Hi everyone!

My name is Michelle and I joined the group about a week ago. I have been on and off mfp for a year, but only recently got serious. I have never been able to lose much weight since I have been an adult. I have been around 200 for all of my adult life, give or take the same 10lbs. I even started a medically supervised diet, and lasted about 1.5 weeks. I felt horrible, didn't lose much weight, and got very sick! I started looking into mfp again and found some posts on eating more to weigh less, and joined in! I feel soooo much better and stronger eating more calories, and find it is easier to stay on plan because I am not starving. When dieting in the past, when I cut my calories drastically, I would get ravenous and give up after a week. I am so excited to believe I can do this for the rest of my life, and know I will be successful. Please feel free to add me, I would love to have some more friends!

Height 5 and 1/2
CW 201.5
GW 135
Calorie goal 1891

I am a beginner exerciser, so I put myself at 1-3 hours of light exercise. I will adjust when I get stronger and can do more. Baby steps, lol!

Hi!
My name is Angie. I'm new here and new to MFP. I'm really glad I found this group. What I'm reading makes so much sense.

Here is part of my story. In 2007, I became pregnant with my daughter and gained 60 lbs. I tried desperately to lose the weight for couple years now without great success. I've been on Weight Watchers for months but the scale has been moving VERY slowly. Little over a month ago, my husband and I decided to start Insanity. Since we started the program, I've been eating most of my WW points (daily + weekly + some activity points) but it's still not enough. I was starving so I decided to ditch Weight Watchers and count calories instead. The scale has not moved down AT ALL for couple weeks. I calculated my calories using fat2fitradio.

Gender: F
Age: 29
Height: 5'3"
Current Weight 164 lbs
Goal Weight: around 130 lbs
Exercise: Insanity Program - 6 x per week.
BMR: Harris-Benedict Formula: 1533, Katch-McArdle Forumla: 1391....I took 1450 based on those two.
TDEE - 15% cut = 1837 cal as "moderately active" calculation and 2045 using "very active" calculation. My goal is to build up to the higher number in the next couple weeks and see how my body does.

Today was officially day 1 and I burned over 800 cal during my workout. I've been trying to get close to my BMR and I'm SO stuffed. Who ever thought that eating would be an issue. :laugh:

Feel free to add me as a friend. I would love to keep in touch and motivate each other.

My name is Linda and I joined MFP in January, but didn't join here until April. I was already in the process of upping my calories because I am also breastfeeding. I didn't really put this all into effect until I read NROLFW, I have done a little bit of adjusting but feel great at eating 2054 calories a day plus 300 for bf. I am lifting MWF, walking once a week, and will be starting yoga or Pilates t/th, If I get the time. With 6 children it can be difficult.

I am doing something different for my eating, not too different though, I try to get 35 g of fiber, 136-170 g of protein, and trying to make sure my carbs are at 210 g (for breastfeeding) I also have diverticulitus so high fiber is important.

My goal is no longer a weight goal it is a size goal. I am a 10/12, and want to be a 6/8. I am 43, children are 16 (girl), 10 (11 in two weeks),9, 6 (7 in 3 weeks), 4 (5 in 4 weeks), and 11 months. The younger ones are all boys. I need to be fit and strong to be there for them. My husband was in the Corp and we have a lit of weight equipment. He is so excited that I am doing this. He is still pretty fit, but works 7 days a week at two jobs. He is a great blessing and my biggest fan.

Thanks taking the time to read all this. I would love to get more friends!

Hi My name is Carla and I am 26 years old. I just got into MFP a few weeks ago. I joined a long time ago because a friend was on here. I am 5'3 and weigh 148.3. I spin once a week, and try to go to bar method 3-4 times a week. I am either going to add in swimming or another spin session too with one or two rest days per week. I really hate the idea of calorie counting for the rest of my life and this eating practice seems like it ultimately leads to not having to track because you get to know your body and you are not depriving it.

From the introduction posts I figured out the following:

BMR: 1467
TDEE- 2275
and Cut Value is 1933.

I am pretty nervous about gaining more weight but i have faith in the process. Like most people I will probably have a problem getting in the protein but I will try my best.

Feel free to add me! I need support and I am a great supporter

Hello.

I used to weigh north of 280lbs. I stopped drinking soda, and dropped to about 250lbs without any trouble at all. Exercise, anything.
Then, I started exercising (this is about 9 months ago.) and I got as low as 233 and bounced back to 242 when I started strength training. I've tried everything from 1800-3000 calories a day. (Higher since I started strength training.)

I gained weight on net 2800-3000 per day. About 9 pounds in 2 months, which to ME would indicate that my maintenance is actually 2500 calories per day, but with all the strength training it's hard to determine if I'm reading fat or water.

I'm 6'7, 31 years old.

So now I'm giving this a shot. My BMR calculates around 2300-2400 depending on the calculator. I'll call it 2350 to be safe.


I weigh exactly 2lbs less now than when I joined MFP, almost 200 days ago. I really hope this round works...

Hey everyone. My name is Heather. I'm 23 years old, 5'7" and I'm ready to lose the last 15 pounds!

I started my weight loss journey last year. At 153 lb (which wasn't actually my biggest weight), I started feeling slow in the classroom. (I am hoping to become an elementary teacher). It has gone well. I've lost 19 lb and have lost about 20+ inches off my body. However, now I'm stuck.

Joining MFP has helped me maintain for the most part, but I haven't been able to lose that much. I think I've only lost 4-5 lb since joining. I feel like when I go to the forums, I'm watching a tennis match between low calorie intakes vs. high.

I've been trying the lower calorie intake for a few months, and nothing has been happening. I was very happy to come across Lillebanon's lovely journal entry. I went to the links she suggested and this is what I found out:

BMR: 1493

TDEE: 2576

TDEE cut: 2060

To be honest, I'm a little scared to eat this much. I workout almost every day for about an hour. It ranges from various Jillian Michaels DVDs, regular weight lifting, 5k training, distance swimming, and kickboxing. I came here to hopefully finish my journey and get some support along the way. Anyone who wishes to friend me, I'd love that. I also would appreciate any tips you're willing to give.

Thank you guys.

Hey there, if yo ucould kick up your weight lifting to maybe 3 days a week and then cardio on the other days...forget the scale and watch your body tone beautifully while losing the fat. You seem pretty slim and close to goal, I would focus on the strength training to bring definition and fat burning which is probably what you are looking for. We focus on the scale too much...I am sure you have a "size" you would like to get into...strength training will get you there, but the scale may say something else...

Hi there ..... A very good friend on MFP recommended that I join the group.....

My name is Karen....my weight loss has stalled .... when I started way back when I was 87kg (191.4lb) I am now 73 kg (160.0lb) I want to get to 59kg (130lb) and I am stuck stuck stuck.

I started on MFP and had some good results and then I started to gym....and now nothing... I fluctuate around a certain weigh and cannot get the scale to move down at all. I am as per MFP on 1200 cals per day.

So I've been reading posts etc and have worked out what my BF is and how many calories I should be eating a day......including ecercise....and I think I have it s right.....

2033 calories = BMR so minus 15% takes it to 1784....which is what I should eat and I don't eat my exercise calories back...right?

feeling a bit nervous ......

Hello my name is Stephanie and I'm 21 years old. Almost every member of my family is overweight and struggles with food addiction. From a young age I've always struggled with the fear of becoming like the rest of my family so I've always obsessed over my weight. I'm 5'7 and my happiest weight was 135lbs during my last year of high school. I've always struggled with the same cycle over and over, eat healthy and stay around 135-145 then snap into a binge eating phase of fast food, drinking and crazy snacking and my weight would shoot up. About 10 months ago I started dating my current boyfriend and my weight slowly started to rise. I was 150 within a month and then in January I was up to 160. I started my current job in January which consists of sitting behind a desk all day and 40 minute commute each way to work. Within 3 1/2 months I had shot up to 179 pounds and my self esteem was buried.

Two things happened in the middle of April that made me decide enough was enough. I was not going to sit by and let my weight slowly rise and become a problem. 1. My boyfriend and I decided to move into our own apartment closer to our work which cut my commute down to 10 minutes each way. 2. A group of coworkers decided to put together a weight loss challenge starting on April 12th and ending on May 31st. Each person put $20 to participate and first prize ended up being $500. I decided that was the nice little kick I needed to get my weight back in control. I figured if I spent $20 I would be motivated but I really had no hope of actually winning the challenge. The majority of the people in the competition weight 100lbs more than myself and I had always heard that the more you weighed the easier it was to lose weight.

Let's fast forward 5 weeks to today, I've stuck to 1200 calories a day and have slowly worked on exercising more. I'm down to 163 as of today (with clothes on with a scale that seems to read a little high, my new weightwatchers scale states I'm 161 w/o clothes) I'm actually in first place at a little over 9% weight loss with second place closely behind at 7% with only 2 weeks to go. While I am cutting my calories drastically I've actually created a lot of positive habits, actually eating fruits and vegetables, cutting out those fatty and calorie ridden starbucks fraps every morning, etc.

I know though that I can't keep up with "starving" myself with 1200 calories every day for the rest of my life. I know eventually I'll give up and start binge eating again and I don't want that. I want to have a plan that works for the rest of my life. I want to be able to eat healthy and feel full every day and allow myself my treats every once in awhile without overdoing it. I know I'm never going to be perfect and I will have ice cream at times or a fast food burger but I don't want to over do it and I want to learn to moderate my treats.

I'm going to spend the next two weeks researching this amazing concept while I finish the weight loss challenge at work. I want to make sure I know exactly what to expect and make sure I'm following the right steps to create healthier eating habits.

Sorry this was so long.

Morning!

I'm a nervous newby that has been reading up on your approach and going to take the plunge!

I have lost 20KG over the last 2.5years after having my son in 2010, mainly in bursts of being really good (Variety of Weight Watchers &Low carb) for about 6 weeks at a time when I have an incentive (Sisters wedding, returning to work after maternity leave) and then REALLY LONG plateaus as the approaches, although 'effective' by helping me drop 1.5 stone in 6 weeks, are not sustainable in the long term for me. Although I do not pile back on the pounds, I can maintain the drop but then struggle to start again (Usually takes me about 2 weeks to get my head round being super good again). I was average build before having my son in a size 12 top / 14 trousers and have been trying to regain my pre-baby weight (70KG). I'm currently sitting at 78KG and have bounced between 78 -80KG for the last 12 months depending on how 'good' I have been. Would really like to be back to my best ever 68KG. It really hit home last November when I realised I had had my Gym membership for 12months and only consistenly lost 3KG in 12 MONTHS!!!! :sad: I have been reaching a block at 78KG where my body seems to rebound and I binge rather than allow me to drop below. I have hit it once in the last 12 months after a low carb session before returning to work but couldn't maintain it whilst at work.

Although I am not too far off my goal weight and have returned to my pre pegnancy clothes I woud really like to shift the last bit to feel better in my clothes. I have 'tried' a number of approaches but my downfall is definitely consistency (I'm eather really good....or NOT!) and know that I don't have the patience to try it for long enough before changing approach and would like to just stick with on thing that I can maintain. :laugh: My other downfall is the 4pm munches that, if I don't resist, can tot-up to 800-1000KCals of all the wrong foods :mad: (Terrible, I know!) which leads to either skipping dinner or eating dinner anyway even though I'm not hungry.

Have been doing the sums:

Age: 29
Height: 5'8''
Weight 78KG
BMR:1577
TDEE: 2081
-15%: 1796

I have based it on 'sedentary' as I have an office job and not a serious exercise person, but need to get more consistent on that front aswell! I have signed up for this years Race for Life 5K (The last time I have run 5K was last years Race for Life!). I usually do 2 aqua fit classes a week and home DVD's (Tae Bo or Davina) but not consistently. I dont really enjoy jogging and will only go if it is nice weather and prefer to Swim. As a mum of a little one, there are too many distractions / excuses not to exercise and over the last 12months of starting Nursery, there haven't been many months in a row where either my son or myself have not been unwell with varous bugs from nursery to allow me to get into a good routine. I dont feel up to exercising when unwell, and struggle to leave him when he is unwell as it is me he wants for comfort. If my husband it then unwell, I dont go out and leave him to deal with our son if he is poorly. etc, etc, etc! (Excuse, excuse, excuse!)

If I go with the sedentaty calculations, from my reading I think I understand that, if I do exercise, I need to NET at least my BMR...am I right?

Having been a Low carb / 1200KCal person for a while I know I will probably experience an increase before I see a decrease.

I tried to plan todays meals last night using MFP and not sure If I can eat that much in a day (a common fear I'm sure!) but conscious that they need to be the RIGHT kind of KCals so...
Lean protein
Eggs
Fruti / Veg
Wholewheat cabs
NO sugar / processes / refined carbs....am I right?

Any good tips of high KCal snacks to help me up the calories the right way - aiming for 3hrly to start with.

Anyone in the same boat / starting out too or experienced that can offer good advice?

Thanks

Liz

Thanks Karin

Although I have been aiming for 1200 recently, it has only been for a short time as I am more of a low carb person, on my bad days it can be over 2000 so I figure TDEE -15% will still be a good starting point to get some consistency back in my diet!

I'll open my diary to but I have changed the layout and approach from today so it wont make much sense before that as I hate the way it changes all the past days diaries too!

Having a look at a few diaries I have addd in AM and PM snacks which I think is a good idea and more reflective of how I eat too.

Let me know what you think!

Will have a look for the book - I see lots recommend it!

p.s. Lots in your profile was VERY familliar to me!

Liz x

I logged on to MFP yesterday, as I have done every so often over the past few months, to log my current weight. I popped over to the message boards to see if I could find some inspiration, and the post by 2BeHealthy4Life hit me square in the face. I spent hours last night and today reading pages of messages in this group, checking out the stickies, learning everything I could. This feels very much like the promised land, but I'm so scared it's a mirage.

I grew up with a mother who almost never ate dinner, and pretty much starved herself when she wanted to lose weight. So that's what dieting is all about right? I started MFP over a year ago. I didn't have too much trouble staying on 1200 cals a day...seems I wasn't eating much more than that anyway. I dropped 12 pounds in the first month or so, and then the up and down began. I've regained that same 12 pounds, added more, lost some, gained some. When I hit my highest weight ever, 246, I decided to invest in myself and try the weight loss clinic my gastroenterologist runs. The first thing he did was drop me to 800 cals a day, with no eating back my exercise calories. I do about 45 minutes on the elliptical at least 3 days a week, keeping my heart rate in the proper 'fat burn' range he recommended. (I went on a 3 mile hike that about kicked my butt, and I would have ended up at negative net cals for the day, but I cheated and had a sandwich.) He put me on metformin and B12 shots and digestive enzymes. I'm only rarely hungry, but I never feel quite right, my skin is terrible, and in the back of my head, I'm thinking this can't be healthy.

I have one week left on the plan. So far I've lost 14 pounds, but I don't think it was worth the price I've paid, both in how I feel and in actual expense. I mean, I lost that the first six weeks at 1200 cals on MFP too, you know? Plus, I'm not sure I believe their scale. I went two weeks only losing a pound and a half on this brutal diet, and then yesterday's appointment showed I'd dropped 3.5 pounds last week. My home scale has given me numbers that match those at the office until this week, when it showed only a pound lost. So did I really lose 3.5 pounds? Anyway, the doc's PA mentioned that the plan going forward is to do two weeks at 1200 cals a day, to give me a break, then back down to 800 cals for another 6 weeks, repeating until I'm at my goal weight. I'd already been of the mind to stop after next week because frankly, I can't afford another round. And then I came out of that appointment incredibly discouraged, thinking I cannot do this to myself anymore. Then I read that post and found this group.

I logged my data on the Scooby site, and even choosing light activity and setting it to a 25% cut (getting the warning about asking the doctor first), I should be eating 1788 calories a day...almost 1k more than the doctor has me on. At light activity and a 15% cut, I should be eating 2026 calories a day. I just can't even comprehend eating that much, after sticking to 1200 cals or less for this long!

The idea of totally changing my outlook on food is a little terrifying, but maybe I'll finally have the energy to get back to lifting, which I used to love back in the days when I could eat anything I wanted and never gain an ounce. As it is, it takes every bit of energy I have to hop on that elliptical three days a week. And I miss food!

I cringe at the idea of the weight increasing with the extra food, especially since I just paid so dearly to drop those 14 pounds. But I can't diet like this anymore. The idea that there's a better way that actually includes food puts tears in my eyes!

Sorry this is so long. I know I'll need the support of the group as I go forward, but I know I'm among people who all understand how hard that switch to "it's okay to eat" is.

On a side note, once I can show my hubby that this works, maybe he'll get on board. He's a big guy, 6'5", 280 pounds. He's on his feet all day long at work, and he eats once, sometimes twice a day, and is frustrated that his weight doesn't budge. According to Scooby, he should be eating at least twice the calories he's normally getting.

Thanks for being here, everyone.

Im hoping you can help.

Im suffering a major plateau and Im so close to my goal it is getting extremely frustrating. Ive been here before though and put all my weight back on so Im really worried that if I cant get through this plateau I’ll just end up bouncing back up again.

Post kids I lost 10kgs in 2007 and the weight steadily crept back on and more. This time I have been fully committed and Im at a loss as to what to do.

My stats are:
(sorry Im in Australia and work in metric so I’ve had to google the weights so I hope they are correct, as I notice most of you are in the US and you pounds!)

Height 159cm or 5ft 3

Start 7/1/12

Weight 74.4 kg or 163 lbs
Neck 34cm or 13.4 in
Waist 89cm or 35 in
Hips 102cm or 40.2 in
Body fat 33.1%

Now 19/5/12

Weight 66.8kg or 146 lbs
Neck 33cm or 13 in
Waist 80cm or 31.5 in
Hips 92cm or 36.2 in
Body fast 29.6 %

BMR 1496
TDEE 2320

So... where should my calorie goal be?????

I have lost most of my weight eating at or under 1200 and not really eating my exercise calories back. I go under 1200 calories easily and to be honest find it really hard to eat above that. However Ive been doing a lot of reading and think that Im not eating enough. So for the past week I have been making a concerted effort to eat more. Im also wondering if maybe my body is getting used to what foods Im eating as I have started to tend to stick to the same thing. Ive been pretty strict with my food and measurements.

I also have a lot of problems eating throughout the day ie: I pretty much eat just 3 meals a day, as I find it hard to snack throughout the day. I need some snack ideas I think?

My exercise is normally an hours cardio twice a week (at least) and 90 mins of hot yoga twice a week. Some weeks more some weeks less.

Im frustrated as I know I have more cms and kilos to lose but a friend said to me the other day perhaps this is where my body wants to sit and maybe I shouldn’t fight it? Felt like slapping her skinny butt!

But seriously, has anyone else found this?

Im 38 and have 2 kids and am starting to feel that maybe this is just it for me???

I want to do this right and so Im happy to take it slow but 8kgs in 5 months is just painstaking! Any tips would be appreciated.

Rochelle xxx

I have being trying to loose wt from the past 3 months and have being stuck at the same wt these asre my stats please help

Cw : 160
Gw:145
Calories : 1350
Work out 4-5 times a week
Goal of burning 3500 calories a week
By Bmr 1471
Tdee: 2281
I have 4-5 meals a day

So what can I do to loose and get over my weightless plateau
Thanks

I'm a newby here but have done a lot of reading - check out all the sicky posts at the beginning of the group posts and Eat More2WeighLess on You Tube.

To follow the Eat More2WeighLess approach, you will need to increase your calories (All good clean foods) to TDEE-15% which would be 1938 daily for you. I know this sounds a lot and you may be thinking How can I eat that much, I know I did! Think Breakfast, snack, Lunch, Snack, Dinner, Snack. Your 1350 is way below BMR and then all your exercise on top is creating a defecit too large for your body to be comfortable to give up any fat reserves. Have a read around the posts and you will find lots of people (Me included) that have turned here after plateauing on restricted calories. With 3500 weekly burn you are exercising enough to drop 1lb per week even before the calorie defecit from eating below your BMR (Which is causing your plateau!).

The basic rules that I have followed from the reading:
Consistency is key, aim to always consume TDEE -15%. (Overeating will be ok, under eating will be counter productive)
You dont need to eat back the exercise calories (Taken into account in the calculation) UNLESS your daily excercise puts your NET caloried BELOW your BMR - then you need to eat up to your BMR at least.....Does that make sense?
(Recalculate your TDEE after each 5lb loss).

Read the 'what to expect' thread - anticipate that your body will take a number of weeks to adjust after such a defecit (May plateau or gain up to 5lbs) BUT then read all the successes that see consistent losses and feeling great whilst fueling your body and having boundless energy for exercise that follows!

5 days in here but holding on to those success stories whilst feeling full as expected!

Ooh, and most recomment strength training to help build LEAN muscle without overdoing the cardio.

Hope this helps

Liz x

Ok, a friend recommended this group. I am fairly new to MVP, and am struggling getting the weight off. I am in the gym 4-5 days a week, doing the treadmill for 1 hr and doing weight machines for another 1-2 hrs also. I also try to ride my bike 4 days a week. I had two eat out meals last Thursday and put three pounds back on, which I am still working on, I know some might say it's fluid, but I'm not so sure. The thought of this program is scary, I've struggled so hard to get off these few pounds.
I am 5 ft and current weight is 152.4....my goal is 125-130 I also know that my age is a factor ...soon to be 54.
Any info and help will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

Hi all

I have just got back from a 2 week holiday in the States and have gained (as I knew I would as I have not been counting or exercising) so I figured this would be an ideal time to start eating more to weigh less!

I am 33 and live in London, England. I have lost 20lbs so far and am currently 268.5lbs. Here are my stats:

BMR: 1889
TDEE: 2726

So, I am setting my daily cals at 2000. Now, this is worked out with exercise at very low. Reason being is that I like to eat my exercise cals back as it gives me a reason to exercise. I am going to try it this way to start with and then re-evaluate as necessary.

I am totally excited to do this (and a little scared) but am going to give it the full 6 weeks recommended and not break!

Looking forward to getting to know you all better. Feel free to add me as a friend