Post by mamasaurus on Jul 18, 2012 12:24:06 GMT -5
I have been amazed that I "only" need 1800 calories/day while BFing because I have been laboring under the delusion that 2,000 calories is what most regular people need. Now I am seeing that people who work out hard core are eating more like 1,200?
::jaw drops::
I don't know if I will ever be able to run again because of my back. If I do, it probably won't be until after I am done childbearing, and I would like to eventually try for one more. Even when I ran, it was closer to a mile or two than the 6 people are talking about.
Now I am all terrified that if I don't want to be a house, I will have to live on 800 calories a day or something insane like that. I have been happy losing 2 or so lbs a week on 1800 and figured I could still be happy with 1500 or 1600 once Babysaurus weans. I don't even know if I could get enough nutrients on 800 calories! FUCK!
I never kept track of my calories before I was pregnant/when I was thin, but I know for a fact I was getting closer to 2,000/day than 1,200/day. Was I a mutant, or am I committing some grave math error, or what?
SOMEBODY PLEASE TALK ME DOWN. I am envisioning a salt lick set up on my kitchen table.
I did a really extensive fitness/ body assessment and to just function my organs I need 1400 calories a day my personal trainer said. I can not imagine working out and eating 1200 calories a day.
DON'T GO BY WHAT PEOPLE HERE TELL YOU. Everyone is lying their ass off. Apparently if they say they're eating 1200 calories, what they mean is, "This was my plan. Until I went running and then I came home and sat around watching TV and at ten pm physically assaulted a pint of Ben and Jerry's."
mamasaurus - 1200 calories is only appropriate for weight loss in people who are short. Presumably if you're taller, you'd be fine at a significantly higher level.
I use MFP. My goal calories per day are 1320 in order to lose 1 pound a week. I get 500 extra on top of that because of BFing. If I workout I earn more calories.
I'm hoping to hit my goal weight before I stop BFing so I can just maintain my current calorie intake (or at least close to) and maintain that weight.
DON'T GO BY WHAT PEOPLE HERE TELL YOU. Everyone is lying their ass off. Apparently if they say they're eating 1200 calories, what they mean is, "This was my plan. Until I went running and then I came home and sat around watching TV and at ten pm physically assaulted a pint of Ben and Jerry's."
mamasaurus - 1200 calories is only appropriate for weight loss in people who are short. Presumably if you're taller, you'd be fine at a significantly higher level.
I was 5'3 before having my baby and haven't checked to see if I am any shorter yet. So...how short is short?
I also use MFP. I eat 1,200 a day baseline, plus I eat all of my exercise calories (I work out every day), so I eat between 1,700 and 1,900 a day. If I did not work out, though, and I wanted to lose/maintain, I'd be between 1,200 and 1,500.
Under 1200 calories a day is a starvation diet and will slowly cause your body to shut down.
This site provides a way to calculate your basal metabolic rate which is basically the number of calories you burn every day just breathing. The taller you are and the more you weigh, the more calories you burn.
I'd say a general average for women of basal metabolic rate is ~1400 (depends on height and weight). To maintain you would eat 1400 calories, but if you figure in any other activity, such as exercise, having a more active job, BF, etc. that number increases. If you have an active job and exercise, you could eat 2000 calories and maintain weight.
Well, everyone is different. I am only 5 ft tall and I've really been trying hard to stick to the 1200 calories per day. If I work out, I eat those calories back so my net total is still around 1200. Of course, I have several days where I go over (and very, very few days that I'm under), but I'm still losing so that's okay.
I'm not lying about what I eat on MFP or what I've shared here. If anything, I'm still embarrassed about what I do eat b/c I know I could still eat healthier - more veggies, more fruits, less carbs, more protein, etc. But I've been honest.
Post by pittsmcgee on Jul 18, 2012 12:36:02 GMT -5
I'm only 5'3 and like I said, I don't actually weigh everything, so its just guestimates in MFP. And I eat back the majority of my exercise calories I probably am not eating enough but im a little obsessive in the weight department, unfortunately.
I guess I'm just saying there are other ways to eat and lose weight that don't include counting calories. Counting calories made me insane. I lost the baby weight without doing that.
If people choose to count calories, then great. If they don't want to, and would rather eat intuitively, then that's another way to approach the issue.
I guess I'm just saying there are other ways to eat and lose weight that don't include counting calories. Counting calories made me insane. I lost the baby weight without doing that.
If people choose to count calories, then great. If they don't want to, and would rather eat intuitively, then that's another way to approach the issue.
That does not work for everyone. I never eat just for the sake of eating; I only eat when I'm hungry and I stop when or before I'm full. I don't lose weight unless I count calories, or unless I do some sort of restrictive diet like South Beach.
I know I'm stating the obvious but - everyone's bodies are different.
Not everyone can just eat what they want of healthy foods and not gain weight. If I ate whatever I wanted of only healthy foods, I would gain. I know this is true, because I used to be one of the people who could literally eat anything I wanted, any portion, and I stayed 115 at 5'4". I bet I ate 2,500 calories a day before, easily. 2 desserts, wine, and absolutely no thought to the caloric content of my meals. Then I got pregnant, and, in an instant, that changed. I have a whole new metabolism now, and I need to work out every day and count my calories to maintain at 125 (after losing 45 lbs after having my girls). So, sure, some people are lucky and don't have to count. But a lot of us do have to. That is where the frustration is coming from...I think those of us that count now would LOVE to just eat what we wanted of healthy foods, but it doesn't work that way for everyone (most).
Mamasaurus how many months postpartum are you? I've noticed you've been freaking out about your weight gain these days. I bet you are still thin! And if you aren't yet-you will be soon. Weren't you the one not too long ago that was complaining about the things people would say about how thin you were? Something about a friend was making comments like how does your husband not break you during sex...etc.
mamasaurus - 1200 calories is only appropriate for weight loss in people who are short. Presumably if you're taller, you'd be fine at a significantly higher level.
I was 5'3 before having my baby and haven't checked to see if I am any shorter yet. So...how short is short?
I would log into one of the fitness sites and input your age, height, and weight. MFP is a pretty reasonable one.
I'm 5'0", in my late 30s, and weigh 123 (trying to get to 112 - 110). If I want to lose a half pound a week - which is not a lot - MFP has me at 1200 calories. If I work out, I eat back some of my calories (but usually not all.)
I would guess for you to maintain at 5'3" you'd probably be somewhere around 2000 calories, but that's just a guess.
Post by amberlyrose on Jul 18, 2012 12:49:19 GMT -5
I calorie cycle and it works wonders for me. I also have to be very careful with alcohol intake. Some people have to eat the same amount each day to lose, some need to work out to lose, some over eat if they work out, some lose easier with different macro-nutirent ratios, some lose on their periods while others gain.
In the end, just don't go below the recommended 1,200 calories- that is the only constant that I've heard.
You can train yourself to think how Grace is thinking though. It's hard work but you can do it. I need to retrain, lol, but that's how I lost all that weight before getting pregnant. I had a diet plan but after maybe a month or two it just all became intuitive -- eat good food, eat until satisfied, save the "bad" stuff for treats.
And, mamasaurus, dont beat yourself up on the weight loss thing so soon. I get that you want it to come off, but your baby is still very young, right? It took me a full year to lose all the baby weight and feel like myself again.
Take care of yourself and your body will do what it needs to do.
Definetly use something like Sparkpeople and enter in all of the information honestly. It will tell you about what you need, and what you need on days you work out.
THEN...keep track of your diet, again, honestly, and see what you really eat in a day. I did and was very surprised at what it said I needed and what I actually consumed. I was actually under all the time, because I simply hate food. It is a real pain in my ass, and do not enjoy it. I also found the reports very interesting, as it also told me what to eat more of, in regards to calcium, protein, etc.
I don't log into it anymore, but it sure was an eye opener for me.
Don't trust what the machine tells you at the gym. When it says you lost 600 calories, you actually only lost around 300. Those machines are not accurate and are made to count calories for athletic males. And you don't need a snack after the gym. You are not a marathonian. The calories lost during your workout session won't starve your body, unless you are extremely skinny.
I am hoping that, eventually, I will be able to eat like grace does. Once I get to my goal weight and have maintained for a while, I feel like I'll have a good idea of what size portions I should be having and have more ideas of recipes that I like and are good for me. I don't want count calories forever! This is the first time in my life that I've done so (and I've been skinny and obese as an adult) and it's working for me. So, as long as I need to lose more weight, I'll probably be counting.