Weight loss on a higher cal limit successes?

RadioactivePirate

I netted around 1800 calories for most of my weight loss. Down to 1600 now but I'm a lot smaller than I used to be. Seems to be working pretty well

FitSuga

<~~ I eat 2k + . Maybe not yet a success but a work in progress and smaller than I was!

briannadunn

It is totally possible. When I was working out a lot and burning lots of calories I ate between 1600 and 1800 calories and lost 2 pounds a week, I had to cut my calories down when I had to slow down with my exercise.

heybales

..... so under that is going to mean losing weight...

That isn't remotely true, you won't lose weight underneath that as a general rule. It is important that the diet fits the person completely. Ideally, you wouldn't want to eat back your full calorie burn amount. ATM My intake is at 1700 a day, which I usually hit around 1600 of and burn about 600-700 per day, for me that works, but for others it may not.
Ideally you'd want to keep a higher calorie intake (1700 ish being high, I guess, for a woman) and ensure that you stick reasonably to the same amount going in as out every day and log how well you are doing.

There are a lot of success stories around on this site, but also I guess through people you'll meet in life. A friend of mine, a man, lost around 40lbs or so by intaking 2000 cals a day, burning 650 and sticking to a low/medium amount of carbs/sugars (obviously). Different things work for different people, which sucks, as I totally wish there was one rule for everyone and it resulted in is all looking hot as hell.

In context, she is actually right.

referring to "around 2000 calories" as TDEE - if you eat under TDEE you lose. That part is correct.

Even the around 2000 figure is closer to what people could maintain on until they lose muscle mass eating too little, shoot their metabolism down to the ground, and then have to eat so much less even to maintain.

If you already have a healthy deficit in your goal, as MFP would do if you selected 1 or 1/2 lb, without exercise included - then actually you would eat it back to keep that same healthy deficit.

If you are a man eating 1600 calories daily, and exercise is knocking out 600 of those purely for mechanical movement energy - you an't leaving your body much to repair on, let alone actually improve on.

I'll bet you are overestimating your burns, or your metabolism has slowed down, and your body has slowed down daily expenditure to compensate.

You don't even know what improvements you could have eating properly for your lifting - might give it a try and be shocked.

Look at all these women, older women even, lifting heavy and eating more than you. At some point, probably getting stronger too, though that will be difficult with the male and age thing on your side.

lh1626

Bump for info!

Madaly320

I use MFP and Fitbit and both do the whole TDEE calculation for me, so I go by what they say. The average between both Apps tell me I can eat between 1680-1800 cals, depending on my activity. I am pretty active every day as it is, I walk/stand/climb stairs all day at my work, so that is BEFORE my workouts, which I don't even log any more.

I am losing about .5 a week, which should be 1lb a week based on my settings, which tell me that if I ate just a little less (because sometimes I go over, or forget to log things) I could lose more.

If I weighed less and were less active, there would be no way I would lose the weight steadily, I dont think, at this Calorie level but for me, it works.

valeriewxy

150 to 120 netting 1700 cals and eating back exercise calories (mostly hiking):


Then I decided to eat at a calorie surplus and lift weights. This is 2 pics of me at 130:


Not done yet, still working on it. Screw weight loss, I'm going for looking better now.

Woooooooooow.

sandyrrt

trogalicious,
It was helloitsdan's IPOARM that I followed/am following. I am so grateful to have found his info. And yes, it DOES work!!
Congrats on your success!!

paisleyskies

I started at 160 and have fluctuated around 150 for a while now. 10 pounds may not seem like a lot, but its made a huge difference in both my appearance and how healthy I feel. I set my goal to 1850 a day, plus whatever I earn with exercising. I'm usually under around 100 calories under a day. This feels good for me because I can still eat without feeling deprived, but within reason. When you don't need to lose that much weight, a higher cal limit is more attainable. Plus who wants to feel weak and gross when they're trying to get healthy?

dixiewhiskey

I eat between 1600-1900 per day. I have lost 14 lbs in under 3 months. I'm more focused on BF% than lbs lost but I went from 40%BF in the "postpartum" photo below to 25%.. I'm more fit than I've ever been and I fit a size 6 at 167lbs.

Postpartum (May last year):


Day 8:


Day 70:




Day 80 (today):

pinelakecutie

I ate 1350-1700 plus exercise calories to lose, so a total of 1700-2000+. It took about 6 months to reach my goal weight, then I lost a little more, and then I gained some back by got smaller (yay, strength training) so I didn't care.

Currently maintaining at about 2300 calories. I eat a little under that during the week and don't log my food on weekends when I eat a little more.

Photos and stuff: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/709987-how-wrong-i-was-600-days-of-mfp-lotsa-pics

This is the most inspirational story I've seen since joining MFP. I have no problems with weight lifting; I've never been scared of bulking up, because I knew that wouldn't happen. But I was still captive to the calorie counting. MFP--and this story in particular--has changed all of that. You look unbelievable. THAT is the body I want. I know some people who eat almost nothing--and they have the body of little boys. I've also done the goal-weight-yet-still-fluffy thing. No thanks.

redheaddee

TDEE - 20% is what you should eat. No less than your BMR.

michellekicks

I'm 5'7" and came to MFP at 180 lbs. I lost all the weight eating about 1600-1700 plus all my exercise calories. My average daily intake while losing was 2100 calories.

I maintain on 2300-2500 with spike days up to 3000 or so and I'm still getting leaner.

EDIT: You wanted photos...


Now... ish




Total lost 36 lbs in about 8 months, but I took breaks to eat at TDEE for a week or so before every major race (3x in 2012)

jason10012

My limit on here is 1690 cals, and I work out and burn around 500 which I eat most of back. Was wondering who of you has done this and lost a lot? Photos would be great, and how long it took you.

I just posted a 3.4 lb loss this week eating close to or over 2000 calories a day. I'm almost done with insanity and I do eat my workout calories back. So far I've lost 42 lbs in just around 4 months

arrawyn79

I was eating at around 1200 for a few months last year (eating high protein, low carb so I was NEVER hungry!) more obviously if i exercised. But then back in Oct last year i slowly increased my cals (by 100 a week) and now i'm at around 1700 daily, because i'm trying to maintain. I've lost about 5-ish more lbs though, and i'm getting smaller due to strength training. At first i had a real hard time trying to eat so much lol. and sometimes i'm still under 1700 (like today), and when i work out i usually am at around 2100 ( eating most, not all of my exercise cals back).

I'm still trying to figure out what the right daily cals is for me...but it's around 1700. I've gone from 210lbs (start of May last year) to 133ish (size 18-20 to a size 6). I have to say eating at a higher calorie level (but still healthy choices 99.9999% of the time!) is a lot more enjoyable!

StephieClay

I started at 1680/day when I started this almost a year ago. I'm now on half a pound a week, just taking it a bit easier on myself, and I've lost a ton more weight on a higher daily intake (My original goal was 43 lbs, I'm slowly working on another 15, getting myself to a 58lbs loss) I really struggled on my 1350 a day as I approached my goal and then after I increased my intake my weight loss was somehow jump started again.

MFP has been pretty bang on and over the course of 11 months, I've lost 51lbs! I can't complain about that

Eatkansasbeef

Bump

becomingtherealme

bump

Funnyfishat40

I'm over the magic no 41 where it all slows down and I eat 1800 then eat back half my exercise calories if I burn less than 700 and 3/4 if i burn more, loose between one and one and a half and pounds per week xxx keep going xx

michellekicks

I'm over the magic no 41 where it all slows down and I eat 1800 then eat back half my exercise calories if I burn less than 700 and 3/4 if i burn more, loose between one and one and a half and pounds per week xxx keep going xx

That doesn't sound slow. You're eating at a target of 1800 plus exercise calories and losing over 1 lb/week... that's awesome!

Gracerrr

I've been eating 1600 net each day as recommended by MFP (burn 500 calories a day, so 2100 total calories), but I haven't lost any weight in two months. I know that's the opposite of a success story, but if anyone could offer some insight, that would be amazing!

XXXMinnieXXX

I eat 1600 plus up to 25% of my workout calories.

michellekicks

I've been eating 1600 net each day as recommended by MFP (burn 500 calories a day, so 2100 total calories), but I haven't lost any weight in two months. I know that's the opposite of a success story, but if anyone could offer some insight, that would be amazing!

How did you get 1600 as a goal? What did you set your MFP weight loss goal to? What did you set your lifestyle activity level to?

skinnydreams19

Girls that I eat (I do!!) add me, please! Especially if you have open diaries! It's hard looking at the diaries of most of my current MFP pals for inspiration, because it seems like everyone is going for 1200, not eating back exercise calories, and not even hitting that 1200 (netting 500-900 calories per day)! I can't do it, I'm too ravenous when I try!

ruwise

I'm eating 2000-2100 every day and losing an average of 1-2lb's a week doing this.

julesxo

Yes I increased my calorie intake and still lost body fat

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/935033-mom-of-2-insanity-results

leighdiane91

I NET between 1700-1900+ (calorie allowance is 1900, plus I eat back most of my exercise calories.) I've lost 25lbs. since January 1st. My profile picture is my comparison from then to now. Feel free to add me!

Same here!

oh and we have almost the same starting and current weights lol

fit4lifeUcan2

My limit on here is 1690 cals, and I work out and burn around 500 which I eat most of back. Was wondering who of you has done this and lost a lot? Photos would be great, and how long it took you.

I used to be able to eat that much and lose-- when I was 22 - 23. Things change!

You said it sister!

Isn't that the truth!!

gapm

150 to 120 netting 1700 cals and eating back exercise calories (mostly hiking):


Then I decided to eat at a calorie surplus and lift weights. This is 2 pics of me at 130:


Not done yet, still working on it. Screw weight loss, I'm going for looking better now.

You're my hero!

gapm

I've been eating 1600 net each day as recommended by MFP (burn 500 calories a day, so 2100 total calories), but I haven't lost any weight in two months. I know that's the opposite of a success story, but if anyone could offer some insight, that would be amazing!

How did you get 1600 as a goal? What did you set your MFP weight loss goal to? What did you set your lifestyle activity level to?

Don't know what the other person did, but I can tell you what I did and why. After I had lost about 30 lb with another 35 lb to lose, I re-entered the weight I wanted to be so MFP would give me the calories to maintain my target weight, not the calories to lose weight at my current weight. I was concerned because the research I read seemed to say that if I lost weight with low calorie diet, I would never be able to increase my calories when I got to my target. Since what I need to maintain my target weight (1580 calories/day) is lower than what I need to maintain my current weight, the net result is a calorie deficit. It is alos more than what MFP recommends if I wanted to lose 1 lb per week. Doing it this way means that I have to track my weight outside of MFP and it also means I lose more slowly, but I am indeed losing weight.