Michelle Bridges - 1200cal question!!
aaaanni
Posts: 25
I'm doing the Michelle Bridges (Australian Biggest Loser Trainer) 12 week body transformation - this program has you doing exercise 6 days a week with a mix of cardio 2 days, weights 2 days, core 1 day and one MEGA burn day. It comes with a meal plan set at 1200 cals. The recommendation is that you should be burning (females) between 400-800 calories per session with up to 1000cals on your mega burn day. All while eating 1200cals. I am pretty fit and down to last 5kg and usually burn between 250 (weights days with no extra cardio) - 500/600cals (cardio and mega burns) - never got anywhere near 1000cals, would take me hours! i'm always buggered and dripping in sweat - yet my mate who is not as fit and a bit bigger easily gets between 600-800cals each session.
Now, given there is sooooo much debate on this site about this magic 1200cal number and i too had convinced myself that it was too low for me, i don't understand that if its so dangerous how can this program push it so much - the meals plans are designed by certified nutritionists/dietitians. However, i also don't understand how you can do mega burns like 600-800cals (6 days a week) and only eat 1200cals???????
I went back to the 1200cals (well try too, more like 1300) when i started the program because i was convinced they must know what they are talking about as its worked for so many and i was terrified that the plan wouldn't work if i was eating 1450cals - I am now again tired and have poor recovery. My weight loss has stalled in the last week - but i'm now confused as to whether its becuase i'm so close to my goal (i'm 65 aiming for 60-62) so can't expect to keep losing 0.5-1kg a week, i'm not training as hard cos i'm tired, i'm not eating enough, or i'm not eating the right foods at the right time for recovery or what the heck is going on! I'm 169cm and 65kg - i eat about 110-130g protien, 100-150g carbs and 20-40g fats usually. I take liquid iron, fish oil, vit D and a multi (this one sometimes). I'm not a great sleeper - usually very restless sleep. I eat very healthy - lots of veg and lean protein, low fat dairy, berries and occasionally sushi/thai and the odd champers on special occasions. Maybe a 1-2 pieces of dark chocolate. Drink about 2-3L water daily.
The program shifts UP a gear this week and cardio is now even harder, so i'm not sure how to survive on the 1200cals - i do more like 1300 cos im too hungry otherise (and even still but try to deal with it)... so maybe 1200 IS the magic number and i'm just not sticking to is exactly?!?!?! who friggen knows!
I just don't get it, is this what it takes to reach your goals - esp when you get down to the last 5kg?
I'm stumped.
Now, given there is sooooo much debate on this site about this magic 1200cal number and i too had convinced myself that it was too low for me, i don't understand that if its so dangerous how can this program push it so much - the meals plans are designed by certified nutritionists/dietitians. However, i also don't understand how you can do mega burns like 600-800cals (6 days a week) and only eat 1200cals???????
I went back to the 1200cals (well try too, more like 1300) when i started the program because i was convinced they must know what they are talking about as its worked for so many and i was terrified that the plan wouldn't work if i was eating 1450cals - I am now again tired and have poor recovery. My weight loss has stalled in the last week - but i'm now confused as to whether its becuase i'm so close to my goal (i'm 65 aiming for 60-62) so can't expect to keep losing 0.5-1kg a week, i'm not training as hard cos i'm tired, i'm not eating enough, or i'm not eating the right foods at the right time for recovery or what the heck is going on! I'm 169cm and 65kg - i eat about 110-130g protien, 100-150g carbs and 20-40g fats usually. I take liquid iron, fish oil, vit D and a multi (this one sometimes). I'm not a great sleeper - usually very restless sleep. I eat very healthy - lots of veg and lean protein, low fat dairy, berries and occasionally sushi/thai and the odd champers on special occasions. Maybe a 1-2 pieces of dark chocolate. Drink about 2-3L water daily.
The program shifts UP a gear this week and cardio is now even harder, so i'm not sure how to survive on the 1200cals - i do more like 1300 cos im too hungry otherise (and even still but try to deal with it)... so maybe 1200 IS the magic number and i'm just not sticking to is exactly?!?!?! who friggen knows!
I just don't get it, is this what it takes to reach your goals - esp when you get down to the last 5kg?
I'm stumped.
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Replies
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The recommendation is that you should be burning (females) between 400-800 calories per session with up to 1000cals on your mega burn day. All while eating 1200cals.
This wasn't enough to cause you to steer way clear?0 -
She is the Biggest Loser trainer?!?! So i assume she knows what she is talking about - have you seen her body?? google her. The program has changed so many peoples lives - i'm just not sure they all stick exactly to the plan...0
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Celebrity diets are designed to sell stuff. Whether or not they happen to make people lose weight is a side effect.
Don't fall in to the trap of believing that because it has her name on it that it will be effective or healthy- there's a very good chance that a marketing/R&D team devised/wrote the entire thing with the endgame of selling stuff, and she just agreed to put her name on it and promote it to make money.0 -
She is the Biggest Loser trainer?!?! So i assume she knows what she is talking about - have you seen her body?? google her. The program has changed so many peoples lives - i'm just not sure they all stick exactly to the plan...
^^agree^^0 -
She is the Biggest Loser trainer?!?! So i assume she knows what she is talking about - have you seen her body?? google her. The program has changed so many peoples lives - i'm just not sure they all stick exactly to the plan...
I would imagine those who do not stick to that plan would find the most success.0 -
remember u can eat ur exercise calories alright?0
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I'm sure the program is geared towards people with a lot to lose, not for those last couple of pounds. You have no fat stores to draw from to sustain that high of a deficit.She is the Biggest Loser trainer?!?! So i assume she knows what she is talking about - have you seen her body?? google her. The program has changed so many peoples lives - i'm just not sure they all stick exactly to the plan...0 -
If you are hungry, sleeping badly, struggling to exercise intensively and not recovering that is your body screaming at you that it is not getting what it needs - be that overall calories, fat, protein, fibre, vitamins, minerals or a combination. Your diary looks low in overall calories, healthy fats, possibly fibre and certain minerals bearing in mind your needs are increased substantially when exercising intensively. Whilst I don't in any way condone eating at such a deficit, if you do you can't afford to waste calories on hot drinks, alcohol, cookies, milk chocolate, are these in the plan?
The foods you mention in the OP are indeed healthy, but you don't include many of the mineral rich foods - nuts, seeds, beans and lentils, wholegrains. Dripping in sweat means you will be losing minerals/ electrolytes hand over fist. Maybe read up on overreaching and overtraining syndrome, particularly consider your magnesium intake. Remember that even professional athletes cycle their training through harder and easier phases.
If she is a Biggest Loser trainer why didn't she design the meal plans? Some celebrities will put their name on anything if there is enough money in it, could that be the case here?
ETA website says
"All our 12WBT dietitians are:
Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) and Accredited Nutritionists (AN)
Registered & active members of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)
Well respected in their field
Experienced in all areas of diet and nutrition planning including weight loss & lifestyle diseases such as type II diabetes, heart disease and fatty liver disease
Actively monitoring salt, sugar, total fat, saturated fat & fibre contents of all our recipes
Ensure our Nutrition Plans meet the nutritional needs of the average adult
If you have a particular health issue, please consult with your GP or appropriate specialist before beginning any diet or nutrition plan."
My thoughts
1. You have a health issue - insomnia - which can sometimes be caused or contributed to by malnutrition, did you consult your GP?
2. You are not an average adult, you are engaging in an intensive programme of exercise.0 -
Actually her program is designed theoretically for those with lots to lose and right thru to even people just with a few pounds/kilos to lose. I registered with it...but on reading everything decided its not for me. Whilst some do lose a lot in just 12 weeks.....I am not so sure there is long term loss...I would up your calories to what you were eating....and if you want to do her exercise program.0
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If you want a good program try p90x. Great results AND you get to eat a decent amount of food! I'm too chicken to do it myself tho - i'm more into lifting heavy and hate cardio!0
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Thanks for the comments everyone - she is not just slapping her name on the program, she does live chats and group workouts so is with it through and through. Its an online program which is just like being on the biggest loser except for you are living your life at the same time. There are lots of different programs to suit your needs, and the 1200 cals is for women only, men eat 1600. But having just written that - there are lots of different programs to suit your needs - i realise there isn't lots of nutrition plans to suits different needs. This is the issue. I can't follow the food plans cos i have a lot of allergies which is why i don't eat lots of legumes and nuts or whole grains as they do not agree with me. But, i think i've answered my own question just now. I'm going to up my calories a bit and keep with the training.
I'm seeing my GP next week so will get blood tests and talk about my sleep/fatigue issues.
Thanks folks.0 -
Thanks for the comments everyone - she is not just slapping her name on the program, she does live chats and group workouts so is with it through and through. Its an online program which is just like being on the biggest loser except for you are living your life at the same time. There are lots of different programs to suit your needs, and the 1200 cals is for women only, men eat 1600. But having just written that - there are lots of different programs to suit your needs - i realise there isn't lots of nutrition plans to suits different needs. This is the issue. I can't follow the food plans cos i have a lot of allergies which is why i don't eat lots of legumes and nuts or whole grains as they do not agree with me. But, i think i've answered my own question just now. I'm going to up my calories a bit and keep with the training.
I'm seeing my GP next week so will get blood tests and talk about my sleep/fatigue issues.
Thanks folks.
Don't you pay to have access to her program? Can't you ask her your questions during the live chats? Or email her?0 -
This is the issue. I can't follow the food plans cos i have a lot of allergies which is why i don't eat lots of legumes and nuts or whole grains as they do not agree with me. But, i think i've answered my own question just now. I'm going to up my calories a bit and keep with the training.
I'm seeing my GP next week so will get blood tests and talk about my sleep/fatigue issues.
Thanks folks.
IMO this is part of the problem, you could easily be deficient if you are adding one type of restriction (multiple allergies) to another (strict diet). Blood tests sound like a good idea, maybe ask about a referral to a registered dietician? The long chain omega-3s in oily fish can help calm certain inappropriate immune responses: cocoa is rich in many minerals, you can get fat reduced stuff that is lower in calories, higher in fibre and protein http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/sweets/5471/20
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