How important is daily calorie intake?
Replies
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mayoosh_primrose wrote: »Your body has probably gone into starvation mode because of the reduced calorie intake, which then makes weight loss very difficult.
This is "the body's natural response to long-term calorie restriction. It involves a reduction in the amount of calories your body burns, which can slow down weight loss."
So try to increase your calorie intake to 1200 or so and see what happens
good luck!
Nope. It's a myth. In order to be in starvation mode, you have to be emaciated and have lost a certain amount of body fat and muscle.2 -
So what am I doing wrong then? I'm eating very healthy lean protein (chicken breast and tilapia) lots of fresh veggies and fruit only for breakfast... also working out a lot...
Food type has nothing to do with weight loss.
Are you eating your exercise calories back? Where do you get the burns from?1 -
seekingdaintiness wrote: »Weighing your food doesn't matter, only MFPers who want to eat way too much think it does.
If your body is smaller but the scale hasn't gone down, you probably have lost fat and are retaining water and some time soon it will all flush out. Just keep it up.
interesting...esp since my Type 1 diabetic brother weighs his food...always has.
To the OP I agree with most of the good points here....to sum them up
Use a food scale
CI or CO is off or both....see the flow chart
No way you could be doing that much activity on so few calories and not losing scale weight
Or are you losing just not fast enough
no starvation mode it's a myth
activity trackers in general are fine for most people
if you are smaller why does scale weight matter5 -
seekingdaintiness wrote: »(1) Weighing your food doesn't matter, (2) only MFPers who want to eat way too much think it does.
If your body is smaller but the scale hasn't gone down, you probably have lost fat and are retaining water and some time soon it will all flush out. Just keep it up.
Really? (1) it does if you want accuracy, and (2) that's a silly, sweeping generalization.
The bottom line is the OP does not really know how much she is eating.
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Hey guys ...
Based on the calculations I should be eating no less than 1200 cals daily ... however I started eating clean 4 weeks ago and I can't seem to hit this number ... I'm also burning 500-900 cals daily 5/6 days a week with biking, running, lifting...
My issue is that I'm not really seeing the scale move...
... my body does look smaller and I also fitting into smaller sizes but the scale won't budge ... if anything it looks like I'm gaining weight....
Is anyone having similar issues? If so what have you done and what had helped? ...
Thanks so much!
You have much to learn, and that's fine. We all started somewhere.
What does "clean eating" mean for you? I ask not to start the old MFP clean food fight (there's no good definition for it) but to get a sense of what you're eating and more importantly what you're restricting from your diet.
Are you saying that you're struggling to keep your calories consumed above 1200? Can you expand on this please? How many calories do you typically eat? What prevents you from eating more?2 -
It's possible you aren't doing anything wrong. I have full months where the scale doesn't budge, then suddenly I'll be down 4 lbs one morning. Give it time, 4 weeks isn't that long. What I would do if I needed to see the scale more more, faster is I would up my cardio a bit....maybe replace one of your lifting sessions with a full on cardio session.1
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If weighing food results in eating at a deficit, how is it a tool for those who want to eat too much? That makes no sense. It especially makes no sense when someone who thinks they are eating at a deficit but isn't losing is told to weigh their food and be careful about the database options chosen. (On that note, OP, it might be helpful to open your diary and have people give you logging tips -- there could be no problem, but often new people have trouble navigating the database, which has lots of wrong entries).
Now, I admit that for me the benefit of weighing was that I was able to increase calories -- I'd been losing without problem, started MFP, logged my food (and eventually broke out my old food scale, which I used to use for baking, as I found weighing much easier than estimating) and saw I was eating around 900, which was crazy, even though I wasn't that active yet, and would not have been sustainable over time, and I increased calories and continued to lose at 2+ lb/week. Now, I suppose it you have a messed up relationship with food you could interpret using the logging and food scale to encourage oneself to increase calories from 900 to 1250 (soon 1250 net) as using it to "eat too much," who knows. But IMO considering that less extreme (still 1000 calorie) deficit "eating too much" is, well, quite odd and disturbing. There's no prize for eating as little as possible, and it's not actually healthy to do that.1 -
seekingdaintiness wrote: »Weighing your food doesn't matter, only MFPers who want to eat way too much think it does.
.
Wow inaccurate, sweeping and really Rude5 -
seekingdaintiness wrote: »Weighing your food doesn't matter, only MFPers who want to eat way too much think it does.
If your body is smaller but the scale hasn't gone down, you probably have lost fat and are retaining water and some time soon it will all flush out. Just keep it up.
If you're not weighing your food, how do you *know* if you're eating too much/too little/just right?
You seem to suggest that not weighing food leads to eating less. I honestly can't get my mind around that, and the current obesity epidemic suggest millions of others can't either.4 -
upromisejcd wrote: »You are losing fat and gaining muscle. Don't distress. Focus on how you feel and look, rather than the movement of the scale.
If OP is truly eating 1200 (gross) calories.....she's not gaining lean muscle mass. Losing lean muscle mass would be much more likely.
OP - Take a look at the flow chart above. Water weight is likely with sore muscles. Weighing food is critical when you get closer to goal. Your deficit just isn't that big anymore.
When you are close to goal a tape measure is a great tool. "Looking" like you body has gotten smaller vs. "my body HAS gotten smaller"....this is motivation.1 -
seekingdaintiness wrote: »Weighing your food doesn't matter, only MFPers who want to eat way too much think it does.
That's just all kinds of backwards. If someone wanted to eat way too much, weighing his/her food would probably be the last thing to do. Just eat.
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If you're in smaller clothes you're losing inches. Personally I'd rather lose inches than lbs. The scale is only one way to measure progress.2
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Hey guys... me again!! Thanks so much for all your feedback, I really appreciate your time .... I think I may have figured it out.... I went out and purchased a new scale today and as it turns out I'm down more than I thought ... so woohoo to that!!! It appears the scale was faulty ... however I was also backed up quite a bit which an herbal lax tea helped out ...
As for your questions what I'm eating and what clean eating means to me ... no processed foods and trying to keep the 80%20% with some low sodium spices (loving the flavor God line) Sriracha and so on .... I'm following this nutrition plan as it makes most sense to me and it's easiest to follow ... I cut out all dairy because I'm lactose intolerant and as soon as that was out of my diet my stomach flattened and I'm feeling better ... as for the pasta rice and couscous ... it's a personal choice ... perhaps not realistic for long term for I'm kicking it for the next 12 weeks ...
My nutrition / exercise is as follows (and pretty much every day is the same) ... I do take at least one day off from running and gym but have been going on hikes on those days- taking advantage of the amazing weather
6am 20/30 min run/walk with my pup
8am I make a fruit smoothie: banana, strawberries blueberries raspberries blackberries almond milk chia seed and flax seed
10:30 half quest protein bar
12:30 tilapia salmon or chicken breast over veggies
3 other half of protein bar
6 walk the puppy for 45/1 HR
7ish gym more running and lifting
830 - yes big gap but timing is tight - similar to lunch
Sometimes I add almonds for a snack
I take amino energy, fish oil, cla
The reason why I haven't been able to eat more than 1200 is because I'm eating way more quantity wise and the foods I'm eating don't have a high calorie value ... I'm feeling stuffed all the time and end up eating both lunch and dinner in two goes0 -
Eat larger portions: more almonds for example.0
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Yup.. I was thinking "what the heck??" I still weigh most my stuff after two years of maintaining. Huh??seekingdaintiness wrote: »Weighing your food doesn't matter, only MFPers who want to eat way too much think it does.
I read on a daily basis. Mostly trash and brain numbing articles on how to be more...anything. I read about the joke that is our election. I read about people crashing while hunting pokemon or falling off cliffs. I have even read about stupid criminals. The point of my banter is I read a lot of stupid stuff, YET the above comment is still the most absurd thing I have ever read....in my life.
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Yup.. I was thinking "what the heck??" I still weigh most my stuff after two years of maintaining. Huh??seekingdaintiness wrote: »Weighing your food doesn't matter, only MFPers who want to eat way too much think it does.
I read on a daily basis. Mostly trash and brain numbing articles on how to be more...anything. I read about the joke that is our election. I read about people crashing while hunting pokemon or falling off cliffs. I have even read about stupid criminals. The point of my banter is I read a lot of stupid stuff, YET the above comment is still the most absurd thing I have ever read....in my life.
Yeah, calories aren't even the only reason to weigh food. I'm concerned with macros and micros too.3 -
@queenliz99 I was curious, too, so I looked at @seekingdaintiness profile. She lost a ton of weight without a foodscale, which is mentioned in her profile information. I personally find using a food scale helpful, but she does not.0
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KetoneKaren wrote: »@queenliz99 I was curious, too, so I looked at @seekingdaintiness profile. She lost a ton of weight without a foodscale, which is mentioned in her profile information. I personally find using a food scale helpful, but she does not.
I read their profile too...and she sounds angry and a lot of what is in it is wrong...
no need to bash those who use a food scale...ensures we are eating less....and like I said my brother uses one and he isn't losing weight he does it due to his diabetes....always did.2 -
I'm not a doctor or nutritionist, but I know calories aren't the number one most important thing. Eating good calories is the most important thing. But you also have to watch sodium and transfats. For example, ramen noodles (like the little cup sizes) have over 1,000mg of sodium but only 230ish calories (anyone wants to correct me feel free). Doesn't make it healthy at all. You have to consider all the factors of a food item, not only the calories. Of course that doesn't mean a high calorie, low sodium/fats food is good for you 100% of the time. It depends on the type of calories...good carbs: in wheat bread. Bad carbs: in fried food.0
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KetoneKaren wrote: »@queenliz99 I was curious, too, so I looked at @seekingdaintiness profile. She lost a ton of weight without a foodscale, which is mentioned in her profile information. I personally find using a food scale helpful, but she does not.
I agree, I've asked this before of her but she must be confident in her calorie counting. But to say food scale is not necessary or users of food scales as bunch of overeaters or whatever she called us is bizarre. Good on her but to bash us, not sure what her problem is. Losing a lot of weight makes you angry, I guess.2 -
I'm not a doctor or nutritionist, but I know calories aren't the number one most important thing. Eating good calories is the most important thing. But you also have to watch sodium and transfats. For example, ramen noodles (like the little cup sizes) have over 1,000mg of sodium but only 230ish calories (anyone wants to correct me feel free). Doesn't make it healthy at all. You have to consider all the factors of a food item, not only the calories. Of course that doesn't mean a high calorie, low sodium/fats food is good for you 100% of the time. It depends on the type of calories...good carbs: in wheat bread. Bad carbs: in fried food.
you are wrong.
for weight loss calories are king.
and even if you are striving for health put a label of "bad" on food is not healthy....
food is fuel that's it...sodium isn't an issue unless you have a medical reason to watch it...for example I have low blood pressure so I need extra sodium.
and as far as wheat bread being better how so????? I eat white bread made with olive oil...thick dense and soft and moist...nothing unhealthy about it.3 -
I'm not a doctor or nutritionist, but I know calories aren't the number one most important thing. Eating good calories is the most important thing. But you also have to watch sodium and transfats. For example, ramen noodles (like the little cup sizes) have over 1,000mg of sodium but only 230ish calories (anyone wants to correct me feel free). Doesn't make it healthy at all. You have to consider all the factors of a food item, not only the calories. Of course that doesn't mean a high calorie, low sodium/fats food is good for you 100% of the time. It depends on the type of calories...good carbs: in wheat bread. Bad carbs: in fried food.
You're right on sodium, but not just for the reason you think. All we ever hear about is how bad it is, without most realizing that without it, you will literally die. It's necessary for ion channels to function. My sodium intake has to be above 5000/day, otherwise low blood pressure kicks my *kitten* every time I stand up.
There's nothing inherently great about wheat bread vs. anything else either. All wheat products have to be enriched to be worth eating, from a micronutrient perspective.0 -
I'm not a doctor or nutritionist, but I know calories aren't the number one most important thing. Eating good calories is the most important thing. But you also have to watch sodium and transfats. For example, ramen noodles (like the little cup sizes) have over 1,000mg of sodium but only 230ish calories (anyone wants to correct me feel free). Doesn't make it healthy at all. You have to consider all the factors of a food item, not only the calories. Of course that doesn't mean a high calorie, low sodium/fats food is good for you 100% of the time. It depends on the type of calories...good carbs: in wheat bread. Bad carbs: in fried food.
Um... what? I eat panfried meat and eggs almost daily that have 0-1 carbs. It's not breaded. Maybe that's what you mean. I don't think there are "good" carbs and "bad" carbs. I think there are carbs that I personally need to stay away from because they make me want to eat more, but I know for a fact that my roommate can eat those exact carbs with no problems. YMMV.
It is important to consider all the factors in a food for the sake of nutrition, but the calories still matter. Some people are able to eat certain macro combinations without tracking calories because the satiety of their foods is so high they never go over the prescribed amount of calories (in fact this happens to me several days out of the week, but I shudder to think what would happen if I wasn't paying attention to it because half the time I can't even remember what I ate - was that tuna salad lunch today or yesterday?). I'm not entirely sure how they track the macros without also tracking calories. For me, if the data is there, it goes in, but that may be a personal quirk.
Also, salt isn't bad for everyone. I need quite a bit of it because my body keeps kicking it all out and electrolytes are a thing. I don't eat ramen anymore, but salt isn't the reason.0 -
seekingdaintiness wrote: »Weighing your food doesn't matter, only MFPers who want to eat way too much think it does.
If your body is smaller but the scale hasn't gone down, you probably have lost fat and are retaining water and some time soon it will all flush out. Just keep it up.
It's the other way around for me. I weigh my food so i don't eat too much! My diary when i first started here is woefully inaccurate and laughable! I resisted using a food scale for a long time, but after doing so i realised how much more i was eating than i thought.
Weighing ones food is certainly not a prerequisite for weight loss, it just helps me with accuracy. You may be ace at estimating calories, but me, I'm hopeless at it. Plus using a scale also stops me from portion creep, like an extra scoop of ice cream or dollop of mayo etc etc. Once that number on the scale hits the logged amount, i stop adding, It just helps me remain accountable, is all.2 -
What is "clean" eating? Why have I lost 60+ lbs ignorant of clean eating while maintaining a consistent calorie deficit? There are many mysteries in life. Another is how you can net 300 - 700 calories every day and not lose weight in 4 weeks. I've only been using mfp since January 2016. In that time I've seen many people introduce themselves as eating 1200 calories, exercising vigorously, and not losing weight. Most of them start bawling about how hard it is after 1 or 2 weeks. You made it to 4 weeks. That's relatively impressive. Try following the advice you got above, except ignore the woo about 'starvation mode'.2
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JeromeBarry1 wrote: »What is "clean" eating? Why have I lost 60+ lbs ignorant of clean eating while maintaining a consistent calorie deficit? There are many mysteries in life. Another is how you can net 300 - 700 calories every day and not lose weight in 4 weeks. I've only been using mfp since January 2016. In that time I've seen many people introduce themselves as eating 1200 calories, exercising vigorously, and not losing weight. Most of them start bawling about how hard it is after 1 or 2 weeks. You made it to 4 weeks. That's relatively impressive. Try following the advice you got above, except ignore the woo about 'starvation mode'.
Congrats on your weight loss that's very impressive .... as I mentioned above MYSTERY HAS BEEN SOLVED. My scale was messed up ... I purchased a new one and noticed the change I've been expecting given that I've dropped in dress size and notice a change in my physique.
I never once complained that this is difficult ... it's mind over matter and I'm focused ... I just said it's maddening not seeing the scale move ... I am a numbers person ... it is what it is .... and today I'm a very happy girl
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Stay awesome Jerome 1 -
I'm not a doctor or nutritionist, but I know calories aren't the number one most important thing. Eating good calories is the most important thing. But you also have to watch sodium and transfats. For example, ramen noodles (like the little cup sizes) have over 1,000mg of sodium but only 230ish calories (anyone wants to correct me feel free). Doesn't make it healthy at all. You have to consider all the factors of a food item, not only the calories. Of course that doesn't mean a high calorie, low sodium/fats food is good for you 100% of the time. It depends on the type of calories...good carbs: in wheat bread. Bad carbs: in fried food.
Of course calories trump when it comes to weight loss. After all, too many calories that make us gain weight, too few that make use lose weight, and just the right amount that makes us retain. Yep, our calories in/calories out balance is what makes or breaks our weight management goals.
Also, there are no good or bad carbs, there are just....carbs.
Nothing wrong with food with lots of sodium, they are just.....foods with sodium.
What is/is not healthy is all in the perception and, setting aside any medical issues, we can eat anything we want and lose weight.
Sodium is good for some of us, too who have low blood pressure. Pass the salt and I'm happy!!!
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