally driven might find that approach difficult and have their own way to manage their journey.

Do whatever feels right for you.

Nasty and uncalled for.
You obviously don’t understand how these meds work! You don’t need to count calories.

I have a logical and factual mind but I don't count calories. What happens with my own mind is the fact and logic of knowing that I eat significantly less than I did (One pouch of rice, for example, before but can now only eat a third of it when I'm hungry) before MJ and I don't snack on chocolates when I did before MJ. I also used to eat when stressed or emotional but now it's gone as i have no urge to do so.

Those things alone make me lose weight. It's just been easier to do on MJ than without. It's not something I need a lot of scientific data for.

At the moment, no (6 weeks in). I do know roughly what the calorie value of what I am eating is, and provided I am losing weight I won't need to be more specific. If I stopped losing, then I would be more rigorous. Of course, I am eating much less than pre-MJ, especially not snacking & much less alcohol.

I’m counting calories - just on notes on my phone, not going too mad with the accuracy, just a decent estimate. As for home cooked meals, I do some googling and make an estimate based on the different results and ingredients. I appreciate this would have many people rolling their eyes in boredom already but the only times I’ve lost weight (prior to MJ) was calorie tracking - so it works for me.
plus you get to know and remember calories in most things so it’s just a sum at the end of the day. I love a list tho 😀

No need for me to count calories, I eat much less as a result of the medication and voila~ weight is lost. I’ve lost about 35 lbs so far.

I’m 6months in on wegovy I keep saying today is the day I fill in my fitness pal.

Spoiler alert: its never the day

I’ve lost 20% of my body weight will start logging my nov - dec as expect to hit maintenance weight around March

I do - to start off with because I was concerned I wasn’t getting enough calories! And have continued because I have enjoyed hitting my daily target and having a lovely downward graph for my weight.
At some point I will wean myself off but it’s working for me now.
It’s very personal - whatever works for you.

I don’t, and will not ever as it takes over my life and becomes a bit obsessive, then I’ll beat myself up if I go over. I have a rough idea and that’s enough for me. I can’t imagine that the OP thought that fat would melt… she asked a genuine question.

I like facts and stats so, yes, I do. I like to make sure I'm hitting protein goals (60-100g) and fibre goals (30g) I also want to make sure I'm eating enough (at least 1300cals) as it's easy to it too little .

Everyone is different and what works for one won't work for another.

No I don't. I am clearly in a deficit as I'm losing weight steadily.

No, I just stop eating when I've had enough and aim for it to be 80-90% 'healthy' and balanced.

I accept I may need to do 'calorie checks' to ensure my usual way of eating isn't creeping up on the calories as I approach goal/when I hit a stall but for now there hasn't been a need to do that.

Not nasty at all. Whether consciously or subconsciously of course you need to track calories. You need to make sure you are not eating too much or too little. I've been on MJ since it launched in March and there was very little information about it then, so I had to do my own research. There's lots now, including on MN, but many people still ask the same questions and seem to think they stick a needle in and the weight melts away. You still have to put the effort in, learn healthy eating habits and do the mental work especially if you don't want to put it all back on again once you've reached your goal. It's not a miracle drug or a magic cure, as some people think it is.

Yes of course, otherwise you won't know if you are in a deficit or not. Unless you are literally just eating salad or vegetables. It's been 18 months for me now so it's second nature and I don't need to count everything religiously. But in the beginning yes every morsel if food or drink is counted. Then when you stall, cos you will you can work out what the trouble was.

I eat the same things often so have the recipes all worked out in my nutracheck app and just have to call them up from there.

It takes a while at first but once you've done two weeks worth of food most people eat the same most weeks on rotation

So, yes, @Aliceisagooddog plenty of us don't count calories and have lost weight consistently for weeks and months. You do whatever you decide suits you best, which might change as you go along.

No one on this thread has indicated they think it melts fat.

Your posts come across as condescending and superior.

I've lost 4.5 stone on MJ and have not counted a single calorie. I know I'm in a deficit because I'm eating probably a quarter of the portion sizes I used to and am not snacking. Because MJ suppresses appetite which everyone on this thread knows, thank you very much.

100% yes! It helps me stay on track but also will help me in the long run re maintenance.

Also unless you’ve done it consistently enough to develop a good enough understanding/knowledge/feel for how big things are (weight) and how much calories they have, you have no way of knowing.
And guesstimating is a sure way to underestimate how much you’re consuming.

PS. Yes, the drug suppresses your appetite and makes you eat less than you would normally, but if you plan to come off it eventually, and hope to maintain the loss, it would be wise to have an idea how much you’re consuming and what your body needs.
For now just eating less works (for a lot of people), but when you don’t have the suppression factor, that won’t cut it.