Feeling like a broken record!

Farmgirlfit85

I feel like I've posted the same thing here before, but I just need to know I'm on the right path. I'm 29, 5'2, 157lbs. My activity is typically walking to school and back (maybe 2 miles?) mon-friday, and as of late the gym has been infrequent (I seem to have lost motivation) but I'll try to go once or twice a week for about an hour, usually a class like body pump. My work is fairly physical, I work at an orchard where we are pruning trees, that constitutes about 10 hrs/week.
Scooby says my TDEE is about 2050, and at 15% I'd be at 1743. I'd like to lose 10-15 lbs, but I've been gaining weight instead of maintaining. I know this is part of the process. I also admit I seem to still go over my calories even at this high point. I have been eating a lot more protein, but still feel the need to snack. When will this work in my favor?

Thanks again for the support by all of you, I feel like a broken record, and I know many people have the same questions!

heybales

So walking easily burns 1/2 the calories of any other more intense cardio, so when counting that time to estimate TDEE, it should be 1/2 the time.

2 miles isn't useful, because that's not time. You could do that so slow you'd barely burn anything over resting calorie burn anyway, or so fast it's big burn.

Is that 10 hrs constantly walking and moving and pruning lifting the pole and cutting? Maybe less than 3 mph speed, but carrying limbs or fruit?
Count as 1/2 time too.

How much gained in how much time span, and how much actually eaten during that time?

Log your food by weight, weighing everything that goes in your mouth?

Jennbecca33

I'd suggest using the next higher level on Scooby and eating more on a daily basis. I think you're really underestimating your activity level and you're getting too hungry on the lower calorie allowance and then overeating to compensate (which will cause weight gain). If you'll allow yourself to eat more on a consistent daily basis, those urges to overeat and drop your workouts due to fatigue and lack of motivation will get better.