Looking to lose 120lbs

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notmyrobot
notmyrobot Posts: 14 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi! :D

I'm relatively new here, and just looking for some help! I'm wanting to lose about 120lbs and am just not sure how to best do it.

I'm confused about a lot of things ! According to the MFP calorie calculator it told me I should be eating around 1600 calories but I used a couple other calculators online and they all say I should be eating between 2300-2600. Just wondering if I'm doing myself harm or holding myself back by sticking to the 1600??

Also, I signed up at my local gym but have literally no idea what I'm doing. There are machines everywhere and everything I read says to try and steer away from machines... If anyone has any programs that are designed to lose weight I would love for you to share it! Book or anything.

A bit about me :
Currently 294 lbs
Female
5ft6in
26 years old
Mainly sedentary - I stay home with my 6 month old all day - but I do go to the gym for an hour Monday-Friday (like I said I have no idea what I'm doing so I've been biking for 5miles and then just playing around on various machines)

I'm 2 weeks in and my starting weight was 304lbs so I am losing, just want to do it more efficiently.

I greatly appreciate anyone's replies!

Replies

  • airangel59
    airangel59 Posts: 1,887 Member
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    Hey welcome :) Also pop into this forum http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/3322-100-pounds-with-no-surgery
  • slaunderville
    slaunderville Posts: 49 Member
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    Welcome!!! I weigh a little more than you and have been on 1700 until yesterday when I went down to 1680. I average about 2 lbs per week.

    I joined a shed and shred class at the gym and go three days per week. Nice people and I cannot believe that only after three weeks the exercise I am now able to do.
    I wish you a all the very best!!
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 27,988 Member
    edited January 2016
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    With those other calculators, exercise is already factored in. With MFP, you add it in separately and earn extra exercise calories. (Which you should only eat about 50% back, as the burns are considered to be inflated.)

    For the gym, didn't they give you a free session with a trainer/orientation when you joined? Ask this person. Also consider taking a few sessions with a trainer - it will be much easier to learn that way than trying to pick it up from discussion boards. Plus, we will all tell you different things :D

    Also, please take it easy on your knees in the beginning - I say this to be cautionary, not judgmental - that's a lot of extra weight on those joints already and it's easy to injure them.
  • MamaMc3
    MamaMc3 Posts: 213 Member
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    Hello! Add me if you'd like - my diary is open and I have another 119 lbs to lose. :) I am within 20 lbs. of your weight, and I eat 1,590 calories per day. I am losing well, and I feel great. 1,600 should be possible. :) My exercise now is just walking on the treadmill. As I get fitter, I will incorporate more things!
  • weightlossmayhem
    weightlossmayhem Posts: 18 Member
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    I'm exactly where you are I was 305.8 when I started and I am now 294. I'm kind of lost in this world to but excited to see someone with tge same starts as me!
  • lorlor79
    lorlor79 Posts: 1 Member
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    Hey there...I am close to you in weight and same height. I am attending a weight loss centre which incorporates a dietician, social worker, physician, psychologist and personal trainer. They did some fancy schmancy test to see how many calories I burn a day and figured to lose weight in a safe and realistic way, I should be eating 2000 calories per day! Exercise is great, but you don't want to go crazy - you want to do some weight training....google some ideas on exercises with free weights - squats is a great one, as are lunges....there is so much you can do with just free weights, you'll be shocked! Good Luck on your Journey:)
  • notmyrobot
    notmyrobot Posts: 14 Member
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    kshama2001 wrote: »
    With those other calculators, exercise is already factored in. With MFP, you add it in separately and earn extra exercise calories. (Which you should only eat about 50% back, as the burns are considered to be inflated.)

    For the gym, didn't they give you a free session with a trainer/orientation when you joined? Ask this person. Also consider taking a few sessions with a trainer - it will be much easier to learn that way than trying to pick it up from discussion boards. Plus, we will all tell you different things :D

    Also, please take it easy on your knees in the beginning - I say this to be cautionary, not judgmental - that's a lot of extra weight on those joints already and it's easy to injure them.

    I'm not sure if I get a session with a personal trainer! I will ask tonight when I go :) thanks for the tip!

    & yes I'm extra careful with my knees ! I played volleyball competitively all of high school and t ended because a girl came down on my leg after a block and I tore my acl. I brace it and take care of it accordingly :D
  • notmyrobot
    notmyrobot Posts: 14 Member
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    lorlor79 wrote: »
    Hey there...I am close to you in weight and same height. I am attending a weight loss centre which incorporates a dietician, social worker, physician, psychologist and personal trainer. They did some fancy schmancy test to see how many calories I burn a day and figured to lose weight in a safe and realistic way, I should be eating 2000 calories per day! Exercise is great, but you don't want to go crazy - you want to do some weight training....google some ideas on exercises with free weights - squats is a great one, as are lunges....there is so much you can do with just free weights, you'll be shocked! Good Luck on your Journey:)

    Thanks for all your input! :D that sounds like a good facility you're at! I wonder if we have any like that here. I'm considering the therapist just because I've noticed that a lot of it is mental and some days even though I'm feeling better I'm still finding myself down. Not fun!
  • mmteixeira
    mmteixeira Posts: 118 Member
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    In June 2015, I was 314 lbs and sedentary (office desk job). I changed my food intake to only clean foods and started using My Fitness Pal to track everything I eat (I was allowed 1840 cals per day). I also started playing golf again (walking) and would try to get 18 holes in twice a week. Over the first 4 months, I lost 45 lbs and at that point I started doing the 21 Day Fix and P90 workouts at home (I felt I was finally more mobile) - 30 minutes a day 7 days a week. As of today, I have dropped almost 75lbs and my pants are now a waist 42 (from a 48). I have started following the Couch to 5K running plan and do hope to run at least two 5K plans this year.

    The biggest impact for me early on was the food selection and portion control. I never felt hungry and had lots of choices for foods, I just found that I needed to cook more (I don't eat out anymore). The exercise was important to getting my heart and body fit again.

    If you start tracking your food, manage your portions and just going to the gym and walking 5 times a week, I would think you should see excellent results. Good luck!!!!
  • AllanMisner
    AllanMisner Posts: 4,140 Member
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    First, congratulations on deciding it is time to make a change for better health.

    Calories in and calories out are all estimates. From what you’ve said, 1600 should be an okay place to start. Just make sure you’re getting good nutrition by eating whole foods. Don’t be worried about low fat or low carb. Just avoid added sugar and eat as diverse of a whole food diet as you can.

    Yes, the gym can be a little intimidating the first time (it was for me years ago). The gym should have a trainer that can show you around. But you should always start with your other health and fitness goals. Food is the weight loss, exercise is to build some other fitness modality (Strength, Cardiovascular, Endurance, Mobility, Balance, etc.). I would recommend strength training (it will help you maintain muscle while you lose fat).

    I would always opt for free weights over machines, but machines are often easier to use at the beginning, so don’t stress over it (you can build strength and retain muscle using machines). Just go for sets of 8 - 10 at a weight that is hard to do with good form (if you finish a set with 10 and didn’t struggle, go heavier next time).

    Enjoy!

    Allan Misner
    NASM Certified Personal Trainer (Corrective Exercise Specialist, Fitness Nutrition Specialist)
    Host of the 40+ Fitness Podcast

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