Sigh... I just need to whine!

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Replies

  • Barneystinson
    Barneystinson Posts: 1,357 Member
    About wine ... I've read conflicting information about it, but generally there is consensus that alcohol slows your metabolism. I had two glasses of wine last night (malbec), as it happens, but why not try giving up all wine and all other alcohol for a fortnight and seeing if that helps.

    Cheers and keep at it. Eating few calories plus exercise WILL start paying off. Hang in there.

    Sean

    Now, in her defense, I don't know that I could give up wine for a fortnight either *LOL* I could probably give up taters much easier! But seriously? I never heard that it slows metabolism. That may make me cry in my pissed in cheerios.... :(

    <g> As I said, two glasses of red last night for me (after working out). ;-) But, I have read in a few places that alcohol actually does slow your metabolism, so it's not just the calories of the alcohol you have to worry about. Still, this is "broscience," right, so your own research might be called for. And, giving up the alcohol for a couple of weeks is doable and might support the thought?

    Cheers,

    Sean

    If you're aiming for a lowered carbohydrate diet wine could be harmful to a degree. A lot depends on the relative sweetness of the wine you're consuming. A malbec would definitely be a good choice - dry reds have a lower sweetness factor and generally have fewer overall calories.

    Wine is (mostly my opinion) a more healthful choice per volume than most beers and liquor. Plus it's a great pairing to a meal.
  • RagtimeLady
    RagtimeLady Posts: 172 Member
    I have only one more thing to say here...

    Please, folks, don't make judgments until you have at least looked at someone's history (I'm OLD and hardly a neophyte in weight loss or exercising - it's in my profile) and diary (never once have I eaten 1000 calories or less in the whole WEEK I've been signed up here). I've made everything public so anyone wishing to give an informed opinion could do so. I'm glad that some of you have actually looked at it.

    I know what the conventional wisdom says (1,200 cal/day), but I don't believe in one-size-fits-all, either. A woman 10 years into menopause does not burn calories at the same rate as a 16-year old. If you're younger than 40 and believe that all metabolisms were created the same, you're really in for a rude awakening. It is possible to have a glass of wine or even two per day and still maintain a healthy balance of carbs/protein/fats. I eat plenty of greens, fish, whole grains. I take vitamin and mineral supplements, too, based upon blood work which has shown certain deficiencies.

    Please don't make the assumption that because someone is new to this site that they are new to dieting or fitness or nutrition - that's all I'm saying. What I was hoping for with all the crazy exercise was to kick start my metabolism - it ain't happening. It's discouraging.

    I do appreciate constructive criticism - yeah, I'm going to have to cut back on the wine to cut back on calories. But wow... now I'm anorexic and alcoholic? Looks like I came to the wrong place for support.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    Ragtime, please don't read into things that weren't actually said. No one called you an alcoholic. Didn't happen. I didn't call you an anorexic either. I mention tendencies toward the obsession with losing weight that involves minimum caloric intake and persistent exercise. I was anorexic. That's how I started. So yes, I may not be the "sweetheart" you're looking to ever talk to again, but it's simply b/c my personality it to shoot straight with people. It's off-putting to you. So noted.
  • TDBrims
    TDBrims Posts: 138
    Oooh wow heated...I got so distracted by the fighting I forget what the OP wrote.....I did looka t your diary and I was confused because from your original post I thought you were consuming 1000 calories a day but I see you're not...at least not NET but I haven't calculated your net to be honest. You did get some good advise in the thread so I hope you work something out
  • Qarol
    Qarol Posts: 6,171 Member
    You didn't gain it overnight. Stop expecting to lose it overnight.

    I get the intention behind this phrase, but I hate it. No, I didn't gain it overnight. But try losing at the same rate. Oh, if I could just lose it at half the rate I gained. I can't even do that!
  • dulcy
    dulcy Posts: 69 Member
    True! When I complete my food diary if I'm under 1200 calories for the day, MFP gives me a warning that my body could go into STARVATION MODE which is COUNTERPRODUCTIVE to losing weight. Plus, you said that you weighed in with lots of sore muscles. Sore muscles contain built-up fluid that would cause you to weigh higher as well.

    Good luck! I know it is a tricky formula. Think of food as fuel! Fuel to lose weight! Don't put the crappy gas in your tank, put the good stuff so you'll have a smoother ride. And you won't go anywhere if you are running on empty.

    I love this!!! No more crappy gas in the tank!!!:laugh:
  • i_love_vinegar
    i_love_vinegar Posts: 2,092 Member
    Wow. Some of these responses are rude.

    Your calories are too low. Your doctor may have set you at 1,000 before, but you are a different size and have a different lifestyle now. You need to be at a minimum of 1200 - choose healthy foods to get you there. For example, a banana is about 200 calories, but it's packed full of great things for your body. It's a really good something to eat before a workout.

    I don't count my weight training as calories burned, I consider it toning what I've got and if I go over my calorie goal that day, I dont worry about it. Besides, I track the calories burned and it's probably not as many as you think unless you start the weight training with cardio.

    Drink more water, up your calories, and keep working out. I know how hard it is to up yoru calories, trust me I'm having to do it right now and it's a struggle...but trust your body to take care of it. You've got to feed it if you're going to work it!! Also, I love wine too...I was advised to drink 2 glasses of water more a day for every glass of wine. Alcohol dehydrates your body, which is almost as bad, if not worse, as the empty calories.

    Keep your chin up!

    I agree with all of this!!! The only note I would make is that if you are already small or you are short...eating less than 1,000 can be okay as long as you are eating your exercise calories as well. MFP only accounts for people 5'0" and taller. :smile:
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    You didn't gain it overnight. Stop expecting to lose it overnight.

    I get the intention behind this phrase, but I hate it. No, I didn't gain it overnight. But try losing at the same rate. Oh, if I could just lose it at half the rate I gained. I can't even do that!

    *LOL* I hear ya. I actually hate it as well. I don't know your story, but i swear i gain and lose so absolutely randomly. I actually think it's more stress related for me. When I'm happy - I get fat. When I'm upset and stressed, I lose. Bizarre.


    OK, I'll politely tiptoe away now... Promise ;)
  • Qarol
    Qarol Posts: 6,171 Member
    I know what the conventional wisdom says (1,200 cal/day), but I don't believe in one-size-fits-all, either. A woman 10 years into menopause does not burn calories at the same rate as a 16-year old.

    A 16 year old typically burns a lot more calories than a 40 year old, this is true. But I don't think ANYone should go below 1200, unless directed to by a doctor. Have you been?

    The "conventional" wisdom is NOT "eat 1200 cal/day to lose weight." The idea is not to go below that. For a lot of people, 1200 is not even the recommended amount to LOSE weight. They need more. And if you're exercising, you sure as heck need more.
  • PJilly
    PJilly Posts: 22,186 Member
    I have only one more thing to say here...

    Please, folks, don't make judgments until you have at least looked at someone's history (I'm OLD and hardly a neophyte in weight loss or exercising - it's in my profile) and diary (never once have I eaten 1000 calories or less in the whole WEEK I've been signed up here). I've made everything public so anyone wishing to give an informed opinion could do so. I'm glad that some of you have actually looked at it.

    I know what the conventional wisdom says (1,200 cal/day), but I don't believe in one-size-fits-all, either. A woman 10 years into menopause does not burn calories at the same rate as a 16-year old. If you're younger than 40 and believe that all metabolisms were created the same, you're really in for a rude awakening. It is possible to have a glass of wine or even two per day and still maintain a healthy balance of carbs/protein/fats. I eat plenty of greens, fish, whole grains. I take vitamin and mineral supplements, too, based upon blood work which has shown certain deficiencies.

    Please don't make the assumption that because someone is new to this site that they are new to dieting or fitness or nutrition - that's all I'm saying. What I was hoping for with all the crazy exercise was to kick start my metabolism - it ain't happening. It's discouraging.

    I do appreciate constructive criticism - yeah, I'm going to have to cut back on the wine to cut back on calories. But wow... now I'm anorexic and alcoholic? Looks like I came to the wrong place for support.
    Hey there! I think I can relate at least somewhat. I am 50 years old. I don't think I've quite qualified as hitting menopause yet, but my body is trying. My new middle name is "Hot Flash." :smile:

    I joined here about two years ago, and I've been at a happy, healthy weight for more than a year now, which is something I hadn't experienced for more than 30 years before. I did it drinking my glass of wine with dinner every night too. I didn't lose it quickly. In fact, I lost zero pounds my first week. And I was hungry. So I changed my weight-loss goal from 2 pounds to 1 pound, and I tracked my food religiously, sticking to my calories faithfully, and always, but always, eating all my exercise calories. After about three weeks, I settled into a pretty consistent weight-loss average of about a pound a week. I can't say that my numbers would work for anybody else, but I think my approach would, which is being moderate and consistent and, above all, tracking accurately. If you do that, you can make tweaks to what you're doing and really tell if those tweaks are helping or hurting. It can be kind of a pain to get it all dialed in, but it's worth it. Good luck! :flowerforyou:
  • FitRodr
    FitRodr Posts: 353 Member
    You will do fine. It takes a little adjusting for everyone to find their groove. Hard part is just when we think it's working our bodies adjust and push us further.

    You are a good person when you realize that having an opinion doesn't mean changing the opinions of others. I've been using MFP for about 7 months now and I've read some threads that frustrated me with people being judgemental or disrepsectful. I always think "how sad for them".

    This site is about encouraging, supporting and helping others to reach their goals and change their lifestyles to become healthy. We all need a little push now and then but never over the edge.

    Toss all of the comments in the air let the heavy and discouraging ones fall to the ground. You can do this, you've done it before. Please don't judge this site on people who offend you. If we live our lives like that we'll always be a disappointment to someone.

    Add me if you'd like. Support & honesty!
  • PJilly
    PJilly Posts: 22,186 Member
    Toss all of the comments in the air let the heavy and discouraging ones fall to the ground.
    Great visual. I love it!
  • RobynC79
    RobynC79 Posts: 331 Member
    wow... this thread has gone a long way awry... all rather highschool.

    So, to the original poster, whose having a tough week and wants to have some support (I am guessing, since that is supposed to be the function of these boards, is it not?), give yourself some time. I think you're copping some unfair stick for your plan, but the opinion of so many has to have some merit, I think. 1000 cals may indeed be too low for you but none of us here is your doctor, and if you've been placed on 1000 cals by that professional, none of us should be contradicting that.

    However, we can give you advice that might help a little. I am a small person, I often go under the gospel 1200 being preached so slavishly here. One number is not right for everyone, everyone's metabolism and circumstance is different. I have what can be diplomatically termed an 'efficient' metabolism - I don't need a lot of cals to maintain, so losing weight, when that's necessary, is slow and tricky.

    Give it some time, and consider taking some alternate days off from hard workouts to let your muscles heal a bit. That might be your short-term problem, that your muscles are holding fluid as they swell to repair. And you know what, if you love wine and it's part of your life, knock yourself out with those two glasses. We all need some indulgence, and as long as you eat healthy and get all your nutrients otherwise, enjoy it!
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    Toss all of the comments in the air let the heavy and discouraging ones fall to the ground.
    Great visual. I love it!

    I agree.... but I said I was leaving *LOL*

    oops....
  • RagtimeLady
    RagtimeLady Posts: 172 Member

    A 16 year old typically burns a lot more calories than a 40 year old, this is true. But I don't think ANYone should go below 1200, unless directed to by a doctor. Have you been?

    YES - by a weight loss specialist. Thyroid is borderline.
  • graysmom2005
    graysmom2005 Posts: 1,882 Member

    You're bordering on the anorexia obsession by going from sedentary to one hour every single day and not eating even 1000 calories. That's not dieting. That's flat out absurdly unhealthy.

    You didn't gain it overnight. Stop expecting to lose it overnight.

    Look at my diary - I'm eating back the exercise calories. My diet is very healthy - I live with and cook for a diabetic. And having previously lost more than 100 pounds, I do know I won't lose it overnight. I was really hoping that hitting the aerobics hard would jump start my metabolism which has been insulted of late. I was hoping to see maybe a half pound loss after a week of shock therapy, tho... That's what is discouraging.

    From my experience..I lost a majority of my weight with big deficits too. I'd work out a TON and eat like I was on weight watchers. Once I got close to my goal I stopped losing. Period. This lasted for over a year and a half. I have started eating a LOT more, and in the past 10 weeks have lost 3 inches in my waist and hips and I'm finally losing weight after almost two years. I can't even believe it, but my body was just holding onto everything. No matter how hard I worked. Bump up the calorie to .5 a week loss, and see what happens. :-)
  • neurochamp
    neurochamp Posts: 261 Member

    A 16 year old typically burns a lot more calories than a 40 year old, this is true. But I don't think ANYone should go below 1200, unless directed to by a doctor. Have you been?

    YES - by a weight loss specialist. Thyroid is borderline.

    First off, if your doctor recommended 1000 cal net a day, then ignore everyone on here telling you otherwise. Just a thought, have you tried zig-zagging your calories? I was stuck at a plateau for a couple of months and it definitely helped.

    Basically, MFP told me to use a net of 1200 Cal/day, but based on info at http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm I came up with a daily calorie need of about 1300-ish to lose weight (I used the "sedentary" setting because I wanted to know where I should be WITHOUT exercise, since I eat my exercise calories back). So I upped my average slightly and started zig-zagging (you can also get daily calorie plans for zig-zagging from the same calculator) so my daily average is 1300 Cal, but I alternate between lower and higher goals each day (so 1300 on Mon, 1200 Tues, 1500 Wed, etc.). It's more complicated to track, but I use an excel spreadsheet, and, without changing what I was doing exercise-wise, I've finally started losing again.

    (The idea is that eating more some days and less others will "trick" your metabolism into having to work harder, since your body doesn't know on any given day how much you're going to feed it.)


    Also, if you're super sore from exercise, you definitely have at least 1-2lbs of extra water weight on you - try alternating strenuous make-you-sore workouts with less intense ones, and only trust your weigh in when you are NOT really sore.

    Best of luck!
  • RagtimeLady
    RagtimeLady Posts: 172 Member
    Give it some time, and consider taking some alternate days off from hard workouts to let your muscles heal a bit. That might be your short-term problem, that your muscles are holding fluid as they swell to repair. And you know what, if you love wine and it's part of your life, knock yourself out with those two glasses. We all need some indulgence, and as long as you eat healthy and get all your nutrients otherwise, enjoy it!

    Thank you! I really hadn't thought about those sore muscles holding fluid. I knew they held lactic acid - and I've always been prone to very sore muscles! I am feeling a little puffy, tho... Maybe next week will be better...

    Cheers, :drinker:

    Tracy
  • christine24t
    christine24t Posts: 6,063 Member
    When were you given the 1000 calories/day recommendation? If that was when you were still bigger, then you need to reevaluate.
    This sounds like something you should discuss with a personal trainer. Have a fitness evaluation done - they will calculate your BMR, and assess your amount of body fat, etc. It's a nice baseline to start with!
  • jillica
    jillica Posts: 554 Member
    Hey, Ragtime. Clearly you have a unique set of circumstances so any of my advice woudn't be much help. Just stay the course.
    I have to ask, though, because your case is very interesting: When the physician had you on the 1000 calorie diet, did they have you taking any additional protein drinks or energy drinks that were not included in your calorie journal? - Jill
  • Qarol
    Qarol Posts: 6,171 Member

    A 16 year old typically burns a lot more calories than a 40 year old, this is true. But I don't think ANYone should go below 1200, unless directed to by a doctor. Have you been?

    YES - by a weight loss specialist. Thyroid is borderline.
    hmm, a weight loss specialist? Is this person a doctor? But you came here for advice and opinions. If you're going to keep doing what you're doing anyway, I wish you the best of luck.
  • luckyprincessuk
    luckyprincessuk Posts: 7 Member
    Looking at the food diary and joining date I'd say....…………well make your own mind up
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