I started my slow path to get healthier need a review

Hi, I started my new lifestyle a little over a month ago. I have updated my diary honestly, I have cut out diet soda, pizza and a few other items. I do eat ice cream when my daily total is low for the day, Ice cream is my weakness

I am limited to walking only until May and I am doing 5-6k steps (fitbit tracking), seven days a week. I am not trying to lose fast, I am trying to eat healthy. I am currently at 261 lbs down from 300 on Dec 20 2015 the highest I have ever been. I was maintaining water and with medical procedure the first 15 pounds was no effort at all.

I am looking for moral support, so if you can help please add me as a friend. My diary is public so any comments will be helpful.

I will be 60 in May 66 inches tall and currently 261 married for over 30 years. I have set mini goals only. My long term goal is to eat healthy and if I can break the 200 lb mark it will be an added benefit.

Joe

Replies

  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    edited February 2016
    For a man, in general, you should be intaking 1500 calories at minimum. You have alot of 1200-1400 calorie days. Those kinds of intakes are only appropriate for women (the lower end being for petite and older women). Are you a petite or older woman? No? Then don't eat like one. You said you want to take the slow path but you're not on the slow path. You need to eat more. You need to eat an amount that is more appropriate for a man of your stats. MFP gave you a calorie goal of 2000 (without exercise), so why are you not eating that? A goal is meant to be met or exceeded. Your body needs that nutrition and energy. To not provide yourself with those calories would be foolhardy. Not only are you going to lose more LBM than you want, you'll run into malnutrition problems. So do yourself a favor and eat more.
  • josephskop
    josephskop Posts: 26 Member
    Thank you for your advise. I will start to up my daily calorie intake. I started this evening and finish the day about 1700 calories. I will need to figure out how to fit in the calories during the day. I am eating every two three hours.
  • try2again
    try2again Posts: 3,562 Member
    Very nice! You are so smart to do this now... it will change your life more than you realize! I only looked at a few days of your diary, but you seem to have a nice, balanced approach, which is great. Like Ninkyou covered, go ahead and eat that calorie allowance! It may seem counter-intuitive, but at your size, you will see some big numbers come off even at the higher allowance. I have (female) friends on my list who eat around 2000 and still lose a couple of pounds a week. You need to leave yourself room to adjust downward as you get smaller, and you want to preserve your muscle mass! I also wonder if the pre-packaged meals are typical? I would hate to have to go without home-cooked food! There is a recipe builder on here that allows you to figure the content of home-cooked meals, if that is something you are interested in. I only accept female friends, but wish you the very best on your journey :)
  • Lo0BLu
    Lo0BLu Posts: 84 Member
    I agree whole heatedly with the comments above, but I understand your problem of finding the time to eat all those extra calories :) It will get easier and more fun.
    I thought perhaps this video might be motivational and educational too.

    https://youtu.be/aUaInS6HIGo

    I thought this was a really helpful 9 min video explaining how just a little exercise every day can help mentally, physically and medically. I originally thought it would be motivational for larger people, but actually I found it really informative and motivational for me too.
    If you are willing to put the effort in. i am more than happy to help support and motivate you :)
  • josephskop
    josephskop Posts: 26 Member
    :)<3
  • josephskop
    josephskop Posts: 26 Member
    :)<3