Metabolism help needed. $$$ money is on the line $$$

JakeL1981
JakeL1981 Posts: 50 Member
edited November 15 in Getting Started
Ok all of you health and fitness pros out there. I need to get the furnace fired up at a higher rate and maximize my calorie burn while staying under my calorie count. I started dieting on 1/1/17. My current amount of calories to stay under in 1949 per day. Im a almost 6'-2" so i rounded down to 6'-1" and started at 321 lbs. Ive made my way down to 306. Ive just switched to a calorie counting diet from low to no carbs because i was already getting burned out on only eating meats, eggs, cheeses and some vegies. After staying stuck at 307 for 2 weeks I have entered into a $100 wager with a colleague to become motivated to start and stick with working out.

We will have our weigh-in for the money in 2 months. Whoever loses the most weight takes all the cash. He started off around 320 and his made it down to 300 over a longer period of time than myself but we are pretty close for comparison.

This bet started 3 days ago on Wednesday. I am committed and determined that I'm not going to lose that $100.00. I will lose the most weight. I have access to a rowing machine and a stationary bike at my office that started using on Thursday and Friday. I am going to put at least 30 minutes of hard work in on those two machines every day before i head home Monday through Friday. Ill also do 30 minutes of cardio at home on Saturday and Sunday to keep the extra burn going. I am committed to this and will push harder the further along i get.

I am looking to maximize my efforts and fire up my metabolism. Any tips, advise, even coaching will be appreciated.

If you want to follow along on this $100.00 challenge feel free to add me.
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Replies

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    JakeL1981 wrote: »
    When the "man, had a long day, i just want to get home and relax. I can work out tomorrow" thought starts creeping in the $100.00 on the line is a reminder.

    I'm not losing weight for $100 I'm doing this for my family and myself.

    yes but your health needs to come first too. what happens if you try losing it too fast and something happens to you? in 2 months a lot can happen if you try and go to extremes especially if you are under eating and overexercising. where will your family be then?
  • JakeL1981
    JakeL1981 Posts: 50 Member
    Not looking for a product to use for metabolism rate increase looking to see if there are any techniques for men. What's foods help increase rate, how much water do i need to be consuming, is there a higher rate combo of when i should eat before working out or after, eat this kind of breakfast, do not eat anything after this time, general parameters or guidance for a better performing metabolism.
  • dajoloehr
    dajoloehr Posts: 447 Member
    Look into OMAD,I love it. I'm sure others have their opinions, but do some research and see if it will work for you :)
  • JakeL1981
    JakeL1981 Posts: 50 Member
    Hi Tracey,
    Thanks for your comment. I really need to step up my water game if i need to be drinking 150 ounces plus. Im probably only drinking half that.

  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    Look_Its_Kriss wrote: »
    dajoloehr wrote: »
    Look into OMAD,I love it. I'm sure others have their opinions, but do some research and see if it will work for you :)

    And how is one meal a day supposed to "speed up metabolism"... since this is what he is looking for.
    I would like to hear the science behind this

    +1
  • JakeL1981
    JakeL1981 Posts: 50 Member
    All good thoughts and ideas. I realize we are all individuals, everyone's body reacts differently, and it takes hard work for progress.
  • JakeL1981
    JakeL1981 Posts: 50 Member
    I think 100 ounces is very doable and a good starting point
  • try2again
    try2again Posts: 3,562 Member
    I think your edge needs to come from accuracy in logging (as described above) and consistency. Don't let a wager push you to do anything unwise, like slashing calories to unhealthy levels or pushing yourself too hard in exercise. An injury would definitely slow your progress. :(
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,328 Member
    edited February 2017
    To add. The reason that you cannot increase your metabolism is people's bodies do a very good job regulating metabolism. When something speeds up a person's metabolism, to protect their body's proper functioning, very quickly it adjusts to the stimulation to get back to normal. Usually such increases are from something causing irritation to the body, and as I said the body adapts to it quickly. More often than not, a speed up in ones metabolism from an external cause is seen as a disease condition, not a healthy thing. I am not sure why people think they need their metabolism to speed up, but it is not the issue and other than in people with diagnosed medical conditions, does not need to be fixed.
  • LokiiDokii
    LokiiDokii Posts: 39 Member
    Everyone has already said something about putting your health first, so no more of that from me!

    Try drinking green tea throughout the day and also drinking at least 8 full glasses of water everyday. Cut out all sodas! :)
  • ereck44
    ereck44 Posts: 1,170 Member
    LokiiDokii wrote: »
    Everyone has already said something about putting your health first, so no more of that from me!

    Try drinking green tea throughout the day and also drinking at least 8 full glasses of water everyday. Cut out all sodas! :)

    +1 on the "no soda". You need to get most of your nutrition from foods. Diet soda, maybe okay, but not as good as water. Veggies are a great food to snack on...crunchy and virtually no calories.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    edited February 2017
    Don't eat so little that your body adapts by slowing down your daily activity.

    Your metabolism isn't likely to go too much one way or another until your body fails at other methods to adapt to eating too little. You should notice hair falling out more when that starts happening.

    Slowing down just your plain old daily burn is the first method used - making you move less.

    So try to keep just as active, if not more. Usually found to burn more than specific exercise anyway over the course of a day.
    Park farther away, take more stairs, get up more frequently.

    Then make sure you are eating enough to get a good workout when you do.
    And make sure you are eating enough to recover from a good workout when you do.

    Fail either of those and sooner or later your workouts become mediocre, not giving the impact they could.

    But to go along with what many said above - as soon as you made the bet about purely weight loss, you took it away from health.
    True, overweight has a big bearing on health - but so do other factors that weight alone can't indicate.

    That would be as bad as taking a steps challenge - and then taking time away from a much better body transforming workout - and only walking to get steps in using your valuable time.
  • RaeBeeBaby
    RaeBeeBaby Posts: 4,246 Member
    It sounds like you are on the right track already for weight reduction and the $100 would sure be a nice little bonus! Whether or not it's possible to "speed up your metabolism", I believe there are ways to make the most of your daily regimen. Lots of people on MFP believe in CICO (calories in-calories out) and I do, as well. However, I do find that the quality of my calories makes a difference in the speed of my weight loss. Maybe not true for everyone, but definitely true for me. If the bulk of my calories is high quality whole foods - primarily lean proteins, veggies, fruit and whole grains, then I seem to see a faster weight loss and I feel better overall. On the flip side, I can stay under my calorie goal while eating more carbs, some fast food, and drinking more of my calories and my body doesn't like that so much. While I may be under my calories, I don't seem to lose weight at the same rate (maintain yes, but not the losing part). Just mentioning this for what it's worth. Maybe the better food gives me more energy for workouts. Our bodies are all different. You'll find what works for you.

    Strength training is great! Include that with your at home workout. Lots of easy bodyweight exercises that don't take any equipment. Also, move more throughout your day - not just the 30 mins of cardio after work or at home. Maybe walk on your lunch or breaks, take the stairs or the long way around to a meeting. I used to keep dumbbells at my desk and I'd do arm exercises while reading interminable emails.

    Good luck and hope you win the big bucks!
  • rebeccatackett
    rebeccatackett Posts: 37 Member
    Eating several small meals per day instead of one large meal will help the metabolism. If your body thinks it never gets food, it will hold on to what it gets when it finally gets it. Once it is used to being fed every couple of hours, it will burn it because it knows it will be fed in a couple of hours again. Also, if you go all day without eating, you will tend to overeat just because you haven't had anything all day. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and can jumpstart your metabolism. An occasional soda isn't "bad" for you but if you consistently drink it, you are consuming a lot of sugar which can affect your glycemic index (will cause crashes and cravings). Water is best. Hope this helps. The most important thing is to stay consistent and don't beat yourself up when you fall off the wagon and have a cheat or treat. You just get right back on track with your next meal and workout.
  • BlueHorse8
    BlueHorse8 Posts: 29 Member
    Jake, are you weighing everything? For me, I started on my journey on Jan 2 and I lost 12 pounds the first month; I started @ 274 pounds. My calorie intake is 2110 a day but I am always under, roughly 1700-1900. I avoid all deep fried foods and eat mostly chicken or turkey throughout the week. I weigh everything and log every calorie,except for my free day. I do have one day a week where I eat what I want within moderation to satisfy my cravings for certain food types but only one day, starting back on track on Monday for healthy choices. I started out just walking a mile 1/4 the first week and now i am doing over 3 miles, 3 times a week. Feel free to add me and check out my diary if it will help.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member
    edited February 2017
    rebeccatackett wrote: »
    Eating several small meals per day instead of one large meal will help the metabolism. If your body thinks it never gets food, it will hold on to what it gets when it finally gets it. Once it is used to being fed every couple of hours, it will burn it because it knows it will be fed in a couple of hours again. Also, if you go all day without eating, you will tend to overeat just because you haven't had anything all day. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and can jumpstart your metabolism. An occasional soda isn't "bad" for you but if you consistently drink it, you are consuming a lot of sugar which can affect your glycemic index (will cause crashes and cravings). Water is best. Hope this helps. The most important thing is to stay consistent and don't beat yourself up when you fall off the wagon and have a cheat or treat. You just get right back on track with your next meal and workout.

    The meal timing and multiple meals thing? No.

    Not necessary and not true. Calorie Deficit. That is all.

    I agree that the best tool here is good accurate tracking of food. Eat once a day or ten times a day, that doesn't matter at all. Find an activity that is fun for you to do (like NorthCascades said.) Don't try to cut calories too much, that is going to backfire on you. Just use a reasonable calorie deficit and keep good track of your food. Eat it, log it.
  • rebeccatackett
    rebeccatackett Posts: 37 Member
    heybales wrote: »
    rebeccatackett wrote: »
    Eating several small meals per day instead of one large meal will help the metabolism. If your body thinks it never gets food, it will hold on to what it gets when it finally gets it. Once it is used to being fed every couple of hours, it will burn it because it knows it will be fed in a couple of hours again. Also, if you go all day without eating, you will tend to overeat just because you haven't had anything all day. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and can jumpstart your metabolism.

    All myth.

    All sound bites from common phrases passed around without a bit of science to back it up.

    Sorry.

    Nope, sorry. It worked for me!
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