Calorie intake... need to rant a bit

2

Replies

  • TamTastic
    TamTastic Posts: 19,224 Member
    Thank you! This topic needs to be addressed pretty regularly it seems. I know a lot of new people join and get to eating too few calories and don't understand how it works.

    When I don't workout...which is Mon, Wed, and Fri....I eat 1400 cals.

    When I DO workout....Tues, Thurs, Sat and Sun....I eat between 1800-1900 cals!

    I am down 110 lbs (Had a maintain this week due to my "Monthly")....soo obviously it works! :laugh: :wink:

    Eat people!! Food is your friend. Fat is your friend too if you eat the right kinds!!

    Thanks for the break down you use...what's your height Tam?:flowerforyou:
    I'm 5'5" :)
  • TamTastic
    TamTastic Posts: 19,224 Member
    I think the main trouble for not eating is this (cause I catch myself rethinking what I should do) --
    1. Plateaus happen - either scale or measurements
    2. Weight jumps up and down (for whatever reason)
    All while following the eat exercise calorie suggestions

    I know those are my times where I think - what if I don't eat them all....

    Tam - question for you -- I noticed one thread where you said you do not eat them all the time, mostly half of the exercise calories -- did I misread? Curious as you have been very successful and I thought that's what you mentioned and had me thinking I should cut down a bit more earlier this week.

    And - yes, I am too lazy to try and find the post to demuddle my head.. :embarassed:
    That's right....I don't eat all of them. I do A LOT of cardio and burn a lot of calories....I do try to get at least half of them back. Part of the reason I don't eat more is because I get so full! LOL! The other reason is I don't use a heart rate monitor so I never eat all of them in case the calorie count I have at the end of my workout is off.

    As far as my workout goes and the calorie count, when a machine like the elliptical asks for my weight, I enter in a weight 5 lbs less than I am....and then from the combined total of all the exercise I do, I deduct about 10%-15% from it. But then I never eat ALL of them because my count even after all that is like 1100 calories burned. I actually probably should eat a few more...but I think I am doing ok because every OTHER day, I eat 1400 and then on those workout days, I eat about 1900.
  • arjames82
    arjames82 Posts: 154
    Please realize that when MyFitnessPal is setting up your calories that it creates a base intake... that intake is based on how many calories you burn at rest (meaning, if you laid in bed all day and didn't do a darn thing) and THEN it takes the deficit to tell you what you'd need to consume to lose a pound (or two) per week... if you just laid in bed all day.

    So, if I laid in bed all day then I'd only need about 1270 calories to create a deficit... but guess what? I don't lay in bed all day... and I'm sure you don't either.

    I'm so glad you started this thread. I thought that maybe I was the only one who felt like the # of calories recommend by the site was a little off. I work out with a personal trainer three times a week, and he has me eating 2300 calories per day (just got bumped up from 1747:bigsmile: )

    My gym has a Polar Body Age machine that does a 4 part body assessment (cardiovascular fitness level, bicep strength, flexibility, body composition) and reccomends the # of calories you should consume each day. The # of calories is based upon your lean mass to fat mass ratio...the higher your lean mass, the more calories you can eat because your body will burn more calories at rest. Currently, I weight197 lbs and my body composition is 71.8% lean to 28.2% fat. My basal metabolic rate is 2099 and it is recommended that I eat 2313 calories each day (an extra 630 calories is added to my BMR because that's how many calories my body should burn by processing food and through normal daily activities). I know that sounds like a lot of calories, but when I eat less, I stop losing weight.

    My gym (Gold's) makes the Body Age machine accessible to all of it's members. If anyone else has access to this service, I strongly recommend getting a body profile done so you will know what YOUR body needs!
  • ericarey85
    ericarey85 Posts: 312 Member
    i often have to force myself to eat to get in all my calories. :grumble: like today i walked around stores for 3 hrs w/ my mom, hey its considered exercise, :bigsmile: and then super clean my house leaving me with an extra whopping 900 calories today :noway: so now i am trying to drink them down (since i am not hungry) by drinking juices.
  • Fitness_Chick
    Fitness_Chick Posts: 6,648 Member
    :flowerforyou: bump
  • Fitness_Chick
    Fitness_Chick Posts: 6,648 Member
    :flowerforyou: bump important thread for all :drinker:
  • Fitness_Chick
    Fitness_Chick Posts: 6,648 Member
    :tongue:
  • Fitness_Chick
    Fitness_Chick Posts: 6,648 Member
    :drinker:
  • Fitness_Chick
    Fitness_Chick Posts: 6,648 Member
    :drinker: well worth a bumpity bump 100 more times!! Though no worries..:laugh: I'll do them one at a time!:tongue:
  • singcoz528
    singcoz528 Posts: 154
    Thank you so much for your viewpoint on this!

    I'm new to the whole dieting and nutrition thing and I didn't know whether I should eat those extra calories.

    Thank you for your advice and helping everyone be a little bit healthier!:flowerforyou:
  • arewethereyet
    arewethereyet Posts: 18,702 Member

    Eat people!! Food is your friend. Fat is your friend too if you eat the right kinds!!

    Tam I didnt know you were promoting canabalism!?! :laugh: :laugh: Eat your fat friend, now that isnt nice.
    Ok so this is how I read it the 1st time. Jeez I need to take a break.
  • shorerider
    shorerider Posts: 3,817 Member

    Eat people!! Food is your friend. Fat is your friend too if you eat the right kinds!!

    Tam I didnt know you were promoting canabalism!?! :laugh: :laugh: Eat your fat friend, now that isnt nice.
    Ok so this is how I read it the 1st time. Jeez I need to take a break.

    LOL--Like the panda who eats, shoots, and leaves

    panda.jpg
  • Sexythighz
    Sexythighz Posts: 159 Member
    Great points made here! I try to eat at least 5 meals a day which include snacks. I find that eating this way has help me tremendously in controlling binges. I dont feel deprived either and as a result my weight is finally moving downward. I also love strength training and make sure that its incorporated regularly.:glasses:

    Steph
  • psyknife
    psyknife Posts: 487 Member
    OMG... you posted a panda in my thread... how perfect :):):)

    Sexythighz... do you use WOWY? If not, there's someone in there with the same name as you... nevertheless, I am a fan of it :) Love your thighs! :)
  • arewethereyet
    arewethereyet Posts: 18,702 Member
    love. the. panda!
  • Fitness_Chick
    Fitness_Chick Posts: 6,648 Member
    cute:tongue:
  • Fitness_Chick
    Fitness_Chick Posts: 6,648 Member
    :drinker: :heart: :drinker: :heart: :drinker: :heart: :drinker:
  • FitShark
    FitShark Posts: 68
    Thanks all! :flowerforyou: Its soooo nice to have this fact re-itterated; I was just getting into a slump about "am I eating too much?" again; but with my work-outs, I know my intake NEEDS to be HIGHER, around 17-1800kcal. I dont want to be draggy, cranky, too tired for the next day's "events" AND shift my metabolism into reverse! But I do feel every once in while, that I may be consuming too much. But using MFP is great to help me see where I am at.
    And for the person who posted (sorry I dont remember your name) about not dieting, not dropping all the weight in one week, but learning a new life style, and being healthy etc. YOU GOT IT GIRL! THATS what its about, in my opinion too......
  • psyknife
    psyknife Posts: 487 Member
    For those worried about getting "too much." If you are worried about that... then make sure those calories are coming from good foods. I know that a "calorie is a calorie" but your body will react differently if you eat 200 calories in donuts as opposed to 200 calories in veggies or lean meat.
    So, to keep from worrying, make your calories your BEST choice that you can. Our bodies function the best on natural whole foods (fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean meats)... if we use those calories on sugar we really are not doing ourselves a favor.

    I'm a big believer in CHOICE. Everything we do is a choice... so, what will you choose today???

    One of my favorite quotes is from Tony Horton...
    The joy of discipline or the pain of regret... what will it be today?
  • seebee
    seebee Posts: 10
    When I first set up my account, I didn't notice that my goals were set with my date of birth making me 18 years old! So when I adjusted it to my right age (waaaaay over that), my calorie requirements per day dropped like a brick. I don't think I'll have a problem 'eating my exercise calories,' because my per day calorie intake limit is pretty low.
  • jenninsocal
    jenninsocal Posts: 419
    BUMP... I didnt know this either, thanks!
  • arewethereyet
    arewethereyet Posts: 18,702 Member
    I exercise so I HAVE extra calories to eat.Without them I would be on 1200 and starving!
    :laugh:
  • arjames82
    arjames82 Posts: 154
    I exercise so I HAVE extra calories to eat.Without them I would be on 1200 and starving!
    :laugh:

    Me Too! By the time I go to the gym in the evenings, I have exhausted my 1500 calories:sad: Exercise gives me the calories I need for a protein shake and dinner.
  • psyknife
    psyknife Posts: 487 Member
    Right! I'm not sure I'd want to live every day with no exercise and only 1270-1400 calories... I love the way exercise makes my body feel, and I love fueling my body so that I can exercise to my fullest potential.
  • TNTPete
    TNTPete Posts: 701 Member
    I like the balance of eating properly and exercising. I enjoy my sweets too but when you exercise hard you really do need proper fuel -- so just restating the comment: eat the right things to get the maximum results.

    I like the sound of that polar machine at Gold's I might have to check that out -- thx for posting about that!
  • ranhound
    ranhound Posts: 59 Member
    1/4 cup of deluxe mixed nuts is 180 calories. That's about 12 nuts! They are delicious, caloric, and good for you. I get the deluxe, unsalted, and eat them one at a time. Yummy!
    89050.png
    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter
  • ranhound
    ranhound Posts: 59 Member
    I know I should agree...

    I'm recovering from an eating disorder and find it soooo hard to eat the right amount. I feel STUFFED at about 1100 calories. I'm in the military so I should be eating close to 1900.

    What are some snacks that are good for calories that wouldn't make me too full?

    Yes, nuts! 1/4 cup of deluxe mixed nuts is 180 calories. That's about 12 nuts! They are delicious, caloric, and good for you. I get the deluxe, unsalted, and eat them one at a time. Yummy!
    89050.png
    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter
  • FitShark
    FitShark Posts: 68
    For those worried about getting "too much." If you are worried about that... then make sure those calories are coming from good foods. I know that a "calorie is a calorie" but your body will react differently if you eat 200 calories in donuts as opposed to 200 calories in veggies or lean meat.
    So, to keep from worrying, make your calories your BEST choice that you can. Our bodies function the best on natural whole foods (fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean meats)... if we use those calories on sugar we really are not doing ourselves a favor.

    I'm a big believer in CHOICE. Everything we do is a choice... so, what will you choose today???

    One of my favorite quotes is from Tony Horton...
    The joy of discipline or the pain of regret... what will it be today?

    you are so right about the choices of TYPES of foods that you can eat and how your body metabolizes them for energy and storage. The body is amazing, and we should be feuling it with the BEST choices out there, like you said. If you eat 1300 kcals, for example (my base number) of junk foods, you wont be full for long and your body wil be crashing, storing excess fat etc etc....but 1300 kcals of whole grains, fruits and veg and lean meats goes a lot further, and so do you! Andthen factor in the energy requirements for exercising, well, you have more choices to continue eating for health! CHOICES for HEALTH...I do rmemeber that Tony-ism...itsa good one!!
  • arewethereyet
    arewethereyet Posts: 18,702 Member
    So true.

    I find myself to be more energetic with 1200 good clean calories in me than with 2500 in crap. My body isnt sluggish anymore.

    I look forward to exercise and if you dont....find something you LIKE to do. :heart:
  • psyknife
    psyknife Posts: 487 Member
    I look forward to exercise and if you dont....find something you LIKE to do.
    That is so key... don't do what you hate doing.
    I totally dislike running... so I don't run for my exercise. I simply love kickboxing, yoga, pilates and weightlifting... so I do those! But I also throw in some biking, skating and other activities I enjoy just to change things up a bit now and then :)
    Ya'll rock!!!!! :heart: :flowerforyou:
This discussion has been closed.

Categories