Quite pleased
mymodernbabylon
Posts: 1,038 Member
I've been writing in the forums of the EM2WL website (personal journals) but thought I'd share here.
While I haven't been eating at a major deficit while trying to lose weight (I went down to 1600 for a short period at the beginning) mainly because I love food and found the whole TDEE method (so moved up to 1880), I decided to try figuring out my ACTUAL TDEE so I could see what my cut should be (I'd like to lose a bit of fat, not so worried about weight). I've gone up 100-200 calories per week and am now eating around 2150 on average per day which is what is meant to be my TDEE according to calculators. And guess what? In the past few weeks I've gone from averaging around 148.5 lb to hitting 145 lb today, the lowest weight I've been at in nine years. I'm surprised, shocked and happy. I haven't been trying to lose weight and in fact trying to find my TDEE and yet I'm losing.
So, now I'm going to start upping my calories again at the end of this two week period to see if I can find my true TDEE.
For those who are interested in what I'm doing for exercise:
- weightlift 3x a week
- coaching field hockey 3x a week (90 minutes per session)
- field hockey training 1x a week (120 minutes)
- playing field hockey 1x a week (90 min - warm-up & game)
I also walk quite a lot (love living in London) and am fairly active with my dog.
If you are feeling discouraged remember that this is not a quick fix. I've become friends with a bunch of EM2WL people on MFP and the one thing that they all struggle with at times is that they aren't going to lose weight quickly, that they aren't going to get that 'fix' that seems to come with low cal diets...but they tend to see their body change for the positive over time even when the scales don't. They 'get' the statement that the scale does lie. I've just seen how this process works for people if they give it a chance and the time. Good luck!
While I haven't been eating at a major deficit while trying to lose weight (I went down to 1600 for a short period at the beginning) mainly because I love food and found the whole TDEE method (so moved up to 1880), I decided to try figuring out my ACTUAL TDEE so I could see what my cut should be (I'd like to lose a bit of fat, not so worried about weight). I've gone up 100-200 calories per week and am now eating around 2150 on average per day which is what is meant to be my TDEE according to calculators. And guess what? In the past few weeks I've gone from averaging around 148.5 lb to hitting 145 lb today, the lowest weight I've been at in nine years. I'm surprised, shocked and happy. I haven't been trying to lose weight and in fact trying to find my TDEE and yet I'm losing.
So, now I'm going to start upping my calories again at the end of this two week period to see if I can find my true TDEE.
For those who are interested in what I'm doing for exercise:
- weightlift 3x a week
- coaching field hockey 3x a week (90 minutes per session)
- field hockey training 1x a week (120 minutes)
- playing field hockey 1x a week (90 min - warm-up & game)
I also walk quite a lot (love living in London) and am fairly active with my dog.
If you are feeling discouraged remember that this is not a quick fix. I've become friends with a bunch of EM2WL people on MFP and the one thing that they all struggle with at times is that they aren't going to lose weight quickly, that they aren't going to get that 'fix' that seems to come with low cal diets...but they tend to see their body change for the positive over time even when the scales don't. They 'get' the statement that the scale does lie. I've just seen how this process works for people if they give it a chance and the time. Good luck!
0
Replies
-
Such a great report! Thanks for sharing your progress here on the forums for others to see and get encouragement from! I find it so interesting that you were maintaining for awhile (right?) at a lower calorie level, but yet when you started increasing your calories to what you thought was your maintenance level, you being losing weight again. So clearly, your TDEE is higher than you thought, but also, it seems like you may have needed the increased calories for weight loss. You probably had a larger calorie deficit than you realized before. I'm guessing you have a ways to go before you actually reach your TDEE. Great job on taking the time to figure it out!0
-
Thank you for sharing. I so needed to hear positive things this morning.0
-
I so agree with you that the lose quick strategy is not the way to go! I have been basically maintaining for a year. No matter if I eat 1200, 1600, 1800. I finally decided to go back to a slight cut from TDEE. Well, I am so much happier and less stressed. I have also seen my weight go down by 2lbs.
About a year ago I got my body fat tested. My RMR is 1768 according to the test. A couple weeks ago I decided that eating anywhere from 1800-2000 a day is not going to make me gain weight. Why not eat a little more and be happy? I think my tdee is around 2100-2300. I decided to start eating around 1800 or more a day. I lift 3x a week. Well after making this decision I have lost 2lbs.
Don't be afraid to experiment and eat closer to TDEE. That is my new motto!
0 -
Awesome, Natini! Great progress eating closer to TDEE! It does work!0
-
I'm now going up to 2300 per day. Since starting to up my calories, I've gone down in weight on average, so I'm going to keep going up until I start averaging a weight gain. I would also like to share that with doing this and weight lifting, my body shape is changing - I fit into a bodycon dress that I haven't worn in about 10 years and I can wear it without Spanx (even after having had breakfast). Even if I don't lose another pound, I will be pleased with my body's changes!0
-
Great mental attitude. When you eat closer to maintenance, you recover better. When you recover better, you can workout harder. When you workout harder, your body has to make more changes.
Many with big deficits just don't know these facts. Then again, many times their exercise is solely for the purpose of spinning their wheels to just burn calories.0
