Need help and God Bless !!!

BJBroxton

Hello all!,

Obviously I am new here or I would not be posting in this particular board :laugh: . My wife and I each started MFP 5/2/14 and absolutely fell in love with it. (and to think how many countless hours we have spent searching for some type of online help!) Both of us though have been eating healthier for about 6 weeks now with very little exercise in addition to it. We used the Gospel Diet along with The Hungry girl diet recipe books for reference and had some decent success with them. I personally started out at 340+ (my weight went past the scale limit (338lbs), so best I could estimate was around 340lbs) and am currently at 308lbs now! VERY HAPPY thus far!!:drinker: I am hoping with MFP paired with Fitbit flex I can progress even further towards my goal of 200lbs (any less than that and I will look sickly. I am have trouble understanding the numbers that MFP displays on the home/food page however...

Totals 1,006 92 30 60 664 37
Your Daily Goal 2,468 309 82 123 2,300 93
Remaining 1,462 217 52 63 1,636 56
Calories Carbs Fat Protein Sodium Sugar
*You've earned 508 extra calories from exercise today

This is an example of everything I consumed 5/4/14, from what I understand I needed to consume 1462 MORE calories. Is that correct? I know 1006 calories is not enough but we were out and about and I was actually comfortable with what I had and had no hunger issues even after my cardio workout. My intention is to consume between 1200-1400 each day, anymore than that and I feel "over full". So if anyone would consider helping me or pointing me in the right direction for food consumption and exercise I would greatly appreciate it!

queenb39

Please open your diary

BJBroxton

Opened

asciiqwerty

*if you logged accurately* then you would need to eat more to be healthy

the thing about accuracy is it's hard work
taking a quick look at your diary(the last couple of days) you are logging some things(eggs, muffins, dumsticks, pears) as items or by volume(cup/spoon) rather than by weight and these entries can be quite inaccurate
I also didn't see any cooking fats (oils/butter)

I would suggest that you read the following, then try getting really accurate with your logging - it may well suprise you:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/asciiqwerty/view/logging-accurately-your-diary-might-be-telling-tales-on-you-652838
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1270280-food-weighing-scale-miracles
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/asciiqwerty/view/general-ignorance-and-weight-loss-655283

BJBroxton

OK I will! Thanks so much!

asciiqwerty

feel free to ask questions if you need to

Annie_01

I won't fuss at you BJ...

I will warn you though...you will get hungry...real hungry...so hungry you might eat a bear!

I am 61...female...179lbs...I eat at least 1500 calories...on weekends more.

You will get tired...real tired...so tired that you want to just sit down and not move.

You are much younger than I am...from your picture much heavier...you are a male. Reason and logic should tell you that you need to consume more than I do.

You will get good advice here and you will get some bad advice. My suggestion is...research...read...be sensible...honest with yourself. Can you really live off of 1200-1400 calories and workout at the same time. Most of all...can you keep from eating a bear on that few calories???

Either way BJ...I hope that you figure this out and take a healthy approach to losing weight. This is the first time in my life that I have...I have lost more weight than ever before...I exercise more...and even though I still have a few more pounds to go...I am not ready to quit yet. That is the key element...finding what you can sustain.

BJBroxton

I won't fuss at you BJ...

I will warn you though...you will get hungry...real hungry...so hungry you might eat a bear!

I am 61...female...179lbs...I eat at least 1500 calories...on weekends more.

You will get tired...real tired...so tired that you want to just sit down and not move.

You are much younger than I am...from your picture much heavier...you are a male. Reason and logic should tell you that you need to consume more than I do.

You will get good advice here and you will get some bad advice. My suggestion is...research...read...be sensible...honest with yourself. Can you really live off of 1200-1400 calories and workout at the same time. Most of all...can you keep from eating a bear on that few calories???

Either way BJ...I hope that you figure this out and take a healthy approach to losing weight. This is the first time in my life that I have...I have lost more weight than ever before...I exercise more...and even though I still have a few more pounds to go...I am not ready to quit yet. That is the key element...finding what you can sustain.

Well, when my wife and I first started the diet (about 5 weeks before MFP and scheduled exercise) we ate about 5 times a day according to the Body Gospel diet (1400 cals a day total) it was actually almost to much food. Now with that said we HAD to eat at certain times a day I.E., Breakfast > snack > lunch >snack >dinner. We knew without looking at the clock snack time was getting close!:laugh: However, no that we are going to the fitness center in our community I know there will need to be some caloric adjustments. I am just confused in that do I need to eat back the calories I burn in the gym? -OR- is it ok to have a deficit? Example: According to research I have done in order to lose weight I need to take in between 1900-2100 calories per day. So if I take in 1900 and burn 500 at the gym which would give me a calorie intake of 1400....is that good or must I consume the 500 back?

asciiqwerty

Example: According to research I have done in order to lose weight I need to take in between 1900-2100 calories per day. So if I take in 1900 and burn 500 at the gym which would give me a calorie intake of 1400....is that good or must I consume the 500 back?

It depends on which way you calculated how much you need per day. Some methods include the excercise you're already doing and some do not: in the first case you wouldn't eat back in the later you would.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1175494-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

RebecaSLima

Hey!!! I am new here too and just got my FitFlex for mothers day! It hasn't arrived but I am excited to partner it with MFP and I am very hopeful that this time I WILL DO IT!!!!

Anyways, MFP will estimate how much protein and carbs/Sugars and Fats you should take a day according to the calories they have allowed you based on your weight /height BMI.

According to all the knowledgeable ones out there know that you are not suppose to get under 1000 cal a day otherwise you get into starvation mode. Don't do that often is my recommendation to you. I doubt that you can ruin your metabolism in a day and even think it might be healthy to trick your body sometimes but try to get at least 1200 cal a day to be health, happy and blessed!!!!

paxbfl

I calculated my BMR and TDEE using an online calculator like this one:

http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

Then I ate between those numbers BEFORE exercise. I made sure to always eat at least eat my BMR. I did not eat back my exercise calories when I was trying to lose weight, unless I was really starving which usually I wasn't. (Now that I'm in maintenance I do eat back some of the calories.)

I'm not familiar with the Gospel diet (eating locusts and wild honey?) but one thing that really helped me was eating 5-6 small meals a day instead of 3 big meals. I was always approaching another meal and didn't have problems with cravings. I also eliminated sugar and simple carbs initially to help me get on track and get my blood sugar stabilized (I eat them in moderation now).

For me it worked better to eat a "regular" dinner with my family, so I would do breakfast (9am, post-workout), lunch (noon), afternoon snack (3pm), dinner (double meal, 6pm), evening snack (8pm).

My BMR is around 1900 so I aimed for about 325 calories for each meal (650 for dinner) which works out to 1950 calories.

I know it's hard to get started but I strongly encourage you to start working out. Even if you just walk, that's fine. For me my knees were hurting so I did the elliptical instead. Once I started losing weight my knees felt tremendously better and I started running. I set a PR for the half-marathon last Fall (1 year after starting MFP) and will run my first full marathon this Fall (2 years after starting).

Eating and exercise both give you a metabolic boost. So if you ate 2,000 calories and burned 300 to net at 1,700, that's better than not working out at all and only eating 1,700. In addition to the cardiovascular and other health benefits, you're also boosting your metabolism (especially true as you start building muscle mass).

Hope all that helps! Above all, just keep going - you'll have bad days, just shake them off and get back on the program. You won't believe how awesome you'll feel as the weight continues to come off.

BJBroxton

I calculated my BMR and TDEE using an online calculator like this one:

http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

Then I ate between those numbers BEFORE exercise. I made sure to always eat at least eat my BMR. I did not eat back my exercise calories when I was trying to lose weight, unless I was really starving which usually I wasn't. (Now that I'm in maintenance I do eat back some of the calories.)

I'm not familiar with the Gospel diet (eating locusts and wild honey?) but one thing that really helped me was eating 5-6 small meals a day instead of 3 big meals. I was always approaching another meal and didn't have problems with cravings. I also eliminated sugar and simple carbs initially to help me get on track and get my blood sugar stabilized (I eat them in moderation now).

For me it worked better to eat a "regular" dinner with my family, so I would do breakfast (9am, post-workout), lunch (noon), afternoon snack (3pm), dinner (double meal, 6pm), evening snack (8pm).

My BMR is around 1900 so I aimed for about 325 calories for each meal (650 for dinner) which works out to 1950 calories.

I know it's hard to get started but I strongly encourage you to start working out. Even if you just walk, that's fine. For me my knees were hurting so I did the elliptical instead. Once I started losing weight my knees felt tremendously better and I started running. I set a PR for the half-marathon last Fall (1 year after starting MFP) and will run my first full marathon this Fall (2 years after starting).

Eating and exercise both give you a metabolic boost. So if you ate 2,000 calories and burned 300 to net at 1,700, that's better than not working out at all and only eating 1,700. In addition to the cardiovascular and other health benefits, you're also boosting your metabolism (especially true as you start building muscle mass).

Hope all that helps! Above all, just keep going - you'll have bad days, just shake them off and get back on the program. You won't believe how awesome you'll feel as the weight continues to come off.

I appreciate the words of wisdom.....I just may follow what you stated about following and using the BMR (mine is 2364 eeek!) I think I will have to set my target around 1800-1900 though no way I can eat 2364 now and feel good about it. I just might do the meal plan 325 each and the heavy (650) for breakfast instead of last meal......thank you so much

paxbfl

I appreciate the words of wisdom.....I just may follow what you stated about following and using the BMR (mine is 2364 eeek!) I think I will have to set my target around 1800-1900 though no way I can eat 2364 now and feel good about it. I just might do the meal plan 325 each and the heavy (650) for breakfast instead of last meal......thank you so much

Listen to your body and do what works for you. If you're really hungry (stomach growling) or if you feel tired, cranky, etc. then eat a bit more.

You sound very motivated so hopefully this won't happen to you, but the other danger of going too low is that you "burn out" because you feel like crap (and are tired of all the sacrifice) and you eventually fall of the wagon and go back to your old eating habits. So just be aware of this and don't let it happen to you.

Look at it this way - if you eat 1900 and find yourself STARVING after dinner, you have over 400 calories you can play with - and that's just to get back to what you (technically) should be eating!

The other thing I do is have a free day (or at least a free meal) once every week or two. That helps you not feel so deprived and helps to motivate you for the rest of the week. For me, I had to have a relief valve because every once in a while I'd just want to say "the heck with this" and just go nuts. So this helped me stay on track.

I'll send you a friend request. Check out my diary for some ideas. Keep in mind I'm in maintenance so I'm eating a bit more - around 2300 but after exercise I'm netting around where you want to be (1800-1900). My breakfast sandwich is awesome - better than an Egg McMuffin but under 300 calories!

Annie_01

BJ...If you are serious about doing this right I suggest going and reading the stickies of this group. IMO...it is the most accurate information that you will find on MFP. The two people that run this group....well...they are amazing in their info. Join...read...ask questions.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10118-eat-train-progress

I could tell you what I do but in all honesty...I can't say that it will work for you. I followed some of the information from this group. It has worked for me. They not only give info about diet but also your work outs.

At least go read...

BJBroxton

BJ...If you are serious about doing this right I suggest going and reading the stickies of this group. IMO...it is the most accurate information that you will find on MFP. The two people that run this group....well...they are amazing in their info. Join...read...ask questions.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10118-eat-train-progress

I could tell you what I do but in all honesty...I can't say that it will work for you. I followed some of the information from this group. It has worked for me. They not only give info about diet but also your work outs.

At least go read...

I will thank you Mrs. Annie