Does anything truly work?
0241USMC
Posts: 9 Member
Hi,
My name is Elizabeth. I have tried everything you can think of to lose weight. Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, Jenny Craig, South Beach Diet, Adkins, Mediterranean, Advocare 24 Day Challenge, and logging my food here to stay within 1200 calories. It's so hard to stay under 1200 calories. I am a mother of six children ranging in age from 2 - 8, and although that isn't an excuse to eat unhealthy, it sure enough provides a ton of temptation with all of their cookies, chips, and carb-rich foods.
I am 5'4" and weigh 180lbs. I want to weigh around 150. I would be soooo happy with that weight. I exercise but not regularly enough. I like to swim, walk, and jog. I recently bought Garcinia Cambogia (not sure if that is spelled correctly) and I haven't tried it yet. Does anyone have anything negative or positive to say about it? Anyone have any suggestions for losing this weight once and for all?
Thanks,
Elizabeth
My name is Elizabeth. I have tried everything you can think of to lose weight. Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, Jenny Craig, South Beach Diet, Adkins, Mediterranean, Advocare 24 Day Challenge, and logging my food here to stay within 1200 calories. It's so hard to stay under 1200 calories. I am a mother of six children ranging in age from 2 - 8, and although that isn't an excuse to eat unhealthy, it sure enough provides a ton of temptation with all of their cookies, chips, and carb-rich foods.
I am 5'4" and weigh 180lbs. I want to weigh around 150. I would be soooo happy with that weight. I exercise but not regularly enough. I like to swim, walk, and jog. I recently bought Garcinia Cambogia (not sure if that is spelled correctly) and I haven't tried it yet. Does anyone have anything negative or positive to say about it? Anyone have any suggestions for losing this weight once and for all?
Thanks,
Elizabeth
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Replies
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You're not meant to stay under 1200 calories... you're meant to hit 1200 calories. It is the minimum RDA net calories for a female (even then, it is too low for some people).
Garcinia Cambogia? All that is needed to lose weight is a caloric deficit. Waste of money - sorry. You should've researched it before buying it...
OP, get off of 1200 calories if you can't sustain it. Those cookies that you wanted? You're gonna have a hard time fitting it in with 1200 calories...
Set MFP to 0.5lb or 1lb loss per week.
If you're really motivated and have the will-power, you'll get it done.0 -
You don't need diets such as ww, Atkins, etc; the only way to lose weight is too eat less than you burn. Most 'diets' are just expensive ways of ensuring someone is eating less than they burn. If you didn't lose weight with any of them, then quite simply, you ate eating more than you burn.
Pills are all just a scam in my experience; again, if you are eating more than you burn, no pill will stop you gaining.
Are you weighing all your food with a foodscale? If not, it is very likely that you are eating more than you think, henice why you aren't losing.0 -
You don't have to eat under 1200 to lose weight, probably. I weigh less than you and lose on much more than that (though I'm slightly taller)0
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The issue isn't the "anythings" not working. The issue is the people trying to do the anythings.
If you eat in a deficit, you'll lose weight. If you don't, you won't. Period.
I suggest you use a food scale and diligently log your intake as accurately as you possibly can. Enter your info into MFP and set a reasonable deficit. After a couple of months, you'll know enough to see what it will take for you to lose weight.0 -
DeguelloTex wrote: »The issue isn't the "anythings" not working. The issue is the people trying to do the anythings.
If you eat in a deficit, you'll lose weight. If you don't, you won't. Period.
I suggest you use a food scale and diligently log your intake as accurately as you possibly can. Enter your info into MFP and set a reasonable deficit. After a couple of months, you'll know enough to see what it will take for you to lose weight.
this + get a food scale + only eat back half of exercise calories + make sure you NET whatever number MFP gives you.0 -
DeguelloTex wrote: »The issue isn't the "anythings" not working. The issue is the people trying to do the anythings.
If you eat in a deficit, you'll lose weight. If you don't, you won't. Period.
I suggest you use a food scale and diligently log your intake as accurately as you possibly can. Enter your info into MFP and set a reasonable deficit. After a couple of months, you'll know enough to see what it will take for you to lose weight.
this + get a food scale + only eat back half of exercise calories + make sure you NET whatever number MFP gives you.
Yup. Deficit works, and keep it moderate to be able to stick with it long term.0 -
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The problem with diets that promise fast weight loss is that they are hard to maintain. See you have tried all of these diets and ended up jumping from one diet to the next declaring that they don't work. Had you started an easier "slower" diet you would have made progress by now. So in retrospect a "slower" diet (0.5-1 pound a week) is faster than a diet that promises you 10 pounds a month and does not deliver because you are unable to keep up with it. Why not try it?
Set your calories to lose 0.5-1 pound, eat reasonably, fit in a couple of cookies every once in a while... essentially just eat like you always have, but less of it. The change won't be so dramatic that it leads you to quit early on and you will be able to just live your life like you always have.0 -
Everydarnedthing that puts you in a Calorie Deficit works, everydarnedtime.
It has to. No one can escape the All Powerful And Mighty Calorie Deficit.
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Research shows that you can lose weight with any diet, as long as you stick to the diet. But people who think they can eat some magical food and not reduce calories are guaranteed to fail.0
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As everyone else has mentioned those diets do not work..... cook healthier for your family, weigh and measure and be paitent.... I have my own struggles during the evening hours at home with food, you should take one meal at a time. I have requested you as friend, pls. accept and we can work together0
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What works is choosing a weight loss regime that you can actually stick to.... for life...That means no extreme restrictions, no crazy eliminations, no pills and not deciding that a particular food or category of foods is bad. CICO done the way MFP is designed to work, with a sensible goal will get you there. It won't be fast, it won't be by a deadline, but it will happen.
You have to change how you think about eating. Be willing to accept that this is a lifestyle change, not quick fix and then back to old habits.0 -
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As the people say weight all and log it and about exercise i am sure with 6 kids you get your exercise free with just handling them.
And drink enough water.
Good LUck0 -
francesgenao wrote: »As everyone else has mentioned those diets do not work..... cook healthier for your family, weigh and measure and be paitent.... I have my own struggles during the evening hours at home with food, you should take one meal at a time. I have requested you as friend, pls. accept and we can work together
Au contraire - those diets *do* work. They ALL work ... so long as The Deficit is honored and maintained.
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I don't try to stay under the 1200 calories that MFP suggested, I just try not to go over. To answer your questions...no, I don't weigh my food. I will try that. I have a food scale. I did research the garcinia cambogia and there were a lot of people that said it helped them with cravings. Regardless, I appreciate all of the feedback. When I exercise and MFP adds those calories back to my daily allowance, should I use any of them? What does the term NET mean? And I think I know what calorie deficit means, but can someone tell me to be sure?0
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Your thread title caught my attention because I do feel like nothing truly works. No guarantees anywhere. I once read a quote from a scientist saying that studies prove that a good way to gain weight is to go on a calorie restricted diet for a period of time first. In other words, diets are a real problem in that we are statistically likely to regain the weight and then some. So, although CICO truly works initially, it only works for a limited period of time for many people. Obviously I'm here believing I can be a statistical minority. I have vowed not to let myself get overly hungry, or to take any other extreme measures to lose this weight, and I have vowed to pay attention to the quality and quantity of food I'm eating forever and ever amen.0
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1) Set a reasonable goal. Like 2-4 lbs per month max, and no more. This way you will nto starve
2) Make sure you reach this goal by eating in a way you can live with. Not on a diet that consists of weird food you cannot possibly keep eating forever, not based on exotic ingredients, special shakes etc.
3) Since you have kids, focus on health more than weight. If you believe that too many cookies and chips are the reason you cannot maintain a healthy weight, why are you letting your kids have regularly these things? I am not saying go on some weird cleanse and ban all treats forever, but try moderation. With 6 kids this should be fairly easy actually. If you are 8 in the family, one package of cookies means a nice treat for everyone, without overdoing it. Just make sure to open one package per day, not a second or a third.0 -
CICO works as long as your logging is honest and accurate. Diet fads are hard for me since I don't like being to restricted and want the freedom to eat something yummy as long as I account for it and exercise to be allotted those extra calories.
MFP works and having friends here is a support system like no other. Save your money and don't go for the fads and quick fixes...use MFP. I think it'll work for you. Also, don't expect the weight to drop off overnight. Slow and steady weight loss is the way to go.
Good work.0 -
Good luck.0
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I exercise so I can eat more. Log everything. Choose foods that are more filling. 1200 is probably too low. My diary is open if you want to read what I eat. Check out other people's diaries. I have 3 kids can't imagine how hard it is with 6 but remember you are setting an example for their lives. I never want my kids to struggle with weight like I do. I want them to enjoy their lives and be healthy. So I try to model eating to be fit and healthy.
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SergeantSausage wrote: »
uhhh what? You know what I am trying to say. Why do you have to be negative?0 -
SergeantSausage wrote: »
uhhh what? You know what I am trying to say. Why do you have to be negative?
He wasn't negative at all.
As I said, get off of 1200 calories.
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Eating less than you burn is guaranteed to work. For everyone. Forever.goldthistime wrote: »Your thread title caught my attention because I do feel like nothing truly works. No guarantees anywhere. I once read a quote from a scientist saying that studies prove that a good way to gain weight is to go on a calorie restricted diet for a period of time first. In other words, diets are a real problem in that we are statistically likely to regain the weight and then some. So, although CICO truly works initially, it only works for a limited period of time for many people. Obviously I'm here believing I can be a statistical minority. I have vowed not to let myself get overly hungry, or to take any other extreme measures to lose this weight, and I have vowed to pay attention to the quality and quantity of food I'm eating forever and ever amen.
What isn't guaranteed is that you'll carry it out. However, if you do it will work. It can't not work.
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I don't try to stay under the 1200 calories that MFP suggested, I just try not to go over. To answer your questions...no, I don't weigh my food. I will try that. I have a food scale. I did research the garcinia cambogia and there were a lot of people that said it helped them with cravings. Regardless, I appreciate all of the feedback. When I exercise and MFP adds those calories back to my daily allowance, should I use any of them? What does the term NET mean? And I think I know what calorie deficit means, but can someone tell me to be sure?
I do hope you will consider raising that 1200 calorie limit to something more sustainable, like 1500 for example. Yes, you should eat back exercise calories. Most of us don't eat all of them back. Some aim for 50%.
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Hi,
My name is Elizabeth. I have tried everything you can think of to lose weight. Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, Jenny Craig, South Beach Diet, Adkins, Mediterranean, Advocare 24 Day Challenge, and logging my food here to stay within 1200 calories. It's so hard to stay under 1200 calories. I am a mother of six children ranging in age from 2 - 8, and although that isn't an excuse to eat unhealthy, it sure enough provides a ton of temptation with all of their cookies, chips, and carb-rich foods.
I am 5'4" and weigh 180lbs. I want to weigh around 150. I would be soooo happy with that weight. I exercise but not regularly enough. I like to swim, walk, and jog. I recently bought Garcinia Cambogia (not sure if that is spelled correctly) and I haven't tried it yet. Does anyone have anything negative or positive to say about it? Anyone have any suggestions for losing this weight once and for all?
Thanks,
Elizabeth
There is this great organization called The National Weight Control Registry ( http://www.nwcr.ws/ ) which tracks people who have lost significant amounts of weight and kept it off. They have compiled a list of statistics for what works and what doesn't. One of the interesting stats is that "45% of registry participants lost the weight on their own and the other 55% lost weight with the help of some type of program." In other words, every program (Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Atkins, etc) works for some people but no one program works for everyone, and almost half of the people needed no program at all. The challenge is finding what works for you. One thing they are absolutely sure of is that there is no such thing as a magic pill, be it garcinia cambogia, hydroxycut, caffeine, etc. The only way to lose weight is to eat less than you burn.
Two other findings:- 98% of Registry participants report that they modified their food intake in some way to lose weight.
- 94% increased their physical activity, with the most frequently reported form of activity being walking.
You have to find the desire to lose within yourself and when you are ready, you will have the determination to lose. Anything else is smoke and mirrors.
Yes, eating less and moving more works:
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I have young kids, too... its amazing the healthy choices they'll make when I don't keep cookies/chips/junk in the house. We eat a lot of apples/other fruit, boiled eggs, string cheese, etc., and they are happy and healthy. It benefits us (parents) to not have it in the house and it benefits them in building healthy habits.
I also second eating as many calories as you can to still lose. I'm losing a lb a week on 1500-1800/day. I'm female, 5'7", and 30 lbs from my goal weight. It helped me to find out my TDEE and my BMR. I'm trying to make changes that I can live with forever. I can't maintain 1200 cals a day forever, but 1700? I can average that, I think.
Oh - and one more thing - I've been lifting heavy. I've never done that before, but I'm very satisfied thus far. I'm losing a little slower than I would if I was doing 100% cardio, but my results are showing faster and my workouts take less time. Its a great workout plan for a busy mom of young kids. I've been following the book The New Rules of Lifting for Women. I also run, which is a very efficient calorie burner. "Efficient" things really help me because I feel guilty working FT and then going to the gym when I want to spend that time with my kids.0 -
Gross calories would be the total calories you eat in a day. For example, let's say my gross calories are 1600. But now let's say that I swam for half an hour, giving me a 200 calorie burn. That makes my NET consumption 1400 calories. If 1400 calories is what MFP told me to consume in a day, then I'm right on track because MFP uses a net calorie system. The more I exercise, the more I get to eat.
By the way, we're about the same height, but I weigh nearly 60 pounds less than you and I can lose weight without any exercise at all eating 1400 calories. What did you put into MFP to get 1200 as your goal? If you're struggling to meet that goal, you aren't going to be able to stick with this. Why not recalculate making your goal 1 pound of loss a week and reflecting your activity level (for example, with young kids, I doubt you are sedentary). Log your exercise and eat the calories you earn (some people will tell you to eat 50-75% of those calories. I eat 100% and I'm fine. I think the accuracy has to do with what exercise you choose).0 -
Mezzie1024 wrote: »Gross calories would be the total calories you eat in a day. For example, let's say my gross calories are 1600. But now let's say that I swam for half an hour, giving me a 200 calorie burn. That makes my NET consumption 1400 calories. If 1400 calories is what MFP told me to consume in a day, then I'm right on track because MFP uses a net calorie system. The more I exercise, the more I get to eat.
By the way, we're about the same height, but I weigh nearly 60 pounds less than you and I can lose weight without any exercise at all eating 1400 calories. What did you put into MFP to get 1200 as your goal? If you're struggling to meet that goal, you aren't going to be able to stick with this. Why not recalculate making your goal 1 pound of loss a week and reflecting your activity level (for example, with young kids, I doubt you are sedentary). Log your exercise and eat the calories you earn (some people will tell you to eat 50-75% of those calories. I eat 100% and I'm fine. I think the accuracy has to do with what exercise you choose).
I think I put that I wanted to lose 2 pounds a weeks. I will check it out and see if I need to recalculate. Thanks for your help. You are right, I am not sedentary. I am constantly cleaning the house when I am not at work and playing with my kids. I take about 30-45 minutes 3-4 times a week to dedicate to swimming, walking, or jogging.0
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