females 200lbs+ What works for you??

lamaier52

I agree 1200 calories a day is nothing. That is what I was calc'd at when I put in my stats and my goals. This is my first week & I will do one more week at 1200 but it is not realistic if I want to seriously stay on board with this. Once I get my fitness program going I will up the calories. There are so many suggestions but I think eating many times a day, healthy small portions and get your calories in this way helps you lose. We burn it off more quickly. We've all been raised to eat those 3 meals a day. Try five or six a day and still stay in what ever you are choosing for your caloric intake. Just a thought, not a science. Good Luck. Hang in there.

Nattiejean57

Bump

bjs06

Thanks guys. Lots of interesting feedback.

alphabettie

bump

claresusan

Great hints and tips - a "bump" for me!

mkitts2011

Yes, try zig-zagging your calories. Ever 3rd day eat all of your calories. It tricks your body into letting go of some of the weight. Also, thing quality of food. Whole food calories are processed better than junk food calories. more lean protein > grains. Oh, and switch up your exercise routine every 2-3 weeks to throw your body a curve ball. Good luck!

Emilia6909

I also work out 5 times a week for approx 60-90 minutes. I try not to eat my extra calories earned from exercise. I try to stick to around 1300 per day.

em9371

Without seeing your diary, its hard for people to help!! It could be that you cal level is ok, but your food choices are causing you to retain water - eg too much sodium/ processed food. My diary is open if you want a look - I nearly always met my cals, but still ate too much cake / takeaway food etc. from last week I've been really trying to cut that down and get in 5 fruit and veg, and also meet my protein and calcium goals.
I'm 5'4, started at 244.8lbs, am down to 221lbs in 3 months.
My initial cals were 1900, I'm now on 1740, exercise 60-90 mins 5x week so net around 1200-1300 and losing 1-2 lbs most weeks.
My maintenance is 2160, mfp gives me 1660 net for 1lbs or 1200 for 1.8lbs. I couldn't cope on only 1200 plus eating back exercise, as I'm more hungry on non gym days for some reason, so I'm set to lose 0.8 lbs from diet that way my cals are more even instead of 1200 rest days / 2000+ gym days, and use exercise to create rest of deficit to lose another lb. I've also increased my protein goal from15 to 25%
Some days I'm over cals, some days I'm under, it generally adds up over the week. I've not had a week where I've put on or stalled since I started, there has always been a loss, even if it's only a small one it All counts!

happymom1197

Sounds like u already have a plan U work out a lot, so the payoff is eating more calories. I would add high-calorie foods like nuts or nut-butters.

You are gorgeous! Don't get discouraged. Sometimes your body might need to re-group. Try switching up your workouts if increasing your calories doesn't work.

Miss_dannii

Yes, try zig-zagging your calories. Ever 3rd day eat all of your calories. It tricks your body into letting go of some of the weight. Also, thing quality of food. Whole food calories are processed better than junk food calories. more lean protein > grains. Oh, and switch up your exercise routine every 2-3 weeks to throw your body a curve ball. Good luck!

I'm going to try this, thanks x

littlecrystal

I just started MFP, but I honestly disagree with their calorie recommendation. For me to lose 2lbs a week, MFP recommended max 1300kcal. Which is 700kcal off the normal calorie consumption (2000kcal). It does not take into account that I am 210lbs and I need 2800kcal daily to maintain my weight. So I could be eating 1800kcal per day and still loosing weight. Other calorie counting websites do take into account your weight the max allowed calories are usually much higher than 1200 or 1300. This is without exercising calories.
I personally tried to stick to 1400kcal initially, and the result was the less I eat, the less I lose. My best weight loss seems to be when I am eating 1500kcal per day without exercising. And I would always eat half of my exercise calories back.
Those eating 900-1200kcal per day and saying is enough… I don’t know how you do it.. but it is definitely not enough for me and it does not work for me.

em9371

I just started MFP, but I honestly disagree with their calorie recommendation. For me to lose 2lbs a week, MFP recommended max 1300kcal. Which is 700kcal off the normal calorie consumption (2000kcal). It does not take into account that I am 210lbs and I need 2800kcal daily to maintain my weight. So I could be eating 1800kcal per day and still loosing weight. Other calorie counting websites do take into account your weight the max allowed calories are usually much higher than 1200 or 1300. This is without exercising calories.
I personally tried to stick to 1400kcal initially, and the result was the less I eat, the less I lose. My best weight loss seems to be when I am eating 1500kcal per day without exercising. And I would always eat half of my exercise calories back.
Those eating 900-1200kcal per day and saying is enough… I don’t know how you do it.. but it is definitely not enough for me and it does not work for me.

where do you get 2800 to maintain? i weigh more than you and my maintenance is 2160 on MFP, not far off that using other BMR/Activity level calculations. MFP asks for age / height /weight to calcluate your cal goals?!
the 1300 is net so if you exercise 500 you will actually get to eat 1800.
i definetly dont agree with eating stupidly low calories, i eat 1700-1800, never feel hungry or like i am 'on a diet', i exercise an average of 500/day and lose 1.5-2lb most weeks.

littlecrystal

where do you get 2800 to maintain? i weigh more than you and my maintenance is 2160 on MFP, not far off that using other

Here: http://www.cancer.org/healthy/toolsandcalculators/calculators/app/calorie-counter-calculator