Is this a good idea?

Ok so I have had 4 kids and I'm 181 lbs I'm 5 feet 4 inches and a 28 yr old female. I wanna lose more weight. I have started a 1,200 calaorie diet and I walk about 3 hours at a time in the morning a day. My youngest is 1 so I can't do many exercises so I try 2 get at least 10 sit ups in. I don't pay attention to sugars or any other intake but the 1,200 calories. Will this help me loose weight? How fast would it?
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Replies

  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Plug your stats into MFP and choose a goal based on your current size. 1200 (before exercise) is as low as MFP will go.

    This will give you an idea what to expect for weekly loss:
    Pound per week goals
    75+ lbs set to lose 2 lb range
    Between 40 - 75 lbs set to lose 1.5 lb range
    Between 25-40 lbs set to lose 1 lb range
    Between 15-25 lbs set to lose 1 -.50 lb range
    Less than 15 lbs set to lose 0.5 lbs range

    Eating less & moving more is what you need for weight loss.
  • samjoy
    samjoy Posts: 119 Member
    Have you used the MFP calculator to see how much you need in a day? Are you eating back your exercise calories? 1200 seems very low and unsustainable especially if you're walking 3 hrs a day (and please tell me your secret on how you have time to do this with 4 kids?!) Good for you - I have two and I really struggle to get 30 mins in....
  • Jruzer
    Jruzer Posts: 3,501 Member
    Plus with 4 kids, including a toddler, I'm pretty sure that you're not sedentary.
  • tenshi614
    tenshi614 Posts: 51 Member
    Well my secret is they go 2 school but my 1 yr old, and I have a limited of time 4 things lol. I choose the 1,200 calorie diet, I do use the map calculator but I am trying 2 stay at 1,200 calories. I walk for 3 hours straight then do house work and clean up after the baby, I also play xbox for.a few hours. I wanna know if I can lose the baby fat I have 4rm the kids if I continue what I'm doing and how fast can I lose it?
  • tenshi614
    tenshi614 Posts: 51 Member
    edited April 2016
    TeaBea wrote: »
    Plug your stats into MFP and choose a goal based on your current size. 1200 (before exercise) is as low as MFP will go.

    This will give you an idea what to expect for weekly loss:
    Pound per week goals
    75+ lbs set to lose 2 lb range
    Between 40 - 75 lbs set to lose 1.5 lb range
    Between 25-40 lbs set to lose 1 lb range
    Between 15-25 lbs set to lose 1 -.50 lb range
    Less than 15 lbs set to lose 0.5 lbs range

    Eating less & moving more is what you need for weight loss.

    I have done this, and set It for 2 lbs a week. I choose to have the 1,200 calorie intake.
  • Muscleflex79
    Muscleflex79 Posts: 1,917 Member
    if you have time to play xbox every day for "a few hours" you have time to exercised
  • capaul42
    capaul42 Posts: 1,390 Member
    @tenshi614 I was on 1200 when I started at the same weight (181) though I'm a little taller at 5'6". And the pounds do come off (down 23 since Jan), but I did up it to 1300 last month because I found it was coming off a little too fast. Now I'm averaging about .6-1lb a week which is a little better. I've still got another 15-20 to go but I'll get there eventually.
  • Asher_Ethan
    Asher_Ethan Posts: 2,430 Member
    edited April 2016
    What's your goal weight?
    Are you logging those 3 hours of walking as exercise?
    Why are you doing 10 sit ups a day?
  • tenshi614
    tenshi614 Posts: 51 Member
    if you have time to play xbox every day for "a few hours" you have time to exercised

    I ment like at the gym, and when ur 1yr old just jumps all over u when ur on the floor it's hard.
  • tenshi614
    tenshi614 Posts: 51 Member
    capaul42 wrote: »
    @tenshi614 I was on 1200 when I started at the same weight (181) though I'm a little taller at 5'6". And the pounds do come off (down 23 since Jan), but I did up it to 1300 last month because I found it was coming off a little too fast. Now I'm averaging about .6-1lb a week which is a little better. I've still got another 15-20 to go but I'll get there eventually.

    I want it off fast, I don't wanna wait a yr 2 get 2 my goal of 125 lol
  • tenshi614
    tenshi614 Posts: 51 Member
    What's your goal weight?
    Are you logging those 3 hours of walking as exercise?
    Why are you doing 10 sit ups a day?

    125 or 115, no I 4got 2 log but now that u reminded me lol. Cuz I have the fat flb from having the kids so I'm trying 2 tone my tummy so it goes away.
  • tenshi614
    tenshi614 Posts: 51 Member
    edited April 2016
    Oh and by a few hours on xbox I ment like 2 if that between getting up and dealing with the baby.
  • Asher_Ethan
    Asher_Ethan Posts: 2,430 Member
    tenshi614 wrote: »
    What's your goal weight?
    Are you logging those 3 hours of walking as exercise?
    Why are you doing 10 sit ups a day?

    125 or 115, no I 4got 2 log but now that u reminded me lol. Cuz I have the fat flb from having the kids so I'm trying 2 tone my tummy so it goes away.

    Sit ups won't get rid of belly fat.
    When you log your 3 hours of walking, only eat back 50-75% of what it says you burned as mfp it's notorious for overestimating calorie burn.
    If you can't stick to 1200 a day and you end up in a binge all the time, make a less aggressive goal like lose 1 pound a week. It will slow down weight loss, but you're less likely too binge.
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,741 Member
    Three hours of walking is a lot! Where do you walk? Do you take the baby? Just curious because depending on where you walk and other circumstances maybe other exercises can be added in to make it more intense and less time consuming.
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,164 Member
    if you have time to play xbox every day for "a few hours" you have time to exercised

    She said she walks for about 3 hours in the morning. She can spend a little time on the Xbox if she wants.

    OP If you are going to eat at 1200 calories per day you need to log your 3 hour walks and eat at least half of the exercise calories you burn from that back. I started at 195 on Sept 25th and I am down 43 pounds so about 7 months. I set my goal at 1300 calories plus I usually eat about 75% of my exercise calories so usually around 1400-1550 per day. I think you may be quite a bit more active than me. I'm close to your height but older and have a sedentary job. My main exercise is walking about 1 hour and 15 minutes per day and occasionally I do a yoga dvd. I think that you could easily eat 1400 calories per day and still lose weight. It might take a little longer, but slower weight loss is healthier and more sustainable. But if you are going to stick to 1200 be sure that you get plenty of protien and eat back some of the exercise calories.
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,741 Member
    tenshi614 wrote: »
    capaul42 wrote: »
    @tenshi614 I was on 1200 when I started at the same weight (181) though I'm a little taller at 5'6". And the pounds do come off (down 23 since Jan), but I did up it to 1300 last month because I found it was coming off a little too fast. Now I'm averaging about .6-1lb a week which is a little better. I've still got another 15-20 to go but I'll get there eventually.

    I want it off fast, I don't wanna wait a yr 2 get 2 my goal of 125 lol

    With four kids, you should have learned some patience. :)

  • evildeadedd
    evildeadedd Posts: 108 Member
    edited April 2016
    tenshi614 wrote: »
    capaul42 wrote: »
    @tenshi614 I was on 1200 when I started at the same weight (181) though I'm a little taller at 5'6". And the pounds do come off (down 23 since Jan), but I did up it to 1300 last month because I found it was coming off a little too fast. Now I'm averaging about .6-1lb a week which is a little better. I've still got another 15-20 to go but I'll get there eventually.

    I want it off fast, I don't wanna wait a yr 2 get 2 my goal of 125 lol

    With 50 or so pounds to lose, 2 pounds a week is pretty aggressive. Everyone wants to lose weight and be at goal right now, but unfortunately it's going to take time. When you set such an aggressive goal, and start focusing on losing as fast as possible, you are setting yourself up to crash and burn. Take it from someone who has done many a crash diet over the years. When you over restrict and push yourself too hard only focusing on speed loss,there is almost always a rebound.
  • tenshi614
    tenshi614 Posts: 51 Member
    tenshi614 wrote: »
    What's your goal weight?
    Are you logging those 3 hours of walking as exercise?
    Why are you doing 10 sit ups a day?

    125 or 115, no I 4got 2 log but now that u reminded me lol. Cuz I have the fat flb from having the kids so I'm trying 2 tone my tummy so it goes away.

    Sit ups won't get rid of belly fat.
    When you log your 3 hours of walking, only eat back 50-75% of what it says you burned as mfp it's notorious for overestimating calorie burn.
    If you can't stick to 1200 a day and you end up in a binge all the time, make a less aggressive goal like lose 1 pound a week. It will slow down weight loss, but you're less likely too binge.

    Ok, what will get rid of the excess fat from the baby?
  • tenshi614
    tenshi614 Posts: 51 Member
    BZAH10 wrote: »
    Three hours of walking is a lot! Where do you walk? Do you take the baby? Just curious because depending on where you walk and other circumstances maybe other exercises can be added in to make it more intense and less time consuming.

    I walk from my house 45 mins to a park with a lake and that takes an hour of my pace of walking, then 45 mins home. So about 3 hours. Yes I take the baby in the stroller.
  • jandsstevenson887
    jandsstevenson887 Posts: 296 Member
    A calorie deficit. Go with the number MFP gives you.
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    tenshi614 wrote: »
    I want it off fast, I don't wanna wait a yr 2 get 2 my goal of 125 lol

    Please be patient and give yourself some grace. It's a marathon, not a sprint. The weight didn't come on overnight, and it won't leave that way, either. The idea is to develop sustainable habits you can maintain when you're done. You want to be able to preserve as much lean body mass (since you're not doing a lot of activities which may increase it) and at that calorie level, it could be tough to do so.

    Just my two cents. :blush:
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,164 Member
    tenshi614 wrote: »
    tenshi614 wrote: »
    What's your goal weight?
    Are you logging those 3 hours of walking as exercise?
    Why are you doing 10 sit ups a day?

    125 or 115, no I 4got 2 log but now that u reminded me lol. Cuz I have the fat flb from having the kids so I'm trying 2 tone my tummy so it goes away.

    Sit ups won't get rid of belly fat.
    When you log your 3 hours of walking, only eat back 50-75% of what it says you burned as mfp it's notorious for overestimating calorie burn.
    If you can't stick to 1200 a day and you end up in a binge all the time, make a less aggressive goal like lose 1 pound a week. It will slow down weight loss, but you're less likely too binge.

    Ok, what will get rid of the excess fat from the baby?

    You can't spot reduce. The weight will just come off when it comes off. For me the belly is the last to go.
  • tenshi614
    tenshi614 Posts: 51 Member
    kgirlhart wrote: »
    if you have time to play xbox every day for "a few hours" you have time to exercised

    She said she walks for about 3 hours in the morning. She can spend a little time on the Xbox if she wants.

    OP If you are going to eat at 1200 calories per day you need to log your 3 hour walks and eat at least half of the exercise calories you burn from that back. I started at 195 on Sept 25th and I am down 43 pounds so about 7 months. I set my goal at 1300 calories plus I usually eat about 75% of my exercise calories so usually around 1400-1550 per day. I think you may be quite a bit more active than me. I'm close to your height but older and have a sedentary job. My main exercise is walking about 1 hour and 15 minutes per day and occasionally I do a yoga dvd. I think that you could easily eat 1400 calories per day and still lose weight. It might take a little longer, but slower weight loss is healthier and more sustainable. But if you are going to stick to 1200 be sure that you get plenty of protien and eat back some of the exercise calories.

    See I havnt started the logging on walking till 2day but I just started this Tuesday, this routien, so I was hoping that it will work, but also I actually don't eat anything else in the day after the 1,200 calories without logging the walking, so I should b losing more faster I think, I will see I guess after a week. I didn't even think bout logging the walking so I dot even eat the 1,200 calories after all if I don't ever log the walking lol.
  • tenshi614
    tenshi614 Posts: 51 Member
    glassyo wrote: »
    tenshi614 wrote: »
    capaul42 wrote: »
    @tenshi614 I was on 1200 when I started at the same weight (181) though I'm a little taller at 5'6". And the pounds do come off (down 23 since Jan), but I did up it to 1300 last month because I found it was coming off a little too fast. Now I'm averaging about .6-1lb a week which is a little better. I've still got another 15-20 to go but I'll get there eventually.

    I want it off fast, I don't wanna wait a yr 2 get 2 my goal of 125 lol

    With four kids, you should have learned some patience. :)

    Lol I do have some but I have been working on my weight for over a yr now, but havnt counted calories, just changed my diet and it didn't seem like I was losing alot. Now I'm doing this new routine and I just wanted 2 see if it will work, so I was asking around for advice.
  • jandsstevenson887
    jandsstevenson887 Posts: 296 Member
    I'm not exactly sure what you are saying but MFP is designed for you to eat back at least some of your exercise calories.
  • tenshi614
    tenshi614 Posts: 51 Member
    tenshi614 wrote: »
    capaul42 wrote: »
    @tenshi614 I was on 1200 when I started at the same weight (181) though I'm a little taller at 5'6". And the pounds do come off (down 23 since Jan), but I did up it to 1300 last month because I found it was coming off a little too fast. Now I'm averaging about .6-1lb a week which is a little better. I've still got another 15-20 to go but I'll get there eventually.

    I want it off fast, I don't wanna wait a yr 2 get 2 my goal of 125 lol

    With 50 or so pounds to lose, 2 pounds a week is pretty aggressive. Everyone wants to lose weight and be at goal right now, but unfortunately it's going to take time. When you set such an aggressive goal, and start focusing on losing as fast as possible, you are setting yourself up to crash and burn. Take it from someone who has done many a crash diet over the years. When you over restrict and push yourself too hard only focusing on speed loss,there is almost always a rebound.

    I didn't think with just walking and only eating 1,200 calories would b enough, but from what ppl on here are saying I didn't realize it was so aggressive, maybe I will lay off walking 2 days out of the week, or when I'm 2 tired from the baby lol. I didn't notice it was such an aggressive routine lol.
  • tenshi614
    tenshi614 Posts: 51 Member
    Ok so I'm doing this diet and stuff and every one here is saying it's aggressive, ok so I will work on that. What can I do after the weight is down to get rid of the excess fat with the baby? Is just walking enough?
  • jandsstevenson887
    jandsstevenson887 Posts: 296 Member
    The workouts aren't too aggressive but the calorie restriction can be. Keep walking. Log those calories and eat 50-75% of them back.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    Replace two meals a day with replacement shakes or smoothies. Add steamed veggies to daily meal.

    No. There's no need to not eat actual food.
  • evildeadedd
    evildeadedd Posts: 108 Member
    edited April 2016
    tenshi614 wrote: »
    Ok so I'm doing this diet and stuff and every one here is saying it's aggressive, ok so I will work on that. What can I do after the weight is down to get rid of the excess fat with the baby? Is just walking enough?

    Walking is fine, it's good exercise. Weight is lost in the kitchen, so as long as you are accurate with weighing your food and loging correctly you can lose weight doing no exercise at all.