as far as calories? the dailyplate.com recommended that I eat 1623 calories for the day in order to lose 1.5 pds a week for a real active person,this wasnt the highest activity level . I followed the diabetic diet for a month with probably the same amount of calories and didnt lose a pd and was wondering If I need to lower my calories. so how old are you, what is your height,weight,female etc... how many calories do you eat and have you lost wt since eating that many . How long did it take you to lose any wt? I have read where it might take up to 6 weeks following a lower calorie diet to lose wt. I thought one should lose immediately if they dropped calories. BFFM says you should see results on a weekly basis.
how many are you eating and are you seeing results?
- Thread starter laura35
- Start date
Liann
Cathlete
Laura - I ate the BFL way for about 4 weeks and didn't drop a pound. 
I've kind of given up the last 2 weeks and haven't gained a pound. I'm starting to think I'm just destined for my current weight. Unless I really drastically reduce my calories (i.e. starve myself) nothing seems to come off. I'm sure I'm just not being patient enough.
I've kind of given up the last 2 weeks and haven't gained a pound. I'm starting to think I'm just destined for my current weight. Unless I really drastically reduce my calories (i.e. starve myself) nothing seems to come off. I'm sure I'm just not being patient enough.
LaughingWater
Cathlete
I'm 38, 5'7" and currently 130.
I started out at 136, dropped to 1400 calories a day and began working out with Cathe's DVDs. I dropped 6 pounds pretty quickly but have remained at a steady 130.
I want to build some muscle, so now I alternate ~ 1400 on cardio days, 1500 on weight days ~ and my weight hasn't budged one way or the other. I just started Slow & Heavy, so we'll see. I'm not sure if I'm eating enough, too much, or what (though I'm eating a heck of a lot better). My clothes are loose, which is cool, but I'd really like to see some muscle for once in my life.
I'm less concerned with the scale number and more interested in how my body looks and feels. This is going to be one big experiment that I'm going to have to navigate over time.
I started out at 136, dropped to 1400 calories a day and began working out with Cathe's DVDs. I dropped 6 pounds pretty quickly but have remained at a steady 130.
I want to build some muscle, so now I alternate ~ 1400 on cardio days, 1500 on weight days ~ and my weight hasn't budged one way or the other. I just started Slow & Heavy, so we'll see. I'm not sure if I'm eating enough, too much, or what (though I'm eating a heck of a lot better). My clothes are loose, which is cool, but I'd really like to see some muscle for once in my life.
I'm less concerned with the scale number and more interested in how my body looks and feels. This is going to be one big experiment that I'm going to have to navigate over time.
materialsgirl
Cathlete
>Laura - I ate the BFL way for about 4 weeks and didn't drop a
>pound. I've kind of given up the last 2 weeks and haven't
>gained a pound. I'm starting to think I'm just destined for
>my current weight. Unless I really drastically reduce my
>calories (i.e. starve myself) nothing seems to come off. I'm
>sure I'm just not being patient enough.
Ditto that. The only thing BFL did for me was reduce my level of bloatiness (if that's a real word). I was too impatient to stick with it. I either have to starve myself to lose weight, or be happy where I am. Neither of those options are particularly appealing right now... *sigh* I wish I knew the answer.
>pound.
I've kind of given up the last 2 weeks and haven't>gained a pound. I'm starting to think I'm just destined for
>my current weight. Unless I really drastically reduce my
>calories (i.e. starve myself) nothing seems to come off. I'm
>sure I'm just not being patient enough.
Ditto that. The only thing BFL did for me was reduce my level of bloatiness (if that's a real word). I was too impatient to stick with it. I either have to starve myself to lose weight, or be happy where I am. Neither of those options are particularly appealing right now... *sigh* I wish I knew the answer.
Vee
Cathlete
Laura,
I am nearly 41.
What works for me since my mid thirties (earlier it was really easy to be slim):
- I never count calories
- I try to eat at regular times each day - no skipping meals.
- If I want to snack to kill boredom, I try to distract myself or eat low-cal stuff like carrot sticks or an apple
- I avoid refined carbs and high-fat food. I eat a low-fat, whole carb, reasonably balanced diet with lots of fruit and veggies. I exercise portion control (do not over eat)
- I treat myself once a week. Not pigging. But I throw out the rules.
As long as I more or less stick with this and exercise regularly, I can lose weight/ maintain my weight. Every so often I fall off the wagon, catch myself and go back to this routine.
~* Vrinda *~
I am nearly 41.
What works for me since my mid thirties (earlier it was really easy to be slim):
- I never count calories
- I try to eat at regular times each day - no skipping meals.
- If I want to snack to kill boredom, I try to distract myself or eat low-cal stuff like carrot sticks or an apple
- I avoid refined carbs and high-fat food. I eat a low-fat, whole carb, reasonably balanced diet with lots of fruit and veggies. I exercise portion control (do not over eat)
- I treat myself once a week. Not pigging. But I throw out the rules.
As long as I more or less stick with this and exercise regularly, I can lose weight/ maintain my weight. Every so often I fall off the wagon, catch myself and go back to this routine.
~* Vrinda *~
fit44
Cathlete
I couldn't lose weight on the BFL plan either.
IMO, I think the plan allows for too much processed food. The cheat day can undo a weeks worth of hard work too.
For me, what I eat dictates how successful I am at losing weight.
I found that sticking to all natural food (fresh veggies, fruits, nuts, lean protein), oatmeal or sprout bread for my starch, eliminate condiments. My body responds to 40/30/30. Instead of a cheat day, one cheat meal a week.
So, BFL's 40/40/20 and full cheat day was not getting me anywhere. A full cheat day is fine once I reach my goal weight.
IMO, I think the plan allows for too much processed food. The cheat day can undo a weeks worth of hard work too.
For me, what I eat dictates how successful I am at losing weight.
I found that sticking to all natural food (fresh veggies, fruits, nuts, lean protein), oatmeal or sprout bread for my starch, eliminate condiments. My body responds to 40/30/30. Instead of a cheat day, one cheat meal a week.
So, BFL's 40/40/20 and full cheat day was not getting me anywhere. A full cheat day is fine once I reach my goal weight.
cindi1
Cathlete
Laura - I've been reading Jillian Michael's book and listening to her podcasts. She suggests eating at the level of your Basal Metabolic Rate if you don't have a lot of weight to lose.
I put your stats into this website (http://health.discovery.com/tools/calculators/basal/basal.html) and it says you BMR is 1321. So if you eat 1400 calories a day, workout 5-6 days a week for 1 hour (half cardio/half weights) and eat clean - you should lose weight.
Maybe 1623 calories to lose 1.5 pounds a week is unrealistic.
I've been eating my BMR and haven't changed my workouts (I do 3 P90x weight workouts and run 3 times each week) and am averaging 1 pound a week. On weekends I don't count my calories so I'm sure I eat a few hundred calories more which keeps me from getting better progress.
Another way she suggests you figure out your calories is this...
(BMR*activity level)+exercise calories-500.
For activity level, you rate yourself 1,2,3,4 where 1 is sedentary, 2 is some moving on the job (she describes is as like a car salesman - some desk work, some walking), 3 is active job, 4 is a physically demanding job like a construction workout.
Let's say you burn 300 calories a day during exercise and you rate your activity level as a 2, the formula would look like this.
(1321*1.2)+300-500=1385 (about the same as just going with your BMR.
Hope this helps.
I put your stats into this website (http://health.discovery.com/tools/calculators/basal/basal.html) and it says you BMR is 1321. So if you eat 1400 calories a day, workout 5-6 days a week for 1 hour (half cardio/half weights) and eat clean - you should lose weight.
Maybe 1623 calories to lose 1.5 pounds a week is unrealistic.
I've been eating my BMR and haven't changed my workouts (I do 3 P90x weight workouts and run 3 times each week) and am averaging 1 pound a week. On weekends I don't count my calories so I'm sure I eat a few hundred calories more which keeps me from getting better progress.
Another way she suggests you figure out your calories is this...
(BMR*activity level)+exercise calories-500.
For activity level, you rate yourself 1,2,3,4 where 1 is sedentary, 2 is some moving on the job (she describes is as like a car salesman - some desk work, some walking), 3 is active job, 4 is a physically demanding job like a construction workout.
Let's say you burn 300 calories a day during exercise and you rate your activity level as a 2, the formula would look like this.
(1321*1.2)+300-500=1385 (about the same as just going with your BMR.
Hope this helps.
cindi1
Cathlete
If you have less than 20 pounds to lose (I have about 5 at this point) she recommends Making the Cut. That's the book I've been reading. I have not read her other book (Winning by Losing) which I understand is intended for someone who has a larger amount of weight to lose.
She's very clear on her podcasts that you have to take a very different approach when losing those last pounds.
Here's a link to her podcasts.
http://www.kfi640.com/cc-common/podcast.html
She's very clear on her podcasts that you have to take a very different approach when losing those last pounds.
Here's a link to her podcasts.
http://www.kfi640.com/cc-common/podcast.html
37 yrs old
5"4 (although the chart says I dropped to 5" 3 1/2)
currently 118 lbs
currently 1500 - 1600 calories
A yr & 1/2 ago I did P90X & if I remember right Tony said to up calories, for me 1800. Maintained the weight I was at which usually falls between 123 - 125 lbs. When I found out I got in for RT I wanted to work harder in preparation & even though I eat healthy I buckled down, really watching sugar intake & cutting out grains in the evening. Calories down to 1500 - 1600. Very easily dropped 5 lbs & have been at 118 w/o much effort. Did ramp up workouts some. Lost my little "muffin top" as my son calls it.
5"4 (although the chart says I dropped to 5" 3 1/2)
currently 118 lbs
currently 1500 - 1600 calories
A yr & 1/2 ago I did P90X & if I remember right Tony said to up calories, for me 1800. Maintained the weight I was at which usually falls between 123 - 125 lbs. When I found out I got in for RT I wanted to work harder in preparation & even though I eat healthy I buckled down, really watching sugar intake & cutting out grains in the evening. Calories down to 1500 - 1600. Very easily dropped 5 lbs & have been at 118 w/o much effort. Did ramp up workouts some. Lost my little "muffin top" as my son calls it.
pebblesus
Cathlete
I have to be honest.. when I was losing weight (20 lb goal) I STRUUGLED.
I had only been "overweight" for a couple of years but I think when your body gets used to maintaining a certain weight it's hard to "get over the hump". Took me 4 months before I reevaluated and lost my first pound and I did soooo much cardio (well, I thought it was a lot as I do almost none now hee).
For me I didn't count calories at that time, I just kept my FAT INTAKE to 20g's or LESS. I ate NO FRIED FOODS for the whole 7 months it took me to lose the weight.
Sounds painful I know, but I actually ate quite a bit, just NO FAT.
Lot of rice n' beans, veggies, turkey sandwiches on whole grain...
I had only been "overweight" for a couple of years but I think when your body gets used to maintaining a certain weight it's hard to "get over the hump". Took me 4 months before I reevaluated and lost my first pound and I did soooo much cardio (well, I thought it was a lot as I do almost none now hee).
For me I didn't count calories at that time, I just kept my FAT INTAKE to 20g's or LESS. I ate NO FRIED FOODS for the whole 7 months it took me to lose the weight.
Sounds painful I know, but I actually ate quite a bit, just NO FAT.
Lot of rice n' beans, veggies, turkey sandwiches on whole grain...