So confused about how to lose weight...

katalexandra7
katalexandra7 Posts: 14
in Health and Weight Loss
So, I know I need to eat a deficit. I also know that 3500cals is about 1 pound of fat.
OK, so I'm 5"2ish and weight 121pounds. My BMR is around 1300 but obviously I can't eat less than 1200 a day because I need energy. I'm aiming for 110 pounds (I have very small body frame) so if I have a deficit of 100 a day (I don't do much exercise and don't know how to say what I do because it varies- two hours of intense cheerleading/fitness every monday and walking uphill 4-5times a week for 30mins at least--but it varies!) so we'll say I'm just sedentary. This means by eating 100 cals less a day it would take me 35 days to lose a pound (oh god)? Is that right?
So now this is where I'm confused, when I've calorie counted before, I was the same starting weight, height and a year younger (18, I'm now 19). I ate 1400 calories a day and was "sedentary" (even less than I do now in fact). I lost half a stone in a month. How does this work? The weight also stayed off for months until I decided I care more about food than my figure for a brief period.
Any help or advice would be brill! Thank you :)

Joining the uni gym after the Christmas break (I get ages off) now that I can kind of afford it!

Replies

  • refinedredbird
    refinedredbird Posts: 208 Member
    Your BMR is the minimum you should be eating and your TDEE - your deficit is how much you should eat per day to lose weight. I would set your TDEE to at least slightly active or eat back your exercise calories. Weight loss isn't always going to go as planned and some weeks may not have a loss or the scale may say you gained for a variety of factors. The less weight you have to lose, the slower it tends to happen.
  • katalexandra7
    katalexandra7 Posts: 14
    Your BMR is the minimum you should be eating and your TDEE - your deficit is how much you should eat per day to lose weight. I would set your TDEE to at least slightly active or eat back your exercise calories. Weight loss isn't always going to go as planned and some weeks may not have a loss or the scale may say you gained for a variety of factors. The less weight you have to lose, the slower it tends to happen.

    Sorry, but what does TDEE stand for? I don't know all the lingo yet :(
  • bajoyba
    bajoyba Posts: 1,153 Member
    Give this a read: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/912920-in-place-of-a-road-map-3-2013

    :smile:

    Edited to add: TDEE means Total Daily Energy Expenditure. It's the number of calories your body burns in a typical day. If you eat those calories, you'll maintain your weight. Anything more than those maintenance calories and you'll gain. Anything less and you will lose. To lose weight in a healthy and sustainable way, many people eat their TDEE - 20%, but with only 11 pounds to lose, you may want to eat at a smaller deficit. Just remember that the smaller your deficit is, the more accurate and consistent you have to be in your logging because it's so much easier to wipe that deficit out without really trying. :smile:

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