Hi @Huel it’s 1680
You should not go below this number
isn’t that for maintenance though rather than weight loss?
Set your daily calorie limit. To lose weight, youneed to reduce your caloric intake below yourtotal daily calorie requirement indicated by your BMR + activity level. Putting yourself in a 500-calorie deficit every day should result in the loss of one pound every week
To jump in, this is good to know for me as well.
I’m using an activity tracker.
For what I make of it, your post means my daily need is
my BMR + calories burned for maintaining weight?
Yes and if you want to loose weight yiy take that number minus 500
Day 11…
Still feeling good, not so tired today so maybe it’s just a ‘getting used to it’ thing. Last night was the first time I’ve dealt with a chocolate craving! Probably because my darling son was sat next to me eating a Dairy Milk Oreo. Luckily I had enough calories for a Caramel Wafer (woohoo!) which did the trick and to save myself from further temptation (stopping at one isn’t a strong point of mine) I went and had a long hot shower.
On the getting off my bum and squeezing some exercise into my busy schedule front, one thing I’m not very good at is taking a lunch break, and I’ve always brought my lunch in and eaten it at my desk, so no change there with the introduction of Huel. For the last 2 days however, especially in the lovely weather here in Wiltshire, I’ve made an effort to go out for a walk, and it’s been lovely to take some time to pause for a ‘me’ moment. I’ve linked Map My Walk to MFP which works beautifully. As reward for todays efforts I have a nice blister on my little toe (Note to Self - don’t wear stupid shoes to work) but yesterdays efforts gained me enough calories for the Caramel Wafer (woohoo! again!)
If all goes to plan, I’m hoping to squeeze in a visit to my local leisure centre for a swim on Saturday, as I enjoyed the swim I did on my girls spa trip last weekend.
Hoping you have sunshine where you are too
Well done you! Lovely sunshine here too
Why is it bad to go below BMR? I thought for moderate weight loss you were supposed to go 500 below your required calories?
Hi @Alex there’s a difference between your BMR and your total calorie expenditure.
You want to consume less calories than you expend, in order to lose weight - the recommended is 250-500 per day for sustainable weight loss.
BMR (basal metabolic rate) is what your body would burn if you laid in bed doing literally nothing but breathing. It’s what you burn just to breathe, pump blood and stay alive. As soon as you move, talk, think, eat, do literally any activity at all, you start burning over and above your BMR.
It’s inadvisable to consume less than your BMR because your body needs this many calories just to function - keep your heart beating etc. It is possible to consume less because your body will obtain energy by breaking down fat and muscle stores, but if you were to do this long term, you could do damage to your organs. From a practical point of view it would be really hard to function in your daily life on such a low calorie intake anyway.
I would ignore your BMR for weight loss purposes and instead calculate your TDEE. All these calculations are estimates tho and it takes a bit of trial and error to find your own personal ideal calorie intake to lose weight at a rate that suits your lifestyle.
Start by calculating your TDEE, subtract 500 calories and go with that. Track your weight and look at the trend. If you’re not losing anything after a couple of weeks, cut another 250. If you’re losing more than 1kg a week and you’re struggling with energy, go up by 250 a day.
Sunday…weigh day tomorrow… but it’s been a good week. Working at home today though and trying not to give in to the munchies, saving myself for later and movie night with my son, when a bag of skinny popcorn awaits me
Proud of myself for getting some exercise this weekend, building on my ‘go for a walk at lunchtime’ efforts from the week. I popped off to my local swimming pool yesterday where unfortunately despite having issued a new timetable for the Easter holidays they still managed to get it wrong, the scheduled lane swimming session was a myth, and there was a private gala on. Went home and went for a 2 mile walk instead, determined to do something that would warrant the reward of a large G&T Not far really but a start for a horribly unfit desk jockey. Off to the swimming pool again today where I finally managed to get my swim in.
Still loving the ease, convenience and fill-me-up power of Huel, I no longer have to worry about meal planning or, when I’m out and about at the weekends, where I’m going to get a low calorie lunch that doesn’t put me off plan and make the rest of the day a calorie struggle. I just make it up and take it with me.
Fingers crossed for the scales tomorrow!!
No easy way to say this but Huel is processed crap. Especially if your goal is weight loss, muscle gain or fat loss.
Huel doesn’t take into account that everyone is different with different metabolic rates, will never be able to replace fresh fruit, vegetables and clean sources of protein. It is missing all the natural phytochemical you’ll find in natural sources that you need to eat in conjunction with a mixed and varied diet. Huel is just processed fat, carbs, artificial flavourings and sweeteners.
Save your money, invest in a healthy diet, a personal trainer and a proper diet and exercise plan. You’ll save yourself a lot of heartache, money and disappointment. Plus you won’t have to deal with Huel’s lies anymore…
Thank you for what I’m sure you mean to be good advice given with the best of intentions, however, as you say, everyone is different and it’s working for me so far. I wish you luck on your journey.
Another 5lbs off on the scales this morning! I’m on my way and feeling good
The week ahead is going to be a challenge, as I’m away with work Tuesday - Thursday with a meal out on Wednesday night, and then on Friday we’re off to Torquay for the long weekend. However I shall go to both armed with my Huel and shaker and do my best. If nothing else I’d like to lose the final 1lb that will get me to a stone off, but a maintain would be just fine
1st April: Start weight 16st 11lbs BMI 42.1
15th April: 15st 12lbs BMI 38. 1
Total loss: 13lbs
Out of interest, what makes you say that? I’m intrigued by what you mean by “clean sources of protein” too? Why would metabolic rates make a difference for nutrition, no food takes into account different metabolic rates as that’s an individual factor? If you’re interested in gaining/losing weight using a calorie calculator such as this one: https://www.calculator.net/calorie-calculator.html and our articles can help: https://uk.huel.com/pages/guide-to-fat-loss
There are natural phytochemicals such as ferulic acid and avenanthramides. You can find out more here: https://uk.huel.com/pages/phytonutrients-in-huel
Of course Huel will never replace fresh fruit and vegetables, that’s not the point, it’s a convenient, nutritionally complete meal. A personal trainer will cost more in one session than it would to have Huel once a day for 2 weeks. The two offer completely different benefits.
Is there anything I can help you with? Why do you feel you have been lied to?
Many, many of us have lost weight eating Huel and love eating it. For many, also, Huel provides them with a healthier diet than they had previously. From what you say, it appears that you don’t know very much about Huel. I can’t really understand the point of your attack on it.
I am not impressed so far by your input. Please try harder.
Omg. Day 3 of business trip and all day meetings. Have resisted so far but… save me from the BISCUITS!!!
Huel biscuits
(Red circle is where I did my QA)
Recipe here:
https://uk.huel.com/blogs/recipes/jam-sandwich-shortbread
Oooo nice!