Don't Judge but 30/M going from 1200 to 1500 - Nervous

EccentricDad

I lost 60lbs in 7 months eating 1200cals/day...now I weigh 130lbs (and have for over a year) and eat about 1800cals/day on AVG...that amount seems to be MY MNT range!! I slowly went up on my cals (from 1200, to 1350, to 1500, 1600, 1700, and now 1800 for AVGs) about every 4-6weeks...and didn't have any probs with gaining.

ok...don't get mad...just giving my 2 cents on the working out...there is always time for a quick workout...I am a single mother, who takes care of all household chores, and works 36hrs/week...and I still find time to fit in at least 30minutes/day. it's all about will...YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

Yeah, the progressive approach seems to be what is recommended and I can agree to that. As far as the exercise, I agree that I "should" be able to find time and I will try; but it's really about my children and wife. In the psychology world, we are all "on the spectrum" because we all have developmental delays of some sort; so you could say that I have a very dependent family. My son is going into 5th grade this year and he has an issue with walking alone in the hallway still (which I see nothing wrong with but others see that as being mentally ill). So having such highly dependent children makes my time very poorly manageable. But I will find/make time. It's just hard when I'm trying to break up fights most of the time or serve them food/drinks since they are too fearful to do i themselves (not lazy, fearful).

jazee11

So when you run my numbers, you'll see that I have a daily rate of around 2050 calories burned and a BMR of 1,639 calories/day. By eating 1500, I'll still be at a deficient of 500 calories (which I see is recommended) but I'm still concerned that I will A) put on weight, Cost the family more money because of my increased strain on the family, C) Be forced to eat grains to fill calories (I'm Gluten Intolerant) , and D) Going to stop losing weight even though the deficiency is still there.














In regard to the question about gluten... You must know that millet, brown rice, raw buckwheat groats, and amaranth are gluten free, right? Even steel cut oats are okay for some but not all cuz they are often processed in the same facility as wheat.

pucenavel

When I'm in 'losing mode', 1200 is my target as well. I'm 5'8, 43 and currently a hair under 150 - shooting for 140. I made it down to 145 and went on the suggested calorie intake that MFP calculated. I immediately shot back up to over 150.

Then I went on vacation and went back to damn near 160. 1200 works great for me and I eat back EVERY SINGLE CALORIE from activity, let me tell you. I rarely actually hit 1200, but am probably coming in at around 1400 average.

It's hard to really track it day to day because I'm training for 1/2 Ironman and will burn 2500 to 3200 calories on Saturday alone. In order to not f----g DIE from that workout, I have to fuel up on Thursday and Friday (2000 net on Thurs, 3000 on Friday), then I eat more normally on Saturday.

My motto is: Find what works for you - screw "common knowledge".

Best advice I ever got: Find what works for you and do more of it - find out what doesn't and stop doing it.

OTchic

you can add 100 cal snack packs of nuts and then since u love PB have a PB sandwich 2 slices of bread and PB would put you over 300 plus do u like milk a glass of milk would make u hit almost 500 cals so its not that hard to eat more like adding a whole other meal nor expensive as a pack of bread n PB would cost u what $6?

i also recently started to add 100 cals to my diet I was at 1200 for 6mths lost 30 lbs. one week i bumped up 100 and now i am at 1400 and bumping up to 1500 next week. i was also scared to gain weight but we have to remember that 2000 cals is the standard and eating at 1500 is still at a deficit!

EccentricDad

Fear of losing control, and using calories as a control mechanism is a symptom of eating disorders. Have you considered getting counseling?

After being told for 30 years that I was never in control (I have ADHD) I am trying to stay in control of this so I can prove that I am capable of self control. I am also a HSP (highly sensitive person) so I am trying to ease my way into things so I don't overwhelm my nervous system and take on more than I can handle. I get stressed very easily. Nothing neurotic or psychopathic going on here. Just trying to live a type b life instead of type d or type a.

pucenavel

Oh, and don't eat bananas.

Those things are NASTY!! :laugh:

EccentricDad

Fear of losing control, and using calories as a control mechanism is a symptom of eating disorders. Have you considered getting counseling?

I guess I'm not the only one noticing some serious issues.

Some comments (including the other person's) are best left unsaid. Please read the reply I gave them. Don't be so quick to judge, there are other personalities out there than the people in your social circle. Thank you for your comment anyways.

EccentricDad

I think that increasing your cal content by 100 every week until you reach AT LEAST 1500 is a good idea (maybe even more), I also think that140 is the MINIMUM a guy your age and height should weigh, and I also think that to acheive the results that you listed in your "about me" section...you are gonna have to find time to add in workouts, and therefore will need more "fuel" for your body to be able to sustain them

Thank you for your advice. I am going to make adjustments to my goals as soon as I abandon this thread. I will definitely be incrementally up to 1500 for the next few weeks and when I break the 149 mark I will be incrementally again to the 1900 mark to maintain. At that point I am going to figure out where toning fits in my life.

Thanks again.

EccentricDad

I don't have much advise on the diet part, but on the cheap workout options, I do.

Ì recently read both books Convict Contitioning and Convict Conditioning 2. They are really great books that focus on calisthenics, or bodyweight exercise. Today it sounds pretty strange to workout like that, but it's been around for thousands of years, it's crazy efficient and it's free... It might sound like a "beginner's" class since it doesn't involve weights, but it's really not. By the time you are done with just the first book, able to do real one handed push-ups, one handed pullups, handstand pushups, leg raises, etc... You'll be one heck of a beast, and probably won't find the need to even go beyond that... but if you do, there is plenty of information too on how to do that

You are basically carrying all day long all you need to do a world class workout, anytime anywhere, and it's free. I like that freedom from that workout program. I have the means to pay for a gym membership, I have for the past 5 years, but this is better. Give it a shot if you want a cheap but nice option

Good luck sir!

I'll look into the books All the reading and preparing I can do will be helpful. I don't need any more injuries and I don't want to take on more than I can handle.

EccentricDad

Im a stay at home mom of 3 I had a HRM of a week without doing anthing but housework, and takeing care of my kids I burn about 3000 cals a day. I do wear a pedometer and I have 27000 step in (part is my morning walk). you may want to think about what you do.

I would love to own a HRM but my wife isn't willing to spend her money on it. I would love to know how much I burn cleaning and shopping, but for the time being I am just going to trust endomondo and what MFP has as default. Thanks again for your advice.

EccentricDad

First, I have to say my gut instinct is not to reply at all because this sounds like a trap. Based on your responses, you understand that your goal is based on inaccurate information and yet you are pursuing it anyway...

Second, anyone in this day and age who thinks about criticizing you for being a SAHD is not worth your time and certainly gets not respect from me or most other people. So you can definitely ignore anyone like that.

Third, I'm not a doctor, but I think you're not thinking straight... You are at the perfect weight to start working out at home (yes, you can make the time; it's just a matter of priorities). You don't need any special equipment really other than possibly a couple of barbells you can purchase anywhere (including Wal-Mart and sometimes even Goodwill).

I understand about being poor, trust me. This is the first year my wife and I could even think about spending money on gym and personal trainer. My wife is a SAHM, so we are living on my income alone. Because our health was deteriorating (we are in our early 40's, and she was right at 300 lbs and I was over 200), we knew we needed to take action (literally!). So yes, we are spending the big bucks and it aint easy... but she has lost 70 lbs and I have lost over 30 lbs so far since the beginning of the year. My trainer said (in essence) I am at a good weight to start focusing on strength training now and less on weight loss. I am only 5'7" and weigh 176 -- so you can see where my concern for you comes from. I am not a large framed person. My current profile photo shows me at my heaviest (216 lbs). I look nothing like that now (except the hairline! :P).

So don't worry about 1500 calories. I would even bump it up to 1600 or maybe more, try to get your heart rate up to around 140 or so for 30 minutes a day and do some core exercises and you will be a knockout in no time. You can find exercises all over the place on the internet now (including Men's Health online; they have some great stuff!).

Good luck, and be healthy.

I understand your skepticism and I respect it. There are very few people out there as naive as me that would openly admit it but we exist. The internet gives voice to introverts like me, and while most introverts use it to release anger and rage, I use it to constructively figure out my life and get good advice.

I plan on going up to the 1500 after seeing all these comments, I just needed some support. Being highly sensitive brings a lot of fear with it; I can't help that I am naive and very easily tricked into believing things that aren't true (gullibility?) so I have to figure most things out on my own and then ask a board of professionals to set me straight.

I will incorporate exercise as soon as time permits. Even bodyweight exercises (like suggested above) sound affordable to do; it's really just about time at this point. Tonight I am sacrificing 2 hours to this when I should be doing laundry, vacuuming, getting school supplies at a 24 hours supermarket, cooking meat for the morning, and getting the kids to bed (11pm here). So to be responsible for so much with no help makes life a bit difficult to find time alone.

Thank you again for your advice though, I appreciate it.

2 hours for exercise? Most of my workouts never exceed an hour, in fact if you are doing weight training, it is recommended to limit your workout time, because you need to eat something to replace your glycogen stores, and to help your body get the proteins to start repairing the muscle.

Many exercises you can do with your kids. They might even enjoy it. If they are little, take them to the playground, and while they are playing, do a couple of sets of pull ups on the monkey bars, dips on the park bench, and push-ups on the sidewalk or grass. Lunges around the perimeter of the playground, or jump squats work well, too.. Youtube has some tabata exercises that can be done outside, your kids may even want to try them with you.

I don't mean to be short with my response but the answer is in this thread. I am getting tired and way behind responding instead of cleaning; but I want you to know that I did see your reply and the answer is some where else in the thread. Thank you again for your input, I will be trying to exercise when my situation improves.

jazee11

And I hope that my post didn't come off as snarky.

boonognog

Hey, your comment about sweat reminds me... Before I started working out with my personal trainer and got in shape for the first time in my life (honestly, I almost have a six pack! ...like bizarro-land for me and my wife, I'm tellin' ya!) -- I almost NEVER sweated. I thought that's just the way I was.

Turns out, after I got back in shape and had a healthy metabolism, I sweat a lot. It's kind of embarrassing, because I will start sweating with very little effort when it's warmer (like this time of year).

So you know you're getting there when you sweat!!

tjradd73

and last but not least...if you include your family in your exercise routine...not only will you be able to fit it in daily...you might also help them break the barriers around themselves, and also teach them a healthier lifestyle at the same time

dianedeetran

Totally confused here too. So I used the tool and it said I need to set my goal to 1200 (Based on sedentary and 6 x45 minute work outs a week) to lose the 1-2lbs a week.

If my calorie food intake is 1300

Do I log my daily exercise calorie count for example -300

plus my sedentary estimate? -1500?

That would bring my net to -500.

Doesn't make sense that I need to eat additional 1700 to make net of 1200.00

Am I doing something wrong?

EccentricDad

I'm not a judge but you look great in your profile pic. Good job in your recent weight loss.I saw your food Diary and looks great maybe you can increase your food intake by adding 100 calories snacks every week until you get to 1,500. Exercise i would recomend you walking , easy , low impact to star.
Good Luck and Keep up the good work!!!
Best regards,
Vio

Thank you for the compliment on the profile pic. I'll be doing a steady increase, it's just a matter of getting over my fear of it making the weight come back. The food will be easy too since I know how to eat right now, it's just a matter of cooking my own meals which also takes time. Thanks again for your reply.

boonognog

First, I have to say my gut instinct is not to reply at all because this sounds like a trap. Based on your responses, you understand that your goal is based on inaccurate information and yet you are pursuing it anyway...

Second, anyone in this day and age who thinks about criticizing you for being a SAHD is not worth your time and certainly gets not respect from me or most other people. So you can definitely ignore anyone like that.

Third, I'm not a doctor, but I think you're not thinking straight... You are at the perfect weight to start working out at home (yes, you can make the time; it's just a matter of priorities). You don't need any special equipment really other than possibly a couple of barbells you can purchase anywhere (including Wal-Mart and sometimes even Goodwill).

I understand about being poor, trust me. This is the first year my wife and I could even think about spending money on gym and personal trainer. My wife is a SAHM, so we are living on my income alone. Because our health was deteriorating (we are in our early 40's, and she was right at 300 lbs and I was over 200), we knew we needed to take action (literally!). So yes, we are spending the big bucks and it aint easy... but she has lost 70 lbs and I have lost over 30 lbs so far since the beginning of the year. My trainer said (in essence) I am at a good weight to start focusing on strength training now and less on weight loss. I am only 5'7" and weigh 176 -- so you can see where my concern for you comes from. I am not a large framed person. My current profile photo shows me at my heaviest (216 lbs). I look nothing like that now (except the hairline! :P).

So don't worry about 1500 calories. I would even bump it up to 1600 or maybe more, try to get your heart rate up to around 140 or so for 30 minutes a day and do some core exercises and you will be a knockout in no time. You can find exercises all over the place on the internet now (including Men's Health online; they have some great stuff!).

Good luck, and be healthy.

I understand your skepticism and I respect it. There are very few people out there as naive as me that would openly admit it but we exist. The internet gives voice to introverts like me, and while most introverts use it to release anger and rage, I use it to constructively figure out my life and get good advice.

I plan on going up to the 1500 after seeing all these comments, I just needed some support. Being highly sensitive brings a lot of fear with it; I can't help that I am naive and very easily tricked into believing things that aren't true (gullibility?) so I have to figure most things out on my own and then ask a board of professionals to set me straight.

I will incorporate exercise as soon as time permits. Even bodyweight exercises (like suggested above) sound affordable to do; it's really just about time at this point. Tonight I am sacrificing 2 hours to this when I should be doing laundry, vacuuming, getting school supplies at a 24 hours supermarket, cooking meat for the morning, and getting the kids to bed (11pm here). So to be responsible for so much with no help makes life a bit difficult to find time alone.

Thank you again for your advice though, I appreciate it.

2 hours for exercise? Most of my workouts never exceed an hour, in fact if you are doing weight training, it is recommended to limit your workout time, because you need to eat something to replace your glycogen stores, and to help your body get the proteins to start repairing the muscle.

Many exercises you can do with your kids. They might even enjoy it. If they are little, take them to the playground, and while they are playing, do a couple of sets of pull ups on the monkey bars, dips on the park bench, and push-ups on the sidewalk or grass. Lunges around the perimeter of the playground, or jump squats work well, too.. Youtube has some tabata exercises that can be done outside, your kids may even want to try them with you.

I don't mean to be short with my response but the answer is in this thread. I am getting tired and way behind responding instead of cleaning; but I want you to know that I did see your reply and the answer is some where else in the thread. Thank you again for your input, I will be trying to exercise when my situation improves.

I think he misunderstood your comment about spending 2 hours to this. I understood that comment to be directed at spending time here in this forum, not exercising... right?

alourdes_J

a good place to start would be to look up maintenance calories to stay at current weight . You can search the net for a program (and i believe even mfp does have that feature ) and stick to it for a couple of week to see if anything changes. Good job on reaching your goal!!!

OstaraRose

If you log onto the lite n easy website they have a tool to work out how many calories you should be having

http://www.liteneasy.com.au/nova/app_recommendmealplan.aspx

Nerdy_Rose

Fear of losing control, and using calories as a control mechanism is a symptom of eating disorders. Have you considered getting counseling?

I guess I'm not the only one noticing some serious issues.

Some comments (including the other person's) are best left unsaid. Please read the reply I gave them. Don't be so quick to judge, there are other personalities out there than the people in your social circle. Thank you for your comment anyways.

No judgments here, just putting forth an observation of something that is often a symptom of a deeper problem (not saying it is or isn't in your case), while also trying to remain tactful and respectful of the fact that you are an HSP.