Losing 2 pounds weekly

vikkiitoria
vikkiitoria Posts: 110 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have found out that to lose 2 pounds weekly I need to create a calorie deficit of 1000. I thought it was as simple as eating 500 calories less than usual, (1200 for me) and burning another 500 however this would be netting 700 calories. how do I create a 1000 calorie deficit then?

I'm 18 I weight 165 and I'm 5'8

Replies

  • nwarguy
    nwarguy Posts: 19
    Are you talking specifically about myfitnesspal? It automatically calculates that for you as you enter your exercises. For instance... I am to net 1200 a day. As soon as I enter that I exercised and burnt off 300 calories... I am allowed 1500 per the day. So, if you ate 1200, then entered that you burned 500... you only netted 700 and still need to eat 500.
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    Please step back, realize that you want to take things slowly and adjust to a 1 pound loss per week. If you take your time and do it slowly, then you're more likely to stick with it for the long run, and create some good habits that you can carry through for life.
  • vikkiitoria
    vikkiitoria Posts: 110 Member
    So if I am netting 1200, is that still creating a 1000 calorie deficit and will that be enough to burn 1.5-2 pounds weekly?
  • vikkiitoria
    vikkiitoria Posts: 110 Member
    But I thought 2 pounds weekly was doable and healthy?
  • nwarguy
    nwarguy Posts: 19
    Yes, b/c according to whatever information you entered, myfitnesspal put you at needing 2200 calories to stay at your current weight. So if you were to do absolutely nothing but ingest 1200 calories properly, it'll be 1-2 pounds per week. So when you start to exercise... you need to replace what you lost during exercise to make up 1200.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    But I thought 2 pounds weekly was doable and healthy?

    When you don't have a lot to lose weight comes off at a much slower rate.
    If you click the "My Home" tab
    Then click "Goal" at the top in white
    You will pull up a page that tells you how much of a deficit you're at and your projected weight loss. Meaning that if you net your goal, you will still have that deficit.
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    For your weight, it's going to be pretty difficult without dipping down to about 1000 calorie net. That's very likely to leave you feeling hungry and deprived.
  • nwarguy
    nwarguy Posts: 19
    And I completely agree with BeachIron. Vikk.. you and are about the same height and almost the same weight and it looks like our goals are similar. I'm at 1200 as well, projected to lose 1.9 per week. I just started myfitness pal but have been strict on my caloric intake for about two weeks... high protein and low carb but still getting my calories and it is brutal. I am hungry non-stop.
  • vikkiitoria
    vikkiitoria Posts: 110 Member
    Wow that really seemed to clear things up. I've been doing
    It all wrong! However I don't find 1200 calories a day all that, so whats the point of excercising and eating back all the calories when I could just be eating 1200 cal?
  • rachel4304
    rachel4304 Posts: 115 Member
    Wow that really seemed to clear things up. I've been doing
    It all wrong! However I don't find 1200 calories a day all that, so whats the point of excercising and eating back all the calories when I could just be eating 1200 cal?

    Cardio ---> heart health
    Weight lifting --> preserving lean body mass

    A lot of people really struggle on 1200 a day so they exercise to eat more.
  • vikkiitoria
    vikkiitoria Posts: 110 Member
    That makes sense. In my 'goals' though it
    says that with a goal of 1200 cals per day I have a daily calorie deficit of 980 and should have a weekly loss of 2 pounds. If I do it correctly this time do you think it will work out this way?
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    Honestly? No. Because I think you're being too ambitious. Ouch, right? Please don't take it that way. I'm not knocking you and I'm not trying to make you feel bad. I do just think that you should take baby steps and work to change slowly. Drop your calories by 500 and see if you lose weight over the course of the next month. Be very careful to weigh and measure your food, and to start a reasonable exercise program.
  • vikkiitoria
    vikkiitoria Posts: 110 Member
    I didn't take it the wrong way, I just needed some honesty and I finally got it! Thanks so much :flowerforyou:

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