bonnie senn's Journal, 16 March 2018

Macros are in percents. 

As long as you are in a calorie deficit, you will lose weight. Its hard, and it takes time. I understand not wanting to do certain diets. Personally, I do Keto, and it works for me, but its not for everyone. Everyone is different and you have to do what works for you. I know it can get depressing and make you feel like you are working for nothing, but it will come off. You can do this!! Just stay strong, your body will respond, you will lose the weight.  

Sounds similar to what I'm doing. I'm at 45% carb, 35% protein and 20% fat. I try to hit close to 1600 calories daily, but I'm usually lower than that. The only thing I have eliminated for the most part is fried foods and most fast foods (sometimes due to ill planning I'll grab something fast food, but try for a healthier option). Also, I don't drink sodas and I limit my sweet tea. I drink about 90+ ounces of water a day especially on work days. So far, I've lost 30+ pounds, I lost 60+ but life and stopped keeping track I gained a bunch back. Like klynn said, as long as you are in a calorie deficit you will lose weight. Find something that works for you, moderation and portion control is key.  

The thing about counting calories is that is takes time. Having that said, you can “ fit in” anything into your way of eating, as long as u don’t exceed the calories. Once you get the rhythm, it’s so wonderful when u lose weight and still eat your favorites (for me it’s hot Cheetos, candy, ice cream, donuts, fruits, etc) It’s wonderful cause it’s something u can do for the rest of ur life if u want to maintain your ideal weight. I try to follow 80% Whole Foods🍗 n 20% fun foods 🍕 

Coach kitty. I noticed you were about the same weight as me when you started and are following the basic same plan as me. That is why I started following you. 

Calorie counting is definitely a 'slow and steady wins the race' approach, but it works for me too. Not having to fully deprive yourself of things you love helps. If I want chocolate, I can have chocolate as long as it fits into the DRI. I think it makes it easier to turn down if you know you can have it. Weird?  

I haven't lost 50 or more pounds, but I'm totally on board with the basic calorie counting method. Slow weight loss is healthy and gives your skin time to adjust too!  

it is exactly what I have been eating and it works great for me, I was eating 1500 calories per day and losing 1 pound and sometimes more a week  

Anel is right about the skin thing  

I can tell you this... if you’re average calories are 1600 a day. That’s way too low for you. Start averaging around 2740-3000. And give that a shot. You’ll feel better consuming more calories and lose weight better without feeling as hungry as I imagine you must be with that amount daily. 👍🏻 

Deadpool12345. I measured my rda by the calculator in this app and for my weight height age and activity level it came out as 1800 a day. So I thought I had to get under that to lose weight. 

The RDA on here can be off way off, sometimes it’s close sometimes not.. its off for me. There are many things it does well and many it does wrong. In the future I will be addressing the problems but for now. Try consuming the calories I posted here for 2 weeks. If you’re losing close to or around 2lbs a week, that’s a good area for you to be in for now. 1800 calories daily is actually for (a female) who weighs around 130lbs. 👍🏻  

Deadpool12345. I went back and looked again. the maintenance for me would be 2300. 1800 is what they recommend for me to lose weight. I may up my calories a little bit but I would be scared I would not lose if I up them above 1800.  

It may be 2300 it may be 1800 it may be more but the accurate calculation for your current weight is what I posted and that is giving a generous 25% deficit which is a large enough amount to lose body fat with preserving muscle mass. The most amount of body fat you can lose per week at your current weight would be right around 2 pounds maybe 2.2 pounds each week. A lot of it depends on your activity level that’s going to change the degree of how many calories you need to consume if you’re sedentary and you have a desk job and you don’t exercise they’re going to be much lower they may be under 2000 cal. However the calculations I gave you was the range at high and low end and somewhere in that range should be the accurate amount for you currently to lose weight. So that’s why say start with the lowest number give that two weeks, if in those two weeks you’re noticing I want to pound drop in weight that’s where you should be if not after two weeks then you can go lower  

And 2300 may be the right amount, for you as well. But not 1800. 👍🏻 So try 2300, and if weight is going too slow in 2 weeks. Then the calories have to go lower, too fast, and they have to go higher.  

Also noticed my mistake. Typed the order wrong for the lower number I meant 2470. Not 2740...  

Deadpool12345. Thanks. I will take all that into consideration. I don't want to go so low that I lose muscle. I haven't dieted very much in my life so I need to figure out how to get this weight off and keep it off. 

You’ll get where you wanna be in no time. Just consistency, effort, perseverance, & patience above all. Small steps at a time, is all it takes to get going onto larger steps.👍🏻 

I'm a calorie counter myself. It's hard but worth it. Changing your eating habits after so many years is tough on anybody. You'll do fine. Just keep at it. Let me know if i can help with anything. I'll do my best anyways.