Amount of Calories? More is less? HELP!

implodingsporks
implodingsporks Posts: 27
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
So my girlfriend has been at 1400 calories the past 2 1/2 weeks and hasn't seen much progress. She was at 1200 calories, but that didn't show too much progress either, and she was pretty hungry by the end of the night, so we bumped it up and the 200 make a world of difference hunger wise. She works out decently, has changed her eating habits SO MUCH and is doing pretty well. But still, not really any progress. She is about 180lbs, and her first goal weight is 150lbs.

I, however, am at 1200 calories a day, and I've lost 5lbs in 4 1/2 weeks. I eat probably the same, maybe a little better than her and work out about the same. My starting weight was 138lbs. I'm at 132lbs and my first goal weight is to be 125lbs.

I couldn't for the life of me understand what she is doing wrong. So I looked into her settings and she wanted to lose 2lbs per week. I changed it to 1lb per week, and it bumped up her calories to 1520.

My question is: Is this a good thing or a bad thing? I don't know if she needs more, less, etc. I can't figure out, based on both of us, what's going to work for her. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. She has a lot more to lose than me (After her first goal, her next is 135lbs...meaning a total loss of 45lbs. I only have 13lbs-18lbs) I really want her to do this and not get discouraged, so please help!

Replies

  • Chairless
    Chairless Posts: 583 Member
    Trial and error, lower it, raise it, whichever just give it at least two weeks to look at the results.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Trial and error, lower it, raise it, whichever just give it at least two weeks to look at the results.

    i agree, maybe even give it 4 - 6 weeks.

    also, everyone is different, so you really cant compare the two of you.
  • Patovader
    Patovader Posts: 439 Member
    It sounds as though she was starving herself, if you don't eat enough your body slows down its metabolism to save calories and as a consequence you will not lose much weight.

    So, you have to eat (healthily) to slim.

    Cheers, A
  • chrissym78
    chrissym78 Posts: 628 Member
    She's a good deal heavier than you, therefore she will require more calories. Also have her check her sugars and carbs. I can't lose if I eat too many of either. Up the protein, lower the carbs :)
  • SPheonix22
    SPheonix22 Posts: 90 Member
    Girls are different than boys. Her menustration (period) can affect her weight. A lot of water retention, change in food types, etc. We also dont build muscle as fast as you guys. Read a couple of posts. For me though, I usually won't start losing anything until about the third or fourth week. As stated prieviously her body might think that she was starving it. This usually happens with a pattern of yo yo dieting. If she keeps at it the weight will fall off as her body will understand that this is a new lifestyle and not just a brief period in time where there is a calorie shortage. Hope this helps.
  • implodingsporks
    implodingsporks Posts: 27
    Girls are different than boys. Her menustration (period) can affect her weight. A lot of water retention, change in food types, etc. We also dont build muscle as fast as you guys. Read a couple of posts. For me though, I usually won't start losing anything until about the third or fourth week. As stated prieviously her body might think that she was starving it. This usually happens with a pattern of yo yo dieting. If she keeps at it the weight will fall off as her body will understand that this is a new lifestyle and not just a brief period in time where there is a calorie shortage. Hope this helps.


    Thanks for the adivce...but I'm a girl too! =D
  • amys31
    amys31 Posts: 108 Member
    Every body is different, you probably have more lean muscle which in turn means your metabolism is faster and you burn more calories. Interesting enough, b/c she is heavier..and has more weight to lose..if she is exercising and cutting calories she should be losing weight. It should be intitially coming off pretty quickly.

    I would really make sure she is exercising what she says she is and eating well..Not trying to sound presumptious, but she could be saying she's eating 1400 calories etc and eating alone or not counting all of her calories.

    That being said ..encourage her to drink water, eat lean proteins, veggies and whole grains sticking to 1200-1600 calories. She could even mix up her calorie intake..ie: one day eat 1300 the next eat 1500..then back down to 1200 just to "trick" her body/metabolism. Also make sure she is taking a rest day. have her step on the scale 1 or no more than 2 times a week..same time and day.

    Hang in there!
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