I am clueless....I need help.

nicki_1004

A quick background on me: I used to skip meals, since I was 18 I have only been eating dinner and an occasional snack in the day time, maybe 4 20 oz bottles of Mountain dew a week. Of course there were times where I did eat breakfast or lunch but rarely.

Now I am trying to lose weight and create a healthier lifestyle. I started at Christmas by cutting out sodas and trying to eat more through the day. I lost 5 pounds from then til January 3rd. Then I started using MFP everyday. I lost 1.4 the first week 1.5 last week and I gained .5 this week. I am happy for what I have lost so far, however, after my gain this week I am wondering if I need to change things.

I was told by someone I know that I should eat about 1800 calories each day. MFP's suggestion to maintain my weight is 2410 and to lose 2 pounds/week it is 1410. I have been following the 1410 so far. There have been days where I am under 1200 because I am not used to eating 5 times a day. I have gotten better with eating more.

My question is, should I change things up or just continue with the MFP suggestion of 1410. I am currently at 282 lbs so I have a lot to lose.Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

purpleipod

I would continue eating the amount it calculated for you to eat. I'm at 1400 right now.

busyPK

I would follow what MFP says (lose about 1.5/wk). Are you exercising? If so, make sure you eat back your exercise calories. And it's very important to hit a NET of 1200 calories each day, so if you are not hungry and not there, eat 1T of peanut butter and that will add close to 100 calories.

beccala18

Continue to follow the 1400 calories. Since you aren't used to eating as many meals, it is possible you slowed your metabolism down. Therefore you might have some initial gains while your body gets used to you eating more regularly and healthier. Stick to a healthy diet and eventually your body will realize that you are consistently providing it with proper nutrition and it can relax it's hold on the weight.

pogojr

I'm a beginner too, but in the same weight range, so I'll chime in.

I'm three weeks in. Started at 290, down to 278 at my last weigh in. This is only through diet changes. I am currently not exercising (one step at time).

I started around 1800 calories, and it has since bumped me down to 1660 right away (panic'd me a little, thought I was going to starve). I also wasn't eating three meals a day. Breakfast only if my boss did a McDonalds run (did the calorie count on that - OUCH!). Lunch if we had leftovers from the night before or ordering out. Dinner everynight. I'm making an effort to have at least a bowl of cereal in the morning (Cheerios - I'm not up for the cardboard and nut cluster cereals with the fiber yet). Lunch - I'm making a sandwich or taking a proper portioned serving of left overs and Supper I'm watching my portions. Even with two happy snacks and my one naughty treat a day, I am still under the 1660.

Once you get in your routine of eating your three meals, see where your count is at and adjust from there. If you send your system into complete shock, you are not going to lose either.

nicki_1004

I am trying to exercise at least 4 days a week. There are no Gyms near me and I live in a small house so there isn't much room. I am using wii fit I am doing the advanced step for at least 15 mins each time using 2 lb weights in each hand and then also doing about 20 mins of yoga and strength training and then whatever else I feel like doing. I usually do about an hour everyday that I exercise. I have been thinking of buying a bike so that I can use that as well.

nicki_1004

Since I do not have a gym to go to what type of DVD or wii game should I get to get a good work out? The wii fit is great but I know I am going to need a more intense workout.

Pebble321

Stick with it. A small gain one week doesn't mean much in the big picture - keep going for another month or so and then evaluate what has happened and see if you need to change anything. It sounds like you are working on establishing some really healthy habits, so I think that should take priority and the weight loss is a bonus!

Rayman79

What Rubybelle says makes sense, your body will go through a lot of changes in the first few weeks of changing your lifestyle.

A couple of points for you to consider though:

The generally held belief that you have to eat lots of times throughout the day to keep you metabolism going is false. There are plenty of people here who proctice Intermittent Fasting (IF), which generally involves not eating until lunchtime or after each day, and having larger meals as a result. Personally I eat several times a day, but it comes down to personal preference and what is a sustainable long-term solution for you personally.

As for the calories, I think this is a little bit of 'suck it and see'. If you are consuming somewhere between 1400-1800 NET calories (ie after you eat back your exercise calories), you should be fine. If you are starting on 1400 and find yourself hungry at the end of the day, just eat some more. This is one situation where you have to workout what fits best for you, there have been many people who started to lose weight more quickly when they started to eat more.

Above all else, make sure you are finding ways to make these changes permanent. If not, this becomes another fad that you cant stick with.

pberta

Check out an exercise ball and maybe some dumbbells. It is amazing how many exercises you can do with an exercise ball. They are pretty inexpensive too.