Share your routines: calories, meal times, type of exercise, etc

WorkInProgress909
WorkInProgress909 Posts: 271 Member
edited November 20 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello, I will be starting to diet and exercise and not sure what I should be doing.
Please share:
How many calories you eat (m/f, weight, height)
How many meals you have, and how do you spread them out during the day?
What do you do for exercise?
And any other info you would like to include.. I just like to read what other people are doing it helps with motivation and I can pick up some tips.

Should lunch/dinner meals include a protein, veggie, carb? is a balance of these important?

I also have somewhat hypoglycemia symptoms when I do not eat enough/on time which makes me worried about my calorie intake and timing.

I've seen people posting they do 1500 calories is this 1500 before or after adding calories from exercising?
I am 150 lbs, 5'5, female. Will be doing kickboxing and using treadmill.

Thanks for everyones input!

Replies

  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Calories will vary by individual. Meal times are irrelevant, as is how many meals you eat a day. It all comes down to CICO. For exercise, find something you enjoy.
    Most importantly, get a food scale and use it. Good luck!
  • bpetrosky
    bpetrosky Posts: 3,911 Member
    All you need to do is determine your calorie target for weight loss. MFP makes that easy. Set up your goals and use it. What is appropriate for someone else will not necessarily work for you.

    A balance of all three macros (protein, carb, fat) is important. Sufficient protein is important to maintain muscle mass while you lose, 0.8g per pound body mass is a common recommendation.

    Meal schedule, number of meals, exercise routines are all very individual and you need to determine what will be best for your needs. If you're hypoglycemic, making a meal plan that helps manage that will be one of your main considerations.
  • bpetrosky
    bpetrosky Posts: 3,911 Member
    Also, weight loss is primarily due to managing your calories eaten. Exercise is a benefit, but it does not tend to drive loss for most people.

    Cardio helps burn calories and gives you more calories to eat.
    Resistance exercise helps maintain muscle mass.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    http://iifym.com
  • bpetrosky
    bpetrosky Posts: 3,911 Member
    Llnn212 wrote: »
    Are the macros that mfp suggests correct? Or does this balance depend on each individual person as well?
    Do you know of any useful links for beginners where I can learn more about macros/micros.

    The best macro balance is an individual solution, based on what makes you feel satisfied on your calorie budget and your overall fitness/activity needs.

    Don't overthink the macros to start off with. MFP's macro percentages are OK, but you may want to tweak after a couple weeks. A lot of people focus on reaching their protein and fat macros first, and stay within their calorie target.


  • barbecuesauce
    barbecuesauce Posts: 1,771 Member
    How many calories you eat (m/f, weight, height)

    1600-1800 to lose .5 a week. Sometimes more if doing a lot of cardio.
    137, 5'6", female, on my last 7 pounds after losing 63.

    How many meals you have, and how do you spread them out during the day?

    My big tip to you with meal times is this: Do what comes naturally and allocate your calories that way. Don't fight what you like--snack at night if that's your thing, just make sure you have the calories. I am not a breakfast eater. I drink coffee and sometimes eat fruit, but I'm usually not hungry until after 2 pm. Then I eat a salad. Sometimes a small snack around 5. Dinner around 7. Snack around 9:30, 10.

    What do you do for exercise?

    I do running and calisthenics the most. I need to get my butt in gear and get on a regular lifting schedule instead of just doing it whenever (which means less often than is ideal). I walk a lot.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    edited July 2015
    Female, age 41, height 5'4", weight 156 lbs
    My calorie goal is 1270. I eat between 1200 and 1500 calories usually... I eat a portion of my exercise calories.
    3 meals & 1-2 snacks... I eat about 1 hour after I wake up and then about every 3-5 hours until I go to bed because that is when I get hungry
    Exercise 6 days a week for about 30 minutes. Walking, dancing, pilates, workout dvd's or videos off of you tube

    I find it helpful to prelog my food for the whole day the night before or in the morning.
    I drink mostly water or unsweetened tea and save my calories for food.
    Protein, fiber and fats help you to feel satisfied so if you feel hungry a lot even though you've eaten check that you are getting enough of those things.



  • 85Cardinals
    85Cardinals Posts: 733 Member
    I eat a meal at 10, 2, and 4 every day, washed down by a Diet Dr. Pepper. Just what the doctor ordered.
  • Ioras88
    Ioras88 Posts: 57 Member
    I admit I'm too lazy right now to find a convertor so you'll have to convert my units yourself, sorry. (MFP could put one onsite maybe?)

    I'm a woman, 26 years old, 161 cm in height, last time I weight myself I had 68.8 kg. I don't weight myself every day for psychological reasons.
    MFP suggests 1,210 cal/day. I'm trying to do that and it mostly works out. A lot of times I'm way under it for some reason.
    I usually have 3 meals a day: Breakfast at 05:40 since I can't stand eating breakfast at work, 11:00-12:00 lunch, dinner is usually around 16:00 or 17:00. I rarely ever eat snacks unless I have a too small calorie intake.

    I'm doing circuit training 3 times a week for 30 minutes (you do two rounds, that's it). They got a mix between small cardio exercises and muscle exercises (a hydraulic pump works here as a sort of smart weight: the faster you do the exercise, the harder it gets), I also do archery once a week for about 1 hour and a half with a blank bow.

    On food itself:
    I can't eat everything. Things I can't digest or can't digest properly and cause me TMI problems: Grains, milk, beans, some raw veggies (cooked is ok). Therefor I'm eating paleo-style since that's easier than replacing things in 'normal cuisine' recipes (kind of impossible if I would try cooking in the style of my home cuisine since there's too much grains and milk in that stuff). Also, you learn about the things you can do with coconut milk. Yum!
    Btw, also about the protein/carb/veggie/whatev proportions: I'm trying to have only little carbs (trying not to get over 50g/day atm), which means that I need more fat as fuel.
  • MattBoySlim
    MattBoySlim Posts: 62 Member
    I'm male, around 177cm and 208lbs so far lost 97lbs

    I aim for 1500 calories which should mean 2lbs a week lost, but I average much less than this.

    I don't really exercise, though I were a fit bit, and when I earn extra calories I seem to naturally eat more on those days, I don't consciously eat more.

    I try to eat more protein than carbs, but I eat lots of veggies so this typically doesn't happen lol.

    I eat 3 times a day, roughly 8am/12pm/6pm, typically I batch cook so cook a bunch of recipes at the same time portion them up and freeze them, I then have 1 for lunch and 1 for dinner, dinner I add 200-300g steamed veg or make a salad.

    Meals I cook are mainly from slimming world cook books on the original plan (so protein based). I try to only have chips (Fries) once a week cooked in an actifry, same as bread only try to have it once a week. I don't keep snacky food in the house as I tend to binge eat, out of sight out of mind.

    I find keeping a routine works well for me, otherwise I don't eat for long periods of time and then over eat.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories