Help with eating to BMR

HEYsunshineshoes

Hi everyone!

So I have a heavy question,

I started by weight loss journey at 137 pounds. I moved down to 135 but I got impatient with how long it was taking, so I upped my gym time to burning 600 calories a day, 6 times a week and lowered my intake to 1,000 calories a day, seven days a week. Of course the weight came off very easily and I am now at 126 pounds and I really really love it. But I'm starting to notice that I'm getting fatigued, I'm bruising more, and getting cold easily.

After reading through some of the posts on MFP, I decided that it would be a good idea for me to suck it up and increase my intake since I'm netting 500 which is really bad. I did some research and saw a one way to increase my intake to my BMR (which is 1307 calories) would be to increase it in increments of 100 per every 4 weeks.

However, as silly as this sounds, I'm still afraid of gaining weight along the way since my metabolism has probably slowed down to compensate for the lack of food I'm putting into my body. I know I cheated to get to 126 pounds, but I really did work at losing that weight and I would hate to gain it back. I want to be healthy, but I also want to continue feeling confident in my body and continue my weight loss journey. If I could have any suggestions on how to go about increasing my intake to my BMR without gaining weight that would be awesome. It would be even better if I could actually lose the 5 pounds I need to get to my goal weight of 120!

As of right now my routine consists of 5 days of an hour of cardio mixed with 15-20 minutes of resistance and an hour session of Zumba on the sixth day.

Quick stats:
Height: 5'3.5
Weight: 126.8
Age: 21
Gender: Female

Thank you guys very much and I really look forward to getting some feedback, I've tried reaching out to friends but I haven't gotten a lot of helpful advice.

4lic3_

i think as long as you're burning off more than you're consuming you'll loose the weight. It's going to take longer, and you won't notice any weight loss for a few weeks, but this way is going to be way more healthier and better long term. :---)

Greenrun99

Just think how much muscle mass you may have lost.. that should be what is more concerning with your loss.. cause your muscle mass is what makes you look good.. you will probably gain water weight back.. and you might even want to go up to your maintenance level for a week then drop down to your cut level..

Either way, doing all cardio I am sure you lost muscle.. so your goal look is probably further away, and if it involves gaining that muscle back it will take a lot longer to gain then to lose.

AmyRhubarb

However, as silly as this sounds, I'm still afraid of gaining weight along the way since my metabolism has probably slowed down to compensate for the lack of food I'm putting into my body.

I think you are just going to have to wrap your head around the fact that you ARE going to see a gain on the scale as you start eating a proper amount of cals, and just accept it. You know you've been eating too little, you know you need to fix it - accept the TEMPORARY gain you'll see and go for it.

Consider your options - do you want to stay fatigued, cold and bruised, or do you want a healthy, fit body that is well-fueled functioning properly? Food is fuel - you've been selling yourself short in order to reach a certain scale number, and your body is letting you know it's not happy.

It may take some time to get back to a healthy place, but it's worth it. Sounds like you know what to do, you just need to accept the probability of seeing a gain on the scale in the process. Take some measurements and snap some progress pics instead of just weighing - or ditch your scale altogether, at least for now, while you fix your intake.

Good luck.

SezxyStef

Actually increasing caloreis by 100 each week until you hit a decent amount is the best way to go...and yes you may gain some weight along the way...but it is most likely water weight.

I see by your ticker you want to lose another 7lbs...if you love being at 126 why do you want to lose more??? Just curious.

Perhaps instead of using the scale as the end all to be all you should consider looking at this blog

http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/


You have similar stats to someone I know and they weigh 125lbs...and look fabulous...and have definate muslce definition...she is 43 and wears a size 2...perhpas what you crave is that and by that I mean a look which can't be done based on the scale being the only measurment.

HEYsunshineshoes

I think that's where my problem is. I don't have a set "look" that I'm trying to achieve other than the measurements I have now. I think rather than gain weight I should've said gain inches. I'm okay with gaining weight because I know it's bound to happen. I don't weigh myself at all but I do take measurements every month or so. I would love to maintain my measurements, so I guess that's what I'm looking more at. But you're right, I most likely have lost muscle mass and I'm really going to have to push myself to get it back.

HEYsunshineshoes

I see by your ticker you want to lose another 7lbs...if you love being at 126 why do you want to lose more??? Just curious.

Perhaps instead of using the scale as the end all to be all you should consider looking at this blog

http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/


You have similar stats to someone I know and they weigh 125lbs...and look fabulous...and have definate muslce definition...she is 43 and wears a size 2...perhpas what you crave is that and by that I mean a look which can't be done based on the scale being the only measurment.

I've actually seen that page before! That person definitely seems to be where I feel like I wouldn't mind ending up and maintaining. i just have to figure out how. I'm not really a person who has the luxury of planning out 5-6 meals a day, which I would LOVE to do. Another tough thing Is figuring out how to go about sneaking in those extra calories as I keep increasing.

MityMax96

Hi everyone!

So I have a heavy question,

I started by weight loss journey at 137 pounds. I moved down to 135 but I got impatient with how long it was taking, so I upped my gym time to burning 600 calories a day, 6 times a week and lowered my intake to 1,000 calories a day, seven days a week. Of course the weight came off very easily and I am now at 126 pounds and I really really love it. But I'm starting to notice that I'm getting fatigued, I'm bruising more, and getting cold easily.

After reading through some of the posts on MFP, I decided that it would be a good idea for me to suck it up and increase my intake since I'm netting 500 which is really bad. I did some research and saw a one way to increase my intake to my BMR (which is 1307 calories) would be to increase it in increments of 100 per every 4 weeks.

However, as silly as this sounds, I'm still afraid of gaining weight along the way since my metabolism has probably slowed down to compensate for the lack of food I'm putting into my body. I know I cheated to get to 126 pounds, but I really did work at losing that weight and I would hate to gain it back. I want to be healthy, but I also want to continue feeling confident in my body and continue my weight loss journey. If I could have any suggestions on how to go about increasing my intake to my BMR without gaining weight that would be awesome. It would be even better if I could actually lose the 5 pounds I need to get to my goal weight of 120!

As of right now my routine consists of 5 days of an hour of cardio mixed with 15-20 minutes of resistance and an hour session of Zumba on the sixth day.

Quick stats:
Height: 5'3.5
Weight: 126.8
Age: 21
Gender: Female

Thank you guys very much and I really look forward to getting some feedback, I've tried reaching out to friends but I haven't gotten a lot of helpful advice.

You are setting yourself up for an eating disorder.

You are starving your body, and that is why you are noticing health issues....
not to mention you will prolly stop having a period if you keep it up.

1000 calories is way too low for anyone.....

Your TDEE is prolly around 1900 - 2000 calories.

You are eating at half that.....
I would start introducing more calories back into my diet.....

Add 200 - 300 calories a day into your diet.
Go for a month see how you feel.

Then next month add in another 200 or so calories

HEYsunshineshoes

It may take some time to get back to a healthy place, but it's worth it. Sounds like you know what to do, you just need to accept the probability of seeing a gain on the scale in the process. Take some measurements and snap some progress pics instead of just weighing - or ditch your scale altogether, at least for now, while you fix your intake.

Good luck.

You know, that's a great idea. I like taking measurements rather than weighing myself anyway.
But just to make sure, when you say getting back to a healthy place, do you think increasing my uptake 100 calories every two weeks is a good thing?

Thanks.