Needs advice on calories

Candikickbutt

I have been using this application for about 8 weeks, I am consistently exercising, but am not losing much. I have questions about calories consumed and burned. If anyone can, help please do!!!!!

shannon_stallone

I've been using MFP on and off for six months...What questions can I maybe answer for you?

Candikickbutt

Well, I've been eating anywhere between 1,000-1,200 calories a day, and burning 1000-1400 a day in cardio and 30 minutes of pilates. I'm not losing anything and feel like giving up. Weight and inches have measured the same.

Lift_hard_eat_big

Ask and I'll try to give you a legit answer.

Lift_hard_eat_big

Well, I've been eating anywhere between 1,000-1,200 calories a day, and burning 1000-1400 a day in cardio and 30 minutes of pilates. I'm not losing anything and feel like giving up. Weight and inches have measured the same.

What is your TDEE?

faith12207

I been using about a month and i am in same boat seems like i am doing something wrong and i exercise for atleast 30 minutes to an hour everyday when i can.

billsica

How much is not loosing much? like 1 pound a week?

KristiMW72

Are you eating back burned cals?

angel79202

If you're eating only 1000-1200 and burning 1000-1400, you may be putting yourself in starvation mode..the body cannot survive on negative calories..

Candikickbutt

Whats TDEE?

Pebble321

Well, I've been eating anywhere between 1,000-1,200 calories a day, and burning 1000-1400 a day in cardio and 30 minutes of pilates. I'm not losing anything and feel like giving up. Weight and inches have measured the same.

So that means your NET calories (calories in - minus calories out) would be 0.
This doesn't leave any energy for your body to use to support essential functions like breathing, walking, digesting, talking and everything else you usually do in a day. For most women this requires 1200 cals or more (for me, it's about 1800 if I factor regular daily activity in).
It sounds to me as though your body is doing it's best to conserve energy to keep you going, it may have slowed down your metabolism which would mean that weight loss can stall or stop.
My advice - exercise less and eat more! Eat at least the number of calories MPF gives you as a daily allowance, plus all or most of the calories you burn from exercise.

Candikickbutt

I'm only eating the 1000-1200 calories, then exercising. I am not eating any back burned calories. I drink lots of water. I lost 8 pounds in 2 weeks, but the last 3 weeks, I have not lost a pound. I'm so upset. I am wanting to lose at least 3 lbs per week.

Candikickbutt

I'm very uneducated when it comes to this, I have so many questions it's ridiculous. Aren't you supposed to burn more calories then consumed to lose weight? How will I lose if I eat the same amount that I burn while exercising? I am not second guessing any advice, just confused.

Pebble321

3 pounds a week is a pretty agressive goal, unless you have a lot of weight to lose that just may not happen. I know we all want to lose weight quickly, but eating very little, burning huge amounts of calories and not giving your body enough good nutrition to live on is not going to work long term.
You are much more likely to see good results by setting a more moderate goal (like 1 pound a week), cutting your exercise to something like 3-400 cals a day, having a rest day once a week, and eating all the calories MFP has allocated for you plus most or all of your exercise calories.
I'm sure that sounds boring, but I bet it would work!

Lift_hard_eat_big

I'm only eating the 1000-1200 calories, then exercising. I am not eating any back burned calories. I drink lots of water. I lost 8 pounds in 2 weeks, but the last 3 weeks, I have not lost a pound. I'm so upset. I am wanting to lose at least 3 lbs per week.

Read my post in the link below, I think you are the poster child for what I wrote.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/351569-gone-from-rapid-weight-loss-to-plateaued-weight-loss-possi

psmd

You've lost 14 pounds so far, that's awesome for 8 weeks!

Candikickbutt

So if I eat 1200 calories, then burn 1500, I need to eat another 1300??

Lift_hard_eat_big

You've lost 14 pounds so far, that's awesome for 8 weeks!

No, she lost 8 lbs in the first 2 weeks. In the last 3 weeks, she hasn't lost anything.

Manlee52

I would think you are not eating enough calories with that much exercise.

Lift_hard_eat_big

So if I eat 1200 calories, then burn 1500, I need to eat another 1300??

What does your food diary set for your calorie intake goal before exercise?

Hirundo

I'm only eating the 1000-1200 calories, then exercising. I am not eating any back burned calories. I drink lots of water. I lost 8 pounds in 2 weeks, but the last 3 weeks, I have not lost a pound. I'm so upset. I am wanting to lose at least 3 lbs per week.

Wow ...
well you won't loose more weight like that or, if you, do it'll be to the cost of your health...

you are putting your body in starvation mode or , in other words in survival mode... your body will do everything it can to not let you loose any weight, if you do start to loose again like that it will probably burn muscles before fat...

The first 8 pounds you lost were probably only water

You are doing it wrong,
there is some very good post about that in the forum, do a quick search and read about it....

Good luck!

adidrea

I'm very uneducated when it comes to this, I have so many questions it's ridiculous. Aren't you supposed to burn more calories then consumed to lose weight? How will I lose if I eat the same amount that I burn while exercising? I am not second guessing any advice, just confused.

Without doing any form of exercise your body burns quite a few calories every day performing basic tasks. Those calories are used to keep you alive and your organs functioning, your body temperature regulated, and much much more. If you eat 1200 calories per day you are more than likely eating well under the calories that your body burns every day so you will lose weight. Burning an *additional* 1000-1200 calories is giving you too big of a calorie deficit and is not nearly enough to keep you healthy!! If you burn everything you eat there's nothing for your body to run on. Please take care of yourself and eat a little bit more (or don't exercise so much). You are likely to see much better results that way!

I hope it helps! Good luck to you :flowerforyou:

Pebble321

I'm very uneducated when it comes to this, I have so many questions it's ridiculous. Aren't you supposed to burn more calories then consumed to lose weight? How will I lose if I eat the same amount that I burn while exercising? I am not second guessing any advice, just confused.

Yes, you do need to burn more than you eat. But you haven't allowed for the fact that your body is going to burn about 1200 - 1400 cals a day even if you didn't get out of bed. Getting out of bed and just breathing and talking and walking around is going to burn even more. If you add your 1000 cals burned through exercise a day you are burning more than 2400 cals a day. And if you are only eating 1000 cals you are making your body survive on a HUGE deficit. This probably isn't going to have good long term effects on your body and it isn't necessary!
You will read so many success stories of people here who lost weight eating HEAPS - like me. I've lost 21kg (about 47 pounds) and I've been eating at least 1500 NET calories every day (net calories means eating my daily allowance plus my exercise calories). You don't have to starve and exercise like a maniac to lose weight.

shannon_stallone

If you're eating only 1000-1200 and burning 1000-1400, you may be putting yourself in starvation mode..the body cannot survive on negative calories..

I agree....Think of food as fuel....If you're burning that many calories, fill your body up with good healthy fuel..Proteins, fruits and vegetables

chanceuse2424

if you're consistently only eating 1000 calories a day... i mean... you're not going to lose weight. and if you're eating mostly sugar and carbs, then you definitely won't lose weight. and if you're exercising THAT much without a) recovery or b) eating more calories to fuel yourself, then forget about it.

Candikickbutt

What does your food diary set for your calorie intake goal before exercise?
[/quote]


Well before exercise, MFP is set at 1200 calories, which I only meet half the time, then after I exercise, like today, it tells me I still have another 1669 calories remaining to eat. So do I need to eat that much more?

mellymink

Yes, you should be eating back most or all of your calories you earned through exercise. That's why this site is so awesome, it factors it all in for you so you don't have to do tons of math. It just shows you how many calories to eat and adjusts it accordingly.

Lift_hard_eat_big

What does your food diary set for your calorie intake goal before exercise?

Well before exercise, MFP is set at 1200 calories, which I only meet half the time, then after I exercise, like today, it tells me I still have another 1669 calories remaining to eat. So do I need to eat that much more?
[/quote]

Read the link I posted in one of my previous post.

Misiaxcore

I honestly don't understand how people don't understand =[

Basic concept of:
Green means go.
Red means stop.

Candikickbutt

What does your food diary set for your calorie intake goal before exercise?

Well before exercise, MFP is set at 1200 calories, which I only meet half the time, then after I exercise, like today, it tells me I still have another 1669 calories remaining to eat. So do I need to eat that much more?

Read the link I posted in one of my previous post.
[/quote]
I did read it, thank you.

Candikickbutt

I honestly don't understand how people don't understand =[

Basic concept of:
Green means go.
Red means stop.

I'm new to it, so that's why I don't understand. I have to learn somewhere.