Newbie Question regarding BMI etc...

pumpkin
pumpkin Posts: 6
edited September 18 in Food and Nutrition
Hello everyone!
Perhaps you can help me with a quick question and I apologize if this has already been gone over in a different thread in the past...

So research says that for a healthy weight loss of 1 lb a week one must have a 500 calorie deficit.

Now when I use the BMI calculator it estimates me to be 1500... Here is where the confusion starts...
If i subtract 500 from that it leaves me at 1000 calories to eat a day, which I find seems slightly unhealthy ...especially since I'm worried of under eating and stopping my metabolism all together.

Also when I do the guided goal setting it caps me off at a recommended 1200 calories a day... is it doing that because eating 1000 calories a day is unhealthy? And so does that also mean that I really shouldn't be loosing one pound a week? Which kinda bums me out cause it means Its gonna take twice as long to loose the extra junk in my trunk.

If someone could set me straight I'd appreciate it! Thanks in advance!

Replies

  • pumpkin
    pumpkin Posts: 6
    Hello everyone!
    Perhaps you can help me with a quick question and I apologize if this has already been gone over in a different thread in the past...

    So research says that for a healthy weight loss of 1 lb a week one must have a 500 calorie deficit.

    Now when I use the BMI calculator it estimates me to be 1500... Here is where the confusion starts...
    If i subtract 500 from that it leaves me at 1000 calories to eat a day, which I find seems slightly unhealthy ...especially since I'm worried of under eating and stopping my metabolism all together.

    Also when I do the guided goal setting it caps me off at a recommended 1200 calories a day... is it doing that because eating 1000 calories a day is unhealthy? And so does that also mean that I really shouldn't be loosing one pound a week? Which kinda bums me out cause it means Its gonna take twice as long to loose the extra junk in my trunk.

    If someone could set me straight I'd appreciate it! Thanks in advance!
  • pumpkin
    pumpkin Posts: 6
    Oh and here is part II of my question...

    I eat 1200 calories and then burn off say 200 calories from exercise do I

    a. leave it as is, a day well done
    or
    b. eat 200 calories more calories to replace what was used because leaving it at 1000 is unhealthy.

    I'm obviously confused :blushing:
  • Jackie_W
    Jackie_W Posts: 1,676 Member
    That's a good question, i'd say that exercise has a knock on effect on the calories consumed - if you burn off 300 calories, then surely you can eat 300 more calories - cripes, I may even be adding to the confusion here!!!

    When I put my exercise and food intake on my food diary on here, - for instance, my BMA gives me 1,480 cals, but, because I did a 90 minute walk to the supermarket this morning, burning up 557 cals, I now have 2,017 cals on my daily goal. So I would say go for it.

    As for the amount of calories, we need to consume 1000 - 1500 calories per day to lose weight - and also to allow our bodies to run efficiently (that much I do know LOL) anything lower than 1000 cals is dangerous and I would suggest being very careful not to go under the minimum.

    Hope I've helped and not aided your confusion!
  • ConnieLynn
    ConnieLynn Posts: 242 Member
    Hi Pumpkin,

    I would suggest this website http://www.caloriesperhour.com/tutorial.php

    They talk about this subject in great detail. I had the same question about eating to little and the amount of deficit I had each week. I had lost 2 lbs in 4 days and I was not feeling so hot. I adjusted my calories up and feel much better.

    It may take you some time to figure out exactly the amount you should be eating and over time you will have to continue to make adjustments: down for continued weight loss and back up for when you are at the maintence phase. It is important not to cut to much initially as then you have no where to go down when you need to shed those last pounds.

    Also when I exercise, I eat those calories as I need to keep the deficit at the correct amount or my body goes into starvation mode.

    Hope this helps,

    Connie Lynn
  • stratton
    stratton Posts: 30
    It seems that nothing we do is easy...I was 310 pounds and am now down to 195. The BMI still quotes me as obese....:mad: I think when it comes to the BMI you need a min. of 1200 calories to just survive and make sure that you get everything you need. The choice in foods is where to make the adjustment. Make sure what you take in is going to feed your body to remain healthy. As for exercise, you need the flue to do the exercise and yet you need less fule to burn calories. Take in the amount to keep your body going and yet take off just enough for that pound loss....so confuseing.........
  • littlespoon
    littlespoon Posts: 165
    It seems that nothing we do is easy...I was 310 pounds and am now down to 195. The BMI still quotes me as obese....:mad: I think when it comes to the BMI you need a min. of 1200 calories to just survive and make sure that you get everything you need. The choice in foods is where to make the adjustment. Make sure what you take in is going to feed your body to remain healthy. As for exercise, you need the flue to do the exercise and yet you need less fule to burn calories. Take in the amount to keep your body going and yet take off just enough for that pound loss....so confuseing.........


    Hey that is an AMAZING loss!! Congratulations, you must be SO proud of yourself! :drinker:
  • pumpkin
    pumpkin Posts: 6
    Thanks everyone. You were all most helpful and I feel more confident with what Im doing now!:tongue:
  • stratton
    stratton Posts: 30
    Thank you for your kind words....somedays it does not feel so amazing...always looking ahead to the next loss....sigh....thanks for being there.....:flowerforyou:
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