02-28-2015 04:35 - edited 02-28-2015 04:35
02-28-2015 04:35 - edited 02-28-2015 04:35
Hi,
I began my plan with Fitbit 3 days ago. I weigh 124.8 KG and am 6ft. I have been walking around 15000 steps each day and usually Fitbit works out I should have consumed around 2700 calories by the end of the day. Each day I have been a bit underbudget. I end up eating when I don't even want to just to try and stay on budget and in the green zone on the dashboard. This seems absurd to be eating when I'm not even hungry. In addition to this I lost .1 of a KG yesterday only to find I have put it back on again today !
So my question is, is it OK for me to be underbudget as I could happily consume 500 calories less than what Fitbit is telling me I should have.
Answered! Go to the Best Answer.
02-28-2015 04:41
02-28-2015 04:41
@SunsetRunner
Allow yourself to have any food regardless good or bad food. Anything you'd fancy. Don't restrict a certain food, it leads eventually to crave so much for to at a certain point going to eat it anyway but eating much more from it.
Eat everything but in moderation. It's about changing food habits, one thing at a time so the body can adjust and easier to change habits over time.
When wanting something to eat out the planned meal now, allow yourself to have it at the next opportunity when going to eat something (plan it in the plan).
Eat what you desire, when eating something else first but actually *really* wanting to have that certain food, it leads to eating that certain food eventually and eating more calories in the long run.
When desired, try aiming to eat nutritient rich food (don't change your food habits to dramatically, but making smaller changes over time):
Fruits such as banana's, apples..
Whole Grains (bread)
Protein (yoghurt, eggs, cheese, lean meat (chicken/fish..)
These foods contain plenty of nutritients which the body needs while being low in calories, keep feeling satisfied for longer. These foods are easier for the body to process, improve digestion, boost immunity..
Aim to have 50% raw (cooked) vegetables at dinner.
Try eating those foods first before eating other food which lack in nutritients (pizza, prepackaged food which contains ingredients not being able to read).
Eating nutritient lacking food first which are higher in calories, the body still craves to have more cause of asking to eat more food to ensure it gets the nutritients it requires, automatically cutting back on 'extra unneeded' calories when eating the nutritient rich food first.
It's ok to have some pizza, piece of chocolate, prepackaged foods, a piece of cake, your favourite food. Eat everything in moderation.
Never skip breakfast or the body can stop sending hunger / appetite signals.
Protein is used to repair muscles, don't go for a to large deficit, rather have a lower calorie deficit otherwise the body starts using muscle as energy for survival instead of wanting to use body fat.
It can take longer for weight loss, but it ensures that most weight loss would come from body fat, and allows the body to adjust to changing food habits and the weight loss. It also limits the possibility that the body is going to fight back by when being at a natural weight range, and regardless how much food is eaten, it can go back to a higher weight, adding in a few pounds more since there's been a shortage of food and does want to survive.
When being at a healthier weight and body fat range, it's possible that the body can be at it's happy weight range, this weight can be higher than your desired goal but being in a healthy weight range.
No matter if overeating a bit, or undereating when being at the natural weight range. When only eating to nourish the body, and only when hungry (eat anything you'd like but stop eating more when satisfied) the body will stay at it's natural weight range. It defends this range regardless of having eaten a bit under or more, it always reverts back to the weight where its the most happy at (without counting calories and not restricting or forbidding any food). It does this by sending appetite / hunger signals, lowering or increasing metabolism, sending out a craving for a certain food,..
The weight range is determined by genetics, activity, food choices.
Try honoring your body, when feeling satisfied but not stuffed and not being hungry, try not to eat more. Regardless if allowed to eat x hundred calories more.
Calories to eat are a guidance, when your body has all nutritients it needs, it can be perfectly happy with less.
Try listening to your wonderful body what it needs (can be tricky at first) rather than the mind.. your mind would like a pizza, but would it nourish the body now or would the body be more satisfied with a salad, piece of fruit or something else instead?
Looking at a certain food you'd like first, but then actually getting a feeling to 'not really want to eat that now' since the other food looks more appealing at the moment and the body actually wanting to have that other food instead.
When some food taste bad, don't eat more of it (even if it would be a healthier food option), it's a sign that your body doesn't like that certain food. While for others it may taste great, the body doesn't like it and gives a signal to not wanting any of that food instead have something else.
When possible and desired eat smaller portions throughout the day instead of having 3 larger meals, when being truly hungry and having 3 larger meals, it can lead to overeating cause of being so hungry and making less 'healthy' food choices.
When eating smaller portions throughout the day, the body keeps feeling satisfied and not to hungry at for example dinner, choosing to take less food overall at dinner 'cause of not feeling so hungry, leading to eating less calories overall.
Make peace with yourself, your body and food.
Try eating with your non dominant hand, to automaticly eat slower and enjoy the food while sitting down at the table. Notice the taste, notice what you are eating (try not to eat to quickly). Recognize the love that got into the food before being available to yourself (don't need to do always) but think about that banana for example has been available by nature, growed by a farmer in another country, it got taken aboard on a ship to get to here, taken from aboard, delivered by a truck driver to a store nearby, the people from the store put on the shelves.. and you or a beloved one got the food from the store to your home so you can enjoy that piece of fruit now to nourish your body.
Thanks to everyone involved including nature, that piece of fruit got to you. It's amazing how much got into it.
Make smaller steps at a day, keep believing, don't give up when hitting a plateau (weight remains the same for a while..) (can be due a increase in muscles when exercising for example, but body fat can have been lower) so keep a eye that body fat decreases rather than weight itself. It means getting leaner and that's a great sign.
Enjoy!
02-28-2015 04:41
02-28-2015 04:41
@SunsetRunner
Allow yourself to have any food regardless good or bad food. Anything you'd fancy. Don't restrict a certain food, it leads eventually to crave so much for to at a certain point going to eat it anyway but eating much more from it.
Eat everything but in moderation. It's about changing food habits, one thing at a time so the body can adjust and easier to change habits over time.
When wanting something to eat out the planned meal now, allow yourself to have it at the next opportunity when going to eat something (plan it in the plan).
Eat what you desire, when eating something else first but actually *really* wanting to have that certain food, it leads to eating that certain food eventually and eating more calories in the long run.
When desired, try aiming to eat nutritient rich food (don't change your food habits to dramatically, but making smaller changes over time):
Fruits such as banana's, apples..
Whole Grains (bread)
Protein (yoghurt, eggs, cheese, lean meat (chicken/fish..)
These foods contain plenty of nutritients which the body needs while being low in calories, keep feeling satisfied for longer. These foods are easier for the body to process, improve digestion, boost immunity..
Aim to have 50% raw (cooked) vegetables at dinner.
Try eating those foods first before eating other food which lack in nutritients (pizza, prepackaged food which contains ingredients not being able to read).
Eating nutritient lacking food first which are higher in calories, the body still craves to have more cause of asking to eat more food to ensure it gets the nutritients it requires, automatically cutting back on 'extra unneeded' calories when eating the nutritient rich food first.
It's ok to have some pizza, piece of chocolate, prepackaged foods, a piece of cake, your favourite food. Eat everything in moderation.
Never skip breakfast or the body can stop sending hunger / appetite signals.
Protein is used to repair muscles, don't go for a to large deficit, rather have a lower calorie deficit otherwise the body starts using muscle as energy for survival instead of wanting to use body fat.
It can take longer for weight loss, but it ensures that most weight loss would come from body fat, and allows the body to adjust to changing food habits and the weight loss. It also limits the possibility that the body is going to fight back by when being at a natural weight range, and regardless how much food is eaten, it can go back to a higher weight, adding in a few pounds more since there's been a shortage of food and does want to survive.
When being at a healthier weight and body fat range, it's possible that the body can be at it's happy weight range, this weight can be higher than your desired goal but being in a healthy weight range.
No matter if overeating a bit, or undereating when being at the natural weight range. When only eating to nourish the body, and only when hungry (eat anything you'd like but stop eating more when satisfied) the body will stay at it's natural weight range. It defends this range regardless of having eaten a bit under or more, it always reverts back to the weight where its the most happy at (without counting calories and not restricting or forbidding any food). It does this by sending appetite / hunger signals, lowering or increasing metabolism, sending out a craving for a certain food,..
The weight range is determined by genetics, activity, food choices.
Try honoring your body, when feeling satisfied but not stuffed and not being hungry, try not to eat more. Regardless if allowed to eat x hundred calories more.
Calories to eat are a guidance, when your body has all nutritients it needs, it can be perfectly happy with less.
Try listening to your wonderful body what it needs (can be tricky at first) rather than the mind.. your mind would like a pizza, but would it nourish the body now or would the body be more satisfied with a salad, piece of fruit or something else instead?
Looking at a certain food you'd like first, but then actually getting a feeling to 'not really want to eat that now' since the other food looks more appealing at the moment and the body actually wanting to have that other food instead.
When some food taste bad, don't eat more of it (even if it would be a healthier food option), it's a sign that your body doesn't like that certain food. While for others it may taste great, the body doesn't like it and gives a signal to not wanting any of that food instead have something else.
When possible and desired eat smaller portions throughout the day instead of having 3 larger meals, when being truly hungry and having 3 larger meals, it can lead to overeating cause of being so hungry and making less 'healthy' food choices.
When eating smaller portions throughout the day, the body keeps feeling satisfied and not to hungry at for example dinner, choosing to take less food overall at dinner 'cause of not feeling so hungry, leading to eating less calories overall.
Make peace with yourself, your body and food.
Try eating with your non dominant hand, to automaticly eat slower and enjoy the food while sitting down at the table. Notice the taste, notice what you are eating (try not to eat to quickly). Recognize the love that got into the food before being available to yourself (don't need to do always) but think about that banana for example has been available by nature, growed by a farmer in another country, it got taken aboard on a ship to get to here, taken from aboard, delivered by a truck driver to a store nearby, the people from the store put on the shelves.. and you or a beloved one got the food from the store to your home so you can enjoy that piece of fruit now to nourish your body.
Thanks to everyone involved including nature, that piece of fruit got to you. It's amazing how much got into it.
Make smaller steps at a day, keep believing, don't give up when hitting a plateau (weight remains the same for a while..) (can be due a increase in muscles when exercising for example, but body fat can have been lower) so keep a eye that body fat decreases rather than weight itself. It means getting leaner and that's a great sign.
Enjoy!
02-28-2015 04:53 - edited 02-28-2015 04:54
02-28-2015 04:53 - edited 02-28-2015 04:54
Thanks for the post Stefan, an interesting read. So it looks like as long as I don't feel hungry at the end of the day I don't need to worry too much about being underbudget. This is good news as it's a pain having to rummage around looking for bits of food to get my calories exactly right at the very end of the day, especially if I don't even want to eat.
02-28-2015 20:41
02-28-2015 20:41
If you are willing to go under on several days - just be willing to go over on several others.
Usually most people are here because they specifically can't trust their stomachs, or at least shouldn't anymore.
They should use their noggins.
03-01-2015 14:14 - edited 03-01-2015 14:37
03-01-2015 14:14 - edited 03-01-2015 14:37
Thanks Heybales.
03-07-2015 20:17
03-07-2015 20:17
03-08-2015 05:45 - edited 03-08-2015 05:48
03-08-2015 05:45 - edited 03-08-2015 05:48
Hi MakingChanges, it is confusing isn't it ! This is what I think it possibly is, someone please correct me if I'm wrong as I'm certainly no expert. I think you are scientifically supposed to eat enough calories to be "in the zone" by the end of the day, if not the body thinks it's not getting enough and goes in to what I've heard termed as starvation mode, whereby it will start to store the fat as it thinks it may need it later, thus making it harder to loose the weight in the long term. Accorring to the NHS, you are supposed to lose between 1lb and 2lb a week, no more.
I have also been consistantly underbudget since I started 11 days ago, and have been doing on average 15000 steps a day and have so far lost just over 4lb, so personally I'll carry on with what I'm doing, but I don't think I'm really supposed to. As I say, I'm no doctor or expert, just going by what I've read on these forums and elsewhere. Hope that helps a bit.
Source: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/loseweight/Pages/should-you-lose-weight-fast.aspx
03-12-2015 21:41
03-12-2015 21:41
@SunsetRunner wrote:Hi MakingChanges, it is confusing isn't it ! This is what I think it possibly is, someone please correct me if I'm wrong as I'm certainly no expert. I think you are scientifically supposed to eat enough calories to be "in the zone" by the end of the day, if not the body thinks it's not getting enough and goes in to what I've heard termed as starvation mode, whereby it will start to store the fat as it thinks it may need it later, thus making it harder to loose the weight in the long term. Accorring to the NHS, you are supposed to lose between 1lb and 2lb a week, no more.
I have also been consistantly underbudget since I started 11 days ago, and have been doing on average 15000 steps a day and have so far lost just over 4lb, so personally I'll carry on with what I'm doing, but I don't think I'm really supposed to. As I say, I'm no doctor or expert, just going by what I've read on these forums and elsewhere. Hope that helps a bit.
Source: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/loseweight/Pages/should-you-lose-weight-fast.aspx
That is how that gauge is supposed to work, but it is always at that exact moment you look at it.
And rarely does your eating and burn rate match up like that.
Most seem to find it a useless and confusing tile.
Starvation mode as opposed to starving is a real effect, sometimes called adaptive thermogenesis, but usually the effects of starving are applied to it - and those are myths.
Like storing more fat. Doesn't happen if you are eating. And especially not from one night.
Consistantly undereating will get you in to that mode though, and that can slow your body down for several reasons.
Now what happens burning less daily than you think, when you binge or eat over this new lower maintenance amount - you really do gain fat, you are eating in surplus.
So the body isn't doing anything new or different. Same old thing, eat in excess, store as fat.
The issue is the maintenance level is lower than it could be and is figured to be.
Like when people say they must eat at 1000 cal deficits in order to lose 1/2 lb weekly.
Well, guess what, your maintenance is now only 250 more than you eat on average, you don't actually have a 1000 cal deficit or you'd be losing 2 lbs weekly.
Which should be a scary thought for ever reaching goal weight on maintaining it successfully.
03-14-2015 06:50
03-14-2015 06:50
I had managed to loose 6 pounds in a fortnight and was encouraged by this, although infuriatingly I did 20,000 steps yesterday and was 1000 calories underbudget and I somehow managed to put on a pound from the day before ! Most annoying when that happens.