Hopefully the first day is the hardest???

spajo001
spajo001 Posts: 3
edited December 2024 in Introduce Yourself
hi! my name's celeste i am 19 years old i am a full time college student. i am 5'9" and very friendly. i love who i am but the person i see in the mirror is not what i want everyone else to see. i hate what i see. i worked on my spiritual self and i am happy with the results, so now it's time to work on my physical self. i am tall so the fat doesnt show (deep breath) but i am 200 pounds (200 lbs exact not 200 ish, i am not making this up. i could not believe my eyes when i weighed myself). I am 60 pounds over weight for my height. i tried to use meal supplement shakes and stuff but they caused me sooo much pain and dizziness. so now i am trying this natural way. Its a little difficult for me to be physically active because i am asmatic and have an iron defecit. but im working really hard to be healthy. i worked out for nearly an hour today. breakfast and lunch held me over okay but i just ate and i feel super hungry right now. when you have a limit to how much you eat you really watch what you put in your mouth! 475 cals left for the night (hope i use them wisely). None of my friends are watching their weight so i'd love some support. if not im going to try this anyway for as long as i can. today was only my first day. i was soooo happy when i found out you get to eat more calories when you work out! hopefully this hungry feeling that's knawing at the inside of my stomache goes away after the first week or so.

Replies

  • JennieAL
    JennieAL Posts: 1,726 Member
    How many calories per day are you eating?
  • kassied09
    kassied09 Posts: 397
    Hello. It sounds like you are jumping right into it, which can be good and bad. I love how enthusiastic you are to get going...but it might come to a abrupt stop if you can't keep it up. maybe don't go so low on calories for a while?

    Anywho, welcome and glad to see you here! :D Good luck! Add me if ya like.
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    I HIGHLY recommend not worrying about a deficit to begin with. Start eating at your mainenance calories. Get used to that for a week, then start cutting it back 100 calories per day per week for the following weeks until you get it where you want it (ideally no more than 500 calories below maintenance to be sure you're eating enough).

    I know this is a slow start, but remember that you're going to be doing this forever to maintain your weight so learning how to eat well is really important.
  • spajo001
    spajo001 Posts: 3
    1680 calories per day, but it went up after i recorded my excersise for the day
    and though i'm really enthuastic to start i am only trying to lose 1 pound a week instead of 2 (which i was tempted to put my setting at last night) because 2 lbs a week had me at 12** calories and because i am anemic it would probably cause me to faint. so im ok with losing weight slowly, as long as im going the right direction on the scale!
  • spajo001
    spajo001 Posts: 3
    good idea
  • Khaillu
    Khaillu Posts: 12 Member
    Hi! I'm in the same boat as you but a little shorter and a little lighter. I'm 5'8" and 160ish. Honestly I haven't weighed myself in almost 6 months so I don't really know how much I weigh. (I need a scale pretty badly but a yoga mat was priority one of getting in shape). Anywho, just wanted to say hi. I just started yesterday too and I've been pushing pretty hard so far.

    I don't know if you do yoga but I wanted to share this link to a yoga class I've started taking every morning before working out. You mentioned that you have tried to improve yourself spiritually so this will probably work really well for you. I really like this instructor because:
    1.) She constantly has you look inward to your mind/body connection which I find very helpful. Part of my "getting healthy" is changing my mindset to stop viewing my body as the enemy or something scary that might fall apart and die at any time (yeah, I know, NOT a healthy perspective!) You probably don't have such extreme feelings but if you are seeking to change your body you probably feel at least unsatisfied with it. She has REALLY helped me see my body as part of myself to be listened to and respected, and as a teacher.
    2.) Her yoga isn't "easy" but it is manageable for real people who aren't in the most amazing shape. Some yoga classes are just so out of my league it is depressing to even attempt and I NEVER feel that way in this class.
    3.) I really like doing this first thing in the morning before working out because it wakes me up, warms up my body and stretches it out so the actual cardio I do is not as painful. When I wake up I have zero desire to work out and as the day goes on my desire just decreases, but doing yoga can give me the morning boost I need to get 30 or 45 minutes of cardio in.

    I hope this helps. Like I said, I'm a newb at this so take all my advice with a grain of salt! Here is the link to the yoga class. She has lessons starting sequentially at 1 and lesson 101 is Yoga for Beginners, I started at Lesson 101, then went back to 1 and am working my way forward now.

    http://blip.tv/namasteyoga
  • JennieAL
    JennieAL Posts: 1,726 Member
    1680 calories per day, but it went up after i recorded my excersise for the day
    and though i'm really enthuastic to start i am only trying to lose 1 pound a week instead of 2 (which i was tempted to put my setting at last night) because 2 lbs a week had me at 12** calories and because i am anemic it would probably cause me to faint. so im ok with losing weight slowly, as long as im going the right direction on the scale!

    1760 BMR

    1799 min for sedentary lifestyle

    You aren't even eating your BMR... increase your calories.
  • theartichoke
    theartichoke Posts: 816 Member
    Hi! I had a heck of a time trying to figure all of this stuff out when I first started...a month in and I'm still learning. Being hungry though is not what we want. I don't know what your eating looks like but if you drink tons of water, eat lots of veggies, lean protein, fruits, whole grains and healthy dairy you'll be amazed at how nourished your body feels and when you get hungry, you'll eat and it won't be a problem. It takes a bit to learn how to do things differently and for me, the first 3 days were the hardest. It's been ups and down since then but the more I learn, the more I begin to listen to and trust my body, the better I've done. That combined with enjoyable exercise and MFP (my friends here are wonderful) is what has helped me the most. It seems there are 50 different ways to walk this road to health. The way that's working for me may be different than how you'd like to travel. I'd be so happy to have you as a friend and help in any way that I could!
  • niftyafterfifty
    niftyafterfifty Posts: 338 Member
    I'm 56; that may be too old for you, but you may add me as a friend if you like.
  • cyberskirt
    cyberskirt Posts: 218
    omgosh... the first day, heck, the first week is HORRIBLE. I was soo hungry and unhappy. everything hurt from the working out etc.

    I found that I could stay full longer by upping my salad intake. it filled me up and it let me stay within my calorie allowances. It means I ate about 4 cups of salad a day (maybe more).

    I had to lower my carb intake too, not to something unreasonable, I just LIVED off of carbs before. over 400 carbs a day. Now I average 200. There are days I'm under, and days I'm over. but average is about 200. and that works for me and when I'm under and have only like 80 to 100 carbs I don't feel like crap, and if I'm at 300 I don't freak either because it happens less and less.

    Also, I have issues working out too (Size issues, health issues), and I found I could incorporate a really good strengthening routine with light aerobics that helps me... if you can't do high intensity cardio, find low intensity things.

    and take it slow! one step at a time. it WILL get better (although there are days where you will wake up and not believe that).
  • Oishii
    Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
    I HIGHLY recommend not worrying about a deficit to begin with. Start eating at your mainenance calories. Get used to that for a week, then start cutting it back 100 calories per day per week for the following weeks until you get it where you want it (ideally no more than 500 calories below maintenance to be sure you're eating enough).

    I know this is a slow start, but remember that you're going to be doing this forever to maintain your weight so learning how to eat well is really important.

    ^^^^ This! I would start with mfp's maintenance calories and see what happens. I wasn't anaemic, as far as I knew, before starting mfp, but after sticking to the recommended deficits, I was, because my actual calorie needs are far higher than mfp predicted. Like you, I came to mfp looking to lose slowly and safely, but lost really fast (more than 2lb a week when I was set for 1lb!). Give maintenance a go first, and reduce, or increase, as required. If I now want to lose I eat 2000 kcal + exercise, not 1200!
  • GurleyGirl524
    GurleyGirl524 Posts: 578 Member
    It will get easier and easier every day until eventually you don't have to think so hard about it. Be sure to keep your anemia in check by eating enough. I started at 218 and am only 5'4", so there was no hiding it. Feel free to add me if you like. Good luck to you.
  • hillm12345
    hillm12345 Posts: 313 Member
    It will also get easier as you find foods that fill you up and keep you full. It's not just about counting calories but making sure your body gets all the nutrients it requires. Good Luck and welcome!
  • cyberskirt
    cyberskirt Posts: 218
    It will also get easier as you find foods that fill you up and keep you full. It's not just about counting calories but making sure your body gets all the nutrients it requires. Good Luck and welcome!

    Wow. Can I just say, completely off-topic that you have AMAZING eyes!!
  • omanitshann
    omanitshann Posts: 179
    I have asthma too, which makes cardio exercises pretty difficult, but it actually gets better with time. When you're doing cardio just do the best you can, and if you need to stop, then stop and take a breather and get back into it, eventually your lungs will gradually be able to handle more and more.
  • hillm12345
    hillm12345 Posts: 313 Member
    It will also get easier as you find foods that fill you up and keep you full. It's not just about counting calories but making sure your body gets all the nutrients it requires. Good Luck and welcome!

    Wow. Can I just say, completely off-topic that you have AMAZING eyes!!

    LOL Thanks!
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I am mildly asthmatic and have a slight iron deficiency too. Make sure you eat enough - you have the right idea - slow and steady. Also, while I admit cardio is very beneficial in other ways, do not feel like you have to push yourself with cardio. I weight train 3 - 4 times a week and only do very low intensity cardio if any at all and I am losing weight and more importantly body fat.

    Have you discussed cardio with your doctor? You may want to have a discussion with him before starting anything too strenuous and make sure you have you inhaler handy if you do.

    Also, one further suggestion - you are pretty tall and 160 may not be the right weight for you - depending on your body composition it may be higher - so focus on measurements rather than the scale.
  • AliceKlaar
    AliceKlaar Posts: 275 Member
    Hello and welcome! I've been on here about a month now, everyone is so supportive and friendly and you've already had some really good advice. It will get easier - I found the first 2-3 days tough and still have the occasional rough day but logging definitely helps keep me on track. One thing I did find pretty quickly was that cutting down on processed carbs and upping my fruit and veg intake balanced my blood sugar levels and has definitely resulted in fewer cravings for sugary, carb-laden foods. I wouldn't push the exercise too much to start off with if you're not used to it, build up gradually and give your body time to adjust and repair. The only thing I would say is that if you're a spiritual person you will probably notice some emotional issues you may have thought you'd dealt with will come to the surface so be prepared - it's all good but will take a little bit of working through. Best of luck to you and feel free to add me if you like x
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