Super quick weight loss question.
GfromCows
Posts: 9
Hello all, I'm 22 years old, I'm a male, 5'10 and I weight 221lbs. I'm not necessarily fat. I had a test done on my body fat and I'm 20.9% body fat.
Recently a buddy at work has been teaching me about things such as calories and eating correctly. Before like, 12 days ago, I was eating one meal a day, an Angus meal at Arby's (roughly 1200 calories, counting fries and drink) because it's where I work, so it's easily accessible, cheap and filling. Plus working 8 hour shift, I feel I'd burn some of it off, thus I'd be maintaining my weight.
Now, I've decided I'd like to at least get to 210lbs, maybe even 200, so I changed the way I eat entirely. I used to be big on Sweet Tea, in fact I still am, I'd drink like, 3 or 4, 32 oz cups a day. That's a lot. I cut it out entirely and drink strictly Water.
I basically try to eat 3 times a day, 2 at least. I been eating more Salads, maybe one or two a day. I eat turkey at work, no fries. I've eaten a LOT of apples, grapes, and watermelon. In fact, that's sorta my diet now.
-Salads
-Turkey wraps at work.
-Fruits (Apples, Grapes, Water Melon)
- Lots of Water.
I also try to Gym every day, or if I can, 4 times a week. Burning at LEAST 500 Calories a gym run.
My total intake on calories has been the same as if I were to eat Angus. 1200-1400 Calories.
My question is, is this good? Will I reach my goal, or do I need to do more?
Recently a buddy at work has been teaching me about things such as calories and eating correctly. Before like, 12 days ago, I was eating one meal a day, an Angus meal at Arby's (roughly 1200 calories, counting fries and drink) because it's where I work, so it's easily accessible, cheap and filling. Plus working 8 hour shift, I feel I'd burn some of it off, thus I'd be maintaining my weight.
Now, I've decided I'd like to at least get to 210lbs, maybe even 200, so I changed the way I eat entirely. I used to be big on Sweet Tea, in fact I still am, I'd drink like, 3 or 4, 32 oz cups a day. That's a lot. I cut it out entirely and drink strictly Water.
I basically try to eat 3 times a day, 2 at least. I been eating more Salads, maybe one or two a day. I eat turkey at work, no fries. I've eaten a LOT of apples, grapes, and watermelon. In fact, that's sorta my diet now.
-Salads
-Turkey wraps at work.
-Fruits (Apples, Grapes, Water Melon)
- Lots of Water.
I also try to Gym every day, or if I can, 4 times a week. Burning at LEAST 500 Calories a gym run.
My total intake on calories has been the same as if I were to eat Angus. 1200-1400 Calories.
My question is, is this good? Will I reach my goal, or do I need to do more?
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Replies
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Let me know how long that diet will last for you.0
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:sick:0
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It sounds like you are definitely putting yourself into a calorie deficit, which means that yes, you'll lose weight. But if you are working out that much and if you do anything physical at work, you are probably not eating enough calories.0
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If you were only eating 1200 calories a day, it doesn't matter what it came from. At your size, there is no way that was enough to maintain your weight, you should have been losing as it was.0
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I'm confused, I mean, I barely understand how calories even work. I was told there's good calories and bad calories. I don't mean to come off stupid, I just don't understand.
Also, what do you mean, raggedypond?
I was also told that I wasn't losing anything before because my metabolism was slowed down from eating once a day. I dunno if that's true or not.
Lastly, I cheated today and ate at subway, but still.0 -
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Pretty sure I'm just stupid
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I'm confused, I mean, I barely understand how calories even work. I was told there's good calories and bad calories. I don't mean to come off stupid, I just don't understand.
Also, what do you mean, raggedypond?
I was also told that I wasn't losing anything before because my metabolism was slowed down from eating once a day. I dunno if that's true or not.
Lastly, I cheated today and ate at subway, but still.
Who told you these things? And what do they think good calories and bad calories are?0 -
There are no bad or good calories. There are high calorie and low calorie foods. You eat based on whatever your goals are. Stick with what goals MFP is giving you instead of dropping it down to 1200 which is only sustainable for short amounts of time.0
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The guy I work with explained it to me as like, Eating one meal a day at 1200 calories at work. Processed food, preservatives etc VS salads and fruits, being good calories. That's why it confused me.
I apologize if I come off like a troll, I just don't understand. And MFP tells me to eat 2700 calories, that seems like a lot 0 -
Check this thread out
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
If you're not already, log your food into MFP. Be as accurate and honest as possible.
To lose weight yes you need to eat less than the number that would keep you at your current weight (maintenance calories) but not so little that you're fatigued and hungry all the time - that way just leads to failure.
Do not worry about "bad" calories and "good" calories. Start with just "fewer calories." Just a deficit is what's required for weight loss. After you get a better handle on that, you can start changing your diet to be more healthy and do it at your own pace instead of trying to rush it.
Good luck.0 -
Just make sure you have your activity level to sedentary and eat all your exercise calories it gives you. The process takes a long time. Just stick with it.0
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Thanks for all the help, and my apologies for being an inconviniance0
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No inconvenience. You just can't tell who is being serious and who is joking around here anymore.0
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FYI... eating at Subway isn't cheating.... at least once a week I get a foot long vegie sub on honey oat, no cheese, all the vegies...with a "splash" of honey mustard and sweet onion sauce... This is two meals for me and a total of 230 calories per meal. The kids working at Subway don't even bother asking me what I want anymore because they just know. haha.... I could easily add grilled chicken to the sub but choose not to. There are other choices you can make at subway that are healthy as well... my suggestion is to get a copy of their nutritional guide and build your sub based on that...
.... and for what it's worth-- the Subway I go to is about 1 1/2 miles from home... I walk there and back -- taking the "long" route-- usually ending up being about a 5 mile walk...0 -
The guy I work with explained it to me as like, Eating one meal a day at 1200 calories at work. Processed food, preservatives etc VS salads and fruits, being good calories. That's why it confused me.
I apologize if I come off like a troll, I just don't understand. And MFP tells me to eat 2700 calories, that seems like a lot
Yeah, don't listen to the guy at work. There are no good or bad calories or good or bad foods.
Read the sexypants link posted above, it is very helpful. And don't get freaked out by the calorie count - it may seem like a lot, but it calculated based on your personal stats. You don't need to starve yourself to lose weight, you should aim to eat as many calories as you can and still lose. Plus, that number is going to go down as you lose weight if you keep the same deficit, so starting higher is good.0 -
The problem is I got a foot long buffalo chicken lol that was 700+ :S
I understand, raggedypond
I'm gonna try, kgeyser, it's just kinda freaky seein that much.0 -
It's 1200 without including the tea. That also doesn't include any condiments or anything else you ate. The 4 large Sweet Teas a day were probably putting you at maintance calories for your wait. Just switching to water instead of anything with calories should give you a loss.0
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I never thought of it that way either.0
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Make sure to pay attention to how much protein and fat you're getting, both are very imporant. Try to hit what MFP gives you as a minimum. Google "macros" and "IIFYM" or there are threads here that explain them. Don't worry about looking dumb, everybody has to start somewhere
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I am eating 1220 a day, some times less, but I am full and satisfied, but that is very few calories to MFP. but I work nights and exercise 4 times a week 45 min each day.. My menu is filling. 4 small meals and two snack.
at 63:blushing: and working 10 hours a day:sad: I continue to go. I do make sure that each day I juice ,because sleeping is very bad, alone with my water intake my green juice keep me going.
on the weekend I do hit the gym for at lease two hour, but do a lot of relating. I guest each one body is difference. Just be careful not to drop to cause any health problem. My doctor said I am doing fine. Some day I am on target with MFP, some days I am off, I think balance is the thing and what you do eat. Is it health?
But I am still strugging:laugh:0 -
The guy I work with explained it to me as like, Eating one meal a day at 1200 calories at work. Processed food, preservatives etc VS salads and fruits, being good calories. That's why it confused me.
I apologize if I come off like a troll, I just don't understand. And MFP tells me to eat 2700 calories, that seems like a lot
Yeah, don't listen to the guy at work. There are no good or bad calories or good or bad foods.
Read the sexypants link posted above, it is very helpful. And don't get freaked out by the calorie count - it may seem like a lot, but it calculated based on your personal stats. You don't need to starve yourself to lose weight, you should aim to eat as many calories as you can and still lose. Plus, that number is going to go down as you lose weight if you keep the same deficit, so starting higher is good.
I want to specifically highlight the "You don't need to starve yourself to lose weight". Everyone should aim for the MOST amount of calories that allows them to still lose, NOT the LEAST amount. Quicker is not better. You want to be able to sustain it for the rest of your life so slow and steady is better.
BTW, I am a 46 YO, 5'7" woman who currently weighs 170 and I eat 1825 calories... to lose... at 22, a male and over 200 you should be eating a lot more calories than you are now! A LOT...
Edit: Oh and plus, I just noticed you only want to lose 11 pounds!! Doh... maybe you really don't even need to lose anything at all. Maybe you just want to look better? If so you could potentially eat at maintenance and lift heavy to get the look you want.0 -
How does eating more equal losing more? That's a serious question. 0
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One thing I would like to point out. You said before you were only eating a 1200 calorie meal, but do you know the amount of calories in...what did you say 4-5 32oz? sweet teas a day? I haven't looked it up but I am imagining it is around 100 per 8-16 oz. So it sounds like a lot of your calories were coming from drinks. Cutting that alone even without changing the meal would probably produce weight loss.
You definitely need to eat more or the weight you lose will be precious muscle that you are trying to work out and I assume want to build. You want to preserve muscle at all costs which means eating plenty of protein (at least 1 gram per pound of lean body mass if not more) and working those muscles in a challenging way.
You can lose weight based on calories in/calories out but nutrition is not the same as calorie deficit. Obviously you are going to get less fat and more vitamins eating fruits/veggies vs fries, but that doesn't make fries bad. You can still enjoy them in moderation along with the vitamins in the fruits/veggies.0 -
do it now, the older you get the harder it will take to lose. Your intake will have to be less, and you will have to exercise more to keep it off.0
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lol "super quick"0
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What I am beginning to learn is that your body responds better if it isn't under stress. Eating very low calorie creates stress in the body on a hormonal level. When certain hormones are high you won't lose fat. If you create a lot of stress through high intensity exercise and then don't fuel yourself properly it's a double whammy. It may work for awhile but eventually it comes to an end, if your even successful that way to begin with.How does eating more equal losing more? That's a serious question.0 -
How does eating more equal losing more? That's a serious question.
You were probably consuming more calories than 1200 a day already. Not accounting for anything other than the one meal. Cutting out the sweet tea will reduce your intake, but maybe by too much. You could replace those calories with fruit and veggies and lean protein. (You need more protein to build muscle) I think you can eat at maintenance or just below, like a 10% deficit and get the look you want by lifting weights.
Do some research here on the boards search for eat more weigh less. Read the Sexy Pants guide, check out the Eat Train Progress group. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10118-eat-train-progress There is a lot of good info out there.0 -
I figure if I stayed on the track I was, I'd lose the 11 quicker, then get back on maintaining :X0
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