Up my calories?

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Replies

  • TheVirgoddess
    TheVirgoddess Posts: 4,535 Member
    Either your workouts are extremely low intensity, or your food logging is messed up, because you cannot support that level of activity on that level of calories.

    Open up your diary...

    My workout intensity isn't low and my food logging isn't messed up. Not everyone is the same. I can workout this much with this amount of calories.

    You can, but it's really not healthy hon. You eat 1200, how much are you burning? Your net is probably *super* low - and if so your body won't let go of a single pound because it's not getting enough nutrients.

    Your plan to up your cals a bit is a good one. I hope you find success in it.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    Either your workouts are extremely low intensity, or your food logging is messed up, because you cannot support that level of activity on that level of calories.

    Open up your diary...

    My workout intensity isn't low and my food logging isn't messed up. Not everyone is the same. I can workout this much with this amount of calories.

    You can, but it's really not healthy hon. You eat 1200, how much are you burning? Your net is probably *super* low - and if so your body won't let go of a single pound because it's not getting enough nutrients.

    Your plan to up your cals a bit is a good one. I hope you find success in it.

    This idea that your body "holds on" to fat if you don't eat enough to sustain your body makes no sense. Where do you get that from?
  • TheVirgoddess
    TheVirgoddess Posts: 4,535 Member
    Either your workouts are extremely low intensity, or your food logging is messed up, because you cannot support that level of activity on that level of calories.

    Open up your diary...

    My workout intensity isn't low and my food logging isn't messed up. Not everyone is the same. I can workout this much with this amount of calories.

    You can, but it's really not healthy hon. You eat 1200, how much are you burning? Your net is probably *super* low - and if so your body won't let go of a single pound because it's not getting enough nutrients.

    Your plan to up your cals a bit is a good one. I hope you find success in it.

    This idea that your body "holds on" to fat if you don't eat enough to sustain your body makes no sense. Where do you get that from?

    My doctor.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    Either your workouts are extremely low intensity, or your food logging is messed up, because you cannot support that level of activity on that level of calories.

    Open up your diary...

    My workout intensity isn't low and my food logging isn't messed up. Not everyone is the same. I can workout this much with this amount of calories.

    You can, but it's really not healthy hon. You eat 1200, how much are you burning? Your net is probably *super* low - and if so your body won't let go of a single pound because it's not getting enough nutrients.

    Your plan to up your cals a bit is a good one. I hope you find success in it.

    This idea that your body "holds on" to fat if you don't eat enough to sustain your body makes no sense. Where do you get that from?

    My doctor.

    Your doctor is wrong. What do you think happens to you if you continue to eat far to little. Do you just continue to maintain your weight indefinitely? If so is that now your maintenance level? Can you live for the rest of your life eating "far to little"?

    Could I maintain my weight eating 1000 calories a day considering that is not enough for me? Or do I have to eat even less before I hit a level I can maintain at?

    Dont you see the problem with that logic? Perhaps your doctor was just trying to convince you to eat more and used a scare tactic.
  • Velum_cado
    Velum_cado Posts: 1,608 Member
    Either your workouts are extremely low intensity, or your food logging is messed up, because you cannot support that level of activity on that level of calories.

    Open up your diary...

    My workout intensity isn't low and my food logging isn't messed up. Not everyone is the same. I can workout this much with this amount of calories.

    You can, but it's really not healthy hon. You eat 1200, how much are you burning? Your net is probably *super* low - and if so your body won't let go of a single pound because it's not getting enough nutrients.

    Your plan to up your cals a bit is a good one. I hope you find success in it.

    This idea that your body "holds on" to fat if you don't eat enough to sustain your body makes no sense. Where do you get that from?

    My doctor.

    MY doctor (psychiatrist) told me if I continued to be friends with so many gay men, I'd become a lesbian.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member

    MY doctor (psychiatrist) told me if I continued to be friends with so many gay men, I'd become a lesbian.

    Yup. Simply having a basic medical degree doesn't make you infallibly right about everything, even things people might assume you should know.
  • Before I gained weight (by eating badly and not exercising - nothing to do with this) I did moderately intense cardio for 30 mins, and would have maybe a 40 minute walk everyday - I was also a student and sedentary other than this routine. I worked in strength training everyday if I could (just body weight exercises, nothing more) and WAY shorter than you. I was maintaining my weight at around 113 lbs (ideal for my height) at 2500 calories per day...

    I would seriously recommend bumping up your calories - give it a go for a month - perhaps just up to 1500 the first week, then 1800 the next if you're not feeling overly confident with it, but I guarantee you will not gain weight - you only start gaining weight when you just start eating EVERYTHING like I did without logging and exercising - in fact, I remember when I first realised my cals were too low (around 1200) and jumped up to about 1900 - I think I lost more weight that month than ever before.
  • TheVirgoddess
    TheVirgoddess Posts: 4,535 Member

    Your doctor is wrong. What do you think happens to you if you continue to eat far to little. Do you just continue to maintain your weight indefinitely? If so is that now your maintenance level? Can you live for the rest of your life eating "far to little"?

    Could I maintain my weight eating 1000 calories a day considering that is not enough for me? Or do I have to eat even less before I hit a level I can maintain at?

    Dont you see the problem with that logic? Perhaps your doctor was just trying to convince you to eat more and used a scare tactic.

    No, he said you'll eventually lose, but that that sort of weight loss is very unhealthy - and isn't sustainable for any length of time.

    I suppose it makes more sense to believe a random person on the internet rather than the person I've chosen as my healthcare partner.

    I really don't need the smartassed remarks, either. I'm on here trying to do the best I can with the information that I've been given by the person who knows my body better than anyone on here possibly could.

    Does that mean he's right all the time? Of course not. But eating way too few calories is bad for you, I think that much is pretty damned obvious. Which, coincidentally, was my entire point. If you want to get caught up in semantics, knock yourself out.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member

    Your doctor is wrong. What do you think happens to you if you continue to eat far to little. Do you just continue to maintain your weight indefinitely? If so is that now your maintenance level? Can you live for the rest of your life eating "far to little"?

    Could I maintain my weight eating 1000 calories a day considering that is not enough for me? Or do I have to eat even less before I hit a level I can maintain at?

    Dont you see the problem with that logic? Perhaps your doctor was just trying to convince you to eat more and used a scare tactic.

    No, he said you'll eventually lose, but that that sort of weight loss is very unhealthy - and isn't sustainable for any length of time.

    I suppose it makes more sense to believe a random person on the internet rather than the person I've chosen as my healthcare partner.

    I really don't need the smartassed remarks, either. I'm on here trying to do the best I can with the information that I've been given by the person who knows my body better than anyone on here possibly could.

    Does that mean he's right all the time? Of course not. But eating way too few calories is bad for you, I think that much is pretty damned obvious. Which, coincidentally, was my entire point. If you want to get caught up in semantics, knock yourself out.

    Eating to little is bad for you. It will result in muscle loss and decrease in bone density, lethargy associated with anemia and potential kidney and liver issues. What it wont do though is make you hold ont fat and maintain your weight. Just ask an anorexic.

    Note in my posts I have stressed the importance of eating more. Still, misinformation is still misinformation no matter how well intended.

    Dont listen to me just think it through and you will see why that doesn't make sense. I value logic over emotion or personal anecdote when it comes to reality.
  • TheVirgoddess
    TheVirgoddess Posts: 4,535 Member

    Eating to little is bad for you. It will result in muscle loss and decrease in bone density, lethargy associated with anemia and potential kidney and liver issues. What it wont do though is make you hold ont fat and maintain your weight. Just ask an anorexic.

    Sugar, I know this. He said initially when you cut your calories to an unhealthy intake, your weight loss will stall because your body will sorta freak out. Then you'll begin to lose again - but at the cost of your health. The OP has been exercising more only recently, so I figured she might be in the "freak out" mode and encouraged her to up her intake before unhealthy mode. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough in my post, or didn't articulate myself well - that happens (honestly? I had to poop so I was rushing).

    Sometimes just asking what people mean (instead of climbing up their butts) helps.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member

    Eating to little is bad for you. It will result in muscle loss and decrease in bone density, lethargy associated with anemia and potential kidney and liver issues. What it wont do though is make you hold ont fat and maintain your weight. Just ask an anorexic.

    Sugar, I know this. He said initially when you cut your calories to an unhealthy intake, your weight loss will stall because your body will sorta freak out. Then you'll begin to lose again - but at the cost of your health. The OP has been exercising more only recently, so I figured she might be in the "freak out" mode and encouraged her to up her intake before unhealthy mode. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough in my post, or didn't articulate myself well - that happens (honestly? I had to poop so I was rushing).

    Sometimes just asking what people mean (instead of climbing up their butts) helps.

    Fair enough my apologies. I agree with what you say here.
  • TheVirgoddess
    TheVirgoddess Posts: 4,535 Member
    I will, in the future, try to make sure that if I give advice, I'll be a lot clearer.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    I will, in the future, try to make sure that if I give advice, I'll be a lot clearer.

    I will try to give more thought to the people making the statements not just the statements themselves. I think we are both just concerned for the health of another.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Be sure your minimum calorific intake is at least 10x=body weight/lbs to avoid 'starvation response'.
    Otherwise your metabolism will slow down and you'll find it harder to utilize stored fat as fuel.
    The quote above is nonsense.
    (I'm a professionally qualified nutritionist)
    It's still nonsense.
    Just about what I was going to say, but you beat me to it.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Either your workouts are extremely low intensity, or your food logging is messed up, because you cannot support that level of activity on that level of calories.

    Open up your diary...

    My workout intensity isn't low and my food logging isn't messed up. Not everyone is the same. I can workout this much with this amount of calories.
    Certainly, you can't be serious. Working out 4 hours a day is overdoing it.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    That is the problem. Her weight is "stable" at essentially starvation mode. It is not her weight that needs to become stable, but her body needs to adjust to the new level of homeostasis. It is not healthy to be at a "stable" weight while eating at a starvation level of calories.
    This information is incorrect. Read other posts in here where starvation mode is refuted because...well...it's not based on the number of calories you eat, it's based on how much weight and muscle you've lost, and you're pretty much emaciated
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Calories in vs. calories out is not always true.
    Yes it is. .

    Even for those with special medical problems where they have to find their calorie deficit through medical care and trial and error, well....calories in/calories out is still true,

    A calorie deficit is the only thing required to lose weight. .
  • Orangesky50
    Orangesky50 Posts: 10 Member
    "This idea that your body "holds on" to fat if you don't eat enough to sustain your body makes no sense. Where do you get that from?"

    This idea comes from Biology.


    Our body has biofeedback mechanisms that helps it to stay in homeostasis. ( For instance, we shiver when we are cold.) I think that as we begin to understand these biofeedback mechanisms in the area of weight loss, we will begin to be more successful in helping people loose weight. In reality, people's bodies, can literally change their metabolism so they can live on less and less food. In other words, the body becomes more and more efficient at getting energy from our calories and stores the rest for future use. It is an evolutionary mechanism that helps us survive when we are faced with frequent famines. It is these biofeedback mechanisms which are causing obesity in many people, in my opinion. This is why the men in the starvation experiment gained more weight and had a new "normal" weight that was higher than their original weight, after their period of starvation. Our body wants to find a place of stability. We can actually CAUSE illness by starving ourselves. Then we no longer fit in your bell shaped curve, but rather become "special snowflakes" who cannot loose weight to save our lives.
  • Orangesky50
    Orangesky50 Posts: 10 Member
    SSL_Runner: I agree we do need a calorie deficit, BUT the current model isn't true. We do NOT loose a pound for every 3500 calories burned. Not all bodies respond to calorie deficit in the same way, and in fact having too great of calorie deficit sets MANY people up for a lifetime of obesity. So, what I am saying is the "simple" idea that ALL you need for weight loss is calorie deficit and no other factors matter is what is false. There are other factors including hormones, sleep, medications, stress, emotional state, sex, age, weight, past history of dieting, vitamins, the types of foods you eat, your bodies biofeedback mechanisms, etc. etc. and etc. , that all come in to play. If the ONLY think that matters is calorie deficit, then how can the side effects for many medications be weight gain or weigh loss..... even when the patient doesn't eat more or less????? There are MANY more factors. It is NOT a simple mathematical formula that you can apply to all people. This is what I am saying.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    "This idea that your body "holds on" to fat if you don't eat enough to sustain your body makes no sense. Where do you get that from?"

    This idea comes from Biology.


    Our body has biofeedback mechanisms that helps it to stay in homeostasis. ( For instance, we shiver when we are cold.) I think that as we begin to understand these biofeedback mechanisms in the area of weight loss, we will begin to be more successful in helping people loose weight. In reality, people's bodies, can literally change their metabolism so they can live on less and less food. In other words, the body becomes more and more efficient at getting energy from our calories and stores the rest for future use. It is an evolutionary mechanism that helps us survive when we are faced with frequent famines. It is these biofeedback mechanisms which are causing obesity in many people, in my opinion. This is why the men in the starvation experiment gained more weight and had a new "normal" weight that was higher than their original weight, after their period of starvation. Our body wants to find a place of stability. We can actually CAUSE illness by starving ourselves. Then we no longer fit in your bell shaped curve, but rather become "special snowflakes" who cannot loose weight to save our lives.

    You are referring to adaptive thermogenesis which at most can reduce your BMR temporarily by 40%. At no point does this make it impossible to lose weight and only occurs to that extent under true starvation conditions.

    You are pointing to a real effect but assuming it does more than it can do. Adaptive thermogenesis will nrver make you maintain forever it will just slow dramatic weightloss during longterm starvation.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    SSL_Runner: I agree we do need a calorie deficit, BUT the current model isn't true. We do NOT loose a pound for every 3500 calories burned. Not all bodies respond to calorie deficit in the same way, and in fact having too great of calorie deficit sets MANY people up for a lifetime of obesity. So, what I am saying is the "simple" idea that ALL you need for weight loss is calorie deficit and no other factors matter is what is false. There are other factors including hormones, sleep, medications, stress, emotional state, sex, age, weight, past history of dieting, vitamins, the types of foods you eat, your bodies biofeedback mechanisms, etc. etc. and etc. , that all come in to play. If the ONLY think that matters is calorie deficit, then how can the side effects for many medications be weight gain or weigh loss..... even when the patient doesn't eat more or less????? There are MANY more factors. It is NOT a simple mathematical formula that you can apply to all people. This is what I am saying.

    All the things you list are just things that make gauging your true caloric intake and output difficult. Calorie in calorie out remains true and caloric deficit still remains the only effector of weightloss.
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    SSL_Runner: I agree we do need a calorie deficit, BUT the current model isn't true. We do NOT loose a pound for every 3500 calories burned. Not all bodies respond to calorie deficit in the same way, and in fact having too great of calorie deficit sets MANY people up for a lifetime of obesity. So, what I am saying is the "simple" idea that ALL you need for weight loss is calorie deficit and no other factors matter is what is false. There are other factors including hormones, sleep, medications, stress, emotional state, sex, age, weight, past history of dieting, vitamins, the types of foods you eat, your bodies biofeedback mechanisms, etc. etc. and etc. , that all come in to play. If the ONLY think that matters is calorie deficit, then how can the side effects for many medications be weight gain or weigh loss..... even when the patient doesn't eat more or less????? There are MANY more factors. It is NOT a simple mathematical formula that you can apply to all people. This is what I am saying.

    I guess what you're saying almost went without saying because "barring any medical issue, calories in calories out" is something you will see on the boards over and over again. Whenever people mention having PCOS or other issues they are often directed to groups that have people dealing with that sort of thing for specific tips. Another one you will see frequently is if an individual has a sensitivity to a specific item, duh, it's practically poison to them at that point and their diet obviously cannot feature said item, calories or no
  • Orangesky50
    Orangesky50 Posts: 10 Member
    "This idea that your body "holds on" to fat if you don't eat enough to sustain your body makes no sense. Where do you get that from?"

    This idea comes from Biology.


    Our body has biofeedback mechanisms that helps it to stay in homeostasis. ( For instance, we shiver when we are cold.) I think that as we begin to understand these biofeedback mechanisms in the area of weight loss, we will begin to be more successful in helping people loose weight. In reality, people's bodies, can literally change their metabolism so they can live on less and less food. In other words, the body becomes more and more efficient at getting energy from our calories and stores the rest for future use. It is an evolutionary mechanism that helps us survive when we are faced with frequent famines. It is these biofeedback mechanisms which are causing obesity in many people, in my opinion. This is why the men in the starvation experiment gained more weight and had a new "normal" weight that was higher than their original weight, after their period of starvation. Our body wants to find a place of stability. We can actually CAUSE illness by starving ourselves. Then we no longer fit in your bell shaped curve, but rather become "special snowflakes" who cannot loose weight to save our lives.

    You are referring to adaptive thermogenesis which at most can reduce your BMR temporarily by 40%. At no point does this make it impossible to lose weight and only occurs to that extent under true starvation conditions.

    You are pointing to a real effect but assuming it does more than it can do. Adaptive thermogenesis will nrver make you maintain forever it will just slow dramatic weightloss during longterm starvation.

    Not I am not talking about adaptive thermogenesis. You are able to starve yourself to loose weight- for the sort term. However, my concern is the biofeedback mechanisms that kick in after people diet, which cause them to gain more weight back after a diet. I am talking about the process by which we eat at a deficit calorie, and then our body resets its inner ability to use calories more efficiency and/or our hunger signals are change, so if we need to lose weight at a later date it is more difficult. If the current model of weight loss actually worked over the LONG HAUL, most of us would not be struggling so much. However I don't think there will be many studies done to find this out... why people who diet actually get fatter. The truth is most weight studies are conducted by those who profit by keeping people fat. LOL "Helping" people loose weight is a very profitable business. : ) It is also the perfect model, professional people do all that they can to "help" people, but then the poor, lazy, undisciplined and ungrateful people who just gave them thousands of dollars, will not heed to the wonderful "scientific" advice and simply "choose" to be fat. LOL

    Again you are using exact percentages in talking about thermogenesis..." which can AT MOST, reduce your BMR temporarily by 40Percent" Again, there are no studies that look at all people, all ages, etc. I would actually be interested in the studies that you have found that talk about thermogenesis...I am interested in this also. Please share.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    "This idea that your body "holds on" to fat if you don't eat enough to sustain your body makes no sense. Where do you get that from?"

    This idea comes from Biology.


    Our body has biofeedback mechanisms that helps it to stay in homeostasis. ( For instance, we shiver when we are cold.) I think that as we begin to understand these biofeedback mechanisms in the area of weight loss, we will begin to be more successful in helping people loose weight. In reality, people's bodies, can literally change their metabolism so they can live on less and less food. In other words, the body becomes more and more efficient at getting energy from our calories and stores the rest for future use. It is an evolutionary mechanism that helps us survive when we are faced with frequent famines. It is these biofeedback mechanisms which are causing obesity in many people, in my opinion. This is why the men in the starvation experiment gained more weight and had a new "normal" weight that was higher than their original weight, after their period of starvation. Our body wants to find a place of stability. We can actually CAUSE illness by starving ourselves. Then we no longer fit in your bell shaped curve, but rather become "special snowflakes" who cannot loose weight to save our lives.

    You are referring to adaptive thermogenesis which at most can reduce your BMR temporarily by 40%. At no point does this make it impossible to lose weight and only occurs to that extent under true starvation conditions.

    You are pointing to a real effect but assuming it does more than it can do. Adaptive thermogenesis will nrver make you maintain forever it will just slow dramatic weightloss during longterm starvation.

    Not I am not talking about adaptive thermogenesis. You are able to starve yourself to loose weight- for the sort term. However, my concern is the biofeedback mechanisms that kick in after people diet, which cause them to gain more weight back after a diet. I am talking about the process by which we eat at a deficit calorie, and then our body resets its inner ability to use calories more efficiency and/or our hunger signals are change, so if we need to lose weight at a later date it is more difficult. If the current model of weight loss actually worked over the LONG HAUL, most of us would not be struggling so much. However I don't think there will be many studies done to find this out... why people who diet actually get fatter. The truth is most weight studies are conducted by those who profit by keeping people fat. LOL "Helping" people loose weight is a very profitable business. : ) It is also the perfect model, professional people do all that they can to "help" people, but then the poor, lazy, undisciplined and ungrateful people who just gave them thousands of dollars, will not heed to the wonderful "scientific" advice and simply "choose" to be fat. LOL

    Again you are using exact percentages in talking about thermogenesis..." which can AT MOST, reduce your BMR temporarily by 40Percent" Again, there are no studies that look at all people, all ages, etc. I would actually be interested in the studies that you have found that talk about thermogenesis...I am interested in this also. Please share.

    And now we have donned the tin-foil hat and gone full conspiracy mode. Yeah I am done with this conversation, good luck to you.
  • Mischievous_Rascal
    Mischievous_Rascal Posts: 1,791 Member
    How long have you been at the plateau? Have you changed the type of exercising you are doing? Not necessarily longer, just trying something different? Have you run your TDEE for your new levels? If so, is the result close to what your mom says your calorie goal should be? You can try upping your calories, and even if you initially gain a couple pounds, it will likely stabilize and you will start losing again.

    Bottom line: a plateau can last for quite a while and then you will finally break through it. Patience is needed.

    You've done great at reaching a healthy BMI. Congratulations!

    Umm, about 2-3 weeks? And yes, I do change my excercises regularely or make them more intense.
    I've never calculated my TDEE level before, just did right now, and it appears to be 1900 calories which sounds like A LOT to me. But anyways, I think I'll first try upping my calories to 1400 and see what happens then. Thanks!

    Two-three weeks isn't a plateau. Weight loss is far from linear. And increasing the intensity of your workouts can cause water retention, which masks any losses you may have had the past few weeks, and this is going to happen over and over again as you lose weight, so the earlier you know and accept that, the better it will be for your outlook.

    As to the second part of your response here, I'm almost twice your age, five inches shorter and don't work out nearly as much as you do and my maintenance calories are 2450, so no, 1900 is not a lot. Did you calculate your TDEE using the sedentary "desk job" modifier? If so, 1900 sounds about right and a 20% deficit from that would be around 1500. You would also need to eat back those exercise calories, though, or you will just end up burning out. MFP overestimates exercise calories, so maybe start with eating just half of them back, just to ensure you're still in a deficit.

    Best of luck to you!