I eat exercise calories! ;) And 1200 cals is not absolute! ;

TamTastic

And have lost 102 lbs so far.

It's very simple logic. You are already eating at a caloric deficit to lose weight. Then, you add exercise....and burn MORE. It get's into dangerous/starvation territory. So, you eat some of those calories back to bring your calories consumed back to a safe level.

No one is saying to go eat a burger and fries or eat every single exercise calorie back.

I can burn anywhere from 750 to 1,000 calories when I hit the gym. I can't eat all of those back. I DO try to eat at least 1800 on gym days though and bring my calories consumed back to a safer level. Even that is on the low side though. It just get's hard to eat a lot more some days when I focus on eating foods that keep me satisfied anyway.

Also, when you join MFP and it gives you a calorie count of 1200, that is just the standard default and is not a number you HAVE to follow to lose weight. I have never eaten that low yet. I have slowly lowered my calories though. I currently eat around 1400 on days I don't work out. I want to lose around 33 more lbs though and want to give myself room to lower them a little more should I hit a plateau. So, at 1400 calories, I CAN safely lower to 1350 for awhile, then 1300, then 1250 and so on until I reach my goal.

I have gone from 270 (In September of 2007) to 168 as of this past Thursday. My initial goal weight is 135. So obviously the heavier I was, the more I could eat even without exercise. I just slowly lowered the calories as I lost. It's that simple. You DON'T and SHOULDN'T have to suffer to do this. Realizing that has been an amazing thing for me.

Good luck all!!!
-Tam

TamTastic

And have lost 102 lbs so far.

It's very simple logic. You are already eating at a caloric deficit to lose weight. Then, you add exercise....and burn MORE. It get's into dangerous/starvation territory. So, you eat some of those calories back to bring your calories consumed back to a safe level.

No one is saying to go eat a burger and fries or eat every single exercise calorie back.

I can burn anywhere from 750 to 1,000 calories when I hit the gym. I can't eat all of those back. I DO try to eat at least 1800 on gym days though and bring my calories consumed back to a safer level. Even that is on the low side though. It just get's hard to eat a lot more some days when I focus on eating foods that keep me satisfied anyway.

Also, when you join MFP and it gives you a calorie count of 1200, that is just the standard default and is not a number you HAVE to follow to lose weight. I have never eaten that low yet. I have slowly lowered my calories though. I currently eat around 1400 on days I don't work out. I want to lose around 33 more lbs though and want to give myself room to lower them a little more should I hit a plateau. So, at 1400 calories, I CAN safely lower to 1350 for awhile, then 1300, then 1250 and so on until I reach my goal.

I have gone from 270 (In September of 2007) to 168 as of this past Thursday. My initial goal weight is 135. So obviously the heavier I was, the more I could eat even without exercise. I just slowly lowered the calories as I lost. It's that simple. You DON'T and SHOULDN'T have to suffer to do this. Realizing that has been an amazing thing for me.

Good luck all!!!
-Tam

shorerider

I've said it before and say it again-You're my hero!

Tam--I started out 9 pounds heavier than you started out, so I've got 9 pounds more to lose than you--we're "twins from another mother!"

For others wondering---

---I'm older by 12 years than Tam, and I don't have a rug rat to keep me busy all day, so I go lower in calories

---I am currently at 1300 plus exercise calories. I do try to eat most of mine, as I do long-distance cycling and need that energy to fuel my body for those rides. But on days I don't ride, I keep strictly to my 1300.

--I was going 1100-1200 and some days as low as 1000 but I plateaued after just 3 months :noway: so I upped my calories, keep close watch on my fat intake/carbs/sodium and have begun to lose weight again.

obliged

Tami, girl
i love you:flowerforyou:
you are such an inspiration

and this is very logical,
newbies read this post now!

réalta

thank you for the reminder! i really needed it, didnt get nearly as much calories as i should have yesterday, and was working an 8 hour shift too, so thats why i was so tired :ohwell:

i hope i can get to my goal and look as great as you, you both are an inspiration to lose so much and be still working towards your goals :flowerforyou:

shorerider

TAM--WOW--It just hit me who you look like now--

Sally Fields! Well, when she was younger of course.



What do y'all think? Is she a double for Forrest Gump's Momma or what?

obliged

TAM--WOW--It just hit me who you look like now--

Sally Fields! Well, when she was younger of course.



What do y'all think? Is she a double for Forrest Gump's Momma or what?

:laugh: you're right shorerider!
i can just see Tami saying "life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get"
so dont get them!

watch48win

Well said Tami! I totally agree, I have lost 48 pounds as of yesterday, and I started at the beginning of the year.

Healthier_Me

It is possible people!!!!
There are so many success stories and so many threads on this. Banks has pointed this out so many times and his thread is constantly getting bumped,

READ PEOPLE.... READ!!!!

teacher3506

Ok, I know what am I doing wrong. I am eating approximately 925 cal a day and I excercise which puts me at a 500+ cal deficit. The problem is, I am not hungry for more. I am eating basically the same menu everyday because that's what I need to do to stay on track. I'll show you what I eat (everyday:-))

Breakfast: banana, boiled egg, and tee w/ light cream and 2 sugars (can't give that up!)
Lunch: FiberOne english muffin w/ 1 tbsp real (no sugar) peanut butter, 60 cal yogurt
Snack: granny smith apple
Dinner: 1 gortons frozen grilled fish fillet, green giant healthy vision or weight veges (all) and another Fiber one english muffin to sop up the sauce.

This menu really does fill me up. SOmetimes before bed I get hungry, but I do not eat after dinner. I also walk/jog everyday. I burn about 285 cal from this.

I need to loose about 50 lbs and I am averaging about 2 lbs a week.

When I go to add more calories, usually I've maxed on protein and carbs (1200 cal a day) - so what can I add that doesn't put me over?

Thanks for the help,
Wendy:embarassed:

rosenbss

I am so glad I found this site..You wonderful people have no clue how much some of us newbies need to hear your succeses, your advice, and your inspirations..I have been here a month as of today and I have gone up and down on the scale my first almost 3 weeks i didnt even know I was sopose to eat my exercise calories so the last week and half i started now the weight is coming off and I feel so much better. i think sometimes this site is why I havent given up..Every time I want to I get on here and start reading!! Thank You Thank You Thank You... People like you help us believe we can do this!!

dpsdoc

So i was wondering , how much do you exercise everyday?
dpsdoc

lotusfromthemud

Testify!

healthy does not equal suffering or starving.

:flowerforyou:

timragan

Tam, Shorerider,

I hold a similar view. Thanks for your posts and inspiration.

TR

arewethereyet

A little sumpin about the calories. I am on 1200 cals a day. I am 155 (yeah!!) 5'2" tall and 47 yrs old.

The ticker is a little off because I lost some of that weight from jan...Ok so I steadily lose 1-2 lbs a week for 8 weeks.

Now I am sitting.....waiting....patiently (NOT) for the scale to give, just a little. So I read Banks thread about breaking a plateau. I tried breaking up the cals...exercising more. Then I realized I wasnt eating my exercise calories.

Ok so yesterday I busted out. I mean I ate just what I had been craving for weeks. Anyone from Cincinnati? I had 3 Skyline coney dogs with cheese (oyvay, check out the cals/fat from them badboys, they are listed here) I felt sick to my stomach, but logged them into food log.

I LOST ANOTHER POUND!

Take the advise given, and dont be afraid to tweak it. You will find something that works for you!

TamTastic

So i was wondering , how much do you exercise everyday?
dpsdoc

Right now, I go to the gym on Tues, Thurs, Sat and Sun....I was doing a pretty regular routine of 65 minutes (60 + 5 min cool down) on the elliptical(the one with arms), random setting, level 19, which I have slowly worked up to. And then I would do weights.

Recently I have started to add another 20 minutes on the elliptical without arms but with the incline.

TamTastic

Bump

MontanaGirl

Ok, I know what am I doing wrong. I am eating approximately 925 cal a day and I excercise which puts me at a 500+ cal deficit. The problem is, I am not hungry for more. I am eating basically the same menu everyday because that's what I need to do to stay on track. I'll show you what I eat (everyday:-))

Breakfast: banana, boiled egg, and tee w/ light cream and 2 sugars (can't give that up!)
Lunch: FiberOne english muffin w/ 1 tbsp real (no sugar) peanut butter, 60 cal yogurt
Snack: granny smith apple
Dinner: 1 gortons frozen grilled fish fillet, green giant healthy vision or weight veges (all) and another Fiber one english muffin to sop up the sauce.

This menu really does fill me up. SOmetimes before bed I get hungry, but I do not eat after dinner. I also walk/jog everyday. I burn about 285 cal from this.

I need to loose about 50 lbs and I am averaging about 2 lbs a week.

When I go to add more calories, usually I've maxed on protein and carbs (1200 cal a day) - so what can I add that doesn't put me over?

Thanks for the help,
Wendy:embarassed:

Yeah, that's too few calories. You may be losing now, but you will stop. Don't worry so much about going over on protein. Carbs - you are eating pretty much good carbs so I wouldn't worry too much about that. You're not hungry because your body is going into starvation mode (weird, I know, but it quits using fuel as you go into starvation mode and you just aren't hungry) and you may possibly be losing muscle mass. To increase your calories, try setting small goals. Like add 25 - 50 for a couple of days then 25 - 50 more for a couple of days/or a week until you get into an acceptable range. Be prepared though to stop losing weight for a little while. Your body will need a little time to re-adjust to getting proper fuel. You may even gain a little at first. Breath - don't panic!! Hang in there and you will lose what you gain and then continue to lose in a healthy manner. Good luck and we are here for you!

MontanaGirl

Oh, yeah, and you rock TAM!!!!!! You are awesome. :drinker:

Alisha28

Good for you you look amazing!!


Alisha

TamTastic

Bump!

banks1850

A little sumpin about the calories. I am on 1200 cals a day. I am 155 (yeah!!) 5'2" tall and 47 yrs old.

The ticker is a little off because I lost some of that weight from jan...Ok so I steadily lose 1-2 lbs a week for 8 weeks.

Now I am sitting.....waiting....patiently (NOT) for the scale to give, just a little. So I read Banks thread about breaking a plateau. I tried breaking up the cals...exercising more. Then I realized I wasnt eating my exercise calories.

Ok so yesterday I busted out. I mean I ate just what I had been craving for weeks. Anyone from Cincinnati? I had 3 Skyline coney dogs with cheese (oyvay, check out the cals/fat from them badboys, they are listed here) I felt sick to my stomach, but logged them into food log.

I LOST ANOTHER POUND!

Take the advise given, and dont be afraid to tweak it. You will find something that works for you!

OK well, hey, what ever works right? I...ahh...don't necessarilly agree with using 3 corn dogs with cheese as a primary motivator but hey, if it did the trick, cool. Although trying something a bit more subtle might also work.:bigsmile:

arewethereyet

bumpity bump bump bump :glasses:

ChubbyBunny

Tam I just love ya kiddo.

I so needed to hear this today, I am actually bumping up my calories 100 more because of what you said about gradually lowering and keeping it in a safe zone.

Thank you so much.

laurenk182004

Excellant post, and it is all sooo right. I don't starve myself at all, I hardly ever feel hungry and when I do I eat! lol Keep it up hun, you'll be at your goal weight in no time...although I can't imagine u 33lbs lighter! You look fantastic as it is, but you need to be at the weight you'll be happy with.
Lauren

TamTastic

Excellant post, and it is all sooo right. I don't starve myself at all, I hardly ever feel hungry and when I do I eat! lol Keep it up hun, you'll be at your goal weight in no time...although I can't imagine u 33lbs lighter! You look fantastic as it is, but you need to be at the weight you'll be happy with.
Lauren

Hey you!! I am so happy to hear you don't starve!!

I actually have about 30 lbs to lose now, I lost more since this post! hehe I had a stinkin maintain this past Thursday though! :grumble: Oh WELL! I know it may start to get harder now that I am entering healthy weight territory!! :laugh:

Hug!
Tami

TamTastic

Tam I just love ya kiddo.

I so needed to hear this today, I am actually bumping up my calories 100 more because of what you said about gradually lowering and keeping it in a safe zone.

Thank you so much.

Awwww thanks! Love you too girl!!

And GOOD, eat more!!! Woohooo!!! Let's hear it for eating!!!!!! HIP HIP HOOORAYYY!!! :laugh:

Hug
Tami

vickster82

hi tamtastic-

quick question for your gym routine. you say you burn about 750-1000 calories. what exercised to you do? on most days i do yoga and cardio, but that's about 500 altogether. i would love to get a tip! thanks.

TamTastic

hi tamtastic-

quick question for your gym routine. you say you burn about 750-1000 calories. what exercised to you do? on most days i do yoga and cardio, but that's about 500 altogether. i would love to get a tip! thanks.

Hi! Well, I have slowly worked up to doing A LOT of cardio. I currently do 65 min (60 + 5 min cool down) on the elliptical with the arms. I am up to level 19 now.

I have recently started to add an additional 20 minutes or so on the elliptical without arms but with incline...or walk on the treadmill (run a little too). I am trying to just keep my body guessing and add resistance as I go. I also do strength training.

I am actually up to burning closer to 1000 now.

Does that help?? It sounds like you get a good workout in! Maybe just try upping the time and resistance on whatever cardio you do. When something starts to get too easy, just up it...:)

Take care!
Tami

abby1949

Thats fantastic! Congratulations on your huge success. You sound very strong and eager to get to your goal. i look up to people like you have have done so well. I have seen your many recipies and am going to try some. Keep strong!
Cheers!
Lyn
:flowerforyou:

SGFlyinHi

You go girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep up the GREAT work.
I'm so proud of you. :happy:
:drinker: :drinker: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :drinker: :drinker: