297 lbs ready to be better

Hello guys I'm trying to get myself to a better me! I've been watching what I eat, logging my foods. I'm currently doing low carb, high protein diet: carbs: 119g (30%), fats:53g (30%), protein: 158g (40% of daily intake). I just started back with my journey, which I initially started somewhere after Dec 2014 at 314. The last two days I've been substituting my meals for cup of spinach, cup of mixed frozen fruit and 1 scoop of walmart body fortress whey protein powder (200 cals per scoop). I'm trying to get the thoughts of snacking out of my mind, because in the past I quickly go overboard. Most of the things in my house are healthy but in the past id eat them excessively(=no cal deficiency). I've started back walking 45 mins to an hour... I was doing this daily but was told to alternate days with full body work outs?? I just started allowing my husband to train me again... he lean well built man. But his ideas about getting fit, I'm not there yet. I have to cut the fat first so eat less and strength train. He thinks the answer is always work out. I can't go another entire year without losing more weight than I did last year. I have 3 children trying to get into nursing school and I want to be healthier to help my family and others. But who's wants to listen to the fat chick about taking care of your body. Lol. I wouldnt! My stomach is the area of my body that makes me most uncomfortable it's just there hanging! Uggh. I love to eat guys but I'm so tired allowing this to control so much of my life! I need help so anyone please share!

Replies

  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    119G of carbs/day is not low carb--it is moderate carb.

    How many total calories are you consuming per day?

    Are you insulin resistant or diabetic?
  • Sarahb29
    Sarahb29 Posts: 952 Member
    I started around your weight - I am doing low carb and try to stay below 50g net carbs a day. 119 is too high. If you're still hungry then you need more fats and protein in your diet so try swapping some of the carbs for fats :) Remember after you exercise to log it and eat back some of your calories from it so you're not starving.
  • mrsfabbanks
    mrsfabbanks Posts: 49 Member
    119G of carbs/day is not low carb--it is moderate carb.

    How many total calories are you consuming per day?

    Are you insulin resistant or diabetic?


    Not insulin resistant or diabetic. No health challenges and I'm trying to keep it that way. MFP suggested 1560 based on the suggested macros a friend recommended( who is totally losing weight with this).

  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    119G of carbs/day is not low carb--it is moderate carb.

    How many total calories are you consuming per day?

    Are you insulin resistant or diabetic?


    Not insulin resistant or diabetic. No health challenges and I'm trying to keep it that way. MFP suggested 1560 based on the suggested macros a friend recommended( who is totally losing weight with this).

    We are friends, so maybe you know that I also started around your weight. :)

    In your shoes, I would try a lower calorie level and work to gradually increase the exercise, both in duration and intensity. Experiment until you see what works for you. Maybe your magic number is something more like 1300/day.
  • I'm not sure why someone is saying 119 carbs is too high. I think they meant to say it's too high if you are doing a low carb keto diet. If you don't have a medical reason to do low carb, a moderate carb diet will work just fine as long as you stay within your calorie range. I'm doing moderate carb and lose consistently. It allows me to eat some of the things I really enjoy and not be miserable which is the key to making a lifestyle change.
  • Sarahb29
    Sarahb29 Posts: 952 Member
    Sorry yes that's what I meant - 119 is too high for a low carb diet. Otherwise it's fine.
  • sanfromny
    sanfromny Posts: 770 Member
    The last two days I've been substituting my meals for cup of spinach, cup of mixed frozen fruit and 1 scoop of walmart body fortress whey protein powder (200 cals per scoop).

    Are you eating enough? You are substituting meals but how many calories are you taking in a day?

  • mrsfabbanks
    mrsfabbanks Posts: 49 Member
    sanfromny wrote: »
    The last two days I've been substituting my meals for cup of spinach, cup of mixed frozen fruit and 1 scoop of walmart body fortress whey protein powder (200 cals per scoop).

    Are you eating enough? You are substituting meals but how many calories are you taking in a day?

    1560 cals the substitution only happens once a day. Today it was lunch.
  • mrsfabbanks
    mrsfabbanks Posts: 49 Member
    119G of carbs/day is not low carb--it is moderate carb.

    How many total calories are you consuming per day?

    Are you insulin resistant or diabetic?


    Not insulin resistant or diabetic. No health challenges and I'm trying to keep it that way. MFP suggested 1560 based on the suggested macros a friend recommended( who is totally losing weight with this).

    We are friends, so maybe you know that I also started around your weight. :)

    In your shoes, I would try a lower calorie level and work to gradually increase the exercise, both in duration and intensity. Experiment until you see what works for you. Maybe your magic number is something more like 1300/day.

    Did you do 1300 cals in the beginning? Did you feel hungry? If so how did you managed that? I typically try not to get hungry because that's when I do the most damage.
  • sanfromny
    sanfromny Posts: 770 Member
    I agree with some of the others. the carbs sound a little on the high side. What kind of carbs are you ingesting?
  • mrsfabbanks
    mrsfabbanks Posts: 49 Member
    sanfromny wrote: »
    I agree with some of the others. the carbs sound a little on the high side. What kind of carbs are you ingesting?

    Sweet potatoes, oatmeal whole wheat bread(rare occasions) nuts, veggies.

  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited February 2016
    sanfromny wrote: »
    I agree with some of the others. the carbs sound a little on the high side. What kind of carbs are you ingesting?

    119 grams of carbs per 1560 calories is 30% carbs, 20% lower than the MFP default. While not low carb, it is certainly moderate carb.
  • sanfromny
    sanfromny Posts: 770 Member
    At my highest I was around 220 something. I'm now 160. I really had to play around with the calories vs exercise til I found out what works. I'm still doing that now, it's constant adjustment. Stick with it and find a workout that works for you
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited February 2016
    119G of carbs/day is not low carb--it is moderate carb.

    How many total calories are you consuming per day?

    Are you insulin resistant or diabetic?


    Not insulin resistant or diabetic. No health challenges and I'm trying to keep it that way. MFP suggested 1560 based on the suggested macros a friend recommended( who is totally losing weight with this).

    We are friends, so maybe you know that I also started around your weight. :)

    In your shoes, I would try a lower calorie level and work to gradually increase the exercise, both in duration and intensity. Experiment until you see what works for you. Maybe your magic number is something more like 1300/day.

    1300 sounds low unless she is short. @mrsfabbanks how tall are you?
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    ... I've started back walking 45 mins to an hour... I was doing this daily but was told to alternate days with full body work outs?? I just started allowing my husband to train me again... he lean well built man. But his ideas about getting fit, I'm not there yet. I have to cut the fat first so eat less and strength train. He thinks the answer is always work out...

    I love to walk so I do that every day at lunch time unless it's pouring rain or I am shoveling. I do strength training a few nights a week.

    Cardio and strength training both have lots of benefits, but for most people it is easier to create a calorie deficit in the kitchen rather than via exercise. So exercise for your health, and monitor what you eat to lose weight :)

  • mrsfabbanks
    mrsfabbanks Posts: 49 Member
    Thank you!
  • mrsfabbanks
    mrsfabbanks Posts: 49 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    119G of carbs/day is not low carb--it is moderate carb.

    How many total calories are you consuming per day?

    Are you insulin resistant or diabetic?


    Not insulin resistant or diabetic. No health challenges and I'm trying to keep it that way. MFP suggested 1560 based on the suggested macros a friend recommended( who is totally losing weight with this).

    We are friends, so maybe you know that I also started around your weight. :)

    In your shoes, I would try a lower calorie level and work to gradually increase the exercise, both in duration and intensity. Experiment until you see what works for you. Maybe your magic number is something more like 1300/day.

    1300 sounds low unless she is short. @mrsfabbanks how tall are you?

    5'4 1/2
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    119G of carbs/day is not low carb--it is moderate carb.

    How many total calories are you consuming per day?

    Are you insulin resistant or diabetic?


    Not insulin resistant or diabetic. No health challenges and I'm trying to keep it that way. MFP suggested 1560 based on the suggested macros a friend recommended( who is totally losing weight with this).

    We are friends, so maybe you know that I also started around your weight. :)

    In your shoes, I would try a lower calorie level and work to gradually increase the exercise, both in duration and intensity. Experiment until you see what works for you. Maybe your magic number is something more like 1300/day.

    Did you do 1300 cals in the beginning? Did you feel hungry? If so how did you managed that? I typically try not to get hungry because that's when I do the most damage.

    Actually, I have a hard time eating more than 1000 calories/day. I hardly ever feel hungry. I am more than happy around 1200, even though I am tall and very active. I have some unusual medical issues which lower my BMR. It's all about macros for me. I lost the first 55 pounds without any tracking or really changing my diet much at all.

    I pulled 1300 out of the air because it is about 250 calories less per day than what seems to be your maintenance calorie level. 250 x 7=1750, which is enough of a deficit for a 1/2 pound per week loss.
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    I'm not sure why someone is saying 119 carbs is too high. I think they meant to say it's too high if you are doing a low carb keto diet. If you don't have a medical reason to do low carb, a moderate carb diet will work just fine as long as you stay within your calorie range. I'm doing moderate carb and lose consistently. It allows me to eat some of the things I really enjoy and not be miserable which is the key to making a lifestyle change.

    Exactly...it is fine, but it is not LOW carb. That would be more like 50G or under...some might even argue for <25G.
  • blues4miles
    blues4miles Posts: 1,481 Member
    Calories in calories out...

    I wouldn't worry too much about carbs if you don't have a health reason to do so.

    1500ish in calories is probably just fine. If you drop down further you might get unnecessarily hungry and binge. You might be able to lose weight eating at 1800, but I understand also wanting to lose the weight faster to stay motivated.

    Working out is very good for heart health and muscle retention. The more muscle you retain as you lose weight, the more you can eat when you get down to goal weight. Walking is great. Lifting weights is great. You don't NEED to do more, but some day you may WANT to. Eat back only 50% of exercise calories MFP gives you, that's because it generally overestimates.

    Get a food scale. Weigh everything that isn't liquid.

    Stay consistent. Even when you go over, log what you ate and move on.

    Take measurements (because sometimes the scale will stall with water weight and frustrate you). Set non-weight goals, like walking 2 miles x times a week, or logging your food every day for a month.

    Sounds like you have a great attitude, keep at it.
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    I think you should stick with the 1560 calories for now. Just make sure you're logging everything correctly!
  • areallycoolstory
    areallycoolstory Posts: 1,680 Member
    i started around your weight a year and a bit ago. i just input my info into mfp, and went with what they assigned initially in terms of calories macros and micros. i've only updated it once as i've lost weight, but i independently have been dropping my cal intake throughout the process. i am currently right at 1200 per day, and i have lost 101 lbs as of today. i haven't followed a specific diet, and i tried not to make any food off limits. but i have worked on appropriate portions. one slice of pizza and so on. but since i knew i could have more pizza the next day or meal if it fit my calories, it wasn't too hard. not that i have eaten pizza every day, mind you. a typical day might consist of some sort of cereal and/or eggs for breakfast, some sort of sandwich and fruit for lunch, and meat, veggie and potato/rice/pasta for dinner. and i make room for snacks as well. but i really focus on making everything delicious. to me anyhow. that way when i feel like eating for reasons not related to hunger, i can pacify my urges with thoughts of the delicious next meal/snack i have planned.

    have you considered green smoothies rather than just spinach for your meal replacement? it would probably be more filling. when i have them i use a mix of spinach and kale along with frozen strawberries and peaches. i use half and half for the liquid component, and the frozen fruit means you don't need ice. once blended it tastes mostly of peaches. many folks add chia too. best of luck on your journey. it sounds like you are putting together a good plan for yourself.