That's it? Really?
Virginia90
Posts: 317 Member
This is probably going to sound stupid...but all I have to do is stick to my calorie goals and I will lose weight? Like for real? It just seems too simple...Today wasn't hard for me - I am supposed to eat 1200 calories + 200 for breastfeeding my 11 month old (my estimate) + exercise calories, and I wasn't ever starving...I mean, right now I'm a little hungry, but that's because it's late and it's been several hours since I've eaten dinner...I'm not confused, but in my head I'm thinking that it seems too easy - dieting is supposed to suck and be hard and all that, but if I want to eat more, I just have to exercise more! I mean DUH, but this all has never really "hit" me before. I really feel like, for the first time in my life, that I CAN lose weight, if it really is as simple as today was...I found myself wishing I could eat more at dinner, but I was full - I could TELL I was full...it just tasted really good. Am I missing something, or is this really going to work just by making my little green number as close to 0 as possible?
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Many people try to make it much more complicated than it really is by adding in that "you have to eat clean", "you can't eat carbs", "you can't have diary", "you can't eat meat", etc.
It's basically just calories in and calories out. Pretty simple.
A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
well, tracking is definitely a step in the right direction. but it's probably not the be-all, end-all solution you'd like it to be (or I'D like it to be, for that matter).
that being said, i'm a firm believer that tracking is a *really* important step, regardless if your number for the day is near zero or not. (speaking for myself, it's when that number ain't what it should be that tracking it gets tough. but i do it then, too ... it's a great reminder and can be a powerful motivator.)
if you're anything like me, your next revelation will be about WHAT you eat rather than how much. I've been doing the mfp thing for about 11 months now, and i'm still astounded by the quantities of calories, sodium and so on that are in so many things.
at the end of the day, really, mfp is just a tool. use it well, and chances are real, real good it can help you get to where you want to be. it sure has helped me, anyway.
welcome ... forward we go!0 -
Many people try to make it much more complicated than it really is by adding in that "you have to eat clean", "you can't eat carbs", "you can't have diary", "you can't eat meat", etc.
It's basically just calories in and calories out. Pretty simple.
It seems like such a simple concept...I guess it's the media that makes me feel like doing something so simple won't be enough! I am so excited to see my progress at the end of this week! Does it happen immediately if I stick to my goal or does my body have to figure it out? =/ I feel like I should know all this!0 -
Ah yes - I've been working for a while to get processed foods out of our house. I pay close attention to labels now, and I have been making small changes over the past few months (switching out organic when it's affordable, buying raw sugar instead of white, not allowing soda, snacks, etc. INTO the house - the occasional soda or snack while out and about isn't restricted, but I will NOT bring it home with me, etc.) I don't think it is necessarily WHAT I was eating that was causing me to be overweight, but the amount...even when I was trying to "restrict" myself, I was probably still overeating because I was forcing myself to eat salad when I wanted a sandwich, and then feeling deprived and then splurging. I didn't feel deprived today, and that was like a first - I think it's because I was still eating what I wanted, just being mindful of the calories in everything.0
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It's like a mantra - eat less, move more. You do that, you get healthier. The rest of it is just window dressing. The hard part is doing it day in and day out and making a habit of it. All I know is doing it this way seems much more sane and enjoyable than following some intricate diet.0
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I know what you mean. I had the same thought process. I'm in the medical profession and I've been taught this stuff countless times during university but I never applied it to myself until now. And surprise, suprise, I'm watching my calories, I've got a deficit and I'm losing weight. Go figure huh?0
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The eating clean and stuff is really just methods to make sticking to the simple rules easier and healthier.
Now you've cracked, hang around and watch everyone else messing it up.
Just try not to catch any of the stupid flying about.0 -
This is probably going to sound stupid...but all I have to do is stick to my calorie goals and I will lose weight? Like for real? It just seems too simple...Today wasn't hard for me - I am supposed to eat 1200 calories + 200 for breastfeeding my 11 month old (my estimate) + exercise calories, and I wasn't ever starving...I mean, right now I'm a little hungry, but that's because it's late and it's been several hours since I've eaten dinner...I'm not confused, but in my head I'm thinking that it seems too easy - dieting is supposed to suck and be hard and all that, but if I want to eat more, I just have to exercise more! I mean DUH, but this all has never really "hit" me before. I really feel like, for the first time in my life, that I CAN lose weight, if it really is as simple as today was...I found myself wishing I could eat more at dinner, but I was full - I could TELL I was full...it just tasted really good. Am I missing something, or is this really going to work just by making my little green number as close to 0 as possible?
Hehe, yes, it really is that simple.
We all know that to lose weight you have to eat less and/or move more, but most of us are pretty bad at starting to do that and really bad at keeping it up.
If you stick with what MFP recommends, you are almost certain to lose weight. It isn't a miracle/quickfix/magic overnight solution - but if you keep doing it - it works!!
Welcome aboard!0 -
problem is weight loss isn't linear so you can do all the right things one week or two and still not lose anything that week, then you start wondering what went wrong.
Even calorie counting i struggled to lose, dropping wheat worked for me and i lost double the amount it had taken me first 3 months to lose, in just the first month wheat free/low carb. I think you have to find what works for you.
Good luck.0 -
This is probably going to sound stupid...but all I have to do is stick to my calorie goals and I will lose weight? Like for real? It just seems too simple...Today wasn't hard for me - I am supposed to eat 1200 calories + 200 for breastfeeding my 11 month old (my estimate) + exercise calories, and I wasn't ever starving...I mean, right now I'm a little hungry, but that's because it's late and it's been several hours since I've eaten dinner...I'm not confused, but in my head I'm thinking that it seems too easy - dieting is supposed to suck and be hard and all that, but if I want to eat more, I just have to exercise more! I mean DUH, but this all has never really "hit" me before. I really feel like, for the first time in my life, that I CAN lose weight, if it really is as simple as today was...I found myself wishing I could eat more at dinner, but I was full - I could TELL I was full...it just tasted really good. Am I missing something, or is this really going to work just by making my little green number as close to 0 as possible?
It really was that easy for me, but I've learnt too that everyone is different. I learnt that mfp's numbers are too low for me (I must burn a lot incidentally) but too high for some. You have to experiment and see what works for you. Hope it goes well for you :flowerforyou:0 -
This is probably going to sound stupid...but all I have to do is stick to my calorie goals and I will lose weight? Like for real? It just seems too simple...Today wasn't hard for me - I am supposed to eat 1200 calories + 200 for breastfeeding my 11 month old (my estimate) + exercise calories, and I wasn't ever starving...I mean, right now I'm a little hungry, but that's because it's late and it's been several hours since I've eaten dinner...I'm not confused, but in my head I'm thinking that it seems too easy - dieting is supposed to suck and be hard and all that, but if I want to eat more, I just have to exercise more! I mean DUH, but this all has never really "hit" me before. I really feel like, for the first time in my life, that I CAN lose weight, if it really is as simple as today was...I found myself wishing I could eat more at dinner, but I was full - I could TELL I was full...it just tasted really good. Am I missing something, or is this really going to work just by making my little green number as close to 0 as possible?
Yes and if you are finding it satisfying and not difficult, all the better. The way it is going for you, if it continues that way, you should be well on your way to your goal!0 -
I am excited to see if it works! LOL0
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it's all about moderation.0
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it's all about moderation.0
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It is that simple. People just can't stick with it, so they say it "doesn't work." (That's called laziness.)0
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You are so right!!!! I love this site, I'm obsessed with working out because I'm obsessed with eating. I've lost 16 lbs and no hunger. Did I say I love this???0
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Amazing, right? It really, really works There are many hundreds, if not thousands, of MFP members who are living proof. As my doctor told me, the diet industry doesn't want this secret out, because an entire multi-billion dollar industry would be renedered worthless. Diet books only need to be a page or two long...0
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Am I missing something, or is this really going to work just by making my little green number as close to 0 as possible?
It really is that simple.0 -
I should also add that you should REALLY read these two books:
http://amzn.to/vFirQy
http://amzn.to/yuCVJvAmazing, right? It really, really works There are many hundreds, if not thousands, of MFP members who are living proof. As my doctor told me, the diet industry doesn't want this secret out, because an entire multi-billion dollar industry would be renedered worthless. Diet books only need to be a page or two long...0 -
Totally agree! I log what I eat and my workouts! It helps keep me on track as knowing how to balance out what I put in vs. my calorie burn! I try not to eat my calories back but if I’m hungry I know I have room to eat without feeling guilty. You eat less, move more, you lose!It's like a mantra - eat less, move more. You do that, you get healthier. The rest of it is just window dressing. The hard part is doing it day in and day out and making a habit of it. All I know is doing it this way seems much more sane and enjoyable than following some intricate diet.0 -
I started 3 weeks ago and have lost 11 pounds thus far. And didn't do much exercise for 1 of those weeks. So YES it works!!0
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This is a good point. Weight loss ISN'T linear. You'll lose more some weeks than others, and maybe even hit a plateau or two. Just keep the big picture in your mind and remember why you're doing it when the going gets tough.problem is weight loss isn't linear so you can do all the right things one week or two and still not lose anything that week, then you start wondering what went wrong.
Even calorie counting i struggled to lose, dropping wheat worked for me and i lost double the amount it had taken me first 3 months to lose, in just the first month wheat free/low carb. I think you have to find what works for you.
Good luck.
I actually had the same issue as the quoted poster. I spent three months this past summer losing and gaining the same 5 pounds over and over. I dropped my carb intake to under 80 grams or so per day and the weight finally started to disappear. I also upped my running mileage over time and the inches dropped off, too. I'm now really in maintenance and didn't log much this past month. I partied and drank and still only gained about 2 pounds because what I've learned here has become a habit. Those two pounds will be gone very quickly now that I'm back into my normal routine.
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Ain't that the truth, I always wondered why the hell diet books were so thick!!Amazing, right? It really, really works There are many hundreds, if not thousands, of MFP members who are living proof. As my doctor told me, the diet industry doesn't want this secret out, because an entire multi-billion dollar industry would be renedered worthless. Diet books only need to be a page or two long...0 -
You'll find you may have to modify what MFP tells you to intake.... some find the number too high, others too low. I found that, through years of abusing my body, that 1415 calories per day is too high for me, and I gain when I'm eating my maintenance calories.
But yes, it is that simple.
And remember, muscle weighs more then fat, so if you don't find the scale moving, try on some clothes that were "tight". Betcha lost some inches
Amy0 -
This is a good point. Weight loss ISN'T linear. You'll lose more some weeks than others, and maybe even hit a plateau or two. Just keep the big picture in your mind and remember why you're doing it when the going gets tough.problem is weight loss isn't linear so you can do all the right things one week or two and still not lose anything that week, then you start wondering what went wrong.
Even calorie counting i struggled to lose, dropping wheat worked for me and i lost double the amount it had taken me first 3 months to lose, in just the first month wheat free/low carb. I think you have to find what works for you.
Good luck.
I actually had the same issue as the quoted poster. I spent three months this past summer losing and gaining the same 5 pounds over and over. I dropped my carb intake to under 80 grams or so per day and the weight finally started to disappear. I also upped my running mileage over time and the inches dropped off, too. I'm now really in maintenance and didn't log much this past month. I partied and drank and still only gained about 2 pounds because what I've learned here has become a habit. Those two pounds will be gone very quickly now that I'm back into my normal routine.
I've found the best thing to do when I plateau is to "switch it up." I change my routine entirely or even take a couple days off to let my body fully rest and heal (I seem to always be sore because I'm always pushing myself to do more, so sometimes I need a little downtime to readjust and let my body get back to "normal"). Sometimes I just switch up what I'm eating a bit. Works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't.
(And don't let my profile fool you. I just joine MFP recently, but I've been going strong since April 2010 and have lost over 110 pounds thus far. I started out at 416 pounds and am getting ready to find my way into the 200's, but I got "stuck" on one of those plateaus for a while...my "switch up" this time was to join here and try a different system, a new group of support/advice. 3 pounds down in my first week! ) 0 -
I hear ya! I remember my dad saying years ago, 'you just have to push away'.0
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I am stoked! I had to eat seconds at dinner PLUS eat some nuts tonight (and I had a coffee and a few chocolate covered mints!) to get enough calories, and I still am about 200 behind, however I subtract 200 for breastfeeding, and the kiddo was away for about 3 hours and didn't BF as much today, so I'm calling it even. I love this!! I feel so good from the exercise I did today! Who knew getting healthy wasn't going to be horrible! =D0
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Okay...so I HAD to give in to the temptation today and weigh myself even though I was going to wait until next Monday...I lost FIVE pounds! Granted, a lot of that is probably because I've been drinking a LOT more water, but still! FIVE POUNDS! I met my "by Valentine's Day" goal in 4 days!0
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