Hi everyone. . .

siouxsieq
siouxsieq Posts: 3
edited September 21 in Introduce Yourself
I'm new here :) I'm 39 years old and a busy Mum. For a long time I seem to have forgotten about myself having been busy taking care of the kids. I need to lose approx 100lbs to get to a healthy BMI but I find things confusing when dieting - for example do you eat all or any of your exercise cals? Are the cals burned on here accurate? I have used some other sites previous to this and all they all tell you different things :( So this where I get confused lol! Am hoping to purchase kettle worx dvds and kettle bell to help tone me etc - does anyone have experience working out this way?
I'm a huge fan of Biggest Loser - all of them whether UK,USA or Oz and you would think by now I would know what to do wouldn't you? Well I try really I do I just need a little kick now and again ha ha ha
Feel free to add me as a friend or kick if I need it :)

Replies

  • mykaar74
    mykaar74 Posts: 253
    welcome, and you have taken the first step which is the most important. i'm am only 2 weeks new but the experience I have had so far is sooooooo positive. The people on here are inspiring, motivating, and appear to be sincere with their encouragement. Eventhough you earn extra calories for working out, I personally don't eat them, I just stick to my normal 1590 without exercise. As far as the workout I am a runner personally, and I find that on the site alot of people are into the C25k plan, which you can google. I wish you the best of luck on your journey, and if I can be of any support please reach out. As I said, you have already made the biggest step in the process & that is reaching out, and realizing you need to make a change, and you need support. CONGRATS
  • frankborelli
    frankborelli Posts: 218 Member
    I there siouxsieq;

    It's been my experience that the calories "given" here on MFP might be a little generous. Depending on the exercise being done, the numbers I get here are anywhere from 10% to 35% more than what I get using a heart monitor or on cardio machines that have more advanced formulas built into their software. That said, consider the actual impact: if you exercise 800 calories worth and the site gives you 1,000 calorie credits, you're off by 200. Is that a big deal? Well, to equal a one pound inaccuracy, that would have to be a 200 calorie mistake each day for 18 days in a row.

    Having been at this on and off for over a year now what I've chosen to do is always take about 75% of the MFP calories if another, more conservative, calorie credit tool isn't available. When I get on the elliptical at my gym I use those calories because I've researched that machine and I know that when it calculates my calorie burn it takes into consideration my age, weight, heart rate (monitored regularly), etc.

    In answer to your question about eating calories: that's your choice. I usually do eat at least some of them. When you first set up your goals the system should have asked you for your current weight, goal weight and what rate you want to lose at (1 pound, 1.5 pounds, 2 pounds per week, etc). Then the system recommended a calorie standard for you each day based on that projected desired loss. If you want to lose a pound each week the system should have shorted you 500 calories per day. If you don't exercise at all but stay under your calorie limit you should lose weight. If you exercise to burn extra calories and eat only what you've exercised (or less) in addition to your allotted, then you'll lose weight.

    I'm not familiar with the kettle bell workouts, but if they're considered strength training I'm not sure the system gives you calorie credit for them anyway.

    Above all remember this: it's a marathon, not a sprint. Fast losses will most likely equate to fast regains after a certain time frame. Take your time; make the necessary life style adjustments; be patient and watch the weight loss across time. Those folks on the Biggest Loser television show have a hard-core personal trainer, nutritionists and lots of time to invest in weight loss. It's very dramatic but has no applicability in the real world. We all have lives to lead; responsibilities to meet; and few of us can afford a personal trainer and nutritionist to help us every day.

    Good luck with reaching your goals. Stay disciplined and work hard and enjoy the results!
  • sutehi
    sutehi Posts: 36 Member
    Hi Siouxsieq! Welcome to MFP ^_^ You've made a really strong first step in signing up here. The community really is fantastic, and you'll find lots of friends to give you lots of support.
    I'm also trying to lose about 100lb, so feel free to add me as a friend if you like. (My tracker says less, because I'm chunking it up into "more manageable" goals.)
    Regarding exercise calories -- If its less than 400 calories, I try not to eat them. If I've done an intense workout, however, I figure my body will need the boast. Of course, "try" is the operative word! If I'm having a "cheat day" (i.e., out drinking with friends) I aim to splurge only with the exercise calories I earned that day. Last night, for instance. I went out and was able to have a few glasses of wine (on top of my daily calories) thanks to the hour of cardio I did in the afternoon.
    My recommendation is to try not eating them, and then see if you still feel hungry. If you are, go ahead and eat them.
    The number of calories you actually burn doing anything (even just breathing) depends on a number of factors, including your metabolism, so take those numbers with a grain of salt. Some people use a heart rate monitor when exercising, which apparently gives you a more accurate number.
    Good luck!
  • tn2010
    tn2010 Posts: 228 Member
    I usually eat all or most of my exercise calories as the deficit has already been worked into your caloric intake by MFP. However, I'm only set to lose 1 lb. a week, so if I eat fewer of my exercise calories, it only helps me. MFP will tell you if you're eating too few calories (thus being in danger of starvation mode). If you are someone who would benefit from a laid-out diet plan, I would suggest trying a BL diet or South Beach, or another doctor recommended food plan. I've done SB in the past and it really helped me understand what healthy foods are...now I know and I can plan my own meals accordingly. I wouldn't suggest doing any sort of meal replacement diets because you are working to educate yourself on how to eat the best foods for your body. I'll send a friend request your way...good luck! :smile:
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