NHS BMI

[Hannah21]

Hi guys, when it gives you your calories for the bmi, mine is quite high, is this normal? As I don't think eating above 2000 calories would do me any favours, I'm sticking to around 1800 to start and then I'll hopefully drop them down as time progresses? Any suggestions are welcome!

[Hidden]

What range has it given you?

[Hannah21 in reply to Hidden]

1800-2400

[Hidden in reply to Hannah21]

OK I started eating at the lower end of the recommended range and couldn't work out why I didn't lose moved to mid to higher range and started losing

[Hannah21 in reply to Hidden]

So would you recommend starting from 2000? And then work my way down ?

[Hidden in reply to Hannah21]

I would suggest working to mid to high for the first two weeks and then work from the results - we will help you and support you

[Hannah21 in reply to Hidden]

Okay thankyou, I'll stick to 2000 until my next weigh in on Friday and see how I'm doing with hunger/ weight loss. It's not too bad at the moment! Thankyou for your help.

[Hidden in reply to Hannah21]

That is a good idea - and also if you post in the Daily Diary that will help people to advise you too

[Justswimming]

Probably should do 2000 to start and then go to 1800 after a couple weeks so you don't feel like your starving or stall metabolism plus your young

[Hannah21 in reply to Justswimming]

Thankyou! I just didn't want it to mean I wouldn't lose any weight!

[Hidden in reply to Hannah21]

By following the NHS BMI is your guide and most people lose at the top range to start, which then gives you room to move down and still lose

[Hannah21 in reply to Hidden]

That's fab. Thankyou!!

[lucigret in reply to Hannah21]

Please don't be disheartened if you don't loose straight away, It can take a while for some people to find the correct amount to eat, it's not just about calories but also about the way you choose to 'spend' them.

As Cracker said we are here to support you

[Hannah21 in reply to lucigret]

Thankyou! I really do feel like I can do this, all this support is amazing, really makes me feel like people care to help! Thanks so much everyone!

[lucigret in reply to Hannah21]

That is the beauty of this forum Hannah - we really do care about each other

[Tiggerr in reply to Hannah21]

Well done for asking good questions. It's good that you're trying to get it right.

You are on a continuing journey where you will keep learning about your body and how it works. Don't worry too much about not losing weight in any one week (there will be times when that will happen). Then main thing is that if it does occur, you look back at that week, work out why and adjust accordingly.

[MrNiceGuy]

The figure of 2400Kcal is that which your body requires to maintain its current weight, based upon current level of daily activity, while the figure of 1800Kcal is that needed by the body to maintain its existence (keeping heart pumping, organs functioning, metabolism firing, etc).

By initially consuming around 2000Kcal on a daily basis, you'll be creating a deficit (from 2400Kcal) that's sufficient enough to allow existing body fat to be burned as energy, but not so severe that metabolism is compromised.

Don't ever introduce a daily deficit that exceeds the difference between minimum and maximum recommendations, since sufficient calories ought to be consumed on a daily basis to satisfy minimum recommendation (or BMR) at the very least.

As others have suggested, however, as weight reduces, you should re-calculate calorie requirements, since the body will require less energy (on the assumption that activity levels remain the same).

With each 7-10lb loss, re-assess your figures in order to avoid plateau or weight gain, adjusting the calorie deficit accordingly, if a daily deficit of 400Kcal begins to exceed the difference between the two amounts.

[Royo in reply to MrNiceGuy]

Spot on I have just learned this for myself. It works very good advice. As others have said it takes time be patient