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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how do I actually lose weight?

63 replies

Strivetobe · 30/04/2019 22:51

I've tried different calculators but they all say different things and I'm very easily confused so I'm not sure what exactly I'm meant to be doing.

I want to lose about 20 pounds so that I can reach the optimum BMI for my sport hobby. It's intensive on the body and a bmi of 20 means that I will both likely be better at it and will have a much lower risk of injury because I'll have less weight to haul around.

I'm currently 140 pounds and have a bmi of 23. I'm 5ft 4, don't do very much exercise other than my sport but trying to increase it to short daily runs.

How many calories should I be eating a day and how much exercise?

I'd really appreciate it if someone could please tell me because I'm a bit dumb

OP posts:
NT53NJT · 30/04/2019 22:55

It's all about energy in Vs energy out . Try 1600 calories, if you're starving increase it to 1700 . If you lose fat (take pictures don't rely on weight) keep active, take the stairs instead of the lift

Original poster
Strivetobe · 30/04/2019 22:58

Thank you! This is what confuses me though because I naturally don't eat more than roughly 1300 calories a day i'd say, so would think I'd have to cut significantly below this to lose weight?

OP posts:
Mixingitall · 30/04/2019 23:00

You could use my fitness pal to enter your current weight, target weight and timeframe and then it will calculate your daily requirements. I am currently using it to lose weight and it’s coming off steadily. I am a similar weight and height to you and it predicts 1200 calories a day. I’m fairly sedentary all day at a desk.

rainbowunicorn · 30/04/2019 23:05

When you say you don't eat more than around 1300 calories a day. Are you weighing everything and logging it. I would bet that you are eating much more than 1300 if you are nor regularly weighing and measuring your portions. Don't forget that things like salad dressing, mayo, a sprinkle of cheese are all loaded with calories. What do you eat in an average day at the moment?

CrotchetyQuaver · 30/04/2019 23:06

It's about eating less and moving more as I'm sure you know. I'm a fatty but swore I had a metabolic problem until I logged my food intake on my Fitbit and realised I'd been overeating. Significantly. You need a calorie deficit and 1lb is equal to 3,500 calories. So if you eat 1,000 calories a day less than you use up in energy that's 7,000 calories less per week so you should lose 2lbs that week. Sadly it really is that simple. I really think the fitbits are very helpful for this.

Original poster
Strivetobe · 30/04/2019 23:08

Will download myfitnesspal thanks.

@rainbowunicorn, no I'm not that precise at all, I probably am getting more cals than i think. Today for example I had porridge for breakfast, a falafel sandwich for lunch and some courgette and celery soup for dinner with sweetcorn. Also had about 4 bourbon biscuits. This is fairly representative of what I eat most days I'd say

OP posts:
cardibach · 30/04/2019 23:12

There’s not much protein in that to help with being physically active, OP. With a BMI if 23 I don’t see that you have much weight to ‘haul around’. Why do you need to be right at the bottom of the healthy range?

OwlinaTree · 30/04/2019 23:15

Is it worth trying a slimming club?

Original poster
Strivetobe · 30/04/2019 23:17

I added chia seeds and nutritional yeast to my porridge but yeah, not loads today. Normally have lots of tofu and broccoli and other veg but don't have much it as I need to do a shop.

Looking at me from the side I definitely have wobbly parts which can go. It's generally recommended that the optimum BMI for my sport is 20 and I'm committed to it so want to try to get there

OP posts:
Original poster
Strivetobe · 30/04/2019 23:18

@Owlina, I was thinking of that. It's just that I'm not technically overweight so don't know if me being there would look weird?

OP posts:
julensaor · 30/04/2019 23:21

You are quite slim, but you do know that? What is the hobby that requires less weight? Because you do know losing a weight of 20 pounds is not too difficult (i.e stick to proteins, less carbs, count calories honestly to yourself) but if you are doing a sport that requires muscle mass to grow then you might find no weight loss at all. You really have to say what it is? I would not drop an ounce in a month on 1600 calories a day (but I am past my prime !!) so your age is also relevant.

puppylovebaby · 30/04/2019 23:24

Have you tried lifting weights to help weight loss?
I lost 3 stone on 1200 cal diet but struggled to loose more. I felt I lived on air!

Worriedmum201 · 30/04/2019 23:30

Team rh fitness is fantastic

Original poster
Strivetobe · 30/04/2019 23:37

@julensaor it's also recommended that the optimum body fat percentage for women is 20% so I do still need to retain and build muscle. The machine at the gym said I'm on 23% body fat currently but I'm not sure how reliable that is. I definitely have some spare fat to lose, my arse is hugely oversized and makes my whole body look silly. I am in my twenties if that helps

OP posts:
Original poster
Strivetobe · 30/04/2019 23:41

@puppylovebaby can I ask what kind of lifting you were doing and how many calories you were eating when the weight started coming off?

I'll look into team RH thanks!

OP posts:
Vehivle · 01/05/2019 00:48

When I was trying to actively lose weight, I found it easiest to eat ready meals and low calorie snacks as those things had all the calorie information clearly on the back so i knew EXACTLY how many calories I was eating per day. They said on average we underestimate how many calories we eat per day by about 300! Quite a lot really! I also found out that I only started to lose weight at 1600 cals. If I ate above that I would start to gain again. So just try accurately measuring your calories properly. I bet you'll be surprised!

EmilyBishopmyconfession · 01/05/2019 00:50

Is it a weight-controlled sport?

EmilyBishopmyconfession · 01/05/2019 00:51

i.e. where competitors are in specific weight categories?

julensaor · 01/05/2019 02:34

to be honest OP if you are doing a sport that requires a "fat percentage for women is 20%"; you really need to take it to a personal trainer at the gym and engage with that.

Decormad38 · 01/05/2019 02:42

@strivetobe I entered your daily food intake in and it came up with 1082 calories but you have no drinks there and did you add anything to those foods?

julensaor · 01/05/2019 03:01

@decormad38, she gave a really rough outline of her daily routine, she didn't say how much porridge for breakfast/ is there milk, sugar, honey, sweetener, how much falafel or what is was sandwiched between, buttered or not and was there something else on the sandwich; courgette and celery soup for dinner with sweetcorn (with butter/without; with bread/.without???. Also had about 4 bourbon biscuits. Jesus, she was only giving a representation. And you came up with 1082 calories precisely.

julensaor · 01/05/2019 03:03

OP are you vegetarian, I can lose 7lbs in 5 days using grapefruit.

Kiwiinkits · 01/05/2019 03:11

Try Kim Beach Beach Fit programme. 8 weeks. It works.

aatwi · 01/05/2019 03:39

Wondering if we do the same sport... I eat simple vegetarian meals and go to the gym 3x a week on top of sports training and have lost 50lbs total doing this.

aatwi · 01/05/2019 03:51

And if it is the same sport; focusing on core strength and flexibility will help more than losing weight but you'll lose weight through training anyway.