If you were me, what would you eat?

Jessi__
Jessi__ Posts: 31
in Health and Weight Loss
Thought this might be interesting :)

I have been eating at my BMR (1626) and eating any exercise calories but am not getting anywhere. I've been doing this for 2 months now and have lost 2lbs in that time.

My diary is currently closed, but I do try to 'eat clean' etc. I'm just wondering what you would eat to lose weight, if you were me? (Both types and amounts of food!)

My stats are:
CW: 180
GW: 120
Height: 5 feet nothing
Age: 23
Gender: Female

Please be nice! :D

Replies

  • Jessi__
    Jessi__ Posts: 31
    Oh yeah! I'm also Vegan (kinda important...)
  • charcharbec
    charcharbec Posts: 253 Member
    Jessi... have you tried not eating exercise cals back? I find that this thing and the machines at the gym typically way over estimate what I burn..... maybe you are only slightly eating less cals than you expend causing the slow loss. Have you taken measurements of your inches... those will go down as you build muscle too causing it to LOOK like you arent losing but you really are.
  • dougii
    dougii Posts: 679 Member
    Pesonally I don't eat all of my BMR every day and I hardly ever eat my exercize calories. I know many will say this is wrong but my doctor has no problem with it and I am, and have been, losing 2 lbs/wk for 5 months. I do cardio every other day with weight circuit training on the off day for an hour or more each day. Best of luck.
  • yentess
    yentess Posts: 167 Member
    Maybe you should try eating back only half of your excercise calories for awhile and see if that helps. Sometimes workout machines and MFP calories burned are incorrect.
    I would (and do) cut out all drinks except water and drink lots of it. I start each day with a protein shake, my meals are mostly made up of veggies with some healthy fat like avocado, or raw nuts. Lean protein like fish, chicken and eggs and beans are good for keeping you full and should be included with every meal. I eat about 2 servings a day of fruit and a little dark chocolate everyday which satisfies my sweet tooth. I eat 3 meals and a snack everyday so I don't ever get super hungry and eat things I shouldn't
    It's different for everyone, but I find for myself these things help me to have much more energy during the day where as I used to crash ever afternoon.
    Also just curious what type of excercise do you do? I think if you are really wanting to burn fat the best is some form of high intesity cardio where you heart rate is at the aerobic fat burning level.
    Best of luck, and if nothing changes soon it might be time to visit you doctor and see if something else is going on. A sluggish thyroid could be to blame.
  • StaceyJ2008
    StaceyJ2008 Posts: 411 Member
    Try making dropping your intake by about 250 calories. And there is a really good vegan protein shake out there called Vega I think. I would replace one meal with that and reduce the calories by 250 per day and you should get results. Or you could ramp up your exercise more. Don't eat back your exercise calories at all.
  • phinphanbill26
    phinphanbill26 Posts: 574 Member
    My guess, being you are vegan, is you need to increase your protein intake. Muscles require protein to grow...thus burning more calories/fat. Just a guess based on your diary being closed.
  • victoria4321
    victoria4321 Posts: 1,719 Member
    Just fruits and veggies is all I came up with. If you're trying to eat clean then I'd avoid anything processed. That pretty much cuts out all soy products. I guess beans work for protein but they're a bit starchy.
  • yentess
    yentess Posts: 167 Member
    Oh yeah! I'm also Vegan (kinda important...)

    Whoops, didn't see this until after I posted :) Make sure you get enough plant based protein like beans and nuts. For lunch I like to make different kinds of hummus and have a serving with a big tray of veggies. Also there are some great vegan veggies burgers out there and larabars are vegan and AWESOME!
  • shannonperry13
    shannonperry13 Posts: 99
    if you are basing your calories off of what mfp has calculated, and you said that you are "moderately active" or any of the activity other than sedentary, i don't think you are supposed to eat the exercise calories back, because mfp already has that figured into the calories that they allow you. ? i would stop eating exercise calories back and see how that goes.
  • asugar
    asugar Posts: 178 Member
    That's incredible. I just can't lose weight. I need to do what u r doing. My family lives near Binghampton Blythe way...Dougii
  • kristen6022
    kristen6022 Posts: 1,923 Member
    If you are eating at your BMR I'd either not eat any exercise calories back (unless you have a HRM) or maybe just half. Try this for 2 weeks and see if you get any results.

    WATER! Lots of it. You should be peeing more than you ever thought you could pee...

    Eat every 2-3 hours. Most people won't agree to this (2 different sides of the coin), but it worked for me. Something small, over time you won't be able to stuff your face like you did before, trust me, I'm learning that now...I know you are vegan but try to eat a good amount of protein, even if you have to do shakes. Protein helps boatloads.

    Pick up on your exercise. Either add a day or change things up. Add strength training (you don't bulk up, you'll get stronger and strong is sexy!).
  • HideNGeek
    HideNGeek Posts: 136 Member
    For me personally, i've had much more success eating over my BMR and under my TDEE, somewhere in the middle. I also eat back my exercise cals.

    For a vegan, I guess plenty of Tofu, quorn etc that can get you the protein that you miss out on from meat and dairy, but you already know that. Soya protein shakes also can help. The protein will help your muscle growth, the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn. Muscle also takes up less space than fat, so increase protein, and work those muscles :)
  • jennkain97
    jennkain97 Posts: 290 Member
    Jessi... have you tried not eating exercise cals back? I find that this thing and the machines at the gym typically way over estimate what I burn..... maybe you are only slightly eating less cals than you expend causing the slow loss. Have you taken measurements of your inches... those will go down as you build muscle too causing it to LOOK like you arent losing but you really are.

    this. one of my MFP friends was being told he was burning upwards of 1500 calories in a workout. this is someone who just joined, and really wasn't "fit", so he certainly wasn't running/biking 15 miles in that hour! if you don't have one, definitely get a good HRM. as for diet, try to get as much protein into your calorie "budget" as you can. it's harder w/ a vegan diet, and you have to be sure you're gettting "complete" proteins (pairing beans w/ brown rice, etc...), but it's definitely doable.
  • Spice_4_Life
    Spice_4_Life Posts: 225
    My guess, being you are vegan, is you need to increase your protein intake. Muscles require protein to grow...thus burning more calories/fat. Just a guess based on your diary being closed.

    ^^^I agree and watch your sodium intake, and drink lots of water! Good luck!
  • delmc1
    delmc1 Posts: 331 Member
    My guess, being you are vegan, is you need to increase your protein intake. Muscles require protein to grow...thus burning more calories/fat. Just a guess based on your diary being closed.
    best answer here . look at your diet you should be taken around 30% protein ,30%fat ,40%carbs if your doing a lot of cardio.
    if your doing a lot of weights 40% protein 30% fat and carbs .

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