Exercise Enough?

RosyBest
RosyBest Posts: 303 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi everyone,

For the last 2 months I have really been in "health mode" and turning over a new leaf in my life. My sister died from gastric bypass and I want to lose weight, but naturally. Being successful at this is very important to me for several reasons. So, For the last month or so I have eaten 1,600 cals/ day and exercised about 45 mins / day. I have lost over 10lbs and 29 inches all over..WooHoo:drinker: Now it has been a month I have maintained that 10+ lbs loss and nothing more.

This week I started eating 1,500 cals/ day...still nothing so far. What''s going on? I don't want to cut my food anymore. Am I exercising enough? The weight should be falling off of me. I am 417lbs, I do Zumba, Biggest Loser w/ Jillian Micheals, arm weights, squats, etc. I am really getting pissed actually. Anyone know something that I don't?

Replies

  • nolanerinbryon
    nolanerinbryon Posts: 80 Member
    I'm sorry you're frustrated - I understand plateaus as I just had one... it may be that you're not eating enough? Check this out - I have found it very helpful and I think you will too: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/931670-bmr-and-tdee-explained-for-those-needing-a-guide
  • WakkoW
    WakkoW Posts: 567 Member
    Sorry about your sister.

    Are you weighing your food? People who estimate their food or use measuring cups to measure their food tend to underestimate how much they are eating.
  • RosyBest
    RosyBest Posts: 303 Member
    Thanks. No I am not weighing my food...I just monitor my calories.
  • RosyBest
    RosyBest Posts: 303 Member
    I'm sorry you're frustrated - I understand plateaus as I just had one... it may be that you're not eating enough? Check this out - I have found it very helpful and I think you will too: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/931670-bmr-and-tdee-explained-for-those-needing-a-guide

    Ok I will check it out...thanks.
  • RosyBest
    RosyBest Posts: 303 Member
    Thanks, I have it figured out. The 1500 cal/ day is fine and I will increase my workouts and see how my body will respond. It took all day..but now I feel better :)
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    I don't know how tall you are, but if you are 417 lbs and 29 years old, if you are between 5'0" and 5'7" your BMR is between 2550 and 2650 calories daily. If you are exercising 45 minutes every day at a moderate intensity, you are burning between 3900 and 4100 calories daily (the variance is calculated at both 5'0" height and 5'7" height; if you are taller, you burn even more).

    You should be eating about 2900 calories daily every day without adding calories back. You will be able to lose about 2 lbs a week doing that. As you lose more and get closer to goal, you re-evaluate and will need to eat less, but if you start with less, you'll have nowhere to go as you plateau.

    Start with more... go as far as you can on that. Then reduce caloric intake and increase exercise as needed.

    Here's the calculator I use: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
  • RosyBest
    RosyBest Posts: 303 Member
    Thanks, I am 5'11 and my BMR is 2660. Even though I have no intention of eating that many calories a day, I will not shy too far away from food. I like it way too much. Thanks for the info :)
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    Thanks. No I am not weighing my food...I just monitor my calories.
    If you don't weigh your food you cannot be sure that your calories consumed are correct. Weighing your food should be the first step and is the cornerstone of any weightloss program. My guess is that what you think you are consuming is very different to what your actually eating as at your weight if you're actually on the calories you say you are the weight would be falling off you.
  • meerkat70
    meerkat70 Posts: 4,605 Member
    I agree about weighing food. It is incredible how wrong estimates can be, and consistently being off by an ounce or two on fats, dairy, meatand carbs will rapidly add up. Fix that first, try it for a bit, and see how it goes.

    1500 isn't a lot, but with a lot to lose, that shouldn't be stalling losses yet.
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    Thanks, I am 5'11 and my BMR is 2660. Even though I have no intention of eating that many calories a day, I will not shy too far away from food. I like it way too much. Thanks for the info :)

    Why do you have no intention of eating that many in a day? Why do you believe that would be wrong?

    I eat around that many in a day and I'm 5'7", 38 years old and at a healthy weight and body fat. If you eat that much now, you'll be able to eat that much when you get to your goal weight, which is way better than training your body to burn only 1500 calories in a day. Inevitably, when you go over those 1500, it will all be stored as fat. Train your body to bur 2600 daily and you're laughing... but since weight loss will plateau, start with 2900, when you plateau, go to 2800... then 2700 and by 2600 you could be at goal weight.
  • SoMotivated
    SoMotivated Posts: 11 Member
    Rosie, I am so sorry to hear about your sister... It seems like evryone at my JOb has gotten one surgery or another.

    I ve been dieting for as long as I remember, I remember going on every diet in high school to lose weight from grapefruit to the cabbage.. I think that we're in the same boat.. I found that losing weight is extrememly hard and take a lot of patience, frustration and persistance so getting pissed off is sometimes a good thing... My scales dont budge for 3 weeks sometimes and I get discouraged and the next thing I know its moving again... My highest weight was 378 and I just broke the 300 after a year and a half and having a baby...

    I dont hvae enough rhythm to do zumba LOL, but I find that I do better in a class setting, I found a womens boot camp, not a big one and the pounds just started coming off, I think it was switching up the routine. Buddying with someone works well for me , although in my case they always backslide :( ..... I you like you can give me a call sometime and we can exchange tips and motivate each other... I am praying for you, I have complete faith in you! We are going to do this!!!! Oh and dont think I lose 3 pounds at a time lol my scale yo-yo's so I dont record until Ive had the same weight loss for at least a week... I go up and down waaay too much. I love you girl and you are doing great!
  • RosyBest
    RosyBest Posts: 303 Member
    Thanks, I am 5'11 and my BMR is 2660. Even though I have no intention of eating that many calories a day, I will not shy too far away from food. I like it way too much. Thanks for the info :)

    Why do you have no intention of eating that many in a day? Why do you believe that would be wrong?

    I eat around that many in a day and I'm 5'7", 38 years old and at a healthy weight and body fat. If you eat that much now, you'll be able to eat that much when you get to your goal weight, which is way better than training your body to burn only 1500 calories in a day. Inevitably, when you go over those 1500, it will all be stored as fat. Train your body to bur 2600 daily and you're laughing... but since weight loss will plateau, start with 2900, when you plateau, go to 2800... then 2700 and by 2600 you could be at goal weight.

    When I first started MFP I ate that amount for about the first 3-4 months...nothing. It just seemed like extra consumption. I even started gaining weight (wrong direction). I do understand what you are saying though...thanks :)
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    1) weigh your food. Most people who don't weigh/measure end up being way off with their calorie estimates.

    2) adjust your expectations. You lost 10lbs in a month, lost nothing this week and suddenly something is "wrong"? Weigh loss isn't linear. You just need to be more patient.

    3) using diet for weight loss and exercise for health will simply things for you. Most people who exercise to lose weight inevitably run into problems.
  • bugtaylor
    bugtaylor Posts: 77 Member
    The race doesn't go to the swift nor to the strong but to the one who endures.
  • RosyBest
    RosyBest Posts: 303 Member
    The race doesn't go to the swift nor to the strong but to the one who endures.

    Amen to that!
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    When I first started MFP I ate that amount for about the first 3-4 months...nothing. It just seemed like extra consumption. I even started gaining weight (wrong direction). I do understand what you are saying though...thanks :)

    If you weren't weighing your food, you can't know that.

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