Will this help me lose weight?

[DaCrownlessKing]

I am 189 lbs and 5'10 in height, so not too fat but still overweight. My ideal weight would be about 160 by the end of the year. I want to be slim and more muscular. I normally eat around 2200- 2300 calories a day. I'm trying to cut that down to 1600-1800 a day. I workout a lot too, about 4-5 times a week. I get a lot of strength exercises in and I run a mile each time for my warmup after stretching. I see no results from my normal routine, would cutting back on calories help? or does Fast Food keep you fat no matter how much you cut back on calories?

[Krait]

I would aim for more like 2000-2100 calories, but bump your cardio up a bit to maybe two miles for every workout, even if you have to walk part of it. For a male your age, 1600-1800 calories probably falls well below your basal metabolic rate, which can lead to your body doing weird things to keep from entering starvation, which can actually hinder your fat loss. It won't be able to take all the needed calories from your fat stores and will start metabolizing muscle tissue and other organs, which can lead to extreme urges to binge-eat and wreck your mood.

If you keep up the exercise and stay at ~2100 calories, you'll probably hit your goal in four months. As you lose fat, you'll need to drop your calories a bit further. Chart your progress by weighing yourself once a week (at the same time of day) and measuring your waist. As long as one of those measurements is getting lower, your making progress. If one stays the same, that's okay - stick with it. If both numbers stall, then either drop your calories a bit more or bump up your cardio, and see how things look the next week.

It doesn't matter too much what you eat as long as you stay within the target calories, but it'll be far easier to gain strength and avoid cravings and bad moods if you eat a diet of lean meats and other protein along with high-fiber vegetables, as well as a few complex carbs.

[DaCrownlessKing]

Thank you

[BertMacklinFBI]

if fast food is your primary source for food that's one thing that won't help you lose weight. calories in vs calories out is a good concept but all those chemicals and shit is what also aids in keeping you fat. change your diet to something much more clean.

[thewanderingme]

you're trying to cut out way too many calories. that's not going to work.

[DaCrownlessKing]

Why not? Cutting it down to 1800 is too much?

[thewanderingme]

you're already eating the right amount of calories for your size IF you truly eat 2200/day. you won't have enough energy going so low and will eventually give up or start bingeing occasionally.

focus on eating healthy and getting exercise.

[Anonymous]

Dropping down to 1800 is fine, but not below 1800. You'll start losing muscle in addition to fat. Shoot more for 1900-2000

And can the junk food. It isn't just the calories you eat, the quality of them matters too.