I discovered the secret to losing weight.102lbs in 10 mos

Great job! Just figured I'd point out the following things-

1.) it's probably completely acceptable to forgo eating back exercise calories when you have such a significant amount to lose (50+ pounds).
2.) not eating those back may very well have kept your deficit on the right level to avoid any miscalculations (I.e. Underestimating your calorie intake or overestimating your exercise cals).


What you've done is truly inspirational! Just figured I'd type the above points incase someone with significantly less to lose assumes it's the only way of doing things.

Great work!

Really, no one is being "mean". Stop being so sensitive. I wasn't sure if op was making a statement, or trying to make a point about o e way vs another. I applaud his success but was confused by the wording. Relax and move on. Have a good day!

Then what is wrong with coming out and saying what you mean so people on the internet can't interpret it to mean something else. Saves a lot of effort on everyone's part. And you don't get nasty comments back because they think your being ugly. Problem solved, now move along

Well then maybe you can tell me what I'm doing wrong. I have just finished the first month of the insanity workout I try to run or walk 3.5 to 4 miles 5 nights a week. I stick to 1200 calories a day give or take 100 I don't eat my exercise calories back I did first few weeks not understanding how it worked. I weigh the same I drop 4 lbs and the next day it's back just back an forth. I know it's only been a month but would have thought that I would have some success. Can you help me?

Some would argue that you're not giving your body enough fuel... With your net calories below 1200 a day might not be giving your body enough to work with... give eating back your workout calories a try for a little bit... couple of weeks... if what you're doing now isn't working, giving this a try shouldn't throw you off. Good luck!

That's fantastic! Congrats OP.

This post is meant for sussiessoaps. My first post and didn't see quotes so I am editing and attaching.

Quote: Well then maybe you can tell me what I'm doing wrong. I have just finished the first month of the insanity workout I try to run or walk 3.5 to 4 miles 5 nights a week. I stick to 1200 calories a day give or take 100 I don't eat my exercise calories back I did first few weeks not understanding how it worked. I weigh the same I drop 4 lbs and the next day it's back just back an forth. I know it's only been a month but would have thought that I would have some success. Can you help me?

My reply: Hi, the thyroid has a great deal to do with metabolism and yours could be going up and down. Maybe ask your doctor to check your thyroid VIA a blood test if you find that your weight is still going up and down in another few weeks. Good Luck.

Well then maybe you can tell me what I'm doing wrong. I have just finished the first month of the insanity workout I try to run or walk 3.5 to 4 miles 5 nights a week. I stick to 1200 calories a day give or take 100 I don't eat my exercise calories back I did first few weeks not understanding how it worked. I weigh the same I drop 4 lbs and the next day it's back just back an forth. I know it's only been a month but would have thought that I would have some success. Can you help me?

I used the Scooby calculator to find my BMR and TDEE, then had it calculate what I should be eating, customizing my macros to 40P/30F/30C.

http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

Even with that, the biggest thing I was doing wrong was not weighing my food. Measuring cups or eyeballing were NOT sufficient to really make my portions what they should be.

ETA: huge congratulations to the OP!!

Congratulations on your fabulous results, OP. Your approach makes sense to me.:flowerforyou:

Really, no one is being "mean". Stop being so sensitive. I wasn't sure if op was making a statement, or trying to make a point about o e way vs another. I applaud his success but was confused by the wording. Relax and move on. Have a good day!

Then what is wrong with coming out and saying what you mean so people on the internet can't interpret it to mean something else. Saves a lot of effort on everyone's part. And you don't get nasty comments back because they think your being ugly. Problem solved, now move along

There's always that ONE person who just can't let it go.
Even if someone says they applaud the op and were confused. Once AGAIN congrats op.

It was a simple question, and yet again you get snippy. SMDH:laugh:

Congratulations, Scott! Fantastic job!

On the topic of "eating back your calories" - I think since it's impossible to know how many calories are being burned by a particular exercise (different calculators for me have come up with hugely different values*), to be on the safe side, I don't try to eat back calories burned. I just base how much to eat on how I feel. If I'm feeling hungry, no energy, or faint (fortunately doesn't happen often) then I probably need to eat more. Drinking lots of water/tea/some fluid other than alcohols, is also key to feeling well.

*I have an elliptical that calculates how many calories are burned based on my weight. I also have a heart rate monitor which shows TWICE as many calories burned as the elliptical when I wear it while I'm on the elliptical. So naturally, I'd like to believe the HRM, but it wouldn't be safe to eat the larger value back!

I very seldom even eat back half of the additional calories I burn through exercise.

That practice has kept me within my daily caloric goals for 299 out the previous 300 days of logging. However, getting that exercise allows me the freedom to eat WHATEVER I want, just not WHENEVER or as MUCH as I want.

This process has resulted in a loss of 102 lbs in 10 months...

I personally don't believe in the concept of of "cheat days". Cheating denotes that you're doing something wrong and further ingrains the concept that extreme deprivation is the only way one can succeed in the battle against obesity.

I've learned the hard way (unfortunately) that extreme deprivation and guilt are not the way to success ;-)

:bigsmile: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :bigsmile:

SUPER fabulous job, well done sir!

Um, ooooooook. :huh:

OP found a lifestyle that works for him and lost over 100 lbs and that is what you are going to say.... Anyway on a positive note congrats.

Totally agree with you Sam. And yes, congrats to the OP. And thanks to him for sharing. And btw, I agree with him as well.

Keep plugging away. It has only been a month.

You did not mention your personal daily deficit. A person needs a daily deficit of about 500 calories to lose approximately 1 lb per week. You are probably aware that everyone varies up and down a few pounds over the course of a day.

For me, the loss did not start immediately. It took a couple of months before I had a measurable difference. i do not know why. Perhaps I was not logging the food and exercise accurately, and I only thought I has a significant deficit.

Well then maybe you can tell me what I'm doing wrong. I have just finished the first month of the insanity workout I try to run or walk 3.5 to 4 miles 5 nights a week. I stick to 1200 calories a day give or take 100 I don't eat my exercise calories back I did first few weeks not understanding how it worked. I weigh the same I drop 4 lbs and the next day it's back just back an forth. I know it's only been a month but would have thought that I would have some success. Can you help me?

Congrats on your success. Yeah, the only time I have a "cheat day" is when I am just particularly ravenous for no apparent reason. This only happens once in a while, and it usually means that I need to take a break from lifting and running for a couple of days. I get back on track pretty easily after that.