TDEE Question

nickymarie011

Judging from these online calculators, my TDEE is 2105 with me doing exercise 4-5 times per week ( I do Insanity 6x per week). My basal metabolic rate is 1484. I am 5'5, 125 pounds and a 28 yr old female. Besides Insanity, I do not do much of anything as I work a desk job for a living. As of now, my calories on MFP are set at around 1,300 ( I upped them from 1200 last week) PLUS eating back my exercise calories. So, I typically eat about 1,600 calories per day all together. Am I still 'starving' myself??? I am not seeing results on the scale or even changes with my measurements. I am stuck here, I don't want to be eating like a crazy lady, but yet I know many of you say that when you upped your calories, you ended up seeing the best results, especially while doing month 2 of Insanity.

I am still getting used to all these darn equations, they can be confusing. I appreciate anyone's advice

thisismeraw

You are at a great weight already.. close to the bottom end of the healthy range. Can you join a gym? If so, up your calories to the TDEE or slightly above and lift heavy weights to build muscle. Forget the scale.

nickymarie011

I can join a gym. However, it's a bit easier for me to do workouts at home ( I have the equipment needed as my boyfriend is into lifting). Plus, I work FT and go to school FT, so its very difficult to hit the gym. Working out in my living room is usually preferred. I really enjoy working out to videos. I wonder if there are any ones like that, which are aimed for women and lifting.

askeates

There are a few threads about women and lifting, I'm sure someone there will be able to help you!

diannethegeek

Your TDEE minus 20% would be about 1684, and I doubt the extra 84 calories are hurting you. This is assuming that you set your TDEE up honestly, though I think you might consider upping your activity level another notch.

I've never done Insanity, but I know a lot of the people around here who have say they don't lose much in the first month because of the water retention while the body is trying to cushion those sore muscles. If you keep up with it, it might be a good idea to track your progress based on pictures and measurements rather than scale weight for a while.

affacat

Judging from these online calculators, my TDEE is 2105 with me doing exercise 4-5 times per week ( I do Insanity 6x per week). My basal metabolic rate is 1484. I am 5'5, 125 pounds and a 28 yr old female. Besides Insanity, I do not do much of anything as I work a desk job for a living. As of now, my calories on MFP are set at around 1,300 ( I upped them from 1200 last week) PLUS eating back my exercise calories. So, I typically eat about 1,600 calories per day all together. Am I still 'starving' myself???

hmm. well, 2105 at even a 20% cut would be 1684, and at a 15% cut would be 1789. So... I'd probably add another 100 cals if i were you. Add in some strength training to help with definition, since as someone else said you're pretty close to goal weight.

using your other numbers... you say your base is 1484... and you're doing insanity. i don't know exactly how many cals insanity burns, but my gut says 1600 isn't truly 'eating back' your exercise. maybe try 1700 for a couple weeks, see if you're getting results. you may find you can add even more than that, depending on how rigorous your exercise is.

i know it's odd. i'm a guy, so my numbers are different, but i recently jumped from around 1600 a day to 2000-2100 a day (and probably still could add a couple hundred on workout days). it worked for me, and i started losing again, and i feel better.

dgoradia

Am I still 'starving' myself???

Yes.

hmm. well, 2105 at even a 20% cut would be 1684, and at a 15% cut would be 1789. So... I'd probably add another 100 cals if i were you. Add in some strength training to help with definition, since as someone else said you're pretty close to goal weight.

using your other numbers... you say your base is 1484... and you're doing insanity. i don't know exactly how many cals insanity burns, but my gut says 1600 isn't truly 'eating back' your exercise. maybe try 1700 for a couple weeks, see if you're getting results. you may find you can add even more than that, depending on how rigorous your exercise is.

i know it's odd. i'm a guy, so my numbers are different, but i recently jumped from around 1600 a day to 2000-2100 a day (and probably still could add a couple hundred on workout days). it worked for me, and i started losing again, and i feel better.

What this guy said + ditch insanity (or at least half it) in favor of lifting with your boyfriend.