How many calories needed?

pelirocco

1lb of fat = 3500 calories

carefullycautious

The is only one way to loose weight and that is smaller portions.

Also take as much fat out of your diet and exercise

cathy36

I've just signed up. Apparently if I stick to the calculation I should loose 6.5IBS by 29Dec-oh yes please!!!!!!!!!
I am starting the smaller portions tonight too and cutting down on cheese(LOVE CHEESE)

Here we go then............................time to think before I put it in my mouth.

cathy36

kelda_shelton wrote: »

Another vote for myfitnesspal too.

It's great - does all the calculations for you and its a free website and andriod and iphone app. I've lost 35lbs in 7 months using it.

Even if you don't have a phone that can use apps the website works in the same way and I tend to use that when I'm near the computer to record stuff. If I'm out and about I use the app.

See www.myfitnesspal.com

I don't need to buy a calorie book now then do I? Trying to work my way round their site, can you look up things before you eat them to get the cal value?

onlyroz

Can you get hold of any documentation on the weight watchers "points" system? With this, you get allocated a certain number of points each day, and different types of food use up different amounts of points. So, if you want, for your lunch you can stuff yourself on pumpkin soup, which has hardly any points in it, or you can have a small amount of ultra-fatty cheese, which has a ton of points in.

But in general:

- Buy smaller plates
- Get some exercise each day
- Don't buy the snack food (cos if you don't have it then you can't eat it)
- Don't shop when you're hungry

claire16c

My DH is a personal trainer and he said that one mistake people often make is just looking at calories and not saturated fat.

Based on averages you are only supposed to have a max of 20g a day. I was eating something the other day (unfortunately cant remember what it was now) that was only a small amount of calories, so you could think well Ill just have a couple of these but had something like 8g of saturated fat in it! Its very easy to go over without realising if you only look at calories. Lots of his clients have lost weight without doing much actual calorie counting, its more about just a balanced diet and exercise.

Portion size is another one. One thing one of his clients did for a friend as a bit of a joke (but its working!) was to go to tesco and bought this kids plastic plate, and now she makes sure her portions are no bigger than this plate. Its not like a baby one its more the type youd give to a 6-7 year old or something, but basically its just to make sure she isnt completely filling an adult plate like she was before.

Oh and the other thing - booze. Hed be a millionaire if he had a pound for every client who complains they cant loose weight because theyve changed their diet and are exercising, but conveniently forgot the fact theyre drinking wine every single night!

SavingPennies_2

You need to eat 500 calories a day LESS in order to lose 1lb a week, plus excersise a few times a week will help.

kelda_shelton

cathy36 wrote: »

Firstly, CONGRATULATIONS on your weight loss :T. That's what I want to loose, so it does work then. I'm excited now, bring it on.

Thankyou! I'm now using it for maintenance - i.e knowing that I'm eating the 2090 calories I need a day to stay at the same weight rather than loose or gain. That's because I'm newly-ish pregnant, so its good even when you get to your goal weight (I actually haven't reached it quite yet but baby means I have to eat maintenance calories but I don't want my cravings to ruin all my hard work!)

cathy36 wrote: »

I don't need to buy a calorie book now then do I? Trying to work my way round their site, can you look up things before you eat them to get the cal value?

Exactly - and if you have the app you can actually scan barcodes too and it brings it up. So you don't even have to type "Mcvities digestive biscuit"!

You can also put your exercise in - so if you do e.g 30 minutes walking at a reasonable place or 10 minutes on the wii fit yoga that works out how many calories that is and then adds it back in to your calorie quota.

jtr2803

cathy36 wrote: »

Thank you for your posts, that has really helped me. My friend goes to Zumba classes and wants me to join her but you know what it's like, new girl syndrome aghhh. I am going to go on that site you have all given me as I got so confused with what my intake should be. I know I have to eat sensibly and cut the wine intake down, oh and yeh excercise. It's strange as I never sit down in the day, housework, shopping, school runs, errands, then cooking etc etc so it's obviously grabbing a biscuit here and there, no PROPER blood pumping excercise and now it's caught up with me. Thanks againX

We all have to be the new girl but you only have to do it once!

I was really nervous at first but my instructor is great and honestly everyone does it wrong from time to time, we all just chuckle and carry on, it really is for everyone and not once have I ever thought 'oh not Zumba again'. I would really urge you to give it a try, it'll only be an hour out of your life and if you hate it you never have to go again!

pimento

I lost 42lbs with WeightWatchers ten years ago. Still kept 90% of it off.

I hated Zumba. I prefer the crosstrainer and my iPod.