Hello!

This is actually a few questions I have. I guess I should tell the full story to get an accurate response to the questions. I use to weigh about 450lbs. With my lack of discipline when it came to food I really put myself in a bad way my entire life. A couple years ago I lost about 150lbs in about a 7 months time period. This put me at about 300. A few months back I jumped back on the waggon and decided it was time to lose a bit more weight and after 2 months I was down to 280.5 and no matter what I do ive been there for 5 months now. I have to admit this is fairly frustrating but has got me going looking in directions I should have been looking a LONG time ago so I suppose im a bit thankful for the whole situation. However, its time to get the rest of it off! So does anyone have any ideas as to why my body isnt budging when it comes to fatloss? I guess ill toss up some information about me to give a better look at it.


Im 22, 6'3, male 280 lbs with a calorie intake of generally 800 to 1500. I understand the calorie intake is very low but I cant seem to eat too much anymore without getting full very easily. At 1500 im usually sick all day. I work out 7 days a week anymore. It isnt really a big work out, 1 day I work Chest, Arms, Legs at 30 to 40 minutes on a machine, yeah, a machine. Its a pretty good one though, but ill probably have to switch to freeweights when I can afford them. The next day its My back and glutes at about 20 minutes. On the next its generally the stomach and sides. After that I start the cycle over again. Every night I walk for about an hour and a half at 4 to 5 MPH. Is this what im doing dangerous to myself as well? With the calorie intake and all.


Ive noticed a muscle increase in all areas and ive lost a couple inches since ive started but the fat just wont go away. Ive tried so many things but ive been reading through this forum for a good 7 hours, reading many articles and schedules and I can see ive not been taking it seriously enough. In 12 to 14 months time I intend to sign up for the NAVY and would seriously love to get the rest of this stuff off and get a good muscle build going so it would be possible. If anyone has any information on how I can get going again I would really appreciate it! or if anyone has any information or suggestions for anything period about what im doing, or could be doing, it would be equally appreciated! Thank you for reading! Sorry for it being so long, I tend to ramble!

After reading what you've said, it seems apparent to me that your diet is the main problem here. @ 6'3 & 280 lbs, eating 1500 calories is "basically" putting your body on starvation mode. a male at your height requires more calories. In case you don't already know. you need to eat fat to burn fat. same goes to you need to eat to lose weight. Not the other way around. You will not lose weight if your starving yourself. Your body will eventually eat up all your muscles if you continue on a lifestyle like that.

but of course, it is a big feat that you have done, losing that much weight in the past and I greatly respect your efforts!!!

if you have any time visit this site http://strength-training-woman.com/cpd.html
to figure out what your daily caloric needs are. and visit http://www.healthcentral.com/cholest...-2774-143.html
to get a slight idea of what your body fat % maybe, its not as accurate as the ones you get the gym but its for sure. better than not knowing where you stand.

After we know what your daily caloric needs are, we will just then subtract about 500 calories from the total. creating a caloric deficit. and remember this
3500 calories = 1 lb, thus you would lose about 1 lb of fat each week, or u could say you can lose up to 1% of body fat each week, and with the loss of body fat, lean muscle mass is converted. Each lb of lean muscle burns 50 calories. thus 10 lbs of muscle burns 500 calories. :] great right?

looking forward to hearing from u!

Hello and thanks for relpying!

Ive been reading through nearly all day trying to figure this all out so I can get on a new road. I had seen the website you posted befor about the calorie intake and it seems crazy! according to this im suppose to have 3.9k to maintain and thats 3.4 taking away the 500.I guess its going to take some time getting use to all of this and understanding it. My doctor has also said that I could be putting myself into starvation mode and told me to go up to 1500. Ive really never understood it all but I certainly dont want to eat through the muscle ive actually gained so im gonna have to kick it up some. I had always assumed that id have gotten weaker or something because of it if I was indeed doing so, so I never really thought of it. Guess I was wrong

But I have to ask you, is 3.4k accurate? Would I honestly have to consume that much in order to lose weight and still gain muscle from my excercises?

Also, thanks for tossing me the site to check out my body fat percentage! Ill need to tally that up later tonight so I can figure it out. Gyms here arent too common so its all I have for the moment

yes, from my knowledge and experiences, that would be accurate. and of course, you will be doing a bunch of cardio workouts to compliment your diet. thus you will lose weight in no time :] mixed with resistance training of course

the idea is to "do work" , basically making your body active, when you are working out. Yes I understand 3.4k would be alot of calories, but for your case, its the amount of calories you need to consume, because you "must eat" to "lose weight" :] & of course, you will have to eat the "right" stuff, no more junk food friend! :] , and you should split your meals 5-7 a day.

Well theres really no harm in trying it! Ive been looking through the site and articles and am still trying to get a good diet down. I use to think it would be common sense to do but apparently its alot more complicated than I had previously thought hehe. I guess a trip to the Nutrition section to see what needs to get done. This stuff makes me wish I had kept that old freeweight set I had! hah, thanks again very much! I really appreciate all your help. This whole thing sounds like it could be alot of fun

lol yes, its alot of fun & good luck!