|
|
Post by grimsage33 on Aug 12, 2004 23:28:02 GMT -5
Ok can somebody help me...aight i went to this bmi calculator it said my daily caloric intake required to lose a pound per week and that figure was 4890 (yes im a big boy with a big dream). Now what if i was to lower that to 1800, and what kind of results will i get from that figure?
|
|
|
|
Post by SSC on Aug 12, 2004 23:41:42 GMT -5
Going from 4890 calories a day to 1800 is a very big step, I would consult a physician or dietician before attempting to do something like that... I would start it off slow by increasing your water intake, no pop, less snacks and hold yourself back in your meals. Maybe true diet experts would say different, but I've been following a differenct procedure than some say, and am practically shedding lbs. NO FAST FOOD!!! Sounds like you eat fast food.
|
|
|
|
Post by abrannan on Aug 13, 2004 7:33:50 GMT -5
More than likely your body would react poorly to such a large drop in caloric intake. You can get down to 1800/day, but you need to do it gradually. Try dropping it to 4000/day for two weeks (-890/day that's almost 2 lbs per week) then cut it back by an additional 500/day per week (that's another pound per week). If you feel yourself getting sluggish, don't drop the calories for that week to give your body reassurance that food isn't running out all over the globe.
I would definitely consult a doctor before starting though.
|
|
|
|
Post by grimsage33 on Aug 13, 2004 13:50:47 GMT -5
Well what would be a good figure for losing 3 to 4 pounds a week?
|
|
|
|
Post by abrannan on Aug 13, 2004 14:59:14 GMT -5
Well what would be a good figure for losing 3 to 4 pounds a week? 3000/day, if your BMR number is accurate. But seriously, see a doctor for a general physical first. They can run some tests to help determine if you're likely to have problems, and may be able to spot other problems before they become an issue. That's what I did before I started my last diet/exercise cycle, and my doctor found that my good/bad cholesterol ratio was off, and that I had indicators for potential heart disease. Even though I probably wouldn't have had any noticable issues for another 15-20 years, I was able to make the changes now so I didn't have to have a bypass in 15 years. |
|
|
|
Post by Laura Moncur on Aug 16, 2004 12:34:17 GMT -5
If you're scared of the doctor, you could always go to Weight Watchers. They have a healthy plan that will help you through this.
The other cool thing is that you'll be in a room full of girls and a lot of them will be at or close to their goal weight.
|
|
|
|
Post by chaos on Aug 23, 2004 1:10:25 GMT -5
Hrm. I went to a BMI calculator and it claimed I was "30.8 - Obese." That doesn't really seem so... my stomach is big, I'll admit, but I'd never consider it obese. Maybe "fat."
|
|
|
|
Post by DDRNewbie on Aug 23, 2004 7:21:02 GMT -5
the body mass indices refer to your entire body, not just your abdomen. When it says things like "obese" or "overweight"....it means that, in general, your body contains too much fat when compared to the bone and muscle mass the *average* person of your size has.
A lot of times yes, the majority of one's fat is in the abdomen or "gut" (which is probably one of the factors behind the six pack / washboard ab craze)....but in truth, every part of your body (with the exception of your skull) is padded with fat.
As for being "fat" or "obese"....well, there are two things I can say to that. First, those BMI calculators have no idea how much muscle and bone mass you TRULY have....they operate on averages based on height and gender. As such, the numbers and categories it puts you under are closer to educated guesses than actual measurements. They're good to get an idea where you stand....but don't take them as the gospel truth, as they say.
Second, and this is a little harsh, you'd be surprised how little one has to deviate from the "Average" to start running into titles like "fat" or "obese." I know, everyone knows people where they think "that guy / gal is huge...compared to them, I'm just "fat." " I probably fall into the same category as you.....I'm pretty strong...I certainly have a gut....but I've seen people much larger than myself. The truth is, though, for *my* size and *my* stage in life, I am "obese" according to the BMI indices. Its not a matter of person to person comparison, but rather person to ideal comparison.
Furthermore, those BMI ranges operate like a bell curve. At the center is the "perfect" weight (which probably isnt that perfect). Then there is one standard deviation out, which makes the "average" or "fit" section. One more standard deviation out (2 deviations from median) makes the "fat" category........and one more (3 deviations from median) makes the "obese". Beyond that titles dont much matter, because theyre all in bad shape. Moreover, if you were to compare the "size" of the weight range on this curve......you'd find that the "perfect" weight group is just a dot.....the "fit" group perhaps an inch......but the "fat" group might be two and a half inches of space......and the obese 4 inches and further.
Whats this all mean? The "fit" range is pretty tight....and it only takes a pound or two to slip right into "fat" or "obese." Moreover, you can't just judge by your "gut." You could have plenty of muscle development...and a relatively flat belly.....but if everything has a thick layer of fat on it (a little fat tends to be added alongside muscle)....then youre going to "fail" your BMI test.
A second note....muscle is important! I know this sounds pretty darn obvious.....but it's important to mention. A lot of people tend to think they can just cut back on the eating and not really exercise or build muscle. The problem is, though, that unless the muscle is being used, it wont grow........rather, it starts to atrophy. As such, you lose lots of weight....but its just as much muscle being lost as fat. In the end, you may end up looking "skinny".....but because you have virtually no muscle.....you're basically a very thin fat person.....you don't weigh much, but most of what weight you DO have comes from fat (another example of how standardized BMI tests can be wrong)
I would recommend, as far as my limited knowledge goes, that you just keep building muscle and use a body fat caliper / measurer to check your status. Too much muscle can be a problem too, but at least that way you can have a much more accurate idea of your physical fitness.
DDR Newbie
|
|
|
|
Post by abrannan on Aug 23, 2004 7:57:03 GMT -5
Hrm. I went to a BMI calculator and it claimed I was "30.8 - Obese." That doesn't really seem so... my stomach is big, I'll admit, but I'd never consider it obese. Maybe "fat." More than 30% body fat is considered obese. As DDRnewbie says, using weight and height as the only deciding factors for BMI are inaccurate. According to those scales, most professional athletes are considered obese, but they have far greater muscle mass than average. Using calipers to measure body fat % is a better guideline to go by. |
|
