EAT - Are you serious?

I am right there with you! Its been 2 weeks and my scale has been a sitting duck...so I am going to try the MFP way and see what happens for the next week. Good Luck!

It worked for me! I am now totally converted to eating every last one of my daily calories and exercise calories. I feel better, I'm able to work out harder, and I've lost six pounds in about a month (after being stuck for four months!). Good luck!

we are far from professionals. but for many, eating a controlled deficit diet with proper food and nutrients has helped us.

I have been eating all of the proteins and good fats (coconut, avocado, nuts) that my body needs. I'm never hungry and sometimes I have to remind myself to eat. Cutting the carbs out was hard at first, but you get used to it.

"Well, I have recently seen many people questioning the idea of eating your goal calories and/or eating exercise calories so I thought I would offer up a quick reminder for both the newbies on here who are confused about caloric intake and some of our more seasoned members who may have forgotten. I'll be as brief as possible. (sorry if this gets long, I'll break it up to make it easier to read)

1)
Every single person on here loses weight differently, but there are a few common factors everyone. The first is that we all have a metabolism, governed by how much energy we give it, how active we are, genetic makeup, and the type of energy we give it. With that in mind MFP has a relatively easy to use goals calculator that will give you the amount of food you should eat to lose the weight you desire and become more healthy.

2)
The relationship to your BMI (as flawed as that measurement is) and how much you can lose is real and governs much of your weight loss. People with a BMI over 30 (classified as obese) can lose weight faster then people that are under that number (generally speaking, see number 1) 2 lbs a week or more is realistic for obese people. Trying to lose 2 lbs a week for someone with a BMI under 30 is much more difficult, as well as much more time consuming.

3)
Starvation mode is REAL. It can and does happen. You should keep close tabs on where your BMR calories is. If you are under the obesity level then please try to stay (at a minimum) at your BMR. The goals calculator WILL account for weight you want to lose, don't think you can up the stakes by eating less, it doesn't work. And if you exercise, realize that you are creating a larger deficite, and make sure you eat your exercise calories.

4)
(This is one I see all the time) If you are close (say within 25 lbs or so) of your goal weight, 2 lbs a week is probably unrealistic. The human body knows where it's equalibrium is, attempting to go below it is a difficult, and frustrating process, 2 lbs a week (what ever you may think) is a drastic strategy for someone near their goal and usually doesn't happen. As you approach your goals, slow down your attempt at loss, try for 1 lb a week or less, it will give your body time to adjust it's chemistry more gradually, keep you healthy, and lessen your frustration.

5)
1200 calories is a number that doctors and nutritionists have made up based on averages. It's not a line in the sand. Your starvation calories depends on your body. For me that line is somewhere around 2000 calories, for a really small woman, it could be 1000, Generally it's somewhere around 1000 calories less then your maintenance weight. But being dynamic systems, some of our bodies can tolerate more or less. Be smart about your weight loss, use your common sense, if you're not losing weight and your at or below a 1000 calorie deficite, then think logically and up your calories a little, and keep upping them until you see improvement.

6)
Lastly, the human body has a 5 lb swing daily. That means that on any given 24 hour period yo can go from 5 lbs above your "real" weight to 5 lbs below. Due to water weight, and waste we can swing quite a bit. The scale is a generalist at best, good for an Idea of where you are, but not very good at calculating exact measurements. I generally recommend weighing yourself no more then once every 2 weeks, at the same time, same day every week. Use other measurements along with this, I.E. size measurments, Body Fat %, and over all fitness level to make up the difference.

NOTE: I'm not a doctor or a certified nutritionist, but I have done a large amount of research on this, and have spoken with my doctor and 2 separate nutritionists on this topic. NONE of which has ever recommended a 2 lb a week weight loss without doctor supervision. Even after direct questioning about this they all agreed that 2 lbs a week is an EXTREME stragegy and, for most people who are in the healthy BMI range, an unrealistic goal to set (with some obvious exceptions, like an extremely large person overall)"

I know every time i stop eating all my calories, the weight does not come off...try it MFP really does work...this is an AWSOME place to be...

Dont'cha love this place?

I cannot believe I've lost 13 lbs since the first part of August........and it hasn't been hard or icky or depressing or sad! I'm still doing most of the things I did before - although I notice I don't crave pop anymore, and I can resist the treats at work a little better, and it's a fun challenge to see if I can DO IT each day!

........but don't take away my beer, or it'll get ugly :grumble: :grumble:

bump for later

With all the exercie i do i personally never track my exercise and just eat my cal limit every day. I am still getting results which is what I am after. I need to get more holes punched in my belt so that says something. That's with out tracking my exercise. Tracking your exercise in my own opinon leads you into a false sence of security so thats why I chose not to track the amount of excerise i do every day.
I know every one is different this is what i chose to do it works for me but it may not work for every one.

I'm with you on the doubt. My exercise puts me at 2500-2700 calories required per day (gross)
I'm stuffed ALL THE TIME, but let's give it a go, eh?

ok, so apparently I will go back to eating a bit more, because eating less to lose more didn't work at all...

It does work! I like to think of it like I'm a car. In order to just go and go really fast I need fuel. To go super fast and perform well I need supreme fuel. That's why you should always have your gas tank full and fill it with the best stuff possible. Chicken nuggets, fries and a soda aren't the best fuels for your body. Salad, fruit, protein and water are excellent.

I usually have breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and dinner. I also work out and dance almost every day. You can't "trick" your body. The blue prints for the human body has been around a lot longer than any of us.

Also remember, everyone is different when they start loosing weight. Sometimes you loose a lot at first sometimes it comes later. Everybody's metabolism is extremely different. Don't get frustrated! It will work!

Definitely add in high fiber foods to feel full, but also for many other health benefits. It is exciting to see so many people knowledgable about healthy food choices. Remember, losing weight isn't just a "diet." It is a change in your life style that you need to be able to maintain for the rest of your life. If you have one bad day, don't make it the end of your journey. Continue to strive for your goals and for a more healthy you. I have struggled with my weight for years, and when you make the conscious decision to make a life style change it makes a huge difference.

I understand that we're supposed to eat our exercise calories & everything, but I find it really hard because when I get home from the gym at night...it puts me at about 1,000 calories left for the day. How in the world am I supposed to eat that at night?? I also eat a lot during the day as well! That's what confuses me.

I cannot believe that if I eat more than I have been that I will actually start to lose weight but since you guys are the professionals I will try it out what is the worse that can happen - I'll end up back in the 240's instead of where I am at in the 220's my goal is to get back down to 140 - this is my prayer- God Willing!!!!!

I read an article called, "Living With Obesity At 700 Calories Per Day!" I feel it explained this question very well and it might help you and several others. Check it out-

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/core_march_8.htm

Otherwise, I just went to check the forum rules and such before I posted a link and found other links available that might answer this question as well on MFP: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/23912-links-in-mfp-you-want-to-read-again-and-again