1200 cals a day?!
Replies
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I would do whatever works best for you!
Ding Ding Ding Ding.
Doing "whatever works best for you" to lose weight now can have unintended health consequences later on down the road. Which is what people are trying to educate you on. Right now the priority is lose this weight STAT, not caring about any consequences. Same reason people take other unhealthy measures like <insert fad very low cal diet or magic pill of the day here>.
shhh... this guy has it figured out already. We can give him the same advice later when he isn't happy with how things are going.
I've been losing weight for 14 months. I think if my metabolism was about to shut down it probably would have happened already.0 -
Hello....
I'm on 1200 calories a day.... most of the time, I do just fine on it... I eat pretty much what I want, and have only done minimal walking so far for excersise. And I've been encouraged by the fact that if I even think I'm going over my calories, I put my walking shoes on. I've lost 15 lbs in about 4 1/2 weeks. I'm loving myfitnesspal....
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I would do whatever works best for you!
Ding Ding Ding Ding.
Doing "whatever works best for you" to lose weight now can have unintended health consequences later on down the road. Which is what people are trying to educate you on. Right now the priority is lose this weight STAT, not caring about any consequences. Same reason people take other unhealthy measures like <insert fad very low cal diet or magic pill of the day here>.
shhh... this guy has it figured out already. We can give him the same advice later when he isn't happy with how things are going.
I've been losing weight for 14 months. I think if my metabolism was about to shut down it probably would have happened already.
Didn't you say you only net 1200 once or twice a week? I really don't think you are eating at 1200 then. I'm sure if you look at your weekly you are in a pretty decent spot. If I were you I wouldn't tell people you eat at 1200...you probably eat more like 1500.0 -
Hello....
I'm on 1200 calories a day.... most of the time, I do just fine on it... I eat pretty much what I want, and have only done minimal walking so far for excersise. And I've been encouraged by the fact that if I even think I'm going over my calories, I put my walking shoes on. I've lost 15 lbs in about 4 1/2 weeks. I'm loving myfitnesspal....
If you read the post at all you would realize that anyone can lose weight initially at 1200. But check back in, in July and tell me how your progress is going.0 -
I would do whatever works best for you!
Ding Ding Ding Ding.
Doing "whatever works best for you" to lose weight now can have unintended health consequences later on down the road. Which is what people are trying to educate you on. Right now the priority is lose this weight STAT, not caring about any consequences. Same reason people take other unhealthy measures like <insert fad very low cal diet or magic pill of the day here>.
shhh... this guy has it figured out already. We can give him the same advice later when he isn't happy with how things are going.
I've been losing weight for 14 months. I think if my metabolism was about to shut down it probably would have happened already.
Didn't you say you only net 1200 once or twice a week? I really don't think you are eating at 1200 then. I'm sure if you look at your weekly you are in a pretty decent spot. If I were you I wouldn't tell people you eat at 1200...you probably eat more like 1500.
I never even said that.
I've just responded negatively to the lecturing nature of the people on the site.
Never said that I eat 1200 every day. Actually said the opposite a whole bunch of times.0 -
But this attitude that a lot of people have on here that they know what is right for everyone....that's just not reality. People have different goals and there are a lot of different healthy ways to get weight loss accomplished.
1200 is not right for most people, it is a default minimum. If this person were 5'0 and had 75+ pounds to lose, then I would not say don't eat 1200. For THIS OP, it is not reasonable, or necessary. And the goal should be not just accomplishing the weight loss but doing it in a HEALTHY way.0 -
I would do whatever works best for you!
Ding Ding Ding Ding.
Doing "whatever works best for you" to lose weight now can have unintended health consequences later on down the road. Which is what people are trying to educate you on. Right now the priority is lose this weight STAT, not caring about any consequences. Same reason people take other unhealthy measures like <insert fad very low cal diet or magic pill of the day here>.
shhh... this guy has it figured out already. We can give him the same advice later when he isn't happy with how things are going.
I've been losing weight for 14 months. I think if my metabolism was about to shut down it probably would have happened already.
Didn't you say you only net 1200 once or twice a week? I really don't think you are eating at 1200 then. I'm sure if you look at your weekly you are in a pretty decent spot. If I were you I wouldn't tell people you eat at 1200...you probably eat more like 1500.
I never even said that.
I've just responded negatively to the lecturing nature of the people on the site.
Never said that I eat 1200 every day. Actually said the opposite a whole bunch of times.
I'm not attacking you! lol I think this thread is just bogus.0 -
I would do whatever works best for you!
Ding Ding Ding Ding.
Doing "whatever works best for you" to lose weight now can have unintended health consequences later on down the road. Which is what people are trying to educate you on. Right now the priority is lose this weight STAT, not caring about any consequences. Same reason people take other unhealthy measures like <insert fad very low cal diet or magic pill of the day here>.
shhh... this guy has it figured out already. We can give him the same advice later when he isn't happy with how things are going.
I've been losing weight for 14 months. I think if my metabolism was about to shut down it probably would have happened already.
Didn't you say you only net 1200 once or twice a week? I really don't think you are eating at 1200 then. I'm sure if you look at your weekly you are in a pretty decent spot. If I were you I wouldn't tell people you eat at 1200...you probably eat more like 1500.
I never even said that.
I've just responded negatively to the lecturing nature of the people on the site.
Never said that I eat 1200 every day. Actually said the opposite a whole bunch of times.
I'm not attacking you! lol I think this thread is just bogus.
LOL yeah I know.
My message in this thread was simple - eat healthy, you won't crave, and it will be easy to limit your calories.
I never endorsed ANY kind of calorie restriction. Just said if you eat healthy it is easy to stay under 1200 calories for ONE day if you need to.
I think my message was a pretty good and basic one, but somehow I got deemed the poster boy for unhealthy dieting in this thread, and I got all the lectures that came with it, so I kinda got an attitude lol.0 -
most 1200 calorie threads are.I would do whatever works best for you!
Ding Ding Ding Ding.
Doing "whatever works best for you" to lose weight now can have unintended health consequences later on down the road. Which is what people are trying to educate you on. Right now the priority is lose this weight STAT, not caring about any consequences. Same reason people take other unhealthy measures like <insert fad very low cal diet or magic pill of the day here>.
shhh... this guy has it figured out already. We can give him the same advice later when he isn't happy with how things are going.
I've been losing weight for 14 months. I think if my metabolism was about to shut down it probably would have happened already.
Didn't you say you only net 1200 once or twice a week? I really don't think you are eating at 1200 then. I'm sure if you look at your weekly you are in a pretty decent spot. If I were you I wouldn't tell people you eat at 1200...you probably eat more like 1500.
I never even said that.
I've just responded negatively to the lecturing nature of the people on the site.
Never said that I eat 1200 every day. Actually said the opposite a whole bunch of times.
I'm not attacking you! lol I think this thread is just bogus.0 -
Okay, I went to Scooby's site and this is what I got:
BMR = 1617
TDEE = 2506
Daily calories = 2005
So, based on that I should be eating 2005 calories a day total. That is, if I wrote down all of my calories on a sheet, they should total 2005 and I should still lose 1 pound a week. (Yes, this includes 60 minutes of walking 3-5 times a week, but I do not add in those calories).
I think it is because I am freaking out at that many calories, but that may be the reason? I lost weight years ago using Weight Watchers and that was because we did points - never calories, so I don't even know how many calories I was eating with Weight Watchers. I had lost 70 pounds with WW and put back on 50, and now have 46 pounds of those to lose.
So, that makes sense? I know we are all individual, I think I just need to get it into my head that eating that many calories is okay. I knew when I first posted I was wrong with my BMR and TDEE. I should have checked my numbers first. I'm not really that dumb.....or am I? Ugh.
Thanks to any and all who want to help. If you want to send me a friend request, I'd be more than willing to accept. Thanks!
Laura0 -
It took me a few weeks, but I was able to reprogram my body into eating smaller portions at each meal. That, for me, has been key. My breakfast is usually some granola bars or greek yogurt and coffee. I'm usually around 200 calories for that. For snacks, I treat myself to a chocolate rice krispie treat (100 calories). For lunch, I try to do salad or all veggies twice a week. No matter what, I keep lunch under 500 calories. I usually eat a regular dinner (600-800 calories, depending on meal). Then, I exercise, burning between 300 and 600 calories a day. I do have cheat days, but I try to maintain my good eating habits anyway. It has taken a few months, but I have adapted to the lower calorie needs and change in diet. You just have to find your groove.0
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Thanks much! 2000 calories a day it is with my 4-5 days a week of exercise burning 600 calories. I'm going to give it a shot.
Appreciate all the support and advice!
Laura
I know, it's not rocket science..............0 -
Okay, I went to Scooby's site and this is what I got:
BMR = 1617
TDEE = 2506
Daily calories = 2005
So, based on that I should be eating 2005 calories a day total. That is, if I wrote down all of my calories on a sheet, they should total 2005 and I should still lose 1 pound a week. (Yes, this includes 60 minutes of walking 3-5 times a week, but I do not add in those calories).
I think it is because I am freaking out at that many calories, but that may be the reason? I lost weight years ago using Weight Watchers and that was because we did points - never calories, so I don't even know how many calories I was eating with Weight Watchers. I had lost 70 pounds with WW and put back on 50, and now have 46 pounds of those to lose.
So, that makes sense? I know we are all individual, I think I just need to get it into my head that eating that many calories is okay. I knew when I first posted I was wrong with my BMR and TDEE. I should have checked my numbers first. I'm not really that dumb.....or am I? Ugh.
Thanks to any and all who want to help. If you want to send me a friend request, I'd be more than willing to accept. Thanks!
Laura
Sounds like a great *starting point* which is all these online calculators can give you. Use that number for 6-8 weeks...weigh and measure EVERYTHING...and monitor your results. If you like the direction and magnitude of your change at the end of the 6-8 weeks, keep using it. If you're losing too quickly...(yes, this is a thing)...then add a hundred calories or so. Too slowly? Then subtract a hundred calories or so. Then run another 6-8 week session at the new number.
The *secret* to a successful weight loss strategy IMHO is finding the biggest calorie number at which you make satisfactory progress. With that, you won't be overly hungry all the time, you'll have optimal energy, you're more likely to preserve LBM, and you'll just plain old feel better about, well, everything. Finding the smallest calorie number at which you can survive yields a different quality of life.
Best of luck.0 -
Okay, I went to Scooby's site and this is what I got:
BMR = 1617
TDEE = 2506
Daily calories = 2005
So, based on that I should be eating 2005 calories a day total. That is, if I wrote down all of my calories on a sheet, they should total 2005 and I should still lose 1 pound a week. (Yes, this includes 60 minutes of walking 3-5 times a week, but I do not add in those calories).
Yes that's right, eat around 2,000 but don't eat more for exercise (unless you go run a marathon or do something way more vigorous than your normal routine.)
So, that makes sense? I know we are all individual, I think I just need to get it into my head that eating that many calories is okay. I knew when I first posted I was wrong with my BMR and TDEE. I should have checked my numbers first. I'm not really that dumb.....or am I? Ugh.
No, not dumb, it is just as you said, with Weight Watchers you didn't need to know those numbers. With MFP here, they do use the term BMR, but the setup is a bit confusing in that it allows you to input numbers that aren't necessarily appropriate or healthy, and too many people get the default minimum of 1200 (and the eating more for exercise confuses people too). So unless people read the forums or talk to people on their friends list, they may not ever get educated on these things.0 -
Okay, I went to Scooby's site and this is what I got:
BMR = 1617
TDEE = 2506
Daily calories = 2005
So, based on that I should be eating 2005 calories a day total. That is, if I wrote down all of my calories on a sheet, they should total 2005 and I should still lose 1 pound a week. (Yes, this includes 60 minutes of walking 3-5 times a week, but I do not add in those calories).
I think it is because I am freaking out at that many calories, but that may be the reason? I lost weight years ago using Weight Watchers and that was because we did points - never calories, so I don't even know how many calories I was eating with Weight Watchers. I had lost 70 pounds with WW and put back on 50, and now have 46 pounds of those to lose.
So, that makes sense? I know we are all individual, I think I just need to get it into my head that eating that many calories is okay. I knew when I first posted I was wrong with my BMR and TDEE. I should have checked my numbers first. I'm not really that dumb.....or am I? Ugh.
Thanks to any and all who want to help. If you want to send me a friend request, I'd be more than willing to accept. Thanks!
Laura
Sounds like a great *starting point* which is all these online calculators can give you. Use that number for 6-8 weeks...weigh and measure EVERYTHING...and monitor your results. If you like the direction and magnitude of your change at the end of the 6-8 weeks, keep using it. If you're losing too quickly...(yes, this is a thing)...then add a hundred calories or so. Too slowly? Then subtract a hundred calories or so. Then run another 6-8 week session at the new number.
The *secret* to a successful weight loss strategy IMHO is finding the biggest calorie number at which you make satisfactory progress. With that, you won't be overly hungry all the time, you'll have optimal energy, you're more likely to preserve LBM, and you'll just plain old feel better about, well, everything. Finding the smallest calorie number at which you can survive yields a different quality of life.
Best of luck.
All of this too^^^^^^^^0 -
I have 1200 calories a day. I personally find that I could easily eat more but can perfectly manage on 1200! All just about getting a good balance with your 3 meals a day. I tend to have something like 2 crumpets for breakfast with a pint of water and then drink water/peppermint tea at work if I get peckish before lunch. For lunch I tend to have a bulky tuna or chicken salad and a banana afterwards. For dinner I just make sure I use up all my remaining calories before going to the gym! I also make sure I try and eat my food slower/chew more and it fills me up more. I don't burn a huge amount at the gym (2-300 cals when I go usually) as I don't think I have enough cals a day to burn much more. I think everyone has their own way of making it work but this is mine x 0
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If I can add my thoughts on this. While you read this, keep in mind that 30 years ago, I was 120kg! I dropped to 85kg and have been between 85 and 90kgs with between 10 and 12% BF, ever since. I understanding dieting and the frustrations of losing weight.
You need and must know your BMR and then your TDEE. This is not only for sports enthusiasts. Losing weight needs to be a slow(er) process. If you are eating too few calories per day to drop weight quickly, what do you imagine the end results will be? You've been hungry for 4 or 5 months, and now you want to "reward" yourself. You'll most likely eat a bit more than you should slowly, but before you know it, you'll be right back where you were. The yo-yo effect has begun. Personally, I want everyone to be happy, healthy and fit!
To quote Emma-Leigh's website, your BMR is the number of calories you need to need to consume to maintain your body if you were comatose (basically if you sat and did nothing all day - literally nothing!)
TDEE is based upon a number of factors and the Katch-McArdle method or formula is considered the most up-to-date and accurate. Once you know your TDEE, you can easily subtract a percentage (15% for example) to loose weight.
So, if your TDEE is 1700, why not try eating 1500kcal per day rather than the painful 1200? While it will be slightly slower to lose the weight, keeping it off will be much easier. Why? Referring back to the second paragraph, above. While those 4 or 5 months might mean 5 or 6 with 1500 kcal, you are less likely to want to jump off the wagon and binge eat. When you're eating only a fewer amount of calories versus a lot fewer, it's more comfortable and less work. Once you hit your desired weight, slowly increase your calories back to your TDEE and keep it there. Plus going from 1200 back to 1700 is a huge increase.
Since I am lifting weights, my TDEE is 3100kcal per day. When I want to cut down, I don't drop to 2500 or 2300, I'll go down to 2800 for three weeks then 2600 for three weeks, then slowly back up. It truly is easier and much more comfortable.
I hope this helps with some frustration some are encountering.0 -
I am, but like you it is only possible because I also eat some of my exercise calories. It is certainly not a lot of food.
TommyJensen - a male should never eat below 1600 calories a day.
Why is that? I exercise twice a day (weight lifting in the morning and jogging in the evening) and eat 1200-1300 a day with no problem.
I'm 200lb, 5'9, 23 year old male. I'm tired of being fat.0 -
MFP has calculated 1200 calories per day for me. I am okay with it on the days that i exercise because I eat back some of the calories earnt but on any rest days I must admit I do struggle. I dont really have enough calories left to have a decent meal this evening, and I like to eat plenty of fruit so I will go out for a good walk later to earn some more calories. I am going to have to look into this BMR and TDEE that everyone is talking about, not sure how to work it out will probably try good old Google 0
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I love It!0
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I changed my daily to 1400. I like this amount because it equates to approx 28 points if you were on Weight Watchers. And when I go to the gym it gives me the extra calories to use or maybe even bank a few for the weekend.0
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Just to add a little something to my above post.
Based upon a 30 years-old woman, 166cm (5'4") and 70kgs (155 pounds), with 30% BF. No exercise and a desk-type job.
BMR is 1435 and TDEE is about 1725. Based on that, if the daily caloric goal was 1450 or 1500, this is a caloric deficit and weight would be lost at a more comfortable pace.
Food for, ...uh, thought. 0 -
MFP has calculated 1200 calories per day for me. I am okay with it on the days that i exercise because I eat back some of the calories earnt but on any rest days I must admit I do struggle. I dont really have enough calories left to have a decent meal this evening, and I like to eat plenty of fruit so I will go out for a good walk later to earn some more calories. I am going to have to look into this BMR and TDEE that everyone is talking about, not sure how to work it out will probably try good old Google
MFP gave you the lowest default number based upon "I want to lose XX pounds per week"
If you put in a too aggressive goal.....MFP defaulted to the minimum. 1200 may or may not be appropriate for you.....BMR is helpful in determining this. Here's a calculator
http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/
BMR is the # of calories your body would use if you stayed in bed all day
TDEE (maintenance) = BMR + activity level + exercise0 -
I am, but like you it is only possible because I also eat some of my exercise calories. It is certainly not a lot of food.
TommyJensen - a male should never eat below 1600 calories a day.
Why is that? I exercise twice a day (weight lifting in the morning and jogging in the evening) and eat 1200-1300 a day with no problem.
I'm 200lb, 5'9, 23 year old male. I'm tired of being fat.
A 23 years-old Man, 5'9", 200lbs, who exercises twice everyday, would have a BMR of 1750 and a TDEE of 3000.
1200kcal per day is way too low. If you ate 2500 or 2600, you'd be fine and be in a caloric deficit. Why aren't you losing weight? I don't know. I'd like to look at your food diary, but you have it as private. You say you are doing weight and cardio every day. Too much! Entirely too much. I would recommend that you train with weights three or four days a week - at most. Keep cardio limited to two days per week. Your muscles need rest. Eating will boost your metabolism. Provided those calories are good calories and not junk. If you are keeping a food diary, you must be honest with it and yourself.0 -
and our point is:I think people got the wrong idea about me. I stay 1200 or lower one time a week or so, not every day. I was just making the point that it is fairly easy to to if you eat the right stuff.
very.. VERY few people should have to. the 1200 calorie that MFP gives out is a flub in the system. I'm sorry you're not following.
I just logged my 770th day on this site today. I've been posting the following blurb for a while.here are some clues:
1. don't trust the initial setup that MFP provides. If you put in the wrong/inaccurate information, it'll tell you to eat an amount that may not be applicable.
2. Make sure you eat enough.
3. Figure out what works for you and is sustainable/healthy/long term.
4. avoid fads. don't buy in to any "Hey, try the twinkie and vodka diet"
5. Don't cut out anything now that you don't plan on literally giving up forever.
6. GET A FOOD SCALE. Weigh everything. No, seriously.
7. Get an HRM with a chest strap. You'll at least have a better idea of what you're burning. It'll be more accurate than the generic info in the exercise database.. and even more than the cardio machines. This is great for steady state cardio (run/walk/etc)
8. Don't go balls out. You'll burn out. I see 300 lb people show up here, instantly start working out and cutting their intake SEVERELY... trying to cut out all of their carbs at once.. whatever. Take it slow. Figure out how much you need to eat FIRST in order to lose.. then incorporate exercise.
9. Don't cardio yourself to death.
10. Take the information on the forums with a grain of salt. A lot of people that have been here for a while.. and have been successful, may seem jaded. They give out GREAT advice day after day, only to be met with people that refuse to listen.
11. Eat real food. Not diet food. Not "low fat, sugar free, now without X." It's easier to get/find/count.
12. don't set time restrictions.
13. measure yourself weekly. Don't just weigh. Measure and take pictures.
14 BE PATIENT.
15. Avoid forum topics that have "1200" in the title. It's just full of butthurt. Lots of it.
16. If you ask a question on the forum, give as much information as you can ("yes, I have a food scale and weigh my food" is worlds better than "I eat a palm full of miscellaneous boiled chicken parts..sometimes.")
17. Be honest with yourself and honest with us.
18. This isn't a game, it's about changing your lifestyle. Do that.
pretty much that.
...and don't fall into the "1200 calorie" vertigo of suck because of:
the typical MFP users does this:
1. I wanna lose weight, let's try MFP.
2. OH! Wow, it tells me I can lose 2 lbs a WEEK? AWESOME!
3. I just sit at a desk when I'm not working out, I guess I'm sedentary.
4. MFP tells them 1200 calories, and they don't even eat that.. then they work out on top of it.. creating an even bigger deficit.
5. Lose a lot, fast, brag about 1200 calorie success.
6. Come back in a few months trying to figure out why they're dizzy, tired, not losing weight.
7. Get on the forums, ask why they aren't losing.
8. Get two responses (I eat 1200 and lose) (I eat 2200 and lose)
9. Argument ensues about who is right.
Now. That being said. These threads happen hundreds of times per day. Most times, and I mean really.. seriously.. 95% of the time.. people get the 1200 number because they don't put the right information in when they set up the account. There are a great number of people that are trying to help. I'm one of 'em.
I'm a hardcore advocate of actually finding out what works for the individual.. by means of other calculators, averages, time, practice, and patience.
Blanket prescriptions of 1200 calories "because it worked for me" is more harmful to the generic new user than the "figure out what you need to eat." Unfortunately, one is a LOT easier to type.
Find out what you need: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
and make sure to read: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
this could help.
I've bolded the important part so any future posters to this thread can see that there's a big bright light at the end of that godawful 1200 calorie tunnel that they get sucked into.
Feel free to take a look at those links yourself, it might help.
The thing is....I don't need help. I've lost 90 pounds without any suffering whatsoever and my weight loss has actually accelerated as I've moved forward. What I am doing is working for me.
The only point of my post was that if you stop eating foods that make you crave, if you just eat healthy, it is easy to keep your calories down. I'm not here to be the calorie police. I can see we have plenty of those here.
You have already clarified that you aren't on 1200 daily calories (on average). So there's a good chance you're eating "enough" calories not to have any significant side effects. For your sake, I hope so.
That said, those you are railing against don't necessarily have a problem with your approach (because beyond indicating you eat more than 1200 calories, you really haven't divulged your approach). I am a little troubled by your nonchalant views on losing LBM (and that you used the word "toned"), but hey, different strokes and all that.
Our...okay, *my*...problem is with people thinking that they *need* to be at 1200 to see any results and *starting* there. There truly are people for whom 1200 is the right answer. I have no qualms with that. My problem is with those who preach that others should start at 1200 and that there are no consequences of too great of a deficit. (Oh, I have a problem with those who say that building muscle is easy and that they can do it at 1200 calories too.)
There is an optimal way to do this (IMHO) and I choose to spend some of my time in the forums preaching that message: find the *most* calories you can eat while still making satisfactory progress towards your goals. The benefits are many.
ETA: I recommend discounting the personal anecdotes of those who are "just fine on 1200" who are actually eating 1200 (based on weighing and measuring) who have been at it for less than two or so months. It takes time for some of the consequences to manifest. The boards are full of posts from those doing "just fine" who drop out of the game after a couple of months when they stop doing "just fine"...until they come back later and are once again "just fine" for a couple of months. It's a vicious cycle.0 -
I am, but like you it is only possible because I also eat some of my exercise calories. It is certainly not a lot of food.
TommyJensen - a male should never eat below 1600 calories a day.
Why is that? I exercise twice a day (weight lifting in the morning and jogging in the evening) and eat 1200-1300 a day with no problem.
I'm 200lb, 5'9, 23 year old male. I'm tired of being fat.
Too little food paired with too much exercise for that amount of food creates excess Cortisol. Excess Cortisol will prevent weight loss and long term damages health.0 -
...and you're gonna have an issue if you try to eat more than that from here out.On days I don't exercise I don't have any problem staying below 1200 calories. I will eat 2/3 of a cup of oatmeal in the morning, which is 200 calories, then do a tuna salad with lettuce at lunch for 250 calories. Then i will eat 2 chicken breasts and some vegetables at dinner for 300 calories, and a half cup of frozen yogurt for 100 calories. I still have room for another serving of oatmeal at 200 calories and another 150 calories to spare.
If you eat healthy stuff all day, it isn't really that difficult to stay under 1200 calories.
Did bad today though, went to the Thai buffet and pigged out lol. Ate mostly vegetables and chicken though.
You are a man, you should not eat that little.
Maybe. But I've lost 90 pounds and I just had a full physical, and the Dr. says I am a helluva lot healthier than when I was fat.
Not if he continues to stay discipline and stay on track. If he lets up and gets fat, then thats his fault and he deserves it for not being disciplined.0 -
I am, but like you it is only possible because I also eat some of my exercise calories. It is certainly not a lot of food.
TommyJensen - a male should never eat below 1600 calories a day.
Why is that? I exercise twice a day (weight lifting in the morning and jogging in the evening) and eat 1200-1300 a day with no problem.
I'm 200lb, 5'9, 23 year old male. I'm tired of being fat.
A 23 years-old Man, 5'9", 200lbs, who exercises twice everyday, would have a BMR of 1750 and a TDEE of 3000.
1200kcal per day is way too low. If you ate 2500 or 2600, you'd be fine and be in a caloric deficit. Why aren't you losing weight? I don't know. I'd like to look at your food diary, but you have it as private. You say you are doing weight and cardio every day. Too much! Entirely too much. I would recommend that you train with weights three or four days a week - at most. Keep cardio limited to two days per week. Your muscles need rest. Eating will boost your metabolism. Provided those calories are good calories and not junk. If you are keeping a food diary, you must be honest with it and yourself.
How can I take it off of private mode? I didn't know it was on private sorry0 -
The thing is....I don't need help. I've lost 90 pounds without any suffering whatsoever and my weight loss has actually accelerated as I've moved forward. What I am doing is working for me.
The only point of my post was that if you stop eating foods that make you crave, if you just eat healthy, it is easy to keep your calories down. I'm not here to be the calorie police. I can see we have plenty of those here.
You have already clarified that you aren't on 1200 daily calories (on average). So there's a good chance you're eating "enough" calories not to have any significant side effects. For your sake, I hope so.
That said, those you are railing against don't necessarily have a problem with your approach (because beyond indicating you eat more than 1200 calories, you really haven't divulged your approach). I am a little troubled by your nonchalant views on losing LBM (and that you used the word "toned"), but hey, different strokes and all that.
Our...okay, *my*...problem is with people thinking that they *need* to be at 1200 to see any results and *starting* there. There truly are people for whom 1200 is the right answer. I have no qualms with that. My problem is with those who preach that others should start at 1200 and that there are no consequences of too great of a deficit. (Oh, I have a problem with those who say that building muscle is easy and that they can do it at 1200 calories too.)
There is an optimal way to do this (IMHO) and I choose to spend some of my time in the forums preaching that message: find the *most* calories you can eat while still making satisfactory progress towards your goals. The benefits are many.
ETA: I recommend discounting the personal anecdotes of those who are "just fine on 1200" who are actually eating 1200 (based on weighing and measuring) who have been at it for less than two or so months. It takes time for some of the consequences to manifest. The boards are full of posts from those doing "just fine" who drop out of the game after a couple of months when they stop doing "just fine"...until they come back later and are once again "just fine" for a couple of months. It's a vicious cycle.
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perfectly stated! I couldn't agree more.0 -
I am, but like you it is only possible because I also eat some of my exercise calories. It is certainly not a lot of food.
TommyJensen - a male should never eat below 1600 calories a day.
Why is that? I exercise twice a day (weight lifting in the morning and jogging in the evening) and eat 1200-1300 a day with no problem.
I'm 200lb, 5'9, 23 year old male. I'm tired of being fat.
Because even with the weight lifting, you're going to lose muscle mass and lower your metabolism. This is what my fiance did... He lost over 100lbs, and now he's put 40 back on and gains weight eating stupid small amounts of food because his metabolism is screwed to all hell. Oh, and also the consequences for testosterone, cortisol, and various other hormones. Eat more.0
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