Eating too few calories?

chornak05

First of all, here are some stats.
29 year old female, 5'6". Currently 136 lbs, starting weight was 165 in april. Basically up until about a month ago I lost all weight through cutting processed food, most dairy, almost all sugar and bread. About a month ago I started going to the gym 4x per week doing 30 minutes on the eliptical and 30 min weight training. I am also breastfeeding my 8 month old.

So. I have been eating about 1600 calories this whole time. Feeling great, milk supply has been good, sleeping awesome etc. I thought i would stop losing lbs and gain muscle but I am still losing about a lb a week. Yesterday after my work out i felt sluggish and crappy all day. Am i eating too little?

My issue is the breastfeeding on top of the working out on top of the losing weight. I honestly have no idea how many calories to eat. I want to gain muscle but still have a little stomach pudge i want to lose.
Thoughts?

allyphoe

You don't stop losing weight when you're still eating at a deficit. Nor do you gain muscle when you're still eating at a deficit.

If you're losing a pound a week, you can eat up to 500 calories a day more.

malibu927

Are you eating back your exercise/BF calories? That may be why you feel sluggish if you aren't.

deannalfisher

you lost 30lbs since April? that is a fairly aggressive weight loss (approx. 10lbs a month or 2.5lbs a week)

if you want to gain muscle - you are going to need to eat at closer to maintenance and engage in a progressive strength program (strong lifts, strong curves)

DebLaBounty

What's your doctor recommend?