Em GI's Journal, 06 December 2019

I think that there are several WOE on this site. Some people eat cake and junk food for the calories and carbs and fit it into their goals and WOE. There is actual health, weight and fitness success as they plan for it. And I also see that there is alot of support for all the WOE on the site. This is just my observation.  

Haha I thought that too 😝 

I don’t think so. Our world is full of indulgence and almost everyone on here indulges. I enjoy that people tell their story without too many exclusions which is educational and helpful when making our own personal decisions. I feel bad for people that are triggered by these pictures, but how is it different than what they see on TV, in the grocery store or other mediums? If you count your calories and learn how many calories are in a donut, per se, you can eat donuts without harm or judgement. 

PS... I think it also could be seen as alarming that some people don’t eat all day and gorge at night or don’t eat for days at a time. These can be triggers with other eating disorders and should be considered as well. I think this site is a great way to see what’s happening in our world and gives education for better eating decisions. 

All is relative and just a tool. It all depends how you as individuals use it. Good luck on your journey 🙂 

I have no problem with it. I don't live in a lab controlled environment, it's up to me to figure out what my personal vision of healthy food and lifestyle is.  

The pictures don't really bother me, but I would like to see more pictures of food that I can and would want to eat. 

I feel the same as l2e, if folks are triggered to go off the deep end by simply looking at a pic, there is a much deeper problem that should be professionally observed.  

Love2educate said it perfectly. Years back when I started being interested in my health and started working out, someone gave me the best advice ever. They suggested I never do anything on my journey that I can’t do for life. I’ve lost 25 pounds in the past year and I’ve eaten it all, not often, not a lot but I fit it in my daily allowance when I want it. You have to make it work for you. If I didn’t eat this and that all this time, I’d feel deprived and awful. I have never felt like I am dieting because I am not. The way I eat will be how I plan to eat for the rest of my life. ❤️ 

Trying to eat in moderation and being mindful. Last night was bad but I compensated for it with breakfast and a snack today. Lifestyle change is what I am trying to achieve. 

I think this site is for counting calories not for encouraging a specific way of eating. I believe everyone should be clear about their own goals and strategies and use this site as the tool that it was intended for. 

if it fits your macros it's ok. fat loss is more important than weight loss. my current health food is bacon.  

I think for me it's interesting to see how people take in their calories compared to their weight and fitness level (because weight is VERY deceptive for athletes and body builders). Since I am sedentary, my calorie intake must be very high quality (i.e. no junk, treats, etc) if I plan to lose. However, if I were to gain a little bit of muscle, and to do a little bit of cardio, I would probably be able to increase my calories if I wanted to sustain my existing weight. And of course on fatsecret, there are also people tracking calories because they need to GAIN weight (wish this were my problem LOL). 

Just love these takes on this ~ nice input, everyone! 

Same as me wifey. Just ate Chinese food. I have to take it down a notch for a few days...but so worth it to eat deliciousness and succeed easily! 💪🏼💕 

I agree with love2educate 

Mixed question / trick question. I don't see this site as supporting certain foods over weight loss. In my observation I see almost every pound or even ounce recorded being supported, congratulated and commented. And I see even the tiniest of gains being discussed. I also see post after post with discussions about weight studies, metabolic wards, exercise, and health improvement.  

Yes, it may 'seem' like the food get's more focus because it's a photo instead of a single line weight entry. And I do know some people find the photos triggering so it may be best to stay away from journals and just record food & weight and move on. On the app, sometimes it's possible to set your phone to black & white only so that the photos don't have as much impact.  

For ME, I appreciate the photos because I have always been of the mind 'to lose weight, you don't eat'. I'll confess, when I first joined FS I had a total 'WTF People reaction - we're supposed to be losing weight by not eating here .. aren't we?" But that was when I learned over time that the people successful with losing weight and maintaining their goal weight have stopped fighting the food. They find ways to still eat and enjoy but know 'when to say when'. Over time, the light finally came on for me so that I can find a way to mindfully eat that bit of cake without feeling like I've blown my whole WOE for the day or giving up. I've been able to find some really good suggestions, variety and ideas for food beyond a bowl of raw vegetables and that same old boiled chicken breast (my previous WOE for weight loss). And, I also enjoy 'feasting with my eyes' knowing it has no calories. And if I stare at it long enough, I am able to get past the immediate gratification and really think about the food - unlike when I'm at a store or they bring the dessert tray by at a restaurant. I appreciate the photos.  

However, and final comment, it's not up to me to determine what is health food vs junk food because a person can still over eat in an unhealthy way regardless of the food. Food is food. Everyone processes it differently and that person has to find their 'sweet spot' for weight loss, maintenance, or gain - whatever their goals here may be.