Losing body fat. Curious of what others in this community would do.

Jcl81
Jcl81 Posts: 154 Member
I'm curious on what the community would do. If a person needs 1993 calories to maintain. They have been eating 1600 calories already, as they tracked to see what they're eating for few months. By all means they are accurately doing so. To be in a caloric deficit enough to lose body fat MFP suggest being at 1760 calories. The problem and question I have is, would you tell someone to bump up to the healthy 1730 calories since they are already at 1600? OR would it be a good idea to go lower. This person already lifts weight free weights, and does some H.I.T. Remember the question is not if they are tracking right. The question comes with the problem they are already in a caloric deficit by accurately logging and defaultly eating not a lot of food and under the recommendations. Some trainers suggest going to Maintenance then recutting calories slower. Any suggestions ideas or experiences?
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Replies

  • Jcl81
    Jcl81 Posts: 154 Member
    Oh, and the exercise and H.I.T is not counted to the deficit. I should add that.
  • Abbie918
    Abbie918 Posts: 120 Member
    Is this person feeling good at 1600 and losing weight? If they're not tired/grouchy/always hungry at 1600, then I'd say to stay there.

    Sorry I can't be more help -- for whatever reason, I'm having a really hard time following this post.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I see no reason why 1600 is not a good amount to be eating unless they are not eating back exercise calories to a point.

    I eat 1500 atm...maintain on 2k.

    Summer is coming so my maintenance will go up to about 2400 and I will eat about 2k a day.

    MFP deficit is defined by the weekly weight loss goals and height weight and gender.

    If they are losing a reasonable amount of weight, are not showing signs of hair loss, fatigue, grumps etc leave it alone.
  • Jcl81
    Jcl81 Posts: 154 Member
    edited April 2016
    They are feeling ok, no strength loss rep range has increased, but also there is no real weight loss weight keeps fluctuating 159-161. They are not necessarily new to weight- training. and after 3 weeks only lost .8 pounds.

    I can give the actual specs:
    Male.
    34 years of age.
    5'6" shorter side.
    159 pounds now, they were 160-161 3 weeks ago.
    Sedentary lifestyle, the lowest one you can pick.

    They work out 3 times a week with weights have been for a a few years and just started doing H.I.T cardio 10-13 mins a day (burpees) a 3-5 times a week depending on schedule because they have a belly they'd like to lose.



  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    How did you come up with 1993 to maintain?

    What kind of weight lifting are you doing? (Program details.)
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    They are feeling ok, no strength loss rep range has increased, but also there is no real weight loss weight keeps fluctuating 159-161. They are not necessarily new to weight- training. and after 3 weeks only lost .8 pounds.

    I can give the actual specs:
    Male.
    34 years of age.
    5'6" shorter side.
    159 pounds now, they were 160-161 3 weeks ago.
    Sedentary lifestyle, the lowest one you can pick.

    They work out 3 times a week with weights have been for a a few years and just started doing H.I.T cardio 10-13 mins a day (burpees) a 3-5 times a week depending on schedule because they have a belly they'd like to lose.



    There it is...if a new exercise has just been started then it's probably fluid retention....
  • Jcl81
    Jcl81 Posts: 154 Member
    edited April 2016
    http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/#result then times 1.2 for activity level 1982 here. But MFP tells me it's the 1993
  • Jcl81
    Jcl81 Posts: 154 Member
    edited April 2016
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    They are feeling ok, no strength loss rep range has increased, but also there is no real weight loss weight keeps fluctuating 159-161. They are not necessarily new to weight- training. and after 3 weeks only lost .8 pounds.

    I can give the actual specs:
    Male.
    34 years of age.
    5'6" shorter side.
    159 pounds now, they were 160-161 3 weeks ago.
    Sedentary lifestyle, the lowest one you can pick.

    They work out 3 times a week with weights have been for a a few years and just started doing H.I.T cardio 10-13 mins a day (burpees) a 3-5 times a week depending on schedule because they have a belly they'd like to lose.



    There it is...if a new exercise has just been started then it's probably fluid retention....

    Wasn't losing weight before "New" exercise was introduced either, thus why the exercise is introduced as we felt lower calories only hurts fueling and the person is already in the 1600 range.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    They are feeling ok, no strength loss rep range has increased, but also there is no real weight loss weight keeps fluctuating 159-161. They are not necessarily new to weight- training. and after 3 weeks only lost .8 pounds.

    I can give the actual specs:
    Male.
    34 years of age.
    5'6" shorter side.
    159 pounds now, they were 160-161 3 weeks ago.
    Sedentary lifestyle, the lowest one you can pick.

    They work out 3 times a week with weights have been for a a few years and just started doing H.I.T cardio 10-13 mins a day (burpees) a 3-5 times a week depending on schedule because they have a belly they'd like to lose.



    This person is not very overweight so losing .8 lbs in 3 weeks starting out isn't terrible progress. A calorie goal between 1500 and 1700 should be okay. I'd say stick with what they are doing, be patient and tweak accuracy.
    Is he eating back exercise calories? Maybe he is overestimating calorie burns and should eat less of that to compensate.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    They are feeling ok, no strength loss rep range has increased, but also there is no real weight loss weight keeps fluctuating 159-161. They are not necessarily new to weight- training. and after 3 weeks only lost .8 pounds.

    I can give the actual specs:
    Male.
    34 years of age.
    5'6" shorter side.
    159 pounds now, they were 160-161 3 weeks ago.
    Sedentary lifestyle, the lowest one you can pick.

    They work out 3 times a week with weights have been for a a few years and just started doing H.I.T cardio 10-13 mins a day (burpees) a 3-5 times a week depending on schedule because they have a belly they'd like to lose.



    There it is...if a new exercise has just been started then it's probably fluid retention....

    Wasn't losing weight before "New" exercise was introduced either, thus why the exercise is introduced as we felt lower calories only hurts fueling and the person is already in the 1600 range.

    how long with no loss at all...I mean none...0 zilch nada
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/#result then times 1.2 for activity level 1982 here. But MFP tells me it's the 1993

    Why would you not use lightly active since the person exercises a few times a week?

    If he hasn't been losing long term, he would need to cut calories to start losing. What makes you say that he is counting calories accurately?
  • Jcl81
    Jcl81 Posts: 154 Member
    edited April 2016
    Lounmoun wrote: »
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    They are feeling ok, no strength loss rep range has increased, but also there is no real weight loss weight keeps fluctuating 159-161. They are not necessarily new to weight- training. and after 3 weeks only lost .8 pounds.

    I can give the actual specs:
    Male.
    34 years of age.
    5'6" shorter side.
    159 pounds now, they were 160-161 3 weeks ago.
    Sedentary lifestyle, the lowest one you can pick.

    They work out 3 times a week with weights have been for a a few years and just started doing H.I.T cardio 10-13 mins a day (burpees) a 3-5 times a week depending on schedule because they have a belly they'd like to lose.



    This person is not very overweight so losing .8 lbs in 3 weeks starting out isn't terrible progress. A calorie goal between 1500 and 1700 should be okay. I'd say stick with what they are doing, be patient and tweak accuracy.
    Is he eating back exercise calories? Maybe he is overestimating calorie burns and should eat less of that to compensate.

    He doesn't count the calories burned from exercise into the deficit at all, because they are highly inaccurate. No, they are not eating back calories.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    Lounmoun wrote: »
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    They are feeling ok, no strength loss rep range has increased, but also there is no real weight loss weight keeps fluctuating 159-161. They are not necessarily new to weight- training. and after 3 weeks only lost .8 pounds.

    I can give the actual specs:
    Male.
    34 years of age.
    5'6" shorter side.
    159 pounds now, they were 160-161 3 weeks ago.
    Sedentary lifestyle, the lowest one you can pick.

    They work out 3 times a week with weights have been for a a few years and just started doing H.I.T cardio 10-13 mins a day (burpees) a 3-5 times a week depending on schedule because they have a belly they'd like to lose.



    This person is not very overweight so losing .8 lbs in 3 weeks starting out isn't terrible progress. A calorie goal between 1500 and 1700 should be okay. I'd say stick with what they are doing, be patient and tweak accuracy.
    Is he eating back exercise calories? Maybe he is overestimating calorie burns and should eat less of that to compensate.

    He doesn't count the calories burned from exercise into the deficit at all, because they are highly inaccurate. No, they are not eating back calories.

    how accurate is intake? food scale, logging using USDA figures?
  • Jcl81
    Jcl81 Posts: 154 Member
    edited April 2016
    jemhh wrote: »
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/#result then times 1.2 for activity level 1982 here. But MFP tells me it's the 1993

    Why would you not use lightly active since the person exercises a few times a week?

    If he hasn't been losing long term, he would need to cut calories to start losing. What makes you say that he is counting calories accurately?

    Because I have the logs and since exercise is not counting toward the deficit it makes it even more accurate.
  • Jcl81
    Jcl81 Posts: 154 Member
    0xpz1uugtldz.jpg
    meal.jpg 185.1K
  • Jcl81
    Jcl81 Posts: 154 Member
    The pic posted, does not include exercise into deficit at all.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    edited April 2016
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    0xpz1uugtldz.jpg

    This is not accurate logging sorry.

    I see 8.2 oz not grams
    I see peanut butter in tbsp not grams.

    8.2 oz of chicken thigh is 232.6 grams of meat USDA has those calories at 381 not 369. Small difference but just pointing out logging is not accurate.

    I suspect eating more than they think...esp measuring peanut butter in tbsp.

    ETA so in any given day this log can be off from anywhere 100-200 calories 700-1400 a week...even with not logging exercise this is not going to work.

    Hence the 0.8lbs lost in 3 weeks not the 3 you probably expected.
  • Jcl81
    Jcl81 Posts: 154 Member
    I know people want to believe it's inaccurate logging.lying but I don't believe this to be true as since February this person has been doing this logging. So, other ideas on what people think should be the next solution. This person weighs 160 today. again, even though by now MFP said they would be at 155. Maybe muscle was gained?
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    I know people want to believe it's inaccurate logging.lying but I don't believe this to be true as since February this person has been doing this logging. So, other ideas on what people think should be the next solution. This person weighs 160 today. again, even though by now MFP said they would be at 155. Maybe muscle was gained?

    no it wasn't. If this person really wants to know they will ask the question and open their diary totally.

    It's not a belief of inaccurate logging it's a fact when that one sheet is seen.
  • Jcl81
    Jcl81 Posts: 154 Member
    edited April 2016
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    0xpz1uugtldz.jpg

    This is not accurate logging sorry.

    I see 8.2 oz not grams
    I see peanut butter in tbsp not grams.

    8.2 oz of chicken thigh is 232.6 grams of meat USDA has those calories at 381 not 369. Small difference but just pointing out logging is not accurate.

    I suspect eating more than they think...esp measuring peanut butter in tbsp.

    ETA so in any given day this log can be off from anywhere 100-200 calories 700-1400 a week...even with not logging exercise this is not going to work.

    Hence the 0.8lbs lost in 3 weeks not the 3 you probably expected.

    The scale they use does both grams and ounces, it's the same no matter of conversation, as I tested it myself.

    Then I looked into your diary and see you do the same thing. Northumberland - Cereal Cream 10%, 4 tbsp 60 4 6 1 0 0
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I don't really care about ounces vs. grams. My scale gives ounces out to several decimal places. However, if you haven't been losing for two months and you don't have some sort of medical complication, you are eating too much to lose and need to cut calories to do it. It doesn't matter what you put on your diary. If you're losing weight slowly and want to speed it up, eat less or burn more calories.
  • Mentali
    Mentali Posts: 352 Member
    What's with the hilarious "this person" veneer?
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Mentali wrote: »
    What's with the hilarious "this person" veneer?

    Yes. It's driving me nuts. I've decided to act as if the OP is "this person."
  • Jcl81
    Jcl81 Posts: 154 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    I don't really care about ounces vs. grams. My scale gives ounces out to several decimal places. However, if you haven't been losing for two months and you don't have some sort of medical complication, you are eating too much to lose and need to cut calories to do it. It doesn't matter what you put on your diary. If you're losing weight slowly and want to speed it up, eat less or burn more calories.

    I agree the person could lower calories even more and weight loss will eventually happen, but at what point is recommended/safe to keep cutting back. I have nutritional concerns. Making sure macros are hit and nutrients the lower you go the harder it is.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    0xpz1uugtldz.jpg

    This is not accurate logging sorry.

    I see 8.2 oz not grams
    I see peanut butter in tbsp not grams.

    8.2 oz of chicken thigh is 232.6 grams of meat USDA has those calories at 381 not 369. Small difference but just pointing out logging is not accurate.

    I suspect eating more than they think...esp measuring peanut butter in tbsp.

    ETA so in any given day this log can be off from anywhere 100-200 calories 700-1400 a week...even with not logging exercise this is not going to work.

    Hence the 0.8lbs lost in 3 weeks not the 3 you probably expected.

    The scale they use does both grams and ounces, it's the same no matter of conversation, as I tested it myself.

    Then I looked into your diary and see you do the same thing. Northumberland - Cereal Cream 10%, 4 tbsp 60 4 6 1 0 0

    Cream is a liquid and can be measured with tbsp.

    Besides I am not complaining about not losing....I've lost 50+lbs logging accurately and consistently.

    Not once did I come here and say "help what am I doing wrong..." because I log(ged) accurately and consistently.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    jemhh wrote: »
    I don't really care about ounces vs. grams. My scale gives ounces out to several decimal places. However, if you haven't been losing for two months and you don't have some sort of medical complication, you are eating too much to lose and need to cut calories to do it. It doesn't matter what you put on your diary. If you're losing weight slowly and want to speed it up, eat less or burn more calories.

    I agree the person could lower calories even more and weight loss will eventually happen, but at what point is recommended/safe to keep cutting back. I have nutritional concerns. Making sure macros are hit and nutrients the lower you go the harder it is.

    I have no concerns because I think the problem lies with faulty logging. Either weights/measurements are wrong or things are being left off entirely. As far as I know, you're eating 1900 while thinking you're eating 1600. In that case, cut your calories to what you think is 1400. It's going to be around 1700 in all likelihood and you'll lose weight.
  • Jcl81
    Jcl81 Posts: 154 Member
    edited April 2016
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    0xpz1uugtldz.jpg

    This is not accurate logging sorry.

    I see 8.2 oz not grams
    I see peanut butter in tbsp not grams.

    8.2 oz of chicken thigh is 232.6 grams of meat USDA has those calories at 381 not 369. Small difference but just pointing out logging is not accurate.

    I suspect eating more than they think...esp measuring peanut butter in tbsp.

    ETA so in any given day this log can be off from anywhere 100-200 calories 700-1400 a week...even with not logging exercise this is not going to work.

    Hence the 0.8lbs lost in 3 weeks not the 3 you probably expected.

    The scale they use does both grams and ounces, it's the same no matter of conversation, as I tested it myself.

    Then I looked into your diary and see you do the same thing. Northumberland - Cereal Cream 10%, 4 tbsp 60 4 6 1 0 0

    Cream is a liquid and can be measured with tbsp.

    Besides I am not complaining about not losing....I've lost 50+lbs logging accurately and consistently.

    Not once did I come here and say "help what am I doing wrong..." because I log(ged) accurately and consistently.

    There is a huge difference in losing 50 pounds as it's easier to lose weight if you have more to lose, not the same as trying to lose 4-10 pounds. No, you did not come here asking for advice, but the advice you give goes against what you're doing yourself. I mean bread is not a slice, but it can be logged as one, even though on the back of packages it will say slice then something 26/1.0 oz. So, you're saying this person should be that microscopic with detail? I'll start having them do this.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    0xpz1uugtldz.jpg

    This is not accurate logging sorry.

    I see 8.2 oz not grams
    I see peanut butter in tbsp not grams.

    8.2 oz of chicken thigh is 232.6 grams of meat USDA has those calories at 381 not 369. Small difference but just pointing out logging is not accurate.

    I suspect eating more than they think...esp measuring peanut butter in tbsp.

    ETA so in any given day this log can be off from anywhere 100-200 calories 700-1400 a week...even with not logging exercise this is not going to work.

    Hence the 0.8lbs lost in 3 weeks not the 3 you probably expected.

    The scale they use does both grams and ounces, it's the same no matter of conversation, as I tested it myself.

    Then I looked into your diary and see you do the same thing. Northumberland - Cereal Cream 10%, 4 tbsp 60 4 6 1 0 0

    Cream is a liquid and can be measured with tbsp.

    Besides I am not complaining about not losing....I've lost 50+lbs logging accurately and consistently.

    Not once did I come here and say "help what am I doing wrong..." because I log(ged) accurately and consistently.

    There is a huge difference in losing 50 pounds and trying to lose 4-10 pounds. No, you did not come here asking for advice, but the advice you give goes against what you're doing yourself. I mean bread is not a slice, but it can be logged as one, even though on the back of packages it will say slice then something 26/1.0 oz. So, you're saying this person should be that microscopic in detail? I'll start having them do this.

    When I was first logging I weighted prepackaged foods and chose to buy those that are most accurate that i like the most.

    ie my bread is accurate even if it's a slice. I weighed it enough to know that the package nutrition is accurate.

    and the less you have to lose the more accurate you have to be....

    I have been here for almost 3 years...losing my vacation weight atm otherwise I would be eating maintenance.

    I don't have an issue with accuracy or even "guessing" now I've weighed and logged this entire time only taking breaks when I didn't have internet access...
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    0xpz1uugtldz.jpg

    This is not accurate logging sorry.

    I see 8.2 oz not grams
    I see peanut butter in tbsp not grams.

    8.2 oz of chicken thigh is 232.6 grams of meat USDA has those calories at 381 not 369. Small difference but just pointing out logging is not accurate.

    I suspect eating more than they think...esp measuring peanut butter in tbsp.

    ETA so in any given day this log can be off from anywhere 100-200 calories 700-1400 a week...even with not logging exercise this is not going to work.

    Hence the 0.8lbs lost in 3 weeks not the 3 you probably expected.

    The scale they use does both grams and ounces, it's the same no matter of conversation, as I tested it myself.

    Then I looked into your diary and see you do the same thing. Northumberland - Cereal Cream 10%, 4 tbsp 60 4 6 1 0 0

    Cream is a liquid and can be measured with tbsp.

    Besides I am not complaining about not losing....I've lost 50+lbs logging accurately and consistently.

    Not once did I come here and say "help what am I doing wrong..." because I log(ged) accurately and consistently.

    There is a huge difference in losing 50 pounds as it's easier to lose weight if you have more to lose, not the same as trying to lose 4-10 pounds. No, you did not come here asking for advice, but the advice you give goes against what you're doing yourself. I mean bread is not a slice, but it can be logged as one, even though on the back of packages it will say slice then something 26/1.0 oz. So, you're saying this person should be that microscopic with detail? I'll start having them do this.

    So you're assuming that the entire time she was losing weight that she was 50 pounds away from goal? That makes no sense. If she was 190 to start and eventually got to 140, at some point she was 144-150. She's been 4-10 pounds from goal. She knows what she's talking about.

  • Jcl81
    Jcl81 Posts: 154 Member
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    Jcl81 wrote: »
    0xpz1uugtldz.jpg

    This is not accurate logging sorry.

    I see 8.2 oz not grams
    I see peanut butter in tbsp not grams.

    8.2 oz of chicken thigh is 232.6 grams of meat USDA has those calories at 381 not 369. Small difference but just pointing out logging is not accurate.

    I suspect eating more than they think...esp measuring peanut butter in tbsp.

    ETA so in any given day this log can be off from anywhere 100-200 calories 700-1400 a week...even with not logging exercise this is not going to work.

    Hence the 0.8lbs lost in 3 weeks not the 3 you probably expected.

    The scale they use does both grams and ounces, it's the same no matter of conversation, as I tested it myself.

    Then I looked into your diary and see you do the same thing. Northumberland - Cereal Cream 10%, 4 tbsp 60 4 6 1 0 0

    Cream is a liquid and can be measured with tbsp.

    Besides I am not complaining about not losing....I've lost 50+lbs logging accurately and consistently.

    Not once did I come here and say "help what am I doing wrong..." because I log(ged) accurately and consistently.

    There is a huge difference in losing 50 pounds and trying to lose 4-10 pounds. No, you did not come here asking for advice, but the advice you give goes against what you're doing yourself. I mean bread is not a slice, but it can be logged as one, even though on the back of packages it will say slice then something 26/1.0 oz. So, you're saying this person should be that microscopic in detail? I'll start having them do this.

    When I was first logging I weighted prepackaged foods and chose to buy those that are most accurate that i like the most.

    ie my bread is accurate even if it's a slice. I weighed it enough to know that the package nutrition is accurate.

    and the less you have to lose the more accurate you have to be....

    I have been here for almost 3 years...losing my vacation weight atm otherwise I would be eating maintenance.

    I don't have an issue with accuracy or even "guessing" now I've weighed and logged this entire time only taking breaks when I didn't have internet access...

    Good job on your loss, by the way!