Hello, wow, I have been eating over 3000 calories a day!

NatalieMarrin
NatalieMarrin Posts: 3 Member
in Getting Started
It's so eye-opening to really log (without judgment but with awe) what I typically eat on a weekend day. I think I'm a bit more disciplined on workdays (also less time to eat), but not much, to be honest. Yesterday I logged (the best I could, sometimes having to estimate things like takeout food), and I ended up at around 3200 calories! And this was with some restraint. I could have eaten much more. I wasn't full or uncomfortable. Oh, and about 600 of those calories were from wine alone.

Anyway, I need to get serious and lose about 65 pounds and start focusing on my health.

I am going to start at 1500 calories and try to burn 500 a day (walking, zumba, eventually running and weights). If that doesn't work or I hit a plateau, then I will go lower.

My stats: I'm 48F, 185 pounds, 5'3"

My weaknesses: wine; Thai takeout food, er...any takeout food; anything savory like chips, fries, eggrolls; fresh French bread baguettes, cheese pizza

My strengths: Don't like sweets very much; I hate most meat; dairy doesn't always agree with me so while I have it on pizza and have yogurt on occasion, I mostly avoid it; I do like exercising (LOVE going to my zumba class); my job is pretty active (lots of walking around); I've never been a night snacker.

My main challenge will be eating as little as I will need to to get to the point where 1500 instead of 3000+ is normal eating. Also, I need to take a break from wine and drink a lot more water.

Feel free to add me! I'm pretty new, so I don't really know how this works.

Replies

  • Anabirgite
    Anabirgite Posts: 537 Member
    Good Luck Natalie, I hope you will read many of the excellent articles, otherwise known as stickies( I have no idea why ) but at the beginning of these threads are listed " MostHelpful Threads" I started in July...thinking was eating so healthy etc...I began with an aggressive low calorie goal, and like you I exercise vigorously. I was shocked when keep track I was eating so little protein and that the consensus data was I needed to eat more calories... I eat on average now 1570. I more then doubled my protein and have added strength and for the first time this week dropped below a plateau I have not seen for 4 years. I am not knowledgable enough to give device but have learned so much from the many sages here who are so generous with there knowledge and time. Also may I suggest you look at the many challenges they have helped jumpstart me with weighing every day and being accountable to people I do not know.
  • LyndaBSS
    LyndaBSS Posts: 6,964 Member
    Welcome to the community! <3

    If you haven't already, read the stickies at the top of the getting started forum. Very informative and helpful.

    Don't grab a daily calorie allotment out of the air and don't lower the number when, not if, you hit a stall. Fluctuations and plateaus are a normal part of the process.

    Let mfp assign your calories with a reasonable loss per week chosen. You don't have enough to lose to choose 2 lbs/week. Go with 1. Stay in a calorie deficit and lose weight.

    Good luck with your journey!
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,093 Member
    Anabirgite wrote: »
    Good Luck Natalie, I hope you will read many of the excellent articles, otherwise known as stickies( I have no idea why ) but at the beginning of these threads are listed " MostHelpful Threads" I started in July...thinking was eating so healthy etc...I began with an aggressive low calorie goal, and like you I exercise vigorously. I was shocked when keep track I was eating so little protein and that the consensus data was I needed to eat more calories... I eat on average now 1570. I more then doubled my protein and have added strength and for the first time this week dropped below a plateau I have not seen for 4 years. I am not knowledgable enough to give device but have learned so much from the many sages here who are so generous with there knowledge and time. Also may I suggest you look at the many challenges they have helped jumpstart me with weighing every day and being accountable to people I do not know.

    They're known as stickies because they're "stuck" to the top of the list of threads -- they don't get pushed down and out of sight because no one is posting to them.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,093 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    Is that the calorie goal MFP estimated for you to lose 1 to 1.5 pounds per week, which would be about the maximum reasonable goal rate at your current weight? If so, it intends for you to eat back a reasonable estimate of exercise calories on top of the basic calorie goal.

    I started here at 5'5", 183 pounds, age 59, back in 2015, lost 50 pounds, and have been maintaining a healthy weight since. Eating a net 1000 calories a day back then would've been a really, really bad and unhealthy plan, for me.

    This is a good read:

    https://www.aworkoutroutine.com/1200-calorie-diet/

    Losing weight too slowly can be frustrating, but losing weight too fast is a health risk. Please be careful, and successful. :flowerforyou:

    This is very good advice.

    @NatalieMarrin , just in general, trying to fuel 500 calories worth of workouts on 1500 calories (gross, not net, as you describe) is not a good idea. And cutting further from 1500 at your height, while exercising, when you hit a plateau is not a good idea either. If that happens, you need to be patient and maybe tighten up your logging.
  • JBanx256
    JBanx256 Posts: 1,479 Member
    Welcome & best of luck!
  • poisonesse
    poisonesse Posts: 573 Member
    Welcome to MFP and remember one thing... you CAN do it! ;)
  • Anabirgite
    Anabirgite Posts: 537 Member
    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    Anabirgite wrote: »
    Good Luck Natalie, I hope you will read many of the excellent articles, otherwise known as stickies( I have no idea why ) but at the beginning of these threads are listed " MostHelpful Threads" I started in July...thinking was eating so healthy etc...I began with an aggressive low calorie goal, and like you I exercise vigorously. I was shocked when keep track I was eating so little protein and that the consensus data was I needed to eat more calories... I eat on average now 1570. I more then doubled my protein and have added strength and for the first time this week dropped below a plateau I have not seen for 4 years. I am not knowledgable enough to give device but have learned so much from the many sages here who are so generous with there knowledge and time. Also may I suggest you look at the many challenges they have helped jumpstart me with weighing every day and being accountable to people I do not know.

    They're known as stickies because they're "stuck" to the top of the list of threads -- they don't get pushed down and out of sight because no one is posting to them.

    Thanks :)
  • NatalieMarrin
    NatalieMarrin Posts: 3 Member
    AnnPT77, I just read that article and it is mind-blowing to me. What a great article!
  • chefbender5310
    chefbender5310 Posts: 11 Member
    Good luck! It really is true what an eye opener it is to plug in your daily food and exercise diary amounts...have a goal that is reasonable and aim for that! Wishing you all of the best!

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