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MyFitnessPal Community

1200 calories a day making me miserable.

Btheodore138

Hey there! Let me start off by saying I'm 5'2, 156.6 lbs. I started my journey February 20 when I weighed 165 lbs. When I joined MFP, I was around 162 and losing at a pretty good clip...1lb a week. Then the past two weeks I kind of stalled out, even though I was doing the same thing. I figured maybe I was eating too much, so I changed my setting from "slightly active" to "sedentary", since I'm a SAHM, but I do go to Zumba for an hour 3-4 times a week and walk at least 10k steps a day.

I didn't think a 200 calorie difference would be that big of a deal. It's only been a few days...but I'm STARVING. I actually go on the treadmill for an hour so I can eat an extra 100 calories a day but I'm still crazy hungry. Should I go back to my "slightly active" setting or just stick it out?

Replies

WifiresGettingFit

If you're miserable, you aren't going to stick with it. Up the calories back up and lose a little slower.

EDIT: If you still don't see a loss in another 2 weeks, tighten up the logging.

MsBuzzkillington

You're setting yourself up for failure. Up your calories, you will still lose.

GerryRog

I agree with the previous posts.

dinobomp

I feel your pain. I am set at 1225, and I have 45% of my weight left to lose! I'll be at no calories toward the end, I am sure! ha I have insulin resistance, and it's really hard for me to lose. UGH...I'm sorry you are hungry. Maybe eat something with healthy fat, so you will feel like you actually ate?! Nuts are a good choice, and I eat cheese, too. Good luck to you. I know it's hard.

laurawr105

I use an app called myfitness calculator and that gives a more calculated and personal calorie intake for weight loss.

Also, it tells you the amount of protein etc you should be getting. Maybe you are eating healthy but not quite getting the right amount of protein, carbs and fat to fuel you? Just a suggestion

Justifier

You are more than sedentary. I have my profile set at sedentary and let FitBit calculate the rest. I get calories added after 4000-5000 steps. (5'2", 200ish lbs)

As others said, if you are miserable, you aren't going to succeed. My net is 1370 and I'm perfectly satisfied.

ridge4mfp

If you are doing 10K steps and Zumba several times a week, aren't you earning extra calories, OP? You should be able to eat at least some of those back.

Btheodore138

The days I have Zumba, I'm rolling in extra calories. So much so, that I usually only eat half of them back. I'm going to bump it up again to "slightly active" and give it some more time.

elaineamj

I am 5ft and currently 134 lbs. I set myself as lightly active and was given 1230 cals. I eat all my exercise calories and am losing consistently 1 lb a week (it's been on the dot for the past 4 weeks lol). I personally feel it is likely that between cooking and cleaning, I probably would be classed as active instead of lightly active. But if I did that, I'd only be able to eat back 50-75% of my exercise calories and psychologically, I prefer my current method.

I track on a weekly basis. Some days I am under a 1000 calories, some days as much as 1700 calories. I save some for the weekend but by Sunday night, often have as much as 250-500 still left for the week. Snack time!! ( yes I eat everything I am allowed).

In your case, I would suggest tracking on a weekly basis so u don't have to eat all your Zumba cals in one day. That should balance u out so your days are more like 1300-1400 cals on average.

I used to do 1200 cals + 1/2 my exercise calories. I was miserable (found it super hard to stay within 1200 cals), hungry, and finally after 5/6 weeks, DH said I looked pale and tired and was very scatterbrained. I started eating all my exercise calories after that and this whole diet thing was a breeze. I even had room for occasional junk food! There was a day this week where I only ate 500-600 net cals. But then several 1500-1800 days. I still have 1800 cals left for tomorrow and expect to earn another 200-300 in exercise. Crazy!!! But sure makes this diet thing feel a whole lot less restrictive.

hstoblish

We've got similar stats (I'm 5'3" at 154.2 last weigh in). I'm currently on parental leave and home with a 3 year old and a 7 month old. Revently, I stalled out but really I needed to increase exercise and tighten up my logging. I had myself as sedentary for awhile and just switched to lightly active, and changed my loss rate to 1 pound a week. It upped me to 1450, and I started losing again. (I also cleaned up my sugars and sodium intake, but that impacts me a lot more than it dies some people).

Honestly, chasing these kids around definitely is not sedentary. Depending on how old yours are, you might be the same S me.