Why Can Some Dieters Eat More?

soulfulsally
soulfulsally Posts: 326
in Health and Weight Loss
I see such a variety of calorie intakes here with people who are losing weight. For those of you who are eating 2,000 or more calories a day and still losing weight, what's your secret? What do you think you're doing that allows you to eat so much more than other dieters?
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Replies

  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    One way is if you are very large and don't choose the most drastic approach that you can find. Most people immediately jump on either choosing 2 lbs per week loss or manually set their budget to 1200 because they think it will make it all happen faster. A large, young man will have a calorie intake of well over 2,000 calories a day even at a deficit.
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    I see such a variety of calorie intakes here with people who are losing weight. For those of you who are eating 2,000 or more calories a day and still losing weight, what's your secret? What do you think you're doing that allows you to eat so much more than other dieters?

    Our secret is that we calculated our TDEE and took a 20% cut from that, instead of just relying on MFP numbers.
  • Koldnomore
    Koldnomore Posts: 1,613 Member
    They have likely/are likely doing 1 or more of the following:

    1. Researched the numbers, know their TDEE / BMRs
    2. Have a lot to lose
    3. Work out hard

    I have #1 & #2 - I'm at 1800, if I added #3 I would be well over 2k.
  • deb3129
    deb3129 Posts: 1,294 Member
    I think it depends on a lot of factors. Some people have higher metabolisms. Some have more weight to lose. Some are just naturally more active, and tend to move more and sit less. There are a ton of factors that effect how many calories. Oh, and age does as well!
  • ahamm002
    ahamm002 Posts: 1,690 Member
    Exercising! I lost most of my weight eating 3,000 cals per day.

    That said, don't assume that someone you see pigging out and losing weight is always eating the same way. That skinny guy you see stuffing his face at cheesecake factory may have only eaten broccoli and lettuce all day up until dinner time.
  • ToughTulip
    ToughTulip Posts: 1,118 Member
    I eat 2200 calories a day just to lose weight
    I'm 5ft3 and about 120 lbs

    There is no secret, I am just active.
    I am a full time student, I walk to class everyday, I have physical training in the am, and work after class.

    I don't sit in front of the TV or computer for hours, I am constantly moving or doing something.
    Only workouts I do are PT and lifting
  • ToughTulip
    ToughTulip Posts: 1,118 Member
    I see such a variety of calorie intakes here with people who are losing weight. For those of you who are eating 2,000 or more calories a day and still losing weight, what's your secret? What do you think you're doing that allows you to eat so much more than other dieters?

    Our secret is that we calculated our TDEE and took a 20% cut from that, instead of just relying on MFP numbers.

    And exactly this.
    Mfp says my TDEE is around 2k calories, when it is really 2700 most days.
    Not even close
  • Erienneb
    Erienneb Posts: 592 Member
    I just got my metabolism tested. So some info: I'm a 21 year old female who is 5'11'' and I have another 102lbs to lose. To lose 2lbs a week I can NET 1916 according to the testing I had done.

    I'm doing fairly well. I have mfp set to 1800 net for the day because I struggle to eat 1900 and I want to eat healthy, not eat just for the sake of eating. I struggle with finding the correct food still, but it's not an instant change. It's for the rest of my life so I'm not concerned with bad days or food that is considered wrong or unhealthy. Balance is the key.

    I'd say I'm doing well. In 50 days I've lost 25lbs.
  • kenazfehu
    kenazfehu Posts: 1,188 Member
    It doesn't take a lot of calories to fuel sitting at a computer all day every day; that's why I don't get many calories at baseline. I get a few more by exercising.
  • waldo56
    waldo56 Posts: 1,861 Member
    - It helps to not sit around all day doing nothing. Lots of exercise allows you to eat a lot more.

    - Not having overly aggressive goals. Not everyone has or should have a ZOMG MUST LOOZ NOW!!!! 2 lb/wk goal.

    - People who understand the value of full diet breaks and now allowing your metabolism to downward adapt.

    - People who strenght train hard. Low rep hard strength training has a significant calorie cost for recovery.

    - People who can calculate what their real calorie needs are and make rational calorie target decisions based on those needs.
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    I eat 2200 calories a day just to lose weight
    I'm 5ft3 and about 120 lbs

    There is no secret, I am just active.
    I am a full time student, I walk to class everyday, I have physical training in the am, and work after class.

    I don't sit in front of the TV or computer for hours, I am constantly moving or doing something.
    Only workouts I do are PT and lifting

    I adore you SUNSHINE! :)
  • waldo56
    waldo56 Posts: 1,861 Member
    I just got my metabolism tested. So some info: I'm a 21 year old female who is 5'11'' and I have another 102lbs to lose. To lose 2lbs a week I can NET 1916 according to the testing I had done.

    I'm doing fairly well. I have mfp set to 1800 net for the day because I struggle to eat 1900 and I want to eat healthy, not eat just for the sake of eating. I struggle with finding the correct food still, but it's not an instant change. It's for the rest of my life so I'm not concerned with bad days or food that is considered wrong or unhealthy. Balance is the key.

    I'd say I'm doing well. In 50 days I've lost 25lbs.

    According to your data though you are netting a 1750 cal/day deficit on average (25 lbs in 50 days).

    You aren't doing as well as you think, when you have your calorie targets right, you should lose at exactly the rate you beleive you have set. With a deficit that big you'll stall out and plateau sooner rather than later and lose a lot of LBM in the process.
  • sarahharmintx
    sarahharmintx Posts: 868 Member
    I stalled out at 1320 calories after losing about 40ish pounds. I researched the roadmap that some on here have had great success with. Now Im up at 1690 and the scale has started to move again. It took about 2ish weeks to adjust.
  • Chief_Rocka
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
    Bodyweight and activity level accounts for most of it
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Wizardry.
  • angiechimpanzee
    angiechimpanzee Posts: 536 Member
    They probably have more muscle mass = faster metabolisms. OR they're more active on a day to day basis, like they have a job that requires lots of walking or lifting. OR they just weigh more & are taller so they have higher calorie requirements.
  • DontStopB_Leakin
    DontStopB_Leakin Posts: 3,863 Member
    Wizardry.
    ^^^^^^^This. All this.
  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    I see such a variety of calorie intakes here with people who are losing weight. For those of you who are eating 2,000 or more calories a day and still losing weight, what's your secret? What do you think you're doing that allows you to eat so much more than other dieters?

    Exercise. I lose at 3100. Or Wizardry whichever.
  • mreuvers
    mreuvers Posts: 14 Member
    Because I'm 6'1" and a man. Short women definitely get the short end of the stick.
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    I lost most of my weight while training for endurance running events... so I would eat net 1600, which was about 2100 calories/day after my calorie burns were factored in. Now I'm running WAY less and pretty much maintaining on 2200 calories... but I'm still burning a little fat that's left. I'm getting leaner but the scale isn't changing. I'm 37 years old, 5'7" and weigh 160 lbs at about 25% BF.
  • twinmom01
    twinmom01 Posts: 854 Member
    There are soooooo many factors that go into weight loss

    1 - % of muscle to fat - if you have a lower body fat to muscle ratio you will burn more calories at rest - this is why you can have 2 people who weigh say 150 lbs...if one had a body fat % of 20% and another has a body fat % of 30% - the one at 20% can eat more and maintain or loose weight...

    2 - how your body responds and break down nutritional components - one of those - not the calorie but the fuel itself. Some people do very well with a balance of carbs, fats and protiens - others do better on a lower carb diet.

    3 - movement - if you expend a lot of calories you can eat more calories - the problem comes into that some people dont' accurately calculate the calories burned. I have a friend who bragged she burned 400 calories at the gym...until i pointed she drank almost a half gallon of sweet tea as she was working out - she told me it was tea and didn't have any calories - I had to tell her to read the nutritional label (100 calories per 8 ounces)...she didn't burn jack....and I watched her work out - there is no way she burned 400 calories

    4 - if you are quite overweight your body needs more calories on a daily basis to function - this is why it is better to eat more the more you have to loose...then you adjust as you loose weight.

    There are so many different factors you really have to sort of try a few different things and see if it works for you...and by try I mean do something for at least 30 days to evaluate if it is working for you... I am constantly amazed at people who try something for a week and then say "oh it doesn't work for me"
  • petiteLady89
    petiteLady89 Posts: 198 Member
    EXERCISE! Especially strength.
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    Higher activity level.
  • missytrishy
    missytrishy Posts: 203 Member
    They exercise more, have built more muscle mass or are 7 ft. tall?
  • missytrishy
    missytrishy Posts: 203 Member
    Because I'm 6'1" and a man. Short women definitely get the short end of the stick.

    I see what you did there :laugh: :wink:
  • VorJoshigan
    VorJoshigan Posts: 1,106 Member
    Because life sucks and is unfair.
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    Genetics, amount of lean body mass, and activity level
  • FitGirl329
    FitGirl329 Posts: 103 Member
    When I joined MFP, it set me at 1200 calories. I'm 5'5" and was 133...Not a lot to lose but my clothes were snug. I was hungry all the time on MFP's calorie allotment. Then I found Dan's roadmap. I set MFP to 1500. But I know I can eat up to 1800 and maybe more now that I've cleaned up my diet and am eating every 2-3 hours at a ratio of 40-30-30 and strength training as well as adding in HIIT workouts 3x a week. I've steadily lost even when I've gone over and even during weeks where I've only worked out 3x without major cardio. My 37 year-old post-two-kids metabolism is working really well because of lifestyle changes I've chosen for myself to become more fit. I'm almost 10 pounds down and am seeing really good things!
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    I see such a variety of calorie intakes here with people who are losing weight. For those of you who are eating 2,000 or more calories a day and still losing weight, what's your secret? What do you think you're doing that allows you to eat so much more than other dieters?

    A lot of people have opted to lose their weight at a slow pace so they are not eating in such a restricted deficit. Other people maybe doing strenuous workouts that burn a ton of calories which allows them to eat more as well. And then there is the 20% less your TDEE method which will generally give you more calories to work with than MFP.
  • Erienneb
    Erienneb Posts: 592 Member
    I just got my metabolism tested. So some info: I'm a 21 year old female who is 5'11'' and I have another 102lbs to lose. To lose 2lbs a week I can NET 1916 according to the testing I had done.

    I'm doing fairly well. I have mfp set to 1800 net for the day because I struggle to eat 1900 and I want to eat healthy, not eat just for the sake of eating. I struggle with finding the correct food still, but it's not an instant change. It's for the rest of my life so I'm not concerned with bad days or food that is considered wrong or unhealthy. Balance is the key.

    I'd say I'm doing well. In 50 days I've lost 25lbs.

    According to your data though you are netting a 1750 cal/day deficit on average (25 lbs in 50 days).

    You aren't doing as well as you think, when you have your calorie targets right, you should lose at exactly the rate you beleive you have set. With a deficit that big you'll stall out and plateau sooner rather than later and lose a lot of LBM in the process.

    I know I will stall. I constantly adjust. I look at it week over week so I know where I'm struggling and set mini goals for myself to make it easier. I can't go from being unhealthy to being perfect instantly.

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