Advice Needed!

jessicatombari
jessicatombari Posts: 159 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hey everyone! :) so I'm quite new to the forums here but after spending a few days reading through a lot of the posts I feel like I may be doing something wrong in terms of my weight loss journey. I am 18 years old (19 soon) and weigh 120 -124lbs depending on which scale I use right now. My height is 5'2". I have lost 14lbs so far on my own and I would like to get down to at least 115lbs based on my frame size. MFP says that to lose 2lbs a week (which I have been doing) I need to consume 1200 cal/day. However I feel like that number is a bit low and I do not want to starve my body of anything. I workout 6 days a week (cardio & resistance) but somehow I BARELY make the 1200 cal, I just never feel hungry enough. Is there anything I should be worried about or anything I should change about my diet? I do eat very healthy but just not enough food in general. Any advice/tips would be very helpful :)

Replies

  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    Change your goal to half a pound a week. With so little to lose, 2 pounds is way too aggressive a goal, plus you would not be hitting it as MFP will not give you a goal under 1200.

    If you're worried about not hitting your goals, take a look at this beautiful list @diannethegeek put together for you to eat! https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10142490/a-list-of-calorie-dense-foods#latest
  • girlviernes
    girlviernes Posts: 2,402 Member
    2lbs a week is pretty fast weight loss at your current size. You may find that 0.5 lbs/week works better for you. What is the time frame in which you lost the 14 lbs?
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    WTG on your loss. With so little to lose, your goal should not be set to 2 pounds a week, but a half a pound. Remember, you are are eating your base, PLUS earning exercise calories.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    If you could eat enough to weigh to get to 134-138, you can eat enough to get to 1200 calories. Are you absolutely certain that you are logging accurately? That is the first thing to be sure of. You are weighing your food with a digital scale when possible? Measuring with measuring cups/spoons when it is not possible? Doing your best to estimate when that is not possible? If all of that is a yes, then you need to eat more calorie dense foods. That means whole or 2% milk instead of skim milk. Low fat or regular fat yogurt instead of fat free yogurt. You get the picture.

    Also, considering that you have less than 10 pounds to lose, a 2 pound per week goal is too intense. A half pound to one pound a week, at most, would be better. It's good to slow your rate of loss as you get closer to goal. It will help you get used to eating more in the long term and will help you to maximize your fat loss as opposed to muscle loss (this is also helped by eating enough protein.)

    Good job so far!
  • jessicatombari
    jessicatombari Posts: 159 Member
    @malibu927 THANK YOU!

    @girlviernes lost the weight pretty fast at first, 10-12lbs in 2 months and another 2lbs this month

    @liftng4Lis I know this may sound stupid but Im worried that if I set my daily cal intake higher I might not see the progress I'd like!

    @jemhh Yes I am incredibly organized when logging my food I measure almost everything. I think you are right about the calorie dense foods I never really thought of that. Just been so conscious lately I guess
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    jessicatombari wrote: »
    @malibu927 THANK YOU!


    @liftng4Lis I know this may sound stupid but Im worried that if I set my daily cal intake higher I might not see the progress I'd like!

    It's not a race. Remember, the winner get's to eat the most and still lose.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    jessicatombari wrote: »
    @malibu927 THANK YOU!


    @liftng4Lis I know this may sound stupid but Im worried that if I set my daily cal intake higher I might not see the progress I'd like!

    It's not a race. Remember, the winner get's to eat the most and still lose.

    You always write that I and I love it. It's so true :)
  • jessicatombari
    jessicatombari Posts: 159 Member
    Ok thanks guys :) I will start seeing calories as more positive numbers now! And I'll def change my intake!!
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    jessicatombari wrote: »
    @malibu927 THANK YOU!


    @liftng4Lis I know this may sound stupid but Im worried that if I set my daily cal intake higher I might not see the progress I'd like!

    It's not a race. Remember, the winner get's to eat the most and still lose.

    You always write that I and I love it. It's so true :)

    cuz, chocolate!
  • asteadman1
    asteadman1 Posts: 2 Member
    It sounds like you need to change up your excerise rountie and diet. It sounds like your plateauing.
  • BWBTrish
    BWBTrish Posts: 2,817 Member
    jessicatombari wrote: »
    @malibu927 THANK YOU!

    @girlviernes lost the weight pretty fast at first, 10-12lbs in 2 months and another 2lbs this month

    @liftng4Lis I know this may sound stupid but Im worried that if I set my daily cal intake higher I might not see the progress I'd like!

    @jemhh Yes I am incredibly organized when logging my food I measure almost everything. I think you are right about the calorie dense foods I never really thought of that. Just been so conscious lately I guess


    Better is to weigh ALL your solid foods.
    See this short video about the difference of measuring and weighing your food.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY
  • jessicatombari
    jessicatombari Posts: 159 Member
    Thanks :)
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