One thing to keep in mind

TamTastic
TamTastic Posts: 19,224 Member
I know a lot of you have started this program at 1200 calories and while that is not a bad thing exactly, it doesn't leave you a lot of room to change things up a bit should you hit a plateau.

I know if you only have a few pounds to lose, 1200 isn't an unreasonable number. BUT, just keep in mind that you can eat significantly more than that and still lose regularly. I am down to 187 as of this morning (down 83 lbs since September), and on days I work out and burn around 700 calories, I eat at least 1800 calories and days I don't work out, I eat around 1450 calories. When I first started this, I was eating around 1700 calories even when not working out.

My point is that I have slowly lowered my calories as I have lost and gotten to a lower weight. And even at 1450, I still have room to lower my calories should I hit a plateau. I lost 2 lbs this week eating that.

I am not saying this exact combination will work for everyone but don't be opposed to starting with your calories a little higher and slowly bringing them down as you need to. You don't want to hit a plateau at 1200 calories and have nowhere to go to shake things up a bit.

Just my bit of advice!! hehe

Tami

Replies

  • TamTastic
    TamTastic Posts: 19,224 Member
    I know a lot of you have started this program at 1200 calories and while that is not a bad thing exactly, it doesn't leave you a lot of room to change things up a bit should you hit a plateau.

    I know if you only have a few pounds to lose, 1200 isn't an unreasonable number. BUT, just keep in mind that you can eat significantly more than that and still lose regularly. I am down to 187 as of this morning (down 83 lbs since September), and on days I work out and burn around 700 calories, I eat at least 1800 calories and days I don't work out, I eat around 1450 calories. When I first started this, I was eating around 1700 calories even when not working out.

    My point is that I have slowly lowered my calories as I have lost and gotten to a lower weight. And even at 1450, I still have room to lower my calories should I hit a plateau. I lost 2 lbs this week eating that.

    I am not saying this exact combination will work for everyone but don't be opposed to starting with your calories a little higher and slowly bringing them down as you need to. You don't want to hit a plateau at 1200 calories and have nowhere to go to shake things up a bit.

    Just my bit of advice!! hehe

    Tami
  • B4baby3
    B4baby3 Posts: 17
    Congrats on your weight loss...that is awesome! Can I ask what you are doing for workouts to burn 700 calories? Also, how often are you working out. I feel that I have hit a wall, I was losing at a pretty good pace for a few weeks and I haven't lost anything in three weeks and I am very frustrated. I am currently eating 1340 a day when I don't work out and about 1500 hundred when I do. I weight less now than I have in about 3.5 years and I haven't weight much less than this in the last 8 years, so I am not sure if my body is just revolting to this lower weight or what....
  • BikeChick
    BikeChick Posts: 121
    Great news! I didn't even consider that, and when I go over my 1200 I feel like a failure. That is great advice, and I feel quite a whole lot better about this now. For awhile I was worried about trying to stay right at 1200 every day, but that makes perfect sense. There is a lot of random exercise a person can get that isn't easy to factor in on this site. Thanx for the tip! :happy:
  • ali106
    ali106 Posts: 3,754 Member
    Good advice girl!!!

    hugs and YOU ARE SUCH AND INSPIRATION!
    :heart: Ya!!
    Ali
  • TamTastic
    TamTastic Posts: 19,224 Member
    Congrats on your weight loss...that is awesome! Can I ask what you are doing for workouts to burn 700 calories? Also, how often are you working out. I feel that I have hit a wall, I was losing at a pretty good pace for a few weeks and I haven't lost anything in three weeks and I am very frustrated. I am currently eating 1340 a day when I don't work out and about 1500 hundred when I do. I weight less now than I have in about 3.5 years and I haven't weight much less than this in the last 8 years, so I am not sure if my body is just revolting to this lower weight or what....

    I work out on the elliptical at the gym for an hour (55 min on random setting, level 18 + cool down). I have slowly worked up to that. The machine actually said I burned about 820 but the machines aren't super accurate, so I always bring it down to around 700. I also did a bit of strength-training but didn't include that. I do that 4 days a week, and on those days I eat around 1800 cals. The 3 days I don't work out, I eat 1450ish.
  • TamTastic
    TamTastic Posts: 19,224 Member
    Good advice girl!!!

    hugs and YOU ARE SUCH AND INSPIRATION!
    :heart: Ya!!
    Ali

    Thanks girl!!!
    :heart: ya too!!!!
  • beep
    beep Posts: 1,242 Member
    You are such an inspiration. Thanks, Girl.
  • kimber607
    kimber607 Posts: 7,128 Member
    Hi

    Good point
    I also started this program eating 1400 cals..lost 25 pounds...I'm up to 1600 and still loosing

    Kim
  • TamTastic
    TamTastic Posts: 19,224 Member
    Great news! I didn't even consider that, and when I go over my 1200 I feel like a failure. That is great advice, and I feel quite a whole lot better about this now. For awhile I was worried about trying to stay right at 1200 every day, but that makes perfect sense. There is a lot of random exercise a person can get that isn't easy to factor in on this site. Thanx for the tip! :happy:

    Hey! I just saw on your profile that you are 22 and looking to lose 75 lbs. Knowing that, you can definitely eat more and still lose. I am not an expert of course and everyones body responds differently but I would say you could eat around 1600 and lose nicely (and eat even more than that when you exercise). Often the more weight you need to lose and the younger/active you are, the more you can eat. As your weight gets lower and lower, at least you have room to tweak your calories a bit.

    What is your height by the way??
  • lina1131
    lina1131 Posts: 2,246 Member
    Tamim, you are my superstar! I want to be like you when I grow up. I am at 183 right now and I eat appx 1450 a day before exercising and a little more if I do exercise.

    Something has to change though because I feel like my body is getting too comfortable.
  • BikeChick
    BikeChick Posts: 121
    Great news! I didn't even consider that, and when I go over my 1200 I feel like a failure. That is great advice, and I feel quite a whole lot better about this now. For awhile I was worried about trying to stay right at 1200 every day, but that makes perfect sense. There is a lot of random exercise a person can get that isn't easy to factor in on this site. Thanx for the tip! :happy:

    Hey! I just saw on your profile that you are 22 and looking to lose 75 lbs. Knowing that, you can definitely eat more and still lose. I am not an expert of course and everyones body responds differently but I would say you could eat around 1600 and lose nicely (and eat even more than that when you exercise). Often the more weight you need to lose and the younger/active you are, the more you can eat. As your weight gets lower and lower, at least you have room to tweak your calories a bit.

    What is your height by the way??

    Well, my height is FIVE FOOT EVEN. So I believe that classifies me as "morbidly obese"? :sad: I HATEHATEHATE that term! That is great to hear, though, because I have gone over my calories several days in a row, now! I'm trying really hard to be positive about it, and not beat myself up when I do go over. Thanks again! :heart: :happy:
  • bonkers5975
    bonkers5975 Posts: 1,015 Member
    This is so true, and I think it is boogey man behind my weightloss failure for the past 10 years!

    I am 32, 5'10" and started out at 340. I'm eating between 2000 and 3000 calories a day, and losing 2 lbs a week. My workouts all revolve around horses right now, I am starting to walk regularly, but that's it. I can't believe it's working.

    Now I'm really good, I stick right at what mfp tells me to eat. I've been under by as much 500 calories on a couple of days, and gone over once (choco binge... bad me!)

    :happy:
  • TamTastic
    TamTastic Posts: 19,224 Member
    Great news! I didn't even consider that, and when I go over my 1200 I feel like a failure. That is great advice, and I feel quite a whole lot better about this now. For awhile I was worried about trying to stay right at 1200 every day, but that makes perfect sense. There is a lot of random exercise a person can get that isn't easy to factor in on this site. Thanx for the tip! :happy:

    Hey! I just saw on your profile that you are 22 and looking to lose 75 lbs. Knowing that, you can definitely eat more and still lose. I am not an expert of course and everyones body responds differently but I would say you could eat around 1600 and lose nicely (and eat even more than that when you exercise). Often the more weight you need to lose and the younger/active you are, the more you can eat. As your weight gets lower and lower, at least you have room to tweak your calories a bit.

    What is your height by the way??

    Well, my height is FIVE FOOT EVEN. So I believe that classifies me as "morbidly obese"? :sad: I HATEHATEHATE that term! That is great to hear, though, because I have gone over my calories several days in a row, now! I'm trying really hard to be positive about it, and not beat myself up when I do go over. Thanks again! :heart: :happy:

    Morbidly obese is just a stinkin word! I hate it! I have gone from 270 to 187 in 8 months and my BMI has gone from 45 to 31.1 or still "obese". But I am very active, healthy and energetic. So, whatever! Stupid word!! HAHA!

    Also, I am sorry to keep nagging you, but what is your current weight? That will help you to figure out your BMR and from there you can have a better understanding of the deficite you need to lose weight. You may have already done all of this but I just want to make sure you are informed on how your body works. That is a huge part of weight-loss success I think.
  • TamTastic
    TamTastic Posts: 19,224 Member
    Tamim, you are my superstar! I want to be like you when I grow up. I am at 183 right now and I eat appx 1450 a day before exercising and a little more if I do exercise.

    Something has to change though because I feel like my body is getting too comfortable.

    Love the new pic!! Very glamorous!!! Ohhh la la!!

    Maybe just up your exercise a notch. Maybe up the level or add another 5 minutes or switch machines. Your food intake seems to be good. I know...remember me a few weeks ago?? I was all down in the dumps. Happens to all of us when our body isn't responding the way it should.
  • lina1131
    lina1131 Posts: 2,246 Member
    Tamim, you are my superstar! I want to be like you when I grow up. I am at 183 right now and I eat appx 1450 a day before exercising and a little more if I do exercise.

    Something has to change though because I feel like my body is getting too comfortable.

    Love the new pic!! Very glamorous!!! Ohhh la la!!

    Maybe just up your exercise a notch. Maybe up the level or add another 5 minutes or switch machines. Your food intake seems to be good. I know...remember me a few weeks ago?? I was all down in the dumps. Happens to all of us when our body isn't responding the way it should.

    Yeah, I think i'll give that a shot! :heart: