Weight Loss

Am new to this whole calorie count thing over the web, I been trying to lose weight for weeks now and just last month I joined this site and been counting calories everyday and at the start I ate about 1800 calories but as days went by I have cut down to about 700 calories. I started on april 29 with a weight of 290lbs. And less then a month in am at 268 lbs and the last week or 2 I been only intaking 700 calories avg and I don't feel hungry at all. I also been going to the gym everyday for the past 4 days weight lifting and running for 1 hour. Am a male age 20, 5"11. Can someone give me some help to see if wat am doing is a good idea?

everyones post here applies to someone within healthy body fat levels. 700 calories per day is an acceptable method of weight loss when your BMI is 30 or higher. Even the US center for disease control says a very low calorie diet (VLCD) can be used when the BMI is that high and can be considered when the BMI is above 27 if there are other risk factors (look it up). However, I would definitely recommend you let your Dr know what youre doing so he can monitor your blood pressure and/or advise against it if you have other conditions.

as far as losing too fast or slowing metabolism or losing muscle etc... the dangers of being that much overweight far exceeds those issues. You need to get into a healthy weight as fast as possible. Do you know if youre 4 weeks away from getting diabetes or heart disease? the faster you lose the weight the better.  

All of this comes from doctors by the way. Bodybuilders in magazines that work out 8 hours a day write articles that if you eat low calories and you dont eat 5 or 6 meals and 1 gram per pound of protien you will lose muscle and slow your metabolism. well, theyre right... for them. 

VLCD's should NEVER be attempted without a doctor's supervision.  

Calorie-count promotes a healthy lifestyle way of losing weight.  It is a unique site because they promote eating great foods and exercising along with a community that supports each other.

It is recommended to never go below 1200 calories if you are a female, because your body will go into starvation mode and it is possible that you might gain weight, besides doing serious damage to your body. (1500 calories if you are male).

Your body needs at least 1200 calories per day to survive. Here is a very rough scientific break down provided by a dietician for a  5' 2", 19 year old female weighing approximately 100 pounds, sitting around all day and doing nothing:


-The heart needs 12% of the calories (144 cals)
-The kidney needs 12% of the calories (144 cals)
-The Liver needs 23% of the calories (276 cals)
-The brain needs 23% of the calories (276 cals)
-The skeletal muscle needs 30% of the calories (360 cals)

Reference: http://www.calorie-count.com/forums/post/3178 .html#6

If you are under 19 you need to add 300 calories for a total of 1500 per day.  If you exercise you need to eat back at least half of the calories that you expend.  So if you burn 400 calories in a day you need to eat back 200 calories. 

 So if you are over 19, you need to eat 1200 calories + half of what you burn exercising.

If you are under 19 you need to consume 1500 + half of what you burn exercising.



You need to consume at least
3-5 servings of fruit,
3-8 servings of veggies,
3-6 servings of carbs,
3-5 servings of proteins,
3 servings of dairy 
3 servings of  good fats
every day.  

I really don't understand how it's even possible to consistently eat that few calories. You're gonna drive yourself nuts! Don't give me that 'not hungry' stuff either. I'm similar in height, and I eat more than twice what you eat and I'm still starving at the end of most days.  Eat more man! Eat at least twice the calories. You'll still lose a ton of weight, and you'll sacrifice the mental anguish you'll no doubt endure. You'll lose a ton of weight right off the bat anyway since your a bigger guy (bigger guys lose a ton more weight at the onset of a new lifestyle than smaller folks.)

 

Believe me, you will lose weight if you eat more, and you'll spare your psyche. Plus I think you may do some real physical damage. You're gonna pass out one day if you keep this up, mark my words.

I'm your height, weigh 189 pounds, and eat 2000-2500 per day and am still losing weight.  Granted not as fast as when I weighed 320 pounds, but I don't care how fast it comes off anymore.  Weighing 189 pounds and wearing 33-34" pants is better anyday than 320 and 46-48" pants.   I still don't think I eat enough.  I run 6 to 7 miles everyday.  That's 900-1000 calories in excercise.  That only leaves my body with 1000-1500 for normal living, but eating mega calories healthily is rough.

I used to scoff at the 700 calper day being too low thing, I used to think starvation mode was told to people who didnt eat a lot because other people were jealous - but then i realized im a stupid moron and soon I'd be in starvation mode. And here I am, have been eating 800 cals a day for the past few weeks and gained weight. Don't do it, it makes no sense.

oink420>> you're not a moron.... In fact you are anything but! To openly admit a mistake and take notice of the CC message is commendable.

:)