Is losing weight really so complicated?!

RachyLovesRattys

I find that everything is a little bit off when calculating. As you and everyone else has said, if it's working for you, keep doing it!

I'm only 4 foot 11 inches and I have a very large frame. When I calculate on most websites it tells me like 900 calories and everything else says 1200 because that's the "starvation mode point". Honestly, both are wrong on my body. 900 calories and I'm cranky- 1200 and I start to gain weight.

I keep my goal at about 1000 calories, sometimes a bit more. This is what I've discovered over time feels good for my body. I don't stress about going over by a bit, but that's around where I feel good (and in the end, feeling good is all that matters!)

And most importantly, it really matters more WHERE the calories are coming from than being perfect on consuming just the right number. If you went over a couple of days (you know, within reason) with vegetables or some lean protein, then hey, maybe it was your body telling you you needed those nutrients. It's the processed fatty junk you don't want to be binge-ing on.

JAGWIRE13579

I get sick to death of this "starvation mode" crap. I am on a doctor supervised, 800 calorie diet. (not some quack, a bariatric specialist at a top hospital) I am 42 and have abused my body with yo-yo dieting for 30 years. I know 800 is extreme and not for 95% of people trying to lose weight. If I tried to eat 1500 cal per day then "eat back" the calories I exercise off I would not lose a pound. If you think any computer generated number will be the magic number to lose weight you will fail, I know I have over and over. Eat what you need to get the nutrition your body needs. If you get all of the protein, fat and carbs along with the vitamins and minerals your body needs to stay healthy and strong at 1200, eat 1200. If it takes 2000, eat 2000. But plugging in age, weight, height and activity level will not provide a 100% accurate number because everyone is different. Go to a doctor or dietitian who specialize in weight lose and be ready for trial and error to figure out what you need. I think the people on this site should be used for support not medical advice.

cmriverside

Didn't read any of the replies.....

Starvation mode isn't fatal, it sn't dangerous, and if you are losing at 1500, keep doing what you're doing. 1500 is a perfectly reasonable number for most women.

Even if you have a slight metabolic slowdown (which is doubtful at that calorie goal) you can "fix" it easily by eating more....but really, don't split hairs on this. There is not a perfect exact "number" and starvation mode is not as dire as it sounds.

hannahcall2

If its between eating over your goal or eating under, it's better to eat a little bit over and then burn it off in a workout.

cargilb

i think most of these sites are afraid to recommend that people eat under 1200 calories a day because they fear lawsuits.

mathteacher2010

In regard to the site people are recommending to figure out TDEE, etc:

I just went to this site out of curiosity, since I am pretty satisfied with what I am doing.

First problem: the height calculator doesn't go below 5 feet; I am 4'9"; that's enough to make a substantial difference in calculations!

I figured it out using 5 feet as the height. It recommended 1262 calories for weight loss, which is ok. I do 1100 now, so with the height difference, that may be close.

I do think that if you are doing well, you don't need to change anything, but check out the site just to give yourself some reassurance.

Lady_Bane

I believe weight loss is like overcoming an addiction to drugs.....you have to make a decision to change, your day full of decisions. Should I eat that, no, lets find what I should eat. Like an alcoholic....should I drink that, no, lets do something else.

Once you make that decision, and keep making that decision constantly, it eventually just becomes a life.....it requires little effort because it is a part of you. The first month and a half were hard for me. It takes zero effort (all be it I am 8 months down the line) to make the right choices.....its just habit now.

megsmom2

Simple? Yes. Very simple. Eat less, move more, make better choices.
Easy? No. It isn't. Or we wouldn't all be here struggling with it. But it really is easy also to overthink and overprocess things and get in your own way. Some people thrive on the micromanagement thing, some don't. Its ok either way.