Need Help Not Losing So Quickly

ejb06070

Okay, so I have noticed that each week for almost a month, I'm consistently losing around 3.5 to 4 pounds, which is great, except that I know it's not healthy and I need to slow down a little.

I started out losing in March. I was 270 pounds, and have gotten down to 212.4, with a goal of 135. I'm 5'2", 22, female, and I'd consider myself "lightly active" (I have online classes and a fast-paced job chasing doctors around the Emergency Department and taking notes for them [scribe] but otherwise, I don't do too much). I have been eating consistently between 1000 and 1200 calories, sometimes a little more (around 1400) but rarely less.

I need a little help setting an attainable goal for calories so that I'm losing closer to 2 pounds a week. I've noticed that on days when I work, I'm so busy that I usually forget to eat until I get done with my shift (9 hours) and feel like I'm going to pass out, so tips on that would be good, too.

DeguelloTex

Eat 750 - 1000 more calories a day.

vespiquenn

Probably the best thing you can do is keep adding about 100 calories daily to your intake until levels off where you would like. Especially if you're eating 1000 while still being lightly active. Should be at about 1200 daily at the very least.

What do you have your weekly loss set at? If it's too high, possibly drop it down to .5 to 1lbs a week?

Essentially, you may have to do some trial and error until you reach a spot that you are comfortable with losing.

Alyssa_Is_LosingIt

DeguelloTex wrote: »

Eat 750 - 1000 more calories a day.

This.

Make sure you're tracking accurately, preferably by measuring your food with a digital food scale.

/thread

ejb06070

I have it set to 2 pounds weekly, and MFP has my calories set at 1350, which looking at how much I'm still losing just seems to be a little too low.

diannethegeek

Preplanning your day might help. Pack a couple of high calorie snacks for work. Eat larger meals. Add more calorie dense foods to what you already eat (nuts, cheese, avocado, full fat dairy, etc).

Need2Exerc1se

That actually doesn't sound that bad in the first month for someone that is very overweight. If it were me, I'd up my calories maybe 100-200 per day and give it a couple more weeks. Likely you rate of loss will slow down on it's own.

ejb06070

@Need2Exerc1se For the first month, I lost about 15 - 20 pounds, but has gradually slowed down. I'm in my 6th month of weight loss, and still losing 3-4 pounds weekly (I'm still pretty far from goal, but I've already lost almost 60 pounds)

Need2Exerc1se

ejb06070 wrote: »

@Need2Exerc1se For the first month, I lost about 15 - 20 pounds, but has gradually slowed down. I'm in my 6th month of weight loss, and still losing 3-4 pounds weekly (I'm still pretty far from goal, but I've already lost almost 60 pounds)

OIC, yeah I guess I misread your post. That is a different story. I'd still up the calories slowly, maybe 200-300 per day for a couple of weeks, then add more till you get where you want.

Since you have trouble eating while at work, have you thought of a meal replacement shake for that time? That could give you calories and protein without taking time to sit down and eat.

ejb06070

I like the Equate shakes but haven't had money for them lately, so I've just been eating a crap ton of salad, because it's super cheap, quick, and easy, but not necessarily very calorie-rich. I think adding back in the shakes would be helpful though, thanks!