What do most people do?

Jenninedinburgh

I was wondering what most people do in terms of losing 1, 1.5 or 2 lbs a week? I've gone for 1.5 and my calorie allocation is 1200. The ONLY reason I've been able to eat this amount is due to working out each day - otherwise I am sure I'd go over. Not sure what I will do on my days that I don't exercise....

Skittlebrew

starve

Jenninedinburgh

LOL...guess I'll have to work out every day then!

stef_3

I do 1 lb and get 1,490 cals. It's enough that I don't feel like I'm starving and at this point my lbs are going to come off slowly and I'm okay with that. Better than gaining right?

ImperfektAngel

I will usually go over when I do not workout :-/

Skittlebrew

you could always eat pickles or carrots and celery or something. next to zero calories.

SergeantSunshine_reused

I do 1 lb per week. Slow and steady weightloss :]

kkmark

i go over when i don't workout.

No matter how much you change from 1 or 1.5 it is 1200

virginiejaubin

I do 2 lbs and I have 1200 cals a day. I try to eat healty so I can eat more suff and not starve. I have many snacks!

Jenninedinburgh

Hey Stef - I am thinking the same thing. I am going to see how this week goes and if I am hungry on the days I don't exercise, I might bump it up to the 1 lb per week. I guess I also need to look at eating more filling foods...as I am just starting, I have been focusing on just eating my calories...but I can improve on eating more filling foods...

kristilovescake

Nah, it's possible... but you have to be very cautious of what you eat. It's seriously tough though!

Lots of veggies and lean meats. Basically, not eating anything processed.

I much prefer offsetting it with more exercise so I can eat more food and not limit myself.

Jennis0212

I set my goal to 1500 since thats what my doctor told me. she said it will come off slowly but healthy. I don't find myself starving either. i am trying all sorts of different recipes with grilled foods or baked or in the broiler. some are nasty lol but i am getting there. and i usually go over on fridays, thats my day where i dont feel guilty and i go out to eat with my family and enjoy a glass of wine with dinner.

mermx

I have been on 1200 cals a day since I started back in July. seriously it is a lot of calories if you divide it into 3 meals a day plus a couple of snacks. I add exercise cals of around 230 a day..but struggle to eat those back.

A typical day

breakfast

boiled egg, lean ham

lunch
100 gms baked beans, 100gms mushrooms, 20gms low fat cheddar grated

dinner,

100gms lamb chop with veg,

snacks
low fat yoghurt
teaspoon nutella
1 laughing cow triangle cheese

total around 1000 cals
2 glasses of lite wine 80 cals

andiechick

I'm in the same boat as you, allowed just over 1200 cals, and when I signed up last week I thought I'd never do it, but so far it hasnt been too bad. I do look for the most filling options with the lowest cals and I've been trying to sneak a little bit of exercise to allow for more, but that isn't always possible. At the end of the day, don't starve yourself or you'll never stick to it, just try and plan ahead then you can work your meals around your life, not the other way round!! Good luck x

Jenninedinburgh

Thanks all for the tips. Yes - I can see that I've been eating too many processed foods. I shall try to not do this tomorrow and see how it goes.

Ephena

My calorie allowance was 1200 up until yesterday when I adjusted my weight loss from 2 lbs per week to 1 lb per week. I worked out M-F but didn't eat my exercise calories. In order to pull off only eating the 1200 calories I eat a fair bit of oatmeal, tons of veggies and chicken is my best friend. Skim milk, low-fat cheese, those sandwich thins, Greek yogurt, Special K and Fiber One have some good snack bar style stuff. Lots of protein and fiber to fill you up and keep you full. Check out the "Eat This, Not That" e-newsletter (I think it's through Prevention or Men's Health), it's full of good ideas.

Jenninedinburgh

Hi Ephena,

How much oatmeal do you eat? I've often thought about eating it as a snack as it does a pretty good job of filling me up at breakfast.

I'll check out the newsletter!

Kind regards,

Jennifer

Elizabeth_C34

I lose between 1.5 and 3 lbs per week (it seems to vary quite a bit), but my MFP goal is 1.7 lbs per week at 1300 calories per day. I try to eat my workout calories, but often I just don't really feel the need to (not hungry enough). Either way is fine as long as it works for you.

billrlogan

I am loving this site. I just started with myfitnessoal.com. All these ideas are going to get me started right.....

Rae6503

I always did a half pound a week. The smallest amount I ever ate was 1750.

zeeeb

i can't live on 1200 calories, my will just won't let me, so exercise 5x a week.... that's all i can do!

stevwil41

I'm a tall guy so the 1200 calorie thing wouldn't work for me. As for my settings I step down as I get closer to my goal. I started at 2 lbs/week and then when I got to about 25 above my goal I dropped it to 1.5/week. At 15 lbs to go I dropped it to 1/week.

I'm basically training myself to eat healthier so that when I achieve my goal I can stay there. I've been either losing or gaining (mostly gaining) weight my entire adult life. I need to learn how to maintain:)

NaomiWhite77

Hi this is long, but I hope it helps. I eat 1200 cals most days.
One of my new MFP friends asked for some tips, so I typed this up. For the people we don't know me personally, I am not a professional and don’t want to claim to know what everyone needs to do This is what worked for me:
-Do something every day, walk, hike, bike, jog in place, run up and down the stairs
o When I started I didn’t eat back the workout cals unless I burned more the 200 or so
-Bread has a large amount of calories so, we found Joseph’s Lavash wraps and pockets!! They are amazing and heart healthy
-I try not to drink my cals other then the two cups of coffee a day (can’t give up my coffee)
-Never feel deprived, if you what pizza, fried seafood, french fries, ice cream WORK it off. On these days we’d go on a hike or bike ride to burn cald
-I have skinny cow ice cream just about EVERY night lol -I eat lots of fruit and veggies, cucumbers are very low in cals and give you a crunch
-Lately I have been drinking lots of sparkling water w/o sodium (p.s. if you look at my dairy, I never log water but I do drink it)
-Olive oil Mayo is 45 cal per tbsl instead of 100
-For salad dressing if I am running low on cals I take the good seasons Italian seasoning and add water and vinegar not oil, it almost free like 15 cal and so good
-Apples, pears, grapes, watermelon, berries
-Oscar Mayer lunch meat 6 slices for 50 cals
-Chobani greek yogurt w/ a little bit of Aurora natural granola holds my from 8 am to 11:30 am
-I do take vitamins, but can’t prove if they help weight loss of not. I take for overall health.
-During the week breakfast and lunch tend to be the same thing, this gives me more flexibility for snacks and dinner
-Dinner, chicken, pork, lean lean meats and I grill a lot -DON’T LOOK AT IT AS A DIET… it’s a LIFE change Okay, I think that’s the main stuff.. Did I mention that I LOVE food it's all a balance and I am finally learning how that balance should look.. Good luck ALL.. it does work.

1953Judith

I'm on the older side,58, and take meds that are not conducive to weight loss. My aim is to lose 1 lb a month. I have been successful for five years (one year off because the drs. wanted me to maintain while on chemo and getting radiation). Since joining MFP in April, I have set a goal of 1/2 lb a week. I have lost 22 lbs. I have a total of 22 more lbs to lose.

MFP gives me 1480 calories as a base. I do best when I conservatively estimate my calories and eat back my exercise calories.

Jenninedinburgh

Wow - some GREAT tips on here. Thank you ALL! I am SO motivated. I think today I will go and buy a George Foreman grill - the message I keep getting from so many of you is the grilled meats thing + exercise. The other clear message I am getting is to go organic...thanks again!