New to dieting and could use some help

tshook12397

Hi. So I've been trying to lose weight for about three months now. I am 19 years old, 127 pounds and 5'4". My BMI is healthy however I am still not satisfied with how I look. I started out eating 1200 calories as an online BMR calculator instructed me to do. I discovered that this was way too little as I was just feeling starving by the end of the day and not effectively losing weight (I only lost 4 pounds in 3 months). I tend to be (I think) pretty healthy, trying to snack throughout the day instead of meals and whatnot. I do occasionally go for a slice of pizza or a dessert but I try to stick to dark chocolate to satisfy cravings. The foods I usually eat daily are: Oatmeal, bananas,vegetable soup, almonds, popcorn, some kind of breakfast bar, and sandwiches (usually smoked salmon and hummus). I don't have time to cook and I'm pretty sedentary since I am at college all day. I get exercise by walking when I can and sometimes I will do a quick workout when I have time (about once or twice a week)

I just want some help figuring out how many calories I should be eating or what I may be doing wrong. My goal weight right now is probably 120. I would appreciate any advice anyone can give me.

kgirlhart

You are right in the middle if the perfect weight range for your height. If I could tell my 19 year old self anything it would be to love my body and stop thinking I just needed to take off a few more pounds. You might want to look into exercise to tone and strengthen your body and it is never a bad idea to develop healthy eating habits. But you shouldn't really be worried about the number on the scale. Just take good care if the awesome body your already have.

Orphia

Use MFP to maintain your weight, and do some more exercise for health and fitness.

This graphic shows how body composition is more important than the number on the scale.



Best wishes.

LKArgh

tshook12397 wrote: »

Hi. So I've been trying to lose weight for about three months now. I am 19 years old, 127 pounds and 5'4". My BMI is healthy however I am still not satisfied with how I look. I started out eating 1200 calories as an online BMR calculator instructed me to do. I discovered that this was way too little as I was just feeling starving by the end of the day and not effectively losing weight (I only lost 4 pounds in 3 months). I tend to be (I think) pretty healthy, trying to snack throughout the day instead of meals and whatnot. I do occasionally go for a slice of pizza or a dessert but I try to stick to dark chocolate to satisfy cravings. The foods I usually eat daily are: Oatmeal, bananas,vegetable soup, almonds, popcorn, some kind of breakfast bar, and sandwiches (usually smoked salmon and hummus). I don't have time to cook and I'm pretty sedentary since I am at college all day. I get exercise by walking when I can and sometimes I will do a quick workout when I have time (about once or twice a week)

I just want some help figuring out how many calories I should be eating or what I may be doing wrong. My goal weight right now is probably 120. I would appreciate any advice anyone can give me.

Until you find the time and desire to change your lifestyle regarding activity level (on the long run, not a few weeks or months), save yourself a lot of trouble and accept your body the way it is. You are at a good BMI, there is no way you look bad. Struggling to lose (and keep off) a few more lbs will really not be worth as the effect will hardly be visible. Plus, when it comes to finetuning weight to that detail of the last lbs, without lifestyle changes, it will be hard and you will end up being on a constant diet and frustration cycle, watching the same 5 lbs come and go. If you are in general hoping for a different look, find a sport or training routine you enjoy and commit to it.

Talan79

Can you incorporate some strength training? Weights can really help change body composition. Its made a huge difference for me.

juggernaut1974

kgirlhart wrote: »

You are right in the middle if the perfect weight range for your height. If I could tell my 19 year old self anything it would be to love my body and stop thinking I just needed to take off a few more pounds. You might want to look into exercise to tone and strengthen your body and it is never a bad idea to develop healthy eating habits. But you shouldn't really be worried about the number on the scale. Just take good care if the awesome body your already have.

^ Agree with this.

From what you've said, it's not so much your weight that's an issue, but your body composition (or at the very least, how you see yourself in terms of body composition).

I'd echo the advice to take up a good weightlifting program. You may lose a couple pounds along the way - you might not. Heck you might even gain a couple. But done correctly, you'll like the results in the mirror better.

dubird

From what you've said, you don't need to lose weight. If you don't think you look good, you're better off finding your maintenance calories, logging to maintain, and then picking up weight lifting. It's not going to give you ubermuscles unless you try for it, but giving your body tone and a little muscle definition will go a long way to making you look like you've lost weight, while still remaining healthy.

strong_curves

Yeah, like everyone has already said look into weight lifting.

Josh_lol

I think that is about a healthy weight for your height and age (don't know if you're a man or woman but that won't make a huge difference.) If you don't think you look good, you could try looking into strength training / resistance training. Lifting weights would over time build up some muscle and "tone" your body as long as you're eating at maintenance or a surplus and getting enough protein.

tshook12397 wrote: »

Hi. So I've been tryighting to lose weight for about three months now. I am 19 years old, 127 pounds and 5'4". My BMI is healthy however I am still not satisfied with how I look. I started out eating 1200 calories as an online BMR calculator instructed me to do. I discovered that this was way too little as I was just feeling starving by the end of the day and not effectively losing weight (I only lost 4 pounds in 3 months). I tend to be (I think) pretty healthy, trying to snack throughout the day instead of meals and whatnot. I do occasionally go for a slice of pizza or a dessert but I try to stick to dark chocolate to satisfy cravings. The foods I usually eat daily are: Oatmeal, bananas,vegetable soup, almonds, popcorn, some kind of breakfast bar, and sandwiches (usually smoked salmon and hummus). I don't have time to cook and I'm pretty sedentary since I am at college all day. I get exercise by walking when I can and sometimes I will do a quick workout when I have time (about once or twice a week)

I just want some help figuring out how many calories I should be eating or what I may be doing wrong. My goal weight right now is probably 120. I would appreciate any advice anyone can give me.

I_Will_End_You

I agree about the body comp but...

If you only lost 4 lbs in 3 months at 1200 calories...you were eating more than 1200 calories without realizing it. Log better, trying weighing food if you haven't already.

tshook12397

Thank you all for replying. I actually was very active at working out before college (an hour of intense exercise at least 4 times a week). Accept I didn't benefit much since I was eating like crap. It would definitely be hard to get back into it since I live in an apartment which makes exercising in general difficult. I will try what most of you suggested though and see if I can find time to workout more.