Will more calories help?

cherilee0831
cherilee0831 Posts: 44 Member
edited November 18 in Health and Weight Loss
I am on an 800 calorie a day diet (per doctor). I started at 258.5 and have lost 20 lbs in about 25 days. Through exercise, I burn 400-500 calories 3-4 times a week but don't "eat" those calories and I am a teacher so I am moving around a lot. Most days I stay within my macros but once or twice I exceeded my fat percentage by a small amount. But this last week, my weight loss has slowed significantly. Friends say I need to consume more calories to lose weight but I just don't get that. Any suggestions?
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Replies

  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    edited May 2017
    If you are on a doctor-supervised diet, you need to ask your doctor.

    That being said, I'm trying to answer very carefully...

    You lose weight by eating fewer calories than your body uses in a day.
    You gain weight by eating more calories than your body uses in a day.
    You maintain weight by eating the same number of calories that your body uses in a day.

    So, to answer your question - No, eating more calories won't cause you to lose weight. And you are losing weight, it has just slowed from the first initial loss.

    My suggestion would be to eat at least 1200 calories per day, NET, after exercise. Use a food scale, weigh and log everything that you eat, to make sure you are really eating the amount of calories you think you are.
  • monstar4kc
    monstar4kc Posts: 30 Member
    If it's only been a week I wouldn't go changing anything, especially if you've already lost 20# in the last 25 days. Just tighten up on your logging. continue being active and the weight will come off. Sounds to me that you are creating a high enough deficit per your doctor's instructions that you can't NOT lose weight on it.
  • Dazzler21
    Dazzler21 Posts: 1,249 Member
    I am on an 800 calorie a day diet (per doctor). I started at 258.5 and have lost 20 lbs in about 25 days. Through exercise, I burn 400-500 calories 3-4 times a week but don't "eat" those calories and I am a teacher so I am moving around a lot. Most days I stay within my macros but once or twice I exceeded my fat percentage by a small amount. But this last week, my weight loss has slowed significantly. Friends say I need to consume more calories to lose weight but I just don't get that. Any suggestions?

    Stick to what you're doing, your doctor will advise when to change.
  • cherilee0831
    cherilee0831 Posts: 44 Member
    Considering I am eating my doctors products and only her products, her advice is to eat less. Can I really sustain on less than 800 calories a day?
  • Jadedinosaur
    Jadedinosaur Posts: 41 Member
    Your doctor's products?
  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    Considering I am eating my doctors products and only her products, her advice is to eat less. Can I really sustain on less than 800 calories a day?

    What 'products' and what kind of doctor is this? Why can't you just eat food?
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    why did you go to her in the first place? aside from the VLCD, what has she told you? we need more information, but I'd be concerned enough that I would want to possibly get a second opinion - since if what you are saying is correct, you are eating only 800cal, but potentially burning 400 of that - that leaves a net of 400 cal (correct me if I'm wrong)...
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member
    :huh:

    Have you considered a second opinion?
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Considering I am eating my doctors products and only her products, her advice is to eat less. Can I really sustain on less than 800 calories a day?

    Are you paying her for this...?
  • GottaBurnEmAll
    GottaBurnEmAll Posts: 7,722 Member
    edited May 2017
    What kind of doctor are you seeing? Is this a weight loss clinic?

    I have concerns about a doctor who doesn't acknowledge that weight loss naturally slows down after initial glycogen depletion/water weight loss/who would tell you to eat even less than 800 calories.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    :huh:

    Have you considered a second opinion?

    Or just using MFP....?
  • moonstroller
    moonstroller Posts: 210 Member
    Is this a real doctor, like in M.D.? My doctor has never said to me "Here, eat only my products and you'll loose weight."

    This sounds strange to me.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    What kind of doctor are you seeing? Is this a weight loss clinic?

    This^^

    I thought this was a real M.D. If it is just a weight-loss clinic, please just do this last bit and save your $$$..
    If you are on a doctor-supervised diet, you need to ask your doctor.

    That being said, I'm trying to answer very carefully...

    You lose weight by eating fewer calories than your body uses in a day.
    You gain weight by eating more calories than your body uses in a day.
    You maintain weight by eating the same number of calories that your body uses in a day.

    So, to answer your question - No, eating more calories won't cause you to lose weight. And you are losing weight, it has just slowed from the first initial loss.

    My suggestion would be to eat at least 1200 calories per day, NET, after exercise. Use a food scale, weigh and log everything that you eat, to make sure you are really eating the amount of calories you think you are.

  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    I feel like I should add - I did the weight-loss clinic thing, twice. Spent almost $2,000 and ended up with NOTHING to show for it.

    It's unnecessary and unsustainable.
  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    edited May 2017
    I feel like I should add - I did the weight-loss clinic thing, twice. Spent almost $2,000 and ended up with NOTHING to show for it.

    It's unnecessary and unsustainable.

    Weight loss clinics belong in the lowest pit of hell, right next-door to payday loan places, as far as I'm concerned.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    pinuplove wrote: »
    I feel like I should add - I did the weight-loss clinic thing, twice. Spent almost $2,000 and ended up with NOTHING to show for it.

    It's unnecessary and unsustainable.

    Weight loss clinics belong in the lowest pit of hell, right next-door to payday loan places, as far as I'm concerned.

    Yep. I'm pretty chagrined now that I fell for it...twice!
  • BurlzGettingFit
    BurlzGettingFit Posts: 115 Member
    pinuplove wrote: »
    I feel like I should add - I did the weight-loss clinic thing, twice. Spent almost $2,000 and ended up with NOTHING to show for it.

    It's unnecessary and unsustainable.

    Weight loss clinics belong in the lowest pit of hell, right next-door to payday loan places, as far as I'm concerned.

    I honestly did not know such things exist :o
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    pinuplove wrote: »
    I feel like I should add - I did the weight-loss clinic thing, twice. Spent almost $2,000 and ended up with NOTHING to show for it.

    It's unnecessary and unsustainable.

    Weight loss clinics belong in the lowest pit of hell, right next-door to payday loan places, as far as I'm concerned.

    And where do buy here pay here weekly price car dealers fit? Since we're talking about Mos Eisley
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    pinuplove wrote: »
    I feel like I should add - I did the weight-loss clinic thing, twice. Spent almost $2,000 and ended up with NOTHING to show for it.

    It's unnecessary and unsustainable.

    Weight loss clinics belong in the lowest pit of hell, right next-door to payday loan places, as far as I'm concerned.

    I honestly did not know such things exist :o

    Yep. Prescription appetite suppressant pills, HCG shots, and B-12 shots. Lots of $$$. You lose weight because you eat VCLD (mine had me on 500 calories a day). Then gain it all back when you stop using the pills/shots.
  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    pinuplove wrote: »
    I feel like I should add - I did the weight-loss clinic thing, twice. Spent almost $2,000 and ended up with NOTHING to show for it.

    It's unnecessary and unsustainable.

    Weight loss clinics belong in the lowest pit of hell, right next-door to payday loan places, as far as I'm concerned.

    And where do buy here pay here weekly price car dealers fit? Since we're talking about Mos Eisley

    Line 'em up right next to the rent-to-own furniture and appliance stores. A right Avenue of Broken Dreams.
  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,989 Member
    pinuplove wrote: »
    I feel like I should add - I did the weight-loss clinic thing, twice. Spent almost $2,000 and ended up with NOTHING to show for it.

    It's unnecessary and unsustainable.

    Weight loss clinics belong in the lowest pit of hell, right next-door to payday loan places, as far as I'm concerned.

    I totally agree in regards to the for-profit clinics looking to sell you stuff. But, there are also very good weight loss clinics in hospitals that are staffed by psychologists, registered dieticians, and MDs that can be life-saving for some people. They don't sell "products".
  • HealthierRayne
    HealthierRayne Posts: 268 Member

    Yep. Prescription appetite suppressant pills, HCG shots, and B-12 shots. Lots of $$$. You lose weight because you eat VCLD (mine had me on 500 calories a day). Then gain it all back when you stop using the pills/shots.

    500 calories?! That would be so hard to manage, I am always surprised when I hear about what companies will do to get their clients results. Sure people lose weight quickly but as you mentioned you gain it all back, not to mention the probable health issues from being on such a low calorie diet (hair falling out, exhaustion etc).

  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    edited May 2017
    pinuplove wrote: »
    I feel like I should add - I did the weight-loss clinic thing, twice. Spent almost $2,000 and ended up with NOTHING to show for it.

    It's unnecessary and unsustainable.

    Weight loss clinics belong in the lowest pit of hell, right next-door to payday loan places, as far as I'm concerned.

    I honestly did not know such things exist :o

    The ladies I work with all visit one regularly. They always come back with some dubious prescription and ridiculous plan to get skinny fast. Yet somehow, I'm still the smallest person in the office.
  • BurlzGettingFit
    BurlzGettingFit Posts: 115 Member
    pinuplove wrote: »
    I feel like I should add - I did the weight-loss clinic thing, twice. Spent almost $2,000 and ended up with NOTHING to show for it.

    It's unnecessary and unsustainable.

    Weight loss clinics belong in the lowest pit of hell, right next-door to payday loan places, as far as I'm concerned.

    I honestly did not know such things exist :o

    Yep. Prescription appetite suppressant pills, HCG shots, and B-12 shots. Lots of $$$. You lose weight because you eat VCLD (mine had me on 500 calories a day). Then gain it all back when you stop using the pills/shots.

    Ugh god that sounds awful!! Good thing you came to your senses!
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    pinuplove wrote: »
    I feel like I should add - I did the weight-loss clinic thing, twice. Spent almost $2,000 and ended up with NOTHING to show for it.

    It's unnecessary and unsustainable.

    Weight loss clinics belong in the lowest pit of hell, right next-door to payday loan places, as far as I'm concerned.

    I honestly did not know such things exist :o

    Yep. Prescription appetite suppressant pills, HCG shots, and B-12 shots. Lots of $$$. You lose weight because you eat VCLD (mine had me on 500 calories a day). Then gain it all back when you stop using the pills/shots.

    Ugh god that sounds awful!! Good thing you came to your senses!

    Amen. It was about 10 years ago. Funny how eating within my calorie allowance and lifting heavy has gotten me what I wanted for much cheaper, as well as being sustainable and fun.
  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    pinuplove wrote: »
    I feel like I should add - I did the weight-loss clinic thing, twice. Spent almost $2,000 and ended up with NOTHING to show for it.

    It's unnecessary and unsustainable.

    Weight loss clinics belong in the lowest pit of hell, right next-door to payday loan places, as far as I'm concerned.

    I totally agree in regards to the for-profit clinics looking to sell you stuff. But, there are also very good weight loss clinics in hospitals that are staffed by psychologists, registered dieticians, and MDs that can be life-saving for some people. They don't sell "products".

    Oh yeah, completely different kind of clinic! Important distinction.
  • BurlzGettingFit
    BurlzGettingFit Posts: 115 Member
    pinuplove wrote: »
    pinuplove wrote: »
    I feel like I should add - I did the weight-loss clinic thing, twice. Spent almost $2,000 and ended up with NOTHING to show for it.

    It's unnecessary and unsustainable.

    Weight loss clinics belong in the lowest pit of hell, right next-door to payday loan places, as far as I'm concerned.

    I honestly did not know such things exist :o

    The ladies I work with all visit one regularly. They always come back with some dubious prescription and ridiculous plan to get skinny fast. Yet somehow, I'm still the smallest person in the office.

    I just can't imagine spending money on something like that!
  • sunfastrose
    sunfastrose Posts: 543 Member
    Get a new doctor.
This discussion has been closed.