Insights needed....PLEASE

MBH3

Insight needed....PLEASE!

I have 20 lbs to lose to be at the top range of a health BMI for my height. I would ideally like to lose 30 lbs. I am the mother of 3 children under the age of 9 & work full time in a sedentary job. I exercise 5-6 days per week for 30-1 hour doing a combo of the Les Mills Body Combat program & Turbofire. I burn between 1700-1900 cals per week (per my Polar heart rate monitor.) MFP has my caloric goal at 1200 cals. I have always exercised so this is not a new behavior for me.

Over the past 30 days, my net calories have danced around that range. (For the last 30 days, I am 164 over my net calorie goal.) I am measuring & weighing portions. In looking at my logs, I note that WINE (i.e. empty calories) has probably been my primary weakness. My husband sells it, it is free, readily accessible & I love it . :drinker:

Still, it seems like that scale should have moved a little bit. Instead...I have gained 1 lb & lost 2 inches???????

Personal Goals for next 30 days:
1. Limit wine intake (i.e. no more daily glass / save it for special events)
2. Be mindful of and avoid mindless bites, licks & tastes when cooking and off my children's plates (which are not tracked)

Questions for you:
1. Do I need to eat back exercise calories?
2. If I don't, will it contribute to stalling my metabolism?

I am very frustrated :grumble: b/c I feel like I've been working hard & not getting measurable results.

Any insights are welcome. Thanks in advance.

Marcy

diannethegeek

Yes, MFP is designed for you to log your exercise and eat back the earned calories. I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but a lot of us have found that we don't lose weight when we cut our calories too low.

MBH3

So...if I have 1200 cals & burn 300 exercising, I NEED to eat 1500 calories to lose weight?