|
Confusion over calories and healthy weight loss
If there is anyone here with good, sound, medical advice on this, please
help me to clear up my confusion and possibly wrong assumptions. First, what rate of weight loss is healthy? Is it 1% of body weight per week? More? Less? Second, is it true that to lose weight you should eat 8 - 10 times your body weight in calories? So a 120 pound person who wants to lose weight would eat between 960 and 1200 calories a day? My confusion comes from thinking that's a mighty small amount of calories. (Not that I weigh 120 pounds, lol) -- -Michelle Levin (Luna) http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick http://www.mindspring.com/~designbyluna |
Confusion over calories and healthy weight loss
Luna writes: If there is anyone here with good, sound, medical advice on this, Probably not ;-) The general rule of thumb, me thinks, is don't try to lose more than 2 lbs/week. If you *happen* to lose more, fine, but if you're "only" losing 2 lbs/week, don't try harder. First, what rate of weight loss is healthy? Is it 1% of body weight per week? More? Less? "It depends". You need enough protein to avoid muscle catabolism, and enough calories to keep your immune system at al running normally. Add vitamins and minerals, and anything you can squeeze out beyond that is probably OK. Second, is it true that to lose weight you should eat 8 - 10 times your body weight in calories? To lose weight, you have to have a caloric deficit. That takes into account calories eaten, resting metabolism, activity, adaptations to diet, everything. If it's a net loss of calories, you'll lose weight. As far as calculating calories based on weight, it depends on the individual (a lot, sometimes) and how much overweight you are (the more overweight, the less kcals/lb to start with, in general) So a 120 pound person who wants to lose weight would eat between 960 and 1200 calories a day? My confusion comes from thinking that's a mighty small amount of calories. (Not that I weigh 120 pounds, lol) I'm 158, and when I want to lose weight I have to eat only 1200 kcals/day (7x) PLUS do aerobics (500 kcals/day). The math says I'm netting only 700 kcals (~5x, mostly protein at that point), vs a base metabolism of around 1950, for a deficit of 1250 kcals/day. So much for the math. Anything less drastic, and my weight just stays constant. Also, Lyle recommends you never eat less than 80% of your base metabolism. So for me, at 1950 kcals/day, my diet shouldn't be less than 1560 kcals/day. Tried it, didn't work :-( Me, I think you shouldn't eat less than your resting metabolism (1470 for me), and make up the extra deficit though extra activity instead. But again, tried it, didn't work for me. |
Confusion over calories and healthy weight loss
"Luna" wrote in message
... If there is anyone here with good, sound, medical advice on this, please help me to clear up my confusion and possibly wrong assumptions. First, what rate of weight loss is healthy? Is it 1% of body weight per week? More? Less? Second, is it true that to lose weight you should eat 8 - 10 times your body weight in calories? So a 120 pound person who wants to lose weight would eat between 960 and 1200 calories a day? My confusion comes from thinking that's a mighty small amount of calories. (Not that I weigh 120 pounds, lol) -Michelle Levin (Luna) The model you are using to illustrate your premise is inappropriate; that's where the confusion is coming in. A 120-pound person would not need to be on a weight loss diet! So yes, of course 1200 calories doesn't sound like much. It would be downright anorexic! However, when you're talking about a 300 pound man or 250 pound woman who wants to lose weight, yes, the 10-to-12-X you body weight makes a lot of sense (I've always heard that, not 8-to-10). I don't think anybody can say what is/isn't a "healthy" rate of weight loss; it depends on how much weight there is to lose; how close to ideal weight one is, etc. This is especially true of a low-carb approach, where weight loss tends to be more in "steps" (significant drops and little plateaus) rather than a steady ramp. I lost 14 pounds in my first two weeks on induction, and it in no way hurt my health; just the opposite! But other days/weeks are slower; it varies. Whatever feels comfortable. I don't think you're in danger of losing weight too fast from LC, lol! Just when you think you're dropping like crazy you stall. I wouldn't worry about anorexia! This certainly isn't medical advise, just a bit of perspective! -- Peter website: http://users.thelink.net/marengo |
Confusion over calories and healthy weight loss
Oh NO! You're not worried about this because of me, are you? You were
doing fine before, so is there a problem now? Or is it that you are just finding time to think about stuff? :) Luna wrote: :: If there is anyone here with good, sound, medical advice on this, :: please help me to clear up my confusion and possibly wrong :: assumptions. I think that will be nearly impossible -- even if you talk to a doctor (where you supposedly should go for good, sound, medical advice). :: :: First, what rate of weight loss is healthy? Is it 1% of body weight :: per week? More? Less? :: I think 1 to 1.25 lbs per week average is a good target to shoot for, but it still depends on who you are. I've lost at a rate way higher than that. :: Second, is it true that to lose weight you should eat 8 - 10 times :: your body weight in calories? It depends.....I've been working at under 8x for a long time....but then I'm very heavy, and used to be a lot heavier. Also, men can usually get by with more than women since they tend to be heavier. Remember those are ranges.....and you haven't factored in exercise. If you exercise a lot, you can eat more (probably better than not exercising and restricting calories more). :: So a 120 pound person who wants to :: lose weight would eat between 960 and 1200 calories a day? Not necessarily. First off, that person should expect to lose weight more slowly...so using a 8 to 10 x rule would not be wise -- at the very least, that person should work at the high end.... :: My :: confusion comes from thinking that's a mighty small amount of :: calories. (Not that I weigh 120 pounds, lol) At the low end, you risk not getting adequate nutrition. You can't just keep dropping calories and expect to maintain your health. That is why smaller people should expect to lose weight slower than heavier people. If I weigh 360 lbs then I can get adequate nutrition at lot easier than someone who weighs 150. Someone at 360 can afford to drop to 7x (2520 kcals) whereas at 150 you're at 1050 kcal per day -- in danger of eating too little to get what you need! Supplementation is certainly necessary, too. You might want to read Lyle's book which can be found in PDF form at www.theketogenicdiet.com . Keep in mind that his book is NOT your usual diet book....and it is not PRO-low carb. Anyway, I'm sorry for getting you all worked up! You seem to be doing fine....so if it ain't broke..... |
Confusion over calories and healthy weight loss
Luna wrote:
If there is anyone here with good, sound, medical advice on this, please help me to clear up my confusion and possibly wrong assumptions. First, what rate of weight loss is healthy? Is it 1% of body weight per week? More? Less? As I write frequently -- from what I've read, it is extremely difficult to lose more than one percent of your total weight in actual fat per week, unless you exercise several hours daily. One can lose more *weight* than that per week, by being so low in calories or protein that more muscle mass is lost. But you want to preserve muscle, because your muscle mass determines how many calories you burn, especially at rest. Second, is it true that to lose weight you should eat 8 - 10 times your body weight in calories? So a 120 pound person who wants to lose weight would eat between 960 and 1200 calories a day? My confusion comes from thinking that's a mighty small amount of calories. (Not that I weigh 120 pounds, lol) According to very many people in the past years of this group, the majority can lose weight at 10 to 12 calories per pound of current weight. A smaller percentage, myself included, need to drop to 8 to 10 times weight to lose. (However, I can maintain on 14 to 16, and I'm not all that active.) -- jamie ) "There's a seeker born every minute." |
Confusion over calories and healthy weight loss
It depends.
-- JC Lyle's New Ultimate Diet "1. eat less you fat **** 2. exercise more you fat ****" "Luna" wrote in message ... If there is anyone here with good, sound, medical advice on this, please help me to clear up my confusion and possibly wrong assumptions. First, what rate of weight loss is healthy? Is it 1% of body weight per week? More? Less? Second, is it true that to lose weight you should eat 8 - 10 times your body weight in calories? So a 120 pound person who wants to lose weight would eat between 960 and 1200 calories a day? My confusion comes from thinking that's a mighty small amount of calories. (Not that I weigh 120 pounds, lol) -- -Michelle Levin (Luna) http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick http://www.mindspring.com/~designbyluna |
Confusion over calories and healthy weight loss
From: Luna
If there is anyone here with good, sound, medical advice on this, please help me to clear up my confusion and possibly wrong assumptions. First, what rate of weight loss is healthy? Is it 1% of body weight per week? More? Less? Second, is it true that to lose weight you should eat 8 - 10 times your body weight in calories? So a 120 pound person who wants to lose weight would eat between 960 and 1200 calories a day? My confusion comes from thinking that's a mighty small amount of calories. (Not that I weigh 120 pounds, lol) -- -Michelle Levin (Luna) I can't give you any advice based on medical knowledge, but I can tell you what I found with regards to calories. Of course YMMV. It is very easy for me to undereat & when I do I both stop losing weight & I get sick. As long as I stick to an average of 11-12 Kcalories per pound of bodyweight I lose weight. I do not lose as fast as some people do, if you saw my pictures it took over a year to make that change but I am lifting weights & trying lower my BF% not just my scale weight. As for your example of a 120 pound person having to eat 960 calories a day to lose, that would depend upon their BF%,but I have read in many places that you should not eat below 1200 a day without medical supervision on a regular basis. If you are not feeling a constant gnawing hunger and are not feeling cold & weak, but you are losing weight steadily then you are probably eating the right amount. Just remember that as you lose weight, you need less fuel so adjust your portion sizes down a little periodically. :)Robyn |
Confusion over calories and healthy weight loss
Another concern calories is that this varies over the person's lifespan.
The same woman (say, me!) who could eat like a horse as a child and young teen may find herself with a lower ideal calorie intake in her 30s and yet another (lower) level in her 50s. The metabolism definitely adjusts downward as most of us age. I have found that menopause is putting my brakes on my metabolism in a dramatic way. :-( - Anne |
Confusion over calories and healthy weight loss
In article , marengo wrote:
"Luna" wrote in message ... If there is anyone here with good, sound, medical advice on this, please help me to clear up my confusion and possibly wrong assumptions. First, what rate of weight loss is healthy? Is it 1% of body weight per week? More? Less? Second, is it true that to lose weight you should eat 8 - 10 times your body weight in calories? So a 120 pound person who wants to lose weight would eat between 960 and 1200 calories a day? My confusion comes from thinking that's a mighty small amount of calories. (Not that I weigh 120 pounds, lol) -Michelle Levin (Luna) The model you are using to illustrate your premise is inappropriate; that's where the confusion is coming in. A 120-pound person would not need to be on a weight loss diet! So yes, of course 1200 calories doesn't sound like much. It would be downright anorexic! If that 120 pound person is only 5' tall, they could be considered overweight. My sister is really short, a healthy weight for her is around 100 pounds. However, when you're talking about a 300 pound man or 250 pound woman who wants to lose weight, yes, the 10-to-12-X you body weight makes a lot of sense (I've always heard that, not 8-to-10). I don't think anybody can say what is/isn't a "healthy" rate of weight loss; it depends on how much weight there is to lose; how close to ideal weight one is, etc. This is especially true of a low-carb approach, where weight loss tends to be more in "steps" (significant drops and little plateaus) rather than a steady ramp. I lost 14 pounds in my first two weeks on induction, and it in no way hurt my health; just the opposite! But other days/weeks are slower; it varies. Whatever feels comfortable. I don't think you're in danger of losing weight too fast from LC, lol! Just when you think you're dropping like crazy you stall. I wouldn't worry about anorexia! This certainly isn't medical advise, just a bit of perspective! -- -Michelle Levin (Luna) http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick http://www.mindspring.com/~designbyluna |
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 03:44 AM. |
|
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
WeightLossBanter