Want to lose 30 lbs by end of Feb

Hi all,

I currently weigh 200 lbs and am 5 ft 4.75 in. Since December I have lost about 10 lbs but my progress seems slow. I first decided to try the ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting. They helped but I am a sicker for sugar and carbs and not a big fan of fat. So I decided to switch into a calorie deficient diet. I aim to eat about 800 calories but usually am over it some days into the 1200 calories. I know in weight loss we have to be patient but when I don't see a change in my weight on the scale for 2 days in a row I feel discouraged. Do you guys think I am on the right path?
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Replies

  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    No. Your diet plan is stupid and unhealthy.

    Eat sensibly in a moderate deficit and be patient.
  • natashab61
    natashab61 Posts: 103 Member
    Sorry I am new to this so in follow up why is going below 1200 calories considered unhealthy/bad?
  • Stella3838
    Stella3838 Posts: 439 Member
    http://www.bmrcalculator.org/

    BMR is the amount of calories a person burns just living. For me it's about 1330. Just to live and breath. So anything less, especially drastically less doesn't give your body the energy it needs. Unless directed by a doctor, the best recommendation I have it to let this site direct you on a calorie goal.
  • natashab61
    natashab61 Posts: 103 Member
    Is it better to be consistent with the calories you eat each day or a moderate fluctuation ok?
  • Stella3838
    Stella3838 Posts: 439 Member
    I'd recommend staying fairly consistent. If you workout particularly hard in a day, you might want to add an extra snack, but overall MFP gives reasonable targets and if you're consistent with exercise and creating that calorie deficit, you should see results.
  • Stella3838
    Stella3838 Posts: 439 Member
    Anything that low calorie for an extended period really should be done at the direction of a physician. I think that particular diet is usually used for folks with diabetes.
  • RachelElser
    RachelElser Posts: 1,049 Member
    800 is waaaaay to low. Please find a nutritionist in your area to talk to. They can help you set up a realistic goal and food plan.
  • leajas1
    leajas1 Posts: 823 Member
    Stella3838 wrote: »
    I'd recommend staying fairly consistent. If you workout particularly hard in a day, you might want to add an extra snack, but overall MFP gives reasonable targets and if you're consistent with exercise and creating that calorie deficit, you should see results.

    With that said, some fluctuation is okay. Don't get discouraged if you go a little (or a lot) over one day, or if you're a little under one day.

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  • DancesWithDogz
    DancesWithDogz Posts: 107 Member
    Stop with the fad diets - eat properly - vegetables, fruits, whole grains and YES your body "needs" carbs. Realistic loss is 1 lb per week. Speak to a nutritionist.. there are no magic pills, or potions... stop killing yourself.
  • Sara1791
    Sara1791 Posts: 760 Member
    Nope. Unsafe. Unsustainable. Is there anything anyone can say to make you rethink this?
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    natashab61 wrote: »
    Sorry I am new to this so in follow up why is going below 1200 calories considered unhealthy/bad?

    Nutritional minimums. You have macros - protein, fat, and carbs & micronutrients - vitamins and minerals. Very low calorie diets (are not for everyone) and should be medically supervised. A Dr. would prescribe special shakes, and supplements to get your daily requirements in.
  • murp4069
    murp4069 Posts: 494 Member
    Not only do you need your nutritional minimums, but a diet like that (with so little calories) is not sustainable. Sure, you may lose a lot of weight quickly, but you aren't teaching yourself how to eat for long term weight loss and maintenance so once you lost the weight and go back to eating what you'd consider "normally," you'll just gain the weight back again.

    I think a lot of us have been there. I finally broke the pattern in December 2015 and started with MFP. I'm 5'5" and started at 170 lbs. It took me about 7-8 months to lose 35 lbs.
  • suzievv
    suzievv Posts: 410 Member
    I just want to say that losing 10 pounds since December is really great. Especially considering the holidays. You should be very proud of that accomplishment.

    People are giving good advice (well except the one who recommended 800 calories); you need at least 1200 calories, probably more. Mistakes like this happen.... When I first started, I misunderstood how to properly calculate the calorie goal, and I thought I was supposed to be eating 900 calories a day! Also keep in mind that when you do calculate your calorie goal, it will be under your maintenance calories. So in order to gain weight, you have to consistently eat over your maintenance calories, not your calorie goal. So it would be good to know what your maintenance calories are to have that frame of reference.
  • laur357
    laur357 Posts: 896 Member
    If you consistently eat below the nutrition minimums (1200 calories/day if you're a female and aren't under say 4'8''-4'10''), you will probably start to experience things like brittle hair and hair loss, dry cracking skin, poor hormonal response or loss of periods, fatigue, loss of tissue and poor organ function or damage. If you do eat less, you need to be closely monitored by a doctor who can help make sure you're getting enough vitamins, minerals, and other stuff your body needs to function. That is why people are telling you 800 calories a day is not enough.

    Someone of your height and weight can safely lose around 1.5-1.8 pounds per week while staying at or above 1200 calories and shouldn't really lose more than 2 per week.

    Things that affect your daily weigh-ins: hormones, sodium, new or increased exercise, not going to the bathroom regularly, time of the month, stress and poor sleep. An increase or staying the same on the scale does not mean you are not loosing fat. You might want to use a tape measure and also look at inches/cm lost - or only weight yourself once per week.

    People very frequently overestimate the amount of calories they eat each day, and careful logging is required as you get closer to your ideal weight. If you find over a few weeks that you are gaining or not losing (not from one day to the next), you don't need to drop under 1200 calories but you might need to be more accurate and weigh portions of food.

    Slow weight loss can be frustrating, absolutely. But you don't want to damage your health while dropping pounds, you want to be around to enjoy the benefits! Exercise can help here - you don't need it to drop pounds, but it can help change the shape of your body more quickly while you're doing it. You might see results (loss of inches or changes in how your clothes fit) more quickly while safely losing weight if you also exercise.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,964 Member
    Your approach is too aggressive and may compromise your health. Would you be okay with your hair falling out during your 800 calorie intake? Because it can happen when calories are too low.
    Patience and consistency with a moderate deficit will help you lose 30lbs, but it may take 5 months or longer.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png

  • Stella3838
    Stella3838 Posts: 439 Member
    natashab61 wrote: »
    I want to thank everyone here from the bottom of my heart for all of the great advice. I will bump up my calories to 1200 and even 1300 as recommended by MFP. Thank you all!

    Good luck!! You got this!
  • SadDolt
    SadDolt Posts: 173 Member
    youre setting yourself up for failure.
  • CarboShannon
    CarboShannon Posts: 9 Member
    TDEE calculator it will get you on the path you need. With info you put in the results will tell you how many calories you should be eating. You can google TDEE calculator. You might be surprised how many calories you should be eating. Good luck! You'll get the hang of it!!!!
  • DarrelBirkett
    DarrelBirkett Posts: 221 Member
    natashab61 wrote: »
    Hi all,

    I currently weigh 200 lbs and am 5 ft 4.75 in. Since December I have lost about 10 lbs but my progress seems slow. I first decided to try the ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting. They helped but I am a sicker for sugar and carbs and not a big fan of fat. So I decided to switch into a calorie deficient diet. I aim to eat about 800 calories but usually am over it some days into the 1200 calories. I know in weight loss we have to be patient but when I don't see a change in my weight on the scale for 2 days in a row I feel discouraged. Do you guys think I am on the right path?

    Hey there. Sorry for being lazy in my reply, but I put a post together that might help:

    Read this

    Basically though, well done! 10lb not far off your first stone and thats excellent. Its progress and working :)

    Understand that you burn calories sitting still and sleeping. Your body needs basic energy to function. Eat too little, then you will get lethargic and feel poorly. Skin/hair damage and so on. This is why its sensible to eat around 75% minimum or your calorie needs. Check my link anyway, feel free to ask me in DM or quote on here (so I see it) for pointers :)