How can I stay under 200 pounds?

2

Replies

  • xXMisstifyXx
    xXMisstifyXx Posts: 13
    Question for you...do you eat breakfast?

    I know many members here will say that when you eat your calories doesn't matter. But I know that my husband and I both struggle with a very different metabolism (for a lot of reasons). And I suspect that part of his problem is that he consistently skips breakfast. He eats less than I do overall, but still seems to gain weight. I know some of this is the types of foods he eats. But I believe wholeheartedly that if he began eating breakfast regularly, things would change for him.

    It's important to keep your body fed throughout the day.

    I do eat breakfast, yes. I skip breakfast maybe once or twice a month.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    I'm female, 18, 5'0" and my calorie goal is 1000-1200. I haven't actually used the food diary much, usually I just calculate it up and write it down in an actual book.

    You're not eating enough.

    According to the Fat to fit calculator your BMR is 1722 cals a day and even if you do nothing all day - which I doubt. your TDEE is 2066.

    You should actually be eating somewhere between the two.

    I would slowly increase your calories to 1800 a day - Log everything properly, do some cardio and if you can add in some weights to help keep your muscle mass.

    Do this for at least 6 weeks and then see how your body is reacting - take measurements as well as weight yourself ans don't freak out if you gain at little at first - your body is starving on 1200 or less so it will take w while for it to sort itself out.

    FYI - I'm 5'2 and eating 1600-1800 a day and losing. You don't have to go so low - it's not healthy and as you've found out it often doesn't work. :flowerforyou:

    with all due respect, this does not even make sense. You say that you doubt this person's TDEE is 2066 and then you recommend that they bump up their calories to 1800???? If their TDEE is 2000 then they should should be eating at a 25% deficit which would be about 1500 calories a day. You also recommended eating more than what this person BMR is - 1722 according to you - which is actually more then they are burning. I am not sure how this person would lose weight if they are eating more then they burn in a day ....
  • beskimoosh
    beskimoosh Posts: 375 Member
    I've just got under 200 for the first time ever, and I know that if I have one day where I eat high sodium or a significant amount over my target I gain up to 5lb, but so long as I have a lot of water and stick to my target calories after this it drops back down in around 4 days, then continues to drop. I'd recommend using the diary on here and opening it so people can give you advice.

    Also, please go and get a second opinion from another doctor. 800 calories a day does sound very low, but there may be a reason for it, we don't have your full medical records! So see someone else if you can, preferably who specialises in things like this, so you get reassurance and the input of someone with a wide range of knowledge. People on here are very helpful, but if there are other issues then professional support is the best route to go down.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    Question for you...do you eat breakfast?

    I know many members here will say that when you eat your calories doesn't matter. But I know that my husband and I both struggle with a very different metabolism (for a lot of reasons). And I suspect that part of his problem is that he consistently skips breakfast. He eats less than I do overall, but still seems to gain weight. I know some of this is the types of foods he eats. But I believe wholeheartedly that if he began eating breakfast regularly, things would change for him.

    It's important to keep your body fed throughout the day.

    I do eat breakfast, yes. I skip breakfast maybe once or twice a month.

    meal timing has nothing to do with metabolism.

    you can eat one meal, six meals, or 24 meals a day and it will not impact metabolism.

    I have been skipping breakfast for six months and have reduced my body fat from 16% to 13%...

    Eating breakfast has nothing to do with weight gain or weight loss. This is the biggest myth on MFP.

    www.leangains.com
  • cmeiron
    cmeiron Posts: 1,599 Member
    I'm female, 18, 5'0" and my calorie goal is 1000-1200. I haven't actually used the food diary much, usually I just calculate it up and write it down in an actual book.

    You're not eating enough.

    According to the Fat to fit calculator your BMR is 1722 cals a day and even if you do nothing all day - which I doubt. your TDEE is 2066.

    You should actually be eating somewhere between the two.

    I would slowly increase your calories to 1800 a day - Log everything properly, do some cardio and if you can add in some weights to help keep your muscle mass.

    Do this for at least 6 weeks and then see how your body is reacting - take measurements as well as weight yourself ans don't freak out if you gain at little at first - your body is starving on 1200 or less so it will take w while for it to sort itself out.

    FYI - I'm 5'2 and eating 1600-1800 a day and losing. You don't have to go so low - it's not healthy and as you've found out it often doesn't work. :flowerforyou:

    with all due respect, this does not even make sense. You say that you doubt this person's TDEE is 2066 and then you recommend that they bump up their calories to 1800???? If their TDEE is 2000 then they should should be eating at a 25% deficit which would be about 1500 calories a day. You also recommended eating more than what this person BMR is - 1722 according to you - which is actually more then they are burning. I am not sure how this person would lose weight if they are eating more then they burn in a day ....

    No. You do not understand what TDEE and BMR are, and how intake relates to them.

    A person should eat more than their BMR. Your BMR is the "burn" your body creates simply by existing. It does not include exercise, housework, sitting at a desk, walking around an office, cooking, etc. etc. etc. Your TDEE does include all these things (it is your TOTAL burn). You should eat above your BMR (to support basic bodily functions) but below your TDEE (to create a deficit).

    A -25% TDEE cut is pretty big. 10-15% is good for most people; a moderate deficit is also more sustainable in the long run and will help retain lean body mass. 1800 cals/day seems pretty darn reasonable to me.

    ETA: when you do increase your calories, keep in mind that you may see a temporary gain or plateau - as long as a month or so. Be patient and give it some time; you'll start to drop again. Also, it will be very important to measure your food and log accurately, so you can be sure that your intake is accurate. It's very easy to overestimate what you eat, often leading people to blame their "high goal" when in fact they were simply accidentally overeating/surpassing their goal.
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    I'm female, 18, 5'0" and my calorie goal is 1000-1200. I haven't actually used the food diary much, usually I just calculate it up and write it down in an actual book.

    You're not eating enough.

    According to the Fat to fit calculator your BMR is 1722 cals a day and even if you do nothing all day - which I doubt. your TDEE is 2066.

    You should actually be eating somewhere between the two.

    I would slowly increase your calories to 1800 a day - Log everything properly, do some cardio and if you can add in some weights to help keep your muscle mass.

    Do this for at least 6 weeks and then see how your body is reacting - take measurements as well as weight yourself ans don't freak out if you gain at little at first - your body is starving on 1200 or less so it will take w while for it to sort itself out.

    FYI - I'm 5'2 and eating 1600-1800 a day and losing. You don't have to go so low - it's not healthy and as you've found out it often doesn't work. :flowerforyou:

    with all due respect, this does not even make sense. You say that you doubt this person's TDEE is 2066 and then you recommend that they bump up their calories to 1800???? If their TDEE is 2000 then they should should be eating at a 25% deficit which would be about 1500 calories a day. You also recommended eating more than what this person BMR is - 1722 according to you - which is actually more then they are burning. I am not sure how this person would lose weight if they are eating more then they burn in a day ....

    No. You do not understand what TDEE and BMR are, and how intake relates to them.

    A person should eat more than their BMR. Your BMR is the "burn" your body creates simply by existing. It does not include exercise, housework, sitting at a desk, walking around an office, cooking, etc. etc. etc. Your TDEE does include all these things (it is your TOTAL burn). You should eat above your BMR (to support basic bodily functions) but below your TDEE (to create a deficit).

    A -25% TDEE cut is pretty big. 10-15% is good for most people; a moderate deficit is also more sustainable in the long run and will help retain lean body mass. 1800 cals/day seems pretty darn reasonable to me.


    ^^^^ This

    Thank you, just what I was going to say :flowerforyou:

    Plus that TDEE is for Sedentary - which she clearly isn't now she has told us her exercise.
  • keola64
    keola64 Posts: 207 Member
    Someone covered what o was going to say about your deficit and all that. Bit for example I am 6'1" to get below 200 pounds my calorie intake was around 1600, I am active and ajusted my macros and kept strict to my strategy, I did a ton of cardio that was targeting my fat burn heartrate zone around 135 -165 and did pushed hard. There is no quick fix ! You need to make this a lifestyle change to achieve and maintain.:happy6353540711_076799bf27_n.jpg
    CHUBBY HUBBY ME by keola64@rocketmail.com, on Flickr8579328951_bd8f5ef758_n.jpg
    IMAG1966_BURST005_2 by keola64@rocketmail.com, on Flickr
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    Need more info, height,weight,gender,age (helps), amount of calories taken inn daily, and type of cardio/frequency.

    All on the first page :huh:
  • elyelyse
    elyelyse Posts: 1,454 Member
    My doctor told me that I should eat 800 calories a day, but I thought that was too low, so I actually pumped it up to 1000-1200. Maybe I shouldn't listen to my doctor about this anymore... :/

    yeah you need a new doctor, or one that can admit they don't know much about diet and nutrition and can refer you to someone else for the right information. You are short, so eating at 1200 isn't as terrible as many people here are going to tell you, but I certainly wouldn't go any lower. (and yes you most likely can eat more than that, too)
  • xXMisstifyXx
    xXMisstifyXx Posts: 13
    Need more info, height,weight,gender,age (helps), amount of calories taken inn daily, and type of cardio/frequency.

    I'll put it all into one post so it's easier.

    I'm 18, female, 5'0" tall. I currently weigh 205.6. I do at least two 45 minute martial arts classes a week, 30 minutes of walking 2-3 times a week. I take in 1000-1200 calories a day.
  • xxnellie146xx
    xxnellie146xx Posts: 996 Member
    I am not sure if this has been mentioned, but are you weighing your food or just guessing? It's easy to underestimate what you eat and consume more calories than you think/are accounting for.
  • xXMisstifyXx
    xXMisstifyXx Posts: 13
    I am not sure if this has been mentioned, but are you weighing your food or just guessing? It's easy to underestimate what you eat and consume more calories than you think/are accounting for.

    I am weighing. I always weigh my food.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    My doctor told me that I should eat 800 calories a day, but I thought that was too low, so I actually pumped it up to 1000-1200. Maybe I shouldn't listen to my doctor about this anymore... :/

    yeah you need a new doctor, or one that can admit they don't know much about diet and nutrition and can refer you to someone else for the right information. You are short, so eating at 1200 isn't as terrible as many people here are going to tell you, but I certainly wouldn't go any lower. (and yes you most likely can eat more than that, too)

    I disagree. I'm 5'1 and my heaviest was 245. Doing the 1200 cals before, I became protein deficient.

    OP, see another doctor for a .2nd opinion and a registered dietician if able. There is something off with what you are telling us. Either you aren't telling us something about your medical history (which is your right of course), or your doctor is an idiot and too lazy to check for underlying issues.
  • pspetralia
    pspetralia Posts: 963 Member
    Need more info, height,weight,gender,age (helps), amount of calories taken inn daily, and type of cardio/frequency.

    I'll put it all into one post so it's easier.

    I'm 18, female, 5'0" tall. I currently weigh 205.6. I do at least two 45 minute martial arts classes a week, 30 minutes of walking 2-3 times a week. I take in 1000-1200 calories a day.

    You need to eat more. Figure out your TDEE (using online calculator) then subtract 15-20%. Aim to eat that many calories a day. Be consistent and honest for 4 weeks and then re-evaluate. If your weight is up lower your calories by 100cals. If you are losing weight it is perfect.
    Make sure you are weighing and measuring all of your food. Good luck!
  • keola64
    keola64 Posts: 207 Member
    Oh and if you don't have a good hrm you should get 1 to help you see what your calorie burns are more accurately during cardio, and while on a low calorie diet a lean protein supp should be added to your daily intake to help prevent muscle loss that comes with fat loss if your nutrition isn't on par :happy:
  • xXMisstifyXx
    xXMisstifyXx Posts: 13
    Maybe I need to exercise more once I get under 200? Maybe an extra push right there would send me down the right road again.

    There's a lot of things to think about... But you're all helping me already, got a lot of tabs open. :) Thank you all, so far.
  • keola64
    keola64 Posts: 207 Member
    Need more info, height,weight,gender,age (helps), amount of calories taken inn daily, and type of cardio/frequency.

    I'll put it all into one post so it's easier.

    I'm 18, female, 5'0" tall. I currently weigh 205.6. I do at least two 45 minute martial arts classes a week, 30 minutes of walking 2-3 times a week. I take in 1000-1200 calories a day.

    You need to eat more. Figure out your TDEE (using online calculator) then subtract 15-20%. Aim to eat that many calories a day. Be consistent and honest for 4 weeks and then re-evaluate. If your weight is up lower your calories by 100cals. If you are losing weight it is perfect.
    Make sure you are weighing and measuring all of your food. Good luck!
    I agree I weigh all my food and don't cheat my dairies, my diary is publically open you can look anytime
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    Maybe I need to exercise more once I get under 200? Maybe an extra push right there would send me down the right road again.

    There's a lot of things to think about... But you're all helping me already, got a lot of tabs open. :) Thank you all, so far.

    Glad we could help - maybe add in some strength training - see new rules of lifting for women, starting strength etc :bigsmile:
  • xXMisstifyXx
    xXMisstifyXx Posts: 13
    My doctor told me that I should eat 800 calories a day, but I thought that was too low, so I actually pumped it up to 1000-1200. Maybe I shouldn't listen to my doctor about this anymore... :/

    yeah you need a new doctor, or one that can admit they don't know much about diet and nutrition and can refer you to someone else for the right information. You are short, so eating at 1200 isn't as terrible as many people here are going to tell you, but I certainly wouldn't go any lower. (and yes you most likely can eat more than that, too)

    I disagree. I'm 5'1 and my heaviest was 245. Doing the 1200 cals before, I became protein deficient.

    OP, see another doctor for a .2nd opinion and a registered dietician if able. There is something off with what you are telling us. Either you aren't telling us something about your medical history (which is your right of course), or your doctor is an idiot and too lazy to check for underlying issues.

    I will be seeing a new doctor, I'm searching for one right now. I've been pretty open with my medical history, on here... Diabetes runs in my family on both sides, but I don't have it. And when I used to dance some days I would eat and some days I wouldn't. I actually just thought of something I didn't mention, I would also purge. But I've given those days up. That's also when I gained most of this weight. There's not much more to my history. I've been pretty healthy other than being overweight, and all that.

    I'll also open up my diary and start using it on here.
  • TRMite
    TRMite Posts: 60 Member
    when you use the diary here pay attention to the macros breakdown (percent of protein/carb/fat). You really need to make an effort to get more protein. and I agree 1200 could be okay (on nonexercise days) given your height (I am also short) but 1000 is a fair ammount lower. never go below 1200. I think you should try to add in more cardio/weight training AND maybe commit to weighing yourself less frequently. if you track your waist/hips/chest inches instead you might prevwnt yourself from getting discouraged. that helps me. and def followup with a doc/dietician. that sounds like a good plan.

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