Upped my calories - losing finally!
tchnlrn
Posts: 15 Member
I wanted to report back. I've been lurking for a while, frustrated that I was eating 1200 calories a day, and exercising and not losing. I had logged everything I put in my mouth for 20 days, and no real loss. Very frustrating. I read everything posted here about TDEE - 20%, did a Google search on TDEE, went to all the websites, did all the math, then set my MFP calorie intake at my TDEE - 20%. For me that's about 1600 calories. I was worried about it, but the other way wasn't working. Guess what?! I'm losing! I've lost 7 lbs in the last two weeks and I am not, repeat not, starving! 1200 calories was MUCH harder. This could easily become a lifestyle.
The other thing I've changed in the last two weeks is paying attention to the quality of my calories. I like carbs. I like bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, popcorn, chips, anything with sugar. I've increased my calories but really focused spending those calories on whole foods, veggies, protein, and fruit. I am amazed that my body knows what to do when I'm feeding it properly. (I know. Right?)
Anyway, thank you to all the MFPers who post important information about why it may not work at 1200 calories (even if that's where MFP says I should be) and what to do to help myself. Invaluable. Thank you, people.
The other thing I've changed in the last two weeks is paying attention to the quality of my calories. I like carbs. I like bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, popcorn, chips, anything with sugar. I've increased my calories but really focused spending those calories on whole foods, veggies, protein, and fruit. I am amazed that my body knows what to do when I'm feeding it properly. (I know. Right?)
Anyway, thank you to all the MFPers who post important information about why it may not work at 1200 calories (even if that's where MFP says I should be) and what to do to help myself. Invaluable. Thank you, people.
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Replies
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Congratulations! Thanks for sharing!0
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Congratulations on finding a result that works for you
I had exactly the same issues to start with (not enough calories to make a difference)
Keep at it, and you'll see the weight just fall away
Very well done xxx0 -
Good for you!!
That is exactly the same thing I went through!! Thank God for TDEE-20%0 -
Wow well done - 7 lbs in 2 weeks is certainly something to be proud of!! You should reward yourself with a manicure or something you'd enjoy
I think I'm in the situation you used to be. I eat around 1200 calories a day, and I'm very hesitant about eating any more because I'm terrified I'll gain weight... but at 1200/day I'm hardly losing any weight at all. What is TDEE? How does it work? (is this the right place to ask? Where can I find out more?)
Again - well done!!
And I'm glad you think you could make this a lifestyle, not just a fad that seems to be the key to long-term weightloss! :P 0 -
awesome to hear the tdee method is great hey!!! 0
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Wow well done - 7 lbs in 2 weeks is certainly something to be proud of!! You should reward yourself with a manicure or something you'd enjoy
I think I'm in the situation you used to be. I eat around 1200 calories a day, and I'm very hesitant about eating any more because I'm terrified I'll gain weight... but at 1200/day I'm hardly losing any weight at all. What is TDEE? How does it work? (is this the right place to ask? Where can I find out more?)
Again - well done!! And I'm glad you think you could make this a lifestyle, not just a fad that seems to be the key to long-term weightloss! :P
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/975025-in-place-of-a-road-map-short-n-sweet?hl=short+and+sweet&page=1#posts-14887744
The above link should have everything you need.0 -
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Wow well done - 7 lbs in 2 weeks is certainly something to be proud of!! You should reward yourself with a manicure or something you'd enjoy
I think I'm in the situation you used to be. I eat around 1200 calories a day, and I'm very hesitant about eating any more because I'm terrified I'll gain weight... but at 1200/day I'm hardly losing any weight at all. What is TDEE? How does it work? (is this the right place to ask? Where can I find out more?)
Again - well done!! And I'm glad you think you could make this a lifestyle, not just a fad that seems to be the key to long-term weightloss! :P
TDEE is the total daily calorie expenditure (including working out) http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html keep under 20% of your maximum figure then you won't been eating more calories than you burn
Good luck xxx0 -
awesome, and thank you for posting. I just made the change too a few days ago and I am waiting for the pounds and inches to shed:glasses:0
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yes, this is how i started - awesome link.Wow well done - 7 lbs in 2 weeks is certainly something to be proud of!! You should reward yourself with a manicure or something you'd enjoy
I think I'm in the situation you used to be. I eat around 1200 calories a day, and I'm very hesitant about eating any more because I'm terrified I'll gain weight... but at 1200/day I'm hardly losing any weight at all. What is TDEE? How does it work? (is this the right place to ask? Where can I find out more?)
Again - well done!! And I'm glad you think you could make this a lifestyle, not just a fad that seems to be the key to long-term weightloss! :P
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/975025-in-place-of-a-road-map-short-n-sweet?hl=short+and+sweet&page=1#posts-14887744
The above link should have everything you need.0 -
Congrats! Remember to recalculate your BMR and TDEE when you've lost 5 Ibs and above. Good luck!0
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Ooohh, thank you for the reminder! I'd completely forgotten about recalculating after every 5 lbs. If you hadn't posted that I'd soon be wondering why this isn't working anymore.
To those of you who are hesitant to eat more - I was too. I stewed for a long time and finally figured the scale was not budging, so I wasn't out anything by eating more. Give it two weeks and see if it works for you. The link posted above is where I got my information. Thank you again, everyone.:laugh:0 -
It's great isn't it! I am 5'7 and started at 231 lbs, I began with a 2000 daily calorie allowance and have slowly dropped to about 1800 calories (not including exercise calories) as the weight has come off. I've lost 18 lbs in less than 2 months and that's with a thyroid disorder too! In the past when I tried 1400-1500 calorie diets, I failed miserably.
Sometimes less ISN'T more :happy:0 -
Bump...for more people to see this!! Congrats by the way!! :flowerforyou:0
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Congratulations! I hope this works for me, too. Been at the TDEE-20% approach for 3 weeks but haven't lost anything yet. Trying to be patient!0
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What is TDEE-20%?0
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Amazing!! Thank you for sharing 0
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What is TDEE-20%?
It's a method of calculating your total daily expenditure of calories, and then "cutting" 20% (or 15%, or 10%) off that to lose weight. Go up to the far right "Search" button (next to My Topics and Settings, above) and type it in and you will find many links to the calculators.0 -
1600 cal sounds great. How many calories do you burn, usually-per day?0
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That's so good to hear! After doing my own research on TDEE, I upped my calories last Thursday evening, so we'll see how it goes.
It's nice to see that it works for so many people. Thanks for sharing!0 -
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Fantastic!! Isn't it nice how when our calories are properly set, our bodies properly respond??? :happy:0
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That method would allow me to eat 1708 calories! I might have to experiment with that way. I did stall out really quickly on the 1450 that MFP has me eating, but finally started losing a little again now. But if I can eat more calories and lose better which is what I'm hearing from many, that would be great. I am, like you, a little scared to try it because I don't want to gain any weight back!!! I have a long way to go yet on my weight loss. I'm so glad it has worked for you, and congrats!!!!!0
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way to go! i am proud of you for doing the research and trying to figure out what works for you. it makes me sad when people stall out and just give up without trying to figure out why or how to kick it back into gear. and isn't it AWESOME when the solution is to EAT MORE!? keep it up with the healthy food choices! and don't be afraid to challenge yourself!0
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Great read; that's what I love to hear! Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!0
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Thanks for sharing!0
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Wow well done - 7 lbs in 2 weeks is certainly something to be proud of!! You should reward yourself with a manicure or something you'd enjoy
I think I'm in the situation you used to be. I eat around 1200 calories a day, and I'm very hesitant about eating any more because I'm terrified I'll gain weight... but at 1200/day I'm hardly losing any weight at all. What is TDEE? How does it work? (is this the right place to ask? Where can I find out more?)
Again - well done!! And I'm glad you think you could make this a lifestyle, not just a fad that seems to be the key to long-term weightloss! :P
here,here I am at 1200 and exercising but very scared to go over as I don't want to put on the weight but only losing very slowly. Very frustrating!0 -
That's awesome - congrats! I love the TDEE method - I've had my best success since switching to that about a year and half ago. Plenty of food, plenty of energy, and consistent fat loss. Best part is that it's sustainable - nothing temporary, not some restrictive diet - it works for life!
For those of you still wondering, there's great info on this here, in case you missed it in the previous posts: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974889-in-place-of-a-road-map-short-n-sweet0 -
THIS!!! People don't realize how much it helps but it is so worth it! TDEE-20% is soooo worth the time it takes to research and apply. Congrats on your loss!!0
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Well to be honest, I did stall out and quit -- last summer/fall. I am a teacher and school is a stressful, fast moving lifestyle. I frequently do not eat at all during the day, come home exhausted at the end of the day and eat whatever is not nailed down. So keeping this going through August and September will be the trick. That's the big non-scale victory I'm working toward.
I've been watching the success stories and following the general weight loss chatter on this site for a while, which is where I first heard of TDEE. After 20 full days of 1200 genuine- I'm-not-kidding-absolutely-no-cheating-logging-everything-giving-it-my-all days with no success I knew I was doing something wrong. Hence the research. Take time to read up on TDEE folks. No one can learn this stuff for you. Google it. I like the fit2fat.com website as well. Good stuff. So I hope I haven't jinxed it by sharing my delight!0
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