1200 calories? Macros?
ashleyfxo
Posts: 1 Member
I've changed my settings to lose 2lbs per week, and it's at 1200 calories which I'm fine with. Do I really need to follow the macros aswell? Or just 1200 calories?
It wants me to have like 70g of protein and 150g carbs.. I'm trying to lose 45lbs by October
It wants me to have like 70g of protein and 150g carbs.. I'm trying to lose 45lbs by October
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Replies
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I've changed my settings to lose 2lbs per week, and it's at 1200 calories which I'm fine with. Do I really need to follow the macros aswell? Or just 1200 calories?
It wants me to have like 70g of protein and 150g carbs.. I'm trying to lose 45lbs by October
No it's calories for weight loss...
However 2lbs a week with 45lbs is a bit aggressive...Ideally you would be losing 1lb a week...
If there is a timeline on the weight loss starting earlier would have been better because as you lose weight at an aggressive pace you will lose muscle not just fat.3 -
Calories don't count. The constitution of the food does! You could eat salad and veg all day everyday and not hit that calorie target. Just eat good food sources. Keep protein high with some good quality fats. If you want to lose body fat, reduce your carbohydrate intake. Track carbs, not calories!-2
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hassankarimi82 wrote: »Calories don't count. The constitution of the food does! You could eat salad and veg all day everyday and not hit that calorie target. Just eat good food sources. Keep protein high with some good quality fats. If you want to lose body fat, reduce your carbohydrate intake. Track carbs, not calories!
So much bad information here..........
OP - calories count. Always. @SezxyStef is correct.11 -
hassankarimi82 wrote: »Calories don't count. The constitution of the food does! You could eat salad and veg all day everyday and not hit that calorie target. Just eat good food sources. Keep protein high with some good quality fats. If you want to lose body fat, reduce your carbohydrate intake. Track carbs, not calories!
Just a note, @Ashleyfxo. When you get conflicting information from different posters, look and see how many posts they have made. @hassankarimi82 has made 42 posts. @teabea has made 9,085 posts and @SezxyStef has made 12,323 posts. You probably want to listen to the people who have been around awhile (and know what they are talking about).12 -
hassankarimi82 wrote: »Calories don't count. The constitution of the food does! You could eat salad and veg all day everyday and not hit that calorie target. Just eat good food sources. Keep protein high with some good quality fats. If you want to lose body fat, reduce your carbohydrate intake. Track carbs, not calories!
So much bad information here..........
OP - calories count. Always. @SezxyStef is correct.
So if calories count, then why am I not 15 stone like fitness pal says I should be after a year of eating quality food in a surplus. It's sad that people track calories. There is a great difference in the calories on a plate full of vegetables than a plate with cake. Calories do not count. Quality food counts.0 -
hassankarimi82 wrote: »hassankarimi82 wrote: »Calories don't count. The constitution of the food does! You could eat salad and veg all day everyday and not hit that calorie target. Just eat good food sources. Keep protein high with some good quality fats. If you want to lose body fat, reduce your carbohydrate intake. Track carbs, not calories!
So much bad information here..........
OP - calories count. Always. @SezxyStef is correct.
So if calories count, then why am I not 15 stone like fitness pal says I should be after a year of eating quality food in a surplus. It's sad that people track calories. There is a great difference in the calories on a plate full of vegetables than a plate with cake. Calories do not count. Quality food counts.
Buy a food scale. Weigh everything in grams, and log religiously. And to the bolded...yeah, that's obvious. But if I correctly weigh and log the cake and make it fit in my daily calories, I'm gonna eat some cake.10 -
I've changed my settings to lose 2lbs per week, and it's at 1200 calories which I'm fine with. Do I really need to follow the macros aswell? Or just 1200 calories?
It wants me to have like 70g of protein and 150g carbs.. I'm trying to lose 45lbs by October
No it's calories for weight loss...
However 2lbs a week with 45lbs is a bit aggressive...Ideally you would be losing 1lb a week...
If there is a timeline on the weight loss starting earlier would have been better because as you lose weight at an aggressive pace you will lose muscle not just fat.
Agreed. 1 to 1.5 pounds per week max. When you have 40 pounds to lose I would drop it to 1 pound.
Something you could follow...
75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week
40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week
25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week
15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week
15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week
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quiksylver296 wrote: »hassankarimi82 wrote: »hassankarimi82 wrote: »Calories don't count. The constitution of the food does! You could eat salad and veg all day everyday and not hit that calorie target. Just eat good food sources. Keep protein high with some good quality fats. If you want to lose body fat, reduce your carbohydrate intake. Track carbs, not calories!
So much bad information here..........
OP - calories count. Always. @SezxyStef is correct.
So if calories count, then why am I not 15 stone like fitness pal says I should be after a year of eating quality food in a surplus. It's sad that people track calories. There is a great difference in the calories on a plate full of vegetables than a plate with cake. Calories do not count. Quality food counts.
Buy a food scale.
Haha! I didn't realise how volatile the community is. If we're being petty and childish, how about taking advice from people who look AWESOME and actually know what they're talking about. I've got a scale, but what the hell has that got to do with anything?! There's a lot of people here creating bad, unhealthy habits. Good quality food should not be tracked, weighed, whatever. A lifestyle change is key with consistency over time. I think everyone can distinguish good choices from bad.0 -
hassankarimi82 wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »hassankarimi82 wrote: »hassankarimi82 wrote: »Calories don't count. The constitution of the food does! You could eat salad and veg all day everyday and not hit that calorie target. Just eat good food sources. Keep protein high with some good quality fats. If you want to lose body fat, reduce your carbohydrate intake. Track carbs, not calories!
So much bad information here..........
OP - calories count. Always. @SezxyStef is correct.
So if calories count, then why am I not 15 stone like fitness pal says I should be after a year of eating quality food in a surplus. It's sad that people track calories. There is a great difference in the calories on a plate full of vegetables than a plate with cake. Calories do not count. Quality food counts.
Buy a food scale.
Haha! I didn't realise how volatile the community is. If we're being petty and childish, how about taking advice from people who look AWESOME and actually know what they're talking about. I've got a scale, but what the hell has that got to do with anything?! There's a lot of people here creating bad, unhealthy habits. Good quality food should not be tracked, weighed, whatever. A lifestyle change is key with consistency over time. I think everyone can distinguish good choices from bad.
Huh. I fit this description.12 -
hassankarimi82 wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »hassankarimi82 wrote: »hassankarimi82 wrote: »Calories don't count. The constitution of the food does! You could eat salad and veg all day everyday and not hit that calorie target. Just eat good food sources. Keep protein high with some good quality fats. If you want to lose body fat, reduce your carbohydrate intake. Track carbs, not calories!
So much bad information here..........
OP - calories count. Always. @SezxyStef is correct.
So if calories count, then why am I not 15 stone like fitness pal says I should be after a year of eating quality food in a surplus. It's sad that people track calories. There is a great difference in the calories on a plate full of vegetables than a plate with cake. Calories do not count. Quality food counts.
Buy a food scale.
Haha! I didn't realise how volatile the community is. If we're being petty and childish, how about taking advice from people who look AWESOME and actually know what they're talking about. I've got a scale, but what the hell has that got to do with anything?! There's a lot of people here creating bad, unhealthy habits. Good quality food should not be tracked, weighed, whatever. A lifestyle change is key with consistency over time. I think everyone can distinguish good choices from bad.
Okay so if I eat 3000 calories of good quality food I will be fine and won't gain even though my maintenance is 2400....is that what you are saying?7 -
hassankarimi82 wrote: »hassankarimi82 wrote: »Calories don't count. The constitution of the food does! You could eat salad and veg all day everyday and not hit that calorie target. Just eat good food sources. Keep protein high with some good quality fats. If you want to lose body fat, reduce your carbohydrate intake. Track carbs, not calories!
So much bad information here..........
OP - calories count. Always. @SezxyStef is correct.
So if calories count, then why am I not 15 stone like fitness pal says I should be after a year of eating quality food in a surplus. It's sad that people track calories. There is a great difference in the calories on a plate full of vegetables than a plate with cake. Calories do not count. Quality food counts.
If you don't track calories.....then how do you know you are eating at a surplus?
If you are losing weight, you are eating fewer calories than your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure).
Tracking calories is not "sad" for me. I have no intention of giving up carbs for the rest of my life. My choice is to "manage" carbs (measure & log).....not eliminate them.6 -
hassankarimi82 wrote: »Calories don't count. The constitution of the food does! You could eat salad and veg all day everyday and not hit that calorie target. Just eat good food sources. Keep protein high with some good quality fats. If you want to lose body fat, reduce your carbohydrate intake. Track carbs, not calories!
OP, please don't listen to this.4 -
hassankarimi82 wrote: »Calories don't count. The constitution of the food does! You could eat salad and veg all day everyday and not hit that calorie target. Just eat good food sources. Keep protein high with some good quality fats. If you want to lose body fat, reduce your carbohydrate intake. Track carbs, not calories!
No. Calories count...a lot.
Carbs do not make you fat-- an excess of calories does. Especially if you arent counting them. Terrible advice.
OP if you want to lose body fat eat the macros at your % preference but at a deficit of calories.4 -
Totally lost in translation because everyone wants to be 'right'.1
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hassankarimi82 wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »hassankarimi82 wrote: »hassankarimi82 wrote: »Calories don't count. The constitution of the food does! You could eat salad and veg all day everyday and not hit that calorie target. Just eat good food sources. Keep protein high with some good quality fats. If you want to lose body fat, reduce your carbohydrate intake. Track carbs, not calories!
So much bad information here..........
OP - calories count. Always. @SezxyStef is correct.
So if calories count, then why am I not 15 stone like fitness pal says I should be after a year of eating quality food in a surplus. It's sad that people track calories. There is a great difference in the calories on a plate full of vegetables than a plate with cake. Calories do not count. Quality food counts.
Buy a food scale.
Haha! I didn't realise how volatile the community is. If we're being petty and childish, how about taking advice from people who look AWESOME and actually know what they're talking about. I've got a scale, but what the hell has that got to do with anything?! There's a lot of people here creating bad, unhealthy habits. Good quality food should not be tracked, weighed, whatever. A lifestyle change is key with consistency over time. I think everyone can distinguish good choices from bad.
Okay so if I eat 3000 calories of good quality food I will be fine and won't gain even though my maintenance is 2400....is that what you are saying?
Right?!
I have some "good quality" brie--and some "good quality" wine. Neither of which I will track. My crackers are probably questionable so Ill just track those. Sounds like a win-win. =P8 -
hassankarimi82 wrote: »Totally lost in translation because everyone wants to be 'right'.
What, exactly, was lost in translation?
You say don't count calories. Everyone else says counting calories is the most accurate. As counting calories is the more popular opinion, who does that made "right"?1 -
Whoa, I've been served good and proper in here!0
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hassankarimi82 wrote: »Totally lost in translation because everyone wants to be 'right'.
Your message was clear. Albeit bad info for OP and her goals- it was clear. Nothing lost here.2 -
quiksylver296 wrote: »hassankarimi82 wrote: »Calories don't count. The constitution of the food does! You could eat salad and veg all day everyday and not hit that calorie target. Just eat good food sources. Keep protein high with some good quality fats. If you want to lose body fat, reduce your carbohydrate intake. Track carbs, not calories!
Just a note, @Ashleyfxo. When you get conflicting information from different posters, look and see how many posts they have made. @hassankarimi82 has made 42 posts. @teabea has made 9,085 posts and @SezxyStef has made 12,323 posts. You probably want to listen to the people who have been around awhile (and know what they are talking about).
So now the amount of posts on a forum make you an expert in fitness and nutrition? Well, guess I better quit my day job and focus on making posts here all day.
@hassankarimi82, I am in the same boat. I don't focus to hard on my daily calorie count. Some days I hit 1800, some I may do 1300. Eating the right foods is far more important then trying to fit a piece of cake into your macros. Don't be one of those people, IIFYM (if it fits your macros), you'll only find yourself making excuses to eat foods your shouldn't eat. I have also noticed on this page, there is a lot of conflicting information. @ashleyfxo, its going to be tough to weed through it for your purpose. The most basic advice I can say is, focus on eating a healthy variety of foods, veggies, meats, fruits, carbs, nuts, oils. For protein, I personally eat about .7-.9 grams per body pound and sometimes less depending the day. I think the carbs might be a bit high if your trying to lose weight, but that's my opinion. @ashleyfxo, I if your looking for good nutritional advice, and have some time to spare, I advice listening to Mind Pump. They are a fitness podcast on iTunes, and have taught me a lot about eating right, along with much more. Check them out. Best of luck shifting through all this clutter.3 -
hassankarimi82 wrote: »Whoa, I've been served good and proper in here!
Welcome to MFP. You'll find most people are pro-count calories. Not all, but most.2 -
Your message was clear. Albeit bad info for OP and her goals- it was clear. Nothing lost here.[/quote]
Well, I don't think it's bad info. It works for me and my clients. I try to encourage good, healthy habits and personally, calorie counting isn't great. Fair enough if your prepping for a show or whatever. But as a lifestyle, a calorie deficit will result in weight loss, regardless of what you eat. But what that food is made up from, is the fundamental aspect.1 -
quiksylver296 wrote: »hassankarimi82 wrote: »Calories don't count. The constitution of the food does! You could eat salad and veg all day everyday and not hit that calorie target. Just eat good food sources. Keep protein high with some good quality fats. If you want to lose body fat, reduce your carbohydrate intake. Track carbs, not calories!
Just a note, @Ashleyfxo. When you get conflicting information from different posters, look and see how many posts they have made. @hassankarimi82 has made 42 posts. @teabea has made 9,085 posts and @SezxyStef has made 12,323 posts. You probably want to listen to the people who have been around awhile (and know what they are talking about).
So now the amount of posts on a forum make you an expert in fitness and nutrition? Well, guess I better quit my day job and focus on making posts here all day.
@hassankarimi82, I am in the same boat. I don't focus to hard on my daily calorie count. Some days I hit 1800, some I may do 1300. Eating the right foods is far more important then trying to fit a piece of cake into your macros. Don't be one of those people, IIFYM (if it fits your macros), you'll only find yourself making excuses to eat foods your shouldn't eat. I have also noticed on this page, there is a lot of conflicting information. @ashleyfxo, its going to be tough to weed through it for your purpose. The most basic advice I can say is, focus on eating a healthy variety of foods, veggies, meats, fruits, carbs, nuts, oils. For protein, I personally eat about .7-.9 grams per body pound and sometimes less depending the day. I think the carbs might be a bit high if your trying to lose weight, but that's my opinion. @ashleyfxo, I if your looking for good nutritional advice, and have some time to spare, I advice listening to Mind Pump. They are a fitness podcast on iTunes, and have taught me a lot about eating right, along with much more. Check them out. Best of luck shifting through all this clutter.
But if you are keeping your calorie count under 1800 per day, you're going to lose weight. If you go over your TDEE (whatever that is for you. For me, it's approximately 2200 calories), you will gain weight, right? That's all we're saying.1 -
hassankarimi82 wrote: »Your message was clear. Albeit bad info for OP and her goals- it was clear. Nothing lost here.Well, I don't think it's bad info. It works for me and my clients. I try to encourage good, healthy habits and personally, calorie counting isn't great. Fair enough if your prepping for a show or whatever. But as a lifestyle, a calorie deficit will result in weight loss, regardless of what you eat. But what that food is made up from, is the fundamental aspect.
Um, this is what we are all saying...
3 -
This is terrible advice. For those lucky enough to not have to track God Bless them. For the average person, tracking, at least in the beginning, will teach proper portion size...hassankarimi82 wrote: »Good quality food should not be tracked, weighed, whatever.
100% agree with this...hassankarimi82 wrote: »A lifestyle change is key with consistency over time.
The notion of good vs bad food is a bad idea. Nutrition is not black and white, there are many shades of grey. You can not determine a foods worth without the context of the overall diet...hassankarimi82 wrote: »I think everyone can distinguish good choices from bad.
Indeed...hassankarimi82 wrote: »There's a lot of people here creating bad, unhealthy habits.4 -
hassankarimi82 wrote: »Totally lost in translation because everyone wants to be 'right'.
Yes, we do tend to like to provide accurate and correct information in response to questions. It's a weird thing we've got going on here . . .3 -
quiksylver296 wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »hassankarimi82 wrote: »Calories don't count. The constitution of the food does! You could eat salad and veg all day everyday and not hit that calorie target. Just eat good food sources. Keep protein high with some good quality fats. If you want to lose body fat, reduce your carbohydrate intake. Track carbs, not calories!
Just a note, @Ashleyfxo. When you get conflicting information from different posters, look and see how many posts they have made. @hassankarimi82 has made 42 posts. @teabea has made 9,085 posts and @SezxyStef has made 12,323 posts. You probably want to listen to the people who have been around awhile (and know what they are talking about).
So now the amount of posts on a forum make you an expert in fitness and nutrition? Well, guess I better quit my day job and focus on making posts here all day.
@hassankarimi82, I am in the same boat. I don't focus to hard on my daily calorie count. Some days I hit 1800, some I may do 1300. Eating the right foods is far more important then trying to fit a piece of cake into your macros. Don't be one of those people, IIFYM (if it fits your macros), you'll only find yourself making excuses to eat foods your shouldn't eat. I have also noticed on this page, there is a lot of conflicting information. @ashleyfxo, its going to be tough to weed through it for your purpose. The most basic advice I can say is, focus on eating a healthy variety of foods, veggies, meats, fruits, carbs, nuts, oils. For protein, I personally eat about .7-.9 grams per body pound and sometimes less depending the day. I think the carbs might be a bit high if your trying to lose weight, but that's my opinion. @ashleyfxo, I if your looking for good nutritional advice, and have some time to spare, I advice listening to Mind Pump. They are a fitness podcast on iTunes, and have taught me a lot about eating right, along with much more. Check them out. Best of luck shifting through all this clutter.
But if you are keeping your calorie count under 1800 per day, you're going to lose weight. If you go over your TDEE (whatever that is for you. For me, it's approximately 2200 calories), you will gain weight, right?
Not necessarily. Its all about calories in versus calories out. On an off day from the gym I fast longer, and consume less then on a day where I will be in the gym lifting heavy. I Just know what I need to eat to feel full, and have enough energy to get to the next meal.0 -
hassankarimi82 wrote: »Your message was clear. Albeit bad info for OP and her goals- it was clear. Nothing lost here.
Well, I don't think it's bad info. It works for me and my clients. I try to encourage good, healthy habits and personally, calorie counting isn't great. Fair enough if your prepping for a show or whatever. But as a lifestyle, a calorie deficit will result in weight loss, regardless of what you eat. But what that food is made up from, is the fundamental aspect.
Majoring in the minors. Everyone knows healthy options are better than a diet full of junk food. No one is arguing that. "A balanced diet" has been burned into our brain. Thats not brand new information.
Why do you think OP (along with many others) needs to lose weight? From overeating- and could very well have been overeating your good/healthy foods.
You are saying QUALITY OVER QUANTITY. Well that quantity is fundamental as well.
How can one know how much they are eating, and burning, and should be eating to insure they lose weight?
By counting calories- So telling them that calories dont count <because it works for you and your clients> isnt very good advice.1 -
Um, this is what we are all saying... [/quote]
You could say - macro and calorie track and eat junk food and reach your goals, but making good choices wouldn't require you to be strict and calories count. Are you saying a surplus of lettuce should be logged and tracked?! Do you weigh out....peas? Crazy if you ask me.
Example -
CAKE, track it yes.
VEGETABLES, don't bother. Fill your boots!
Understand? It depends on what the foods consist of.
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quiksylver296 wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »hassankarimi82 wrote: »Calories don't count. The constitution of the food does! You could eat salad and veg all day everyday and not hit that calorie target. Just eat good food sources. Keep protein high with some good quality fats. If you want to lose body fat, reduce your carbohydrate intake. Track carbs, not calories!
Just a note, @Ashleyfxo. When you get conflicting information from different posters, look and see how many posts they have made. @hassankarimi82 has made 42 posts. @teabea has made 9,085 posts and @SezxyStef has made 12,323 posts. You probably want to listen to the people who have been around awhile (and know what they are talking about).
So now the amount of posts on a forum make you an expert in fitness and nutrition? Well, guess I better quit my day job and focus on making posts here all day.
@hassankarimi82, I am in the same boat. I don't focus to hard on my daily calorie count. Some days I hit 1800, some I may do 1300. Eating the right foods is far more important then trying to fit a piece of cake into your macros. Don't be one of those people, IIFYM (if it fits your macros), you'll only find yourself making excuses to eat foods your shouldn't eat. I have also noticed on this page, there is a lot of conflicting information. @ashleyfxo, its going to be tough to weed through it for your purpose. The most basic advice I can say is, focus on eating a healthy variety of foods, veggies, meats, fruits, carbs, nuts, oils. For protein, I personally eat about .7-.9 grams per body pound and sometimes less depending the day. I think the carbs might be a bit high if your trying to lose weight, but that's my opinion. @ashleyfxo, I if your looking for good nutritional advice, and have some time to spare, I advice listening to Mind Pump. They are a fitness podcast on iTunes, and have taught me a lot about eating right, along with much more. Check them out. Best of luck shifting through all this clutter.
But if you are keeping your calorie count under 1800 per day, you're going to lose weight. If you go over your TDEE (whatever that is for you. For me, it's approximately 2200 calories), you will gain weight, right?
Not necessarily. Its all about calories in versus calories out. On an off day from the gym I fast longer, and consume less then on a day where I will be in the gym lifting heavy. I Just know what I need to eat to feel full, and have enough energy to get to the next meal.
I 100% agree with this.
Most people, however, especially if they are not currently fit and active, do not know what 1800 calories truly looks like. That's where weighing and logging can help their skewed perception. You may be able to accurately determine how many calories are in this...but the majority of people cannot.
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hassankarimi82 wrote: »Um, this is what we are all saying...
You could say - macro and calorie track and eat junk food and reach your goals, but making good choices wouldn't require you to be strict and calories count. Are you saying a surplus of lettuce should be logged and tracked?! Do you weigh out....peas? Crazy if you ask me.
Example -
CAKE, track it yes.
VEGETABLES, don't bother. Fill your boots!
Understand? It depends on what the foods consist of.
Call me crazy then, bro. I weigh and measure and log it ALL. Including my peas, if I ate them.
- how would one know the lettuce was in a surplus without tracking? And yes, its easy to pick a near 0 calorie food for your example. Not everyone is a rabbit.5
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