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2003/06/24, 10:58 AM
I just signed on to this site yesterday and decided to start using its tracking and exercise/diet recommendations to assist me in losing weight. I currently weigh 258 and would like to drop that down to 220. When I punched this in to the nutrition plan, it told me I should consume the following:
258g protein
645g carbs
49g fat
4009 total calories
...and this just doesn't seem right to me. I tracked what I ate yesterday, which was slightly less than usual as I was working to eat right, and it came out to:
93g protein
243g carbs
44g fats
1629 calories
Now, I was definitely eating a bit less than usual, but it was not well over half what I usually eat. So how could this site be saying I need to eat almost twice as many calories as I usually do? Or are the real targets the protein/carb/fat numbers, and the calories are a maximum number that must not be exceeded while targeting those? How essential is it that I get close to those other numbers? When I diet normally just making sure I keep away from too much/too fatty foods tends to work fairly well for as long as I maintain that. What do other people think? Is sticking to the FT plan going to help? I fear it could induce weight gain. If I do it right will I be safe? Can you go wrong with my previous plan of watching fat/calories? Any advice you have would be appreciated. Thanks
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2003/06/24, 12:06 PM
Hi, and welcome to Freetrainers. Congrats on getting serious about your healthy lifestyle.
According to your weight the numbers for protein are correct, the number for carbs is way off, and the fat well, that can be adjusted. Others will tell you the same (that the counter is out of wack).
Assuming you are weight training and doing cardio the plan here will work.
Your diet should have around 12-15 caloories per lb of body weight. If you want to lean out, start in the middle somewhere and play with it for about 3 weeks and see where you are.
I would stick with the protein amount, cut back the carbs by about 300 grams, and the fat to about40 grams.
That will give you 2592 calories.
Make sure you get good fats, and good complex carbs, and obviously the leaner the protein the better.
Hope this helps.
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You can walk to anywhere you want, it only takes time.
Ivan Montreal Canada (aka SpongeBob Square Pants to some!)
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2003/06/25, 08:41 PM
Is there any reason why the site's nutrition plan can give out numbers that are way off? Or is it just that there is disagreement, and many people believe these numbers are too high? I guess what I mean is, is the formula not working the way the designers of the site intend it to, or do people simply believe a different formula would create a better diet? Thru three days, I've consumed about 2200 calories, 220g protein, 300g carbs, and 40g fat every day, in addition to doing the weights/cardio suggested by the fitness plan. Is this about right?
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2003/06/25, 08:46 PM
In my opinion, you are dead on. Try it for a week or 2 or 3 and see where you end up. Don't weigh yourself. Get yourself a tape measure and record the measurements on paper , so when you re measure in 3 weeks, you will see the results. Scales are for measuring mass, and that wont tell you how you are doing. What we are trying to do here is gain muscle to burn fat.
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You can walk to anywhere you want, it only takes time.
Ivan Montreal Canada (aka SpongeBob Square Pants to some!)
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2003/06/25, 09:16 PM
I have seen numerous posts on the nutrition calculator so i felt I would post one of my earlier posts that can be adapted for anyone wanting to know their real caloric needs, I hope this can be helpful to those of you confused by your calories being overestimated.
Actually the on site calculator is pretty good at determining calories for an active day that includes 8 hours of activity(such as work) & 1-1.5 hours training, youl also notice that the amount of cals is the same whether you enter sedentary or active for your activity level so here is a tip. If you do not train that day subtract 2 cal per lb of bodyweight , if you do not work subtract 2 cal per lb of BW, or if you do not work or train subtract 4 cal per lb of BW. This should effectively modify the calculator to your activity level, hope this helps.
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\\"Knowledge & persistence is all one needs to succeed\"\
---Patrick L.
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2003/06/26, 12:56 PM
I tried the FT nutrition calculator, and it suggested my caloric intake at around 5000 calories. I already struggle to eat more throughout the day, and I usually end up in the 3000-4000 calorie range. That amount has worked well for me in gaining lean mass, so I'm going to save myself the trouble of stuffing my face any more and stick with that. To each their own I guess.
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OSU Law Rugby....specializing in personal injury and pain & suffering.
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2003/06/26, 01:46 PM
Could it possibly be that the tracker was originally designed for heavy duty bodybuilders and weightlifters who already have a lot of mass to feed? It makes sense too that as we gain more muscle mass, we would need to adjust our intake to accomodate it or risk maintaining, or worse, losing some of it.
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~Victoria~
...There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.--Beverly Sills
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