High calorie target - will I lose weight?
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Replies
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Why do you think you don't need to eat back some of your exercise cals?? I suggest you try following the MFP system **as laid out ** for 2 months and see how it works. It seems that inventing your own variations has not worked well in the past.6
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Keep in mind that there are 2 ways to use MFP.
1. Set your activity level to Sedentary and manually log exercise calories
2. Set your activity level to your actual activity level (Lightly Active, Active, etc) and NOT log exercise calories
@toxikon
No that's completely wrong I'm afraid and not the way this tool works.
Activity setting and exercise are completely separate.
Whatever is your true activity setting is that's what you set to account for your daily routine.
My son is a builder so has an active setting to account for his job - when he exercises he needs more.
For me for example I recently retired from a sedentary job but with a very large exercise routine.
Now I'm retired my activity setting would be lightly active as I'm moving much more during the day - but I still have the same large exercise routine.7 -
When you have a lot to lose, you need more calories than a person of a normal weight. When you’re more active, you need more calories. 1920 is very reasonable...I think when I started here about four years ago it gave me 2100 for a pound a week, and I was on lightly active and 13 pounds heavier.1
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rachaelgifford wrote: »Hi there!
I have tried and failed MFP many times, and it has all been down to me trying to beat the system... under eating, over exercising and generally just hating it.
So, this time in an effort to actually make it work I have set my goal to losing 1lb per week and I have set myself a gym routine to ensure that I am working sensibly in the gym.
However, my calorie goal has come up at 1920 calories, and this seems like quite a lot to me when losing weight. However, I am determined to do this properly, so am trying to eat around that, and exercise on top.
I exercise 4/5 times a week. 2 weight sessions and 2/3 cardio depending on how I feel. I am normally pretty active day to day as well.
I don't think I will be eating back my exercise calories though , as I am going from about 1300 to 1900.
Could someone please reassure me that I will actually lose weight this way???? Obviously, I wouldn't be sad losing more than 1lb per week... but I need to start doing something that will work so if slow and steady is the key, than that is what I will try!
Can you not see that the two bold segments are in conflict?
The tool works if done properly.
If you think "slow & steady" is the key to being successful this time then why are you trying to speed it up?9 -
Keep in mind that there are 2 ways to use MFP.
1. Set your activity level to Sedentary and manually log exercise calories
2. Set your activity level to your actual activity level (Lightly Active, Active, etc) and NOT log exercise calories
@toxikon
No that's completely wrong I'm afraid and not the way this tool works.
Activity setting and exercise are completely separate.
Whatever is your true activity setting is that's what you set to account for your daily routine.
My son is a builder so has an active setting to account for his job - when he exercises he needs more.
For me for example I recently retired from a sedentary job but with a very large exercise routine.
Now I'm retired my activity setting would be lightly active as I'm moving much more during the day - but I still have the same large exercise routine.
You might notice above that @janejellyroll pointed out that some people who lead naturally active lives (like working on their feet all day) would want to input a higher activity level than Sedentary - which I agree with. I'm a Sedentary person so I forgot about that point - but it would still fall under "option 1" - just sub out Sedentary with whatever your non-exercise-routine activity level would be.4 -
rachaelgifford wrote: »Hi there!
I have tried and failed MFP many times, and it has all been down to me trying to beat the system... under eating, over exercising and generally just hating it.
So, this time in an effort to actually make it work I have set my goal to losing 1lb per week and I have set myself a gym routine to ensure that I am working sensibly in the gym.
However, my calorie goal has come up at 1920 calories, and this seems like quite a lot to me when losing weight. However, I am determined to do this properly, so am trying to eat around that, and exercise on top.
I exercise 4/5 times a week. 2 weight sessions and 2/3 cardio depending on how I feel. I am normally pretty active day to day as well.
I don't think I will be eating back my exercise calories though , as I am going from about 1300 to 1900.
Could someone please reassure me that I will actually lose weight this way???? Obviously, I wouldn't be sad losing more than 1lb per week... but I need to start doing something that will work so if slow and steady is the key, than that is what I will try!
Can you not see that the two bold segments are in conflict?
The tool works if done properly.
If you think "slow & steady" is the key to being successful this time then why are you trying to speed it up?
I think OP just means that when she did MFP before she tried to game the system in her favor instead of following what it told her. I can admit to doing that when I first started before getting serious but she can chime in and tell me if I'm wrong with my guess.0 -
If you don't like MFP and worrying about exercise calories, figure out your TDEE from http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/ (I'd use lightly active for you) and just eat that.2
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rachaelgifford wrote: »However, my calorie goal has come up at 1920 calories, and this seems like quite a lot to me when losing weight. However, I am determined to do this properly, so am trying to eat around that, and exercise on top.
I'm maintaining my weight eating ~3,500 calories per day. 1,920 could be a lot or a little; it's not about the number it's about the person.2 -
Why do you think you don't need to eat back some of your exercise cals?? I suggest you try following the MFP system **as laid out ** for 2 months and see how it works. It seems that inventing your own variations has not worked well in the past.
It isn’t that I don’t think I should, it is that I do t think I can. I struggle to eat enough healthy food, most of my calories come from junk and booze. It is just too much.0 -
rachaelgifford wrote: »Why do you think you don't need to eat back some of your exercise cals?? I suggest you try following the MFP system **as laid out ** for 2 months and see how it works. It seems that inventing your own variations has not worked well in the past.
It isn’t that I don’t think I should, it is that I do t think I can. I struggle to eat enough healthy food, most of my calories come from junk and booze. It is just too much.
If you're struggling to eat enough "healthy food," it could be that you're trying to restrict too much from your diet.3 -
rachaelgifford wrote: »Why do you think you don't need to eat back some of your exercise cals?? I suggest you try following the MFP system **as laid out ** for 2 months and see how it works. It seems that inventing your own variations has not worked well in the past.
It isn’t that I don’t think I should, it is that I do t think I can. I struggle to eat enough healthy food, most of my calories come from junk and booze. It is just too much.
Tacos are 1,700 to 2,000 calories of protein rich deliciousness. At least the way I make them.0 -
NorthCascades wrote: »rachaelgifford wrote: »Why do you think you don't need to eat back some of your exercise cals?? I suggest you try following the MFP system **as laid out ** for 2 months and see how it works. It seems that inventing your own variations has not worked well in the past.
It isn’t that I don’t think I should, it is that I do t think I can. I struggle to eat enough healthy food, most of my calories come from junk and booze. It is just too much.
Tacos are 1,700 to 2,000 calories of protein rich deliciousness. At least the way I make them.
Jesus H. Christ! What are you putting in these tacos?! Lol4 -
dinadyna21 wrote: »rachaelgifford wrote: »Hi there!
I have tried and failed MFP many times, and it has all been down to me trying to beat the system... under eating, over exercising and generally just hating it.
So, this time in an effort to actually make it work I have set my goal to losing 1lb per week and I have set myself a gym routine to ensure that I am working sensibly in the gym.
However, my calorie goal has come up at 1920 calories, and this seems like quite a lot to me when losing weight. However, I am determined to do this properly, so am trying to eat around that, and exercise on top.
I exercise 4/5 times a week. 2 weight sessions and 2/3 cardio depending on how I feel. I am normally pretty active day to day as well.
I don't think I will be eating back my exercise calories though , as I am going from about 1300 to 1900.
Could someone please reassure me that I will actually lose weight this way???? Obviously, I wouldn't be sad losing more than 1lb per week... but I need to start doing something that will work so if slow and steady is the key, than that is what I will try!
Can you not see that the two bold segments are in conflict?
The tool works if done properly.
If you think "slow & steady" is the key to being successful this time then why are you trying to speed it up?
I think OP just means that when she did MFP before she tried to game the system in her favor instead of following what it told her. I can admit to doing that when I first started before getting serious but she can chime in and tell me if I'm wrong with my guess.
Exactly this. I just don’t have a huge appetite either, I just drink too much and eat fried food, crisps and chocolate!
I guess I just have to learn to eat more. Lol.
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janejellyroll wrote: »rachaelgifford wrote: »Why do you think you don't need to eat back some of your exercise cals?? I suggest you try following the MFP system **as laid out ** for 2 months and see how it works. It seems that inventing your own variations has not worked well in the past.
It isn’t that I don’t think I should, it is that I do t think I can. I struggle to eat enough healthy food, most of my calories come from junk and booze. It is just too much.
If you're struggling to eat enough "healthy food," it could be that you're trying to restrict too much from your diet.
I can see what you are saying, I eat most things, except my danger foods (pizza, chips, crisps, chocolate).
I guess eating more non calorie high food is just something I have to adapt to.0 -
rachaelgifford wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »rachaelgifford wrote: »Why do you think you don't need to eat back some of your exercise cals?? I suggest you try following the MFP system **as laid out ** for 2 months and see how it works. It seems that inventing your own variations has not worked well in the past.
It isn’t that I don’t think I should, it is that I do t think I can. I struggle to eat enough healthy food, most of my calories come from junk and booze. It is just too much.
If you're struggling to eat enough "healthy food," it could be that you're trying to restrict too much from your diet.
I can see what you are saying, I eat most things, except my danger foods (pizza, chips, crisps, chocolate).
I guess eating more non calorie high food is just something I have to adapt to.
If it's too difficult to eat more low calorie food, you can always try eating more calorie-dense foods that aren't hard for you to moderate.3 -
dinadyna21 wrote: »NorthCascades wrote: »rachaelgifford wrote: »Why do you think you don't need to eat back some of your exercise cals?? I suggest you try following the MFP system **as laid out ** for 2 months and see how it works. It seems that inventing your own variations has not worked well in the past.
It isn’t that I don’t think I should, it is that I do t think I can. I struggle to eat enough healthy food, most of my calories come from junk and booze. It is just too much.
Tacos are 1,700 to 2,000 calories of protein rich deliciousness. At least the way I make them.
Jesus H. Christ! What are you putting in these tacos?! Lol
Well that's for the whole meal, not per taco.
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NorthCascades wrote: »rachaelgifford wrote: »Why do you think you don't need to eat back some of your exercise cals?? I suggest you try following the MFP system **as laid out ** for 2 months and see how it works. It seems that inventing your own variations has not worked well in the past.
It isn’t that I don’t think I should, it is that I do t think I can. I struggle to eat enough healthy food, most of my calories come from junk and booze. It is just too much.
Tacos are 1,700 to 2,000 calories of protein rich deliciousness. At least the way I make them.
That’s probably my kind of taco1 -
OP, I just read the whole thread and got increasingly worried while I was reading it.
You started off by stating that you've failed in the past by over exercising and undereating and that you decided you were going to do things differently this time, and then as the thread evolved, gradually dropped your calories and even stated that you were even going to give things a try with a 2 pound a week loss goal.
If you're on your feet a lot during the day, you are not sedentary. You are at the least lightly active. You are exercising and should also be eating back a portion of your exercise calories.
You have past experience of shooting yourself in the foot from underfeuling and you're putting yourself on the path to do it again. I don't get it.
I have been there. I spent this past year gaining weight because I was so desperate to lose the last of my weight that I was over exercising and underfueling and all that led me to do was binge. The binging eventually overcame my deficits and I put on weight.
It sounds like in the past you just gave up when you suffered the same effects.
You had a good plan when you wrote this post. Keep to what it was. If you don't lose a pound a week, re-evaluate at that point. There's no rush.
The bottom line is that you already know that over restricting doesn't work. You've been down that road. Take a different one this time.18 -
There is such a vast middle ground between chicken breast, brown rice and broccoli and deep fried oreos followed by a bottle of Jack Daniels. What did you eat as a child? What do you like? What would you like to eat? What about meat and potatoes, sandwich with ham, porridge, omelet, fruit smoothie, yogurt parfait, pasta, corn on the cob, pancakes, chili, burritos, couscous, clam chowder, fruit salad, spinach pie, shrimp stir-fry, ratatouille?rachaelgifford wrote: »I can see what you are saying, I eat most things, except my danger foods (pizza, chips, crisps, chocolate).
I guess eating more non calorie high food is just something I have to adapt to.
Later you can work on why you feel certain foods are dangerous. But first aim to get in good nutrition and learn to understand and trust your appetite with normal everyday foods.7 -
What do you consider "junk" and what do you consider "healthy" food? Some people would say nonfat yogurt is healthy. I say it tastes gross with an awful mouth feel, and full fat yogurt keeps me full longer, so for me, full fat is a better option. Are you cutting out alcohol completely? Why? Unless you have a drinking problem there's no reason to do that. Think about adding nuts, seeds, full fat dairy, and an occasional pint to your diet, meet your calorie goals as outlined by MFP. If, after a month or 2, you aren't losing the lb a week you've set as your goal, look at your logs to see where your problem is. I think the error most of us make (over and over for some of us) is we see a diet as this restrictive thing to lose weight, rather than the food we eat every day for the rest of our lives.3
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