should I increase my calories?

ayoubm3949
ayoubm3949 Posts: 81
edited December 19 in Health and Weight Loss
According to the Insanity workout..I should increase my calories to 1900 a day..
you know how when you plug in your food and click 'complete this entry' then it shows you how much you'll weigh in 5 weeks? well if I eat 1200 a day as usual and lose 350-400 cals from working out, it shows that I'll weigh 10 pounds less in 5 weeks..but if I put 1900 calories worth of food then it shows that I'll gain weight.. you know what I mean? that's why I don't wanna increase my calorie intake :(

Replies

  • Emv79
    Emv79 Posts: 245 Member
    According to the Insanity workout..I should increase my calories to 1900 a day..
    you know how when you plug in your food and click 'complete this entry' then it shows you how much you'll weigh in 5 weeks? well if I eat 1200 a day as usual and lose 350-400 cals from working out, it shows that I'll weigh 10 pounds less in 5 weeks..but if I put 1900 calories worth of food then it shows that I'll gain weight.. you know what I mean? that's why I don't wanna increase my calorie intake :(

    It all depends on what you put as your lifestyle (sedentary, very active, etc) and how much you set your weekly loss goal to be. If you eat 1200 a day and lose lets say 400 on your workout, then that nets to 800cals per day which is not healthy. Unless the 1200 you mention is net, and well, how accurate that goal is for you depends on height, weight, etc. The "you would weigh x in 5 weeks" is very flawed in my view. I've not lost the weight it claimed at 1200cals (net), but I've shred fat like crazy when I upped my net intake to the 1700cal area. I've lost about 5-6 pounds in total since the beginning of April, but I lost 1.5%BF and that shows way more than a number on the scale MFP showed me I'd be at. I actually set my macro goals manually now for food and yes, there's been some trial and error, but I found what works for me. If you're going to do somethin intense like Insanity and give it your all, then I'd suggest upping up that food (good clean food, mind you) quite a bit.
  • DanielleRN8
    DanielleRN8 Posts: 409
    If you eat 1,900 and burn 400 that will give you a net of 1,500. Have you calculated your bmr? If you don't eat enough, you won't have enough energy to build muscle which means you may lose weight, but it will leave you with more fat than muscle.
  • ayoubm3949
    ayoubm3949 Posts: 81
    according to mfp my net calories/intake should be 1200.. according to insanity it should be 1900 (already subtracted the 400 from working out)

    i'm about 5"1 so I'm not sure what to do :s I'm scared im gonna get screwed over..especially because prom is in 3 weeks and I'm leaving to cuba soon :S
  • healthyliving_girl
    healthyliving_girl Posts: 290 Member
    I once stressed over that at one time, too...

    But now I believe mfp settings are too strict, especially if you are eating mostly clean foods.

    I've gone over calories regularly the last couple months and I'm at a high calorie intake...even higher than the mfp maintenance recommendation...and I'm still maintaining or showing a loss.
  • SheilaSisco
    SheilaSisco Posts: 722 Member
    Seriously, don't listen to that 'If every day were like today' thing. It's NEVER right. I've been on this site for over a year and I've kept track. You shouldn't drop your NET calories below 1200 unless you are short ad very sedentary. I'm 4'11" and I eat between 1300 and 1500 net a day and I lose just fine. And ESPECIALLY if you're doing something as intense as Insanity, you'll NEED those extra calories to fuel those workouts!
  • Emv79
    Emv79 Posts: 245 Member
    If you eat 1,900 and burn 400 that will give you a net of 1,500. Have you calculated your bmr? If you don't eat enough, you won't have enough energy to build muscle which means you may lose weight, but it will leave you with more fat than muscle.

    This. Do you know what your BMR is?
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    According to the Insanity workout..I should increase my calories to 1900 a day..
    you know how when you plug in your food and click 'complete this entry' then it shows you how much you'll weigh in 5 weeks? well if I eat 1200 a day as usual and lose 350-400 cals from working out, it shows that I'll weigh 10 pounds less in 5 weeks..but if I put 1900 calories worth of food then it shows that I'll gain weight.. you know what I mean? that's why I don't wanna increase my calorie intake :(

    1) Insanity is probably assuming that you are doing every minute of the workout at maximum capacity. Is that true for you?

    2) Many calorie burn estimates are overstated, especially for women.

    As you have a big, once-in-a-lifetime event coming up, I suggest you stick to 1200 and do the workout. If you feel weak, increase the calories a little bit.

    Even if the calorie limit is too low for you long-term (I have no idea what's right for you), three weeks isn't going to kill you. But of course, exercise common sense.
  • anitaplus4
    anitaplus4 Posts: 3,338 Member
    Bump
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    Under MFP settings take out the workout days and calories.
  • ayoubm3949
    ayoubm3949 Posts: 81
    thanks for your help everyone :)

    my BMR is 1415.. does that mean I shouldn't be eating less than that?
  • wabrody
    wabrody Posts: 202
    thanks for your help everyone :)

    my BMR is 1415.. does that mean I shouldn't be eating less than that?


    That is what your body needs to do normal functions for the day. So if you just wake up, go to work, come home, and do your normal day to day stuff that is what you will normaly burn.

    So you have 2 choices. You can eat that as your daily allowance and do exercises on top of that or you can cut your calories. Just keep in mind that if you cut your calories too much you will feel tired and worn out becuase your body will no have the needed calories to function.
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    thanks for your help everyone :)

    my BMR is 1415.. does that mean I shouldn't be eating less than that?


    That is what your body needs to do normal functions for the day. So if you just wake up, go to work, come home, and do your normal day to day stuff that is what you will normaly burn.

    So you have 2 choices. You can eat that as your daily allowance and do exercises on top of that or you can cut your calories. Just keep in mind that if you cut your calories too much you will feel tired and worn out becuase your body will no have the needed calories to function.

    BMR is Basal Metabolic Rate.
    Thats comatose BTW.
    So as soon as you get up to pee, you need to consume more than 1415...unless you fall in the Obese II or Obese III range.

    Just set MFP to 1415 and eat back your calories.
    Or
    Take 1415 and multiply it by your activity level for TDEE then subtract 20% and eat that as a static number.
    Doing this means youll need to delete any settings for workouts from MFP or not log workouts.
    If this is confusing but you want to diet without worry, PM me and i'll set you up for success.

    Hugs!
    =D

    You can find this info on my profile page.
    Look for the link.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    my BMR is 1415.. does that mean I shouldn't be eating less than that?

    not really. It's part of your energy consumption, and food is part of your energy supply.


    Nothing magic or bad happens if you eat 200 calories above or below your BMR.
  • MeDoula
    MeDoula Posts: 233 Member
    BMR is Basal Metabolic Rate.
    Thats comatose BTW.
    So as soon as you get up to pee, you need to consume more than 1415...unless you fall in the Obese II or Obese III range.

    Just set MFP to 1415 and eat back your calories.
    Or
    Take 1415 and multiply it by your activity level for TDEE then subtract 20% and eat that as a static number.
    Doing this means youll need to delete any settings for workouts from MFP or not log workouts.
    If this is confusing but you want to diet without worry, PM me and i'll set you up for success.

    Hugs!
    =D

    You can find this info on my profile page.
    Look for the link.


    Exactly!

    I JUST increased my calories because, like you, I was scared of gaining. Low calories didn't do my body any good and I know that my Insanity results would be better had I eaten more. I didn't lose any weight AT ALL and I have enough to lose. My body was holding on. Increasing calories may put me back for couple weeks till my body gets used to it but it will pay off in the end and I know that I'll get better results the next time around.

    Shaun T knows his thing :wink: Trust him with your workout and trust him with your nutrition. It won't do you any good starving your body. Think about the long term results.

    Also browse "Eat more to lose more" or something like that. It's a group on here. Those women (and men) eat. They are the proof to me that it works. :smile:
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