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Help! I've lost more weight than I intended to and need to think about maintaining.

sefajane1
sefajane1 Posts: 322 Member
edited December 2024 in Goal: Maintaining Weight
Hi, I started out wanting to lose a few lbs before 2 holidays came up, so that I could enjoy my food (as per usual...then).

One holiday (10 day duration) has already passed and I regularly went over my maintenance calories but still ended up with a 2lbs loss.

Since then I'm still losing (5.2lbs in 14 days).

The next holiday (12 days duration) is coming up next week and I know I'll eat a lot more than the last holiday (I must, my family will know something's off if I don't!).

So, after this holiday I'd like to maintain whatever weight I'm at because I know that the weight I'm at at the moment is too low for my frame.

Do I (after the holiday) just set my goals to maintenance calories and stick with that or is there something else I should do?

If I'm losing faster than I wanted to when I'm set at a 0.5lbs/week calorie goal then maybe something's not right?


Stats-

Female
Age 50 (almost 51!)
5ft 4inches
Starting weight: 134.4 lbs - 27th Feb' 2019
Current weight: 122.2lbs - today (9th May 2019)
Goal set to lose 0.5lbs/week at 1200 calories/day
Activity: Sedentary
Β«1

Replies

  • sefajane1
    sefajane1 Posts: 322 Member
    Thank you @kimny72, can I ask what you're activity setting is please? Also, do you do any exercise?

    1800 cals would seem far too much for me. All the calculators give me around 1400 to maintain πŸ€”

    I'm definitely going to be enjoying the extra food next week πŸ˜‚
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    I'm set to sedentary and let my Fitbit adjustment sync, but I'd call myself lightly active. I get 7k - 8k steps per day, plus strength training 3x per week.

    Keep in mind that the calculators are just estimating, there are plenty of folks who need to eat more or less than the calcs predict. If you're eating 1200 cals and losing say 1 lb per week, then your maintenance is @ 1700. Don't feel like there's something wrong with you if you need to eat more than you'd expect!
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 35,486 Member
    I'm older than you (63), not much taller (5'5"), a little heavier (130s), and sedentary outside of intentional exercise. MFP significantly underestimates my maintenance calories (it thinks something like 1500 plus exercise; reality is more like 2000 plus exercise, based on nearly 4 years of logging data, 3 of which has been maintenance). That big of a difference from the MFP estimate is quite unusual, but it can happen.

    Please understand: I'm not saying that your maintenance calories are the same as mine. I'm only saying that if your actual real-world results say that MFP under-estimates your calorie needs, that is a thing that's actually possible. As kimny said, MFP is just giving you a statistical estimate.

    There's a thread here with discussion about different ways to figure out your maintenance calories:

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10638211/how-to-find-your-maintenance-calorie-level
  • sefajane1
    sefajane1 Posts: 322 Member
    Thank you @AnnPT77, I'll take a look now πŸ‘
  • neugebauer52
    neugebauer52 Posts: 1,120 Member
    No pun intended - but you should write a book ! It will be a best - seller, maybe you found the answer to (consistent) weight loss? Please let me know!
  • sefajane1
    sefajane1 Posts: 322 Member
    No pun intended - but you should write a book ! It will be a best - seller, maybe you found the answer to (consistent) weight loss? Please let me know!

    Well obviously I'm burning much more calories than I'm taking in. Nothing new about that 😁 I just haven't figured out how much more I should eat πŸ€”

    What I'm doing now is;

    Calculate my daily exercise calories.
    Halve that number.
    Add that figure to my BMR (1113).
    Take 1200 (my MFP set calorie goal) from that and that's how many exercise calories I eat back.

    Does that sound right? I don't want to add the exercise calories directly to the 1200 if my BMR is so much lower because that would mean an extra 87 calories/day - 609/week.
  • sefajane1
    sefajane1 Posts: 322 Member
    PAV8888 wrote: Β»
    No pun intended - but you should write a book ! It will be a best - seller, maybe you found the answer to (consistent) weight loss? Please let me know!

    Well obviously I'm burning much more calories than I'm taking in. Nothing new about that 😁 I just haven't figured out how much more I should eat πŸ€”

    What I'm doing now is;

    Calculate my daily exercise calories.
    Halve that number.
    Add that figure to my BMR (1113).
    Take 1200 (my MFP set calorie goal) from that and that's how many exercise calories I eat back.

    Does that sound right? I don't want to add the exercise calories directly to the 1200 if my BMR is so much lower because that would mean an extra 87 calories/day - 609/week.

    Forgive me for saying this, but you're making this WAY too complicated. You're losing weight. You don't want to.

    Eat more.
    Eat all the dang exercise calories.
    Stop eating at a deficit.

    One of three things will happen!

    You will continue to lose weight which means you will need to eat even more.

    You will stop losing weight and you be maintaining. This means that you're goldilocks!

    OR, you will start gaining slowly. And guess what, it can't be a fast fat gain given that you are currently still losing and that your total adjustment based on what you're saying will be less than 500 Cal a day which at most can add up to a lb a week using the 3500 Cal per lb conversion.

    So if you start gaining slowly you can adjust and back off a bit.

    Just start eating all your exercise calories and all your maintenance calories and take it from there! Adjust based on your weight trend over a few weeks,,,

    I know, I'm driving myself crazy with it! πŸ˜‚
  • sefajane1
    sefajane1 Posts: 322 Member
    Hi, I started out wanting to lose a few lbs before 2 holidays came up, so that I could enjoy my food (as per usual...then).

    One holiday (10 day duration) has already passed and I regularly went over my maintenance calories but still ended up with a 2lbs loss.

    Since then I'm still losing (5.2lbs in 14 days).

    The next holiday (12 days duration) is coming up next week and I know I'll eat a lot more than the last holiday (I must, my family will know something's off if I don't!).

    So, after this holiday I'd like to maintain whatever weight I'm at because I know that the weight I'm at at the moment is too low for my frame.

    Do I (after the holiday) just set my goals to maintenance calories and stick with that or is there something else I should do?

    If I'm losing faster than I wanted to when I'm set at a 0.5lbs/week calorie goal then maybe something's not right?


    Stats-

    Female
    Age 50 (almost 51!)
    5ft 4inches
    Starting weight: 134.4 lbs - 27th Feb' 2019
    Current weight: 122.2lbs - today (9th May 2019)
    Goal set to lose 0.5lbs/week at 1200 calories/day
    Activity: Sedentary

    I've just noticed that my current weight is wrong! It should read *112.2* instead of 122.2
  • sefajane1
    sefajane1 Posts: 322 Member
    Thank you for responding 😊

    I plan to try to eat to my maintenance calories during the holiday (will probably go over though with alcohol added πŸ˜‰πŸ˜‚).
    I'll give myself a week after eating the same as I do know just to get back on track and then eat at maintenance after. That's the plan anyway.
  • sefajane1
    sefajane1 Posts: 322 Member
    I certainly am confused with your posts as they are conflicting. You have said that your weight is already too low for your frame, yet you insist on eating at a deficit until the holiday. Up your calories now. You can do this in increments or in one hit. Eat at maintenance on holidays and continue to eat at maintenance when you return. Otherwise, you will continue to lose weight.

    Psst I too overshot and lost more than intended, after going through a difficult time last year when I lost my appetite. I am now eating at a surplus to regain some to that. I am currently just under 95 pounds and 4'11. At sedentary I maintain my weight on around 1600 calories before exercise and about 2100 afterwards.

    I can understand your confusion, I'm the same! I didn't want to lose this much weight but, now that I have, I think to myself "well, that's more calories in the bank to spend on holiday", if you see what I mean? 😏

    Anyway, I've only got until Tuesday and then I can relax and enjoy my food 😊

    I hope that you're feeling better now and that you'll soon be back to normal πŸ’
  • Maxxitt
    Maxxitt Posts: 1,281 Member
    Halving your exercise calories and adding them to your BMR is under-eating. BMR calculates calories required to keep you alive if you were lying in a bed all day. It doesn't include the calories you burn from getting up and doing stuff. Eat more.
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    If you are consistently losing a lot of weight while eating enough calories, you could have a medical condition and should see the doctor to rule out any possibilities for that.
  • sefajane1
    sefajane1 Posts: 322 Member
    For anyone still following this thread, it's day 3 of my holiday. I went way over maintenance calories (by 480! 😨) on the first day, yesterday I was 100 under so not too bad really.

    I'm hosting dinner today and have prepped most of the food already. Most is made from scratch so I've been able to calculate roughly how many calories I'll have today. It works out to just under maintenance and that includes a few beers πŸ˜‰πŸ˜‚

    I weighed and measured myself this morning; 1.8lbs up but my measurements are down a tiny bit so I'm quite pleased so far πŸ˜€
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,583 Member
    edited May 2019
    For anyone still following this thread, it's day 3 of my holiday. I went way over maintenance calories (by 480! 😨) on the first day, yesterday I was 100 under so not too bad really.

    I'm hosting dinner today and have prepped most of the food already. Most is made from scratch so I've been able to calculate roughly how many calories I'll have today. It works out to just under maintenance and that includes a few beers πŸ˜‰πŸ˜‚

    I weighed and measured myself this morning; 1.8lbs up but my measurements are down a tiny bit so I'm quite pleased so far πŸ˜€

    Hello wonderful lady <waves> Glad you're enjoying yourself!

    Can you give us some clear guidance about the maintenance weight range that you currently consider desirable and also let us know where that range slots in relation to BMIs 18 and 20 for you?

    Thank you, and I hope you have loads of fun with your friends!!!

  • sefajane1
    sefajane1 Posts: 322 Member
    PAV8888 wrote: Β»
    For anyone still following this thread, it's day 3 of my holiday. I went way over maintenance calories (by 480! 😨) on the first day, yesterday I was 100 under so not too bad really.

    I'm hosting dinner today and have prepped most of the food already. Most is made from scratch so I've been able to calculate roughly how many calories I'll have today. It works out to just under maintenance and that includes a few beers πŸ˜‰πŸ˜‚

    I weighed and measured myself this morning; 1.8lbs up but my measurements are down a tiny bit so I'm quite pleased so far πŸ˜€

    Hello wonderful lady <waves> Glad you're enjoying yourself!

    Can you give us some clear guidance about the maintenance weight range that you currently consider desirable and also let us know where that range slots in relation to BMIs 18 and 20 for you?

    Thank you, and I hope you have loads of fun with your friends!!!

    Well, whilst I'm having my holiday, I'm just using maintenance calories, as given by MFP, plus 50% of my exercise calories as a rough guideline. I'm making fairly sensible food and drink choices and I'm eating a lot more than I have been since the end of February.

    Once the holiday is over I'll reevaluate my goals but for now, I just want to eat well with my family and worry about the rest later 🍸🍹πŸ₯‚πŸ˜ƒ
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,583 Member
    I wish you success; but I note that your chosen calorie level is one geared towards weight loss and not one geared towards eating well with your family at maintenance.

    Why? Because: maintenance, as given by MFP, depends on your activity setting. And based on your original post you're selecting sedentary but showing evidence that you're not.

    And 50% of exercise calories are, on paper, not your actual net exercise calories. Again based on your sedentary selection you're targeting only: 0.5* ( EAC - 0.25*BMR). You probably would need to eat back 80+% of your mixed exercise calories to actually be eating back your "on paper" net exercise calories and the % would increase the more vigorous your exercise.

    Based on the title of your original post the only encouraging aspect is that you're eating a lot more than you have been since the end of February!
  • sefajane1
    sefajane1 Posts: 322 Member
    PAV8888 wrote: Β»
    I wish you success; but I note that your chosen calorie level is one geared towards weight loss and not one geared towards eating well with your family at maintenance.

    Why? Because: maintenance, as given by MFP, depends on your activity setting. And based on your original post you're selecting sedentary but showing evidence that you're not.

    And 50% of exercise calories are, on paper, not your actual net exercise calories. Again based on your sedentary selection you're targeting only: 0.5* ( EAC - 0.25*BMR). You probably would need to eat back 80+% of your mixed exercise calories to actually be eating back your "on paper" net exercise calories and the % would increase the more vigorous your exercise.

    Based on the title of your original post the only encouraging aspect is that you're eating a lot more than you have been since the end of February!

    I'm sorry, I know my posts are confusing. I said I lost too much weight and would like to change to maintenence but I don't seem to want to stop losing or, god forbid, gain. It's like there's a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. It's the old ED thought process that pops back every so often.

    I'm used to it but I know that my way of thinking often doesn't make sense to anyone else πŸ™„

    It's all fine though, the angel is stronger than the devil right now πŸ˜‡
  • sefajane1
    sefajane1 Posts: 322 Member
    P.S.

    I too think I probably could change my activity level but fairly soon it will be too hot here to be able to do much exercise (aside from using the pool) so I will be a lot less active until the end of summer.
  • sefajane1
    sefajane1 Posts: 322 Member
    PAV8888 wrote: Β»
    I wish you success; but I note that your chosen calorie level is one geared towards weight loss and not one geared towards eating well with your family at maintenance.

    Why? Because: maintenance, as given by MFP, depends on your activity setting. And based on your original post you're selecting sedentary but showing evidence that you're not.

    And 50% of exercise calories are, on paper, not your actual net exercise calories. Again based on your sedentary selection you're targeting only: 0.5* ( EAC - 0.25*BMR). You probably would need to eat back 80+% of your mixed exercise calories to actually be eating back your "on paper" net exercise calories and the % would increase the more vigorous your exercise.

    Based on the title of your original post the only encouraging aspect is that you're eating a lot more than you have been since the end of February!

    I'm sorry, I know my posts are confusing. I said I lost too much weight and would like to change to maintenence but I don't seem to want to stop losing or, god forbid, gain. It's like there's a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. It's the old ED thought process that pops back every so often.

    I'm used to it but I know that my way of thinking often doesn't make sense to anyone else πŸ™„

    It's all fine though, the angel is stronger than the devil right now πŸ˜‡

    Do you have a therapist that you can see? I think this is the time you need to reconnect with them, or tell your PCP that you're struggling, and ask for a referral to a new team.

    I have an ED, so it's not like I don't understand, and I'm worried about you.

    Oh please don't worry about me, I'm fine 😊 There's no ED help here, at all in my area. All the times before, I was in the UK with our wonderful NHS but now I live in the back of beyond in Turkey and there's nothing. I'm sure I don't need any outside help anyway as I just ate a tuna salad roll and plate of chips. Washed down with 2 beers πŸ˜‰πŸ˜‚

    I can feel myself getting bigger but that's probably down to the carb's (bread, rice, potatoes etc.) that I'm eating daily but haven't haven't eaten since February.

    How are you? Do you have support? πŸ’
  • sefajane1
    sefajane1 Posts: 322 Member
    PAV8888 wrote: Β»
    I wish you success; but I note that your chosen calorie level is one geared towards weight loss and not one geared towards eating well with your family at maintenance.

    Why? Because: maintenance, as given by MFP, depends on your activity setting. And based on your original post you're selecting sedentary but showing evidence that you're not.

    And 50% of exercise calories are, on paper, not your actual net exercise calories. Again based on your sedentary selection you're targeting only: 0.5* ( EAC - 0.25*BMR). You probably would need to eat back 80+% of your mixed exercise calories to actually be eating back your "on paper" net exercise calories and the % would increase the more vigorous your exercise.

    Based on the title of your original post the only encouraging aspect is that you're eating a lot more than you have been since the end of February!

    I'm sorry, I know my posts are confusing. I said I lost too much weight and would like to change to maintenence but I don't seem to want to stop losing or, god forbid, gain. It's like there's a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. It's the old ED thought process that pops back every so often.

    I'm used to it but I know that my way of thinking often doesn't make sense to anyone else πŸ™„

    It's all fine though, the angel is stronger than the devil right now πŸ˜‡

    Do you have a therapist that you can see? I think this is the time you need to reconnect with them, or tell your PCP that you're struggling, and ask for a referral to a new team.

    I have an ED, so it's not like I don't understand, and I'm worried about you.

    Oh please don't worry about me, I'm fine 😊 There's no ED help here, at all in my area. All the times before, I was in the UK with our wonderful NHS but now I live in the back of beyond in Turkey and there's nothing. I'm sure I don't need any outside help anyway as I just ate a tuna salad roll and plate of chips. Washed down with 2 beers πŸ˜‰πŸ˜‚

    I can feel myself getting bigger but that's probably down to the carb's (bread, rice, potatoes etc.) that I'm eating daily but haven't haven't eaten since February.

    How are you? Do you have support? πŸ’

    But you don't *sound* fine. You're panicking about gaining weight again, and you don't want to stop losing. That's not *fine*.

    Having a meal and two beers does not equal being OK. Even broken clocks are right twice a day. If you were OK, you'd be OK with eating at full maintenance when you got off of holiday.

    I have support, but this isn't about me.

    Well, providing that I don't put on too much weight over the rest of my holiday, I almost certainly will stick to maintenance calories plus 50% of any exercise calories I gain. I don't want to get too big, just not as skinny as I look now. Or before I ate today πŸ˜„
This discussion has been closed.