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Enrique_38
Enrique_38 Posts: 6 Member
edited November 16 in Health and Weight Loss
Hey everyone I'm wondering for you diehards that have been doing this a while, what is an ideal calorie/carb intake to being losing weight. I been prepping my meals for almost 3 weeks now with and laying off the breads and cokes.. need some input please

Replies

  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Ideally, eat fewer calories than your body uses in a day.

    / thread
  • ccsernica
    ccsernica Posts: 1,040 Member
    For losing weight it's all about calories, period. You don't need to cut out anything that can be made to fit into your daily calorie goals.
  • Enrique_38
    Enrique_38 Posts: 6 Member
    I just started and tbh I have been eating way unhealthy and I started with a cap on 2k a day, cause I was way ahead of the 3500 a day and bumped it down now to 1750.. so aside from working out just keep to my intake as you said ma'am?
  • Enrique_38
    Enrique_38 Posts: 6 Member
    Thank you@ccsernica! But carbs does play a bit into losing some weight correct!
  • Seffell
    Seffell Posts: 2,244 Member
    Enrique_38 wrote: »
    Thank you@ccsernica! But carbs does play a bit into losing some weight correct!

    No, only the total amount of calories you consume compared to those you burn are important. What the calories are made of makes no difference.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Enrique_38 wrote: »
    But carbs does play a bit into losing some weight correct!

    Not really. Reducing carbs can play a role in losing water weight, but losing weight (fat) is about reducing calories, and only calories.
  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,590 MFP Moderator
    Enrique_38 wrote: »
    Thank you@ccsernica! But carbs does play a bit into losing some weight correct!

    It depends on how you look at things. Is cutting carbs required for the average person (no medical conditions requiring it), no. Does it help alot of people, yes. It seems many people find upping protein and fat and decreasing carbs helps with satiety, and therefor they can better stick to their calorie gaol, but its not required. If you feel happy and make progress without cutting carbs then there is no reason to.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Enrique_38 wrote: »
    Thank you@ccsernica! But carbs does play a bit into losing some weight correct!

    Nope. Not one bit. They are just a macronutrient, along with protein and fat. Your body uses all three in different ways to keep your body running. Science, science, blah, blah. Carbs create energy, which is helpful/necessary to your workouts. Protein helps maintain and build muscle. Dietary fats help your nerves and brain function. All good things!!!

    Too many calories = weight gain
    Just right calories = weight maintenance
    Too few calories = weight loss

    It is ALL about the calories. Seriously.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,422 Member
    1750 sounds pretty low. Did you set your Goals to "Lose 2 pounds per week"? I'm just going by your photo, but as a man in his 20s/30s, you can (and should) eat more than 1750 - unless you are super obese, and again your photo doesn't reflect that.

    Set your goal to "Lose 1 pound per week," like the site suggested when you set up your goals. You'll get more calories. When you then exercise, enter that into the Exercise tab, and you will "earn" more calories on top of your basic daily goal.
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    quiksylver296 wrote: »
    Enrique_38 wrote: »
    Thank you@ccsernica! But carbs does play a bit into losing some weight correct!

    Nope. Not one bit. They are just a macronutrient, along with protein and fat. Your body uses all three in different ways to keep your body running. Science, science, blah, blah. Carbs create energy, which is helpful/necessary to your workouts. Protein helps maintain and build muscle. Dietary fats help your nerves and brain function. All good things!!!

    Too many calories = weight gain
    Just right calories = weight maintenance
    Too few calories = weight loss

    It is ALL about the calories. Seriously.

    But, to go beyond that, your food choices are something that only you can figure out. It may be that more carb works for you as a way of eating and feeling satiated. Or it might be more fat or more protein. You want to ensure adequate protein to help reduce the amount of muscle mass lost as you lose weight, but past that it comes down to personal preference. I don't do low carb well but get between 100 and 125 g of protein and just let others fall where they may.

    If you want some advice, let us know your stats.
    Sex
    age
    height
    weight
    activity level before exercise
    excersise activity
    goal weight
    loss per week goal

    Basically tell us what you told MFP and we can give some direction.



  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    Oh. And read the stickies. They explain things well.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    Weight loss is determined by your calorie deficit. There are two ways to create a deficit. Either you eat less than you burn or you burn more than you eat. Ideally, you combine those two concepts in some way so you neither starve yourself or overexert yourself. Carbs are one source of calories, so if you reduce carbs and don't replace them with something else then you will lose weight. If you eat more of other things to make up for it then it won't do anything for you.
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