New to MFP...Need advice

My calorie goal is set to 1200 calories per day by MFP, will I lose weight even if I don't work out? I'm 138 lbs and my goal is 116 lbs in 3 months.

Replies

  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    Weight loss is made in the kitchen, so to speak and exercise is for fitness and well being. So, no, you do not need to work out.
  • akankshakish
    akankshakish Posts: 19 Member
    Thanks Hon... I guess I wanted to hear that...haha
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    MFP's calorie budget assumes no exercise other than what you put in your Activity Level.

    However, there are many reasons to exercise other that to lose weight. It doesn't have to be tedious or even involve a gym membership.

    M079149P01WL.jpg
  • akankshakish
    akankshakish Posts: 19 Member
    Thanks for your inputs. I'm planning to start with walking. Let's see how it goes. Do you think I could lose 25 lbs in 3 months using 1200 calories per day
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited September 2015
    My calorie goal is set to 1200 calories per day by MFP, will I lose weight even if I don't work out? I'm 138 lbs and my goal is 116 lbs in 3 months.

    Attempting to lose 25 pounds in three months, let alone without exercise, is very aggressive and is setting you up for misery if not failure. 0.5 pounds per week is a more realistic goal when one has only 25 pounds to goal.

    ETA - walking IS exercise. Sorry - I read "don't work out" and thought "don't exercise."

  • akankshakish
    akankshakish Posts: 19 Member
    Even though if I complement that with walking and aerobics? 0.5 kgs per week for 3 months would be just 6 kgs. :-(
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    What's your hurry? This is a marathon, not a sprint.
  • akankshakish
    akankshakish Posts: 19 Member
    I'm getting hitched soon, therefore the hurry :P
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Congrats!

    Look, it is just not realistic to have overly aggressive weight loss goals AND the major stressor of a wedding.

    It's POSSIBLE to lose 25 pounds in three months, but for someone your size, it's just not practical.

  • robspot
    robspot Posts: 130 Member
    What's your calorie goal if you change to maintain your current weight?
  • acheben
    acheben Posts: 476 Member
    I'm getting hitched soon, therefore the hurry :P
    So this is going to sound harsh, but did you just set the wedding date? If you wanted to lose 25lbs before your wedding, you should have started 13-48 weeks ago.

    That being said, don't try to rush your weight loss. Rapid weight loss can lead to hair loss, muscle loss, fatigue, irritability, and assorted other things that you don't want on your wedding day. Stick to a 0.5-1lb per week rate of loss and continue it after the wedding.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Here's a recent thread by a now newlywed with reasonable goals: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10064737/help-bride-to-be-in-trouble/p1
  • akankshakish
    akankshakish Posts: 19 Member
    Thanks guys for your replies. I'm 5 2' and currently weigh 62.3 kgs and if not 25lbs I atleast want to achieve a target of 55 kgs in 3 months time. I'm incorpating walking along with healthy diet. I'm a sugar freak but I have given up all the desserts and chocolates for now. Does it sound feasible then?
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    How old are you? We shorties tend to lose weight a bit more slowly unless we're fairly active. That's a pretty fast rate of loss for someone who is already fairly small.

    I don't think 55 kg is necessarily out of reach, but you might need to really bump up the exercise. If that will be possible while having the stress of preparing for a wedding? Who knows.

    It's not really wise for you to drop more than a pound a week at your weight.
  • debtay123
    debtay123 Posts: 1,327 Member
    hey- the giving up idea even for now- may be a problem becuase when you decide to eat those foods again- even if it is after the wedding then BAM- more weight gain- why not just eat smaller / tiny portions of the foods you enjoy maybe as one of your treats or snacks for the day- good luck
  • akankshakish
    akankshakish Posts: 19 Member
    How old are you? We shorties tend to lose weight a bit more slowly unless we're fairly active. That's a pretty fast rate of loss for someone who is already fairly small.

    I don't think 55 kg is necessarily out of reach, but you might need to really bump up the exercise. If that will be possible while having the stress of preparing for a wedding? Who knows.

    It's not really wise for you to drop more than a pound a week at your weight.

    I'm 27. Yeah I guess losing 10 kgs in 3 months on a 1200 calories diet sounds unrealistic.
  • akankshakish
    akankshakish Posts: 19 Member
    debtay123 wrote: »
    hey- the giving up idea even for now- may be a problem becuase when you decide to eat those foods again- even if it is after the wedding then BAM- more weight gain- why not just eat smaller / tiny portions of the foods you enjoy maybe as one of your treats or snacks for the day- good luck

    I am just kinda refraining myself from eating a dessert after dinner each day as I used to before, so that once the cravings have gone, I can follow this healthy routine.
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    I'm 53 and weigh about 10 pounds more than you. I'm also an inch shorter. I lose anywhere from 1.2 - 1.4 pounds a week, but I'm VERY active. I get about 20,000 steps a day in. That's a LOT of walking. Most of my walking is fairly brisk-paced too. I also eat more than 1200 calories.

    You can lose some weight in that time, but you'll need to work at it. You'll also need to balance living your life.

    Here's what I recommend:

    Buy a food scale and use it, even for packaged foods.
    Verify data base entries when you're logging your food.
    Prepare most of your own food, the calorie content of restaurant food and packaged food can be way off. Chain restaurants are most likely to offer accuracy if you'll be dining out.
    Eat enough protein, it's filling.
    Eat plenty of veggies, they add volume, but not a lot of calories. Plus they're nutritious.

    Good luck!
  • akankshakish
    akankshakish Posts: 19 Member
    I'm 53 and weigh about 10 pounds more than you. I'm also an inch shorter. I lose anywhere from 1.2 - 1.4 pounds a week, but I'm VERY active. I get about 20,000 steps a day in. That's a LOT of walking. Most of my walking is fairly brisk-paced too. I also eat more than 1200 calories.

    You can lose some weight in that time, but you'll need to work at it. You'll also need to balance living your life.

    Here's what I recommend:

    Buy a food scale and use it, even for packaged foods.
    Verify data base entries when you're logging your food.
    Prepare most of your own food, the calorie content of restaurant food and packaged food can be way off. Chain restaurants are most likely to offer accuracy if you'll be dining out.
    Eat enough protein, it's filling.
    Eat plenty of veggies, they add volume, but not a lot of calories. Plus they're nutritious.

    Good luck!

    Thanks for the advice. :-) I will keep you posted on my progress
  • acheben
    acheben Posts: 476 Member
    Thanks guys for your replies. I'm 5 2' and currently weigh 62.3 kgs and if not 25lbs I atleast want to achieve a target of 55 kgs in 3 months time. I'm incorpating walking along with healthy diet. I'm a sugar freak but I have given up all the desserts and chocolates for now. Does it sound feasible then?
    Honestly, that's still a little fast, but it might be feasible. 16lbs in 12wks works out to 1.33lbs/week.

    Don't worry about not eating dessert or chocolate. Try to meet your daily calorie goal from MFP and maybe add in some exercise to work off some of that wedding planning stress.
  • akankshakish
    akankshakish Posts: 19 Member
    acheben wrote: »
    Thanks guys for your replies. I'm 5 2' and currently weigh 62.3 kgs and if not 25lbs I atleast want to achieve a target of 55 kgs in 3 months time. I'm incorpating walking along with healthy diet. I'm a sugar freak but I have given up all the desserts and chocolates for now. Does it sound feasible then?
    Honestly, that's still a little fast, but it might be feasible. 16lbs in 12wks works out to 1.33lbs/week.

    Don't worry about not eating dessert or chocolate. Try to meet your daily calorie goal from MFP and maybe add in some exercise to work off some of that wedding planning stress.

    Yep that's the plan... :-)
  • PinkPixiexox
    PinkPixiexox Posts: 4,142 Member
    You will still lose weight by eating at a calorie deficit alone - exercise isn't a 'must' but it's definitely good for overall fitness and well-being so if you can exercise, I would definitely recommend it :]

    Your goal of losing 22lbs in 3 months is possible but quite aggressive. Any reason for the time limit?
  • akankshakish
    akankshakish Posts: 19 Member
    You will still lose weight by eating at a calorie deficit alone - exercise isn't a 'must' but it's definitely good for overall fitness and well-being so if you can exercise, I would definitely recommend it :]

    Your goal of losing 22lbs in 3 months is possible but quite aggressive. Any reason for the time limit?
    I'm 5 2' and currently weigh 62.3 kgs and if not 25lbs I atleast want to achieve a target of 55 kgs in 3 months time. I'm incorpating walking along with healthy diet. I'm a sugar freak but I have given up all the desserts and chocolates for now. Does it sound feasible then?
  • kristen6350
    kristen6350 Posts: 1,094 Member
    The time frame is what worries me. NEVER set a time frame for losing weight. Follow what MFP says (1lb a week for your goals is good, 2lbs is too aggressive), move more (even that means parking farther away in the parking lot and taking the stairs instead of the elevator). Do that consistently over a period of time and the weight will come off. It may not come off as fast as you wish.

    My top advice? A food scale. Get used to weighing and logging EVERYTHING that goes in your mouth. Even that's a carrot off someone else's plate. This "rule" helped me stop "grazing". If I didn't know how much it weighed I didn't eat it. So, donuts at work, random cookies and pies brought in my co-workers ended up being a no-no. I had a bad habit of eating out of the container (chips, cookies, ice cream, etc). Unless it's pre-measured and weighed I didn't eat it.

    And pre-plan what you will eat. You'll notice when you "forget" your lunch the ease of finding something else that fits that calorie profile is slim and you'll just get whatever you are hungry for. Sometimes that's ok, most of the time having a plan will help your goals.

    Stick with it, be patient and consistent.

    BTW, I don't think 1200 calories is always the end all be all of limits for everyone.
  • PinkPixiexox
    PinkPixiexox Posts: 4,142 Member
    You will still lose weight by eating at a calorie deficit alone - exercise isn't a 'must' but it's definitely good for overall fitness and well-being so if you can exercise, I would definitely recommend it :]

    Your goal of losing 22lbs in 3 months is possible but quite aggressive. Any reason for the time limit?
    I'm 5 2' and currently weigh 62.3 kgs and if not 25lbs I atleast want to achieve a target of 55 kgs in 3 months time. I'm incorpating walking along with healthy diet. I'm a sugar freak but I have given up all the desserts and chocolates for now. Does it sound feasible then?

    I'm 5'2 and I started off at 157lbs (Not sure what the KG conversion is). I lost 30lbs in 4 months - so yes, it's certainly achievable - but that doesn't mean I'd necessary recommend losing at that pace. I lost my weight quite aggressively because I refused to let myself have a life. I refused invites to social events and I didn't eat out. My relationships were seriously effected by my eating behaviour. So yes, it's possible - but sometimes at a cost. And it's not always worth it.

    Slow and steady wins the race :]