When should we redo our macro's?

jumanajane

Hi all I was wondering if we should redo our macro's after a while or a certain amount of weight lost??? Anyone know and, if so, after how much lost??

glossbones

I do mine once per month, regardless of loss. If I haven't lost much, it might be time to reevaluate them anyway.

nicsflyingcircus

I don't know why you would. I prefer using grams, but since MFP broke that for me and I refuse to pay them, I just set my stuff to 5% carbs (actually am on 5g or less daily right now), 20% protein (and shoot for my 85g) and 70% fat, which fills the rest pretty much.

You adjust calories after weight lost, but your macros can stay the same unless you are tweaking them (experimenting with somewhat different rations for weight loss/feeling best)

wabmester

As you lose weight, your caloric needs change. Probably one reason everybody seems to "plateau" after 6 months or so.

Here's a chart for women:

KnitOrMiss

wabmester wrote: »

As you lose weight, your caloric needs change. Probably one reason everybody seems to "plateau" after 6 months or so.

Here's a chart for women:

I always love how my weight is above what they consider the "heaviest" numbers they should chart... One day soon I won't be able to say that anymore!

DianaElena76

I check mine every 10 lbs or so I lose. I've adjusted my calorie intake as I've lost, but other than that everything else is just experimentation.

GSD_Mama

I only change calories according to my weight the rest pretty much stays the same

jumanajane

@knit or miss I look forward to the day you tell us that!
@Wabmesters no link showed up.
I have no intention of changing my % just wondered if the cals should be adjusted. If you add what I lost before starting MFP I have lost 7kg (15lbs). Just musing.

wheatlessgirl66

Gosh. According to that chart I'm eating a deficit of about 700 calories a day. Is it accurate?

wabmester

That chart assumes a certain age and height. Most calculators will probably be more accurate, but it shows how calorie requirements change with weight.

minties82

@KnitOrMiss I remember feeling that way when looking at BMI charts in January. My BMI was 51.8, it's 38.5 now and I show up on charts! You will get there too.

I don't ever feel the need to change my macros. I did up from 1200 to 1350kcal some time last month though.

jumanajane

@Wabmesters could you repost the chart please??

jumanajane

No worries @wabmester...I was on my mobile...thought that could be the prob. Can see it now I'm on my laptop! Thanks.

KnitOrMiss

minties82 wrote: »

@KnitOrMiss I remember feeling that way when looking at BMI charts in January. My BMI was 51.8, it's 38.5 now and I show up on charts! You will get there too.

I don't ever feel the need to change my macros. I did up from 1200 to 1350kcal some time last month though.

According to my heaviest weight, my BMI was about 55%-60%, give or take. It is now in the low 40's. I've got another 25 or so pounds (11 or so kg) to go before I'm considered just OBESE instead of morbidly obese... That's my goal by end of year. I'm hoping I finally broke my stall of 6+ weeks... It might just happen yet.

minties82

I was obese class III (very severely obese) and only just gotten into obese class II lately. It does feel good to go down a class. Still have class I to reach and then overweight (sigh).

At my height it is convenient to figure it out. 88.8kg takes me from obese class III to class II. 77.7kg from class II to class I. 66.6kg to get to overweight and 55.5kg is finally in a healthy range. I am 85.5kg so still a bit to go.

nicsflyingcircus

KnitOrMiss wrote: »

minties82 wrote: »

@KnitOrMiss I remember feeling that way when looking at BMI charts in January. My BMI was 51.8, it's 38.5 now and I show up on charts! You will get there too.

I don't ever feel the need to change my macros. I did up from 1200 to 1350kcal some time last month though.

According to my heaviest weight, my BMI was about 55%-60%, give or take. It is now in the low 40's. I've got another 25 or so pounds (11 or so kg) to go before I'm considered just OBESE instead of morbidly obese... That's my goal by end of year. I'm hoping I finally broke my stall of 6+ weeks... It might just happen yet.

When I started out, I was class III morbidly obese, with a BMI of 55.4. 13 months later, I am 10lbs from falling into the merely "overweight" category. If I could do cartwheels I would be!

minties82

@nicsflyingcircus well done! I hope that is me next year. I'm down 29.5kg and have another 33.5 to go.

jumanajane

Wow!Well done all of you!! That's amazing! I haven't had as much to lose but I am still 6.5kg away from being merely overweight rather than obese. The difference between that and normal I don't even want to think about! Lol. Be happy to take baby steps and set lots if mini goals.

DianaElena76

I don't even know any of those details. My doctors never tell me what my classification is, they just say "You need to lose weight." Great, how much? Any suggestions? They are so helpful, those GPs.

wabmester

They're probably cynical after a while. They know weight loss will help, but they also know most people can't make the lifestyle change, and even those who do lose weight gain it back later. Most of them are ignorant of the magical powers of low carb.

DianaElena76

wabmester wrote: »

They're probably cynical after a while. They know weight loss will help, but they also know most people can't make the lifestyle change, and even those who do lose weight gain it back later. Most of them are ignorant of the magical powers of low carb.

Yes, that is probably true. But I have even gone so far as, upon meeting a new practitioner, bringing up weight loss myself, as in, "So I know I'm extremely overweight, and I don't want to stay this way because I look and feel awful every day, but I want to lose weight the healthy way--no medications, no meal replacement bars or shakes, etc. What would you advise?" And I've come away with, "Walk every day and focus on fruits and vegetables." Seriously? Not even a referral to a dietitian, since you obviously know very little about weight loss? Nope, that's literally it.

radonskies

I'm still playing with my macros every few weeks. I went from less than 20 grams of carbs to 70% or more of fat to paleo-ish and much higher carbs (75-100) over the past 4 months while I try to find the best balance for me. Right now I'm aiming for 40-60 carbs per day and will stay at that level for a few weeks.

KnitOrMiss

radonskies wrote: »

I'm still playing with my macros every few weeks. I went from less than 20 grams of carbs to 70% or more of fat to paleo-ish and much higher carbs (75-100) over the past 4 months while I try to find the best balance for me. Right now I'm aiming for 40-60 carbs per day and will stay at that level for a few weeks.

It can take 6-12 weeks to see the results of a change like that, so be sure to give each a fair shake. Changing things up too much just leads to frustration and a lack of building habits that become automatic!

04hoopsgal73

@wammester: I don't see where age is indicated on this chart. The chart shows calorie intake in relationship to your activity level. I would not use it as acccurate.

@KnitOrMiss: I am hoping for a definitive change after 4 weeks of reducing my carbs. If not with scale then with measurements. But overall should I expect 6 weeks or longer to see if LC is really working?

04hoopsgal73

04hoopsgal73 wrote: »

@wammester: I don't see where age is indicated on this chart. The chart shows calorie intake in relationship to your activity level. I would not use it as acccurate.

@KnitOrMiss: I am hoping for a definitive change after 4 weeks of reducing my carbs. If not with scale then with measurements. But overall should I expect 6 weeks or longer to see if LC is really working?

Oops. should be @wabmester: I don't see where age is indicated on this chart. The chart shows calorie intake in relationship to your activity level. I would not use it as acccurate.

KnitOrMiss

04hoopsgal73 wrote: »

@wammester: I don't see where age is indicated on this chart. The chart shows calorie intake in relationship to your activity level. I would not use it as acccurate.

@KnitOrMiss: I am hoping for a definitive change after 4 weeks of reducing my carbs. If not with scale then with measurements. But overall should I expect 6 weeks or longer to see if LC is really working?

For people with more broken metabolisms, it can take longer to see results. If you don't have mental clarity and increased energy or inches lost or some weight shift, I would consider lowering your carbs further. So be sure to look for all manner of improvements. Better sleep? More easy to rise? Figuring things out? Feeling better? SO many criteria for success of program, but yes, definitely decide what kind of progress you would like to see and look for that.

Just remember, your body sometimes takes longer to catch up, particularly when watched - the watched scale rarely drops, etc. So as long as you're seeing some improvements, I'd recommend sticking it out....your body could just be slow to get with the program.

I just had a 6-8 week stall while keeping to plan because my body had something going on....but I know how this way of eating makes me feel, so I stuck with it, and that stall caught up with me in 7-10 days...so it's nice to have our faith rewarded occasionally.