Just cant grasp the 1500+ calorie rule
TNTwedell
Posts: 277 Member
Background – I’ve been consistently on MFP for about 5 months. Work out 3-4x a week, cardio and weights. Very religious about staying around 1200 calories. Drink TONS of water. Once a week, I’ll have a crazy cheat day (to keep my sane). I try to have my macros balanced (although I am no were near successful at it yet).
I have lost 2lbs and NO inches.
All my fabulous and successful friends on here have been drilling into my skull for MONTHS that I need to up my calories – 1500 min (I’m 5’8, 158lbs).
I KNOW they are right – they’ve proven it in their weight loss. But it’s KILLING me to increase my calories.
I know, I know – “body needs fuel”, “you are in starvation mode”, etc etc etc. I GET it. But it just doesn’t make SENSE.
Everytime I have lost weight in the past, I have gone a very similar route to what I’ve been doing this time around – workout, eat fewer calories, etc – and YAY – I’m skinny.
What has changed???
The reason this is all coming out now ---
One of my friends is on Jenny Craig.
My mom is on Weight Watchers.
My best friend does HCG (I know. Its from the DEVIL – but she’s freaking skinny).
They are all having HUGE success --- and the common thread with each of these diets is that they are limited to very few calories (JC is 1200. Weight Watchers – IDK what the points translate, but its low – HCG, 500 duh)
So why – if I am supposed to “eat more” to lose weight – am I still FAILING - and everyone else in my life on “restrictive diets” are succeeding?
This is where the confusion comes in – and my inability to fully grasp the 1500 calorie mantra.
I am sooooo tempted to join JC or WW – just to see SOME results. I don’t WANT to – but I am beyond annoyed with my failure and I NEED to lose 20lbs by August (my freaking wedding)…
Is there ANYONE out there that can give me the "A-HA" that I need to stick with MFP and not cave to the commercialized, microwave meal plan?
I have lost 2lbs and NO inches.
All my fabulous and successful friends on here have been drilling into my skull for MONTHS that I need to up my calories – 1500 min (I’m 5’8, 158lbs).
I KNOW they are right – they’ve proven it in their weight loss. But it’s KILLING me to increase my calories.
I know, I know – “body needs fuel”, “you are in starvation mode”, etc etc etc. I GET it. But it just doesn’t make SENSE.
Everytime I have lost weight in the past, I have gone a very similar route to what I’ve been doing this time around – workout, eat fewer calories, etc – and YAY – I’m skinny.
What has changed???
The reason this is all coming out now ---
One of my friends is on Jenny Craig.
My mom is on Weight Watchers.
My best friend does HCG (I know. Its from the DEVIL – but she’s freaking skinny).
They are all having HUGE success --- and the common thread with each of these diets is that they are limited to very few calories (JC is 1200. Weight Watchers – IDK what the points translate, but its low – HCG, 500 duh)
So why – if I am supposed to “eat more” to lose weight – am I still FAILING - and everyone else in my life on “restrictive diets” are succeeding?
This is where the confusion comes in – and my inability to fully grasp the 1500 calorie mantra.
I am sooooo tempted to join JC or WW – just to see SOME results. I don’t WANT to – but I am beyond annoyed with my failure and I NEED to lose 20lbs by August (my freaking wedding)…
Is there ANYONE out there that can give me the "A-HA" that I need to stick with MFP and not cave to the commercialized, microwave meal plan?
0
Replies
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You said "everytime I've lost weight in the past, I have gone a similar route" Those are key words right there. Obviously, it worked for the short term, but you weren't able to maintain it. Why deprive yourself? Just my 2 cents.3
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Lowering your calorie intake below your bmr puts you into starvation mode. The pounds come off but once u up your calories to a healthy level they come back. It is much more beneficial to keep your calores high, change your eating habits to clean eating freshly prepared stuff and take a slow approachto weight loss. it will stay off easier. It takes time but is worth it in the end. And you will feel so much better eating healthy and knowing whats in your food. For me it's not just about weight loss. I am happier and healthier...even though I keep gaining weight....grrr3
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You said "everytime I've lost weight in the past, I have gone a similar route" Those are key words right there. Obviously, it worked for the short term, but you weren't able to maintain it. Why deprive yourself? Just my 2 cents.
you read my mind - that's the difference in upping your calories vs. lower calorie diets. if you are content eating 1200 calories a day for the rest of your life and always logging to make sure, then carry on. I eat 2200-3000 per day and even if my weight loss is a bit slower, i KNOW i can sustain this for life. I won't ever have to lose major weight again because I'm changing my views on food and eating plenty.
give it a chance for 4-6 weeks and see what happens
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Honestly, I've never understood it either.... I mean I GET IT, but its a weird concept to think about so I just decided to do it...
I was at 1200, bumped up to 1300 just to see what would happen and I lost 10 pounds almost immediately.
I would say that you dont have to necessarily jump to 1500, but maybe start out by trying 1300 and see how it goes...
You have to play around with it to find your sweet spot since everyones bodys are different.0 -
Why not try eating more as recommended but also up your calorie expenditure through exercise and see how it goes?0
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a few good reads, that will help explain it all far better than i can:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/501511-great-read-on-plateau-ing?page=8#posts-7150335
Excellent article "Metabolic Damage Why It Happens, How to Avoid It and How to Fix It" by Tom Venuto
http://www.burnthefat.com/metabolic_damage.html
and you can also search for the group "Eat more to weigh less"0 -
me too..i tried losing weight with 1200 and cant, but i did drop lots of weight at 1450,
age, and diferent body types depends. it may work for others to it at 1200 but maybe yo're body requires at least 100 cals more from apice of avacado or something...0 -
I do about 1500 calories a day with my exercise. Trust me, it feels strange at first [coming from the "but if I CAN eat less, I should" mentality] but you should give it a chance because you will see results. I've lost 43 lbs doing this with 27 more to go until I reach my goal. Eating enough works!0
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You said "everytime I've lost weight in the past, I have gone a similar route" Those are key words right there. Obviously, it worked for the short term, but you weren't able to maintain it. Why deprive yourself? Just my 2 cents.
this!!!! 1200 calories is only short term, wait til your body goes into starvation mode, and youll end up storing everything you eat, probably as fat1 -
what you are doing will work for weight loss, the unfortunate part of that is you will lose a large % of lean muscle, not just fat. The smaller your deficit the larger the % of fat will be lost, but it will take longer to get to your goal weight, but you will have a lower BF% at that goal with the smaller deficit.2
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I have the same view as missprincessj. I put in your numbers and your BMR is about 300 calories higher than what you are eating; so when you do have your splurge day your body is probably like "sweet! fuel! Lets store these calories because I've been running dangerously low these last five months" And, from MY past experience, your body puts the fuel in the safest spot it can find- the midsection.0
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Why not try eating more as recommended but also up your calorie expenditure through exercise and see how it goes?
If you eat more and burn more you are exactly where you are by eating less exercising less as it is net caloires that really count and your net cals should not be below BMR unless you are obese.
Eating 1200 and burning 300 would be the same as eating 1400 and burning 500 as 1200-300=1400-500= 9001 -
well put!0
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because this is for life. this is a life change not just a diet that stops when you get "skinny". you can not maintain all that forever. think about how to change your life for healthy reasons and for fitness reasons. skinny is out....healthy/fitness is IN!! 0
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The answer is a simple phrase that is the answer to just about every question on here: Everyone is different. That even includes prior, younger versions of yourself. If what you are doing isn't working then you need to do something different. If eating 1200 despite high exercise burn is not working then why not try eating a bit more and fueling your workouts? Unlike some people on here, I would never tell you to eat more if what you were doing is working, but it obviously isn't.0
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And yes people have had success with JC, WW, all of those diet plans, but I most people do the diet plans because they need more guidance, more motivation from peers, and have a hard time doing it on their own. I feel like if all else fails, then you might could look into doing something like that knowing that you gave it your all but still need a little extra motivation.0
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You said "everytime I've lost weight in the past, I have gone a similar route" Those are key words right there. Obviously, it worked for the short term, but you weren't able to maintain it. Why deprive yourself? Just my 2 cents.
exactly what i was going to say.
If you have done low cal diets in the past and are now needing to diet again, it obviously doesnt work long term. Low cal diets make people feel deprived, so you have to 'cheat' and eat the 'bad' foods - when the diet ends and you go back to normal eating, you will generally regain some or all of the weight lost.
Higher cals allow you to have just a normal balanced diet, everything in moderation, so you are not deprived and there is no reason not to stick to it forever.
Ive done the low cal diets with and without exercise for the last 15 years, and every time the weight goes back on. This time I am eating much more (1950), losing 1.5lbs per week and have not once felt like i am 'on a diet' in 6 months :-)
By eating lower cals you generally lose muscle mass as well as fat, so you weigh less but look flabby, and will burn less calories, so you need to eat less to lose and find it very easy to gain, and so it goes round and round!!
By eating higher cals, combined with weight training, you preserve your lean muscle mass, so you burn more calories 24/7, so the extra food you are eating gets burned up as fuel not stored as fat. Muscle is also more dense than fat so you may weigh the same, but lose a few dress sizes for your wedding!0 -
You probably are already eating those extra calories on the "crazy cheat day". Since I upped my calories I haven't needed any cheats- those cravings are just gone. The peace of mind of not being tempted to cheat is enough to convince me.0
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It seems everyone thinks the same. All your methods before we fad diets. Diets meant to give you quick results but not maintain in the long run. It seems that you can't live on 1200 calories per day which is why you need your cheat day... You need to find the amount of calories you can live with. Learn to eat that amount everyday. And no you won't lose 10lbs in a week but you will feel better and get to a healthy you. It was difficult for me to understand too. So I get it. I recently read this book "Calorie Queens" and she broke it down to me. It is finally sinking in.0
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I eat around 1800 cals a day, there is no way I could do less for the rest of my life. it has to be a lifestyle change, I'm sure you hear that all the time, but until it happens it will always seem like a "diet" to you.0
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Background – I’ve been consistently on MFP for about 5 months. Work out 3-4x a week, cardio and weights. Very religious about staying around 1200 calories. Drink TONS of water. Once a week, I’ll have a crazy cheat day (to keep my sane). I try to have my macros balanced (although I am no were near successful at it yet).
I have lost 2lbs and NO inches.
All my fabulous and successful friends on here have been drilling into my skull for MONTHS that I need to up my calories – 1500 min (I’m 5’8, 158lbs).
I KNOW they are right – they’ve proven it in their weight loss. But it’s KILLING me to increase my calories.
I know, I know – “body needs fuel”, “you are in starvation mode”, etc etc etc. I GET it. But it just doesn’t make SENSE.
Everytime I have lost weight in the past, I have gone a very similar route to what I’ve been doing this time around – workout, eat fewer calories, etc – and YAY – I’m skinny.
What has changed???
The reason this is all coming out now ---
One of my friends is on Jenny Craig.
My mom is on Weight Watchers.
My best friend does HCG (I know. Its from the DEVIL – but she’s freaking skinny).
They are all having HUGE success --- and the common thread with each of these diets is that they are limited to very few calories (JC is 1200. Weight Watchers – IDK what the points translate, but its low – HCG, 500 duh)
So why – if I am supposed to “eat more” to lose weight – am I still FAILING - and everyone else in my life on “restrictive diets” are succeeding?
This is where the confusion comes in – and my inability to fully grasp the 1500 calorie mantra.
I am sooooo tempted to join JC or WW – just to see SOME results. I don’t WANT to – but I am beyond annoyed with my failure and I NEED to lose 20lbs by August (my freaking wedding)…
Is there ANYONE out there that can give me the "A-HA" that I need to stick with MFP and not cave to the commercialized, microwave meal plan?
I don't know your goal weight, but you are in a healthy weight range for your height and I can tell you from my experience that the closer you are to goal, it can be tricky to drop those last few pounds. I am 5'8 1/2 and at 156, hoping to lose 6 more pounds, so I can relate.
Your relatives and friends may be finding success but can they do those programs long term, like over a year, or for the rest of their lives?
I can tell you that I eat 1850 calories (plus I almost always eat ALL of my exercise calories back) and I have been losing. Slowly, but steadily. Try upping your calories slowly, like if you're doing 1200 this week, try 1300 next week, etc. You won't know how it works unless you try it.
I didn't see what you are doing for exercise, but strength training will also help
Good luck!0 -
Started MFP in February at 172. Currently weigh 154. MFP had me eating 1650 at first and then 1550 after the first 10 lbs came off. I have it set to lose one lb a week, but there have been several weeks when I've lost 2lbs.
Point being, a person CAN indeed lose weight eating more than 1200. I'm proof.0 -
Are your friends who are on these eating programs also exercising 4-5x a week with cardio and weights like you are?0
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You said "everytime I've lost weight in the past, I have gone a similar route" Those are key words right there. Obviously, it worked for the short term, but you weren't able to maintain it. Why deprive yourself? Just my 2 cents.
this!!!! 1200 calories is only short term, wait til your body goes into starvation mode, and youll end up storing everything you eat, probably as fat
My theory is that when you (everyone) wants to lose weight they increase their exercise and decrease their food intake. This leads to the loss but is not maintainable once you change those habits. So you get to your goal weight and stop exercising or eating low calories in (even both) and where does that put you? Back to gaining the weight?!
Try for the whole month of May (5 weeks) to eat 1500 at least. See what happens... what do you have to lose, other than weight?0 -
I also struggled trying to understand this thinking. One day, on a thread much like this one, someone posted a link to an article on a website. The author made so MUCH sense, I thought to myself, "why have I been fighting this for soooooo long?" This article made it click in my head for me.
It's a long read, what's an hour of your time in the grande scheme of things? Especially if that hour can change your life....
Good Luck
http://body-improvements.com/resources/eat/#intro0 -
*edit - my question was already answered.0
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I think the HUGE difference is you're working cardio AND strength - are all your family/friends doing the same, or just cutting calories?
The reason why you're not losing weight or inches is because when you go that low with strength training, your body will turn to muscles for fuel instead of fat. You're losing all the ground you're gaining!
Try upping your calories for 2 weeks and see what happens. I increased my 2 snacks from 100 cals to 200 cals, plus increased my dinner cals, while doing heavy lifting 2x a week (30 mins) and 1 hour of cardio 3x a week - that meant I was taking in 1800 cals instead of 1200. In a year - I lost 8 lbs. BUT - I went from a size 10 to a size 4. Muscle takes up less room on your body than fat. The scale is not the be-all, end-all, just remember that. The healthiest, most toned women on the planet (those that rock a 6 pack!) weigh a ton more than your models. Aim for healthy, not skinny!
I'm actually at the point of increasing my calories AGAIN. Got a FitBit and, coupled with MFP, found that I was consistently 400-600 cals UNDER what I should be eating for a 1 lb-a-week weight loss. So now I'm adding in more to my meals again - and have dropped 2 lbs in a week. It DOES work.0 -
Have you tried maybe upping it to 1300-1400 calories? Maybe 1350?
I have been eating 1300 calories and working out. I have lost about 15lbs so far (13 since i started tracking MFP).
I was at 1200 calories but I noticed no changes in my body, but I was left with a sluggish feeling. Even adding that extra 100 calories back into my diet helps with the energy.0 -
I have been eating 1200 cals for 21 mths and have lost 100 lbs, I think everyone is different and you have to find what works for you. Maybe you should up your cals by 100 for a few weeks and see what happens you can always increase or lower them to 1200 again. Play around with the cals and find what works for you. I think some people need to eat less to lose where some people need to eat more to lose, I think while some people go into starvation mode at 1200 cals some people go into starvation mode at 1000 cals0
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