Trying out the 400-calorie fix

cathrinebock

Hi everyone I'm 27 years old and I've been "fat" most of my life, but I recently hit a new high at over 200 pounds (5'5"). I've tried a couple of different diets over the years (Adkins, Weight Watchers, some diet where I had to eat hard-boiled eggs all the time), and nothing has been able to stick for me. A few weeks ago at Barnes and Nobles I picked up "The 400-Calorie Fix" along with a book titled "Finally Skinny" off of the sale table. I went home and read both books back-to-back, and was inspired to try dieting again. So here I am!

My first week was a success. I felt motivated and was able to stick to my 1200-calorie per day regimen and work out twice. As a result I lost 4 pounds! Today's weigh-in after my second week, though, wasn't as successful, even though I've worked out 4 times this week. I was disappointed to find that I've only lost a pound.

I've been down in the dumps all morning about it, but a pound is a pound, right?! I'm not on Biggest Loser working out 8 hours a day with personal trainers as my side, and I shouldn't expect the same results. I need to take it slow and steady and have patience. Eventually I will get there! My goal is to lose 65 pounds, and it may take me a year or two, but I really feel like I can do it this time.

I joined MFP yesterday, looking for inspiration, motivation, and support. Glad I'm not doing this alone!

BuceesNana

Keep it up. You will get there!

mikeylikesit1177

keep up the good work it will def pay off in the end. Best thing we can tell each other is dont give up. There is a ton of people on here pushing through the same things

skinnymama157

Hi!! Yes we are all here to support you! I have only been on MFP for a week and I've felt very motivated and supported! You will get a lot of positive vibes from everyone. Best of luck, you can do it!

amandagrayce3

You are doing great! Keep it up and remember - life is a journey - not a race! The best way to keep off the weight and pounds is to go through a life style change and that takes time. Have a fabulous day!!!

ceri1980

Keep up the good work, you may find that the scakes go down a bit more next week

erickirb

You should be eating 1200 plus any calories you burn. You will lose your goal amount of weight eating 1200 and not exercising, so it you exercise you must eat those cals back to lose your goal amount of weight.

chach918

You will lose the 65 by end of year, I am sure of it. Like the BIggest Loser, there are weeks that do not make sense , and the week after it adds up. Keep the workouts up and best of luck .

strandedeyes

Welcome!

Each week is going to be different but keep pushing through as you will slowly see the results! Remember to keek at it, with the exercising and journaling (writing down what you eat) as its a great way to see what you are doing. If you need any help, most of anyone on here are willing to help or give the best advice they can!

Good luck!

mom23kids

You can and will be successful using this site. You will get a lot of support and advice. Slow and steady will win this race. Just remember that if you have a bad day or a bad week, that tomorrow is another chance to start anew! Good Luck!

schorkj

You took more than a week to get to just over 200 pounds; it may take a couple more weeks to loss it all. It's the marathon for your life; don't let the "wall" stop you. You have to view managing your food intake as how you need to proceed for the rest of your life; you deserve to live a long and loving life.

cassidystreasures

the 4 lbs in your first week was more than likely water weight! I did the same thing! 4 lbs off in no time, then a lb here and there which is fine with me because im doing it healthy! After that first 4 lbs i could see my ankle bones! so i knew it was water weight but it felt good and i have kept off those 4 lbs plus more.

Here is a good website with calories that are 400 or less per serving
http://400caloriesorless.com/

Jenn728

Consistency is the key! Keep going, you're doing great!

I always get in a funk cause I don't get results (I've stayed within my calorie range and exercised every day for the past two weeks and the scale hasn't budged!) but you have to keep on and know that your hard work IS going to pay off!

scagneti

Welcome! You've lost 5 lbs in two weeks -- that's awesome! And that's without starving yourself, taking chemicals into your body or working out 8 hours a day (like on BL).

I'm not sure what I weighed when I started this journey. I'm not sure if I was at 200, but I know I was over 180. At first I just started with walking as far to work as I could (2.4 miles). Then afterwork, I'd try walking home. I started walking very slowly, but now can walk superfast to burn even more! I didn't know about MFP, so I tried to be as diligent as I could about counting calories, but it's hard when you don't really know how the numbers.

8 months later, I'm down to 143 thanks to discovering MFP in January. Now I exercise, eat well and know precisely what's going into my body. With MFP, you'll be down 65 lbs before you know it!

anbegley

Welcome. You will love it here. Yes, a pound is a pound. Slow and steady will help keep it off. Also, remember, salt can really effect weigh in's.
Don't get discouraged. We will help you get there.
Good luck.

liscar

You should be eating 1200 plus any calories you burn. You will lose your goal amount of weight eating 1200 and not exercising, so it you exercise you must eat those cals back to lose your goal amount of weight.

ditto! you have to eat those exercise calories to refuel your body after working out - it works! go to search and type in "eating exercise calories" there's a ton of info. MFP starts your day at 1200 calories, that's already enough to lose weight. When you exercise, you need to feed your body to compensate for the work so it can refuel. If you work out and only eat the 1200 calories, your body will start to hang on to every calorie to refuel itself in case you keep working it out. If you did nothing all day and ate only 1200 calories, you would still lose. So the exercising is actually "icing on the cake".

LauraMcGanity

I agree with what everyone has already said - 5lbs in 2 weeks is brilliant. Just go and have a look at 5lb of butter to get some idea of how much you have lost.
Stick with MFP and you can transform yourself, so many people already have, and even more are well on there way to getting there.
2011 is going to be a great year!!:flowerforyou:

SirJFK

Hi,

I have been working out 6 days a week doing the Power 90 program for the last 2.5 weeks so far. I have about 1780 Cals a day and when I workout i burn about 500-800 Calories per session, and I try NOT to eat all of them, just enough to fuel up on. (also since I workout at night most days I usually drink most of my water intake during and after my workout)... I also have been trying to stick to another tip i got from the P90 info and that is to not eat anymore 3 hrs before bedtime...that way the body feeds on the stored fats etc in your body, not whats in your stomach... (doesnt always work, but it seems like a sound theory ) I started by losing 4lbs then 2lbs then last week only 1lb, since i started P90... granted I want bigger losses too but you have the right attitude a lb is a lb... you Can and Will meet your goals so stick with it... feel free to add anyone of us for support we are all here to reach the same goals!

Kminor67

Don't get down on yourself... a loss is a loss. Don't expect to lose more than 1-2 lbs per week. If you stick with it, you'll get there. It didn't go on overnight, and it's not going to come off overnight. You can do this!

timidt

dont be down about it a pound really is a pound keep it going your body just needs to adjust.

I started on here and week 1 = 4lb (great)
week 2 = 1lb (oh well)
week 3 + 2lb (OOoops but does include a weekend off )
week 4 = 4lb ( great )
only posting this to show that even though you may be doing the same thing week after week the results can and will vary
just make sure you dont starve your body and are drinking enough fluids/ water

The trick i found was to think possitive
Keep it going and you will get there

khk2010

I know that it can be disappointing, but 1 pound is good. Better for you in the long run. I've been on this for a long time and every week is a different loss even though I do the same basic calories and exercise. Sometimes it's .5 loss, sometimes a pound, sometimes 2, and sometimes none. As many have said it's not a sprint. Hang in there. You have a great start.

gebnpb

Thats great!! 1 pound is still god!! Over the weeks they add up so try not to get down about it!! It will all come off over time and u seem to have the right mind set!! I am 5'5 and started out at 213 and I've lost 31 pounds its taken me awhile but its coming off and thats all I'm happy about!! :happy:

cathrinebock

Wow, guys. Thanks so much for all of the support. I was almost brought to tears. I'm so excited to be starting this journey with other people around me. I just have to keep remind myself to be patient and stick with it! My goal for today is to take my starting measurements and an official "before" photo.

erickirb - Thanks for the advice! I have been trying to eat any calories that I burn when working out. Hopefully MFP will help me track all of that a little better.

cassidystreasures - Thanks so much for the link! I already want to try making everything on that first page.

kaymd

First of all, welcome to the site. You have come to the right place for great motivation and support. I have struggled with my weight my entire adult life because I have never had the right kind of support. When I lose weight I will lose up to 3 pounds one week then 1 pound if I am luck on other weeks. For me it has a lot to do with my TOM and other stressors of the week. Good luck with your journey and I know you will be fine, you sound like a very strong person.

krnlcsf

We all have the ups, the downs, and the "still the sames"... but in the end all your effort will be worth it!
My suggestion would be to work in short term goals that in the long-run will get you to your ultimate goal. For me I'd like to lose about 25-30 pounds when all is said and done, but by going for about 8-9 pound milestones I get that sense of accomplishment (and a good reason to CELEBRATE!) each time I reach a new goal, and I get motivated for the next one.
Good luck with your weight loss plan!