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ktqt
New Member
| Joined: | 3 May 2007 |
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| Posts: | 18 |
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Posted: 24 May 2007 05:16 am |
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I am a member at Bally's, and right how they are pushing a weight loss program. I was just curious to see what they had to offer, and one of the trainers told me that for my weight i should be on the 1200 calorie diet plan (they have a 1200 cal, 1500 cal, 1800 cal). You'd think being certified trainers, they would know better than to put someone on such few calories.
Also, I was reading some health magazine not too long ago, and they had a one month guide to losing weight in which they suggested 1400 calories a day. Also very low for what this site suggests for me.
I am 5'4'', 125, female, 20 years old. I excercise 1-1.5 hours 5 days a week, and according to this ste i should be eating 1600-1700 cal/day for a small deficit (if i've calculated correctly). So why are other sources (gym, health magazine) who you would think are knowledgable on the subject of weight loss suggesting numbers that are so low?
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Nir
Senior Administrator
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Posted: 24 May 2007 10:14 am |
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Hi,
Remember that it is up to you to assess whether your exercise intensity falls under 'light' or 'moderate'. For example the moderate calculation assumes your exercise burns 3241 additional calories per week (i.e. 648 per exercise session). If you believe that you are burning that many calories per exercise (over and above the 66/99 calories that you would have burnt during that 1/1.5 hours had you been sedentary during this time) then those numbers are more appropriate to you.
Certainly magazines are less likely to give you formulas and more likely to give you a single number. How can a single number be appropriate both for you (BMI 21.5) and someone with a very different BMI; someone who exercises a lot (like you) or someone who barely gets a walk in; someone who is 30 years older etc. [for you the biggest factor is exercise: if you were inactive then you would be advised to consume around 1322 calories, which is more in line with numbers you've seen elsewhere]
For somebody like yourself, with relatively little to lose, the key is to ensure that your calorie deficit is small, i.e. only 15-20% of your energy needs.
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jillybean720
Senior Member
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Posted: 24 May 2007 06:57 pm |
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| Trainers, in general, are taught to TRAIN. They are not as knowlegdable about nutrition (except to push all kinds of protein in your face to build muscle).
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
| Joined: | 24 May 2005 |
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| Posts: | 4179 |
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Posted: 27 May 2007 09:11 am |
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And if the gym sells the protein, to earn a commission!
There are many great trainers out there and many refer their clients to this (my) website, so I want to be sure and not insult them. In fact, I'd recommend them!
But many large franchise gyms simply hire college kids or whatever, give them a little training so they can call them trainers, then take your money. Buyer beware!
At my big franchise gym when you join you get a free trainer orientation which is, of course, 60 minutes of the trainer trying to sign you up for more training.
Back on topic, I just can't figure out how 1200 got to be such a popular number. Could it possibly right for two people wanting to weight 100 when one starts at 200 and the other 300? Yet it's promoted as one size fits all.
Peter
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SnazzyFlyer
New Member
| Joined: | 30 September 2006 |
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| Posts: | 10 |
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Posted: 28 May 2007 03:30 pm |
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I, personally, think the only way to determine your calorie intake is through trial and error. Because you work out a lot, your body definately needs adequate fuel or the quality or your workouts will only decrease. So, I say, if you feel hungry, eat! In the end, weight loss should come mostly from excercising, not dieting. If you continue to lose weight on a slightly higher calorie intake, then you must be doing something right! 
As a matter of fact, I actually hate any sort of calculator that attempts to tell a person how many calories they need per day. That is because, as others have already stated, peoples' metabolisms vary so greatly that it would be impossible for any calculator to be totally accurate. Once upon I time I used a "calorie needs" calculator in what is usually a pretty informative magazine (I think it was Self) and was told I need aprroximately 1,600 calories a day to maintain my weight. I am very active, but I am also pretty small (only 5'2, roughly 100 lbs, 19 years old), so it made sense that I wouldn't need very many calories to exist. However, on 1,600 calories I found I was hungry all the time, tired, irritable, and totally preoccupied with food. Now I eat around 2,000 a day and my weight has not changed in about a year.
I don't know how anyone could have the energy to even stand up, not to mention excercise, on only 1,200 a day. But I, too, see this "magic number" quite often. Well, like I said, everyone is different!
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Aimless
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 28 May 2007 04:28 pm |
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SnazzyFlyer wrote: In the end, weight loss should come mostly from excercising, not dieting.
I thought the general consensus was that weight loss was based 80% on your diet and 20% on your exercise. [Note that diet is without the -ing, so it's a change in diet for the long term, rather than short term dieting].
I agree on all your other points though, trial and error is the best way. See how your body responds to your intake. The calculators are there to give you a starting point.
That 1200 number is an irritating one, I still have it ingrained in my mind that as long as I eat the 1200 my metabolism will be fine. I often have to kick myself to remind me that that isn't the case.
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fsahurie
New Member
| Joined: | 6 December 2005 |
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| Posts: | 413 |
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Posted: 28 May 2007 05:51 pm |
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SnazzyFlyer wrote: I, personally, think the only way to determine your calorie intake is through trial and error.
As a matter of fact, I actually hate any sort of calculator that attempts to tell a person how many calories they need per day. That is because, as others have already stated, peoples' metabolisms vary so greatly that it would be impossible for any calculator to be totally accurate.
I don't know how anyone could have the energy to even stand up, not to mention excercise, on only 1,200 a day. But I, too, see this "magic number" quite often. Well, like I said, everyone is different!
Thats why I personally think Intuitive Eating is perfect for someone who doesnt like to calculate their calorie needs,etc.We are all so different and it would not make sense to depend on calculators to see how much we need to lose weight or maintain.Well, one knows whats best for him or her.
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clarinetgurl
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 3 June 2007 10:12 pm |
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Well, one knows whats best for him or her.
After reading some of your...debatable posts over the past few days that have gotten on the nerves of so many, I found it interesting that you made this statement. Just wanted to point it out to you.
CG
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seminakedcats
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 4 June 2007 11:53 pm |
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jillybean720 wrote: Trainers, in general, are taught to TRAIN. They are not as knowlegdable about nutrition (except to push all kinds of protein in your face to build muscle).
Hi Jilly,
Professional personal trainers should be certified by an accredited association. In these cases, it is fair to assume that they have been trained in physiology and nutrtition. If there are "trainers" out there without this specific certification, I would use them for something other than personal fitness training... maybe doorstops for instance, or speed bumps- anything that does not require them getting paid to give advice on a subject in which they are not fully versed.
BTW- I love my trainer... and I'm not even sleeping with him or anything!  He is certified, and smart as a whip- I am certifiable and no stranger to the bottom of a bag of Milanos... it's a happy thing.
Oh, and to stay on subject... I agree- do the math by seeing how you feel and which way the scale is going, but you can always use the guidelines. Guidelines are not made of barbed wire though, they are to guide you, not conk you over the head and make you DO IT! ;o)
Kit
Last edited on 4 June 2007 11:56 pm by seminakedcats
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