question about calorie intake vs weight loss

Okay so if my eat meter says to eat 2400 calories, that's the amount that I should eat to lose the recommended 0.5-1.5 pounds per week, right?

So, theoretically, if I wanted to lose a little faster (and this is okay because I have like 300 pounds to lose) I would just decrease the calories I eat by 3500 per week for each additional pound I want to lose?

This is taking into consideration calories burned as well.

I guess I'm just a little confused.  And if there is any one familiar with losing large amts of weight out there, could you please tell me how much is safe to lose per week for someone with such a large amount to lose?

thanks, nikki

I'm actually thinking you may need to eat more...

I don't have as much as you to lose but I am currently eating 2200 calories and last week I lost 4 pounds but I also exercise 5 days a week.....

we  need more information from you to calculate things properly.  Age, height, current weight, goal weight, activity (level and times per week). 

If you are uncomfortable placing them on the open forum, please feel free to send me a private message

Coach_K
Volunteer Moderator

i'm 28 years old, 5'8'', right now i'm 450+ pounds (my scale stops at 450 so really not sure how much over I am). 

My goal weight is 150 but i'd honestly be ecstatic just to be below 200. 

I work at a sit down job.  I've just recently started stationary bicycling for 15 minutes per day (increasing by 5 minutes per week hopefully)  which doesn't seem like much I know but it's really hard when you're this large and doing the sit down weight training exercises for obese people  in the exercise section of the site which I've found really helpful and can feel them working my muscles.

Nikki: your exercise sounds perfect..you may want to wait 2 weeks until you increase to 5 more minutes each time...you don't want to cause injury...Just see how you feel...Take it easy at first...Your doing great...And as far as the calories, I hope Couch K can help you but I really personally think you should eat more.....

 

Hi Nikki,

I have lost 77 pounds and still have more to lose.  I am not really sure how calorie-count determines the caloric intake recommendation even though I have been using it for more than a year.  So here are my suggestions:

1. Find out what your BMR is and never eat below it.  As long as you do not eat below your BMR you will not mess up your metabolism and can lose weight more quickly.

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

2. Join a support group either in person or online.  This one has really helped me stay on track:

http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-fbtv

3. To speed up weight loss add activities, do not cut calories below your BMR.

4. The 3,500 calorie pound is only an average.  Because I have hypothyroidism, it takes me a 6,500 calorie deficit to lose a pound.  I track my output as well as my intake and have the records to back up my data.  My doctor checked my data and thinks it is pretty accurate.

Please let me know what your BMR is and I may have some more recommendations for you.

Ok. Here are your basic numbers:

BMR: 2,795 calories (at rest)

Sedentary burn: 3,354 (little to no exercise)

So, once you add in your exercise calories (please don't minimize your efforts -- ANYTHING is better than NOTHING -- you are ahead of the game right now), your burn will end up anywhere between 3600-3800 calories per day.

You need to be eating at least 2400 calories each day (some will tell you never to go under your BMR, but as a larger person, it is acceptable). At a minimum this would give you a 1000 cal per day deficit and a 2 lb per week loss. It is possible the loss could be much greater (it often is with people over 300 pounds), and your deficit could be as large as 1500.

Before you cut your calories under 2400, give it some time, you might be surprised. Many have to live it before they believe it, but really, truly, and honestly -- you have to eat to lose. It is very tempting to try and restrict quite low -- it will rebound on you. Perhaps not right away, but eventually.

The slower the weight comes off, the more likely you are to maintain the weight loss. The whole time you are reducing you are also learning new habits (exercising, healthy eating, calories counting ), that will stick with you the longer you implement them. Furthermore, you are more likely to stick with something that does not require a drastic change to your lifestyle at the beginning.

ty all for the advice... i've been trying to keeo calories at 1200-1500 per day so i guess i should up that a bit.

thanks for the info and support

Nikki: Just remember that when you lose a large amount of weight, per say you lose 100 pounds then you may need to lower your calorie intake, now if your only eating 1200 calories, how are you supposed to lower it--you can't ...unless you want to be unhealthy---your body needs more to eat, Coach k is right..you could even eat 3000 calorie and lose weight...

Yeah Nikki, go ahead and raise your caloric intake, right now you are eating what I'm eating, and I'm only about 146.

Kudos for incorporating a good work out into your plan. Keep it up and remember to increase your time/resistance slowly as to avoid injury.

Hello Nikki..  I have to agree with all your response's..3000--2500 sounds about right. Just try to make some healthy choices in that and you could be eating all day long! I know you said you were incorporating the exercise bike and strength training exercises..that's great!! You also said you have a job that you sit all day..are you able to get up at all ??...maybe for better circulation in your legs if you can get up maybe every hour or so and just walk a quick walk around the office...it will help you lose and keep your circulation going. Keep up the great efforts and don't give up. I also think that you need to lower your weight loss goal for now....I don't mean you shouldn't strive for that number all in all but it maybe helpful to take baby steps ...try to lose 5-10 pounds this month and so on and so on ...your goal won't seem so untouchable that way. Stay the course and you will be much happier and most importantly healthier!! Best of luck on your journey !!

Hi Nikki,

I am so happy to see you here, and congrats on the progress so far.  It's a long road, but not an imposable one.  I have manged to go from 650+, to the mid 370's over the past 18 months.  So it can be done. 

And you have made the most important steps.  Getting a handle on what you are eating, and getting active.  And don't worry about starting out small with your activities.  I started doing all my activity right on my bedside.  So no start is to small.  Just keep at it. 

And i would also say you are eating to little.  I weighed in at 375 this morning, and I have a BMR of 3050.  So yours is not out of line at all.  And please, eat up!!  Your body needs those cals to build up your body into a cal burning machine!!  I know it doesn't sound right, but it works!!  Always better to burn off cals than to starve off cals!!

Hang in there, and if you have any questions feel free to drop me a private message.  And please keep us all updated on your progress!!

Duke of Indiana

Genius By Birth-Slacker By Choice!!

You should check out Melinda's profile:

 http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/view_pr ofile.php?userid=301766

She is great! She lost 175 pounds or so within a year by calorie - counting. Sounds corny, but she re - affirms with myself and probably alot of other people on here that we can do it!

You are on a great track!

Incorporating exercise in any form and amount is great!