Increase calories closer to maintenance?

Somebody_Loved

Hi everyone,

This might bet a stupid question but wanted to get some opinions on this. I'm at 1200 calories/day, have lost 18 pounds so far and want to lose 6-10 more. For reference, I'm 5'6 and currently at 131 pounds.

Since I'm getting somewhat close to maintenance (and getting a little tired of 1200 calories/day), I was considering raising my calorie goal/changing from a goal of 1 lb/week to .5 lb/week. Has anyone done this as they approached maintenance? And I guess I'm wondering if there's any reason not to do this?

Thanks!

DeguelloTex

That's almost certainly the way to go. Just be very careful with your intake.

sscarmack

I think thats a great idea! 1lb a week is pretty "intense" as to where .5 isn't so bad.

So you may go from 1,200 to 1,350. Hey, thats like 2 oreos

Somebody_Loved

Thank you!

jeepinshawn

I guess I will go against the grain and say why not just try and bust through those last 6-10lbs instead of drawing it out 2x longer then you need to? If you tough it out and maintain the 1lb per week, you will be at maintenance and eating regular amounts that much faster.

DeguelloTex

jeepinshawn wrote: »

I guess I will go against the grain and say why not just try and bust through those last 6-10lbs instead of drawing it out 2x longer then you need to? If you tough it out and maintain the 1lb per week, you will be at maintenance and eating regular amounts that much faster.

Because she's already in the low middle of the normal BMI range and may well not need to "tough out" a 500 calorie deficit at that size?

ChiliPepperLifter

jeepinshawn wrote: »

I guess I will go against the grain and say why not just try and bust through those last 6-10lbs instead of drawing it out 2x longer then you need to? If you tough it out and maintain the 1lb per week, you will be at maintenance and eating regular amounts that much faster.

That's what I am doing. I'm 65 inches, female, and losing about a pound a week at 1600 cals. I only need to lose 9 more pounds until my goal weight of 120, but I'm sick of eating only 1600! However, I only have about 10 more weeks of 1600 then helllooooo maintence world, and 2100 cals a day is much better. OP, maybe exercise more so you have a little more opportunity for food?

jeepinshawn

DeguelloTex wrote: »

Because she's already in the low middle of the normal BMI range and may well not need to "tough out" a 500 calorie deficit at that size?

I guess I don't find that particularly relevant. She obviously has a goal that is important to her, personally I will be satisfied when I hit the middle ground of the "normal" BMI range, she is not, so I suggested she consider busting through the last few pounds instead of making them take longer. It's how I'm doing it, and obviously not for everyone, hence it only being a suggestion.

DeguelloTex

Generally, when people ask about increasing calories, it's because they're tired of eating at such a large deficit. "Toughing it out" could easily become an adherence issue for someone in that position. All the more so at 1200.

And BMI is relevant because it means she doesn't have the fat stores she used to have and that could be problematic in maintaining a bigger deficit for such a relatively smaller person. The idea is to burn muscle, not LBM.

BurnWithBarn2015

I am a bit divided about this

My common sense made me increasing at this moment slowly ( have about 7 lbs to go)

In my heart i just wanted to stay at my initital calorie intake and go on.

But i know my body will be so upset when i up it too much...so i take it slower.
I relaxed about it all and at this moment since yesterday at 1600 calories and i will see what i still lose the coming weeks.

But i think it is different for everybody it both works.

Only people get upset about the fluctuations when you up too much...some even flip out over it. Because you will gain a bit of water weight. Which comes off again of course But some people dont like it.


For me not a big issue, i just chose to do it this way...upping bit by bit.

Personal choice

Somebody_Loved

DeguelloTex wrote: »

Generally, when people ask about increasing calories, it's because they're tired of eating at such a large deficit. "Toughing it out" could easily become an adherence issue for someone in that position. All the more so at 1200.

And BMI is relevant because it means she doesn't have the fat stores she used to have and that could be problematic in maintaining a bigger deficit for such a relatively smaller person. The idea is to burn muscle, not LBM.

This is it. 1200 calories is hard to maintain and I can feel myself growing frustrated. I don't feel a sense of urgency in terms of a timeline. There's no difference between reaching my goal in 2 months from now or 4 (because really, there is no "end" date). I fear that if I "tough it out", though, and lose the weight faster, along with it I will feel deprived which has never ended well for me. I'd rather take it slower to aid in the mental aspect of losing weight.

Somebody_Loved

@ninagray000 - I should have specified - I run 4-5 times per week. On those days I definitely feel more satisfied than when I don't have calories to eat back. 1200 is just a really low baseline. Especially for someone who loves beer.

PinkPixiexox

Somebody_Loved wrote: »

Hi everyone,

This might bet a stupid question but wanted to get some opinions on this. I'm at 1200 calories/day, have lost 18 pounds so far and want to lose 6-10 more. For reference, I'm 5'6 and currently at 131 pounds.

Since I'm getting somewhat close to maintenance (and getting a little tired of 1200 calories/day), I was considering raising my calorie goal/changing from a goal of 1 lb/week to .5 lb/week. Has anyone done this as they approached maintenance? And I guess I'm wondering if there's any reason not to do this?

Thanks!

I was eating at a harsh 1200 for 4 months (eeek, looking back I have no idea how I managed it..) I was actually eating way too little but this was pre-MFP days and I lacked the knowledge that these amazing people have drilled in to me!

I've now got 7 lbs left until I'm at my goal weight. I've increased my calories to 1500 and I'm losing at around 0.5 per week. I'm preparing myself for maintenance (and I can't WAIT!)