Question about calories.

VampireAngelWings
VampireAngelWings Posts: 18 Member
edited November 20 in Health and Weight Loss
Okay this question is more for my husband, but I'm couriers too. My husband Rob is allowed 3000 (don't know exact number) calories. On the days he works he burns around 3000( again don't know exact number) he eats close to the 3000 goal in a day. My question is how much should he if any should he eat into the calories he burned. Also he seems to be hungry alot. He is 36 and 345lb trying to get down to around 200. This is also the first time in like 10 years he is watching what and how much he is eating. He is going to a nutritionist soon in the next 2 weeks. I'm just curious like I said. Thank you.

Replies

  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    If he's burning 3000 calories during work, that's already accounted for in his activity level and shouldn't be eating them back.
  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,590 MFP Moderator
    How did you come up with the 3000 calories burned at work? I think malibu above is probably correct in that it is accounted for in his activity level and should not be eaten back.

    As for being hungry alot, sometimes this is just something you have to push through in the early stages as you adjust to eating smaller meals or less frequently. Play with meal size and meal timing to see how he is happiest. Some people do better on fewer large meals, others prefer several smaller meals throughout the day. Most people find they stay fuller longer if they try to eat more protein and fat in a meal as apposed to primarily carbs. This does not mean you have to go low carb, just try to shift you macro balance a bit.

    Good luck to you both :)
  • VampireAngelWings
    VampireAngelWings Posts: 18 Member
    @4legsRbetterthan2 well he is a stocker at Wal-Mart and he is moving and lifting alot of items sometimes really heavy things. he also walks about 10,000 steps while he works. And he is there 8 hours working 7. When he puts it in with cleaning heavy lifting or something close to that and walking it comes to about 3000.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    @4legsRbetterthan2 well he is a stocker at Wal-Mart and he is moving and lifting alot of items sometimes really heavy things. he also walks about 10,000 steps while he works. And he is there 8 hours working 7. When he puts it in with cleaning heavy lifting or something close to that and walking it comes to about 3000.

    The work should be accounted for in his activity level -- not logged as exercise. Did he account for it when getting his initial calorie goal? What activity level did he choose for his account?
  • VampireAngelWings
    VampireAngelWings Posts: 18 Member
    edited August 2017
    @janejellyroll I think active. So he doesn't have to log his when he works? it in? We have only been using this for 15 days so we are still learning how to use and what to log.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    @janejellyroll I think active. So he doesn't have to log his when he works? it in? We have only been using this for 15 days so we are still learning how to use and what to log.

    If he is set to active then those calories are accounted for...logging them again to "eat back" would be double dipping. He would only log deliberate exercise outside of his normal activity level to account for otherwise unaccounted for activity.
  • VampireAngelWings
    VampireAngelWings Posts: 18 Member
    edited August 2017
    @cwolfman86 well he actually does not go into them yesterday was the first day he went over his goal by 5 calories. It's just like I said he is feeling hungry sometimes but doesn't want to eat alot especially if he is close to his goal limit.
  • VampireAngelWings
    VampireAngelWings Posts: 18 Member
    edited August 2017
    Side note he has lost 15lbs since starting 15 days ago. And if that is ok or if that is alot for two weeks?
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member
    3000 calories total in a day is plenty. He could cut down to 2500 per day total.

    What do you mean by "5 points"? If you are using Weight Watchers, they should give him a set calorie/point goal.

    Myfitnesspal uses calculators that are a little wonky at higher weights, but set him at "Highly Active" also "Lose 2 pounds per week."

    He should eat that number or less. At his weight, unless he is doing extreme exercise outside work - I wouldn't even add back any exercise calories if he insists on eating 3000 per day. 3000 per day is way enough food, regardless of his activity or exercise.

    I think you would be well served to consult with a Dietician or physician.
  • MegaMooseEsq
    MegaMooseEsq Posts: 3,118 Member
    Side note he has lost 15lbs since starting 15 days ago. And if that is ok or if that is alot for two weeks?

    It's pretty common to have a big drop right at the beginning - I lost 10 lbs in a month and then averaged out to 3 lbs a month. The first drop is usually water weight. That said, 15 lbs in two weeks PLUS the fact that he's hungry all the time might be a sign that he should up his calories. Losing slow is still losing! This would all be worth talking to the nutritionist about.
  • VampireAngelWings
    VampireAngelWings Posts: 18 Member
    edited August 2017
    @cmriverside I mean he was 5 points or whatever you want to call it over his goal on here. Don't use weight watchers only this. He is at losing 2 pounds per week and he is going to a nutritionist in 2 weeks. I was just asking to see what others have to say and get some Input. He also eats about 200-300 under his goal normally.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    @cmriverside I mean he was 5 points or whatever you want to call it over his goal on here. Don't use weight watchers only this. He is at losing 2 pounds per week and he is going to a nutritionist in 2 weeks. I was just asking to see what others have to say and get some Input.

    Calories? He was 5 calories over? I am also confused by your use of "points". 5 calories is nothing - I wouldn't even consider that being over.

  • VampireAngelWings
    VampireAngelWings Posts: 18 Member
    edited August 2017
    @Ready2Rock206 yes calories I could not think of the name -_-. I was just saying that was the first time he went over his goal normally under by 200-300 calories.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member
    @Ready2Rock206 yes calories I could not think of the name -_-. I was just saying that was the first time he went over his goal normally under by 200-300 calories.

    Yeah, being under by 200-300 is probably just about right. 3000 is pretty high.

    Going over if he is hungry is fine. Just try to get close. Some days are just going to be over, due to many things like eating out, being hungry, special occasions, whatever. It's all about consistency over time. A few days in either direction ( +/- 500 calories) is fine. He has a 1000 calories per day deficit built in.

    3500 calorie = 1 pound (for general weightloss or gain.) He has a 7000 calorie PER WEEK deficit. This will make sense over time.

    Just stay the course, work toward hitting 2500-3000 calories per day eaten.
  • GrumpyHeadmistress
    GrumpyHeadmistress Posts: 666 Member

    Thanks, I've read all the stickies but nothing seemed to answer my question. Hence the post.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    @Ready2Rock206 yes calories I could not think of the name -_-. I was just saying that was the first time he went over his goal normally under by 200-300 calories.

    Yeah, being under by 200-300 is probably just about right. 3000 is pretty high.

    Going over if he is hungry is fine. Just try to get close. Some days are just going to be over, due to many things like eating out, being hungry, special occasions, whatever. It's all about consistency over time. A few days in either direction ( +/- 500 calories) is fine. He has a 1000 calories per day deficit built in.

    3500 calorie = 1 pound (for general weightloss or gain.) He has a 7000 calorie PER WEEK deficit. This will make sense over time.

    Just stay the course, work toward hitting 2500-3000 calories per day eaten.

    It's really not that high for a 345 Lb male with a very active job though...I could easily see someone of those stats and activity level having a maintenance requirement of about 4,000 calories...heck, I have a desk job and exercise regularly, but nothing crazy and my maintenance is around 2800-3000 @ 180 Lbs.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member
    edited August 2017
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    @Ready2Rock206 yes calories I could not think of the name -_-. I was just saying that was the first time he went over his goal normally under by 200-300 calories.

    Yeah, being under by 200-300 is probably just about right. 3000 is pretty high.

    Going over if he is hungry is fine. Just try to get close. Some days are just going to be over, due to many things like eating out, being hungry, special occasions, whatever. It's all about consistency over time. A few days in either direction ( +/- 500 calories) is fine. He has a 1000 calories per day deficit built in.

    3500 calorie = 1 pound (for general weightloss or gain.) He has a 7000 calorie PER WEEK deficit. This will make sense over time.

    Just stay the course, work toward hitting 2500-3000 calories per day eaten.

    It's really not that high for a 345 Lb male with a very active job though...I could easily see someone of those stats and activity level having a maintenance requirement of about 4,000 calories...heck, I have a desk job and exercise regularly, but nothing crazy and my maintenance is around 2800-3000 @ 180 Lbs.


    I understand your theory. At 345 pounds he has a lot of body fat to use as fuel and his weight is dangerous for his health.

    He has plenty of "fuel" on-board with his body fat.

    He doesn't "need" more than 3000 calories.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    @Ready2Rock206 yes calories I could not think of the name -_-. I was just saying that was the first time he went over his goal normally under by 200-300 calories.

    Yeah, being under by 200-300 is probably just about right. 3000 is pretty high.

    Going over if he is hungry is fine. Just try to get close. Some days are just going to be over, due to many things like eating out, being hungry, special occasions, whatever. It's all about consistency over time. A few days in either direction ( +/- 500 calories) is fine. He has a 1000 calories per day deficit built in.

    3500 calorie = 1 pound (for general weightloss or gain.) He has a 7000 calorie PER WEEK deficit. This will make sense over time.

    Just stay the course, work toward hitting 2500-3000 calories per day eaten.

    It's really not that high for a 345 Lb male with a very active job though...I could easily see someone of those stats and activity level having a maintenance requirement of about 4,000 calories...heck, I have a desk job and exercise regularly, but nothing crazy and my maintenance is around 2800-3000 @ 180 Lbs.


    I understand your theory. At 345 pounds he has a lot of body fat to use as fuel and his weight is dangerous for his health.

    He has plenty of "fuel" on-board with his body fat.

    True, I was just pointing out that 3,000 to lose with his stats isn't really that high...
  • VampireAngelWings
    VampireAngelWings Posts: 18 Member
    Thank you everyone I will tell him to stop posting his job as exercise. And just post his actual exercise. He has 2980 calories it went down when he puts his weight in today. Like I said he doesn't even get close to that most days. His bad days are his off days he is lazy in all honesty, trying to get him to be more active on those day. But he still stays 50-100 calories below his goal.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member

    Thanks, I've read all the stickies but nothing seemed to answer my question. Hence the post.

    What question/post? Did i miss a previous post that was deleted?
  • VampireAngelWings
    VampireAngelWings Posts: 18 Member

    Thanks, I've read all the stickies but nothing seemed to answer my question. Hence the post.

    What question/post? Did i miss a previous post that was deleted?

    I was thinking the same thing this is my post/Question
  • Juniper210
    Juniper210 Posts: 77 Member
    Thank you everyone I will tell him to stop posting his job as exercise. And just post his actual exercise. He has 2980 calories it went down when he puts his weight in today. Like I said he doesn't even get close to that most days. His bad days are his off days he is lazy in all honesty, trying to get him to be more active on those day. But he still stays 50-100 calories below his goal.

    Ask him to go on walks with you on his days off. Even a stroll around the neighborhood will be good for him at his weight. My bf and I started walking together every evening and it's a great time for us to connect with each other and get some activity in.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member

    Thanks, I've read all the stickies but nothing seemed to answer my question. Hence the post.

    What question/post? Did i miss a previous post that was deleted?

    Nothing was deleted. I think GrumpyHead was just glad to see that link and wanted to say something about not being able to find that information. It explains the calorie goals and stuff.
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