weight loss and min calorie intake?

marebear711
marebear711 Posts: 9
in Health and Weight Loss
I just started trying to loose weight.My goal is 109 pounds.I'm using the equate ultra loss shakes two times a day and a healthy-ish dinner.But truthfully I don't know much about this at all.I've been averaging less than 1100 calories a day doing this for the last week,when my goal is supposed to be 2130.My husband says this isn't exactly healthy.So my question is how much should you eat when trying to loose weight?I thought I was doing very good but I don't want to make myself sick either....
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Replies

  • hanneberries
    hanneberries Posts: 119 Member
    Is dinner the only meal you're eating?
  • marebear711
    marebear711 Posts: 9
    yes it has been besides the shakes.
  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member
    I just started trying to loose weight.My goal is 109 pounds.I'm using the equate ultra loss shakes two times a day and a healthy-ish dinner.But truthfully I don't know much about this at all.I've been averaging less than 1100 calories a day doing this for the last week,when my goal is supposed to be 2130.My husband says this isn't exactly healthy.So my question is how much should you eat when trying to loose weight?I thought I was doing very good but I don't want to make myself sick either....

    How much do you weigh at the moment?

    Have you worked out your TDEE? try this - http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html

    Depending on your TDEE, 1100 may well be too low for you, as it seems a very aggressive defict. Anything over 30% is considered aggressive.

    have a read of this

    http://davfitfitnessforum.forumotion.com/t56-muscle-retaining-factor-1-severity-of-calorie-deficit-by-tom-venuto-a-trusted-friend

    It's great to see that your husband is being supportive and worrying about you - there are often threads on here about unsupportive family.

    :flowerforyou:
  • Josie_lifting_cats
    Josie_lifting_cats Posts: 949 Member
    I know that I ate 1,200 calories for three months and didn't lose a pound. I started "cheating" (and logging it) and eating around 1,500, and the weight started falling off like crazy. Then I did some reading, decided to never eat below my BMR, and life has been good since. :-)
  • marebear711
    marebear711 Posts: 9
    I currently weight 240 and I'm 5'4".My husband is trying to do this with me but I've been a bit more aggressive about it than he has.And we were kind of comparing what we had done during the week and he said that he didn't think I was taking in enough calories.I will check out those sights.Thank you.
  • rhinowithonehorn
    rhinowithonehorn Posts: 43
    I just started trying to loose weight.My goal is 109 pounds.I'm using the equate ultra loss shakes two times a day and a healthy-ish dinner.But truthfully I don't know much about this at all.I've been averaging less than 1100 calories a day doing this for the last week,when my goal is supposed to be 2130.My husband says this isn't exactly healthy.So my question is how much should you eat when trying to loose weight?I thought I was doing very good but I don't want to make myself sick either....


    the 1000 calorie diet seems to be the amount that is fastest for weight loss but allows you to still get all/most of your nutrients if played out well.
  • hanneberries
    hanneberries Posts: 119 Member
    Is this a part of a plan you've talked to your doctor about? Because that doesn't sound very healthy. And that means you're getting all your calories from food at one meal in the evening.
  • marebear711
    marebear711 Posts: 9
    that TDEE thing is showing more than my min. calorie intake on myfitnesspal...?my fitness pal says it should be 2130 and the TDEE says 2549?
  • feellikerain
    feellikerain Posts: 46 Member
    Those shakes are the equivalent to Slim-fast, right? If so, Slim-fast says you should be eating minimum 1200 calories a day. You should have a shake for breakfast, a healthy snack, a shake for lunch, another healthy snack, dinner, and then a THIRD healthy snack.

    Source: http://www.slim-fast.com/3-2-1plan/visitor-Plan.aspx

    I just want to mention... I'm not a fan of Slim-fast's recommended snacks. When you're getting such a limited number of calories in the day, if you eat something high in protein (greek yogurt, nuts, cheese, milk, edamame, tuna salad, chicken, cottage cheese, etc...) it will help keep you feeling full longer.
  • skittles8810
    skittles8810 Posts: 67
    I recommend no lower than 1800 cals a day for any woman. But I really dont count calories that much, I log it here but i really dont care. I eat clean and watch my portions not my calories. If you eat veggies and natural foods you do not have to worry about counting calories as bad. Clean Eats is the way to go! If you lower your calorie intake to much you will stall or stop your metabolism, so up your food intake but with healthy and natural foods. There's no way you are gonna eat 1000 calories with fresh veggies, and if you do its not fat. Not saying to load a salad up and then turn around and put all that cheese and dressing on it, that is silly, seen it done though. -_- silly people!
    Google Clean Eating- good recipes as well.
  • charanne52
    charanne52 Posts: 88 Member
    The big problem when you eat under your BMR is that you may be losing muscle instead of fat. If you eat at your TDEE you will be just be maintaining your present weight so you should be eating at least 500 calories below that figure but staying above your BMR.
  • irisheyez718
    irisheyez718 Posts: 677 Member
    I would eat as close to the calories that MFP recommended as you can.
  • charanne52
    charanne52 Posts: 88 Member
    that TDEE thing is showing more than my min. calorie intake on myfitnesspal...?my fitness pal says it should be 2130 and the TDEE says 2549?

    When they ask for your fitness level for the purpose of calculating your TDEE they are asking about your daily activity level as it relates to your job (ie if you sit at a desk all day you are burning less than a mailman or a salesclerk) not for the added exercise you are doing in conjunction with your diet.
  • marebear711
    marebear711 Posts: 9
    I haven't been to the doctor about it.I've been told by one to loose weight and when I asked how he said count calories.And when I was like how do you do that he really couldn't tell me lol.SO I thought I would try this...I have a friend that has done body by vi and lost like 240 pounds in 270 days.But I can't afford that so I thought I would try the generic slim fast thing.
  • Crisitunity
    Crisitunity Posts: 98 Member
    I am absolutely not a fancy doctor or anything like that.

    I do agree with your husband that you should eat more than just 1 meal a day of real food.

    Eating only half of your recommended calories is not a great idea either. I assume this is the recommended amount calculated here on MFP? I personally eat all, or close to all, of the calories it is recommending I eat (1540) and am losing weight more rapidly than what I had entered (1.5 lbs/wk).

    Also, if you eat only one meal of real food per day, it is probably a better idea to do it at breakfast than dinner. When you eat more calories earlier in the day it gives you more opportunity to burn them before sleeping. This is something I picked up from Harley Pasternak's 5 Factor fitness and diet.

    I think overall the concern is that your metabolism will plummet, when you want to keep it high. There are posts like http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing linked to in a sticky'd newbies thread.
  • marebear711
    marebear711 Posts: 9
    Thats basically what my husband said.That I should be eating healthy snacks in between.I'm gonna go to the store in a bit and stock up on them:)
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    that TDEE thing is showing more than my min. calorie intake on myfitnesspal...?my fitness pal says it should be 2130 and the TDEE says 2549?

    What did you set your weigh loss goal at - i.e. how many pounds per week?
  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member
    that TDEE thing is showing more than my min. calorie intake on myfitnesspal...?my fitness pal says it should be 2130 and the TDEE says 2549?

    Yep, that would be right - the TDEE is what you would eat to maintain your weight. MFP has factored in a defict so you can lose weight.

    If 2500 is your maintenance calories, you could go to 1800 and still lose weight. there is absolutely no reason to go as low as 1100.

    Good Luck.
  • marebear711
    marebear711 Posts: 9
    I am absolutely not a fancy doctor or anything like that.

    I do agree with your husband that you should eat more than just 1 meal a day of real food.

    Eating only half of your recommended calories is not a great idea either. I assume this is the recommended amount calculated here on MFP? I personally eat all, or close to all, of the calories it is recommending I eat (1540) and am losing weight more rapidly than what I had entered (1.5 lbs/wk).

    Also, if you eat only one meal of real food per day, it is probably a better idea to do it at breakfast than dinner. When you eat more calories earlier in the day it gives you more opportunity to burn them before sleeping. This is something I picked up from Harley Pasternak's 5 Factor fitness and diet.

    I work nights so technically my dinner is my breakfast,so I guess that works for me.lol
  • 6ftcuti
    6ftcuti Posts: 1
    HOW ABOUT, JUST FOLLOW THE PROGRAM. IT TAKES CALORIES IN FOR ENERGY AND CALORIES OUT. IT YOU ARE NOT PROPERLY FUELING YOUR BODY YOUR LACK OF ENERGY MAY CAUSE YOU NOT WANTING TO EXCERSICE WHICH MAY KEEP YOU AT A PLATO. SHAKES ARE BORING AND NOT GOOD TO FILL YOU UP!! YOU MAY GET TIRED OF THEM FAST! I HAVE DONE EVERY PROGRAM UNDER THE SUN AND SO FAR THIS IS THE ONLY THAT HAS WORKED FOR ME. ITS AMAZING TO SEE HOW FAST THE CALORIES ADD UP!!! GOOD LUCK:wink:
  • kmm7309
    kmm7309 Posts: 802 Member
    If you slowly get off of the shakes and replace it with some decent food choices, you can have the best of both worlds. I did Slim-fast, and it worked, and I lost 50 pounds. I was jittery and anxious all the time, in a foul mood, and felt like crap. Fifty pounds later and I looked pretty much the same as before. It did nothing for me long term, as I put that weight back on, plus a bunch. You can replace your 200 calorie shake with 2 eggs scrambled with cheese, or a huge salad with grilled chicken on it, or plenty of other delicious foods that will yield you similar results.

    I'm not as concerned about the calorie intake, but the quality of food is important. It will be easier to increase your calorie intake safely and yield results if you are always eating real food to begin with!
  • skittles8810
    skittles8810 Posts: 67
    I also wanted to add that I eat 6 small meals a day. Thats around 300-400 cals per meal, no less than 300. I eat all day long but as I said its healthy food and food i prepared myself not fast food.
  • marebear711
    marebear711 Posts: 9
    I've not really thought about pounds per week but I put 1 pound per week.I'm not looking to be superwoman.I just want to do better...If I loose more then great:)
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Ditch the shakes and eat proper food - this should be a sustainable lifestyle change if it's going to work! Use the figures MFP gives you and be Patient!
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I've not really thought about pounds per week but I put 1 pound per week.I'm not looking to be superwoman.I just want to do better...If I loose more then great:)

    With the amount of weight you have to lose, you can actually go for a slightly higher deficit than 1lb a week. The 1,800 that Ladyraven suggested is a good goal. If you change your goal to 1 1/2 lb a week this should give you nearer the 1,800. In fact you could go to 2lb a week until you get to about 50lb more to lose. This would give you about 1,600 cals. I would suggest picking the one that will allow you to get a balanced diet as well as be sustainable.
  • charanne52
    charanne52 Posts: 88 Member
    This is the place to be if you want to count calories as they provide you with a diary and a database as tools. When you shop for groceries, try to plan your meals in advance and ALWAYS read the nutritional/caloric content on anything you buy and make comparisons. It won't take long before you will become knowledgable about food choices and what things you should be avoiding. I eat three meals and two snacks a day and make sure that I don't eat anything within three hours of going to bed. I am so accustomed to having my mail meal at supper so it's hard for me to change that so I go for a brisk 10 or 15 minute walk right after my evening meal. Losing weight does not have to be an ordeal and if you are eating enough and eating healthy stuff it is a lot more fun than starving yourself and not losing it properly. Remember, this is not really a diet - it is a change in life style.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    I recommend no lower than 1800 cals a day for any woman. But I really dont count calories that much, I log it here but i really dont care. I eat clean and watch my portions not my calories. If you eat veggies and natural foods you do not have to worry about counting calories as bad. Clean Eats is the way to go! If you lower your calorie intake to much you will stall or stop your metabolism, so up your food intake but with healthy and natural foods. There's no way you are gonna eat 1000 calories with fresh veggies, and if you do its not fat. Not saying to load a salad up and then turn around and put all that cheese and dressing on it, that is silly, seen it done though. -_- silly people!
    Google Clean Eating- good recipes as well.

    Please stop making things up.

    First no less than 1800 cals for any woman, regardless of ht/wt/age?

    Do tell how low one would have to eat to "stop your metabolism", you know you'd be dead, right?
  • marebear711
    marebear711 Posts: 9
    I used to weigh 135 pounds and then I had my kids,and I've never lost the gain from my pregnancies.The last time I was pregnant was 2004 and I was a stay at home mom until 2006.I thought I would loose weight when I got my job because its fairly active,I work in a plastics injection molding factory and you have to move to keep up with the parts.But I haven't lost any weight.I also work nights and I hear that can cause it to be harder to loose weight with the odd sleep schedules.And I have myofascial pain disorder and working out can be very painful.But I'm trying to ease myself into this.I'm also from the south where fried super bad for you foods are a staple so I have no idea how to cook healthy.And I have a husband and two children to cook for as well so its difficult to figure out what I can experiment with recipe wise that everyone will like,I'm seriously kind of lost with this but I'm trying.And that's better than not right?
  • Bobby_Clerici
    Bobby_Clerici Posts: 1,828 Member
    Throw away all those silly shakes.
    Those are garbage. You will fail drinking that stuff.
    Losing fat is actually very simple but just hard work.
    This is how MFP works
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/help/faq/3-how-does-myfitnesspal-work
    And Tips for Newbies
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/470367-tips-for-newbies
    Just get started by going into settings to Update diet/fitness profile.
    Set your goals for 1 lb weight loss per week.
    NO MORE!
    And eat lean meats, low fat dairy, nuts, whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies.
    Do both cardio and resistance exercise.
    Log in those exercises to your MFP exercise diary.
    AND EAT BACK YOUR EXERCISE CALORIES!
    Remember, this is not a race, and you can reach your goals if you stick to a good plan as recommended on this site.

    You have many people here ready to lend support, answer qustions and discuss any challenges.
    You can do this.

    All Is Possible!
  • eviegreen
    eviegreen Posts: 123 Member
    Your diet is not sustainable, end of story. Do you want to drink Slim Fast for the rest of your life? This shouldn't be solely about losing the weight. It should be about the eventual goal of maintaining a healthy weight in a way that isn't torturous and makes you happy.

    I think quality of food is the most important aspect of weight loss. When I lost weight the first time, I calorie restricted and exercised a lot. It wasn't sustainable. I gained it all back.

    This time, my main focus is not just on the exercise, but on food. Eating GOOD, healthy food, for multiple meals a day. I follow a ton of blogs with altered (healthy) recipes of some of my favourite meals, and I cook. I just made myself an amazing panini with swiss cheese, prosciutto, asparagus, mustard, and arugula leaves -- and that sandwich was only fifty more calories than that Slim Fast you're drinking and I'll bet a hell of a lot tastier. Consider this: would you rather eat your calories, or drink them?

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