I think that challenge of your videos comes from the fact that your audience is now large enough to include different groups and your video content tends to shift tone/perspective to regularly keep all of your audience watching. People looking for your videos for weight loss, health improvement, etc have very different goals than people recovering from eating disorders for example. I find that you try to appeal to everyone in order to have wider appeal but sometimes that causes some inconsistencies in your video messages
That is a great point! For me, a healthy but balanced diet is my goal. I don't want to lose weight, I just want to keep a healthy viewpoint on food. So I did not feel attacked by the previous video, I just took it as interesting facts & It made me realize why I may have struggled to lose weight, when I counted calories and did intermittent fasting. I wished I had known her account back then because it would have helped me so much!
I’ve had success with calorie counting in the past and I think it can be really useful, but for me personally, I tend to start focusing more on calorie intake instead of nutrition and listening to my natural hunger cues. Once I stopped counting calories and just focused on eating a balanced diet with lots of whole foods and lots of protein, intuitive eating became SO much easier. I think I struggled with intuitive eating before because I wasn’t eating very nutritiously. I will say though that having calorie counted in the past does give me a general idea of how much I am consuming now so I can make sure I’m eating enough, which is helpful. Just my personal experience! Everyone is different 🙂
I find it helpful to count calories - it really helps me to reset my eating patterns when I've fallen into bad habits. I have PCOS and POTS, and tend to gravitate towards sweet and rich foods when stressed. Tracking my food intake helps me to be accountable for my food choices, which profoundly impacts my health. One binge can cause a POTS flare, and perpetuate even more pcos cravings! But if I am tracking, I am more likely to make healthier choices that help me feel better. I eat if I am really hungry, even if it puts me over my "budget" though, respecting my body's needs for that day. :)
I see absolutely nothing wrong with how you presented this information. I’m one of those people who watch all the way through every single video you make. That being said, it’s cool to see you bring even more clarity to a very complex subject. I’m so looking forward to your next videos on this topic of weight loss and management. Thanks for taking time out of your vacation! Now go get some sleep. 💕
Thank you for updating this! I am one of those people that uses calorie counting but I didn't feel attacked by your video it made some really good points I didn't know before, that doesn't change it being the best option for me. I was very disappointed to not be able to go back and read all the comments I got notifications for including one from you! Id love to hear what you have to say about people that have ADHD or other things that effect body signals and stand in the way of intuitive eating.
I agree! I went into calorie counting having listened to the Maintenance Phase podcast which discussed a lot of similar issues with calorie counting. While everything Abbey pointed out in the original video was true, I actually found it helped benefit my calorie counting as it helped me take it a bit less seriously and forgive myself when it “didn’t work”. I liked the video, but appreciate the clarity
It’s upsetting that you had to take it down. That sort of information can be tough for the general public. You have a large audience that enjoy the information and study dietetics themselves. It’s too bad people didn’t take the warnings seriously. You should almost post the harder ones on a link only option through your website! I love all your videos and I’d hate for you to have to make your videos more sensitive by hiding information.
Hunger queues do not work for food addiction. I was always hungry and always craved high carb high sugar food. I was out of control and always felt I needed two of everything. Calorie counting worked for me. Even now I still go to food for comfort from time to time as in my past I was deprived. Obviously once I got to a lower weight I consulted with my dietician who gave me a new plan. It is an accurate way of loosing weight if you do it right with a professional.
They don't work for any kinda ED if I'm honest. If you've been restrive for a long time you might not get hungry. You could easily work all day without eating anything at all, the reverse is also true. Honestly the black and white thinking around hunger ques and intuitive eating is just as dangerous as diet culture. Some people need and want structure and some people need to let go, there is no one size fits all approach
I am so glad you reposted this, thank you. I hope if there are others like me out there who have been working out and tracking assiduously, take a moment to stop and think--what if most of those sites of possible inaccuracy are true for you? What if calculators overestimate my calorie needs, nutrition labels underestimate the calories per serving, heart rate monitors overestimate how many calories I'm burning, I underestimate how much I'm eating--all of those being off at once even less than 10% could lead to me actually eating more than I'm burning even if I think I'm doing everything right. Cue major frustration and despair. Which is not to say that tracking food is useless; I've learned a lot from it. But the CICO formula hasn't worked for me and my plateaus are now inclines. I don't know what to do, but it's a weight off my mind to have someone outline the possible sites of margins of error. It reassures me that I'm not crazy or broken. Thank you Abbey!
*How come you’re not promoting those unhealthy built protein bars in this video? So green smoothies is not good for us, counting calories is not good for us, eating vegan is not good for us but its ok to eat those built protein bars as long as we use your promo code for 15 percent off?*
I'm really happy and proud of you for reposting this. We live in a world where more and more often, people get upset when their worldview or what they believe to be "truth" is challenged and they attack the individual who made them question themselves. But the problem with that is when we refuse to hear dissenting opinions or refuse to seek knowledge that's outside our comfort zone, we stop learning. There is so much incorrect and inaccurate information out there that people don't have the wherewithal to take down, regardless of who it may harm or upset. While I understand your reasoning for removing it in the first place, I am so so happy you stuck to your guns and reposted. Haters gon' hate Abbey and the most important thing is to always remain true to why you started this channel in the first place and why all of us tune into your channel every week. Keep fighting the good fight.
This video is such a clear reflection of how people are in 2022. Trying to convey your message without offending anyone is like walking on hot lava. CHILL, PEOPLE!
@@NatalieFamula she doesn’t agree with anything or anyone. I have watched so many videos and she tears everything apart. What exactly does she agree with? Some people actually want to lose weight and that is OK.
@@mmr1996 its ok to have an "unpopular" opinion! Part of Abbey's appeal is that she goes against the food & diet myths we hear all day long. It's ok to lose weight or want to lose weight no one ever said that wasn't 😆 this video just says hey calorie counting might not work for ya. If people cannot handle that message then watch something else. There are millions of videos on youtube!
@@mmr1996 That's the point! She doesn't have to agree with anything or anyone. It's not black or white. She chooses to show the grays of each option and THAT'S OKAY :'). The point is when people notice that she isn't talking about the pros of what worked for them, they freak out. If calorie counting does work for them, then I don't see why they get too vulnerable about it. That's the difference between empathy vs sympathy. You can simply accept that others think differently without having to agree with them
@@B_27 You are proving the point of @Ire here. She's allowed to have an opinion! She's a youtuber. She reviews people's diets and explains how they could improve. Its not personal! I find it ridiculous that we live in a society where people get offended if someone has a different opinion then them. Hey if you don't like her suggestions thats fine, don't follow em. I've watched almost all of Abbey's videos and she actually makes suggestions that they could improve their satisfaction if they made it a hunger crushing combo. It doesnt mean they are "doing it wrong" its just a tip to stay full.
Calorie counting was helpful to me when I was under eating because I tend to under eat during times of stress and hate how it affects my sleep and energy levels and emotional state. I needed the meal reminders and wanted to keep track of what I was eating so I knew I was eating enough, especially fiber 😭. But I saw this as a temporary intervention. It’s unfortunate that calorie counting is often synonymous with restriction. It’s interesting to know her viewers are so restrictive… that’s honestly really surprising to me. I thought we were past that… Now that I watched the video, maybe it would be helpful to define your terms in the beginning! Maybe there was some confusion about calorie counting vs restrictive eating, dieting and “lifestyle changes” ?? 🤷🏻♀️ diet culture has ripped off a lot of these terms unfortunately
@@AbbeysKitchen yikes! I hope it doesn’t make you reconsider your approach too much! Usually I really like reading the comments on your video. Have you consider patreon? Maybe a less accessible platform would helpful.
YES! I have this exact same experience with counting as well. I've had some people accuse me of disordered eating habits because I count calories. I like to count because it helps me make sure that I'm eating enough. Now that I'm trying to lose weight, it's important for me to count to make sure I'm not starving myself in an effort to lose weight. It's not a forever thing, one day I'll be comfortable without counting.
I relate to this 100% I under eat when I am stressed as well and didn't have energy for work and felt terrible. Now that I count calories I have enough energy to get though the day!!
@@Hat65 do you manage Abbey’s RUclips channel? I’m pretty sure that standard viewers can’t tell who is unsubscribing from someone’s channel unless they have access 😄 so you either manage her RUclips channel, you’ve hacked her account, or you are just making evidence lacking assumptions about her regular audience 💁♀️ Would love to know how you got those facts ☺️
I know how far I've come in my ED recovery because I was disappointed that almonds have fewer calories than we thought, as the fats are unavailable. I need those good fats! 😂
Calorie counting is the most effective tool I'v ever used but I do think were not all the same and people who are too obsessive or don't like to crunch numbers may need a different approach .
I think you have to stop apologizing because someone is offended or triggered. That's their own issue they need to resolve, not yours. Any video you post will have someone who disagrees and that's ok, that's what strikes up conversation. Don't apologize for your content, post what you want
I feel exactly the same. So well said - if you let people know what is coming and they still get upset, that's on them. I like the info, not the excuses/justification/apologizing.
I commented on the original video (gently, not aggressively) just to share how calorie counting had worked for me, but I completely understand that it's an imperfect science and didn't disagree with your thoughts, overall. After counting exclusively for a year and losing 50 pounds, I'm now at a healthy weight but still continuing to do "gentle tracking". I have a much better idea of how many calories are in most of the things I eat, but I do need to keep an eye on things. I aim for a range now instead of a specific number. I feel like trying to just eat intuitively without keeping a rough calorie estimate would not work for me. I think some people have the idea that anyone who counts calories has some sort of unhealthy, restrictive mindset, but I would disagree with that. It works really well for some people, but not for others, and everyone needs to do what's best for them. Appreciate the effort you put into your videos!
Abbey, I liked this video so much I watched it twice! I haven’t seen the comments from the first one. But, honestly, if people were unkind, I would just try to ignore it. It really is possible to disagree with information, or find it does not apply to you personally, without getting upset and lashing out at the person imparting the information. If people can’t be as nice as they expect you to be, they still have more to learn. Please don’t be deterred from making similar future videos.
I found last weeks video super helpful! It confirmed what my heart was telling me. I deleted my calorie app from my phone, and have really enjoyed the freedom of not counting. Thanks for all you do! Signed, Someone who has been miserably “eating at a deficit” for months and gained 8 lbs 🤪.
I watched your original calorie counting video, and I personally have been counting calories for a few months now. I didn't find that video to be offensive or discouraging to the results I've experienced. I actually really appreciated learning about the science (as I always do with your fantastic + kind videos) as I can now view my tracking with a grain of salt. Love you, love your videos!
Same here! I am currently calories counting doing 1200 a day or so. I didn't realize how many calories were in things and has really helped me become mindful of what I'm eating (or just stuffing in my mouth mindlessly). Once I am on a good schedule, I too will move away from calorie counting so strictly, taking the knowledge I have gained from knowing what foods give me what and focus on nutrition, which I'm sure I'll have low calorie days and higher calorie days but I'll be eating more wholesomely.
@@lovelesswing458 1200 is typically not enough for an adult woman. Make sure you eat enough 😊 But I like calorie counting too! I don’t tie my self worth or take it too seriously though like some people do.
Dear Jesus Abbey. I can’t believe you had to even make this video 🤦🏻♀️ Loved the last video when I seen it. Some folk are as mad as the hills, if they were moaning about it 🙄 Keep up the good work 💚🍀
I really appreciated your video on calorie counting and this one as well. I have Gastroparesis and have been desperately trying to gain weight after my last procedure so I don't get put on a feeding tube. I was using calorie apps and could not figure out why I getting enough calories down but not gaining weight. Now I've been able to relax and not stress calories, which has been wonderful and helped me relax enough to settle my stomach enough to eat a little more. Probably not at all your intention or intended audience of the video at all, but I did want you to know that I appreciated it and this video as well. :)
"Triggering" - lol. Calories in, calories out, that's how you lose weight. High protein and strength training and the weight lost is mostly fat. Basically, put down the fork and get off the couch.
Weight loss is much more than cico. Calorie counting is a helpful und uncomplicated tool, so I like doing it over any other voodoo mumbo jumbo. Noone is going to convince me otherwise. 99 percent of people who got triggered about your video like to live their life in a triggered state and get offended about everything.
From what I've noticed from several people's diets is that tracking macros should be combined with calorie counting to get results, just counting calories seems to cause more problems than anything else. I don't count calories, but try to concentrate on eating enough protein, good fats and lots of different colors. I also allow treats if I want them, enjoy the treat with a clear conscience and move on. It's worked as I have lots more energy and my ED hasn't lifted its ugly head in a good while. Pure calorie counting did just the opposite.
Abbey, unfortunately you aren’t going to get everyone to agree - especially when it comes to calories. Your video was educational and I think the intention was toward people it hadn’t worked for and had a lot of guilt about why it wasn’t working. I don’t think the original video was intended for people who it does work for. The people criticising have missed the mark, not you. They are people who have had success with it and won’t listen to why it doesn’t work for everyone. It takes open minded people, calorie counting or not to acknowledge that things don’t work for everyone and also to have some empathy.
Personally, the “problem” I saw in the original video was more about the emphasis on minor deviations and inaccuracies. I felt a bit belittled. A lot of people know the inaccuracies and still use the method with margins of error taken into account. Not like “oh this slice of bread is 264 cals so i must have exactly 177 cals of cheese on there” or whatever. No, I think a lot of people use the method more like “OK this is around 250, +_ 50, so I'm still on track for a slight caloric deficit”. I think that calorie counting can be a healthy and gentle tool in the weight loss toolbox, and I just felt a bit sad that it was dismissed so harshly. Thank you for the clarification in this video!
Exactly! I now use the tracking apps to keep a record on what I've eaten (whether healthy or not), how much nutrition I've had overall, where I should make changes, etc. I know it's not a 100% accurate, since even while measuring there are going to be some discrepancies, but it's about being in a range, so that even if you add 200-300 kcals to "be safe" you're still doing relatively well.
Right. First time commenting here. I generally love the content here. I think it had nothing to do with the content and everything to do with the tone. This is a sensitive, triggering subject and deserved a different less holier than thou tone.
i actually dont think most people know about the inaccuracies. whenever i mention the legal rule of food packaging people lose their minds. this is not common knowledge.
I actually think this is my favorite video of yours so far. This is excellent information and the history of calorie "measuring" is super fascinating. I appreciate that you included info on the gut microbiome as we're learning how important it is in all aspects of health. I'm curious if you've done any research on how best to support gut health through nutrition. Thanks!
I don’t know how much more explicit you could be about supporting everyone’s autonomy to do whatever the hell they want. I am currently counting calories, I find it really helps me be aware of my food choices, and it doesn’t stress me out, but it doesn’t offend me to discuss it’s limitations! Oooh, bring on the almonds!
I love your videos but here I am trying to improve my levels and lose weight and I am so confused cos one side says in and out and the other day do as you please. Help a sister out
Videos of yours like the last one really helped me stop some unhealthy behaviors, when I found your videos I had a pretty severe ED and watching your videos played a big part in how I got better
Btw the one calorie counting that seems pretty good overall is the new trend that restaurants-especially fast food-are now putting calories on the menu. That seems really helpful when eating out.
I can see how it's helpful to some, but I feel pretty uncomfortable about it. I don't want to be thinking about the numbers when I'm eating out, which is a time when I usually try not to be too aware of calories. But when it's there, I can't help but be doing the math in my head. And I can imagine that for folks with OCD or an even more obsessive personality than mine it can even be truly triggering.
@@katelijnesommen I see what you mean. And I’m sorry that is probably the case not only for you but others. However, for me when I’m away from home and often in a work or social situation that I hadn’t planned to be in, having the calorie counts helps me to feel more empowered about food and menu choices. At home, I don’t do calorie counting at all but I do try to have mindful meal planning and meal prep that doesn’t stress me out too much. And being out and about and away from a somewhat safe system at home has at times been overwhelming, but the calorie counts feel like it has a little bit of information and that can be a comfort.
Unrelated - loving the hair! Haven’t watched totally yet but excited to hear your thoughts on this topic as someone who used to calorie count obsessively.
Here’s what it is. You say the right things to support people who used this method successfully. You do. But everything else you say is SO condescending and does not seem to exist well in the same space as those initial encouragements. You don’t want people to be mad or hurt at your opinion, and I appreciate the concern-but it just DOES hurt. If I’d heard this video before I got my health straight, it doesn’t matter what side notes you made about calorie counting being ok. I wouldn’t have tried it. And I would still be in pain and out of breath. It’s not the information-it’s good to know. It’s the whole attitude with which you give it. Your goal is to encouragement people who don’t want to change or haven’t been able to. But that only goes so far before someone’s health is so in the toilet that there’s no going back. It’s like if someone had kept giving you reasons to restrict food over and over and then claimed that they were really fine with people eating whatever they wanted to-no really-but then smugly supported all the things that had hurt you your whole life. It’s be easy to do. There’s loads of research to support “clean” or restrictive eating under the guise of health. You help people with your issues. I genuinely fear you temporarily help the feelings but hurt the overall lives of people opposite of you. And it makes me sad. I refer so many people to you to understand reasonable ideas about eating and sustainably eating for health and sanity. I don’t know how to say it exactly, but your tone suggests that people who try calorie counting are just being idiots. It sucks, whether or not that’s your intent. And I really need the replies that you’re glad my experience worked for me to stop. It’s so patronizing.
Maybe this was true with the video that was taken down (I never saw it), but surely not so with this version? I don't know how she could be more clear about her intention and nuanced in her expression. There are real, scientific inaccuracies that make calorie counting a less certain thing than people often think and it's helpful to many people with perfectionist or obsessive tendencies to know this. A lot of people calorie count and are stumped and frustrated by how this 'obvious' and 'easy' method doesn't give them the hoped for results, and these are the reasons why that may be so. How many times can Abbey say that of course you're allowed to count calories if that works for you, but there are a lot of nuances to it? I genuinely don't see how she could be more inclusive and respectful of people's experiences than she is. And it feels like, if you really feel it's condescending that she (probably quite genuinely) says she's happy something worked for you, nothing she says will ever be experienced as well-meant to you.
@@katelijnesommen She basically replaced just added to/replaced the up front nuanced messaging she already had. That part is fine. It's great. The problem is that she needs that bit because there is no trace of nuance anywhere in the general message. If Abbey's kept her audience to restrictive eaters with Orthorexia/ana etc. then her message would be perfect. But she includes and frequently specifically focuses on people with binge eating issues or yo-yo dieting issues who have over-eating problems (even if they mislabel them as restrictive sometimes.) If she wants to have a mixed audience, then the general message is far too snarky and dismissive. The information is great. It IS inaccurate and I also get very frustrated at people from the diet industry who act like it's easy or clear cut. I absolutely cut calories in the past in ways that failed for me because I didn't understand how to make the content of those calories keep me full and feeling good. It's possible to have appropriate calories and make yourself miserable AND fail. I absolutely struggle more with weight specifically when I eat a lot of processed food. The numbers are wrong and our bodies process it far differently than whole foods. I still eat them, but that knowledge helps me stay cool and not freak out when it affects the scale accordingly. I'm so there with so much of this. I try to hang in there with her because I DO appreciate this information and I did need people to break it down for me and make it clear that none of this is easy or straight forward. But the overall tone keeps being that (intro PSA or not), losing weight or tracking food is a losing battle, so you might as well give up. And for her original audience, I am right there with her. All I can tell you is that this message would have destroyed my confidence before I ever got started, rather than helping me do it the right way. There's just too much snark. I almost never criticize creators, and especially not ones I love. I deleted different responses like 5 times. But my feelings were genuinely hurt. I'm not leaving, but if I can articulate why people like me were hurt I figure it is at least data and could help her channel. If that's just not what she's going to do, I accept it. I need to either accept feeling hurt occasionally or not watch when I can't take it or the message is wrong. I'm probably not going to chime in like this again. But her channel matters enough to me, so I criticized like I never would on something I just thought was stupid🤷♀
@@andianderson3017 Yeah, okay, I hear you. I'm honestly sorry this was hurtful to you and I can see how a video like this can be both liberating to people for whom calorie counting isn't working, *and* demotivating to those who are trying to find a way to lose or gain weight.
@@katelijnesommen Thanks. I definitely know my reaction isn't the only one and some people found this really helpful and not hurtful at all. I think it's just good to be aware of each other.
This is honestly helpful to hear about the ALTERNATIVES to calorie counting for weight loss. Over the past year I have suffered from vertigo and bacame incredibly scared to move and do normal life activities. Because of this I gained a substantial amount of weight quite quickly, which I am totally fine with because I was going through a chronic medical event so I knew my body was going to change. Now that I am feeling better (not 100% but enough to resume normal life) I have found that my mobility, strength, cardio, and overall health have decreased as my weight and inactivity increased. I really want to start "feeling like myself" again in terms of my health and activity level and yes, my weight. BUT calorie counting is so difficult and imperfect and just plain hard to keep track of and do consistantly. So it is really affirming to hear that I'm not the only one and that there ARE other options to safely start a weight loss phase.
I suffer with vertigo too (Maniere's), and certain movements are definitely challenging like yoga (I miss yoga!). I've found that stationary dumbell movements help, especially when supported by a bench. I'm so glad life is returning back to "normal" for you tho!
My Problem was: Saying that something is hard to measure does not mean it is not working. Showing, why something might not work out as it should due to measurementproblems is totally finde - but that does not mean that cico does not work. Furthermore, your audiance is propably not mainly people with EDs (anymore). Talking down on methods for minor reasons does not feel freeing to a lot of people. At the same time the ED audiance is still here. Obviously hard to deal with both at the same time
So sorry to hear that you have to take videos down due to overwhelming negative feedback, when in fact the content is scientifically apt, well researched, and no offensive remarks are being made. I think it's not your fault that people don't focus and watch the full video till the end. I have a feeling that some of the audience is just here to bully. I think it's reasonable to assume that this could be some fan club of a few of these online content creators whose problematic messages you critically address in your videos.
it's not rocket science.. you track your calories and keep adjusting until you find a rough estimate that works for you to gradually drop weight. so none of the algorithm stuff matters.. it's just trial and error over time. then, you learn what kind of portions and foods work for you so that you don't have to count "every squirt of mustard on your sandwich". you learn that you can cook your food with a little less butter, or make healthy little changes.. macros are important and it's good to know how much protein, carbs and fat you're eating.. because you start to see what is really in the food you're eating. for me, it gives me comfort and ease to know that i can eat all my favourite foods now, knowing roughly how to keep myself in balance.
To be honest, this video doesn't make me want to be less rigid about calorie counting; it only makes me want to be MORE strict about calorie counting and overestimate the calories I consume to allow plenty of wiggle room for factors like inaccurate food labels
I knew when I watched that video that no harm was meant by it. I know you always have the best intention behind your videos, but I really appreciate you coming back with this video. I personally felt like it was kind of saying that calorie counting was unhealthy when we know that that’s not inherently true. Calorie tracking has been my best way to lose weight because it’s helped me as a starting base to learn macros in general so I appreciate you coming back out with this video.
Carb counting is the only way for me to lose weight in my 40s now. Calorie counting feels onerous but counting carbs and keeping them below 100 is easy.
You mentioned that the nutrition label can be inaccurate, I’m curious about the carb amount on the label? As I’m a t1 diabetic, so I rely on the label to count how much insulin I need to inject.
The few times I have tried to strictly count calories i have tended to both become obsessive and try to get as close as I can without going over. That's also why I don't go near weight watchers. But I can still have an understanding of what's in my food and how much I'm eating in a way that is much healthier for me. It gets me to look at what is in my food beyond calories too.
I didn’t find anything wrong with your first video. I counted calories to lose weight but realistically, did my apple have 100 calories? Did my mixed berries that I weighed out actually have 80 calories? I never believed that the calorie count for ANY food was an exact measurement. In addition, what my body does with those calories is different than what your body does with them. I used calorie counting as a guide - I knew that if I just ate a big spoonful of peanut butter (a sinful pleasure, lol) would deliver a lot more calories than maybe I wanted to consume. Calorie counting helped me immensely with understanding portions which, ultimately, has helped me maintain my weight loss. You did nothing wrong and people need to understand that calories aren’t exact, to say the least.
Awesome video. Thanks for re publishing. I don't see any issues at all. Calorie counting has helped me see the macro split in my foods and especially to see how many calories (albeit inaccurately) in drinks and snacks.
NON-strict calorie counting with an app freed me from a lot of the negative things you speak about often, like eating a fake food to satiate a craving vs eating my craving, or feeling guilt/shame when I indulge, learning balance. If I knew I was meeting friends for pizza and the salad option wouldn’t satiate me, I made different choices for breakfast/lunch to make room for it. Doing ONLY this, I lost more weight than any diet I ever tried without even having time to exercise. This also worked for my parents at the same time. The best part is it’s been sustainable and I don’t even need the app anymore and can eat more intuitively.
As someone who regularly calorie counts and has a past with Ed, this video didn’t trigger me. I think you are trying to let people know there are more factors then just calories in calories out. Our bodies and genetics influence weight loss. I thought it was great informative video. People will find anything to be offended about.
Thank you for doing this video! I noticed calorie counting helped me lose weight back in my mid-20s, but once I was at 130 pounds, the weight loss slowed drastically even though I was doing the same workouts & same daily deficit of 500-800 calories. It was probably my body trying to retain the weight as I was going into underweight territory for my height. In contrast, I noticed when I worked out and ate what I wanted, I was able to build some muscle and be "small" without caring about calories.
That video personally helped me, but I guess that you always have a different impact on a different person, which is normal and understandable! You are brave for addressing the subject of your video, calorie counting in itself is very controversial so sadly it is no surprise that your video had a lot of reactions
People want "the truth"=one simple answer. Yes or no, they want assurance, orientation and overall certainty. That is not life. But hey, it is what we would love to get. That is the reason why people fall prey to the false dietary authorities that are lose on the internet. And understandably so. So yes, I would also like ONE true method. Once people have found a method that works they also tend to forget it used to be n o t "that simple". An individual path, trial and error, adaptation and accepting uncertainty is the path I am on. Accepted that.
yay! thank you for reuploading a new version of the video! I recently saw a post on an ED subreddit whose OP accused their friend of lying about gaining weight on 800 calories a day, because thats impossible and would be "defying laws of thermodynamics" and NO ONE would listen to the idea that she could be telling the truth to the best of her ability, they all said she HAD to be purposefully lying or miscounting by a lot. and as fallable as calorie counting is, if youre to the point in your restriction youre consuming 800 calories its really unlikely to me that that person would miscount them by that much. this video helps to break apart that misconception and damaging mindset and general consensus in the ED space that CICO is absolutely infallable law when done correctly.
The video that was taken down didn’t resonate with me, but at the same time I didn’t feel the need to get all oppositional about it, lol You’re entitled to post what you feel is accurate and not take it down, in my opinion. I enjoy your videos if I back them 100% and also if they are thought provoking in a new direction. All love, Abby 🤗🤗🤗
I always appreciate your videos, good or ill. As I was listening to a Maintenance Phase episode about The Trouble With Calories, it wasn't news to me what you brought up in your first video, but I suppose I can see how other people who don't have the same perspective could be shocked, or aggravated by the information.
Thank you thank you for making this video and the update. Just started calorie counting again because it is the thing that works for me but I def needed this reminder to let go of preconceived notions about results/timeline because this is not a fail proof plan. And wow, I was blown away by the info you provided about how imprecise the calculations for the energy in foods are!
I'm sooo glad you re-uploaded the video! I hadn't had a chance to watch it the first time and I was so sad that it was taken down. Another great resource for this is Giles Yeo, a molecular geneticist who studies obesity. Look him up on RUclips he goes into even more of the nitty-gritty for the science of 'why calories don't count'! I personally find this information so validating because I have found it so hard to stick to calorie counting. I don't want to have to log everything I eat! Thats so obnoxious! And I inevitably stop. Thank you Abby!
Really, most people who went through an ED and recovered understand how calorie counting is NOT the way to loose weight and keep it off. It’s draining and a never ending loop that takes away more than it gives you. Our bodies are so wise and if you are in tune with it you really don’t Over eat or gain weight from not counting your calories. Weight gain or lost has way more to it than just thermodynamics. Anyway, thank you Abby.
I enjoy your videos. I like the variety of topics and the education and science behind your explanations. I’m 56 and enjoy the learning. I love that you keep it so real.
Thank you so much for taking the time to put together this helpful information. I couldn't care less about calories, so I find the history and nuances of this all to be quite fascinating.
There was nothing wrong with the first video. You are 100% right. Calorie counting can be a good tool for some, but not as simple as it seems. You said this in the video. No one should have been triggered.
i've been a calories counter for ages and have went up and down with my weight for years. once i stopped and just ate what made me feel good, it's been much easier for my weight to stay in one place. why? i don't feel deprived and then binge. i allow "fun foods" when i want them but mostly eat foods that me feel great and energized
I also have been having success with calorie counting and I believe I would not be losing weight without it. As a 5'0 woman I need to be eating less than 1500 to lose weight. Ideally 1200. If I followed the plan my Dietician recommended for me I would be maintaining, not losing. The combination of a whole food diet PLUS calorie counting is what works especially for short women who have very low caloric needs.
Left turn: can we get a video on disability and diet? Like I can’t currently work out for physical reasons, I can do some exercises lying down and can’t include “typical” core exercises but subsequently my metabolism is very slow, eating becomes a chore because I don’t know how much or what to eat. In a world of calories and protein and keto and vegan and everything else it’s all catered to musculoskeletal typical people who can accompany diet with exercise (even gentle exercise or an active lifestyle. Weight management and health is focused almost entirely on able bodied people it drives me up the wall
❤️Love you, and appreciate your research, knowledge and channel. ❤️‼️❣️People are going to be awful if a message is not what they want to hear…it’s just the tone of the world now…which I’m finding to be exhausting. Why people don’t just stop watching, I will never understand. The negative energy people spend, instead of just moving on is astounding😡
i’ve always thought that if someone wants to count calories, then do it! i count them right now because i am on a weight loss journey but there’s no way i want to continue doing this forever lol. hell. no. i am much better at guessing how many calories something is when i look at it, so i’ll be able to have a healthy and balanced breakfast, lunch, and dinner without counting them every day. (70% of the time lol. i do love donuts and pizza). i do appreciate your points that calorie counting is not the end all, be all- much like a lot of things in life. it is annoying when gym bros say that it’s “just” calories in, calories out
The being accused of lying about how much you eat. I feel that so much. I've lost 160 pounds but I am still overweight by 10 pounds. CICO is no longer working at all. The scale will not budge. I'm told I'm not allowed to be happy at my current weight because "overweight is unhealthy" and that cutting my body weight in half wasn't enough but no one wants to give any constructive advice beyond "YOU MUST BE LYING OR MISTAKEN ABOUT BEING IN A DEFICIT" like I'm stupid or haven't already lost 160 pounds. I know how to calorie count but it's no longer working and it's gotten to where I feel guilty and ashamed if I eat more than 1100 calories in a day. My dietitian wants me on 1500 which is more reasonable but when the scale stops budging at 1500, 1400, 1300, and 1200 and you get told over and over that you can't be "defying the laws of thermodynamics" you feel like you need to eat less. I've had a gastric bypass and am on a very low dose of wegovy due to blood sugar issues from that and I still feel a need to eat 1200-1500 calories a day which should be fine for a short person who needs to lose 10 pounds. CICO works to a certain extent but I'm so tired of being told it's simple and easy and that it's impossible for it to stop working. What you're saying about how so many calorie counts available to us on foods being inaccurate is probably the first thing I've heard in awhile that didn't make me feel stupid or crazy. That and what you said at the end about needing far less calories to lose more once you've already lost. So many people insist that CICO should work just that same now as it did when I was 160 pounds heavier but it isn't.
What I have come to practice is that if I find something new that I want to include in my wellness journey: 1. Research about it a lot. 2. At least give it 6 months before hopping on it's substitute. I have PCOD and I have included following things that are currently helping me loose weight slowly and have made my periods really regular. Sleep by 11 pm. 8 hrs of sleep. Walking 1 hr (i live in a hilly area), drink 1.5 ltr water everyday. slow weight training 3 times. And loosely count calories without restriction to process food. And even in homemade food try to have a balanced meal. Increased my protein intake from both veg and non veg sources. I try to make things hunger crushing combos. I do eat icream once a week or sometimes twice a week. Saturday nights are obviously takeout nights. And I have been loosing 1-2 pounds every month.
I’m on mobile and can’t search, but do you have a specific video about gut micro biome? Like the types of bacteria associated with the foods and how sugar without padded fibers feeds into bad bacteria. And how the green tea flat tummy colon detoxers changes that environment.
I have horrible food intuition because of ADHD, depression, and PCOS. And I run a lot, which weirdly blunts my appetite rather than makes it grow. Idk why but it does. So if I don’t use a calorie counting app I don’t know if I’m eating enough calories and the right macros. It has helped me better understand how to portion out my plate so I don’t undereat or overeat. And it doesn’t conflict with my ability to enjoy treats or foods at a all, if anything it gives me more confidence to follow my intuition as long as I’m meeting my basic need for fuel and protein!
Calorie counting is an imperfect tool. It's inexact and not as "sciency" as we'd like it to be. However, even if it's 40% inaccurate (I made up that number) you can expect it to be CONSISTENTLY inaccurate and with time you'd be able to pick up patterns and turn it into a really useful tool. I've never used it as a tool to lose weight but it's a part of my every day life as an athlete to count macros. I'd say it does wonders for those who stick to it but also aren't obsessive.
Based on the research, the biggest problem with calorie counting is actually people underestimating the calories they're eating. (this was being done at the dietetics labs at the Uni Of Auckland btw) When they have people document their calories then have researchers go in and actually weigh etc out the calories it is almost always much more than people think they are writing. And vice versa. People thinking they were working with a big calorie deficit and complaining they just weren't losing weight, but when the sample people were put into 02/CO2 controlled environments just about every single time they were just consuming more calories than they were expending. (Ok I'm not going to watch the entire rest of the thing bc of previous ED stuff sorry. Sounds like a cop-out)
i think that as disheartening as it must be to you as a dietitian/intuitive eater, counting calories to some extent is unavoidable, whether it be to stay within a weightloss/maintanance range or to make sure one is NOT undereating as we so often see in your what I eat in a day analyses. food freedom can still be achieved to a certain level with unlearning negative beliefs (carbs = evil), practicing food neutrality (no 'good', 'bad', 'junk') and striving for balance, but pretending they don't exist is not feasible for most people, health and aesthetics wise
As a menopausal woman I started having weight issues. I had to really examine my diet as I started wandering into pre-diabetes territory. I mostly use “calorie counting” to give me better serving sizes as I concentrate on getting adequate protein and calcium (I’m newly osteopenic also- glories of getting older!)
I used to be one of those people that would get mad at you for this video. Well, I only had success with calorie counting once. Every other time was either unsuccessful, or it would rapidly slow down my metabolism and I would gain even more weight than my starting point. Now, I totally understand why you would make such a video. This time calorie counting just gave me anxiety and fucked up eating habits even more. I started out strong but it slowly made me lose my mind. 3 months in and I am ravenous, binging on foods I don't even like and having nightmares about overeating. I quit a few days ago, because I was going crazy and the weird cravings stopped. I feel like myself again and it is so freeing, I tear up writing this.
Just remember that someone will always be offended about something and you can't make everyone happy . I love your videos bc I feel like you use facts and logic , that's hard to come by .
When I was a teenager I used to calorie count. I would panic at the thought of eating a single calorie more than 1200 each day, but I felt even better about myself if I ate less than 1200. All I ate for two years was plain frozen bags of vegetables, canned soup, and cereal/oatmeal. Every. Single. Day. My parents would make nutritious homemade meals and I would refuse to eat them because they didn't have a calorie label. I also ran cross country for a hot minute and still ate only 1200 calories a day. My relationship with food was never great. I started trying different diets since elementary school. Anyways, this is all to say that I deeply despise calorie counting. With a deep, borderline irrational hatred. And guess what? All the weight I lost restricting my calories (75 lbs btw) I gained back and then some. Maybe some people find it helpful. But I feel the mindset it creates and the ideology behind it is incredibly damaging.
Speaking for myself but the tdee calculator that every gym bro recommended was off by over 1000 calories. It said my "maintenance" was 2,500 when in reality it's closer to 4000 calories.
I have never commented on a video (I'm actually just a social media voyeur 😁😁) but since I discovered Abbey's videos about three weeks ago and have watched most of them I just had to speak up to say that I applaud her message and I have greatly benefited from her content. Thank you so very much!!
The original video was fine but do appreciate the added notes in this one. For me calorie, macro and particularly carb tracking is so useful as I'm type 1 diabetic and need to work out how much insulin to dose with my meals and snacks, which is made so much easier with tracking apps and takes a lot of uncertainty and guesswork out. So for me even if it's not 100% accurate its better than having no idea what I'm consuming. I loved what you said about a general knowledge and understanding of macronutrients and nutrition and I think that's helpful for most people. I also really appreciate that you said calorie tracking can work for folks too. I find that when I've been on weight loss journeys it can ensure I'm in a deficit, and not too large of a deficit (obviously again not 100% accurate but if you've tracked your maintenance to roughly 2000 and then you drop to 1500-1700 the deficit will still be there relatively, even if the exact numbers are off.) When I've lost weight in the past, like in college when I dropped a lot of weight very quickly it was because I had no idea about how many calories I roughly needed and would just eat salads, veggie 'ham', sugar free jelly and occasional 'diet' packet of crisps. I've since worked out that I was eating around 700 calories a day, which is ridiculously low, and was also terrified to eat bread, pasta, cereal or even bananas. Now that I track I see that I can easily include all foods and fit them into my calorie 'budget' without over or underrating. For me calorie tracking is very freeing and far less restrictive than other diets out there. You do you everyone :)
I have p.c.o.s. and anxiety and for both I take pills. The anxiety pill makes me hungry, on top of p.c.o.s. I eat the same, yet when I take Metmorfin, I lose weight even if I eat pizza. If I don't take it, I gain weight Or maybe I don't realize that Metformin makes me eat less. The idea is that I don't restrict so to me it's the same
Nowim just like.. how am i supposed to know an effective way to lose weight if calorie counting is inaccurate -_- it gets exhausting sometimes but im still going keep eating nutrient dense foods and being active.
I have been watching your videos for years and I appreciate your honest communication and use of data! Good for you for taking down a video in need of some serious R&R time. You’re an inspiration to other content producers out there by showing how to have healthy boundaries with your job and life.
If it was simply a calorie deficit that caused weight loss in everyone, I'd be a twig. Because I have delayed hunger cues, I often forget to eat. There are some days I eat about 1000 calories a day. And yet...here I am, still fat.
I think that challenge of your videos comes from the fact that your audience is now large enough to include different groups and your video content tends to shift tone/perspective to regularly keep all of your audience watching. People looking for your videos for weight loss, health improvement, etc have very different goals than people recovering from eating disorders for example. I find that you try to appeal to everyone in order to have wider appeal but sometimes that causes some inconsistencies in your video messages
i understand that, thanks for the feedback. yes its definitely hard to cater to all needs.
@@AbbeysKitchen and my comment wasn't meant as criticism... just a "we can't please them all"
I totally agree and respect that Abbey and her team does their best to be mindful and respectful to anyone watching.
I thought pretty much the same.
That is a great point! For me, a healthy but balanced diet is my goal. I don't want to lose weight, I just want to keep a healthy viewpoint on food. So I did not feel attacked by the previous video, I just took it as interesting facts & It made me realize why I may have struggled to lose weight, when I counted calories and did intermittent fasting. I wished I had known her account back then because it would have helped me so much!
I’ve had success with calorie counting in the past and I think it can be really useful, but for me personally, I tend to start focusing more on calorie intake instead of nutrition and listening to my natural hunger cues. Once I stopped counting calories and just focused on eating a balanced diet with lots of whole foods and lots of protein, intuitive eating became SO much easier. I think I struggled with intuitive eating before because I wasn’t eating very nutritiously. I will say though that having calorie counted in the past does give me a general idea of how much I am consuming now so I can make sure I’m eating enough, which is helpful. Just my personal experience! Everyone is different 🙂
totally agree!
When I track my calories I also look at my micronutrients
You should try that as well
I find it helpful to count calories - it really helps me to reset my eating patterns when I've fallen into bad habits. I have PCOS and POTS, and tend to gravitate towards sweet and rich foods when stressed. Tracking my food intake helps me to be accountable for my food choices, which profoundly impacts my health. One binge can cause a POTS flare, and perpetuate even more pcos cravings! But if I am tracking, I am more likely to make healthier choices that help me feel better. I eat if I am really hungry, even if it puts me over my "budget" though, respecting my body's needs for that day. :)
I see absolutely nothing wrong with how you presented this information. I’m one of those people who watch all the way through every single video you make. That being said, it’s cool to see you bring even more clarity to a very complex subject. I’m so looking forward to your next videos on this topic of weight loss and management. Thanks for taking time out of your vacation! Now go get some sleep. 💕
Thank you for updating this! I am one of those people that uses calorie counting but I didn't feel attacked by your video it made some really good points I didn't know before, that doesn't change it being the best option for me. I was very disappointed to not be able to go back and read all the comments I got notifications for including one from you! Id love to hear what you have to say about people that have ADHD or other things that effect body signals and stand in the way of intuitive eating.
I feel the same way! I missed the video and was like what happened?
Yes parts of IE are not very inclusive for folks with adhd who need structure. But that doesn’t mean strict calorie counting is necessary.
I agree! I went into calorie counting having listened to the Maintenance Phase podcast which discussed a lot of similar issues with calorie counting. While everything Abbey pointed out in the original video was true, I actually found it helped benefit my calorie counting as it helped me take it a bit less seriously and forgive myself when it “didn’t work”. I liked the video, but appreciate the clarity
the clickbait in the titles/thumbnails is getting really off putting and actually deters from wanting to watch your content
It’s upsetting that you had to take it down. That sort of information can be tough for the general public. You have a large audience that enjoy the information and study dietetics themselves. It’s too bad people didn’t take the warnings seriously. You should almost post the harder ones on a link only option through your website! I love all your videos and I’d hate for you to have to make your videos more sensitive by hiding information.
totally. it is very hard to be challenged on these topics
Damn, wish I saw the video before it was taken down 😅
Tanya, it is an adapted reupload.
Hunger queues do not work for food addiction. I was always hungry and always craved high carb high sugar food. I was out of control and always felt I needed two of everything. Calorie counting worked for me. Even now I still go to food for comfort from time to time as in my past I was deprived. Obviously once I got to a lower weight I consulted with my dietician who gave me a new plan. It is an accurate way of loosing weight if you do it right with a professional.
They don't work for any kinda ED if I'm honest. If you've been restrive for a long time you might not get hungry. You could easily work all day without eating anything at all, the reverse is also true.
Honestly the black and white thinking around hunger ques and intuitive eating is just as dangerous as diet culture. Some people need and want structure and some people need to let go, there is no one size fits all approach
I am so glad you reposted this, thank you. I hope if there are others like me out there who have been working out and tracking assiduously, take a moment to stop and think--what if most of those sites of possible inaccuracy are true for you? What if calculators overestimate my calorie needs, nutrition labels underestimate the calories per serving, heart rate monitors overestimate how many calories I'm burning, I underestimate how much I'm eating--all of those being off at once even less than 10% could lead to me actually eating more than I'm burning even if I think I'm doing everything right. Cue major frustration and despair. Which is not to say that tracking food is useless; I've learned a lot from it. But the CICO formula hasn't worked for me and my plateaus are now inclines. I don't know what to do, but it's a weight off my mind to have someone outline the possible sites of margins of error. It reassures me that I'm not crazy or broken. Thank you Abbey!
Thanks for sharing this
*How come you’re not promoting those unhealthy built protein bars in this video? So green smoothies is not good for us, counting calories is not good for us, eating vegan is not good for us but its ok to eat those built protein bars as long as we use your promo code for 15 percent off?*
Lora, love this comment so true. Abby loves her sugar and junk food.
I'm really happy and proud of you for reposting this. We live in a world where more and more often, people get upset when their worldview or what they believe to be "truth" is challenged and they attack the individual who made them question themselves. But the problem with that is when we refuse to hear dissenting opinions or refuse to seek knowledge that's outside our comfort zone, we stop learning.
There is so much incorrect and inaccurate information out there that people don't have the wherewithal to take down, regardless of who it may harm or upset. While I understand your reasoning for removing it in the first place, I am so so happy you stuck to your guns and reposted. Haters gon' hate Abbey and the most important thing is to always remain true to why you started this channel in the first place and why all of us tune into your channel every week. Keep fighting the good fight.
This video is such a clear reflection of how people are in 2022. Trying to convey your message without offending anyone is like walking on hot lava. CHILL, PEOPLE!
people can't even stand when a youtuber doesn't agree with them 🙄
@@NatalieFamula she doesn’t agree with anything or anyone. I have watched so many videos and she tears everything apart. What exactly does she agree with? Some people actually want to lose weight and that is OK.
@@mmr1996 its ok to have an "unpopular" opinion! Part of Abbey's appeal is that she goes against the food & diet myths we hear all day long. It's ok to lose weight or want to lose weight no one ever said that wasn't 😆 this video just says hey calorie counting might not work for ya. If people cannot handle that message then watch something else. There are millions of videos on youtube!
@@mmr1996 That's the point! She doesn't have to agree with anything or anyone. It's not black or white. She chooses to show the grays of each option and THAT'S OKAY :'). The point is when people notice that she isn't talking about the pros of what worked for them, they freak out. If calorie counting does work for them, then I don't see why they get too vulnerable about it. That's the difference between empathy vs sympathy. You can simply accept that others think differently without having to agree with them
@@B_27 You are proving the point of @Ire here. She's allowed to have an opinion! She's a youtuber. She reviews people's diets and explains how they could improve. Its not personal! I find it ridiculous that we live in a society where people get offended if someone has a different opinion then them. Hey if you don't like her suggestions thats fine, don't follow em. I've watched almost all of Abbey's videos and she actually makes suggestions that they could improve their satisfaction if they made it a hunger crushing combo. It doesnt mean they are "doing it wrong" its just a tip to stay full.
Lots of love Abbey!:) just wanted to let you know you've been changing my life for the better...very grateful for you and this channel:)
We love that
Agree!!!!
Agreed
Calorie counting was helpful to me when I was under eating because I tend to under eat during times of stress and hate how it affects my sleep and energy levels and emotional state. I needed the meal reminders and wanted to keep track of what I was eating so I knew I was eating enough, especially fiber 😭. But I saw this as a temporary intervention. It’s unfortunate that calorie counting is often synonymous with restriction. It’s interesting to know her viewers are so restrictive… that’s honestly really surprising to me. I thought we were past that…
Now that I watched the video, maybe it would be helpful to define your terms in the beginning! Maybe there was some confusion about calorie counting vs restrictive eating, dieting and “lifestyle changes” ?? 🤷🏻♀️ diet culture has ripped off a lot of these terms unfortunately
the algorithm has been REALLY strange lately. my videos arent reaching my usual people.
@@AbbeysKitchen yikes! I hope it doesn’t make you reconsider your approach too much! Usually I really like reading the comments on your video. Have you consider patreon? Maybe a less accessible platform would helpful.
YES! I have this exact same experience with counting as well. I've had some people accuse me of disordered eating habits because I count calories. I like to count because it helps me make sure that I'm eating enough. Now that I'm trying to lose weight, it's important for me to count to make sure I'm not starving myself in an effort to lose weight. It's not a forever thing, one day I'll be comfortable without counting.
I relate to this 100% I under eat when I am stressed as well and didn't have energy for work and felt terrible. Now that I count calories I have enough energy to get though the day!!
@@Hat65 do you manage Abbey’s RUclips channel? I’m pretty sure that standard viewers can’t tell who is unsubscribing from someone’s channel unless they have access 😄 so you either manage her RUclips channel, you’ve hacked her account, or you are just making evidence lacking assumptions about her regular audience 💁♀️ Would love to know how you got those facts ☺️
I know how far I've come in my ED recovery because I was disappointed that almonds have fewer calories than we thought, as the fats are unavailable. I need those good fats! 😂
I love this and I agree 😂♥️
Calorie counting is the most effective tool I'v ever used but I do think were not all the same and people who are too obsessive or don't like to crunch numbers may need a different approach .
totally
I think you have to stop apologizing because someone is offended or triggered. That's their own issue they need to resolve, not yours. Any video you post will have someone who disagrees and that's ok, that's what strikes up conversation. Don't apologize for your content, post what you want
I feel exactly the same. So well said - if you let people know what is coming and they still get upset, that's on them. I like the info, not the excuses/justification/apologizing.
I commented on the original video (gently, not aggressively) just to share how calorie counting had worked for me, but I completely understand that it's an imperfect science and didn't disagree with your thoughts, overall. After counting exclusively for a year and losing 50 pounds, I'm now at a healthy weight but still continuing to do "gentle tracking". I have a much better idea of how many calories are in most of the things I eat, but I do need to keep an eye on things. I aim for a range now instead of a specific number. I feel like trying to just eat intuitively without keeping a rough calorie estimate would not work for me. I think some people have the idea that anyone who counts calories has some sort of unhealthy, restrictive mindset, but I would disagree with that. It works really well for some people, but not for others, and everyone needs to do what's best for them. Appreciate the effort you put into your videos!
i also would disagree with that- a lot of folks can "diet" without doing harm.
Abbey, I liked this video so much I watched it twice! I haven’t seen the comments from the first one. But, honestly, if people were unkind, I would just try to ignore it. It really is possible to disagree with information, or find it does not apply to you personally, without getting upset and lashing out at the person imparting the information. If people can’t be as nice as they expect you to be, they still have more to learn. Please don’t be deterred from making similar future videos.
thank you!!!
I found last weeks video super helpful! It confirmed what my heart was telling me. I deleted my calorie app from my phone, and have really enjoyed the freedom of not counting. Thanks for all you do!
Signed,
Someone who has been miserably “eating at a deficit” for months and gained 8 lbs 🤪.
I watched your original calorie counting video, and I personally have been counting calories for a few months now. I didn't find that video to be offensive or discouraging to the results I've experienced. I actually really appreciated learning about the science (as I always do with your fantastic + kind videos) as I can now view my tracking with a grain of salt. Love you, love your videos!
Same here! I am currently calories counting doing 1200 a day or so. I didn't realize how many calories were in things and has really helped me become mindful of what I'm eating (or just stuffing in my mouth mindlessly). Once I am on a good schedule, I too will move away from calorie counting so strictly, taking the knowledge I have gained from knowing what foods give me what and focus on nutrition, which I'm sure I'll have low calorie days and higher calorie days but I'll be eating more wholesomely.
@@lovelesswing458 1200 is typically not enough for an adult woman. Make sure you eat enough 😊 But I like calorie counting too! I don’t tie my self worth or take it too seriously though like some people do.
Dear Jesus Abbey. I can’t believe you had to even make this video 🤦🏻♀️ Loved the last video when I seen it. Some folk are as mad as the hills, if they were moaning about it 🙄 Keep up the good work 💚🍀
I really appreciated your video on calorie counting and this one as well. I have Gastroparesis and have been desperately trying to gain weight after my last procedure so I don't get put on a feeding tube. I was using calorie apps and could not figure out why I getting enough calories down but not gaining weight. Now I've been able to relax and not stress calories, which has been wonderful and helped me relax enough to settle my stomach enough to eat a little more. Probably not at all your intention or intended audience of the video at all, but I did want you to know that I appreciated it and this video as well. :)
"Triggering" - lol. Calories in, calories out, that's how you lose weight. High protein and strength training and the weight lost is mostly fat. Basically, put down the fork and get off the couch.
Weight loss is much more than cico. Calorie counting is a helpful und uncomplicated tool, so I like doing it over any other voodoo mumbo jumbo. Noone is going to convince me otherwise. 99 percent of people who got triggered about your video like to live their life in a triggered state and get offended about everything.
From what I've noticed from several people's diets is that tracking macros should be combined with calorie counting to get results, just counting calories seems to cause more problems than anything else. I don't count calories, but try to concentrate on eating enough protein, good fats and lots of different colors. I also allow treats if I want them, enjoy the treat with a clear conscience and move on. It's worked as I have lots more energy and my ED hasn't lifted its ugly head in a good while. Pure calorie counting did just the opposite.
Thank you for always educating those around you, and for spreading awareness and accuracy based on science and research!
Thank you!
Abbey, unfortunately you aren’t going to get everyone to agree - especially when it comes to calories. Your video was educational and I think the intention was toward people it hadn’t worked for and had a lot of guilt about why it wasn’t working. I don’t think the original video was intended for people who it does work for. The people criticising have missed the mark, not you. They are people who have had success with it and won’t listen to why it doesn’t work for everyone. It takes open minded people, calorie counting or not to acknowledge that things don’t work for everyone and also to have some empathy.
Personally, the “problem” I saw in the original video was more about the emphasis on minor deviations and inaccuracies. I felt a bit belittled. A lot of people know the inaccuracies and still use the method with margins of error taken into account. Not like “oh this slice of bread is 264 cals so i must have exactly 177 cals of cheese on there” or whatever. No, I think a lot of people use the method more like “OK this is around 250, +_ 50, so I'm still on track for a slight caloric deficit”.
I think that calorie counting can be a healthy and gentle tool in the weight loss toolbox, and I just felt a bit sad that it was dismissed so harshly. Thank you for the clarification in this video!
Exactly! I now use the tracking apps to keep a record on what I've eaten (whether healthy or not), how much nutrition I've had overall, where I should make changes, etc. I know it's not a 100% accurate, since even while measuring there are going to be some discrepancies, but it's about being in a range, so that even if you add 200-300 kcals to "be safe" you're still doing relatively well.
Right. First time commenting here. I generally love the content here. I think it had nothing to do with the content and everything to do with the tone. This is a sensitive, triggering subject and deserved a different less holier than thou tone.
i actually dont think most people know about the inaccuracies. whenever i mention the legal rule of food packaging people lose their minds. this is not common knowledge.
I actually think this is my favorite video of yours so far. This is excellent information and the history of calorie "measuring" is super fascinating. I appreciate that you included info on the gut microbiome as we're learning how important it is in all aspects of health. I'm curious if you've done any research on how best to support gut health through nutrition. Thanks!
I don’t know how much more explicit you could be about supporting everyone’s autonomy to do whatever the hell they want. I am currently counting calories, I find it really helps me be aware of my food choices, and it doesn’t stress me out, but it doesn’t offend me to discuss it’s limitations! Oooh, bring on the almonds!
Yup, and ppl who have posted about this video cherry pick the info they want to post about the previous vid, especially the audience
I love your videos but here I am trying to improve my levels and lose weight and I am so confused cos one side says in and out and the other day do as you please. Help a sister out
Videos of yours like the last one really helped me stop some unhealthy behaviors, when I found your videos I had a pretty severe ED and watching your videos played a big part in how I got better
Btw the one calorie counting that seems pretty good overall is the new trend that restaurants-especially fast food-are now putting calories on the menu. That seems really helpful when eating out.
I can see how it's helpful to some, but I feel pretty uncomfortable about it. I don't want to be thinking about the numbers when I'm eating out, which is a time when I usually try not to be too aware of calories. But when it's there, I can't help but be doing the math in my head. And I can imagine that for folks with OCD or an even more obsessive personality than mine it can even be truly triggering.
@@katelijnesommen I see what you mean. And I’m sorry that is probably the case not only for you but others. However, for me when I’m away from home and often in a work or social situation that I hadn’t planned to be in, having the calorie counts helps me to feel more empowered about food and menu choices. At home, I don’t do calorie counting at all but I do try to have mindful meal planning and meal prep that doesn’t stress me out too much. And being out and about and away from a somewhat safe system at home has at times been overwhelming, but the calorie counts feel like it has a little bit of information and that can be a comfort.
Unrelated - loving the hair! Haven’t watched totally yet but excited to hear your thoughts on this topic as someone who used to calorie count obsessively.
Thank you
Here’s what it is. You say the right things to support people who used this method successfully. You do. But everything else you say is SO condescending and does not seem to exist well in the same space as those initial encouragements. You don’t want people to be mad or hurt at your opinion, and I appreciate the concern-but it just DOES hurt. If I’d heard this video before I got my health straight, it doesn’t matter what side notes you made about calorie counting being ok. I wouldn’t have tried it. And I would still be in pain and out of breath. It’s not the information-it’s good to know. It’s the whole attitude with which you give it. Your goal is to encouragement people who don’t want to change or haven’t been able to. But that only goes so far before someone’s health is so in the toilet that there’s no going back. It’s like if someone had kept giving you reasons to restrict food over and over and then claimed that they were really fine with people eating whatever they wanted to-no really-but then smugly supported all the things that had hurt you your whole life. It’s be easy to do. There’s loads of research to support “clean” or restrictive eating under the guise of health.
You help people with your issues. I genuinely fear you temporarily help the feelings but hurt the overall lives of people opposite of you. And it makes me sad. I refer so many people to you to understand reasonable ideas about eating and sustainably eating for health and sanity.
I don’t know how to say it exactly, but your tone suggests that people who try calorie counting are just being idiots. It sucks, whether or not that’s your intent.
And I really need the replies that you’re glad my experience worked for me to stop. It’s so patronizing.
Maybe this was true with the video that was taken down (I never saw it), but surely not so with this version? I don't know how she could be more clear about her intention and nuanced in her expression. There are real, scientific inaccuracies that make calorie counting a less certain thing than people often think and it's helpful to many people with perfectionist or obsessive tendencies to know this. A lot of people calorie count and are stumped and frustrated by how this 'obvious' and 'easy' method doesn't give them the hoped for results, and these are the reasons why that may be so. How many times can Abbey say that of course you're allowed to count calories if that works for you, but there are a lot of nuances to it? I genuinely don't see how she could be more inclusive and respectful of people's experiences than she is. And it feels like, if you really feel it's condescending that she (probably quite genuinely) says she's happy something worked for you, nothing she says will ever be experienced as well-meant to you.
@@katelijnesommen She basically replaced just added to/replaced the up front nuanced messaging she already had. That part is fine. It's great. The problem is that she needs that bit because there is no trace of nuance anywhere in the general message.
If Abbey's kept her audience to restrictive eaters with Orthorexia/ana etc. then her message would be perfect. But she includes and frequently specifically focuses on people with binge eating issues or yo-yo dieting issues who have over-eating problems (even if they mislabel them as restrictive sometimes.) If she wants to have a mixed audience, then the general message is far too snarky and dismissive.
The information is great. It IS inaccurate and I also get very frustrated at people from the diet industry who act like it's easy or clear cut. I absolutely cut calories in the past in ways that failed for me because I didn't understand how to make the content of those calories keep me full and feeling good. It's possible to have appropriate calories and make yourself miserable AND fail. I absolutely struggle more with weight specifically when I eat a lot of processed food. The numbers are wrong and our bodies process it far differently than whole foods. I still eat them, but that knowledge helps me stay cool and not freak out when it affects the scale accordingly. I'm so there with so much of this.
I try to hang in there with her because I DO appreciate this information and I did need people to break it down for me and make it clear that none of this is easy or straight forward. But the overall tone keeps being that (intro PSA or not), losing weight or tracking food is a losing battle, so you might as well give up. And for her original audience, I am right there with her. All I can tell you is that this message would have destroyed my confidence before I ever got started, rather than helping me do it the right way. There's just too much snark.
I almost never criticize creators, and especially not ones I love. I deleted different responses like 5 times. But my feelings were genuinely hurt. I'm not leaving, but if I can articulate why people like me were hurt I figure it is at least data and could help her channel. If that's just not what she's going to do, I accept it. I need to either accept feeling hurt occasionally or not watch when I can't take it or the message is wrong. I'm probably not going to chime in like this again. But her channel matters enough to me, so I criticized like I never would on something I just thought was stupid🤷♀
@@andianderson3017 Yeah, okay, I hear you. I'm honestly sorry this was hurtful to you and I can see how a video like this can be both liberating to people for whom calorie counting isn't working, *and* demotivating to those who are trying to find a way to lose or gain weight.
@@katelijnesommen Thanks. I definitely know my reaction isn't the only one and some people found this really helpful and not hurtful at all. I think it's just good to be aware of each other.
This is honestly helpful to hear about the ALTERNATIVES to calorie counting for weight loss. Over the past year I have suffered from vertigo and bacame incredibly scared to move and do normal life activities. Because of this I gained a substantial amount of weight quite quickly, which I am totally fine with because I was going through a chronic medical event so I knew my body was going to change. Now that I am feeling better (not 100% but enough to resume normal life) I have found that my mobility, strength, cardio, and overall health have decreased as my weight and inactivity increased. I really want to start "feeling like myself" again in terms of my health and activity level and yes, my weight. BUT calorie counting is so difficult and imperfect and just plain hard to keep track of and do consistantly. So it is really affirming to hear that I'm not the only one and that there ARE other options to safely start a weight loss phase.
So glad !!
I suffer with vertigo too (Maniere's), and certain movements are definitely challenging like yoga (I miss yoga!). I've found that stationary dumbell movements help, especially when supported by a bench. I'm so glad life is returning back to "normal" for you tho!
My Problem was: Saying that something is hard to measure does not mean it is not working. Showing, why something might not work out as it should due to measurementproblems is totally finde - but that does not mean that cico does not work. Furthermore, your audiance is propably not mainly people with EDs (anymore). Talking down on methods for minor reasons does not feel freeing to a lot of people. At the same time the ED audiance is still here. Obviously hard to deal with both at the same time
So sorry to hear that you have to take videos down due to overwhelming negative feedback, when in fact the content is scientifically apt, well researched, and no offensive remarks are being made. I think it's not your fault that people don't focus and watch the full video till the end. I have a feeling that some of the audience is just here to bully. I think it's reasonable to assume that this could be some fan club of a few of these online content creators whose problematic messages you critically address in your videos.
it's not rocket science.. you track your calories and keep adjusting until you find a rough estimate that works for you to gradually drop weight. so none of the algorithm stuff matters.. it's just trial and error over time. then, you learn what kind of portions and foods work for you so that you don't have to count "every squirt of mustard on your sandwich". you learn that you can cook your food with a little less butter, or make healthy little changes.. macros are important and it's good to know how much protein, carbs and fat you're eating.. because you start to see what is really in the food you're eating. for me, it gives me comfort and ease to know that i can eat all my favourite foods now, knowing roughly how to keep myself in balance.
To be honest, this video doesn't make me want to be less rigid about calorie counting; it only makes me want to be MORE strict about calorie counting and overestimate the calories I consume to allow plenty of wiggle room for factors like inaccurate food labels
I knew when I watched that video that no harm was meant by it. I know you always have the best intention behind your videos, but I really appreciate you coming back with this video. I personally felt like it was kind of saying that calorie counting was unhealthy when we know that that’s not inherently true. Calorie tracking has been my best way to lose weight because it’s helped me as a starting base to learn macros in general so I appreciate you coming back out with this video.
So glad it’s been helpfil
Carb counting is the only way for me to lose weight in my 40s now. Calorie counting feels onerous but counting carbs and keeping them below 100 is easy.
You mentioned that the nutrition label can be inaccurate, I’m curious about the carb amount on the label? As I’m a t1 diabetic, so I rely on the label to count how much insulin I need to inject.
The few times I have tried to strictly count calories i have tended to both become obsessive and try to get as close as I can without going over. That's also why I don't go near weight watchers. But I can still have an understanding of what's in my food and how much I'm eating in a way that is much healthier for me. It gets me to look at what is in my food beyond calories too.
I personally believe that, for most people, calorie counting is the gateway to eating disorders.
And, Abbey, thank you for spreading gentle nutrition.
I didn’t find anything wrong with your first video. I counted calories to lose weight but realistically, did my apple have 100 calories? Did my mixed berries that I weighed out actually have 80 calories? I never believed that the calorie count for ANY food was an exact measurement. In addition, what my body does with those calories is different than what your body does with them. I used calorie counting as a guide - I knew that if I just ate a big spoonful of peanut butter (a sinful pleasure, lol) would deliver a lot more calories than maybe I wanted to consume. Calorie counting helped me immensely with understanding portions which, ultimately, has helped me maintain my weight loss. You did nothing wrong and people need to understand that calories aren’t exact, to say the least.
As an Ed girlie I’m gonna sit this one out but thank you for continuing to make amazing content Abbey and hope you had a great holiday 💗💗
Thank you!
Awesome video. Thanks for re publishing. I don't see any issues at all. Calorie counting has helped me see the macro split in my foods and especially to see how many calories (albeit inaccurately) in drinks and snacks.
I was writing a comment on why I disagreed with you then it was taken down before I was finished
counting calories works best for me. ive tried many diets and its seems to work best for me. if i dont track then i dont eat enpough.
I personally didn't feel triggered by your first video, I actually found it super informative as always! Thank you!
NON-strict calorie counting with an app freed me from a lot of the negative things you speak about often, like eating a fake food to satiate a craving vs eating my craving, or feeling guilt/shame when I indulge, learning balance. If I knew I was meeting friends for pizza and the salad option wouldn’t satiate me, I made different choices for breakfast/lunch to make room for it. Doing ONLY this, I lost more weight than any diet I ever tried without even having time to exercise. This also worked for my parents at the same time. The best part is it’s been sustainable and I don’t even need the app anymore and can eat more intuitively.
Thank you! I really appreciate the effort you put into these.
My pleasure!
As someone who regularly calorie counts and has a past with Ed, this video didn’t trigger me. I think you are trying to let people know there are more factors then just calories in calories out. Our bodies and genetics influence weight loss. I thought it was great informative video. People will find anything to be offended about.
In conclusion….no one knows anything and we’re all Screwed! 🙃
I love calorie counting 😎
Thank you for doing this video! I noticed calorie counting helped me lose weight back in my mid-20s, but once I was at 130 pounds, the weight loss slowed drastically even though I was doing the same workouts & same daily deficit of 500-800 calories. It was probably my body trying to retain the weight as I was going into underweight territory for my height. In contrast, I noticed when I worked out and ate what I wanted, I was able to build some muscle and be "small" without caring about calories.
Thanks for sharing❤️
That video personally helped me, but I guess that you always have a different impact on a different person, which is normal and understandable! You are brave for addressing the subject of your video, calorie counting in itself is very controversial so sadly it is no surprise that your video had a lot of reactions
People want "the truth"=one simple answer. Yes or no, they want assurance, orientation and overall certainty.
That is not life. But hey, it is what we would love to get.
That is the reason why people fall prey to the false dietary authorities that are lose on the internet.
And understandably so.
So yes, I would also like ONE true method. Once people have found a method that works they also tend to forget it used to be n o t "that simple".
An individual path, trial and error, adaptation and accepting uncertainty is the path I am on. Accepted that.
yay! thank you for reuploading a new version of the video! I recently saw a post on an ED subreddit whose OP accused their friend of lying about gaining weight on 800 calories a day, because thats impossible and would be "defying laws of thermodynamics" and NO ONE would listen to the idea that she could be telling the truth to the best of her ability, they all said she HAD to be purposefully lying or miscounting by a lot. and as fallable as calorie counting is, if youre to the point in your restriction youre consuming 800 calories its really unlikely to me that that person would miscount them by that much. this video helps to break apart that misconception and damaging mindset and general consensus in the ED space that CICO is absolutely infallable law when done correctly.
The video that was taken down didn’t resonate with me, but at the same time I didn’t feel the need to get all oppositional about it, lol You’re entitled to post what you feel is accurate and not take it down, in my opinion. I enjoy your videos if I back them 100% and also if they are thought provoking in a new direction. All love, Abby 🤗🤗🤗
I always appreciate your videos, good or ill. As I was listening to a Maintenance Phase episode about The Trouble With Calories, it wasn't news to me what you brought up in your first video, but I suppose I can see how other people who don't have the same perspective could be shocked, or aggravated by the information.
Thank you thank you for making this video and the update. Just started calorie counting again because it is the thing that works for me but I def needed this reminder to let go of preconceived notions about results/timeline because this is not a fail proof plan. And wow, I was blown away by the info you provided about how imprecise the calculations for the energy in foods are!
Thank you Abby, this will help so much people, especially those who are obsessed with kalorie counting
💗
I'm sooo glad you re-uploaded the video! I hadn't had a chance to watch it the first time and I was so sad that it was taken down. Another great resource for this is Giles Yeo, a molecular geneticist who studies obesity. Look him up on RUclips he goes into even more of the nitty-gritty for the science of 'why calories don't count'! I personally find this information so validating because I have found it so hard to stick to calorie counting. I don't want to have to log everything I eat! Thats so obnoxious! And I inevitably stop. Thank you Abby!
Thank you for posting it again. There is a lot of good knowledge for people to have.
I thought the video was really good. I loved the facts based info, the more knowledge the better. I'd rather have all the information xx
Really, most people who went through an ED and recovered understand how calorie counting is NOT the way to loose weight and keep it off. It’s draining and a never ending loop that takes away more than it gives you. Our bodies are so wise and if you are in tune with it you really don’t Over eat or gain weight from not counting your calories.
Weight gain or lost has way more to it than just thermodynamics.
Anyway, thank you Abby.
I enjoy your videos. I like the variety of topics and the education and science behind your explanations. I’m 56 and enjoy the learning. I love that you keep it so real.
Help me! Counting or not counting I'm still struggling 😖😢
Thank you so much for taking the time to put together this helpful information.
I couldn't care less about calories, so I find the history and nuances of this all to be quite fascinating.
There was nothing wrong with the first video. You are 100% right. Calorie counting can be a good tool for some, but not as simple as it seems. You said this in the video. No one should have been triggered.
i've been a calories counter for ages and have went up and down with my weight for years. once i stopped and just ate what made me feel good, it's been much easier for my weight to stay in one place. why? i don't feel deprived and then binge. i allow "fun foods" when i want them but mostly eat foods that me feel great and energized
I love your videos. Thanks for all you do!!❤️
I also have been having success with calorie counting and I believe I would not be losing weight without it. As a 5'0 woman I need to be eating less than 1500 to lose weight. Ideally 1200. If I followed the plan my Dietician recommended for me I would be maintaining, not losing. The combination of a whole food diet PLUS calorie counting is what works especially for short women who have very low caloric needs.
Left turn: can we get a video on disability and diet? Like I can’t currently work out for physical reasons, I can do some exercises lying down and can’t include “typical” core exercises but subsequently my metabolism is very slow, eating becomes a chore because I don’t know how much or what to eat. In a world of calories and protein and keto and vegan and everything else it’s all catered to musculoskeletal typical people who can accompany diet with exercise (even gentle exercise or an active lifestyle. Weight management and health is focused almost entirely on able bodied people it drives me up the wall
❤️Love you, and appreciate your research, knowledge and channel. ❤️‼️❣️People are going to be awful if a message is not what they want to hear…it’s just the tone of the world now…which I’m finding to be exhausting. Why people don’t just stop watching, I will never understand. The negative energy people spend, instead of just moving on is astounding😡
i’ve always thought that if someone wants to count calories, then do it! i count them right now because i am on a weight loss journey but there’s no way i want to continue doing this forever lol. hell. no. i am much better at guessing how many calories something is when i look at it, so i’ll be able to have a healthy and balanced breakfast, lunch, and dinner without counting them every day. (70% of the time lol. i do love donuts and pizza). i do appreciate your points that calorie counting is not the end all, be all- much like a lot of things in life. it is annoying when gym bros say that it’s “just” calories in, calories out
Yep
The being accused of lying about how much you eat. I feel that so much. I've lost 160 pounds but I am still overweight by 10 pounds. CICO is no longer working at all. The scale will not budge. I'm told I'm not allowed to be happy at my current weight because "overweight is unhealthy" and that cutting my body weight in half wasn't enough but no one wants to give any constructive advice beyond "YOU MUST BE LYING OR MISTAKEN ABOUT BEING IN A DEFICIT" like I'm stupid or haven't already lost 160 pounds. I know how to calorie count but it's no longer working and it's gotten to where I feel guilty and ashamed if I eat more than 1100 calories in a day. My dietitian wants me on 1500 which is more reasonable but when the scale stops budging at 1500, 1400, 1300, and 1200 and you get told over and over that you can't be "defying the laws of thermodynamics" you feel like you need to eat less. I've had a gastric bypass and am on a very low dose of wegovy due to blood sugar issues from that and I still feel a need to eat 1200-1500 calories a day which should be fine for a short person who needs to lose 10 pounds. CICO works to a certain extent but I'm so tired of being told it's simple and easy and that it's impossible for it to stop working. What you're saying about how so many calorie counts available to us on foods being inaccurate is probably the first thing I've heard in awhile that didn't make me feel stupid or crazy. That and what you said at the end about needing far less calories to lose more once you've already lost. So many people insist that CICO should work just that same now as it did when I was 160 pounds heavier but it isn't.
What I have come to practice is that if I find something new that I want to include in my wellness journey: 1. Research about it a lot. 2. At least give it 6 months before hopping on it's substitute.
I have PCOD and I have included following things that are currently helping me loose weight slowly and have made my periods really regular.
Sleep by 11 pm. 8 hrs of sleep. Walking 1 hr (i live in a hilly area), drink 1.5 ltr water everyday. slow weight training 3 times. And loosely count calories without restriction to process food. And even in homemade food try to have a balanced meal. Increased my protein intake from both veg and non veg sources. I try to make things hunger crushing combos. I do eat icream once a week or sometimes twice a week. Saturday nights are obviously takeout nights. And I have been loosing 1-2 pounds every month.
I’m on mobile and can’t search, but do you have a specific video about gut micro biome? Like the types of bacteria associated with the foods and how sugar without padded fibers feeds into bad bacteria. And how the green tea flat tummy colon detoxers changes that environment.
I have horrible food intuition because of ADHD, depression, and PCOS. And I run a lot, which weirdly blunts my appetite rather than makes it grow. Idk why but it does. So if I don’t use a calorie counting app I don’t know if I’m eating enough calories and the right macros. It has helped me better understand how to portion out my plate so I don’t undereat or overeat. And it doesn’t conflict with my ability to enjoy treats or foods at a all, if anything it gives me more confidence to follow my intuition as long as I’m meeting my basic need for fuel and protein!
Love you Abbey. Sure your reasons are making sure we’re okay ❤️
:)
Calorie counting is an imperfect tool. It's inexact and not as "sciency" as we'd like it to be. However, even if it's 40% inaccurate (I made up that number) you can expect it to be CONSISTENTLY inaccurate and with time you'd be able to pick up patterns and turn it into a really useful tool.
I've never used it as a tool to lose weight but it's a part of my every day life as an athlete to count macros. I'd say it does wonders for those who stick to it but also aren't obsessive.
Based on the research, the biggest problem with calorie counting is actually people underestimating the calories they're eating. (this was being done at the dietetics labs at the Uni Of Auckland btw) When they have people document their calories then have researchers go in and actually weigh etc out the calories it is almost always much more than people think they are writing. And vice versa. People thinking they were working with a big calorie deficit and complaining they just weren't losing weight, but when the sample people were put into 02/CO2 controlled environments just about every single time they were just consuming more calories than they were expending. (Ok I'm not going to watch the entire rest of the thing bc of previous ED stuff sorry. Sounds like a cop-out)
i think that as disheartening as it must be to you as a dietitian/intuitive eater, counting calories to some extent is unavoidable, whether it be to stay within a weightloss/maintanance range or to make sure one is NOT undereating as we so often see in your what I eat in a day analyses.
food freedom can still be achieved to a certain level with unlearning negative beliefs (carbs = evil), practicing food neutrality (no 'good', 'bad', 'junk') and striving for balance, but pretending they don't exist is not feasible for most people, health and aesthetics wise
As a menopausal woman I started having weight issues. I had to really examine my diet as I started wandering into pre-diabetes territory. I mostly use “calorie counting” to give me better serving sizes as I concentrate on getting adequate protein and calcium (I’m newly osteopenic also- glories of getting older!)
I used to be one of those people that would get mad at you for this video. Well, I only had success with calorie counting once. Every other time was either unsuccessful, or it would rapidly slow down my metabolism and I would gain even more weight than my starting point. Now, I totally understand why you would make such a video.
This time calorie counting just gave me anxiety and fucked up eating habits even more. I started out strong but it slowly made me lose my mind. 3 months in and I am ravenous, binging on foods I don't even like and having nightmares about overeating.
I quit a few days ago, because I was going crazy and the weird cravings stopped. I feel like myself again and it is so freeing, I tear up writing this.
Can’t wait for your next video on sustaining weight loss. This was super helpful.
After using calorie counters for a LONG a long time. I know I have a 200ish variation to what the program is telling me.
Just remember that someone will always be offended about something and you can't make everyone happy . I love your videos bc I feel like you use facts and logic , that's hard to come by .
When I was a teenager I used to calorie count. I would panic at the thought of eating a single calorie more than 1200 each day, but I felt even better about myself if I ate less than 1200. All I ate for two years was plain frozen bags of vegetables, canned soup, and cereal/oatmeal. Every. Single. Day. My parents would make nutritious homemade meals and I would refuse to eat them because they didn't have a calorie label. I also ran cross country for a hot minute and still ate only 1200 calories a day. My relationship with food was never great. I started trying different diets since elementary school. Anyways, this is all to say that I deeply despise calorie counting. With a deep, borderline irrational hatred. And guess what? All the weight I lost restricting my calories (75 lbs btw) I gained back and then some. Maybe some people find it helpful. But I feel the mindset it creates and the ideology behind it is incredibly damaging.
Speaking for myself but the tdee calculator that every gym bro recommended was off by over 1000 calories. It said my "maintenance" was 2,500 when in reality it's closer to 4000 calories.
I have never commented on a video (I'm actually just a social media voyeur 😁😁) but since I discovered Abbey's videos about three weeks ago and have watched most of them I just had to speak up to say that I applaud her message and I have greatly benefited from her content. Thank you so very much!!
The original video was fine but do appreciate the added notes in this one. For me calorie, macro and particularly carb tracking is so useful as I'm type 1 diabetic and need to work out how much insulin to dose with my meals and snacks, which is made so much easier with tracking apps and takes a lot of uncertainty and guesswork out. So for me even if it's not 100% accurate its better than having no idea what I'm consuming.
I loved what you said about a general knowledge and understanding of macronutrients and nutrition and I think that's helpful for most people. I also really appreciate that you said calorie tracking can work for folks too. I find that when I've been on weight loss journeys it can ensure I'm in a deficit, and not too large of a deficit (obviously again not 100% accurate but if you've tracked your maintenance to roughly 2000 and then you drop to 1500-1700 the deficit will still be there relatively, even if the exact numbers are off.) When I've lost weight in the past, like in college when I dropped a lot of weight very quickly it was because I had no idea about how many calories I roughly needed and would just eat salads, veggie 'ham', sugar free jelly and occasional 'diet' packet of crisps. I've since worked out that I was eating around 700 calories a day, which is ridiculously low, and was also terrified to eat bread, pasta, cereal or even bananas. Now that I track I see that I can easily include all foods and fit them into my calorie 'budget' without over or underrating. For me calorie tracking is very freeing and far less restrictive than other diets out there.
You do you everyone :)
I have p.c.o.s. and anxiety and for both I take pills. The anxiety pill makes me hungry, on top of p.c.o.s.
I eat the same, yet when I take Metmorfin, I lose weight even if I eat pizza. If I don't take it, I gain weight
Or maybe I don't realize that Metformin makes me eat less. The idea is that I don't restrict so to me it's the same
Nowim just like.. how am i supposed to know an effective way to lose weight if calorie counting is inaccurate -_- it gets exhausting sometimes but im still going keep eating nutrient dense foods and being active.
I have been watching your videos for years and I appreciate your honest communication and use of data! Good for you for taking down a video in need of some serious R&R time. You’re an inspiration to other content producers out there by showing how to have healthy boundaries with your job and life.
If it was simply a calorie deficit that caused weight loss in everyone, I'd be a twig. Because I have delayed hunger cues, I often forget to eat. There are some days I eat about 1000 calories a day. And yet...here I am, still fat.