too low goal
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joselo2
Posts: 461
hello,
I am male 21yrs, starting weight 406lbs now 468lbs.
i am having a problem. I was doing well with my weight loss but i felt like it was too slow and cals was too high compared to other poeples (nearly 3000), so I got some advice to change my goal to 2lbs week loss. BUT, now it has gone too what seems very LOW to me, 2300cals, and so there is a problem. I stick to my diet and eat really healthy and good... but come out over my cals and it looks like i did badly even when i didnt. so I don't know where to go with this, i just want to lose weight and have a good diet that looks good when i post it here.
I dont log my exercise btw.
thanks, joselito
I am male 21yrs, starting weight 406lbs now 468lbs.
i am having a problem. I was doing well with my weight loss but i felt like it was too slow and cals was too high compared to other poeples (nearly 3000), so I got some advice to change my goal to 2lbs week loss. BUT, now it has gone too what seems very LOW to me, 2300cals, and so there is a problem. I stick to my diet and eat really healthy and good... but come out over my cals and it looks like i did badly even when i didnt. so I don't know where to go with this, i just want to lose weight and have a good diet that looks good when i post it here.
I dont log my exercise btw.
thanks, joselito
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Replies
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You can change your net calories to be whatever you want go to settings then goals, like 2,800.0
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If you feel like your goal is too low then just set MFP to 1.5 lbs to 1 lb loss per week and give yourself a little more room. It doesn't matter that your weight loss would be faster in theory if you can't realistically stick to your calorie goal. About the wanting your food log to look good though, for weight loss it's about calories. You can absolutely gain weight on healthy food if you eat too much of it. Your diary is closed so I can't tell what you're eating, but if you really want to keep your 2 lbs/week setting you just have to figure out a way to set up your calories that will give you greater satiety. Make sure you're getting enough protein and fiber, and try to limit unnecessary calories.0
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2300 calories is a massive amount of food if you avoid processed, prepackaged foods. My budget is 1200 calories a day. You need to fuel your body but you aren't feeding the fat so make good choices, lots of fruits and veggies, lean meats, dairy, eggs, nuts, and 2300 should be more than filling.0
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I have to keep my diary closed because i worry a lot about people's reactions, easier to avoid it. That is the thing, it dont feellike a lot of food to me at all. 2980 felt doable but 2300 is just so low. Maybe i just need to find more really low cal food or something. Or maybe a 1.5 goal is better and ill just exercise loads to try and lose more or something.0
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Where you have alot to lose, it really boils down how much or how fast you want it off.... basically how much you intake n burn off will give you what results you want......... if you feel your weight loss is too slow... only you can control that. what we put in our mouths and the amount of exercise we put our body through will dictate the results... there is really no magic formula here...the choice is yours.... then do it. Everyone's body reacts differently...listen to your body, watch..learn..do.
best of luck in your journey
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i dont think that 2300 is too low a figure... it may just seem low as you are used to eating more.
why dont you log your exercise calories?0 -
Speaking as an old fart who has been overweight most of my adult life.... You are only 21 so the most important thing is the direction rather than the speed. Slow steady loss is far better in the long run. The mindset has to change from "being on a diet" (i.e. short term) to "changing my diet" (a lifestyle you can maintain).
Open diaries with supportive friends might help you make healthier choices. Peer pressure isn't always a bad thing!0 -
What I'm hearing is that you were losing weight at around 3000 calories, but you thought it wasn't fast enough. So you ate less, but now you feel like that's not enough calories. Soooooo... perhaps you should just be happy with your previous rate of weight loss? Or go back to the higher number of calories but increase your exercise. Seems kind of like your choices are obvious, and since you won't share your diary, I'm not entirely sure what you're looking for, advice-wise (no offense meant)
Sounds like you've already made a ton of progress. Keep at it!
And assuming you're of average height, 3000 calories is reasonable for where you're at. Jumping from that to 2300 is way extreme - you could always try something between the two. I always say shift your calories by 200ish, wait a few weeks, reevaluate. Drastic changes aren't (in my opinion) all that great for you0 -
Exercise calories dude! An hours walk will probably
Give you around 800 cals and that's a lot of stir fry, in a year or so you will look back at this time and long for that sort of exercise bonus, keep at it.0 -
Try setting your calorie goal for somewhere in between the two. For example, MFP gave me a calorie goal of 1500 a day, whereas the site I had been trying out prior to MFP gave me a goal of 2000 calories (part of the reason I switched was because it was not obvious as to why it chose one cal level over another...). I had previously found that I sometimes had a hard time even keeping under 1800 calories, so I decided to raise my calorie goal on MFP. Yes, I'll lose weight more slowly, but I'll stay sane and relatively not hungry in the process, which is worth it and kind of the point of a lifestyle change.0
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hello,
I am male 21yrs, starting weight 406lbs now 468lbs.
i am having a problem. I was doing well with my weight loss but i felt like it was too slow and cals was too high compared to other poeples (nearly 3000), so I got some advice to change my goal to 2lbs week loss. BUT, now it has gone too what seems very LOW to me, 2300cals, and so there is a problem. I stick to my diet and eat really healthy and good... but come out over my cals and it looks like i did badly even when i didnt. so I don't know where to go with this, i just want to lose weight and have a good diet that looks good when i post it here.
I dont log my exercise btw.
thanks, joselito
Just to make clear that was an error i wrote- i started at 406lbs now 368, not 486!! I lost weight not gained, hehe. yeah, i think i need to find the pace what is right, maybe somewere between the 2. It just annoys me when i log, and I feel i have has the PERFECT day, absolutely ideal... yet it says i am over so it doesnt look ideal. Unfortunately exercising wont increase my allowenace as i dont log my exercise (partly as idk if your meant to eat them cals or not, and parrtly because i am never sure exactly how many cals i burnt anyways). See, peer pressue is a problem for me; encouragement is good but ppl being judgemental, i just cannot deal with. one time a guy said I seemed lazy and it hurt me so so so so deeply, i just dont want to risk that sort of thing again. That is why I need a cal goal that looks decent and that i can stick to, so it looks decent when i post it, so no one can see me as lazy, i guess. thanks for the advice.0 -
Here you go again caring more about what other people think of how your weight loss plan. You need to stop this really. Make your profile completely private and just do this for you. You ae the only one carrying around this extra weight is really going to hurt so you have to do it for YOU.
2300 is fine and if you go over here or there....WHO CARES! Everyone has a day where they go over a little ...heck most of us have days we go WAY over it's okay. If you can;t handle what others will think then just keep it to yourself.0 -
I get what you're saying about going over and how that makes you feel. Honestly, it's just a number. You could always set your MFP goal to like 100 calories higher than your "real" goal. That way, if you're at or slightly over your "real" goal, you will still be under your MFP goal, make sense? For example, if your real goal is like 2500, let your MFP goal for 2600. That way if you are at like 2550 or something, it still says you are under and you don't have to see the dreaded red number, lol.
Seriously though, I get how it can be discouraging to see the red numbers when you go over. If that is something that really bothers you and will derail your progress, just let it for a bit higher than you intend to eat. I would also encourage you to at least try to log your exercise calories. Even if it's just an estimation, it will likely make you feel good to log it and it will automatically increase your calorie allotment. I log my exercise and even though I usually don't eat the exercise calories back, and I know it's only an estimation, it still makes me feel good to enter them.
Best of luck to you and keep with it. There will always be people who are judgmental or hurtful, just try to ignore them and surround yourself with as many supportive people as possible. You CAN do this!0 -
Here you go again caring more about what other people think of how your weight loss plan. You need to stop this really. Make your profile completely private and just do this for you. You ae the only one carrying around this extra weight is really going to hurt so you have to do it for YOU.
You're right about that bit- i do care a lot about what other people think of it, it is a significant consideration and something i need to factor into my efforts. That is just how it is.
That is a good idea bcs mama. i hate those red numbers and i hate when it doesn't say 'joselo2 was under his calorie goal'. I wish there was a way to show my logging without showing the actul numbers involved! idea there mpf?? hehe
The good news i am still losing despite these funny numbers! thank you all. xxx 0 -
Oh, your post makes me sad. There are always people out there that are going to be critical, but there are people here that will support you without judgement, too. I sometimes worry about what's in my diary too (it's only open to "friends"), but it's kind-of what helps to keep us all accountable (even if it's only being accountable to ourselves) and on track. If we don't know how many calories, then it's easy to go over (sometimes by a lot). May I suggest that you try to log as you go during the day? Then maybe it will help you to plan out your calories a little better. But, I would agree with many here. If the higher number was working for you, then why not aim for a number closer to that? The point is not to make you feel worse / guilty (for being in the "red"), but to make you feel better because you are making positive changes for yourself. You are doing a fabulous job! Don't second-guess yourself and don't feel like you have to justify yourself or your actions to anyone else. It's about you.0
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You're right about that bit- i do care a lot about what other people think of it, it is a significant consideration and something i need to factor into my efforts. That is just how it is.
that is only how it is because you let it be that way!0 -
\i hate those red numbers and i hate when it doesn't say 'joselo2 was under his calorie goal'. I wish there was a way to show my logging without showing the actul numbers involved!
After you log your food for the day, don't click the "complete this entry" button, and then it won't appear in the newsfeed. You can still see what you logged at the top.
Just remember, the calories you're eating to are already at a deficit, so if you only go a little bit over, you'll still lose weight.
If you've got unsupportive friends on MFP, delete them and only surround yourself with helpful people 0 -
ithink the thing some people didnt understand is... i dont see this to be problem. i want a diet that looks good to other people, it is only a problem if i fail to acheive it.
You're right about that bit- i do care a lot about what other people think of it, it is a significant consideration and something i need to factor into my efforts. That is just how it is.
that is only how it is because you let it be that way!0 -
One thing that has worked for me is planning ahead. Try logging your planned meals, snacks and drinks the day before so you have an idea about your calories. Then if/when it gets changed alittle here and there you already know what your working with.
Another thing I really liked to do is look at other peoples diaries, not to criticize but to find new food ideas. I have found some new foods that I really enjoy this way.
Most importantly remember this new life is for you and noone else. That doesn't mean you can't care what others think, I'm guessing most of us do. Just try not to let it effect you in a negative way. This site is great because we all learn from each other.
You can do this! You've proven it already with your great weight loss, just keep it up! Great Job!!0 -
Due to your size, 2,800 calories per day sounds like a perfectly reasonable amount of calories per day to lose weight on. As long as you're losing, and trying to make better food choices than you have in the past, then good! Don't put your calories too low and deprive yourself -- it will only set you up for frustration in the long run.
Treat it as a life change, form habits, and take it one step at a time. This isn't something that changes overnight. It is a slow process, because that's how our bodies work, and the more you become involved in the community and do independent research, the better equipped you will be to continue making those small changes and altering the course of your life.0 -
You have lost 40 lobs! That is very good. Well done. You must be doing something right so keep it up and keep posting because your progress is interesting0
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I've got a few tips to help not eat unnecassary calories
1. don't drink your cals ditch the coca cola etc
2. pad out your meals, I'm not the sort of person that can be happy with a tiny grilled chicken breast and small salad on my plate, so I pad out the meals I have ie spaghetti bolognese I make half what I used to but pad it out with loads of salad and veggies so I have a big portion but less calories, even if you don't like veggies you can't really tell once you've mixed them in same with things like teriyaki chicken with loads of stir fried veg and less noodles and rice.
3. try to avoid creamy or cheesey sauces, when possible go for tomatoe based cooking sauces, it's easy to fall into a trap of thinking somethings healthy like a creamy based pasta salad but can end up worse for you than a burger. ;/
However I agree with what others are saying if you were losing on 3000 and finding that more comfortable carry on with that, a 700 calorie drop is huge, maybe start shaving off 50 or 100 cals here and there slowly over a few weeks/months but don't sprint the marathon that is weightloss you'll burn yourself out and want to give up ;/
Also if you did want some diary support you could open your diary to friends only and only add friends that have the same goals and similar start weight or who have successfully dropped from your start weight so they know how it is and will have alot more understanding then some never been overweight gym bunny, although alot of them are good eggs too, but can't truly understand your journey.
Just like to say this is just my opinion based on what's worked for me.
Good luck!0 -
ithink the thing some people didnt understand is... i dont see this to be problem. i want a diet that looks good to other people, it is only a problem if i fail to acheive it.
First off, great work! losing ANYTHING these days is hard!
To your point about your diet 'looking good' this all depends on WHO you want it to look good for. I can tell you that I would find the things many people eat revolting and I am sure many people wouldn't like my pizza, pasta, peanut butter and cheese sandwiches either. It's all relative. It does not matter who likes your food, YOU are the one who has to eat it right?
What I would suggest is to have your diary open to FRIENDS only - there are tons of supportive people who will see the little changes you are making and give you the encouragement you are looking for. It's hard when you are used to eating certain things to change everything at once. I would encourage you not to try and do it all, change small things, look for options that are a little better, move a teeny bit more than you do now. If you don't move at all anything is better right? You don't have to go crazy on the exercise, you don't have to eat food that you don't find yummy. Little steps.
I know you want it gone right now..we all do. But weight loss does not happen that way. Because you have more to lose than some people you CAN cut a little lower to lose faster BUT only for a little while and please don't do it if you are hungry.. Do only what you can handle. It will take a little longer..but..anything lost is more than you were losing not doing anything right?
Don't compare yourself to other people, there is only ONE of YOU.
Good luck!
Ps. feel free to look in my diary at all the junky I eat, it might make you feel better!0 -
try and make all your own food
not only will it get you up and moving but there is a lot less sodium in food you make yurself use the recipe tool to add your ingredients then next time you make that wham bam there it is I like to make my food for a couple of days so I am not always cooking. HAve you tried working out at all? An hour is only 4% of your day! just go for a nice walk then eventually you can do more. 0 -
Rice noodles, veggies and protein!! I love my food and I eat 'man size' portions LOL!!
Rice noodles are low cal, so are veg and throw a couple chicken breasts, pork or steak in there and you have a very filling meal.
Herbs, spices, some flavourings...a little goes a long way with satisfying a palate.
I keep my stuff private too, basically because I'm doing this for me and no one else...it's for my accountability only.
I exercise for more food calories or not...depends on how full I feel.
I'm on 1400 a day right now + exercise cals (I use the calculators at shapesense.com...works out to roughly half of mfp's estimate of cals) and I rarely starve...that tends to happen on the days I eat crap.
I do make a budget for little treats and cheats every day or so...although the longer I'm doing this, the less I cheat...not a conscious decision, just works out that way.
Just look around the grocery store and see what foods appeal to you, see if you can make them healthier and more low calorie...challenge your creativity.
I can look at my husband eating pizza, knowing each slice is about 250-300+ calories and then look at the noodles,veg and protein I'm stuffing my face with and know that mine is around 500 cals and he will eat about 4 slices before he's satisfied...then he'll be into a bag of chips within an hour. Mine will fill me for the rest of the night and I won't feel sick and lethargic either.0 -
2300 is not low
If you eat three meals a day, that's *about* 770 calories per meal! You can do A LOT with 770 calories per meal, google recipes that appeal to your taste and I am certain TWO servings of each recipe will allow you to stay within the 2300 daily limit.
If you like to snack, try to preplan your meals. That way you can play around with ingredients and amounts until you get something that works for you. Good luck
Ex: Steak and green beans with a slice of chocolate cake is less than 770 calories0 -
ithink the thing some people didnt understand is... i dont see this to be problem. i want a diet that looks good to other people, it is only a problem if i fail to acheive it.
can i ask why that is?
and who these 'people' are? why is their opinion so important?0 -
Thank you all, some great tips bout how to make the most of my cals! It doesn't sound so bad i guess, i just need to PLAN. I love the padding out meals idea, i hate smll portions.
Just because I hate people thinking badly of me and my diet. Just any people in geberal. There was a guy on here once who said I 'seemed lazy', meaning in my choices and also exercise. It hurt me a lot and still hurts me now when i think about it. I hve been insulted about my weight loooooads of times but for some reason this really stung, as it dismissed all the effort i was making. \I don't think ill ever fully get over it, i just need to try and avoid it hppening again. i also worry if I DONT show my diary people will suspect i am doing badly. dilemmaithink the thing some people didnt understand is... i dont see this to be problem. i want a diet that looks good to other people, it is only a problem if i fail to acheive it.
can i ask why that is?
and who these 'people' are? why is their opinion so important?0 -
Thank you all, some great tips bout how to make the most of my cals! It doesn't sound so bad i guess, i just need to PLAN. I love the padding out meals idea, i hate smll portions.
Just because I hate people thinking badly of me and my diet. Just any people in geberal. There was a guy on here once who said I 'seemed lazy', meaning in my choices and also exercise. It hurt me a lot and still hurts me now when i think about it. I hve been insulted about my weight loooooads of times but for some reason this really stung, as it dismissed all the effort i was making. \I don't think ill ever fully get over it, i just need to try and avoid it hppening again. i also worry if I DONT show my diary people will suspect i am doing badly. dilemmaithink the thing some people didnt understand is... i dont see this to be problem. i want a diet that looks good to other people, it is only a problem if i fail to acheive it.
can i ask why that is?
and who these 'people' are? why is their opinion so important?
the problem is this: you cant please everyone all of the time...
someone who does paleo will say your diet is rubbish if you eat carbs... someone who likes carbs will say your diet is rubbish if you eat too few carbs... a vegetarian will say your diet is rubbish if you eat meat... someone who only eats clean will say your diet is rubbish if you eat a biscuit....
sod what 'people' think, and do whats right for you!0 -
I don't really get why you want a diary that looks good to other people, when you won't actually let anyone else see it!
But that aside, the key to stopping yourself going over your calorie goal is to plan ahead or at least log your food as you go rather than waiting till the end of the day. I eat breakfast and lunch at work, so I usually log those the night before. And then I know how many calories I have left for dinner and snacks during the following day. If I know I don't have a lot, then dinner has to be something like fish and salad, but if I have plenty left then it can be a pasta instead. Similarly, if I'm having tonight's leftover pasta for dinner tomorrow I know I need to keep the calories lower for breakfast and lunch. But if I plan to eat fish and salad for dinner then I can eat more during the day.
Planning and being organised is really important.0
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