Figuring out Macros

AOcanas10
AOcanas10 Posts: 14 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
How would you go about figuring out macros, or just calories if hitting macros isn't as important at first, for a woman who is around 340 lbs, no exercise besides being on her feet at work? I've looked into some calculators but they're all so different. Any advice on just getting her started, any encouragement tips? I understand this is a tough process and would like some points while helping her. Thank you.

Replies

  • AOcanas10
    AOcanas10 Posts: 14 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    I would enter my goals and stats into MFP, begin with the default recommendation, and then tweak it after you have a few weeks to see if your preferences vary (some people like to have more protein or fat than the default, for example).

    I'll have her try it but I feel that MFP isn't always as accurate
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member
    edited May 2020
    The default macros on this site are 50C 30F 20P - it's a well accepted macro split.

    Why are you doing this for her? Is she able to use a computer?

    It really takes having an understanding of food, so she's much more likely to succeed if she does it herself.
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,240 Member
    if a 340lb person didn't ask me for my help, I would realize that I am more likely to cause harm than help in offering unsolicited criticism, or even well meaning assistance.

    If they DID ask for my help, I would suggest they start logging using MFP defaults and weight maintenance as their goals. Then I would encourage them to review their logs and see if there were any easy calories logging swaps or savings that they could spot.

    And encourage them to take control of both their eating and their future.

    You can't do it for them.

    This is something that will take a fair amount of work for them to resolve... and they have to both want and be ready to do it!
  • AOcanas10
    AOcanas10 Posts: 14 Member
    I get that. She did ask for my help. Was really just trying get any ideas on how to figure out macros. I understand that they will need to be adjusted after trial and error. Just trying to help a person who is struggling but thanks for your attempt at helping!
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    AOcanas10 wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    I would enter my goals and stats into MFP, begin with the default recommendation, and then tweak it after you have a few weeks to see if your preferences vary (some people like to have more protein or fat than the default, for example).

    I'll have her try it but I feel that MFP isn't always as accurate

    As accurate as what? I'm not sure why you would trust some rando on the internet over MFP.
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,240 Member
    cmriverside wrote: »
    I would say that being as overweight as she is - she is struggling with a lot more than macros. Macros are about #237th on her list of problems.

    You can't fix it for her.

    She can eat whatever she wants within her calorie goal and be okay at her weight. She has approximately 200 pounds of body fat to use as fuel. If you really want to help her, you'll give her a list of dieticians and/or medical professionals or mental health therapists, and then you'll let her take it from there. You cannot figure this out for her.

    I learned the hard way to never do for someone something which they can (and should) be doing for themselves.

    It's not good for her or for you.

    :flowerforyou:

    I set myself to lose 2lbs a week on MFP based on the activity level of sedentary (show me the obese person who didn't start that way!)

    I logged my food as accurately as I could figure out to after setting up some personal rules such as "nothing goes in my mouth that is not already recorded before it goes in my mouth"

    I reviewed my log. I looked at what cost more calories but gave me less satiation (looking for less overall satisfaction including nutritional and happy feelz goals in addition to satiation came later--let's face it: in the very beginning it was 100% about satiation within the calories).

    So, I added more satiating items for less calories and removed less satiating items for more calories. After a bit of education (see "adjust" below), focus shifted 100% to adding "more conducive to my current goals" stuff and displacing "not as conducive to my current goals" stuff, as opposed to eliminating "bad" stuff.

    I read stickies and forums. I followed up on some of the research. I also continued to become more active (this was a separate thing)

    Review. Experiment. Review. Adjust.
    Review. Experiment. Review. Adjust.
    Review. Experiment. Review. Adjust.

    Which part of this do you think you can realistically do for someone else short of in a professional, coaching type, relationship where you would guide them to doing that work for themselves?

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