I'm still struggling trying to get enough food in my body - check out my other threads for a history, but it's basically me trying to be good to myself and lose a good chunk of weight. I cut out all the bad things and there was basically nothing left. I've been doing a lot better, but I feel like a pig eating all that I am (and staying in the calorie range that people here have helped me understand). I STILL think I've reached a plateau - the scale has been telling me the same thing for a few days, give or take some grams.

But sitting there watching the Biggest Loser. These people have as much weight to lose as I do, and their trainers are setting them at about 1000 calories LESS than I have to eat now - I noticed the "big guys" that have weights comparable to mine, and they were put at about 2000 calories daily - the women even farther down.

How is it working for them, if what they're doing is "wrong" according to the -500 - 1000 calories per day "rule"? How come their bodies aren't going into starvation mode and they end up with tons of muscles in place of the fat?

It's not that I want to copy what they do - they work out about 4 hours ever day and I don't even HAVE four hours per day, even if I gave up all aspects of a social/family life.

I think I'm just damn jealous!!

You doing fine buddy. Use the croc pot mwthod slow and steady will get you better results. The microwave method is fast and will give you the mind set its easy to do this so I can eat this doulbe cheese burger and the next thing you know all your weight is back on.

Hi!

Disclaimer, I am no expert. I did however see a nutritionist for some time to help lower my cholesterol. I learned more from her than any post or article I found. If insurance would pay for it I would highly recommend at least one visit.

I would like to note that when she figured out my caloric need she choose a weight in the Healthy range for me. So instead of using the calories needed to maintain my weight NOW, she choose the amount of calories I would need when I was THERE and subtracted 250 calories from that number. It sounds like you have taken a different approach I figured I would add this one to your idea list. (Noone should attempt to eat less than 1500 (guys) 1200 girls with out the help of a doctor or nutrititionist) I'm tiny 5'0" so i'm close to the 1300-1400 cals a day range but It would be much higher the taller I was for a starting point.

Good Luck! Also note if you have a ton of weight to loose its common to loose more than 1 to 2 pounds a week AT FIRST.. it levels off after a bit.

Well how much have you lost do far? If you weighed 300 pounds and now weigh 290, you'll need tore-adjust the calories you consume.

In addition, the best advice you can get from other people is only a guideline. Maybe the calories you're eating is too high. If nothing is changing, and your giving an honest effort, then calories must be the culprit, no?

Are your tracking your body fat %? Because, honestly, going by weight is pretty lame, especially when you're first starting out. Are you measuring your waist, hips, chest, thighs and arms? Are they shrinking, growing, what? Are your clothes fitting better? If you aren't keeping track of things like this then your chasing fairies. If you're not measuring progress in a variety of ways, then you'll never know what to change when you hit a snag. For example, if your body fat is dropping and you aren't aware of it, but you weigh the same over a two week period and you start cutting calories cause you're upset about the weight, you've effectively sabotaged your progress and then you're back in the same boat of "Why isn't this working?"

So bottom line is if you're giving an honest effort in the workout area, and you know for a fact that you're at a certain calorie level, and body fat isn't dropping and waist size isn't shrinking and this is over a period of a few weeks (not days), then you either need to reduce calories or up the exercise.

Don't compare yourself to people on the Biggest Loser. You already said you can't follow that program, so save yourself the misery of thinking you should be like that. You may have had Biggest Loser numbers in your weight loss these first couple weeks, but that doesn't last forever. Even people on the show can level off or even gain. It happens. It's part of the process for some. Setting too high a standard will result in frustration and, ultimately, failure.

Splint covered everything else and more than I would have said otherwise.

Don't forget the Biggest Losers are in a controlled environment for months at a time. You're living a real life on top of trying to lose weight so you have to adjust expectations accordingly. Learn more about whatever new lifestyle fits your needs best and work to improve your habits slowly. Too much radical change overnight makes it hard keep your new lifestyle going. Small changes work a little more slowly, but they'll stay with you longer. Good luck and feel good about what you've already accomplished...

The best advice is to do more research on your own and determine if those "rules" are right for you.

Cut your calorie intake by another 250 or so and see if you get results. Just make sure everything you're eating is healthy and keep working out. How hungry are you getting?

i think it is also what you eat. where as I haven't watched the biggest looser lately, I know they eat healty and I am sure you do as well but it is what you eat. odviously more protein will help you not feel so hungry and less calories. like for lunch if you have a sandwich, try changing to a wrap or cut out the bread all together (it is just empty carb calories in my eyes) you can have another piece or two of meat for those calories and you will stay fuller longer. Also remember to drink your water. Or get some crystal lite and add to it and drink. I notice days that I haven't drank all my water I am more hungry. I am sure you are doing great. And just remember you are doing better then before and even a pound off is better then a pound on.

Holy crapola you guys are GREAT - so many good ideas in one place, I like it

Splint - GREAT stuff thanks - I've done all the measuring and rejoice at every centimeter lost (losing it most in my chest and legs - tummy's slow and it sucks lol).

Clothes are fitting better. I'm FEELING thinner, even though I haven't lost that much yet (23 lbs so far, about 107 lbs to go more or less - 49.3 kg). I'm taking every little success that I can. Looking forward to the day that other people begin to notice the change

I actually have NO idea how to measure my body fat %. None. So finding out how much muscle I'm gaining... damn I would love that.


Angie - one of the GREATEST things about my new lifestyle - I'm not hungry! I'm eating 6 times a day and I feel great about it. No hunger pains - around mealtimes I can feel that it's time, but no hunger pains like the ones I used to have about ½ hour after a binge (well, I called them meals, but when I compare what I eat now with what I ATE...)

The best way to measure body fat is water displacement, or there's a new pod some places have that can do body fat measurement without having to dunk you. Some universities can do these things, so if you have one nearby, you can try that.

The caliper method is probably next best, but it depends on how well-trained the person administering the test is. As long as you go to the same person time after time, you'll get a good idea of your progress.

There are scales that do it, but they are pretty inaccurate. Mine was off by 10%! But I do still use it just because it is a way to see if I'm progressing in that department, and it's right here in my house.

There are some formulas out there that estimate body fat according to certain body circumference measurements. I'm not sure how accurate they are, but again, it could be a way to measure progress over time if you are consistent in how you measure.

Spyke, not being hungry is a GREAT sign! That means you're not starving yourself, and you're meals are pretty balanced. Congrats!

That being said, you can experiment one day and cut back ever so slightly - see if you are still not getting hungry. If so, you might could adjust your calories down. Do it in small stages. And make sure to keep your meals balanced just how you're doing it now. Try to keep in mind how much you're working out too - don't cut back on the calories AND increase your workout at the same time. Both of those things obviously create calorie deficits, and to pin point which one might be causing hunger (if you even get hungry, lol) would be harder to do.

Keep up the good work!