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Strong lifts 5x5

khloee1
khloee1 Posts: 90 Member
edited February 5 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi there. I am new with this program. Have been doing it for a couple of months (3xs a week cardio 1). I had never lifted a weight in my life. So, it's all new too me but I LOVE IT!!! I hate cardio. My question is MFP has me on 1200 calories a day. Is that enough? I am 5'5 140lbs. I have not lost any weight but do feel some muscle now :) Anyway, is it enough calorie intake? I have been feeling very tired & drained. Help

Thanks in advance

Replies

  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Change your goal to a half pound a week and see what it tells you.
  • khloee1
    khloee1 Posts: 90 Member
    Ha! I never thought about that..lol Thanks! It says 1540 cal which is much more reasonable. I was tired, starved and a wee bit *****y! :blushing: Is doing cardio once a week ok? Or should I increase it?
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Ha! I never thought about that..lol Thanks! It says 1540 cal which is much more reasonable. I was tired, starved and a wee bit *****y! :blushing: Is doing cardio once a week ok? Or should I increase it?

    cardio is just weight lifting for your heart...weight control is all about diet...you exercise for fitness. 1X per week would not be enough for me because I like to have a higher level of cardiovascular fitness than I could possible get 1x per week.
  • Viva_Karina
    Viva_Karina Posts: 398 Member
    cardio isn't even necessary.

    I can't stand cardio and I am still losing weight!

    heavy lifting is the way to go.

    all cardio does is create a larger caloric deficit.

    still want cardio? .......Lift weights faster
  • khloee1
    khloee1 Posts: 90 Member
    Thanks for all the feed back. I cant see myself doing more cardio. Just because I hate it! lol I will continue lifting and you are so right lifting faster makes my heart race ;) Lets see how the increase in calories works for me...I am happy I can eat more! Thanks everone!! Happy lifting :drinker:
  • javacafe
    javacafe Posts: 79 Member
    I lost 35 lbs on SL 5x5 (in about five months) and kept a lot of my muscles during that time. My current profile pic shows the change. I did almost no cardio during the time. The very little running that I did during that time was just for fun/curiosity about my endurance.

    Eating at a caloric deficit will cause weight loss. Lifting heavy during that deficit will ensure that the loss is primarily fat (and minimally muscle).
  • khloee1
    khloee1 Posts: 90 Member
    I lost 35 lbs on SL 5x5 (in about five months) and kept a lot of my muscles during that time. My current profile pic shows the change. I did almost no cardio during the time. The very little running that I did during that time was just for fun/curiosity about my endurance.

    Eating at a caloric deficit will cause weight loss. Lifting heavy during that deficit will ensure that the loss is primarily fat (and minimally muscle).

    Sorry to sound ignorant. But, I have such a hard time understanding caloric deficit. All, I do is follow what MFP tells me. I was on 1200 calories and only ate that...period. I just upped my calories to 1540 now. Just because I was so weak/drained. It was getting really hard for me to work out without feeling like hell!
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