Confusing - Any advice pls

natasha2106
natasha2106 Posts: 14 Member
edited November 12 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all, I have been reading some info on how many grams of carbs, fat, protein I should be having per day to lose weight. I have followed Michelle Bridges but did not lose much weight, I am thinking I have tried so many diets and am on a strict 1200 cal per day diet, still following MB plan. Was thinking that maybe I should be looking at my carb, protein and fat contents and see if by checking these whether it will help me to lose the weight.
On looking at a site this formula came up, now if I follow this then my calories almost double per day and also my carb amounts etc are different to what MFP suggest.

If someone could look at this for me and let me know their thoughts, should I perhaps try this or should I discard it completely. The link is on http://www.shape.com/weight-loss/weight-loss-strategies/ask-diet-doctor-case-carbs

and the formula is the following:

Calories = Body weight x 12
Protein = 1 gram per pound
Carbohydrates = 0.9-1.25 grams per pound body weight
Fat = The remainder of your calories (Note: There are 9 calories per gram of fat while protein and carbohydrates both contain 4 calories per gram)

So for a woman who weighs 140 pounds:
Calories = 1,700 (1,680 rounded up for ease of calculation)
Protein = 140 grams
Carbohydrates = 140 grams (using 1g/lb)
Fat = 64 grams

If anyone could let me know their thoughts. I feel that i have been on such a low calorie amount for so long that my body does not want to let go of the fat stores. Even when I exercise I don't seem to see any difference.

At the end of my tether - I am sick and tired of being overweight and getting up at stupid o'clock in the morning to do exercise to not see results. The second I go off plan for a couple of days I end up putting on several kg's.

:(
x

Replies

  • monty619
    monty619 Posts: 1,308 Member
    are you diabetic/ pre-diabetic or overweight? and how long have you been training with weights and high intensity?
  • cheshirecatastrophe
    cheshirecatastrophe Posts: 1,395 Member
    For weight loss, the only number that really matters is overall calories. Macros (fat, carbs, protein) are very much secondary for that purpose. (They matter in terms of nutrition, energy, feeling full, and so forth.)

    1200 calories per day would not be enough to trigger your body to "hold onto" fat stores. There is no energy voodoo here. "Starvation mode" is just when you eat SUPREMELY low amounts of calories for a long period of time, and your body gradually shuts down not-as-vital functions (amenorrhea for women, you fidget less, you get cold all the time) to preserve as much energy as possible. You'd still lose weight very gradually. But 1200 calories won't get you there.

    If you are not losing weight, simply put, you are eating as many calories as you are burning. My *guess* is that you aren't actually eating 1200 calories. Are you logging your food? How carefully? Measuring? Weighing? Do you have cheat days? Do you "eat back" the calories that you burn when you work out, and if so, how do you calculate your calorie burns? That's where you look for solutions, not macros or starvation mode magic.

    If you are 100% sure in the deepest reaches of your heart that you are really not losing weight on 1200 TOTAL calories a day, even with working out, then you might consider a visit to your doctor to see what's up.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    cheshirecatastrophe wrote: »
    For weight loss, the only number that really matters is overall calories. Macros (fat, carbs, protein) are very much secondary for that purpose. (They matter in terms of nutrition, energy, feeling full, and so forth.)

    1200 calories per day would not be enough to trigger your body to "hold onto" fat stores. There is no energy voodoo here. "Starvation mode" is just when you eat SUPREMELY low amounts of calories for a long period of time, and your body gradually shuts down not-as-vital functions (amenorrhea for women, you fidget less, you get cold all the time) to preserve as much energy as possible. You'd still lose weight very gradually. But 1200 calories won't get you there.

    If you are not losing weight, simply put, you are eating as many calories as you are burning. My *guess* is that you aren't actually eating 1200 calories. Are you logging your food? How carefully? Measuring? Weighing? Do you have cheat days? Do you "eat back" the calories that you burn when you work out, and if so, how do you calculate your calorie burns? That's where you look for solutions, not macros or starvation mode magic.

    If you are 100% sure in the deepest reaches of your heart that you are really not losing weight on 1200 TOTAL calories a day, even with working out, then you might consider a visit to your doctor to see what's up.

    All of this x 1000000
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member

    Read this:
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1

    Weight loss occurs in the kitchen. The gym benefits us in many ways but reducing our food intake brings about weight loss.
    Carefully consider how much food you are eating now.
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