Finished my first week with MFP.. advice?

irie_nik
irie_nik Posts: 7
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone, I just finished up my first week, I havent lost and lbs on the scale yet.. but I feel great! :)

I am trying to go from 180lbs to 130lbs by spring, so 5-6 months. I did enter in to lose 2lbs/week. I am on 1200 cals/day, and have had no problems sticking to that. I have started working out too, but I don't eat my "extra" calories. I was wondering if anyone would mind taking a look at my food diary and suggest any changes?

Also, would it be better for me to eat back the calories I've burned?

I am LOVING the post workout feeling, and plan to try to burn 300 cals everyday.

Would love any feedback! Thanks in advance!

Replies

  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    Your diary is only open to friends. 1200 calories may work for a little while, because you have extra fat to burn as energy, but as you get closer to goal, you will need to eat more. And yes, I would suggest eating some of those extra calories back. If you really aren't hungry, a few days of not eating them back won't hurt, but some days you will feel extra hungry and you will have those extra calories to play with. Enjoy the journey.
  • lannabelle
    lannabelle Posts: 85 Member
    Hi! First, congrats on finishing your first week! Glad you're feeling positive and healthier. :smile: I can't comment on your diary because it's not open. My suggestion would be to try to eat back about half of your exercise calories. Your body needs the fuel for your awesome workouts.
  • irie_nik
    irie_nik Posts: 7
    Thanks guys :) I didn't relaize it was private, just opened it to everyone!

    I will definitely try to eat half the calories back, with low carb foods. I'm worried Im eating too many!
  • fatfudgery
    fatfudgery Posts: 449 Member
    You may be undercounting your portion sizes. Weigh your food instead of using volume measures.
  • besaro
    besaro Posts: 1,858 Member
    yes, eat your calories back if you are using the MFP model. Get a HRM to make sure you are burning that 300, its still an estimate but defo closer than just guessing.

    You can probably eat more and still lose weight fyi.
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    Try to NET at least 1200 a day. Getting a little more protein at breakfast may help you fell more satisfied throughout the day. Also, I only see elliptical in your workout diary, try adding some strength training.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Hi everyone, I just finished up my first week, I havent lost and lbs on the scale yet.. but I feel great! :)

    I am trying to go from 180lbs to 130lbs by spring, so 5-6 months. I did enter in to lose 2lbs/week. I am on 1200 cals/day, and have had no problems sticking to that. I have started working out too, but I don't eat my "extra" calories. I was wondering if anyone would mind taking a look at my food diary and suggest any changes?

    Also, would it be better for me to eat back the calories I've burned?

    I am LOVING the post workout feeling, and plan to try to burn 300 cals everyday.

    Would love any feedback! Thanks in advance!

    Congratulations on setting some goals for yourself to get a healthier body! It feel good to feel good!

    With your 1,200 calories, you deficit is already built in. Since you are exercising, you need to eat those calories back, or at least a portion of them, so that you will NET 1,200 calories or close to this. The reasoning is that you need those extra calories to fuel your workouts.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    yes, eat your calories back if you are using the MFP model. Get a HRM to make sure you are burning that 300, its still an estimate but defo closer than just guessing.

    You can probably eat more and still lose weight fyi.

    Agreed on the HRM! I just bought one for my birthday and I love it. A Polar F7. Love it. The only thing I was told to look out for is that it overestimates for weight lifting calories burned.
  • irie_nik
    irie_nik Posts: 7
    I will definitely be getting a food scale, and will look into a HRM as well. I went by what the machine said 35 mins = 300 cals. vs MFP's suggestion of 30 mins = 374 cals.
  • CharChary
    CharChary Posts: 220 Member
    Your diary is only open to friends. 1200 calories may work for a little while, because you have extra fat to burn as energy, but as you get closer to goal, you will need to eat more. And yes, I would suggest eating some of those extra calories back. If you really aren't hungry, a few days of not eating them back won't hurt, but some days you will feel extra hungry and you will have those extra calories to play with. Enjoy the journey.

    THIS! I also did what you were doing in the beginning. Then, as weeks progressed, ate anywhere from 1300-1400 calories and still continued to lose weight and I felt a lot better. I started to get a little woozy/weak on just 1200 calories so that extra 100,200 helped me a lot. I also eat back extra calories though sometimes. I just try not to think about it to much and eat when I'm hungry or I can't function.

    Weight will come off. Keep doing what you're doing. I know its discouraging when you don't see the number on the scale move.. but it will. As long as you keep going!
  • CharChary
    CharChary Posts: 220 Member
    Also like what others said, an HRM is a wonderful tool.

    If you don't already, invest in a food scale. It's just all about accuracy and making sure the numbers are correct.

    you might feel crazy and obsessive with all of the numbers involved in weight loss but it becomes second nature overtime.
  • lannabelle
    lannabelle Posts: 85 Member
    Further to my earlier reply, I've now looked at your diary and your food choices look really healthy. My recommendations are to get a digital kitchen scale and weigh as much of your foods as possible to get a more accurate idea of your calories in and to get a HRM (that comes with a chest strap) to have a better idea of calories out during a workout. Since I started using my kitchen scale and my Polar FT7 HRM, I've been consistently loosing weight. Best wishes on your fitness journey :smile:

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