That's it! Against all my natural instincts...

EmmaOnTrack

I'm going to get REALLY tough on myself for not losing weight faster...by eating more!

I've been working so hard for the last 5 weeks and tried everything from adding strength training to my cardio, tracking my sodium to drinking ridiculous amounts of water...and it's just not happening,

I know I must be missing something, and from everything I've read on here I am finally ready to accept I may not be eating enough...so today's the day I up my calories from 1200 (which I very rarely reach).

So, do I use TDEE - 20% (1800 cals) or BMR (1500ish) as a guide?

It's all pretty difficult to get my head around. :ohwell:

Railr0aderTony

use TDEE - 20%

You will not be sorry but please be patient it will take some time for you to adjust to eatting more. Please do not come back on here in two weeks saying that you raised your calories and it didn't work. It will take some time but it Will work.

daftthoughts

Try increasing every week with 100 calories until you're up to 1500. See how your body reacts. If it still isn't happening up slowly to 1800! Everybody is different, and taking it slow will help a lot. Carefully monitor your body (preferably use measurements instead of weight) and see how it reacts.

It's a matter of trial and error for most people.

xaMErica

It works, maybe not immediately but it will. Don't panic if the first week or 2 weeks you gain pound or two.. I ate at 1200 for the longest time! I wasn't happy about that. I now eat 1500 and I lose.

EmmaOnTrack

use TDEE - 20%

You will not be sorry but please be patient it will take some time for you to adjust to eatting more. Please do not come back on here in two weeks saying that you raised your calories and it didn't work. It will take some time but it Will work.

I can't promise I won't be back in a few weeks feeling sorry for myself if I don't see a change...but I do realise this will take time. I just hope I don't put ON any weight this week, cos I worked so bloody hard for the few pounds loss I've managed.

EmmaOnTrack

Try increasing every week with 100 calories until you're up to 1500. See how your body reacts. If it still isn't happening up slowly to 1800! Everybody is different, and taking it slow will help a lot. Carefully monitor your body (preferably use measurements instead of weight) and see how it reacts.

It's a matter of trial and error for most people.

Appreciate the advice, thank you.

Railr0aderTony

Everybody is different,

No they are not. Only our habits are. (unless you have a medical condition) disclaimer

Railr0aderTony

use TDEE - 20%

You will not be sorry but please be patient it will take some time for you to adjust to eatting more. Please do not come back on here in two weeks saying that you raised your calories and it didn't work. It will take some time but it Will work.

I can't promise I won't be back in a few weeks feeling sorry for myself if I don't see a change...but I do realise this will take time. I just hope I don't put ON any weight this week, cos I worked so bloody hard for the few pounds loss I've managed.

you realize every pound represents aprox 3500 calories over your TDEE? I really doubt you will put on weight. There could be an slight bump but it will level out and then fall.

ninerbuff

Need to see the bigger picture. Weight doesn't matter much if one looks the way they want, is able to fit the clothes and size they want, and gets the compliments they are looking for.

I have yet to see people stamp their weight on their foreheads so they can be assessed if they are successful or not.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

1princesswarrior

TDEE - 20% and losing steadily again. Take your time increasing calories so your body can adjust, the 100 a week is good but work up to TDEE - 20%. Recalculate every 5 pounds lost.

Good luck!

Rompers616

Need to see the bigger picture. Weight doesn't matter much if one looks the way they want, is able to fit the clothes and size they want, and gets the compliments they are looking for.

I have yet to see people stamp their weight on their foreheads so they can be assessed if they are successful or not.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I love this answer

MercenaryNoetic26

I have yet to see people stamp their weight on their foreheads so they can be assessed if they are successful or not.

Lol! :drinker:

EmmaOnTrack

Need to see the bigger picture. Weight doesn't matter much if one looks the way they want, is able to fit the clothes and size they want, and gets the compliments they are looking for.

I have yet to see people stamp their weight on their foreheads so they can be assessed if they are successful or not.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Intellectually I absolutely know this to be true. Unfortunately when you make a commitment to change and put everything you've got into making it happen its very difficult not to have an emotional response if things don't go as you'd imagined.

I AM feeling better in my skin and know I'm on a positive path...just pretty sure I haven't been eating enough but really struggling with the concept of eating more so appreciate everyone's thoughts.

Alluminati

Need to see the bigger picture. Weight doesn't matter much if one looks the way they want, is able to fit the clothes and size they want, and gets the compliments they are looking for.

I have yet to see people stamp their weight on their foreheads so they can be assessed if they are successful or not.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Intellectually I absolutely know this to be true. Unfortunately when you make a commitment to change and put everything you've got into making it happen its very difficult not to have an emotional response if things don't go as you'd imagined.

I AM feeling better in my skin and know I'm on a positive path...just pretty sure I haven't been eating enough but really struggling with the concept of eating more so appreciate everyone's thoughts.

Don't you think some of us felt as scared as you when we had to bump up our calories? The only way to do it is to just do it. So you gain a pound or 3, but know it will come back down. That's all. You're not gonna explode. Like ninerbuff said, focus on the big picture. :flowerforyou:

EmmaOnTrack

Need to see the bigger picture. Weight doesn't matter much if one looks the way they want, is able to fit the clothes and size they want, and gets the compliments they are looking for.

I have yet to see people stamp their weight on their foreheads so they can be assessed if they are successful or not.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Intellectually I absolutely know this to be true. Unfortunately when you make a commitment to change and put everything you've got into making it happen its very difficult not to have an emotional response if things don't go as you'd imagined.

I AM feeling better in my skin and know I'm on a positive path...just pretty sure I haven't been eating enough but really struggling with the concept of eating more so appreciate everyone's thoughts.

Don't you think some of us felt as scared as you when we had to bump up our calories?

That's precisely why I posted here.

1PatientBear

Need to see the bigger picture. Weight doesn't matter much if one looks the way they want, is able to fit the clothes and size they want, and gets the compliments they are looking for.

I have yet to see people stamp their weight on their foreheads so they can be assessed if they are successful or not.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Intellectually I absolutely know this to be true. Unfortunately when you make a commitment to change and put everything you've got into making it happen its very difficult not to have an emotional response if things don't go as you'd imagined.

I AM feeling better in my skin and know I'm on a positive path...just pretty sure I haven't been eating enough but really struggling with the concept of eating more so appreciate everyone's thoughts.

Don't you think some of us felt as scared as you when we had to bump up our calories?

That's precisely why I posted here.

We've got your back Emma. You're going to kick *kitten*. We'll all be here to congratulate you when you do and tell you to get off your butt when you don't!!

diadia1

To lose weight you have to eat more. Otherwise your body is in a starvation mode. You need to start increase your metabolism by adding a few calories a day for a few days. And as others said earlier wait and see what happens.

EmmaOnTrack

Need to see the bigger picture. Weight doesn't matter much if one looks the way they want, is able to fit the clothes and size they want, and gets the compliments they are looking for.

I have yet to see people stamp their weight on their foreheads so they can be assessed if they are successful or not.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Intellectually I absolutely know this to be true. Unfortunately when you make a commitment to change and put everything you've got into making it happen its very difficult not to have an emotional response if things don't go as you'd imagined.

I AM feeling better in my skin and know I'm on a positive path...just pretty sure I haven't been eating enough but really struggling with the concept of eating more so appreciate everyone's thoughts.

Don't you think some of us felt as scared as you when we had to bump up our calories?

That's precisely why I posted here.

We've got your back Emma. You're going to kick *kitten*. We'll all be here to congratulate you when you do and tell you to get off your butt when you don't!!

Love that about you and my other new friends. :flowerforyou:

tmauck4472

Everybody is different,

No they are not. Only our habits are. (unless you have a medical condition) disclaimer

No really, EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT...if we weren't we'd all be skinny or we'd all be obese, or we'd all have cancer or none of would. Seriously our bodies are made the same and maybe they are supposed to work the same but they don't. Such a shame that people just don't understand/believe it. And every obese person has a medical condition, it's called obeseity. A skinny person may be able to eat 4000 calories a day and not gain a lb, their body processes food differently than an obese person. It's true if it wasn't life would be so different, don't you agree?

tmauck4472

To lose weight you have to eat more. Otherwise your body is in a starvation mode. You need to start increase your metabolism by adding a few calories a day for a few days. And as others said earlier wait and see what happens.

Really? then would you mind explaining to me how I've lost 207 lbs in 19 months? I'm pretty sure this starvation mode you speak of has yet to show up at my house. I'm NOT saying eat less or don't eat more, I'm just saying your body will not go into starvation mode if you eat less than 1200 a day. I'm pretty sure the only time starvation mode will show up in a woman is when her body fat gets below 12 %. It may not be wise to eat below a certain amount and it may not be healthy but starvation mode will def not happen.

EmmaOnTrack

UPDATE: So, I upped my cals to 1300 for the week and tried to eat all my exercise cals back (fell short by 200-300 net cals most days)...and lost 1.7lbs.

Turns out eating more makes you loose weight faster. Who knew?!