Beating a Dead Horse
Replies
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WOW! Your reply was very mean to me.
I apologize. I felt offended with your opening statement. When I'm attacked (or I feel that way), I scratch back. Again, I apologize 1000 times over. You are a great member of this site and you do offer great information. Its just sometimes you come off a little pushy (as do I, Im sure.) I have had the "eat your calories" PUSHED on me and though I agreed with that for a little bit, it always nagged me subconsciously because it didnt feel right. I just wanted an answer and I have since learned there is no one answer. and that's not your fault. or mine. or anyone's.
I apologize sincerely.0 -
I calculated my body weight x6 as the book = 1442. Ironically 1450 is my goal on MFP each day.
I wish that there was a way to ask these questions directly to Jillian Michaels and Hot Bob. (Sorry don't know his last name. Don't care. He's hot and fun to look at) Annnnyways...you never see them address calories on the show. Only exercise and eat right, exercise and eat right, etc. It would be nice to see what they would say wouldn't it? THen we would know for sure how they handle it!
Please tell me it's not 6xbody weight in pounds? That would give me way less that 1200 a day and let me tell you, that isn't gonna cut it... :laugh: :laugh:0 -
Ok, so I am going to be COMPLETELY vulnerable right now and make an emotional confession:
I am really asking the question because I want to start working out but it is soooo discouraging to stop losing the weight. When I was working out, I wasnt losing. And I felt great because my endorphines were running high! i had great amounts of energy and I was confident in myself. Until weigh in. and please dont tell me not to weigh in-I am incapable of not weighing in right now. For me, the inches are nice, BUT I NEED THE NUMBERS! Or I get discouraged. I am trying to find out how to work out and still drop for both aspects of benefits, you know? I really am scared to start working out, like anxiety scared. :frown:
My memory may be fuzzy - but when you were exercising, weren't you NOT eating your exercise calories?? I thought we had a conversation and you were going to experiment by doing it that way. Maybe it was someone else. What were you doing when you were exercising before, calorie wise??
P.S. - part of this process is learning to trust ourselves. This may be one step for you! You rock Karma
Great memory! However, I just went back and checked my diary and I always ate AT LEAST HALF, but usually about 3/4 of them...maybe not eating them is what will work for me at my weight and my goals. Maybe that's why it felt wrong to eat them. because it does not work for me. at least not in this stage of my weight loss...
Thanks for making me look at that!0 -
That's how my body operates, too. Work out & no loss but don't work out & I see big losses. I'm also the same about the measuring, I need to see the number go down. :ohwell: I'm not scared to work out, I just don't see the point until I'm at a weight that I don't mind maintaining.Ok, so I am going to be COMPLETELY vulnerable right now and make an emotional confession:
I am really asking the question because I want to start working out but it is soooo discouraging to stop losing the weight. When I was working out, I wasnt losing. And I felt great because my endorphines were running high! i had great amounts of energy and I was confident in myself. Until weigh in. and please dont tell me not to weigh in-I am incapable of not weighing in right now. For me, the inches are nice, BUT I NEED THE NUMBERS! Or I get discouraged. I am trying to find out how to work out and still drop for both aspects of benefits, you know? I really am scared to start working out, like anxiety scared. :frown:0 -
Ok, so I am going to be COMPLETELY vulnerable right now and make an emotional confession:
I am really asking the question because I want to start working out but it is soooo discouraging to stop losing the weight. When I was working out, I wasnt losing. And I felt great because my endorphines were running high! i had great amounts of energy and I was confident in myself. Until weigh in. and please dont tell me not to weigh in-I am incapable of not weighing in right now. For me, the inches are nice, BUT I NEED THE NUMBERS! Or I get discouraged. I am trying to find out how to work out and still drop for both aspects of benefits, you know? I really am scared to start working out, like anxiety scared. :frown:
My memory may be fuzzy - but when you were exercising, weren't you NOT eating your exercise calories?? I thought we had a conversation and you were going to experiment by doing it that way. Maybe it was someone else. What were you doing when you were exercising before, calorie wise??
P.S. - part of this process is learning to trust ourselves. This may be one step for you! You rock Karma
Great memory! However, I just went back and checked my diary and I always ate AT LEAST HALF, but usually about 3/4 of them...maybe not eating them is what will work for me at my weight and my goals. Maybe that's why it felt wrong to eat them. because it does not work for me. at least not in this stage of my weight loss...
Thanks for making me look at that!
I see no issue with you trying that method for a month anyway. If you still have issues losing weight, then we can help you find something else to try. Just remember, the first week or 2 you may not lose much or may even gain a little when you start exercising, especially if it's fairly intense. You know the glycogen and water in the muscles thing. May not happen, but be prepared just in case!! You'll figure this out and will rock it out - have faith girl! Oh, and be nice to SHBoss - he's awesome ( I read your apologies. :happy: You don't see much of that around here - good job!) 0 -
I just went back and checked my diary and I always ate AT LEAST HALF, but usually about 3/4 of them...maybe not eating them is what will work for me at my weight and my goals.
Yep, maybe that is what works for you -- if so, do it woman!
I believe one of the tricks with eating your exercise calories that you have to use them for good quality calories. You can't think "Well, I ran 3 miles today so I'm going to eat 2 doughnuts." Because the thing is, doughnuts (or beer or cake or cookies or whatever) don't really have any nutritional value -- they're mostly empty calories but your body NEEDS nutritients. So, if you eat all your exercise calories and eat a good bit of junk food to get there, well, that's nearly exactly the same as starving yourself because your body still isn't getting what it needs. It doesn't just need calories -- it needs protein and good fats and good carbs and vitamins and minerals, etc.
Anyway, that's my *theory* (Oh and remember that all "scientific evidence" is really all just THEORIES. It's not facts. Even the Theory of Relativity is still a freaking "theory" because it would be completley unscientific to deem something as the *one truth*). My other theory is that when people are eating 100% of their exercise calories and not losing, they may be overestimating their exercise calories (even with a HRM... or especially with a HRM) and underestimating their portion sizes (even with measuring cups & scales -- did you take a bite of something & not log it? did you lick a spoon? did you lick your fingers? etc.). I've seen this with myself especially with peanut butter (and cheese). I'll take the time to measure out 16 grams (1 tablespoon) of PB... And then I'll add a little more.. and then I'll lick the spoon, and then I'll get a finger full. And by that time I've easily had 2 tablespoons -- that's an extra 90-100 calories! :ohwell: When I catch myself I grudgingly log it, but I wonder how many times I've done that without being really conscious of it.
If what you think works for you isn't working for you anymore, you've really gotta move on and you have to give what you change enough time to work.
Remember Albert Einstein's definition of insanity? "Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."0 -
Ok, so I am going to be COMPLETELY vulnerable right now and make an emotional confession:
I am really asking the question because I want to start working out but it is soooo discouraging to stop losing the weight. When I was working out, I wasnt losing. And I felt great because my endorphines were running high! i had great amounts of energy and I was confident in myself. Until weigh in. and please dont tell me not to weigh in-I am incapable of not weighing in right now. For me, the inches are nice, BUT I NEED THE NUMBERS! Or I get discouraged. I am trying to find out how to work out and still drop for both aspects of benefits, you know? I really am scared to start working out, like anxiety scared. :frown:
Ok. A few questions.
What types of workouts were you doing? What intensity and how often? Also how long did you do this for?
I could be wrong but I think it is common not to see results right away when you first start exercising. And it is important to ensure you are working out at a high enough intensity and that you have enough variety in your workouts.
When I first started exercising I hired a trainer and he told me not to expect to see results in the first 5 weeks. But I think he meant more in terms of muscle tone and body shape rather than just weightloss.
Do you keep track of your measurement as well as your weight?0 -
I just went back and checked my diary and I always ate AT LEAST HALF, but usually about 3/4 of them...maybe not eating them is what will work for me at my weight and my goals.
Yep, maybe that is what works for you -- if so, do it woman!
I believe one of the tricks with eating your exercise calories that you have to use them for good quality calories. You can't think "Well, I ran 3 miles today so I'm going to eat 2 doughnuts." Because the thing is, doughnuts (or beer or cake or cookies or whatever) don't really have any nutritional value -- they're mostly empty calories but your body NEEDS nutritients. So, if you eat all your exercise calories and eat a good bit of junk food to get there, well, that's nearly exactly the same as starving yourself because your body still isn't getting what it needs. It doesn't just need calories -- it needs protein and good fats and good carbs and vitamins and minerals, etc.
Anyway, that's my *theory* (Oh and remember that all "scientific evidence" is really all just THEORIES. It's not facts. Even the Theory of Relativity is still a freaking "theory" because it would be completley unscientific to deem something as the *one truth*). My other theory is that when people are eating 100% of their exercise calories and not losing, they may be overestimating their exercise calories (even with a HRM... or especially with a HRM) and underestimating their portion sizes (even with measuring cups & scales -- did you take a bite of something & not log it? did you lick a spoon? did you lick your fingers? etc.). I've seen this with myself especially with peanut butter (and cheese). I'll take the time to measure out 16 grams (1 tablespoon) of PB... And then I'll add a little more.. and then I'll lick the spoon, and then I'll get a finger full. And by that time I've easily had 2 tablespoons -- that's an extra 90-100 calories! :ohwell: When I catch myself I grudgingly log it, but I wonder how many times I've done that without being really conscious of it.
If what you think works for you isn't working for you anymore, you've really gotta move on and you have to give what you change enough time to work.
Remember Albert Einstein's definition of insanity? "Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
Jib,
I know I tell you this all the time, but you are my fav!!!!!0 -
Ok, so I am going to be COMPLETELY vulnerable right now and make an emotional confession:
I am really asking the question because I want to start working out but it is soooo discouraging to stop losing the weight. When I was working out, I wasnt losing. And I felt great because my endorphines were running high! i had great amounts of energy and I was confident in myself. Until weigh in. and please dont tell me not to weigh in-I am incapable of not weighing in right now. For me, the inches are nice, BUT I NEED THE NUMBERS! Or I get discouraged. I am trying to find out how to work out and still drop for both aspects of benefits, you know? I really am scared to start working out, like anxiety scared. :frown:
Ok. A few questions.
What types of workouts were you doing? What intensity and how often? Also how long did you do this for?
I could be wrong but I think it is common not to see results right away when you first start exercising. And it is important to ensure you are working out at a high enough intensity and that you have enough variety in your workouts.
When I first started exercising I hired a trainer and he told me not to expect to see results in the first 5 weeks. But I think he meant more in terms of muscle tone and body shape rather than just weightloss.
Do you keep track of your measurement as well as your weight?
At first I was doing the Wii Fit Plus every night. then I started the shred and did that for 7 day before I hurt my shoulder.
I have lost inches and that's great, but so much is defined by that number on the scale, you know? No one goes around saying "My waist is 28." No, they say "I weigh 125 lbs." I dont know, maybe its just me.0 -
Ok, so I am going to be COMPLETELY vulnerable right now and make an emotional confession:
I am really asking the question because I want to start working out but it is soooo discouraging to stop losing the weight. When I was working out, I wasnt losing. And I felt great because my endorphines were running high! i had great amounts of energy and I was confident in myself. Until weigh in. and please dont tell me not to weigh in-I am incapable of not weighing in right now. For me, the inches are nice, BUT I NEED THE NUMBERS! Or I get discouraged. I am trying to find out how to work out and still drop for both aspects of benefits, you know? I really am scared to start working out, like anxiety scared. :frown:
Hm. This is a tough one. Working out is a must for weight loss, imo. Mainly because you can lose all the weight and still be unhappy with how you look because what a lot of people are really looking for tone.
The endorphin high is also great. Nothing like a good workout to feel less stressed.
The best advice I can give is that sometimes your muscles retain water. Especially if your body isn't used to working out. And if you don't have a whole lot of weight to lose, sometimes working out can stall the scale.
You might try ignoring the scale when working out. Take measurements instead. I'm willing to bet you'll see a difference in that despite what the scale says. And I totally relate to needing the numbers from the scale. But just remind yourself, that when you go shopping or look in the mirror and don't like what you see, its not numbers you have a problem with - it's the shape of your body and tracking measurements will track that change - the change you really want anyway.
Last time I was at the weight I am at now (on the way up) I KNOW I was heavier looking than this. But I didn't have all the dense muscle mass that I do now from working out. A friend of mine is technically "overweight" for her height - but she's solid muscle and really small looking.
Try eating back some of your exercise calories, if not all. I don't blame you. I have a hard time trying to eat a lot of calories to make back up for racquetball (1950 calories a day?! Really?! How?!)
You might have to play around with it a little and see what is best for you.0 -
Jib,
I know I tell you this all the time, but you are my fav!!!!!
:laugh: And now I just think you're being sarcastic because I'm being annoying & hijacking your thread again.
I'll shuddup now (for a minute or 2 at least).0 -
Jib,
I know I tell you this all the time, but you are my fav!!!!!
:laugh: And now I just think you're being sarcastic because I'm being annoying & hijacking your thread again.
I'll shuddup now (for a minute or 2 at least).
NO YOU ARE NOT! and I am not being sarcastic! I have learned sooo much from you! And your quirky and you present your information with sincerely caring about me (least thats how I feel). I think everyone has an inspiration. Unfortunately for you, you are mine! :flowerforyou:0 -
At first I was doing the Wii Fit Plus every night. then I started the shred and did that for 7 day before I hurt my shoulder.
I have lost inches and that's great, but so much is defined by that number on the scale, you know? No one goes around saying "My waist is 28." No, they say "I weigh 125 lbs." I dont know, maybe its just me.
I get what you are saying but when you go into a store you don't say I'm 125 lbs you say I'm a size 8 (or whatever the case may be). No offense to anyone but a low weight doesn't mean that you are healthy or that you look good.
I would take a strong, sexy 150lbs over a weak flabby 125lbs.0 -
Despite some of the 'tension' I think this has been a great post and really interesting to read! Thanks for posting it!
I mean, I think to answer your question about BL, they are obviously NOT eating back their exercise calories, or at least not all of them, that's how they get the large defecits. (Though I do remember a couple of seasons ago, Bob had to keep telling Mike he wasn't eating enough, and we did see his losses improve after he upped his calories. But I can't remember or if they ever mentioned how much he was eating vs. how much he should be eating.)
If you are interested, the doctor behind the show did write a book with a similar plan, although it seems to have gotten very little attention or fanfare, and I've never seen it promo'ed or referenced on the show. It's called Where Did All The Fat Go? by Rob Huizenga. My understanding of it his approach is MODERATE calorie reduction coupled with a LOT of exercise. I believe he has people eat approx. their BMR in calories, and workout 2 hours a day (mostly cardio but some strength training too.) So you're eating your BMR and it's your exercise calories that are actually creating the defecit.
It seems like a reasonable approach to me, and I think it would work for awhile, at least. In my personal experience, if you have a lot to lose, what seems to happen is that: you lose well with pretty much ANY approach, as long as you're burning more than you're eating. But once you get smaller / have been doing that for a longer period of time, your body does start to react differently to things. The closer you are to goal, (and the less fat stores you have), the more you really have to experiement with the numbers -- eating more, eating less, etc.
And as for your more recent post, about being afraid to work out -- I'd say just stick to cardio for now! If you do cardio and little/no strength training, you WILL keep losing, whether you eat back your exercise cals or not. You will lose more if you don't. Of course, in a year, you're probably going to regret the fact that you lost a lot of muscle weight and slowed your metabolism right down and will be stucking spending months with a HIGHLY uncooperative scale, but if you really feel like you need the scale to cooperate NOW, that is an option. (And I hope that didn't sound b*tchy, it's coming more from personal experience than anything else!
) 0 -
WOW! Your reply was very mean to me.
I apologize. I felt offended with your opening statement. When I'm attacked (or I feel that way), I scratch back. Again, I apologize 1000 times over. You are a great member of this site and you do offer great information. Its just sometimes you come off a little pushy (as do I, Im sure.) I have had the "eat your calories" PUSHED on me and though I agreed with that for a little bit, it always nagged me subconsciously because it didnt feel right. I just wanted an answer and I have since learned there is no one answer. and that's not your fault. or mine. or anyone's.
I apologize sincerely.
I'm truly sorry if you ever felt as if I pushed you. My post was frustration maybe, but I never lashed out. I think what people need to remember is that when you read a post, you are projecting your own tone onto a post. As I would hope everyone on MFP would do, I try to never project my feelings on to what someone else is writing (or at least I keep in mind that I'm doing so). That's what I feel like you did to my post, maybe I'm wrong, and maybe I'm right, I don't know, but that's how it felt.
I can tell you this, If you go back through my posts, almost all of them caveat the data with the idea that everyone is different, and everyone needs to take into account their own situation when applying said concepts. There is no concrete ceiling and floor for calories (even relatively speaking). Taking that into account, the information I give (and maybe I should state this on every post I give so people understand me from the outset) is based on the ability to maintain the lifestyle for the long term. I never claimed, nor will I ever, that there aren't faster ways to lose weight, I only state that it's my believe that a slower, more methodical approach to weight loss allows your body to adjust to the change more readily, and while that won't elicit results as fast as creating a giant deficit, it plays directly into the subconscious and how humans form habits. In other words, slower weight loss (to a degree) means less extreme shifts, which gives the body more time to adjust, which means easier transition from weight loss to maintenance. And while I'll freely admit it's conjecture, I believe that the majority of the people on this site are looking for sustained, and permanent weight loss and better health. Maybe I'm wrong there, but I don't think so.
That's all I really have to say on this topic, feel free to comment if you like but I really don't have anything more to add.0 -
I have lost inches and that's great, but so much is defined by that number on the scale, you know? No one goes around saying "My waist is 28." No, they say "I weigh 125 lbs." I dont know, maybe its just me.
How about this? I don't think people go around saying "I weigh ANY NUMBER", but people DO notice, on their own, inches lost Just throwing out a different perspective! 0 -
Despite some of the 'tension' I think this has been a great post and really interesting to read! Thanks for posting it!
I mean, I think to answer your question about BL, they are obviously NOT eating back their exercise calories, or at least not all of them, that's how they get the large defecits. (Though I do remember a couple of seasons ago, Bob had to keep telling Mike he wasn't eating enough, and we did see his losses improve after he upped his calories. But I can't remember or if they ever mentioned how much he was eating vs. how much he should be eating.)
If you are interested, the doctor behind the show did write a book with a similar plan, although it seems to have gotten very little attention or fanfare, and I've never seen it promo'ed or referenced on the show. It's called Where Did All The Fat Go? by Rob Huizenga. My understanding of it his approach is MODERATE calorie reduction coupled with a LOT of exercise. I believe he has people eat approx. their BMR in calories, and workout 2 hours a day (mostly cardio but some strength training too.) So you're eating your BMR and it's your exercise calories that are actually creating the defecit.
It seems like a reasonable approach to me, and I think it would work for awhile, at least. In my personal experience, if you have a lot to lose, what seems to happen is that: you lose well with pretty much ANY approach, as long as you're burning more than you're eating. But once you get smaller / have been doing that for a longer period of time, your body does start to react differently to things. The closer you are to goal, (and the less fat stores you have), the more you really have to experiement with the numbers -- eating more, eating less, etc.
And as for your more recent post, about being afraid to work out -- I'd say just stick to cardio for now! If you do cardio and little/no strength training, you WILL keep losing, whether you eat back your exercise cals or not. You will lose more if you don't. Of course, in a year, you're probably going to regret the fact that you lost a lot of muscle weight and slowed your metabolism right down and will be stucking spending months with a HIGHLY uncooperative scale, but if you really feel like you need the scale to cooperate NOW, that is an option. (And I hope that didn't sound b*tchy, it's coming more from personal experience than anything else! )
I will have to look up that book and see what information it presents. Thanks for the recommendation!
I think you are right about the regretting not working out in the long run. I think I just have to suck it up and do it....and trust that in the end, I am doing my best and as long as it is more than I was doing before, it WILL pay off.
Not *****y at all!0 -
At first I was doing the Wii Fit Plus every night. then I started the shred and did that for 7 day before I hurt my shoulder.
I have lost inches and that's great, but so much is defined by that number on the scale, you know? No one goes around saying "My waist is 28." No, they say "I weigh 125 lbs." I dont know, maybe its just me.
I get what you are saying but when you go into a store you don't say I'm 125 lbs you say I'm a size 8 (or whatever the case may be). No offense to anyone but a low weight doesn't mean that you are healthy or that you look good.
I would take a strong, sexy 150lbs over a weak flabby 125lbs.
You know what? You are absolutely right! I was a size 14 and 160lbs and I was one bad b*tch! LMAO!!!!!
But its because the inches werent there regardless of the weight! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE EYE OPENER!0 -
I have lost inches and that's great, but so much is defined by that number on the scale, you know? No one goes around saying "My waist is 28." No, they say "I weigh 125 lbs." I dont know, maybe its just me.
How about this? I don't think people go around saying "I weigh ANY NUMBER", but people DO notice, on their own, inches lost Just throwing out a different perspective!
So true! Thanks!0 -
Look at all of the success stories here on MFP- I think there are probably more than the average for any site of this type. Most of the big losers on here that I've spoken to do eat their exercise calories, and they've been successful not only at losing the weight, but keeping it off. This is also the first time I've had anything resembling longterm success. I'm already living on a 1000 calorie deficit (on the days I can even achieve that), and I know for a fact I could not/ would not stick it out if I worked out like crazy and increased that deficit by 500 or 1000...or more. I'd have to say, a 1000 calorie deficit is definitely at the top end of the range for me.0
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I don't eat my exercise calories (if I can help it) I eat my allotted calories for the day (as many as I need to be full but not stuffed). I am hypoglycemia so if after a workout I need a few calories I eat them even if I have to take it out of my exercise calories. If not, I don't.0
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This is to SHBoss1673:
I needed that kick in the butt Thanks!!! Thanks for that You are so Right! I needed to hear this today I have been really confused about the whole "eat your excercise calories" thing frankly I have been eating mine and doing very well so I know it works but I just hit my plateau so I was getting a little panicked thanks for putting me back on track!!!! 0 -
hmm i can't read all the posts and comment right now but I suggest you start up two different threads to settle this argument.
1. for people who DO NOT eat their exercise calories AND have lost weight AND have kept it off for long periods of time (6 to 12mths)
2. for people who DO eat their exercise cals AND lost weight AND have kept it off. ( for 6-12mths)
perhaps that will settle this argument?0 -
I have to echo SHBoss. He has made two excellent posts in this thread.
What we're really talking about here is the size of an energy deficit. If you're already running a 500 kcal/day (or whatever) deficit and add exercise to the mix, you're merely creating a larger deficit. An energy (calorie) shortage is a shortage regardless of where it's coming from in the "body's mind."
Of course that's a very general, simplified statement, but it's good food for thought based on what I'm seeing.
Also, think of an energy deficit as a stress. Exercise, work, family problems, illness, etc... these are all additional stressors that our bodies are forced to deal with. Our ability to manage stress is finite... meaning, it's very possible to override our "stress management" system. When this happens, you run into ugly things such as overtraining, injuries, metabolic slowdown beyond what's expected, etc.
There's no universality to this as it must be handled on a case by case basis.
As has been mentioned, larger folks who are carrying a lot of excess fat can tolerate larger energy deficits than their leaner counterparts.
But at the end of the day, this is about finding permanent lifestyle habits that you can stick with forever. It's been my experience that creating as small of a calorie deficit as possible while still maintaining appreciable, consistent fat loss is the name of the game.
It's when you start invoking large deficits where people enter that "yo-yo"mentality b/c with any extreme approach, sustainability is very low given human behavioral patterns. Define extreme? That's tough to do in general terms... but I'd say anything that's gauged for losing more than 1% of your total body weight per week is venturing into extreme territory. Obviously it's a sliding spectrum though.0 -
I wanted to talk about exercise - since you stated that it scares you. One misconception that I see posted is that it's not exercise unless you have a sweat fest. I disagree with this concept!!!! I agree exercising very hard burns more cal and it is necessary for cardiac health to get your heart rate up into a target zone for a prolonged time several times a week. Taking a slow walk (3 miles in an hour) or doing a Leslie Sansone DVD (low impact aerobics) are great forms of exercise. Have you considered starting slower with exercise and doing something that you enjoy. I love Zumba and running (now that I've finished C25K). The Shred and Insanity are very intense exercises that need to be modified if you are just starting out - I feel most people do not know how to modify correctly or we wouldn't hear about so many injuries with these workouts. I am a physical therapist and have treated many people with injuries from using wrong technique with exercise and sports. I consider shopping exercise. I live in a rural area and don't get to the stores very often so if I push a cart around Walmart for 60 min and then 60 min a big grocery store, this is something over and beyond my normal activity and I count it as exercise.
I feel that weight loss is trial and error for each individual. I have found that for me, eating 1200 cal plus my workout cal as given by MFP database has been working great. When I reach a plateau - I will re-evaluate what I am doing and try something else. I consider a plateau 1 month at the same weight with no change in measurements. I do find that if I take a day off of exercise or have a weekend where I eat more, I actually lose more weight - WOW. Could it be because I am coming closer to the cal amount that my body needs? I don't have scientific facts, I just know what has been happening with my body over the last 6 months.
If you want to lose weight biggest loser style, then you would need to take a break from life and exercise 6 to 8 hours a day (I recommend doctor supervision if you plan to this). I feel that by taking the weight of slower, I will be more likely to keep it off. I am trying to eat and exercise now just like I plan to eat and exercise once I reach my goal weight. That way, I won't yo-yo and gain the weight back.
I wish you the best of luck in starting to exercise and losing weight in a way that makes you happy and allows you to keep it off:flowerforyou:0 -
Hi,
Since I joined this site, I have also heard from a lot of people to eat back exercise cals. I tried it, and it didnt work for me at all! I gained and felt worse. I normally used to eat about 1100 cals and worked out about 3-4 days a week - 45 mins cardio and usually a 45 min walk every night and I was also 120 pounds which for my height and body was perfect.
I then started working Fulltime, and sitting a lot more, still eating 1100 cals and working out 3-4 days a week and kept gaining and gaining because I was sitting more than I ever had in my entire life! I only worked 16 hours a week to now about 40 hours a week.
I finally started losing again by eating less calories and burning more. I don't eat back my exercise cals because for me, it doesnt work. I need to have the larger deficits to see a loss and eating back for me doesn't work at all.
Echoing a lot of the other posts, but it really does depend on you, and every person's body is different I an having the same struggle as you and need the scale and inches should matter to me but it doesnt. I want to see 120 on the scale again and I wont be happy until I see it. I know thats not really right, but to me, the weight matters, and even though I can still fit into the same clothes at 137 pounds (but not as nice fitting or looking as I did at 120) I still want to see that number!
I understand where youre coming from and I feel the same way 0 -
I have been at this for about 7 months. I started by doing exactly what I was suppose to do. I ate my exercise calories. I lost weight, slow, but I lost it. Then, I decided I was going to try to exercise and NOT eat back my calories. I did lose weight faster, I think I dropped 3 pounds in one week when I was only losing 1 pound, if that, in a week before. But, the difference was, I was really hungry and not satisfied at all when I didn't eat at least some of my exercise calories back. I realized really fast that if I want to make this a lifestyle change, I need to make it work for me. It isn't about losing weight really fast for me anymore (like it was in the past). It's about losing the weight and keeping it off so I can enjoy the body I want for the rest of my life, not for several months and then gain it back. What's the point of losing the weight fast and then gaining it back? Because we all know how much it sucks to be feeling good and then getting comfortable and then looking in the mirror a couple of months down the road and seeing the old person you didn't want to be. Pointless.
Now, I eat my calories, exercise and eat some/most of my exercise calories. If it takes one month to lose 2 pounds, yes I might whine about it, but at least I know those two pounds are more likely to stay off. Plus, I don't feel deprived.
My experience for what it's worth. Good luck!0 -
Karma, I just wanted to throw another factor into the mix here. Just some food for thought... I looked at the goals you have posted in your sig. I am not sure when you started this process, but it says you joined MFP in January 2010, so I am going to assume you started at the very beginning of the year. In order to get to your ultimate goal, you'd need to lose approximately 2.75 lbs per week. Unfortunately, at your starting weight, that is NOT healthy weight loss. I know it can be easy to lose that fact when you watch Biggest Loser - I think Biggest Loser is good in some ways, but it REALLY skews people's perceptions of what they can reasonably lose in a healthy manner.
So, maybe some of the fear and frustration you are experiencing on this journey is coming from unrealistic expectations. I am a college professor, and there is one study that was done with college freshman that we are reminded of every year - the students that don't succeed in college for the most part are ones that have unrealistically high expectations of college life (that classes will be easy, that they'll make a ton of friends fast, etc.). When that doesn't happen, they quit school. It wasn't because they aimed too low, it was because they aimed too high, and then consequently felt like a failure. it's easy to see the parallels to weight loss - when we think we are going to have awesome, amazing results and the reality doesn't follow that, it's hard to keep it up.
So, in the middle of all this exercise & calorie discussion, I think you (and me and all of us!!!) need to think about what our expectations are. We all want to see the pounds disappear overnight, but unfortunately, it just doesn't work that way. My own story has been yo-yo city - drastic, fast weight loss, followed by gaining it all back & more. At this stage in my life, I am okay with slow, healthy loss because I've learned what happens when you try to cheat the system & speed things along.
But maybe that's a lesson everyone has to learn for themselves.0 -
thanks for posting that , I have heard that from several people here and have to wonder. If i am eating my workout calories.wouldnt it just be easier not to go to the gym and not eat..lol.. but the body need fuel even for resting so.. I am determined to get this right..I am not even going to post goal wieght info
lets just say 160 by aug 6th...lol thanks again Elle0 -
These guys exercise what seems like constantly- hardcore exercise morning, noon, and night. I'm sure there is absolutely no way they could eat back all their exercise calories even if they wanted to, they're probably too exhausted! But this going on day in and day out takes a toll on the body and while they see quicker results than we do (sorry, I have a job and a family-i'm not doing that all day every day!) i've read that many of them put the weight back on...maybe not all of it, but some or most. I am jealous of them to a point, I would be totally exhilarated to have such a massive change in my body in such a short time. But I would honestly consider myself a failure when all was said and done and I gained weight back. Not exactly where this thread is headed, but i'll stick with eating back my exercise calories, maintaining my 500 deficit per day, and doin' what I do!
I didn't see Banks' original post as being argumentative, but merely factual. Karma, I find you hilarious as well as refreshing, but if you tell me you weren't looking for the high school debate I might call you a fibber : ) The fun of this is that people have their own opinions, and I respect that. But we should respect the comments we dislike as well as the ones that validate what we're trying to do. This is a journey that works out differently for all of us. You find what works for you, then write your story. I mean, when I didn'teat back my exercise calories, I personally didn't lose, and I felt like a complete loser and quit. Gained back the 20 pounds I had lost and walked away for a year. I came back and found what works for me...so if anybody asks, thats MY story!0
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