Must I Eat More?

JohnBarth

I'm 42m and currently weigh 295. The beginning of the journey *this* time began at 315. My highest weight ever was 330 in 2009 during which I lost 97 pounds through a diet of approximately 2000 calories today and a ton of walking (that turned into running).

I didn't stick with the new lifestyle I'd created and have bounced around from 250-300 pounds for the past few years.

When this round started about a month ago, I started at 1800 calories/day at ~30% carbs/35% Protein/35% fat.

I'd already been walking pretty regularly in the 17min/mile range of 3-5 miles, 4-6 days/week. This week is the end of the 4th week of Stronglifts 5x5.

The scale was moving pretty well until this past weekend when I had my first planned "cheat" meals. I ate and drank too much and quick added some calories but probably a bit on the low side. I'm allowing "cheat" meals/days about every 3 weeks where I'm not necessarily going crazy with my calories, but I'm not carefully logging them either. Cheat meal gains are gone as of this morning, and I'll expect to be down 3ish pounds/week for the foreseeable future.

Reading more and more about BMR and TDEE, I realized that 1800 for me is too low, and I was struggling to get enough protein. I added about 400 calories/day, mostly through chicken breasts and hard boiled eggs.

My energy level, for the most part, has been pretty good. I'll drag a bit in the afternoon, but it's been better at the 2200 calorie level.

I drink at least 100oz of water/day and limit myself to one can of diet coke and 2 cups of coffee.

I'm really trying to teach myself to eat at a level that will be successful in the long term. 2200 calories seems reasonable for me, but it seems like it's too low. It's just hard to get it into my head that I'd lose weight eating 3k+ calories/day. Because I'm getting a lot of light cardio in the form of walking and some regular (3days/week, sometimes 4) strength training, am I harming myself by limiting myself to the 2200 plan?

Thanks for the support and guidance for both the responses to this post and the expertise I've read through many of these forums!

annaskiski

You want to make this round successful, so you want to eat as much as you can while still losing weight.

Try the new calorie level for a few weeks, and then adjust if you need to. You may not lose weight as quickly, but if it seems a more happy and sustainable eating plan, then definitely go that route. You shouldn't need 'cheat meals'. You want to eat the way you intend to for the rest of your life.