What's really working for me is .....

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jaz050465
jaz050465 Posts: 3,508 Member
Adjusting my goals to just lose 0.5 pounds a week instead of a pound. This extra couple of hundred calories has meant im not having to greatly deprive myself so I'm no longer binging. Weight loss will be slow but at least I won't be up and down like a yo yo.
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  • mockchoc
    mockchoc Posts: 6,573 Member
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    Worked great for me! 1200 is no fun.
  • Amanda0926
    Amanda0926 Posts: 108 Member
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    I'm trying to convince myself to do the same thing. But, I'm scared of gaining back weight :/
  • jaz050465
    jaz050465 Posts: 3,508 Member
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    You can only try!!
  • violetcharms
    violetcharms Posts: 158 Member
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    I'm trying to convince myself to do the same thing. But, I'm scared of gaining back weight :/

    Hi Amanda,

    I was just like you.. afraid to push up my daily calorie intake, because I have always read, diet/ reduced calories = weight loss.

    However, the longer I have socialised and researched and learnt from my MFP mates/reliable health websites, I realised that it was NOT normal for me to feel as if im starving ALL day, EVERYDAY.

    Then came INSANITY, with it's ELITE Nutrition Plan, and it's guide to calculate my target daily calorie intake.

    I find that it really helps to calculate your BMR, TDEE, and then decide on a plan (weight loss, maintain weight, weight gain) to adjust your target daily calorie intake.

    I know that I am losing, although very very slowly.. but the changes physically is more impressive. Perhaps you might like to also keep track of your measurements rather than relying on a weighing scale, cause it really isn't a very accurate measure of your progress.

    Good luck with your journey to a fitter life =)
  • sarahslim100
    sarahslim100 Posts: 485 Member
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    I eat 1200 net and im not hungry. Ive chosen the lowest gi type of foods and full fat milk-theres a theory fat makes u geel full so u eat less. Pumpernickel bread is the most filling thing i eat. If im under 1200 net for the week i really dont lose. consistently losing 2 pound a week.
  • nadinewhitley
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    Im new and my goals say 1200 cals a day to lose 2lb a week, I dont think I can do this! I will be miserable and give up, if I adjust to 1 lb a week it says 1480 cals a day, this seems much more realistic for me!

    Should I eat back my exercise calories though??
  • jaz050465
    jaz050465 Posts: 3,508 Member
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    How much do you have to lose? B

    MFP is set up for you to eat your exercise calories. A lot depends in how accurate your measurement of them is. General opinion is MFP overestimates so lots of people eat back only half to allow for this. It's trial and error though.
    Good luck
  • nadinewhitley
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    I would like to lose 15 lbs ideally, thanks for the overestimate advise, I had no idea. Ill try eating back half and see what happens !
  • jaz050465
    jaz050465 Posts: 3,508 Member
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    MUCH harder when you don't have much to lose. Apparently a heart rate monitor is more accurate.
  • caseythirteen
    caseythirteen Posts: 956 Member
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    I'd be one miserable b!tch if I had to stick to 1200 calories a day. I would be starving and thinking of food constantly. I personally do the TDEE minus 10-15% method and don't tack exercise calories. I like how it's consistent from day to day and I don't have to think about it as much. I don't technically need to lose any weight but I do the deficit to balance out (somewhat) the weekends when I usually have a surplus.

    As for a HRM, love it! It's nice to know what it says for me personally. When I compare it to what MFP says, it's kind of close with cardio but off for strength training.
  • GoodGhost9
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    That is a good idea. What I do is keep my calorie goal at 1200 but if I go over, I don't beat myself up about it! There are some days where I'm just not that hungry and 1200 calories is fine. But other times, if my stomach is still growling at the end of the day, I don't deprive myself.
  • jaz050465
    jaz050465 Posts: 3,508 Member
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    I'd struggle on 1200. Probably psychological though.
  • jaz050465
    jaz050465 Posts: 3,508 Member
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    Are you losing? I'm not!!!
  • StrawberryThief
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    WORD.
    At the minute I'm not gyming but I'm starting again this week, and once I do I'm going to 1,500 calories, because anything less will just leave me hungry and cross!
  • squashyhelen
    squashyhelen Posts: 143 Member
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    I wish I can eat 1200 and not be hungry!! I'm now on my second week of the diet, eating 1350, and still feel like I'm starving (sometimes feeling cold even). I've read things that suggest your body finds it the hardest during those initial 2 weeks to adjust to decreased caloric amounts ... is that generally how you guys found it?
  • jaz050465
    jaz050465 Posts: 3,508 Member
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    1350 seems very low. Is that what MFP set for you. What did you set your activity level and weight loss to
  • squashyhelen
    squashyhelen Posts: 143 Member
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    I'm quite sedentary. Usually my day just involves sitting in front of a computer. I try to get exercise in, but at max it's 30 mins of cardio three times a week and either some walking around on the weekends or some Dance Central. I guess no pain no loss?
  • zinfull
    zinfull Posts: 5 Member
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    For the first 2 weeks I went over my calorie goal by a couple hundred calories. Don't worry about it!!!!
    It's more important to be aware of what your eating. It explained why I gained weight in the first place. After a couple weeks , after I changed my awful habits 1200 calories isn't a big deal. Some days I still go over but it averages out.
    Maybe I'm crazy but I've lost 5 lbs and I find exercise is easier as well.
  • SubtleSweet
    SubtleSweet Posts: 6 Member
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    I did low carb for about 6 week and was really really enjoying it. Eggs, bacon, cheese, yum! No calorie counting, and lots of meat and cheese. It was divine. I was rarely hungry because my blood sugar levels were so stable and I lost 13 lbs very quickly. The "induction" phase was even a pleasure. No starving feelings or anything! However, my energy levels were so low I felt like I was in a fog all day. At 3 I was absolutely ready to pass out, I was tired when I got home from work and even when I woke up in the mornings. I was getting about 20-30 net carbs a day. Has anyone else experienced this?

    I fell off the low carb band wagon and am afraid of getting back on because of the low energy. Still throwing the idea around, but I guess I'm counting calories in the mean time. Suggestions?
  • autumnwater
    autumnwater Posts: 449 Member
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    WORD.
    At the minute I'm not gyming but I'm starting again this week, and once I do I'm going to 1,500 calories, because anything less will just leave me hungry and cross!

    Agreed. I tried less than 1200 for a week. I was hungry! And my boyfriend complained that I was always in a bad mood. :P