Hello Desperately Seeking Success!

lemurwaffle · July 2014

Hi

I have posted this in the Newbies section but thought would put it here too as I am looking for inspiration and am sure I will find it on the Success Stories board!!

I was on MFP last year and managed to lose 13lb which I was really pleased about. Then various stresses happened and I managed to put it back on plus some more. We moved abroad 3 months ago so it has been difficult as I do not really know anybody here yet, but I am starting a university course in September and the uni has an awesome gym and classes so I am excited for that.

So I'm back! I have been eating and drinking way too much and the alcohol was having a negative effect on my relationship with my husband so I have decided to cut out the booze for the time being and am already starting to feel better (it's only been 5 days though so I don't want to speak too soon!) I have also cut out coffee as I would make a cafetiere of it for myself each morning and drink 3 mugs of the stuff, then snack on junk as I was depressed. I went out with my husband last weekend and I had too much to drink and woke up the next day with the usual feeling of a headache, plus another feeling that I had not experienced before. This was the feeling that I have to turn my life around and that nobody else can do this for me, only I can. I spent the entire day thinking about how to improve myself and how to be happier. I have not been sleeping well, get sweaty on a hot day because of the excess weight, and do not wear dresses or skirts or basically anything that reveals my legs, as well as my arms. And my thighs chaffe when I wear dresses too, which is lovely! So that day I decided enough was enough and here I am.

So, my stats are
1. Height 5'9 age 34
2. Weight Now 237 lb
3. Goal Weight 167 lb (this may go down, I will assess closer to the time)
MFP has set my calories to 1550 a day, and I eat back 1/2 of my exercise calories.

I have been logging my food since I have been back, plus weighing it also.

I am planning on doing C25K x3 a week, kettlebell DVD x2 a week, 30DS x3 a week. I also have 2 dogs that I take on separate walks for 30 mins in the morning and 20 in the afternoon.

Feel free to add me as a friend if you are supportive and/or looking for support

Any advice on my exercise/goal weight etc welcome!

Thank you

pusheen12 · July 2014

You should eat back all of your exercise calories like MFP says to. I also use a university gym, it's fantastic! Good luck to you, if you want this you will get to where you want to be. Its all up to you in the end. Reading success stories is very inspiring. Good luck and don't overdo it at the gym and get hurt, slow and steady gets the prize in this situation.

endermako · July 2014

MFP overestimates the calories burned. I do not recommending eating all of your exercises calories back unless you are absolutely sure that's how much you burned.

jinxiemay · July 2014

I don't understand eating your exercise calories burned. I think of it as an extra boost when I stay to my 1,500 calorie goal and exercise. Unless you're just pounding the pavement and really need extra nutrition to sustain that I guess.

CorlissaEats · July 2014

You are an inch taller than me, a bit heavier than when I started out, and only 2 years older than me. Exercising 3 times a week, I lost 1lb per week eating at 1800 calories. And when I increased my exercise levels my intake went up to match. I current aim for 2100 cals but Im transitioning out of hyper-active mode. I ate around 2400-2500 cals all summer and still lost weight because I was active 25hrs per week on top of my office job. Use an independant calculator to figure out your fuel needs and subtract 500 cals and then stick to the goal number. I like both scoobysworkshop.com and iifym.com for TDEE calculators.

I would recommend eating ALL your exercise calories and use any numbers on gym machines when possible if you are eating only 1550 cals. You will lose weight at 1550 +1/2 exercise it is true, but you are also likely to find that you stick with it longer and get better long term results if you dont stress your body. I personally would say 1800 +1/2 exercise calories is going to be better long term because its easier to stick with it and to get those necessary treats from time to time. Its hard to see the big picture but its important.

lenarashminraj · July 2014

loved the way you categorized to do the exercises.. i wont recommend you to ea back all your exercise calories, i eat back 50%.. When i had a doubt about it i uploaded a post in MFP and some poeple suggested me to eat back all exercise calories.. i put on 5lbs with that 1 week experiment. so im back to my old way of eating back 50% exercise calories. Have a black coffee before your exercise , it will help you to boost your stamina. All the best

lemurwaffle · July 2014

Thanks people. Well, MFP has set me at 1550 as I said I wanted to lose 1.5lb a week, if I remember correctly when I set it at a 1lb weekly loss it set my calories to something like 1750 I think. I'm finding the 1550 easier to stick to than I thought, so I will see how I go with that for a month or so.

Last time I was on MFP I ate back 1/2 the calories, as I don't have a heart rate monitor yet and don't use gym machines as I can't stand them! As far as I understand,MFP already has you on a deficit so I think eating back 1/2 the calories seems reasonable. At least then if I have an extra hungry day (it happens!) then I have a bit of leeway to have more (healthy!) food. Hope that makes sense!

lemurwaffle · July 2014

Looking forward to this adventure!

Hello Desperately Seeking Success!

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