1280 calories

I am 5'9.5 and weigh 225lbs. Mfp set me up at 1280, without exercise, to lose 2lbs per week. Does this seem right? I am purchasing a food scale this afternoon to help with accurate measurements. Should I commit to 1200 rather than 1280? Will walking everyday help with the weight loss? I have tried Mfp in the past and lost a few lbs with it, but i just couldn't stick it out. If you have any advice on how to stay committed to a diet let me know.

I appreciate the feedback.
«1

Replies

  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,590 MFP Moderator
    "I have tried Mfp in the past and lost a few lbs with it, but i just couldn't stick it out."

    I think you need to ask yourself why this is first. The answer to that should have a large impact on the answer to your question.
  • Kkourt_Love
    Kkourt_Love Posts: 17 Member
    AliceDark wrote: »
    Why couldn't you stick with it last time?

    1280 is pretty low. If it seems too extreme, try setting MFP to lose 1 or 1.5 pounds per week until you adjust to that lowered intake, then bump it to 2 pounds per week if you want. It's easier to start off slowly and give yourself time to adjust than it is to burn out, give up and then try to start all over again.

    I wasn't able to stick with it the last time due to work stress. It is still stressful at work, but after having tubular adenomas in my intestines and gaining ten lbs in the last two months, I am tired of feeling so gross and unhealthy. I am prepared now to commit to it.
  • Kkourt_Love
    Kkourt_Love Posts: 17 Member
    What difference is dropping another 80cals going to make?

    For me, winning at weight loss is eating as much as possible and still losing weight.

    That's exactly why I was asking. If it isn't going to make much of a difference, then I won't drop that 80 calories.
  • caradack1985
    caradack1985 Posts: 254 Member
    I'm 5'4" and weigh 226lbs. I'm set to lose 2 pounds a week and without exercise and an activity level set to sedentary I have 1350 calories. 1280 seems low to me.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    What difference is dropping another 80cals going to make?

    For me, winning at weight loss is eating as much as possible and still losing weight.

    That's exactly why I was asking. If it isn't going to make much of a difference, then I won't drop that 80 calories.

    It's no, so dont
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    AliceDark wrote: »
    Why couldn't you stick with it last time?

    1280 is pretty low. If it seems too extreme, try setting MFP to lose 1 or 1.5 pounds per week until you adjust to that lowered intake, then bump it to 2 pounds per week if you want. It's easier to start off slowly and give yourself time to adjust than it is to burn out, give up and then try to start all over again.

    I wasn't able to stick with it the last time due to work stress. It is still stressful at work, but after having tubular adenomas in my intestines and gaining ten lbs in the last two months, I am tired of feeling so gross and unhealthy. I am prepared now to commit to it.

    You can always reduce the deficit to a pound to make it easier
  • Kkourt_Love
    Kkourt_Love Posts: 17 Member
    "I have tried Mfp in the past and lost a few lbs with it, but i just couldn't stick it out."

    I think you need to ask yourself why this is first. The answer to that should have a large impact on the answer to your question.

    I couldn't stick it out due to work stress. Now that stress has lightened up, I am more prepared than before.
  • Kkourt_Love
    Kkourt_Love Posts: 17 Member
    I have already found the answers to why I couldn't stick it out before. Right now I am asking for advise to make sure I do it right this time, not asking for people to tell me to look at why I wasn't successful the first time... I have already gotten past that point.
  • Kkourt_Love
    Kkourt_Love Posts: 17 Member
    I appreciate everyone's input
  • KetoneKaren
    KetoneKaren Posts: 6,412 Member
    My two cents' worth - I would start at 1300kcal, walk every day and add strength training as desired, buy a food scale, weigh & measure & log everything. Just start right in, weigh every week, and tweak as needed. Good luck!

    I find that planning and sticking to an enjoyable food plan actually helps with work stress.
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    I have already found the answers to why I couldn't stick it out before. Right now I am asking for advise to make sure I do it right this time, not asking for people to tell me to look at why I wasn't successful the first time... I have already gotten past that point.

    Staying committed is just that! Everyday will be a day closer to your goal and if you ever get down for any reason just remind yourself of your goal and what you are trying to achieve!

    You have already got this! :)
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    I have already found the answers to why I couldn't stick it out before. Right now I am asking for advise to make sure I do it right this time, not asking for people to tell me to look at why I wasn't successful the first time... I have already gotten past that point.

    People are asking because it impacts the advice they give you. If you said "I started binge eating after starting MFP," our recommendations would be different than if you said "I started running too quickly and hurt myself." If low calories were your main issue, then yes, exercising to earn some eat-back calories would be a good idea. If you're prone to injuring yourself, then we're going to tell you that walking every day isn't going to help.
  • agnatkowa
    agnatkowa Posts: 16 Member
    Hi. My entry weight was quite similar. For 36 days I am on 1000-1100 kcal diet and I exercise every other day for about 50min (aerobic). I excluded alcohol, sweets and I have discovered that I was always eating little of actual food, most of it was junk. I feel much better than before and already lost 16 lbs. I am using food scale for every meal I prepare and never forget to log things in mfp. Be patient and try not to make exceptions in your diet, it will pay off :wink:
  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,590 MFP Moderator
    also, as already mentioned above, sometimes losing slower but happier gets you to your goal faster than going balls to the walls and then quitting, so consider that. You know the whole the tortoise and the hare story.....
  • Kkourt_Love
    Kkourt_Love Posts: 17 Member
    agnatkowa wrote: »
    Hi. My entry weight was quite similar. For 36 days I am on 1000-1100 kcal diet and I exercise every other day for about 50min (aerobic). I excluded alcohol, sweets and I have discovered that I was always eating little of actual food, most of it was junk. I feel much better than before and already lost 16 lbs. I am using food scale for every meal I prepare and never forget to log things in mfp. Be patient and try not to make exceptions in your diet, it will pay off :wink:

    Do not take this advice.

    I would fail if I tried that. I wouldn't be able to keep to 1000-1100 cals and work out every other day.
  • cathipa
    cathipa Posts: 2,991 Member
    agnatkowa wrote: »
    Hi. My entry weight was quite similar. For 36 days I am on 1000-1100 kcal diet and I exercise every other day for about 50min (aerobic). I excluded alcohol, sweets and I have discovered that I was always eating little of actual food, most of it was junk. I feel much better than before and already lost 16 lbs. I am using food scale for every meal I prepare and never forget to log things in mfp. Be patient and try not to make exceptions in your diet, it will pay off :wink:

    MFP discourages diets like this. Not healthy and not recommended.
  • maidengirl_
    maidengirl_ Posts: 283 Member
    I think your calorie intake should be higher for your height and current weight. Change your physical settings to "active" instead of "sedentary" or "lightly active" and change your loss goal to 1 or 1.5 lb per week from 2 lbs. You will still lose a good amount this way and won't be starving and end up giving up. Good luck in your journey :)
  • Kkourt_Love
    Kkourt_Love Posts: 17 Member
    I think your calorie intake should be higher for your height and current weight. Change your physical settings to "active" instead of "sedentary" or "lightly active" and change your loss goal to 1 or 1.5 lb per week from 2 lbs. You will still lose a good amount this way and won't be starving and end up giving up. Good luck in your journey :)

    Ok I will try that out. I will change it to lightly active. :) thank you for the encouragement.
  • tamyena
    tamyena Posts: 19 Member
    Yes, go by what they say, I mean, as a guideline. Go by how you feel, too! Do you have enough energy, how do you feel with 1200 calories a day, is it enough? Pay attention to your carbs and protein, too. If you are working out regularly, like every day, then make sure you are getting plenty of protein!! Drink tons of water!! And if you are still hungry, make sure you are eating enough carbs! At first I was all gun hoe, and pretty much cut out any carbs, and at night, I was starving!! I added in my healthy carbs, and wow, what a difference it made!!
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Changed it to lightly active and calories have gone up to 1560 per day. I will try this out and see how well it goes. Thank you all for your thoughts.

    This sounds much more sustainable for the long term. Good luck!!!
  • davis978
    davis978 Posts: 103 Member
    edited August 2016
    When I was trying to lose, I chose the "eating for the future you" method. This involves calculating your TDEE at your goal weight and then committing to eating that number of calories forever (* if you stay at the same weight, and adjusting for age-related slow down in metabolism). This worked for me precisely because I wasn't doing something to lose that I would eventually stop doing. It also generally means eating more than if you are "dieting." This method doesn't work for everyone, but I know many people who have been successful at it.

    You say you weren't able to stick with it in the past because of stress, and that might be true, but realize that life will always have stress. You shouldn't try to do something that's impossible when you are stressed. You should choose something you can do successfully most days, indefinitely, through good times and bad, through stressful times and non-stressful times.

    The down side of this method is that weight loss is slower. The up side is that by the time you get to your goal weight you will be so used to eating for that weight that eating any other amount will feel ridiculous. With this method, you are investing in the long-term you.

    Here's a good TDEE calculator:

    https://tdeecalculator.net/

    Good luck.