Help with next steps

sarab260

Good morning all!

I weighed in yesterday at a little over 10lb from my ultimate goal weight (5lb from the top of my goal maintenance range). I'm wondering how in this stage I should change my diet / exercise habits. Do I lower my calories? Raise them? Do more cardio? Do less?

I've heard a lot of conflicting views, and varying opinions, so I would love some insight.

Thanks!

Liftng4Lis

You'll need to provide additional information, before anyone can help you. What are you doing now and what are your stats? Usually, with 10 pounds to lose, you set your goal for a half a pound a week loss. Additional cardio is unnecessary, although lifting is highly recommended.

sarab260

Ah sorry! You're right — I was so vague.

I'm 5'2, started at 150lb 84 days ago set at 1.5lb/week, and am trying to get to a 120-125lb range for maintenance. I had been working with trainers 3-4x a week in half hour sessions, with an additional 1-2 hours on the elliptical each day (once in the morning and once at night).
Now with work picking up and getting busy I really only have time for one workout a day in the morning, and will probably need to work out a new schedule with my trainers to accommodate this. I would prefer to be able to work mostly with them doing weight training, but the convenience of the elliptical and being on my own schedule is also really appealing.

Anyway, just looking for tips in this new stage! Thank you!!

sarab260

Would love some more insight on this if anyone has any!

StaciMarie1974

A common tendency is to have a lower deficit/lose slower as you get closer to your goal weight. Your body burns less when you weigh less. If your activity level is also going to change, you may want to use one of the only calculators to estimate average total daily burn, and use that to set a calorie intake goal. Other than that, its a good bit of trial and error to figure out what works for you.

Congrats on your success so far.

queenliz99

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/113609/relatively-light-people-trying-to-get-leaner/p1

tulips_and_tea

sarab260 wrote: »

Ah sorry! You're right — I was so vague.

I'm 5'2, started at 150lb 84 days ago set at 1.5lb/week, and am trying to get to a 120-125lb range for maintenance. I had been working with trainers 3-4x a week in half hour sessions, with an additional 1-2 hours on the elliptical each day (once in the morning and once at night).
Now with work picking up and getting busy I really only have time for one workout a day in the morning, and will probably need to work out a new schedule with my trainers to accommodate this. I would prefer to be able to work mostly with them doing weight training, but the convenience of the elliptical and being on my own schedule is also really appealing.

Anyway, just looking for tips in this new stage! Thank you!!

That is a LOT of working out. Not sustainable for the long term, in my opinion. Find a schedule that works for you, hopefully keeping the training sessions and adding in a lifting program. I don't know what your calorie goal is, but you definitely want to adjust it so that you aren't reliant on 2+hours per day of cardio. You may enjoy it now, but you may burn out or risk and overuse injury.

Congratulations though on your progress and being almost at goal weight! That's great! Maintenance is a trial and error period that needs to be re-evaluated regularly to accommodate lifestyle changes.

MarcyKirkton

sarab260 wrote: »

Good morning all!

I weighed in yesterday at a little over 10lb from my ultimate goal weight (5lb from the top of my goal maintenance range). I'm wondering how in this stage I should change my diet / exercise habits. Do I lower my calories? Raise them? Do more cardio? Do less?

I've heard a lot of conflicting views, and varying opinions, so I would love some insight.

Thanks!

I started about the same time as you and am also 5'2". 7 lbs to go. My "zone" worked extremely well until recently, and I fiddled around and realized that the problem was definitely the same calorie level won't work so close to my goal. I am choosing not to lower calories further, but instead, pick up 3 more days of exercise to get to the goal.

My friend recommended strength training, and I think he's spot on. I'm investigating a way to incorporate that this week.

Good luck!

sarab260

BZAH10 wrote: »

sarab260 wrote: »

Ah sorry! You're right — I was so vague.

I'm 5'2, started at 150lb 84 days ago set at 1.5lb/week, and am trying to get to a 120-125lb range for maintenance. I had been working with trainers 3-4x a week in half hour sessions, with an additional 1-2 hours on the elliptical each day (once in the morning and once at night).
Now with work picking up and getting busy I really only have time for one workout a day in the morning, and will probably need to work out a new schedule with my trainers to accommodate this. I would prefer to be able to work mostly with them doing weight training, but the convenience of the elliptical and being on my own schedule is also really appealing.

Anyway, just looking for tips in this new stage! Thank you!!

That is a LOT of working out. Not sustainable for the long term, in my opinion. Find a schedule that works for you, hopefully keeping the training sessions and adding in a lifting program. I don't know what your calorie goal is, but you definitely want to adjust it so that you aren't reliant on 2+hours per day of cardio. You may enjoy it now, but you may burn out or risk and overuse injury.

Congratulations though on your progress and being almost at goal weight! That's great! Maintenance is a trial and error period that needs to be re-evaluated regularly to accommodate lifestyle changes.

Thank you for your helpful response! Just wondering in what timeframe a body would usually become reliant on a certain amount of cardio. I've been doing this for 3 or so months, so I'm nervous I'll start gaining now that I'm slowing it down a bit. Thank you for your kind words of congratulations! I'm not at maintenance yet, but hopefully in a few months!!!

sarab260

MarcyKirkton wrote: »

sarab260 wrote: »

Good morning all!

I weighed in yesterday at a little over 10lb from my ultimate goal weight (5lb from the top of my goal maintenance range). I'm wondering how in this stage I should change my diet / exercise habits. Do I lower my calories? Raise them? Do more cardio? Do less?

I've heard a lot of conflicting views, and varying opinions, so I would love some insight.

Thanks!

I started about the same time as you and am also 5'2". 7 lbs to go. My "zone" worked extremely well until recently, and I fiddled around and realized that the problem was definitely the same calorie level won't work so close to my goal. I am choosing not to lower calories further, but instead, pick up 3 more days of exercise to get to the goal.

My friend recommended strength training, and I think he's spot on. I'm investigating a way to incorporate that this week.

Good luck!

Ah that's great! Congratulations on your success so far, and keep me updated with how strength training works for you!