Losing weight in 5 weeks.

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman

I'm a pretty disciplined individual but I have put on a few pounds over the last couple of years, stressful job, stressful kids and all that crap. Anyway I basically started counting calories on my fitness pal. I want to lose about 3lbs a week. Was planning on doing 3 40 minute spinning classes a week and 4 half hour jogs on a 1370 calorie in take diet. Do we reckon that will be enough to lose 15 lbs in 5 weeks?

I was also considering doing P90x for the 5 weeks to tone up , possible or not possible?

Penny Tration

What are your maintenance calories, height, weight?

1370 calories seems extremely low for the amount of exercise you're doing.

Is there any particular reason you want to loae so much in so little time?

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman

green_screen wrote: »

What are your maintenance calories, height, weight?

1370 calories seems extremely low for the amount of exercise you're doing.

Is there any particular reason you want to loae so much in so little time?

6ft 2 - 203lbs

Maintenance 3123 - according to a website I used this week.

I work well on goals and projects so I thought if I stuck to something like 15 lbs in 5 weeks, it would be tough but rewarding.

Penny Tration

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman wrote: »

6ft 2 - 203lbs

Maintenance 3123 - according to a website I used this week.

I work well on goals and projects so I thought if I stuck to something like 15 lbs in 5 weeks, it would be tough but rewarding.

So you plan to cut your calories by almost 2000 per day? That's absolutely bonkers.

Healthy weight loss is around 1-2lbs per week. To achieve 1lb, cut 500 cals from what you currently eat. To cut 2 lbs, cut 1,000 (of course, burning it off rather than cutting is also a good option, preferably a combo of cutting and burning).

Tbh I don't see how a crash diet (which is what such a massive cal deficit is) could be rewarding. To keep weight off, you should be making sustainable changes, not exhausting and starving yourself for a little over a month.

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman

green_screen wrote: »

So you plan to cut your calories by almost 2000 per day? That's absolutely bonkers.

Healthy weight loss is around 1-2lbs per week. To achieve 1lb, cut 500 cals from what you currently eat. To cut 2 lbs, cut 1,000 (of course, burning it off rather than cutting is also a good option, preferably a combo of cutting and burning).

Tbh I don't see how a crash diet (which is what such a massive cal deficit is) could be rewarding. To keep weight off, you should be making sustainable changes, not exhausting and starving yourself for a little over a month.

Well I have been relatively sedate on the exercise front of late too. I have been doing it for 3 days and I havent found it that tough to be honest. I made some changes to my diet as well cut out bread and most gluten products but started eating alot more veg and fruit and nuts. I'm sure I will crash at some point this weekend though.

I'll probably look to just cut 1,000 calories then. I wasnt really planning anything because I havent started the exercise regime without the exercise the maintenance is like 2,400 so the calorie drop was about 1,000.

Bruno26

Hi, I don't believe anyone should count calories- pretty impossible to stick to over long term- too restrictive. Cut out all sugars and grains. Eat lots of meat, eggs, butter, cream, some good cheese (fat is good). Eat lots of veg especially green- go easy on starchy veg. Go easy on fruit and nuts- choose berries & macadamia. Basically a mix of paleo & high fat/ low carb (hflc) it's impossible not to succeed following this way of eating.

papu

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman wrote: »

Well I have been relatively sedate on the exercise front of late too. I have been doing it for 3 days and I havent found it that tough to be honest. I made some changes to my diet as well cut out bread and most gluten products but started eating alot more veg and fruit and nuts. I'm sure I will crash at some point this weekend though.

I'll probably look to just cut 1,000 calories then. I wasnt really planning anything because I havent started the exercise regime without the exercise the maintenance is like 2,400 so the calorie drop was about 1,000.

If you cut your calories too severely you're body will go into starvation mode to compensate , metabolic rate tends to drop more with more excessive caloric deficits , sure you'll burn fat , but you'll be burning muscle at the same time.
You really can't rush this.

Bruno26 wrote: »

Hi, I don't believe anyone should count calories- pretty impossible to stick to over long term- too restrictive. Cut out all sugars and grains. Eat lots of meat, eggs, butter, cream, some good cheese (fat is good). Eat lots of veg especially green- go easy on starchy veg. Go easy on fruit and nuts- choose berries & macadamia. Basically a mix of paleo & high fat/ low carb (hflc) it's impossible not to succeed following this way of eating.

Please don't listen to this .

Of course track your calories , it's really easy using myfitnesspal , Nuts , cream , butter are a caloric pitfall , you'll never know how much you've eaten unless you track it.

Bruno26

Please don't listen to this . you obviously know better!

Of course track your calories , it's really easy using myfitnesspal , Nuts , cream , butter are a caloric pitfall , you'll never know how much you've eaten unless you track it.[/quote]

If you cut out all grains and sugar you never need to count calories again. If you like counting then count macros. All calories are not equal and affect the body differently- cream and butter can be enjoyed in plentiful amounts as can certain nuts . See tim noakes, gary taubes, mark sisson, vinnie tortorich.

Just giving an opinion that is gaining support worldwide - listen to whatever you want!
Counting calories = always dieting = unsustainable
This is a complete way of life that is easily sustainable.

papu

Bruno26 wrote: »

Please don't listen to this . you obviously know better!

Of course track your calories , it's really easy using myfitnesspal , Nuts , cream , butter are a caloric pitfall , you'll never know how much you've eaten unless you track it.

If you cut out all grains and sugar you never need to count calories again. If you like counting then count macros. All calories are not equal and affect the body differently- cream and butter can be enjoyed in plentiful amounts as can certain nuts . See tim noakes, gary taubes, mark sisson, vinnie tortorich.

Just giving an opinion that is gaining support worldwide - listen to whatever you want!
Counting calories = always dieting = unsustainable
This is a complete way of life that is easily sustainable.

Where to start....
Cutting out grains and sugar isn't a magic cure , sure lowering sugar intake is a good idea and would no doubt be beneficial to allot of the general public who over consume .

Yes all calories are equal , by definition , a calorie is a standard measurement it is 4.18 joules , or the amount of energy needed to raise 1kg or water though 1 °C You cannot say " all volts are not equal.

Allot of people count calories on a bulk .Imagine going to a petrol station where none of the pumps had a read out, you just put the fuel in and hope it's enough petrol to get you to where you want to go... this is what you're advocating.. The body is a machine , food is fuel , track your intake whether you want to lose , maintain or gain.

desultory

Bruno26 wrote: »

If you cut out all grains and sugar you never need to count calories again. If you like counting then count macros. All calories are not equal and affect the body differently- cream and butter can be enjoyed in plentiful amounts as can certain nuts . See tim noakes, gary taubes, mark sisson, vinnie tortorich.

Just giving an opinion that is gaining support worldwide - listen to whatever you want!
Counting calories = always dieting = unsustainable
This is a complete way of life that is easily sustainable.

If you don't count calories at the start then losing weight is going to be very very difficult. Not impossible but difficult.


No one has to count calories their entire life but to lose weight it's practically essential. Maintaining a healthy weight is a different story

Bruno26

papu wrote: »

Where to start....
Cutting out grains and sugar isn't a magic cure ,
It really is the only cure- read grain brain, wheat belly,

Yes all calories are equal , by definition , a calorie is a standard measurement it is 4.18 joules , or the amount of energy needed to raise 1kg or water though 1 °C.
They're not- read the calorie myth, why we get fat- low carbs are the key to weight loss. It's possible to eat 5000 calories of the right food and maintain or lose weight

A lot of people count calories on a bulk - that's fine but I'm sure they count macros also.

Hormones also play a huge role in how our bodies hold on to fat and where in the body

Read the primal blueprint, the paleo solution, why we get fat, good calories bad calories, wheat belly , grain brain, the big fat surprise, real meal revolution- get them on audiobook. Watch documentary cereal killers.

Then see if you are still convinced by counting calories.

I know this doesn't make it right but there are not too many if any books on amazon nutrition top 50 that advocate calorie counting.

Bruno26

desultory wrote: »

If you don't count calories at the start then losing weight is going to be very very difficult. Not impossible but difficult.


I disagree- no need to count calories at any time - just cut sugar and grain - the weight drops off. Even just try cutting bread and weight will drop off - wheat is the one thing that has to be eliminated

Blacktie.

Bruno26 wrote: »

Yes all calories are equal , by definition , a calorie is a standard measurement it is 4.18 joules , or the amount of energy needed to raise 1kg or water though 1 °C.
They're not- read the calorie myth, why we get fat- low carbs are the key to weight loss. It's possible to eat 5000 calories of the right food and maintain or lose weight

Wow. Yeah ignore this guy.

By his definition your body magically just makes the extra calories it doesn't use disappear somehow because they came from nutrient dense foods.

Alf Veedersane

Of course you need to eat the right foods, that's a given, but if you've no idea how much of anything you're getting on board, then it makes making a change a bit blind.

You it doesn't have to be a long-term rule but you still need to have an idea of the level of calories and macros of what you're getting on board.

Bruno26

Blacktie. wrote: »

Wow. Yeah ignore this guy.

By his definition your body magically just makes the extra calories it doesn't use disappear somehow because they came from nutrient dense foods.

Have you read anything I listed?

Blacktie.

Bruno26 wrote: »

Have you read anything I listed?

Yep read a few of them.

top madra

Wooo, this thread is shaping up to be a good one......

Bruno26

Blacktie. wrote: »

Yep read a few of them.

Really- whic ones? You weren't convinced and still believe in counting cals?

For years I was a believer in counting cals but after reading have changed everything I thought was true about nutrition

top madra

Bruno26 wrote: »

Really- whic ones? You weren't convinced and still believe in counting cals?

For years I was a believer in counting cals but after reading have changed everything I thought was true about nutrition

If you don't count cals how the hell will you know how many you're eating to reach your desired goal?

Blacktie.

Bruno26 wrote: »

Really- whic ones? You weren't convinced and still believe in counting cals?

For years I was a believer in counting cals but after reading have changed everything I thought was true about nutrition

Primal blueprint, paleo solution. Watched a few documentaries and read a good bit on the topics on their blogs. Very interesting reads and I agree eating clean and natural should be the goal but to say counting calories doesn't work is just not understanding the system. Certain foods take slightly more calories to digest but this is mainly protein having a thermogenic effect of about 23% while carbs and fats is somewhere in the region of 8-10%. That's the only difference that counting calories won't take into account.

Counting calories and eating good nutrient dense food is the solution. At least in the beginning. Down the line you can most likely stop counting unless you hit a plateau.

vidor

Counting calories can lead a person to insanity. Fact.

Might work for such a short period but I would normally recommend against counting.

top madra

vidor wrote: »

Counting calories can lead a person to insanity. Fact.

Might work for such a short period but I would normally recommend against counting.

You make it sound like such a big deal...

Bruno26

top madra wrote: »

If you don't count cals how the hell will you know how many you're eating to reach your desired goal?

How many of the books listed have you read? Completely changed my views

99% of the population should not count- bulking is different- im talking about fat loss/ maintenance .

Counting cals is unsustainable and head wrecking

Again I will state cut sugar and grain (think about it) .

See tim noakes and vinnie tortorich- eat real food- high fat-low carb.

See mark sisson on grammes of carbs for goals.

Alf Veedersane

Bruno26 wrote: »

Counting cals is unsustainable and head wrecking

I disagree.

I have a good idea, to the nearest ten calories or so, what 90% of my food choices have in terms of calories and macros. It doesn't take long to get to that and it's not head wrecking.

Bruno26

Blacktie. wrote: »

Primal blueprint, paleo solution. Watched a few documentaries and read a good bit on the topics on their blogs. Very interesting reads and I agree eating clean and natural should be the goal but to say counting calories doesn't work is just not understanding the system. Certain foods take slightly more calories to digest but this is mainly protein having a thermogenic effect of about 23% while carbs and fats is somewhere in the region of 8-10%. That's the only difference that counting calories won't take into account.

Counting calories and eating good nutrient dense food is the solution. At least in the beginning. Down the line you can most likely stop counting unless you hit a plateau.

I didn't say counting cals doesn't work- it's unsustainable and very difficult- you end up starving yourself .
Eat the right foods when your hungry / you will find with elimination if sugar and grains you don't get hunger cravings. You feel satiated. See tim noakes and vinnie tortorich (fat adaptation- even ketosis)

Eating nutrient dense food hugely important also- very good video from mat lalonde

Bruno26

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

I disagree.

I have a good idea, to the nearest ten calories or so, what 90% of my food choices have in terms of calories and macros. It doesn't take long to get to that and it's not head wrecking.

So if you reach the amount of calories you allow yourself to eat and are starving in the evening do you continue to starve. There is no need for people to live like this.

top madra

Bruno26 wrote: »

How many of the books listed have you read? Completely changed my views

99% of the population should not count- bulking is different- im talking about fat loss/ maintenance .

Counting cals is unsustainable and head wrecking

Again I will state cut sugar and grain (think about it) .

See tim noakes and vinnie tortorich- eat real food- high fat-low carb.

See mark sisson on grammes of carbs for goals.

Head wrecking for you maybe..

I can can cut sugar and grain and still eat too much so wtf is your point about them two?

If I'm not counting cals and eating too much = weight gain (it doesn't matter if I cut sugar and grain, if I still eat too much 'real food' I'm still gonna gain weight)

People that listen to tripe you're talking are the same ones that end up going around in circles their whole lives.

Alf Veedersane

Bruno26 wrote: »

So if you reach the amount of calories you allow yourself to eat and are starving in the evening do you continue to starve. There is no need for people to live like this.

Like I said, it's in conjunction with eating decent food so if I've reached my calorie 'allowance' for the day, I'm not starving.

Blacktie.

Bruno26 wrote: »

I didn't say counting cals doesn't work- it's unsustainable and very difficult- you end up starving yourself .

Why would you end up starving yourself? I'm basically advocating the same thing as you except with a measurable metric added on. If you're goal is to lose weight and you are losing weight that means you're in a deficit regardless if you count or not. You;re just as likely to be starving doing it your way.

Bruno26

top madra wrote: »

Head wrecking for you maybe..

I can can cut sugar and grain and still eat too much so wtf is your point about them two?

If I'm not counting cals and eating too much = weight gain (it doesn't matter if I cut sugar and grain, if I still eat too much 'real food' I'm still gonna gain weight)

People that listen to tripe you're talking are the same ones that end up going around in circles their whole lives.

Tripe- you clearly need to update your knowledge - don't get angry- do the research. Just giving a view.

You say you can cut sugar and grain and still gain weight? I believe this to be near impossible. Are you cutting out all fruit except berries? Are you eating dried fruit? Are you eating too many nuts?

Bruno26

Blacktie. wrote: »

Why would you end up starving yourself? I'm basically advocating the same thing as you except with a measurable metric added on. If you're goal is to lose weight and you are losing weight that means you're in a deficit regardless if you count or not. You;re just as likely to be starving doing it your way.

I found when cal count I was starving myself- You do not need to be in calorific deficit to lose fat- you need to get macros right and cut sugar and grain.

I've used fitness pal app - every day I was at least 1000 cals above what was recommended - still loss fat. See cereal killers movie.

top madra

Bruno26 wrote: »

You say you can cut sugar and grain and still gain weight? I believe this to be near impossible.

I give up!

Bruno26

People that listen to tripe you're talking are the same ones that end up going around in circles their whole lives.[/quote]

So eating meat, fish, eggs , butter, cream, olive oil, some cheese- all green veg, some starchy veg, some nuts- some fruit- berries, coconut will have people going around in circles all their lives?

Alf Veedersane

Bruno26 wrote: »

I found when cal count I was starving myself- You do not need to be in calorific deficit to lose fat- you need to get macros right and cut sugar and grain.

I've used fitness pal app - every day I was at least 1000 cals above what was recommended - still loss fat. See cereal killers movie.

You'd miscalculated what was recommended for you, that's all.

A lot of people do.

Bruno26

top madra wrote: »

I give up!

How many of books listed have you read?

Blacktie.

Bruno26 wrote: »

I found when cal count I was starving myself-

Fair enough but I count and I'm not starving myself at all. I'm on a deficit, eating right and losing weight at a measurable and comparable rate to my calorie count per week.

You do not need to be in calorific deficit to lose fat- you need to get macros right and cut sugar and grain.

Yes you do. You can lose water weight with certain macro combinations but you will not lose fat without being in a deficit. It doesn't make any sense otherwise.

I've used fitness pal app - every day I was at least 1000 cals above what was recommended - still loss fat.

The formula you used for your TDEE on myfitnesspal was wrong or you counted wrong. Either one occurred.

top madra

Bruno26 wrote: »

So eating meat, fish, eggs , butter, cream, olive oil, some cheese- all green veg, some starchy veg, some nuts- some fruit- berries, coconut will have people going around in circles all their lives?

Yes, if they eat too much or too little according to their desired goals...

I really couldn't be bothered arguing this with you because you clearly have no clue what you're talking about.

You keep raving about eating healthy foods (nobody is disagreeing with that) but eating too much 'real food' as you call it WILL make you fat..

Therefore to get a accurate account of what you're eating you HAVE to count cals..(to a degree)

There is no more to argue about here..

Bruno26

top madra wrote: »

Yes, if they eat too much or too little according to their desired goals...

I really couldn't be bothered arguing this with you because you clearly have no clue what you're talking about.

You keep raving about eating healthy foods (nobody is disagreeing with that) but eating too much 'real food' as you call it WILL make you fat..

Therefore to get a accurate account of what you're eating you HAVE to count cals..(to a degree)

There is no more to argue about here..

You are very intolerant of my views- who's arguing? I'm raving ! Don't bother then- are you being forced into responding?

The thing is by eating real foods you can't eat too much. You get to a point where you are satiated- eat when hungry - and you will stop when satisfied. You won't put on weight. You will lose it. Fat is good.
I suppose you think saturated fat is bad and believe in the cholesterol myth?

Alf Veedersane

Bruno26 wrote: »

The thing is by eating real foods you can't eat too much. You get to a point where you are satiated- eat when hungry - and you will stop when satisfied.

Which is why you won't starve if you monitor your calorie intake.

Bruno26

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Which is why you won't starve if you monitor your calorie intake.

The point I made is there is no need to monitor

Bruno26

Yes you do. You can lose water weight with certain macro combinations but you will not lose fat without being in a deficit.

I disagree. You don't - it's the calorie myth- read it and gary taubes books.

It doesn't make any sense otherwise.
You are right it doesn't make sense
.

Alf Veedersane

Bruno26 wrote: »

The point I made is there is no need to monitor

That's how you found it.

But your experience isn't a blanket rule for everyone.

Your average person wants that wants to lose weight wants to know they're not overeating so they want to monitor their calorie intake initially. Quite quickly, they have a grasp of what they're taking in by knowing what they're having. It really doesn't need to be head-wrecking.

It's less head-wrecking than having to go out and read all the books you've listed anyway.

ford2600

Bruno26 wrote: »

The point I made is there is no need to monitor

Going against dogma doesn't go down well here.....


A calorie is a calorie.... Energy in equals energy out. Everybody is the same,....,

First law of Thermodynamic etc..(don't bring up the 2nd law and entropy and conversion losses not to do mention variability and incredibly complicate human metabolic system and the role of hormones etc)

Weighing scales for your body and food is the answer... Hit unfollow and safe yourself the angst

diarmuid05

ford2600 wrote: »

A calorie is a calorie.... Energy in equals energy out. Everybody is the same,....,

Does your body metabolize each and every calorie the exact same way no matter where this calorie comes from????

I find this hard to believe

ford2600

diarmuid05 wrote: »

Does your body metabolize each and every calorie the exact same way no matter where this calorie comes from????

I find this hard to believe

I may not have been serious....

At 39 I have never have had excess fat(currently 12% body fat). Whether I cycle 400km a week or sit on my ass all week I don't gain weight.

I have never counted calories or weighed food(once I estimated a particular high fat omelette at 2000 calories just for curiosity) yet have never gained weight.

I miraculously know the right exact amount of calories to eat. Had I got it wrong by 10 calories a day since I was 19 say I'd now be 20lbs overweight...

On the laws of thermodynamics they apply to closed systems, we have a couple of gaping holes....

Bruno26

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

That's how you found it.

But your experience isn't a blanket rule for everyone.

Your average person wants that wants to lose weight wants to know they're not overeating so they want to monitor their calorie intake initially. Quite quickly, they have a grasp of what they're taking in by knowing what they're having. It really doesn't need to be head-wrecking.

It's less head-wrecking than having to go out and read all the books you've listed anyway.

Easy and very enjoyable to get through those books- audible.

Again I was convince by calorie counting- have seen far greater results and far easily achieved and easy to maintain than cal counting.

Just giving my views- obviously some people don't like an alternative opinion!

Alf Veedersane

Bruno26 wrote: »

Easy and very enjoyable to get through those books- audible.

Again I was convince by calorie counting- have seen far greater results and far easily achieved and easy to maintain than cal counting.

Just giving my views- obviously some people don't like an alternative opinion!

I'm not having a go at your views at all.

I just don't think everyone is going to be able to adhere to the same level of LCHF diet.

I don't think you need to be anal about counting calories and macros but I think the majority would benefit by having some concept of what you're taking on board in the context of their goals, particularly someone who wants to make a lifestyle change.

Bruno26

ford2600 wrote: »

I may not have been serious....

At 39 I have never have had excess fat(currently 12% body fat). Whether I cycle 400km a week or sit on my ass all week I don't gain weight.

I have never counted calories or weighed food(once I estimated a particular high fat omelette at 2000 calories just for curiosity) yet have never gained weight.

I miraculously know the right exact amount of calories to eat. Had I got it wrong by 10 calories a day since I was 19 say I'd now be 20lbs overweight...

Everyone is different. 80% nutrition 20% exercise. I wold go as far as saying 90-10. You can't out exercise diet

Blacktie.

ford2600 wrote: »

At 39 I have never have had excess fat(currently 12% body fat). Whether I cycle 400km a week or sit on my ass all week I don't gain weight.

Because you unconciously gauge food intake up and down depending on energy expenditure without tracking it. People all over the world do this. And then there's the largely obese people who don't and just over eat. Not very complicated.

I have never counted calories or weighed food(once I estimated a particular high fat omelette at 2000 calories just for curiosity) yet have never gained weight.

2000 calorie omelette? What was in it 2 dozen eggs and a tonne of oil? You never gained weight, never tracked calories and are trying to use the one time you "estimated" the calorie content of one meal to be justification for it not working? OK!

I miraculously know the right exact amount of calories to eat. Had I got it wrong by 10 calories a day since I was 19 say I'd now be 20lbs overweight...

Or it all balances for the days you eat 10 calories less...

People like to think the body is some magical system with processes to burn off these extra calories if they come from good sources and retain them if they come from bad ones. This isn't true. Can the body become more efficient? Sure. But not to the point of eating anything you want once it's a "clean" source.

I will say eating clean makes the whole process much easier though.

Bruno26

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

I'm not having a go at your views at all.

I just don't think everyone is going to be able to adhere to the same level of LCHF diet.

I don't think you need to be anal about counting calories and macros but I think the majority would benefit by having some concept of what you're taking on board in the context of their goals, particularly someone who wants to make a lifestyle change.

I agree with most of that- I find it easy- I suppose it suits me- I enjoy it- some family and friends think I'm nuts and can't fathom what I do! I see food in 2 ways- 1. real food (generally good) or 2. an edible food like product( processed-bad)

Alf Veedersane

Bruno26 wrote: »

I agree with most of that- I find it easy- I suppose it suits me- I enjoy it- some family and friends think I'm nuts and can't fathom what I do! I see food in 2 ways- 1. real food (generally good) or 2. an edible food like product( processed-bad)

The types of foods you eat most likely have you feeling satisfied in or around your TDEE anyway.

I just think a lot of people who are changing to a better lifestyle need to be a little more conscious of what they're eating, especially in the early stages.