Is this Calorie deficit too much???
destyniecook
Posts: 13 Member
Hey! This is actually on behalf of my partner, I'm trying to help him but make sure I'm not making things worse. So hes a 40yo guy, around 195lbs and 5'8. Desk job, but walks for an hour in his lunch, on his fitbit it says that he burns about 2500-3000 a day.. which seems really high, but I though it would be as he does go for long walks. He only eats approx 1800-2000 calories a day which puts him in like 1000 cal def some days!? I'm just wondering, if that is okay and whether it will be enough for him. He said he isn't that hungry, I just don't want his body to go into starvation mode. I'm also worried as he wants to go back to the gym soon, and he will burn even more!! But I suppose then he will eat more... Just looking for some advice please please! (Trying to get him to eat lots of fibre and protein)
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Replies
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Starvation mode isn't a thing17
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TavistockToad wrote: »Starvation mode isn't a thing
so there should be no issue being in a 1000 calorie deficit?1 -
Have you put his stats into the guided set up? There is this option, as long as the activity level chosen is more or less accurate this is probably the best place to start. I hope you can both work through this together.0
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destyniecook wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »Starvation mode isn't a thing
so there should be no issue being in a 1000 calorie deficit?
No that's 2lb per week and he's borderline overweight/obese so it's fine, it will need to come down as he gets closer to a healthy weight though, whether it's sustainable for your partner is a different matter though. If he feels satiated, then it's fine.
As someone else said, starvation mode isn't a thing so that's not something he needs to worry about.
When he goes back to the gym and starts to burn more he will need to eat more as he will need to fuel his workouts and that won't happen going higher than a 1000 calorie deficit.7 -
2500-3000 calories burnt a day seems quite high for a desk job guy. The walk is only worth 300-450 calories.
I'd doubt he is -1000, as others have said even if he is it's ok.5 -
tinkerbellang83 wrote: »destyniecook wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »Starvation mode isn't a thing
so there should be no issue being in a 1000 calorie deficit?
No that's 2lb per week and he's borderline overweight/obese so it's fine, it will need to come down as he gets closer to a healthy weight though, whether it's sustainable for your partner is a different matter though. If he feels satiated, then it's fine.
As someone else said, starvation mode isn't a thing so that's not something he needs to worry about.
When he goes back to the gym and starts to burn more he will need to eat more as he will need to fuel his workouts and that won't happen going higher than a 1000 calorie deficit.
That's really helpful thank you very much!0 -
andysport1 wrote: »2500-3000 calories burnt a day seems quite high for a desk job guy. The walk is only worth 300-450 calories.
I'd doubt he is -1000, as others have said even if he is it's ok.
It is a desk job, his walk is usually 400 cals (according to fitness tracker), its a slightly active desk job, 3 flights of stairs to the office, and walking to different departments. so more active than some. Thanks for your help on this one
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If he really is at a 1000 deficit, which will be clear after he has been logging for six weeks or so, then he’ll lose 2 lbs a week which can be safe. It may be that the Fitbit is saying he burns more than he is, in which his deficit will prove to have been a bit less, and there’s no problem there either. If he’s just starting out, I personally find that a time when it’s not so hard to keep a higher deficit. So why not? So long as he feels good and is happy.1
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andysport1 wrote: »2500-3000 calories burnt a day seems quite high for a desk job guy. The walk is only worth 300-450 calories.
I'd doubt he is -1000, as others have said even if he is it's ok.
I am a 5’2 female that weighs around 120 lbs with a desk job and when I’m active, I still average 12-15k steps a day and my TDEE according to FitBit is ~2100 -2200 so no, those numbers don’t seem high at all to me.
Is your partner using MFP to set goals, track intake and exercise, syncing FitBit to provide adjustments? If so, why not just enter all this info in MFP with a goal to lose 1 lb/week (how much weight is he trying to lose - at 195 lbs surely not more than 50 lbs right?) and let MFP calculate the deficit? I think 1000 cals is too aggressive for how much weight he has and how active he is, but again, using MFP and FitBit while logging as accurately as possible will take all the need for guessing out of this.6 -
destyniecook wrote: »Hey! This is actually on behalf of my partner, I'm trying to help him but make sure I'm not making things worse. So hes a 40yo guy, around 195lbs and 5'8. Desk job, but walks for an hour in his lunch, on his fitbit it says that he burns about 2500-3000 a day.. which seems really high, but I though it would be as he does go for long walks. He only eats approx 1800-2000 calories a day which puts him in like 1000 cal def some days!? I'm just wondering, if that is okay and whether it will be enough for him. He said he isn't that hungry, I just don't want his body to go into starvation mode. I'm also worried as he wants to go back to the gym soon, and he will burn even more!! But I suppose then he will eat more... Just looking for some advice please please! (Trying to get him to eat lots of fibre and protein)
You do make things worse by doing this for a grown man. It sounds like you are more invested in this than he is. if he's eating what he says he is and burning as much as his fitbit says then he's on track and good advice dictates you just let him be. add to the fact that he even has a fitbit is an indication that he is at least trying to shed a few pounds, unless of course you were the one who gave it to him.
It's great that you take an interest but a word of caution: It could throw your relationship in the crapper if you try to push someone to lose weight. Positive reinforcement works better than doing their MFP tracking for them.5 -
WinoGelato wrote: »andysport1 wrote: »2500-3000 calories burnt a day seems quite high for a desk job guy. The walk is only worth 300-450 calories.
I'd doubt he is -1000, as others have said even if he is it's ok.
I am a 5’2 female that weighs around 120 lbs with a desk job and when I’m active, I still average 12-15k steps a day and my TDEE according to FitBit is ~2100 -2200 so no, those numbers don’t seem high at all to me.
Is your partner using MFP to set goals, track intake and exercise, syncing FitBit to provide adjustments? If so, why not just enter all this info in MFP with a goal to lose 1 lb/week (how much weight is he trying to lose - at 195 lbs surely not more than 50 lbs right?) and let MFP calculate the deficit? I think 1000 cals is too aggressive for how much weight he has and how active he is, but again, using MFP and FitBit while logging as accurately as possible will take all the need for guessing out of this.
Yes, he has his own myfitnesspal along side his fitbit and it seems to be working. Greatful for the advice. I thought it would be really high, but like you, he manages 10,000+ steps a day. I think we are just going to see how it goes for a few weeks (adjust as we go along) thank you so much!!0 -
destyniecook wrote: »Hey! This is actually on behalf of my partner, I'm trying to help him but make sure I'm not making things worse. So hes a 40yo guy, around 195lbs and 5'8. Desk job, but walks for an hour in his lunch, on his fitbit it says that he burns about 2500-3000 a day.. which seems really high, but I though it would be as he does go for long walks. He only eats approx 1800-2000 calories a day which puts him in like 1000 cal def some days!? I'm just wondering, if that is okay and whether it will be enough for him. He said he isn't that hungry, I just don't want his body to go into starvation mode. I'm also worried as he wants to go back to the gym soon, and he will burn even more!! But I suppose then he will eat more... Just looking for some advice please please! (Trying to get him to eat lots of fibre and protein)
You do make things worse by doing this for a grown man. It sounds like you are more invested in this than he is. if he's eating what he says he is and burning as much as his fitbit says then he's on track and good advice dictates you just let him be. add to the fact that he even has a fitbit is an indication that he is at least trying to shed a few pounds, unless of course you were the one who gave it to him.
It's great that you take an interest but a word of caution: It could throw your relationship in the crapper if you try to push someone to lose weight. Positive reinforcement works better than doing their MFP tracking for them.
He did this all on his own!! He saw how well myfitnesspal and fitbit worked for me. He got back from holiday and wanted to get his *kitten* into gear! He has asked me to do all the research (I know myself, as a woman, well.. not sure on the guy side, hence the Q). Thank you for the word of caution, it is appreciated this but he has wanted to do this off his own back. Had he hadn't and I was pushing him, those words could of been really useful. Thank you for taking your time to get back to me:-)5 -
destyniecook wrote: »Hey! This is actually on behalf of my partner, I'm trying to help him but make sure I'm not making things worse. So hes a 40yo guy, around 195lbs and 5'8. Desk job, but walks for an hour in his lunch, on his fitbit it says that he burns about 2500-3000 a day.. which seems really high, but I though it would be as he does go for long walks. He only eats approx 1800-2000 calories a day which puts him in like 1000 cal def some days!? I'm just wondering, if that is okay and whether it will be enough for him. He said he isn't that hungry, I just don't want his body to go into starvation mode. I'm also worried as he wants to go back to the gym soon, and he will burn even more!! But I suppose then he will eat more... Just looking for some advice please please! (Trying to get him to eat lots of fibre and protein)
You do make things worse by doing this for a grown man. It sounds like you are more invested in this than he is. if he's eating what he says he is and burning as much as his fitbit says then he's on track and good advice dictates you just let him be. add to the fact that he even has a fitbit is an indication that he is at least trying to shed a few pounds, unless of course you were the one who gave it to him.
It's great that you take an interest but a word of caution: It could throw your relationship in the crapper if you try to push someone to lose weight. Positive reinforcement works better than doing their MFP tracking for them.
That doesn't sound at all like she is invested in it more than him, just that she is concerned in case her other half is going at it too aggressively and given that, that is often the case for a lot of new people who sign up to MFP, it's a fairly valid concern. Why shouldn't she seek information to put her mind at ease?
I don't see it written anywhere in the above that she is doing the tracking for him.7 -
destyniecook wrote: »Hey! This is actually on behalf of my partner, I'm trying to help him but make sure I'm not making things worse. So hes a 40yo guy, around 195lbs and 5'8. Desk job, but walks for an hour in his lunch, on his fitbit it says that he burns about 2500-3000 a day.. which seems really high, but I though it would be as he does go for long walks. He only eats approx 1800-2000 calories a day which puts him in like 1000 cal def some days!? I'm just wondering, if that is okay and whether it will be enough for him. He said he isn't that hungry, I just don't want his body to go into starvation mode. I'm also worried as he wants to go back to the gym soon, and he will burn even more!! But I suppose then he will eat more... Just looking for some advice please please! (Trying to get him to eat lots of fibre and protein)
I'm 6'3" .. mostly walk for excercise..
Average cal. Burn a day 3k (per Fitbit).. I eat between 1800-2100 cal.. lost 22+ lbs since late nov 2018.1 -
What is his loss rate like? That is the most accurate way to know if he is actually undereating. If he isn't losing weight he definitely isn't. If he is losing weight, not hungry, and it isn't dropping off him at a ridiculous rate, he isn't. I love that you care for him and are checking he is doing the right thing.0
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destyniecook wrote: »Hey! This is actually on behalf of my partner, I'm trying to help him but make sure I'm not making things worse. So hes a 40yo guy, around 195lbs and 5'8. Desk job, but walks for an hour in his lunch, on his fitbit it says that he burns about 2500-3000 a day.. which seems really high, but I though it would be as he does go for long walks. He only eats approx 1800-2000 calories a day which puts him in like 1000 cal def some days!? I'm just wondering, if that is okay and whether it will be enough for him. He said he isn't that hungry, I just don't want his body to go into starvation mode. I'm also worried as he wants to go back to the gym soon, and he will burn even more!! But I suppose then he will eat more... Just looking for some advice please please! (Trying to get him to eat lots of fibre and protein)
I'm 6'3" .. mostly walk for excercise..
Average cal. Burn a day 3k (per Fitbit).. I eat between 1800-2100 cal.. lost 22+ lbs since late nov 2018.
That's very helpful, thank you! Also, well fricken done!!2 -
sytchequeen wrote: »What is his loss rate like? That is the most accurate way to know if he is actually undereating. If he isn't losing weight he definitely isn't. If he is losing weight, not hungry, and it isn't dropping off him at a ridiculous rate, he isn't. I love that you care for him and are checking he is doing the right thing.
We have only started last week, and in the mean time he had a takeaway and a beers night with the lads and lost around 2 lbs, so it's working. I just want to make sure he doesn't go too far (also going to be doing measurements as the scale isn't everything).
Thank you for your kind words, it's very appreciated/ it does sound like im controlling him, but he has asked me to do this and we have amazing communication if he doesn't want to do something or wants to change something.2 -
destyniecook wrote: »
That's very helpful, thank you! Also, well fricken done!!
Thanks and good luck to you and your friend goals.0 -
If he’s serious, he should get a food scale. People think they are eating low calories, until they weigh their food. Fun fact: 3 croutons = 15 cal. How many croutons do you put on your salads 😀? Unless he’s losing 2lb/wk, I would bet his intake is higher than he thinks.0
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maronesax1972 wrote: »If he’s serious, he should get a food scale. People think they are eating low calories, until they weigh their food. Fun fact: 3 croutons = 15 cal. How many croutons do you put on your salads 😀? Unless he’s losing 2lb/wk, I would bet his intake is higher than he thinks.
I’m meal prepping every thing. But biscuits.. those guys add up...0 -
destyniecook wrote: »
I’m meal prepping every thing. But biscuits.. those guys add up...
Lol.. had two buiscuits and sausage gravy yesterday for breakfast.. yup.. high cal meal.. 600 cal.1 -
andysport1 wrote: »2500-3000 calories burnt a day seems quite high for a desk job guy. The walk is only worth 300-450 calories.
I'd doubt he is -1000, as others have said even if he is it's ok.
Just wanted to make sure you knew those weren't just exercise calories - that includes total calories he burns just from being alive.0 -
destyniecook wrote: »
I’m meal prepping every thing. But biscuits.. those guys add up...
Lol.. had two buiscuits and sausage gravy yesterday for breakfast.. yup.. high cal meal.. 600 cal.
Oh I mean like cookies!! Haha!!1 -
kshama2001 wrote: »andysport1 wrote: »2500-3000 calories burnt a day seems quite high for a desk job guy. The walk is only worth 300-450 calories.
I'd doubt he is -1000, as others have said even if he is it's ok.
Just wanted to make sure you knew those weren't just exercise calories - that includes total calories he burns just from being alive.
Yes that's right I know that, thank you for double checking. It still seems like quite alot as I (60kg, 5'nothing female) strruggles to burn 2000 with a workout and an hour walk!! But of course, gender, weight and height play key roles. Thank you :-)0
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