New Here
Hello!
I just recently joined and I weigh 212 pounds, just weighed in again today. I've been on and off diets and not exercising as much as I used to before moving into my new house. I weighed about 198 before I moved and when I got moved in, obviously a new house, I didn't want to cook and I did a lot of take out. I am hopefully getting back on track. I've got my treadmill plugged in and I did 30 minutes on it today along with some step and squats. I would say i usually eat probably closer to 2500-3000 calories the past couple of months. (Not sure of the exact amount, but I was eating a lot!). Long story short, it's gotten out of hand. Any advise would be appreciated! MFP suggests 1200 calories. Should I reduce my calories by that much or should I start with exercise first, 30 minutes morning and night, and only take off a couple hundred calories per day? Very disappointed that I let myself go this far, but I'm going to work hard to get to my goal weight of 160 at least! If I can get down to 140, even better. Lol
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Welcome!! You just took the first big step. That is a low calorie goal and it is hard to tell if that is too low without some other factors. What is your height, how did you mark your activity level and what was your goal to lose per week?
When I first started, I just logged what I ate for a couple of weeks, then gradually cut down to get to a a deficit to lose a pound, then half pound. That helped because it identified some easy places to cut. And it helped me develop eating and exercise habits I can do for life.
Good luck. This group has people that give great advice. Hopefully more jump on here for you.
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@megd44 Hello! Thank you for the warm welcome! I am 5'4 and I have really low activity level as I work from home and I sit at a desk pretty much all day. I'm hoping to stay motivated in working out once in the morning and again at night. I do want to lose about a pound to 2 pounds a week. I know this is going to take awhile because of all the weight I've gained so I know it's not going to be a quick fix. I love doing my exercises and it's easy so I'm hoping I can keep up with it and not get side tracked.
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The 1200 calories makes sense with those figures. That is a big deficit and an aggressive weight loss, and may be hard to stick with. You can try it and see how you feel. Even if you upped it to 1500 you'd still lose about 1 to 1.5 lbs a week. And make sure you are eating some of your exercise calories back at that level.
Personally, 1200 cals would be terrible for me. I'd be grumpy and probably chew my arm off. We have similar stats from when I started. I am a little bit taller and (I am pretty sure) quite a bit older. I lost a pound a week eating 1500 to 1800 comfortably. I am almost at goal now and eat between 1700 and 2000 daily. This lets me have the occasional treat, etc. I have also been able to build what I think will be lifelong habits.
I also recommend getting a digital food scale and weighing everything. It is an eye opener, in both a good and bad way.
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Thank you! I have been hearing a lot about digital food scales and I think Ill give it a try. I started the 1200 calorie diet yesterday and I'm feeling okay! My stomach was a little upset with me around midnight last night because I didn't eat as much. I do have a little more energy today since I started my day with my morning workout. And I am 25 with a daughter! Really put on the weight after she was born. At that point, I didn't care what I looked like so I let myself go. I appreciate your great advice!
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hello and welcome! I am relatively new here as well. I started at 227 and am now at 210 with a final goal of 147. I’m also shooting for about 1200 calories a day. I’m on a glp1 so also eat high protein and have recently taken up exercising 3-5 days a week.
This is a great place to get support for your journey, there are lots of people at all stages of the journey here and we’re rooting for you!0 -
Hi, Kassandra! I'm on the 1200 cal diet. I can't exercise much because I'm recovering from an injury. I've lost weight every week since I've started. I have no doubt you'll be able to conquer this new challenge, too! You're here, and you're ready to make a change. We're here to cheer you on. You can do this!
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Welcome!
At your activity level and weight I would shoot for one pound a week. You are ALWAYS going to weigh something. So there is no reason to try to drop weight quickly. If you aim for 1 pound and lose 1.5lbs then you will be happy. If you aim for 2 and have to make yourself miserable while you do it then you are going to quit.
I am about your weight. I was 213.6 this morning. I do eat around 1200 calories though mfp suggest 1440. I also go out to eat with my mother once a week and i don't want to figure out how to analyze every single calorie in food i don't make.
You can eat quite well on 1200 calories. Get your 4oz protein (at least) and then look for food high in fiber and low in calories. I put many of my meals on lettuce. Cucumbers and zucchini are a staple. I usually cook with canned corn, carrots and peas. Volume of food wise, I don't feel deprived.
I am also disabled so my exercise is usually kicking my feet while I am at the computer. you can move even if you are working at a desk. I believe meg has a standing desk and marches in place. So there is way to get in movement.
I am just an inch shorter than you. I'm also aiming for 150-140. so you have a buddy!. you can do this.
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Hi, welcome :)
Takes me 3 to 4 days when I start for my appetite to adjust... and then it can kind of get hungry from different things and that is when it is harder for me to stick with the 1-2 pounds a week...
Just an idea to share... When it does feel hard, I sometimes bump up to 'maintenance' level of calories.
To find out what MFP/calculators suggest for calories to maintain current weight - go back through the guided setup and answer to keep weight the same, at sedentary...
- I figure if I eat anything less than 'maintnance calories', that 'less amount' is bonus…
- For any reason, anytime, I figure I can choose to eat that maintenance amount of calories... or less, or more.
- The point is, if I know and choose, then no guilt in making the choice...
In life, we adjust for all sorts of reasons, holidays, vacations, sick days. As adults, we are free to make our own choices, so when I do bump up, for whatever reason, I figure that is way better than quitting... and it makes things easier emotionally to know I am ok to choose different.
Glad you're here and look forward to yakking our journies :)
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