[aphil]

You can still definitely lose muscle, even if you are working out-if you are not getting enough nutrition. Ask any of the ladies over in the Ladies Who Lift (weight training) area...or any of the ladies over in the Maintainers area. (all ladies who have lost all their weight, and are *keeping it off*.

I would definitely raise it to 1200 calories a day, though. Most defnitely. What we have to remember, is that doctors are NOT nutritionists. They simply aren't. A good example of this, is that I am currently pregnant, and when I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes (diabetes that only affects you when pregnant) doctors generally refer these patients to a NUTRITIONIST to go over their dietary changes and so forth-they don't do it themselves. It isn't their specialty.

[olivia627]

Originally Posted by ready_to_lose

Thanks for the advice. I don't think im losing muscle becuase i work out regularly and it seems to be building...i eat a lot of protein tho so that may be why...my doctor said 1000-1200 cal/day is normal for me so im sure i could up it to that.

Hi ready_to_lose! I can relate to wanting to lose weight as fast as possible! I just began counting calories and thought that I needed to start at around 1000 to 1200 calories a day too. But, after reading posts from these experienced ladies (and some gents), I understand that too few calories would put my body into starvation mode. And it ain't pretty, healthy or productive in my quest for weightloss. I used a calculator online to determine how many calories I would need to sustain my current weight a day. I then subtracted 1000 calories from that, allowing me to lose 1.5 to 2 lbs/week. This gave me a number of 1400 to 1500 per day.

Following this 'plan' (along with incorporating SuperFoods), has allowed me to safely lose appx 3 to 4 pounds in the past 10 days. I am not restricting anything and feel full all day long.

Also, to reiterate something I read from another 3FC member (sorry, don't remember who you are), if you start out so low with your daily caloric intake, you'll have no room to go down as you reach your goal weight. The more you lose and the less you weigh, the fewer calories your body will need. If you start at 900 to 1200 calories per day, how many do you plan to eat when you hit your goal? 500? You have to plan ahead and leave room for you to slowly decrease the number of calories you take in as you are losing your weight.

Also, something I read on this site... It is impossible to lose more than 2 to 2.5 pounds of fat per week. If you are losing more than that, chances are you are losing valuable muscle mass and/or damaging other parts of your body.

Just some things to think about....

Good luck to you! And please don't starve yourself thin. It isn't worth it! Do it the right way and your weightloss will be permanent!

[aphil]

That advice was mine as well.

It is oh so true...

Aphil

[Heather]

Originally Posted by aphil

That advice was mine as well.

I quote your advice all the time! I try to remember to give you credit!

[aphil]

How sweet.

You guys are the best around here, you know that? It makes all of the work that mods do here worth it when you get such nice feedback.

[EverHopeful]

I have lost all my excess weight before in the past using FitDay and the weight stayed off for well over a year. I am back on the wagon.

While I like to be in the ballpark, I do not obsess about every tiny morsel. I have used a trick in the past that has helped me a lot. Well, two things actually.

I use an Excel spreadsheet that I log my calories eaten vs. calories burned for the day on FitDay. The spreadsheet then automatically calculates the exact amount of weight lost per day (usually fractions of a pound). At the end of the week or every ten days, I would see if the scales are measuring up to what the spreadsheet calculations are stating. It sounds way more involved than it actually is, since the computer does all of the work for you. Anyway, it helps me measure how accurate my reporting is. The other trick I use, is a I have an item on my custom foods list called "A little bite". It is worth about 100 calories and I proportioned the carbs, protein and fat. I do this so that if I eat a taste of food while cooking, or a bite of my husband's sandwich, I do not have to report one bite of bread, lettuce, tomatoes, ham, onion, mayo and mustard. It is actually pretty accurate. I tend to overestimate than underestimate my portions because ultimately I tend to eat more than I am willing to admit sometimes. It works for me. My excel spreadsheet keeps me in check.

Through the years, and all of the diets, NOTHING has worked for me other than keeping a food diary and maintaining my portions. Ultimately, I cannot stick to a strict menu diet. I have to eat what I like. Taking the time to do a food diary makes me aware of how much I am putting in my mouth. My weight has slowly crept back on, and that is how it will have to come off. I wish I had never stopped doing the food diary. I wouldn't be where I am today if I had.

[channning102]

I have digital scale and I weigh everything when it is possible. I write down everything I am going to eat a work in the morning. Pack my lunch with snacks and that is it. I do by alot of prepackaged snacks that I don't have to weigh.