I can eat HOW MANY calories???

ZeroTX

Hi All,

I'm new to this site, once again embarking on a weightloss journey that I pray will be successful. I'm now 36 years old and I feel that if I don't do this now, I won't be here in 20 or 30 years to talk about it. I'm 333lbs and I've been over 300lbs since age 15. I can wear the same pants/shirts now that I wore back then, although recently the fat has started to concentrate more in the center (which is very uncomfortable, BTW).

Anyway, I need to do this. This website has recommended that I eat over 2100 calories a day. For me, that's a normal non-weight-loss amount of food. If I calculate a typical day, even a heavy day is no more than 2500 calories for me. I feel that 1500 calories or fewer is better for me. If I eat 2100 calories, I'll maintain weight. Well, I've maintained 330-345lbs weight consistently for 20 years. That's not helping. My goal for my 6'1" self is 200lbs. I feel that I can feel very satisfied and not hungry at 1500 calories, if I simply choose foods wisely.

Thoughts on total calorie count daily?

-Michael

aj_rock

Try tracking your actual caloric daily intake for a while.. you might be consuming more than you think.

jamie1888

Yes, make sure to WEIGH your food; measuring cups and spoons can put you over your servings.

melaniecheeks

Hi Michael, and welcome to the wonderful world of MFP!

How have you been calculating your "normal" calorie intake? How do you think you've put on weight?

Why dont you take a few days or a week and use the MFP diary to set out your usual intake. If you make your diary public, we can give you some suggestions as to what to change (don't worry, we're very gentle )

You're male,and 6'1, so your calorie requirements are going to be higher than a 5 foot female.

GypsyRose25

Try tracking your actual caloric daily intake for a while.. you might be consuming more than you think.

This. Plus, making healthier caloric choices will make a difference. And once you start exercising you will want those calories as well.

christabeltoria

Hi Michael,

I suggest that you see your doctor and discover what kinds of exercise are safe for you, and start doing it! Also, I think you'll find the food diary here very very useful. For me it showed that although I thought I was eating a suitable number of calories, once I started to log every handful of a snack food, and every beverage that I was ingesting, it turned out to be quite a bit more than I thought. Give it a try using the guidelines at MFP for a few weeks. When I started it took about a month for the pounds to start coming off, but the inches came off IMMEDIATELY.

You won't be sorry you took this decision. And you'll discover a great group of people to support you here too!

funkyspunky871

Hi All,

I'm new to this site, once again embarking on a weightloss journey that I pray will be successful. I'm now 36 years old and I feel that if I don't do this now, I won't be here in 20 or 30 years to talk about it. I'm 333lbs and I've been over 300lbs since age 15. I can wear the same pants/shirts now that I wore back then, although recently the fat has started to concentrate more in the center (which is very uncomfortable, BTW).

Anyway, I need to do this. This website has recommended that I eat over 2100 calories a day. For me, that's a normal non-weight-loss amount of food. If I calculate a typical day, even a heavy day is no more than 2500 calories for me. I feel that 1500 calories or fewer is better for me. If I eat 2100 calories, I'll maintain weight. Well, I've maintained 330-345lbs weight consistently for 20 years. That's not helping. My goal for my 6'1" self is 200lbs. I feel that I can feel very satisfied and not hungry at 1500 calories, if I simply choose foods wisely.

Thoughts on total calorie count daily?

-Michael

Sorry, but if you were eating 2500 calories a day, you most likely wouldn't be over 300 pounds. Follow MFP's recommendations. They WILL work. Guaranteed.

start_on_monday

Try tracking your actual caloric daily intake for a while.. you might be consuming more than you think.

I agree, I would try MFP's suggested calories for a week, eating healthy and I am sure you will lose at the end of the week.

MaureenCreates

I think 1500 would be extremely low for you, considering your weight, gender, and height.
I mean, my goal is 1390 for 1/2lbs weight loss and I'm a 5'4" female.

Bambina2011

Welcome! You do not have to eat the total amount of calories suggested everyday. It is a guideline for you. You certainly do not want to go over. When you log your calories it well tell you if you are not eating enough. Remember you have to eat a certain amount of calories to lose weight. It is great to consistenly come in under goal and burn the same amount or more through exercise. Hope this helps.

willimh

You want to make sure you are eating enough to fuel the body. Track everything you put in your mouth and that will be the tell all on whether you are eating over or eating under. Welcome and good luck. We are all here for you, to encourage you and to answer any questions for you. You will have some down day but, get back up asap.

joejccva71

Try tracking your actual caloric daily intake for a while.. you might be consuming more than you think.

^This.

Track what you are eating for about 2-3 weeks and weigh yourself once a week on the same day on an empty stomach in the morning. Track it.

This will give you what your maintenance is. Just have to be patient with it and give it more than a 1-2 week period. Some people say give it 4 weeks.

ZeroTX

Hi Michael, and welcome to the wonderful world of MFP!

How have you been calculating your "normal" calorie intake? How do you think you've put on weight?

I've been overweight since the age of 6.... I reflect on what I eat/ate and what others eat/ate and I do not think I over ate that much as a child. I think it's a combination of somewhat bad (but not unusual or particularly bad) food choices + a slow metabolism. My father is over 300lbs, formerly over 460lbs. 300lbs is post-weightloss surgery, done in the 1980's... his stomach is tiny. He eats an average amount of food for an adult male... I cannot eat an average amount of food.

I realize I eat poorly many times, but people who disregard metabolic differences between individual human beings are morons. No offense to morons.

pa_jorg

My favorite quote from the message boards is "it takes calories to burn calories". You need enough fuel to burn baby burn. Just start logging and exercising and in a short time it will make more sense.

Gigi_licious

I would go with the MFP recommendation or google and look around at different calculators and see what you come up with. I have around 135lbs to lose and I found myself soooooo hungry when staying within the recommended 1420 by MFP so I played with it a little and now I give myself a range. For me, personally, I have been doing better and losing weight since I have upped my calories. I try to stay within a certain range. So I went in there and saw I need X amt of calories to lose 1lb a week and X amount to lose 2lbs a week and I try to stay within that range. It's helped me. I do better with wiggle room. 1500 might be too low. I would start with the MFP recommendation, see how you feel, then play with it from there to find what works best for you.

Huskeryogi

This is what my favorite source recommends -

How much to eat -
Take your goal weight times 10. My goal weight is 160 so I average 1600 cal/day

How much you burn-
Add 9.5 to the about of hours of exercise you plan to get per week. For me this is 9.5+5 = 14.5. Multiply this number by your current weight. For me this comes out to 2595.5. So if I take 2595.5 - 1600 I have a daily deficit of almost 1000 calories.

My guess is that you are under estimating how much you eat a day. Most people do. Get a food scale and measuring cups to make sure you are adding everything up right.

End6ame

Hi All,

I'm new to this site, once again embarking on a weightloss journey that I pray will be successful. I'm now 36 years old and I feel that if I don't do this now, I won't be here in 20 or 30 years to talk about it. I'm 333lbs and I've been over 300lbs since age 15. I can wear the same pants/shirts now that I wore back then, although recently the fat has started to concentrate more in the center (which is very uncomfortable, BTW).

Anyway, I need to do this. This website has recommended that I eat over 2100 calories a day. For me, that's a normal non-weight-loss amount of food. If I calculate a typical day, even a heavy day is no more than 2500 calories for me. I feel that 1500 calories or fewer is better for me. If I eat 2100 calories, I'll maintain weight. Well, I've maintained 330-345lbs weight consistently for 20 years. That's not helping. My goal for my 6'1" self is 200lbs. I feel that I can feel very satisfied and not hungry at 1500 calories, if I simply choose foods wisely.

Thoughts on total calorie count daily?

-Michael

What is your BMR? You shouldn’t eat below your BMR and 1500 calories is well below your BMR. I am 5’11’’ and 218lbs and eat 2200 calories and am losing.

ZeroTX

Try tracking your actual caloric daily intake for a while.. you might be consuming more than you think.

^This.

Track what you are eating for about 2-3 weeks and weigh yourself once a week on the same day on an empty stomach in the morning. Track it.

This will give you what your maintenance is. Just have to be patient with it and give it more than a 1-2 week period. Some people say give it 4 weeks.

I have tracked before and I am doing it again here. I'm going to start with a 1500 calorie daily goal, with no more than 30% of my calories coming from carbohydrates. I also have a family history of adult-onset diabetes on both sides, including my brother, my father, my maternal grandmother, paternal uncles, etc. I'm not going Atkins, but I'm not going to eat rice or pasta on a regular basis, either.

candiigraham

Unfortunately, we ASSUME we are eating fewer calories when we are actually eating more;
For example, I would just pour a bowl of cereal and add milk to my liking. When I actually measured the cereal and the milk it was a lot less than what I was consuming. So, I was consuming 260 calories vs. 130 per serving I was suppose to. Our portion sizes are way out of control. Do MFP a week and then incorporate excercise. Once you start burning calories you will be glad you have those extra calories.

P.S. Make your diary public so that you can get lots of input. GL

MaureenCreates

I realize I eat poorly many times, but people who disregard metabolic differences between individual human beings are morons. No offense to morons.

Our genetics might effect our metabolisms to an extent, sure, but we can build them up and tear them doing depending on our lifestyles.
Both of my parents are overweight but the highest I've ever been was 137lbs.
You can't just blame genetics.

ZeroTX

This is what my favorite source recommends -

How much to eat -
Take your goal weight times 10. My goal weight is 160 so I average 1600 cal/day

How much you burn-
Add 9.5 to the about of hours of exercise you plan to get per week. For me this is 9.5+5 = 14.5. Multiply this number by your current weight. For me this comes out to 2595.5. So if I take 2595.5 - 1600 I have a daily deficit of almost 1000 calories.

My guess is that you are under estimating how much you eat a day. Most people do. Get a food scale and measuring cups to make sure you are adding everything up right.

I'll start measuring and counting better in terms of what I eat.

I have no time to exercise. I'm a principal of a school... I work 10 hours a day (sometimes 12-14) and my campus is 52 miles from my house, so I spend 2.5 hours a day in my car.... when I get home, I'd like to have a conversation with my wife or children now and then... I am barely even able to get 6hours of sleep. I'd rather increase my sleep discipline, because I tend to feel better and lose weight better when I'm getting 8 hours.

fastbelly

Hi All,

I'm new to this site, once again embarking on a weightloss journey that I pray will be successful. I'm now 36 years old and I feel that if I don't do this now, I won't be here in 20 or 30 years to talk about it. I'm 333lbs and I've been over 300lbs since age 15. I can wear the same pants/shirts now that I wore back then, although recently the fat has started to concentrate more in the center (which is very uncomfortable, BTW).

Anyway, I need to do this. This website has recommended that I eat over 2100 calories a day. For me, that's a normal non-weight-loss amount of food. If I calculate a typical day, even a heavy day is no more than 2500 calories for me. I feel that 1500 calories or fewer is better for me. If I eat 2100 calories, I'll maintain weight. Well, I've maintained 330-345lbs weight consistently for 20 years. That's not helping. My goal for my 6'1" self is 200lbs. I feel that I can feel very satisfied and not hungry at 1500 calories, if I simply choose foods wisely.

Thoughts on total calorie count daily?

-Michael

Hi Michael,

First let me congratulate you on this decision, I too was over 300lbs when I started (currently at 285) and I'm also on my 30's and felt similar. Let me address something I can see from your words to start with, Michael, you don't pray it will be successful, you KNOW it will and will do anything and everything to make it happen, that's the frame of mind you need to be in. It can't be a SHOULD, it has to be a MUST.

Secondly and in regards to your question, at 333lbs your BMR is probably on the region of 2900cals a day(if not more), BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) is the rate at which your body burns calories if it was on a comatose state. 2100 calories is a pretty decent deficit to loose weight, I would stick with it and you'll see that you will loose weight for sure. As you progress your BMR will change and so will your sugested intake of calories. Based on my stats and lifestyle the program currently sugests that I intake about the same as you 2070 calories is my current intake and although I'm usually a good bit under this due to very regular exercise I'm also eating more then 2070 calories gross on most days.

As you can see from my signature bar, it is working pretty well as I've lost over 56lbs so far.

Good luck on your quest.

DollyPS

You eat 1500 calories a day and you will go into starvation mode sorry mate but you will you wont loose a thing.

Now I agree with others go see GP for safe exercise. I would recommend swimming gentle all rounder there and walking but slowly to start with and build up dont want to damage thought's joints any further.

Weigh everything and I mean everything dont cheat cos thats just cheating yourself.

who cooks you or someone else cos I would be doing the cooking just to see what you really are eating. look for alternatives that are low in fat but dont completely deprive yourself either.

dawnemjh

Try tracking your actual caloric daily intake for a while.. you might be consuming more than you think.

Agree!!!! I think 2100 sounds about rite to lose...

fastbelly

This is what my favorite source recommends -

How much to eat -
Take your goal weight times 10. My goal weight is 160 so I average 1600 cal/day

How much you burn-
Add 9.5 to the about of hours of exercise you plan to get per week. For me this is 9.5+5 = 14.5. Multiply this number by your current weight. For me this comes out to 2595.5. So if I take 2595.5 - 1600 I have a daily deficit of almost 1000 calories.

My guess is that you are under estimating how much you eat a day. Most people do. Get a food scale and measuring cups to make sure you are adding everything up right.

I'll start measuring and counting better in terms of what I eat.

I have no time to exercise. I'm a principal of a school... I work 10 hours a day (sometimes 12-14) and my campus is 52 miles from my house, so I spend 2.5 hours a day in my car.... when I get home, I'd like to have a conversation with my wife or children now and then... I am barely even able to get 6hours of sleep. I'd rather increase my sleep discipline, because I tend to feel better and lose weight better when I'm getting 8 hours.

You really need to find a solution for this lifestyle though, your day should start with at least 30 minutes for yourself... make it a MUST!
My mother is a school principal and I know what it takes, but the school isn't going anywhere and if you're not there 10 hours tomorrow but only 9.5 nobody will die either.

aj_rock

Hi Michael, and welcome to the wonderful world of MFP!

How have you been calculating your "normal" calorie intake? How do you think you've put on weight?

I've been overweight since the age of 6.... I reflect on what I eat/ate and what others eat/ate and I do not think I over ate that much as a child. I think it's a combination of somewhat bad (but not unusual or particularly bad) food choices + a slow metabolism. My father is over 300lbs, formerly over 460lbs. 300lbs is post-weightloss surgery, done in the 1980's... his stomach is tiny. He eats an average amount of food for an adult male... I cannot eat an average amount of food.

I realize I eat poorly many times, but people who disregard metabolic differences between individual human beings are morons. No offense to morons.

Pleae don't take this the wrong way, but unless your family has a history of actual medical problems that cause weight gain (hypothyroidism, hormone imbalances, etc), you CANNOT put down your weight as being due to a slow metabolism.

If you maintain your current weight @ over 300 lbs eating only 2500 calories, then you should see a doctor.

ZeroTX

You really need to find a solution for this lifestyle though, your day should start with at least 30 minutes for yourself... make it a MUST!
My mother is a school principal and I know what it takes, but the school isn't going anywhere and if you're not there 10 hours tomorrow but only 9.5 nobody will die either.

I definitely don't disagree there.... Last school year was my first year in this job, so I'm hoping the coming school year will be a little bit better. I'd rather be here for my wife in 20 years, you know? I hate how I feel. I hate it. I am 36 and I have severe varicose veins in both legs from having jobs where I stand up 5+ hours a day (retail, then school teacher, now principal), and I worry about that and other things I'm damaging.

ZeroTX

Pleae don't take this the wrong way, but unless your family has a history of actual medical problems that cause weight gain (hypothyroidism, hormone imbalances, etc), you CANNOT put down your weight as being due to a slow metabolism.

If you maintain your current weight @ over 300 lbs eating only 2500 calories, then you should see a doctor.

I have. He said eat 1200 calories a day. I said that's hard. He said yes, it is.

End6ame

Hi Michael, and welcome to the wonderful world of MFP!

How have you been calculating your "normal" calorie intake? How do you think you've put on weight?

I've been overweight since the age of 6.... I reflect on what I eat/ate and what others eat/ate and I do not think I over ate that much as a child. I think it's a combination of somewhat bad (but not unusual or particularly bad) food choices + a slow metabolism. My father is over 300lbs, formerly over 460lbs. 300lbs is post-weightloss surgery, done in the 1980's... his stomach is tiny. He eats an average amount of food for an adult male... I cannot eat an average amount of food.

I realize I eat poorly many times, but people who disregard metabolic differences between individual human beings are morons. No offense to morons.

Pleae don't take this the wrong way, but unless your family has a history of actual medical problems that cause weight gain (hypothyroidism, hormone imbalances, etc), you CANNOT put down your weight as being due to a slow metabolism.

If you maintain your current weight @ over 300 lbs eating only 2500 calories, then you should see a doctor.

Agreed. At 6'1'' and 333lbs your BMR alone is roughly 2200 - 2500. I think you are drastically underestimating what you eat.

aj_rock

Pleae don't take this the wrong way, but unless your family has a history of actual medical problems that cause weight gain (hypothyroidism, hormone imbalances, etc), you CANNOT put down your weight as being due to a slow metabolism.

If you maintain your current weight @ over 300 lbs eating only 2500 calories, then you should see a doctor.

I have. He said eat 1200 calories a day. I said that's hard. He said yes, it is.

Listen to him then, not MFP. 110% of the time, do what your doctor says over what a website says.

All in all though, best of luck on your journey though! No matter what, it won't be easy! Just stick to it!

joejccva71

OP-

Normally I would say that you should get your diet in check FIRST, and then worry about exercise because your diet is #1 priority right now. However, you should do roughly 30 mins of cardio 3 times a week IMO right now to get started.

You also need to think about your entire daily lifestyle for calorie burn, not just inside the gym or at work. There's a reason TDEE means Total Daily Energy Expedenture.

Let's face it. Eating 1500 cals a day is too low for your stats, I will guarantee you this. You may lose some weight, but not only will you come to a screeching halt and plateau but you'll deprive your body of the macro and micronutrients it needs.

Do this the right way, not the quick and easy way.

Monitor your intake daily for 2-3 weeks at MINIMUM. Then go with a 1000 calorie deficit. The formulas that are known for being accurate do NOT work well for morbidly obese people. You have to find other ways to get your MAINTENANCE. What I as well as others have suggested is the way to go for you. Please trust this.