refinedredbird Member

I am sorry that some pretty terrible things have been happening to you lately, but I am glad that they are finally getting resolved and there is less stress as of right now. Here is the thing (and I mean it very respectfully): there will ALWAYS be stuff happening in life that is stressful, it just morphs into different…

I can't see your diary to know what you are eating exactly, but if you are exercising as much as you say, 1200-1400 calories is too low. 1,200 calories is the minimum you should be eating, but if you are burning calories, you need to eat those calories burned back. Also, it may seem like 30 days is a long time to be…

The protein level that is set for MFP is very low. It is not a bad thing at all to go over it. I try to eat 80-100 grams a day (though not always successful) to rebuild muscle. The sugar amount is what is recommended, but like others have said, it is easy to go over. I wouldn't worry too much, but try to stay as close to…

My advice based on your diary is to make sure you are eating enough each day when you are working out very often (especially if you start lifting) and also, try to eat more protein daily which will help rebuild muscle which in turn will help burn fat and lower your body fat percentage. Stay patient, you will see changes.…

The number on the scale should be thought of as a guideline in your weight loss/health journey, but it does not truly measure all aspects of your success. There are people who even see slight gains on the scale, but their bodies are truly looking leaner and stronger than when they weighed less. The scale does not take into…

Go and calculate your Basal Metabolic Rate which you can do with an online calculator. That is how many calories your body would need even if you were in a coma. Then, calculate your TDEE at lightly/moderately active which you can calculate online with a calculator. When you have your TDEE number, subtract 15-20% of that…

:flowerforyou:

Thank you for this!

2 weeks is not very long time to already be doubting your efforts. There have been plenty of times where I didn't lose weight for 2, 3, or 4 weeks at a time, but then I lose again. Be a bit more patient. Also, if you need more advice, you may want to make your diary public so people can see what you are eating and your…

Of course... who else is going to be my spotter? :D

I get headaches if I don't eat within a certain number of hours, but not as quickly as you are explaining. Also, make sure you are drinking enough water too, I get almost sick with an awful migraine if I am not staying hydrated.

I would recommend foods that are high in protein, which are great for post workouts to prevent lean muscle loss. Also, they make you feel fuller longer. Every week I buy things like Greek yogurt, string cheese, cottage cheese, canned white chicken breast, then I buy things like protein powder, bananas, blueberries, soy…

Fat is stored based on your own genetics. I too am more bottom heavy and I tend to lose weight in my top half first. The only way to lose weight in your lower half is to reduce your overall body fat percentage, it is not possible to spot reduce. 2 weeks can have an effect on you if you are overeating and not exercising,…

You cannot control what other people want to eat. Every day you are going to be exposed to people and places that offer foods that you believe would be detrimental to your goals. You are the only person who gets to decide what you consume, so the only person you can blame is yourself when you are not following your own…

If it stays within your goals, it's fine. A healthy lifestyle doesn't mean you have to deprive yourself from things you like to eat or going to get fast food sometimes. Do things in moderation and your weight loss will be more sustainable.

Don't be so hard on yourself. It was more than likely your first meal of the day and I am sure you didn't go over your calories or macros already. Just make choices the rest of the day that will allow you to still stay at your goals. If it makes you feel better, that breakfast sandwich had a good amount of protein which is…

if you are not strength training, eating enough calories, and consuming enough protein you can lose your lean muscle along with fat during your weight loss. If you are doing these things correctly and not losing your lean muscle, then yes, lowering your body fat percentage will help in defining your muscles because they…

If you calculate your TDEE you can include your exercise calories and then eat a deficit of that number by 10-15% and not eat your exercise calories back If you are eating at 1200 calories which is the minimum you should be eating per day, you must eat at least some of the exercise calories back because that would be too…

Even if you lose weight, you may not see the results you hoped for just by eating a deficit of food. Do you do any strength training? It will help you lose body fat and gain lean muscle which makes your body less fluffy and more solid.

Sadly, you cannot change who people are, you can only change yourself. It's hard when you have to live in an environment where people are negative and not supportive, but stay strong. You could try to sit with her and communicate exactly what you are trying to do with your weight loss and why it is important to you and…

It really depends on the person and how their body responds to diet and exercise. The more pounds you need to lose, the faster the weight loss is in the beginning from my experience. The smaller amount of weight left until your goal, the slower it is to lose. You could possibly lose 20lbs, but you may only be able to lose…

I don't know what your height is so I don't know what is considered a healthy weight for you, but it doesn't seem like you have a lot to lose. The closer you get to your weight goal, the slower it is to lose pounds. Weight loss requires dedication and patience. Losing any amount of weight is success. With the amount of…

I would change the carbs and protein intake. I would up my protein to about 1gram per lean muscle pound. Then the leftover should be the carbs, especially with weightlifting. Just my humble opinion though.

You have to start somewhere, don't think about what other people are doing. The only person you are competing with is yourself. If you later decide you want to do some lifting later on and get nervous (like I used to be when I first started) I would recommend just looking up some strength training routines or proper form…

He's full of it. The best way to lose weight is to incorporate strength training to increase lean muscle, lower body fat percentage, and overall improve your body composition. My only regret in my weight loss was not to do strength more in the very beginning and not just cardio all the time.

Don't subtract from your BMR because that is the amount of calories your body needs to work every day. You need to calculate your TDEE (I suggest moderately active since you have a workout regimen and don't eat calories burned back) and subtract 10-20% of that total for your food intake calories, but it should still be…

You're fine, we all have our moments. 1lb=3,500 calories. So you would have to eat that plus your TDEE. That will not be reached by 12 rice cakes. Don't beat yourself up and do better tomorrow.

You're not doing anything wrong. The weight comes off quickly in the beginning and slows down as time goes on. Be patient and keep doing what you are doing. Make sure you are taking measurements of your body as well and not only go by what the scale tells you. Inches lost = lower body fat percentage.

Strength training should be done in collaboration with your weight loss program to get the best results in my opinion. Not only will the strength training increase lean muscle, this muscle will aid in burning fat and lowering your fat percentage. You will see results, but they will be even more apparent the lower body fat…

If you are wanting to lose body fat, stop all the cardio and lift heavy. Building muscle will help burn fat more quickly and your body composition will improve. Also, 1300 calories is awfully low for a man who has very little to lose. I recommend eating at a deficit of about -10-15% of your TDEE. EDIT: Ok, don't stop ALL…