Losing weight is SIMPLE not complicated

rickyll

Want to know the secret to losing weight or gaining weight?
Here it is:

Find out what your daily caloric maintenance level is. (This is the amount of calories your body burns in a day without any exercise)
This is how fast your metabolism is. myfitnesspal has a decent calculator for this but it usually takes a week or two of experimenting with how much you intake to know your true caloric maintenance level.

For example, it said my maintenance level was 2800 calories a day. After a few weeks of trying to gain weight unsuccessfully, I found my level was more around 3000 calories a day so I adjusted my diet.

If you want to lose weight, first, start with eating 100 or 200 calories less than that amount every day for a week. Weigh yourself after a week and see your results. No change? (because the online calculator maybe didn't get it right) adjust and see what happens the next week.

That's it! Also, know that it does not matter what you eat when it comes to losing weight. You can eat Mcdonalds every day and still lose weight if you eat below your maintenance level. Of course you don't want to eat Mcdonald's everyday because you want to lose weight AND be healthy! two different things!

kms1320

oh my god, shut down the message boards, the problem is solved!

ki4yxo

Sodium?

tsh0ck

Sodium?

what about it?

JustANumber85

I can eat McDonalds? Damn that was my problem this whole time!

funkycamper

First post and he's solved it all. This must be a record.:huh: :huh:

C12254

There it is. Its that easy. *snaps fingers* LOOKIE THERE! Im skinny now! :noway:

taso42

Correct.

soleilxo

no no no you got this all wrong!

taunto

new user, first post, good info

Is this MFP I am on or some other website?

mag2906

It's simple but not easy.

MoreBean13

You need a catchy name or nobody's going to buy it.

BaconMD

But I'd rather make it unnecessarily complicated and then fail in a few months and wonder what I did wrong!

Valmon

Hail to the Messiah, He who saves us from obesity!

Oishii

But, but, but.... Then I won't feel the need to binge like all my dieting friends and I'll be the odd one out! And then, when they ask how I lost weight and I say 'I ate 100-200 calories less than I needed,' no one will want to hear.

No, starvation is a much more popular option, so it must be better!

childermass

"rickyll does not have any friends yet"
and not looking likely if this thread is anything to go by...

neanderthin

Be in a deficit, don't trust online calculators and eat healthy......gotcha.

taunto

"rickyll does not have any friends yet"
and not looking likely if this thread is anything to go by...

Why not? Somebody who has this concept grasped should be an awesome friend to have!

sandradev1

Brilliant post.

Human nature just tends to over complicate even the most basic information.

SurfyFriend

Cheers, Although I know all this, it is refreshing to read again after being so involved in learning recipes, macros, all that other crap. Back to basics for a change. nice

Aleph13

I think it's slightly more complex than this....

especially for those with underlying conditions both phyiscal (glandular/hormonal) and mental

Lozze

Only thing I would add to this is;


Accept that weight loss is not linear. Some weeks you will lose. Some weeks you will stay the same. And some weeks you will gain! But as long as the trend is downward you're on the right track.

robin52077

Accept that weight loss is not linear. Some weeks you will lose. Some weeks you will stay the same. And some weeks you will gain! But as long as the trend is downward you're on the right track.

The OP has it right...plus this ^^^

TheVimFuego

"rickyll does not have any friends yet"
and not looking likely if this thread is anything to go by...

I'll fix that

vtmoon

*Rickyll crits the forums for over 9000*

*Victory music in the background*

SaraO41

Good no nonsense report there, can you tell me where the calculator is please?

bdamaster60

losing weight is the easiest thing in the world. Losing fat while retaining muscle is a different matter however.

hopestobelost

You're right. Easy as falling off a log. Eat less-exercise more. Burn more than is required to maintain your current weight and you will lose weight. (Why is it so hard then!? That's the question for me.) Personally, I think MyFitnessPal may have calculated my maintenance level of calories a little low - but we'll see. I just feel like I eat a little more than the amount they calculated. But again, we'll see. I really love this site though.

wild_wild_life

Your straightforward, common sense post seems to have made the system go haywire.

XXXMinnieXXX

This is not the case for everyone. No matter what calories I eat if my carbs creep up a little all weight loss stops. 1500 calories + 150 carbs... Equals 6 months long frustrating plateau. 1500 cals at 120 carbs lose around 2lbs a week...

Everyone Is different. Please don't label everyone as the same. It is messages like this one that had me believing I was doing everything right and I didn't know why I wasn't losing... It stopped me changing things up!

Not saying my way is the right way for everyone, because everyone is different. I honestly believe if it was just calories in vs calories out there wouldn't be so many obese people. Also along the line of 86lbs lost what works for me has changed a few times along the way... There is always readjusting to find out what will not work for YOU!

Please stop putting out these blanket messages. There might be some people sticking to what your saying and it's not working like it didn't for me... My message to people is to find out what works for you... This will take time and patience but is possible. Play with the micronutrients.

I also believe when you change something you should wait 4 weeks to see if it has worked as your body may freak out the first week or 2 and gain or not lose.

If it's calories in vs calories out your very lucky... So stay with that... If your not so lucky then I want you people to know there is hope by playing with your macros!

Thank you.

chocl8girl