If you are scared to increase calories

Alot of interesting information from regular people...I asked my doctor and my old boxing trainer and their advice was so similar I had to share. It goes like this. Eat sensibly and get off your *kitten*...no calorie counting no equations no fluff just good ol fashion building of good healthy habbits for a healthy lifestyle.

It doesn't work that way for some people. Before when I tried to lose weight, I just told myself I'd eat healthier and go to the gym. And guess what? I failed everytime. Because I'd not eat in moderation, I'd eat too large a portion, and I'd berate myself for eating something unhealthy, then give in and eat a whole trifle.

Now I'm calorie counting, I've lost 13.5lbs and counting. I eat what I want, but I make healthier choices for practicality. Sure, I can waste calories on Mcdonalds, but I'll be hungry later and not have much calories to eat with. So I naturally make better choices. And I go to the gym because it makes me feel good and I have confidence and more energy now.

So, no, the 'simple' advice of get off your *kitten* and eat sensibly didn't work for me. Calorie counting works. If it's too much hassle for some, fair enough, but it works for me.

I have to agree with this too, just eating sensibly is kind of a misnomer...... So many people will think, "I'll get the salad" because it's healthier right? Not realizing that that salad in a restaurant could be up to 1400 calories!!! Until you start really logging calories, and actively making choices based on reality and not perceived "healthy" options you just dont realize that you are not making the healthy choices you thought you were. Once you log them and research them, now you are armed with the knowledge and tools to make better decisions.

This is a journey of educating myself, learning how my body functions best and how best to support this function long term. It may be different for other people, but first I think you need to educate yourself.

I want you to do TWO things if you are scared to increase your calories from your media indoctrinated 1200 calorie mentality.

1) Do an informal survey here. Go and read all of the topics where the subject is "my weight loss stalled", "worked 4 weeks haven't lost a pound", etc. and you will notice two things:

a. Their NET calorie goal will be under their BMR
b. They are working out 6-7 days a week.

2) Join the group: Eat More, Weigh Less and read the stickies.

You don't have to starve yourself to lose weight. Its not that hard. Go to fat2fitradio.com:
1) Run the Military Body Fat calculator
2) Run the goal weight calculator using the BF% from above
3) Run the BMR Calculator and eat at the proper TDEE for your GOAL weight and activity level.
4) Lift something heavy 3 days a week and walk five days a week.

You will have more energy, you will exercise harder, and you will NOT be hungry. You will keep the weight off once you start losing! Come on folks. Give it a try!

EDIT TO ADD:
Important point. If you follow the advice above DO NOT eat back your exercise calories. They are already included in your TDEE calculation in step 3.

*reading later*
I have no problem with this but my question is do you have to lift weights 3x a week? Would you still receive the same benefits just by regular cardio? Just wondering.... I have no problems lifting weights either but just wondered since the way it was typed it seemed that weights are mandatory. Maybe I just read it wrong.