If only I had known...

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  • roxbox2013
    roxbox2013 Posts: 95 Member
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    I feel like the Debbie Downer here, but this hasn't been the case in my personal experience. I began by eating what I wanted, when I wanted, and just exercised on top of that. I gained weight. I then was eating about 1500-2000 calories a day, netting at about 1000. Still gained weight. Then I started eating no more than 1400 calories, netting under 500. Still gained. The only way I've ever been able to lose weight is by heavily restricting. I lose best eating about 500 calories a day or less with 60-90 min of exercise a day on top of this. I'm aware this probably isn't the healthiest way, but what about when the "healthy" methods don't work?
  • s50s
    s50s Posts: 138 Member
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    YES

    OMG! Your post got the queen of "No" to say yes. When I get to a computer, I'm going to have to read your post. It has to be fantastic or crank wouldn't have pposted a link in her newsfeed.

    Just read it. OP, you are awesome. This should be read by every resolutionist noob on this site. It will save a lot of my friends from getting strikes when they are reported for being "mean" and "bullying" those people who post the "Eating 900 calories and still can't lose" posts. Slow down people. Do it right. You didn't get fat in a month. You shouldn't tryto get thin in a month either.

    Very well said. I always want to tell people when I read there food diary (under 1200 calories) WHAT are you doing? No one can live forever eating that way. I want this to be a way of life. Something I can maintain.
  • Sjenny5891
    Sjenny5891 Posts: 717 Member
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    i wish you had posted it on a Monday morning...we all need to bump this monday!

    Copy and paste it to all your groups! There is a reason why MFP yells at you whenever you finish the day under 1200 calories. I only wish this was addressed in health class instead of Sex Ed in 5th grade.
  • crowunruh
    crowunruh Posts: 246 Member
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    Great post! I feel the same way. I think this is why so many people yo-yo. You have to do something you can live with. I love food, if I didn't I probably wouldn't have been overweight. I don't like eating only 1200 calories a day. I still lose 1-2 pounds a week eating around 1500 calories a day and about 1800-1900 on the weekends. There are days I am in the negative and its ok! I know that the next day I will be right back at it. I don't deprive myself of any certain foods. I eat chocolate every day. I just listen to my body more and I workout. Its pretty simple. There is no need to starve yourself and then give up because your hungry and its too hard. This is what I have found works for me. I know there are lots of people that can eat 1200 and be just fine with that. Everyone has to figure it out for themselves. But I also wish someone would have told me this years ago.
  • love22step
    love22step Posts: 1,103 Member
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    Good post. I pray it gets a lot of reads from those who need to see it.
  • taeliesyn
    taeliesyn Posts: 1,116 Member
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    I feel like the Debbie Downer here, but this hasn't been the case in my personal experience. I began by eating what I wanted, when I wanted, and just exercised on top of that. I gained weight. I then was eating about 1500-2000 calories a day, netting at about 1000. Still gained weight. Then I started eating no more than 1400 calories, netting under 500. Still gained. The only way I've ever been able to lose weight is by heavily restricting. I lose best eating about 500 calories a day or less with 60-90 min of exercise a day on top of this. I'm aware this probably isn't the healthiest way, but what about when the "healthy" methods don't work?

    If your numbers are accurate and that's the only way you lose weight, go see a doctor & a nutritionist and possibly several other specialists as something isn't right with your body.
  • Sjenny5891
    Sjenny5891 Posts: 717 Member
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    I feel like the Debbie Downer here, but this hasn't been the case in my personal experience. I began by eating what I wanted, when I wanted, and just exercised on top of that. I gained weight. I then was eating about 1500-2000 calories a day, netting at about 1000. Still gained weight. Then I started eating no more than 1400 calories, netting under 500. Still gained. The only way I've ever been able to lose weight is by heavily restricting. I lose best eating about 500 calories a day or less with 60-90 min of exercise a day on top of this. I'm aware this probably isn't the healthiest way, but what about when the "healthy" methods don't work?

    Rox... I fear it only works for you becausse it is what your body is used to. You would probably have to eat more for a couple of months before your body adjusts. Have you tried adding 50 calories a day or so every couple of weeks or so to see how you adjust insteat of going with that 700 calorie a day jump?
  • roxbox2013
    roxbox2013 Posts: 95 Member
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    If your numbers are accurate and that's the only way you lose weight, go see a doctor & a nutritionist and possibly several other specialists as something isn't right with your body.

    I think every body has a weight that it naturally likes to "sit" at whenever they eat healthy and exercise regularly. Mine is about 115 lbs. I'm not too keen on that number, and therefore refuse to maintain at that weight. I also have thyroid issues, which has always hindered my weight loss.
  • roxbox2013
    roxbox2013 Posts: 95 Member
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    Rox... I fear it only works for you becausse it is what your body is used to. You would probably have to eat more for a couple of months before your body adjusts. Have you tried adding 50 calories a day or so every couple of weeks or so to see how you adjust insteat of going with that 700 calorie a day jump?

    I've never tried slowly increasing/decreasing calories. I generally did what I listed for about a month or so and after seeing no improvement, I'd change my tactics.
  • Abi_bug04
    Abi_bug04 Posts: 220
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    Thanks for this post! I have been eating around 1700-1800 calories for the past couple of weeks...and have been struggling to lose weight. I had been doubting this entire strategy, but after reading this, I am re-convinced that this will eventually work out for me.

    Now I just need to hide my scale for a month, to keep my sanity...

    :)
  • onyxgirl17
    onyxgirl17 Posts: 1,721 Member
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    curiosity... you said you gained on an amount that normal people eat. You said now you can eat 1800-2000 at maintenance. Isn't that normal? How did you go from gaining weight at a normal amount to maintaining at what I assume to be a similar "normal" amount. I'm curious because my TDEE is pretty low ~1750 (I'm sedentary though).
  • carlysuzanne85
    carlysuzanne85 Posts: 204 Member
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    Wonderful post! I recently upped my calories after calculating my TDEE and am so much happier and healthier! I want to set myself up for success with maintenance and be able to enjoy the journey along the way :)
  • aliciagetshealthy
    aliciagetshealthy Posts: 946 Member
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    i wish you had posted it on a Monday morning...we all need to bump this monday!



    Just because this required a Monday bump =)
  • megsmom2
    megsmom2 Posts: 2,362 Member
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    Well...something is obviously wrong here...this post was far too sensible, honest, and practical. Seriously, though, kudos to the Op. I wish all the undereaters would read that and think about it. Life is to be enjoyed. Foo_d is good, and good for you. Don't slog through your life...dance through it! Don't wait "until". Yes, make healthy changes...but don't punish yourself!
  • ms_tris
    ms_tris Posts: 82 Member
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    curiosity... you said you gained on an amount that normal people eat. You said now you can eat 1800-2000 at maintenance. Isn't that normal? How did you go from gaining weight at a normal amount to maintaining at what I assume to be a similar "normal" amount. I'm curious because my TDEE is pretty low ~1750 (I'm sedentary though).

    After going months on end eating really low and exercising hard, when I would eat 1800-2000 a day, the weight would come back on because my body was used to functioning on so much less. I'm not a doctor or anything, but I assume it was also a "feast" to my "famine-mode" body, so my body decided to store all it could. Plus, after being hungry for so long, it was hard not to eat the "bad stuff" I had been depriving myself of for months. I probably had days where I ate over 2000 calories, and I think that could have been because of the months of deprivation, too. Again, the body is a tricky thing.
    As for now, I am not "maintaining" yet. I still have 25+ pounds to lose. I just feel that if I continue on the path I'm on (choosing healthier options much of the time, eating as many calories as I can to lose about 1 lb a week, exercising for my state of mind, to improve my body composition, and to improve my cardiovascular system), when I reach my goal weight, I should be able to easily eat more every day (1800? 2000? 2200?) depending on my activity and not gain weight.
    I think trying not to be too "sedentary" has helped me, too. I use my fitibit to keep me moving and I use a HRM to log actual hard-core exercise. I will probably log my food intake for the rest of my life for accountability.
    Hope this clarifies.
  • fungirl1234
    fungirl1234 Posts: 13
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    Well said!!
  • NoleGirl0918
    NoleGirl0918 Posts: 213 Member
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    BUMP FOR LATER
  • JenNuma
    JenNuma Posts: 52 Member
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    Bump for later!

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