I just want some straightforward answers..

Brooke4206

I'm tired of looking all over the internet and receiving various answers from people that don't know what they're talking about... so i'm hoping the mfp community can help me out!

I began exercising back in november. I started the program Insanity and finished it in January. I'd put myself on the 1200 calorie diet, but I never ate my calories back. With Insanity i also did p90x abs 5 days a week. I'd have a protein bar for lunch and a small snack a few hours later.

I realized that this isn't the healthy way to be. I started at 128 and I am now down to 110-112ish. Depends on the day. I'm happy with this weight, but now I am looking to maintain my figure but gain muscle. I work on my abs and legs a lot, but i'm afraid that I'm not eating enough or that i'm eating too much and will gain it back or lose my muscle and store far. I guess my question is, How much should I be eating in net calories day to reach this goal? Go ahead and take a look at my diary the past few days. I am trying to up my calories, but it's extremely difficult for me with the amount of exercise i do a day. I wear a polar ft4 heart rate monitor too, btw. Right now I do insanity month one, abs, and 200 squats in the morning (i restarted the program) and Zumba for an hour 4 nights a week. My morning workout is about an hour and twenty minutes average. For how much I work my abs they just aren't showing through and I still have a little baby fat on my stomach that i can't do. Also, I have a question regarding carbs. I eat about 65% of my diet in carbs. I find it impossible to lower this. I had heard that cutting carbs will help lower body fat? i'm looking to do this, not lose weight. Again, looking at my diary might help.

Does anyone have any tips? Thank you for being so helpful in advance. I know this was a lot of uncertainty.



***ALSO, since i've upped my calories the last few days i've burned 100-200 more calories than i usually do. is this normal?

Mpol2

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

This is a link to a great post that can really help you ....read it, eat more, do well.

ottermotorcycle

The link in the first responder should be a comprehensive source of all the information you need.

As for that last question, yes, it is normal. It takes energy to digest food, so eating more food will cause you to burn a few more calories!

prattiger65

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

This is a link to a great post that can really help you ....read it, eat more, do well.

This...........

SezxyStef

Find you TDEE and eat at a surplus and lift weights and get enough protien. That is how you gain muscle, but that means gaining weight...some of it could be fat.


Eating 1200 caloires is pretty rough esp doing exercise and not eating calories back...

I did look at your diary and you don't weigh your food...you are probably eating more than you think anyway.

Are you maintaining now? are you gaining or are you still losing???

emboslice94

That topic is good.

But yeah, too many carbs, you really only need about 50%. If you want to put on muscle, you have to eat more, and it's something you have to play around with. It may also be helpful to include your intended workouts into your daily calorie goal. Try this site and see how it is, http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/ . I like it, I find it pretty accurate.

I checked your diary, maybe try playing with your food. Instead of PB2, try eating actual peanut butter, instead of Aunt Jemima Pancake mix, use actual gluten free flours and make protein pancakes. Just more whole foods, that may help. Yes, a calorie deficit is essential, but sometimes to change just a bit, eating just whole foods can do wonders.

Also, don't be in love with 110lbs, if you want muscle, you will probably gain weight, instead of weighing yourself, concentrate on progress pictures and measurements, those will be more accurate with muscle gain than the scale.