How Motivating, MPF! (sarcasm) HELP
healthyndskinny
Posts: 5
I set my goal for 1 pound per week (I want to lose 20 pounds), and mpg gives me a net of 1200 and says "Following this plan, you should lose .5 lbs a week and lose 2.5 lbs by August 18th." What gives? I think I'm gonna cry at this rate.. Is there any way I can accelerate this?
The problem is don't you think 2.5 pounds in 5 weeks is a bit slow...
The problem is don't you think 2.5 pounds in 5 weeks is a bit slow...
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Replies
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Search the boards for the "guide to sexypants" that should help.
1200 was too hard for me. I'm on 1300 now, and doing better. My best to ya!0 -
I set my goal for 1 pound per week (I want to lose 20 pounds), and mpg gives me a net of 1200 and says "Following this plan, you should lose .5 lbs a week and lose 2.5 lbs by August 18th." What gives? I think I'm gonna cry at this rate.. Is there any way I can accelerate this?
The problem is don't you think 2.5 pounds in 5 weeks is a bit slow...
With not much to lose, set it at 0.5 instead of 1 pound. If you want to see sustainable changes, acceleration is not the route, patience is…
Read the first two stickies in this section of the forum. (the ones with the red pin next to them)0 -
I set my goal for 1 pound per week (I want to lose 20 pounds), and mpg gives me a net of 1200 and says "Following this plan, you should lose .5 lbs a week and lose 2.5 lbs by August 18th." What gives? I think I'm gonna cry at this rate.. Is there any way I can accelerate this?
The problem is don't you think 2.5 pounds in 5 weeks is a bit slow...
1200 is the lowest calorie goal that MFP will set anyone to. That's based on recommended minimums for sedentary women to ensure you're getting enought vitamins, minerals, protein, fat, etc. into your diet. The less you eat the harder it is to get good nutrition.
Without knowing anything about your stats, goals, or exercise patterns it's hard to say what you might do differently. Have you tried MFP's recommendations yet to see what happens?0 -
I set my goal for 1 pound per week (I want to lose 20 pounds), and mpg gives me a net of 1200 and says "Following this plan, you should lose .5 lbs a week and lose 2.5 lbs by August 18th." What gives? I think I'm gonna cry at this rate.. Is there any way I can accelerate this?
The problem is don't you think 2.5 pounds in 5 weeks is a bit slow...
With not much to lose, set it at 0.5 instead of 1 pound. If you want to see sustainable changes, acceleration is not the route, patience is…
Read the first two stickies in this section of the forum. (the ones with the red pin next to them)
^Also, this is really good advice.0 -
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
Here it is. Following this will help you get started in the right direction.
Cindy0 -
Listen- your body will adjust that all by itself. Work out hard for an hour a day- cardio mostly and some weight training.
Log ALL of your food- try and hit around 95 grams of protein. Lots and lots of vegetables, whole grains only (no bread no rice). Hard boiled eggs...Don't go under what they have told you 1200 cals or your body's metabolism will shut down. I have a budget of 1390 and I have lost 7 lbs since last Tuesday. Probably because when I work out for the hour, hour and fifteen minutes I push it-
really sweat...Exercise is the great equalize.
I have more to loose than you- I need to loose 50 lbs-
It will not come off quite so quickly for me later when I have 30-20 to go. Point is don't be negative do the right things and it will happen Way Quicker than that... Slower is better though long term they are right about that.
Take what is offered and make your own adjustments, they just want you to be healthy about it.0 -
Eh that's not so bad. I've just lowered my deficit to 700 calories p/week to try and avoid binging. Which means I'll lose 1 pound a month. :ohwell:0
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Unless you're on a deadline - having to fit into a bridesmaid's dress, etc. - enjoy taking it slow, What you really want to do is change your habits for the long term and improve your health. I think they say it takes about 6 weeks to change a habit. If you can just get into the habit of making better choices and tracking what you eat for six weeks, you'll be doing yourself a great favor. As someone who's gained/lost/regained tons of weight over the years, I can promise you that developing good habits is the way to go. Weight loss will follow at its own pace.0
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Don't go under what they have told you 1200 cals or your body's metabolism will shut down.
:noway: One's metabolism does not shut down. It slows down, and can be sped up again. If your metabolism shuts down you are dead.0 -
Listen- your body will adjust that all by itself. Work out hard for an hour a day- cardio mostly and some weight training.
Log ALL of your food- try and hit around 95 grams of protein. Lots and lots of vegetables, whole grains only (no bread no rice). Hard boiled eggs...Don't go under what they have told you 1200 cals or your body's metabolism will shut down. I have a budget of 1390 and I have lost 7 lbs since last Tuesday. Probably because when I work out for the hour, hour and fifteen minutes I push it-
really sweat...Exercise is the great equalize.
I have more to loose than you- I need to loose 50 lbs-
It will not come off quite so quickly for me later when I have 30-20 to go. Point is don't be negative do the right things and it will happen Way Quicker than that... Slower is better though long term they are right about that.
Take what is offered and make your own adjustments, they just want you to be healthy about it.
thank you
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As others have said, slow and steady really does win the race. Additionally, see if you can find a way to be more active. The more calories you burn in a day, the more you can eat! I personally would never be satiated at 1200 calories a day, so that wouldn't be sustainable for me. Even better, certain kinds of exercise really change your body shape and tone you as you lose weight, so you look better as the pounds come off.0
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MFP tells me that I will lose 0.9lb a week at 1200 or 0.7 if I have it at 1300 - I have lost so far (weekly) : 3lb, 3lb (gained 0.5 but that was a week not logging for a holiday) 3.8 and yesterday another 2.2. I started with 48lb to lose. I eat back all (or almost all) my exercise calories.
You never know, you're loss may be quicker than the website tells you, but definitely don't go lower than 1200, and remember- slow and steady wins the race - and makes keeping it off more likely!0 -
Agreed. But even if you exercise, if I those calories back, I'm back at 12000
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Agreed. But even if you exercise, if I those calories back, I'm back at 1200
i meant to quote this to someone. oops0 -
I started at 1,200, but it was too difficult to maintain. I now have my goal set at 1,400, and I exercise everyday, which puts me back down around 1,200.0
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I started at 1,200, but it was too difficult to maintain. I now have my goal set at 1,400, and I exercise everyday, which puts me back down around 1,200.
has this been effective for you for losing weight? How long have you been eating 1400?0 -
Listen- your body will adjust that all by itself. Work out hard for an hour a day- cardio mostly and some weight training.
Log ALL of your food- try and hit around 95 grams of protein. Lots and lots of vegetables, whole grains only (no bread no rice). Hard boiled eggs...Don't go under what they have told you 1200 cals or your body's metabolism will shut down. I have a budget of 1390 and I have lost 7 lbs since last Tuesday. Probably because when I work out for the hour, hour and fifteen minutes I push it-
really sweat...Exercise is the great equalize.
I have more to loose than you- I need to loose 50 lbs-
It will not come off quite so quickly for me later when I have 30-20 to go. Point is don't be negative do the right things and it will happen Way Quicker than that... Slower is better though long term they are right about that.
Take what is offered and make your own adjustments, they just want you to be healthy about it.
Why no bread and rice?
Countries with the highest carbohydrate intakes—Japan, China, Thailand, and other Asian countries—have the lowest obesity rates. These countries base their diets mainly on rice, noodles, and vegetables. They consume relatively little meat, dairy products...in other words...lower protein and higher carbs.
Don't get me wrong...I don't eat high carb but I also don't avoid them.
Why hard boiled eggs? I love them but I also love them fried...scrambled. They have seventy calories no matter how you cook them. If you use a spray oil you are only adding a few calories.0 -
My advice to you:
Just try it with MFP's recommendations. You do understand that MFP expects you to eat 1200+ exercise calories, right?
And as far as exercise calories goes, it is generally recommended to eat only 50-75% of them back anyway. Why? Because MFP and exercise machines tend to overestimate calorie burns for the vast majority of people.
You also might want to consider getting a food scale. It will help you get a better idea of what a real portion size is and make your food logging slightly more accurate. The true serving sizes of some foods can be rather disappointing, but there are also some that can be larger than expected.
Another thing you should keep in mind: Weight isn't everything
I'm 100% serious in this statement. It is possible to lose inches (which isn't that what we all want, to fit into smaller clothes) and not lose a lot of weight. There are women who use this site who have started lifting weights, gained a bit of weight, and ended up in smaller clothing.
Weight – So many things can affect weight, because of this it shouldn’t be the only way you track your progress. Things to keep in mind:
:drinker: Always use the same scale – Different scales can show different weights. You will get the most accurate number for tracking when using the same scale.
:drinker: Don’t move the scale – Carpet, uneven flooring, different types of flooring…can all affect the weight on the scale. So when you weigh, you want it to be approximately the same spot for the most accurate number for tracking.
:drinker: 3500 calories – To gain 1lb of fat you need to be over maintenance by 3500 calories.
:drinker: Muscle Repair – Muscles will hold onto water to repair, because of this it is not uncommon to see a gain for a little while after a workout. This weight comes right back off when they are done repairing.
:drinker: Sodium – Can cause you to retain water. This can also be amplified if you don’t drink enough to flush it out of your system. This is also another reason for temporary weight gain.
:drinker: Water – Not drinking enough water can actually cause you to retain water. Recommended amount is 8 cups or 64oz. I drink 64 oz to 128 oz of water a day. It doesn’t have to be plain water either. I like to flavor mine with crystal light or tea.
:drinker: Time of day – Your weight can fluctuate throughout the day. So for the most accurate tracking, you want to weigh at around the same time.
:drinker: Frequency – This is up to you, but if small fluctuations bother you than only weigh once a week or less.
:drinker: Lightest Weight – Will be naked, first thing in the morning, after using the bathroom
:drinker: Multiple times a Day – Don’t Do It. As I said before, your weight will fluctuate throughout the day. What you eat, what you’re wearing, ect will all affect weight.
:drinker: Clothes – If you weigh with clothing on, keep in mind that the scale will show your weight plus the weight of your clothes. (Jeans are heavy)
:drinker: TOM - A lot of women will retain water around their TOM, but its just temporary and will go away.
Take measurements. Even if the scale doesn't seem to be going in the right direction, if your measurements are going down than you are losing fat and making progress.
In terms of exercise: I suggest both cardio and some sort of strength training.
You don't have to go all out on the strength training with heavy weights if you don't want to. Just doing exercises with body weight, resistance bands or low weight dumbbells will be beneficial. It will help you maintain lean body mass (your existing muscles) and give you a leaner look. The more muscle you have, the more calories you will burn in a day so you want to keep as much as possible. Oh and don't worry, it takes a lot of effort for women to put on muscle, so you aren't going to bulk up like a man without some serious effort.
Cardio is great too. It is good for heart health, endurance, and will help burn some extra calories.
Goodluck
***edit: I love bread and rice. I also love oreos and poptarts. The weight lost on my ticker was while eating all of them. I just made sure they fit into my calorie goals.0 -
My advice to you:
Just try it with MFP's recommendations. You do understand that MFP expects you to eat 1200+ exercise calories, right?
And as far as exercise calories goes, it is generally recommended to eat only 50-75% of them back anyway. Why? Because MFP and exercise machines tend to overestimate calorie burns for the vast majority of people.
You also might want to consider getting a food scale. It will help you get a better idea of what a real portion size is and make your food logging slightly more accurate. The true serving sizes of some foods can be rather disappointing, but there are also some that can be larger than expected.
Another thing you should keep in mind: Weight isn't everything
I'm 100% serious in this statement. It is possible to lose inches (which isn't that what we all want, to fit into smaller clothes) and not lose a lot of weight. There are women who use this site who have started lifting weights, gained a bit of weight, and ended up in smaller clothing. Weight – So many things can affect weight, because of this it shouldn’t be the only way you track your progress. Things to keep in mind:
:drinker: Always use the same scale – Different scales can show different weights. You will get the most accurate number for tracking when using the same scale.
:drinker: Don’t move the scale – Carpet, uneven flooring, different types of flooring…can all affect the weight on the scale. So when you weigh, you want it to be approximately the same spot for the most accurate number for tracking.
:drinker: 3500 calories – To gain 1lb of fat you need to be over maintenance by 3500 calories.
:drinker: Muscle Repair – Muscles will hold onto water to repair, because of this it is not uncommon to see a gain for a little while after a workout. This weight comes right back off when they are done repairing.
:drinker: Sodium – Can cause you to retain water. This can also be amplified if you don’t drink enough to flush it out of your system. This is also another reason for temporary weight gain.
:drinker: Water – Not drinking enough water can actually cause you to retain water. Recommended amount is 8 cups or 64oz. I drink 64 oz to 128 oz of water a day. It doesn’t have to be plain water either. I like to flavor mine with crystal light or tea.
:drinker: Time of day – Your weight can fluctuate throughout the day. So for the most accurate tracking, you want to weigh at around the same time.
:drinker: Frequency – This is up to you, but if small fluctuations bother you than only weigh once a week or less.
:drinker: Lightest Weight – Will be naked, first thing in the morning, after using the bathroom
:drinker: Multiple times a Day – Don’t Do It. As I said before, your weight will fluctuate throughout the day. What you eat, what you’re wearing, ect will all affect weight.
:drinker: Clothes – If you weigh with clothing on, keep in mind that the scale will show your weight plus the weight of your clothes. (Jeans are heavy)
:drinker: TOM - A lot of women will retain water around their TOM, but its just temporary and will go away.
Take measurements. Even if the scale doesn't seem to be going in the right direction, if your measurements are going down than you are losing fat and making progress.
In terms of exercise: I suggest both cardio and some sort of strength training.
You don't have to go all out on the strength training with heavy weights if you don't want to. Just doing exercises with body weight, resistance bands or low weight dumbbells will be beneficial. It will help you maintain lean body mass (your existing muscles) and give you a leaner look. The more muscle you have, the more calories you will burn in a day so you want to keep as much as possible. Oh and don't worry, it takes a lot of effort for women to put on muscle, so you aren't going to bulk up like a man without some serious effort.
Cardio is great too. It is good for heart health, endurance, and will help burn some extra calories.
Goodluck
***edit: I love bread and rice. I also love oreos and poptarts. The weight lost on my ticker was while eating all of them. I just made sure they fit into my calorie goals.
Excellent post! This should be a stickie :drinker:0 -
Listen- your body will adjust that all by itself. Work out hard for an hour a day- cardio mostly and some weight training.
Log ALL of your food- try and hit around 95 grams of protein. Lots and lots of vegetables, whole grains only (no bread no rice). Hard boiled eggs...Don't go under what they have told you 1200 cals or your body's metabolism will shut down. I have a budget of 1390 and I have lost 7 lbs since last Tuesday. Probably because when I work out for the hour, hour and fifteen minutes I push it-
really sweat...Exercise is the great equalize.
I have more to loose than you- I need to loose 50 lbs-
It will not come off quite so quickly for me later when I have 30-20 to go. Point is don't be negative do the right things and it will happen Way Quicker than that... Slower is better though long term they are right about that.
Take what is offered and make your own adjustments, they just want you to be healthy about it.
There is just so much wrong in this single post I can even....0
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