I'm back
Sumiblue
Posts: 1,597 Member
I was part of this group a year ago and I'm back! I'm trying to lose fat more than weight. I did lose 21 lbs and got very lean in the last year. I got a bit addicted to losing and got a little stupid, eating less and less as weight loss stalled. I continued lifting weights and just walk for cardio.
I was at my leanest when I went on vacation in July. 47, 5'2" and 114-116 lbs. I still wanted my legs to lean out but my upper body was so lean I pretty much lost my bust.
I went way off deficit on vacation and ate a lot of carbs. My body sucked that up and packed on the fat & water. Then, we had weeks of house guests and overeating, even though I still tried to workout. In my effort to lose the few lbs of fat I gained I was eating too few calories, consistently. If my exercise burn was accurate, often my net was below BMR. I found that to be disturbing and depressing so I'm increasing my calories. Been eating 1800-1900 calories for a few days now without gaining. I'm hoping to recomp: lose fat and gain muscle. I'm going to try to adhere to eating close to my TDEE and continue lifting and walking. My lifts suffered a lot while I was cutting. I hope they improve. I really don't care if I end up weighing more as long as my measurements go down. I'd rather eat more to sustain my TDEE. Sorry so long. I hope I still belong here
I was at my leanest when I went on vacation in July. 47, 5'2" and 114-116 lbs. I still wanted my legs to lean out but my upper body was so lean I pretty much lost my bust.
I went way off deficit on vacation and ate a lot of carbs. My body sucked that up and packed on the fat & water. Then, we had weeks of house guests and overeating, even though I still tried to workout. In my effort to lose the few lbs of fat I gained I was eating too few calories, consistently. If my exercise burn was accurate, often my net was below BMR. I found that to be disturbing and depressing so I'm increasing my calories. Been eating 1800-1900 calories for a few days now without gaining. I'm hoping to recomp: lose fat and gain muscle. I'm going to try to adhere to eating close to my TDEE and continue lifting and walking. My lifts suffered a lot while I was cutting. I hope they improve. I really don't care if I end up weighing more as long as my measurements go down. I'd rather eat more to sustain my TDEE. Sorry so long. I hope I still belong here
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Replies
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I lost .6 lbs since increasing calories 3
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Good job0
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Yay! If you have any secret to regaining some of the lost bust let me know. I kept losing because I never thought my legs looked like they should look for someone my size and weight with the cardio and I lost more weight and my bust just disappeared, or at least that is what it seemed like.0
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I never had a big bust but when I gained some fat back they came back, too. I think that's a real problem for many women. Lean out on top first, too much, before the bottom catches up. I'm happier with keeping my bust. I don't need to be as lean as I was. I think I need more muscle, actually.1
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Wow, I ate over 2000 calories today5
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Awesome! Get ready for more energy along with a ton of other benefits.
Ichel
EM2WL Ambassador and moderator0 -
Well, I seem to be maintaining on 1700 calories right now. I did go up over that because my Fitbit says I burn 1900-2000/day. But I freaked because my weight shot up to 125 last week. That is 10lbs over my average weight after my cut. I think my calorie burns are way overestimated since I lift weights. My cardio is walking (I let Fitbit count that) & Fitstar routines. Those get synced automatically & seem hugely inaccurate. No way I'm burning what they say I am in 10 minutes. So, I'm using IIFYM's TDEE of around 1700 & my weight has been stable at 122 all week. I know I need to give this time & im trying. I want to lose the inch I gained on my stomach, hips & thighs.1
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Hi!
Yes Fitbit is inaccurate for lifting weights but it actually UNDERestimates! It doesn't take into account the EPOC or the afterburner effect you get from lifting weights, so your fitbit will be underestimating on those calories burned.
Have you put your numbers into our calculator ( and been really honest with your activity level?) http://eatmore2weighless.com/weight-loss-calculator/
I know it's hard but try not to freak out! This stage is about healing and repair not about losing weight or losing inches. All of that will come when you cut after a full reset and your body has learned to trust you enough.
This process does require a great deal of patience and I'm not going to pretend that it's easy, but eating at your true TDEE for a period of time will do so much for your body in the long term.
Ichel
EM2WL Ambassador and moderator0 -
Your calculator gives me 1930 calories for maintenance. I do a 4 day upper/lower body split weight routine (60 min)& do at least one day of glute work. Short cardio sessions-either 10-20 minute FitStar routines after weights. Daily life is SAHM, housework. I get at least 10,000 steps a day. I'd say lightly active.
I've been eating at 1700 calories for a week and haven't gained a thing. Holding steady at 121 lbs. should I go up this week?0 -
Hi!
You are definitely at least moderately active with what you have described.
Yes, increase calories again. Just by 50-100, but make sure you are comfortable with that. This is as much a mental game as a physical. There is not set time frame to reach TDEE. Just increase as you feel comfortable.
Ichel
EM2WL ambassador and moderator0 -
I'm eating 1750 this week2
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I feel good. I hope my lifts will improve with the added calories. My strength has stalled out so many times in my various lifting programs.2
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@Sumiblue Excellent! As you keep increasing the calories you should definitely see better lifting results, although not at all the time. The extra food helps with recovery too. Keep us updated!
Ichel
EM2WL Ambassador and moderator0 -
I seem to have lost almost 2lbs of water weight overnight 3
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Yay! 0
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Love how you keep progressing! Thanks for the updates!
Ichel
EM2WL Ambassador and moderator0 -
I've been hanging at 1750-1800 for a couple of weeks. Pretty much maintaining my weight. I did lose 1.5 lb due to flu.
I at 1350-1459 for months to lose 22 lbs and I felt kind of scrawny, though I was happy to have lost the weight. I was lifting 5x week & doing Hiit cardio & kettlebell circuits, as well. Probably netted under BMR regularly
I'm thrilled to be eating more and maintaining now. I'm still lifting heavy 4x a week with light cardio & some Glutes exercises. I now eat what I want on weekends without logging. It looks to me like I'm building muscle in my legs, much needed
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Woo hoo! What great progress!
Look how far you have come?
Doing so much better in such a short time.
Imagine how good things will be in a month, six months, a year............
Ichel
EM2WL ambassador and moderator1
