Approaching maintenance

petermlynch
petermlynch Posts: 2
in Goal: Maintaining Weight
First time poster here!

Anyway I started using mfp beginning of jan at about 170lbs, at 147 now. The goal was about 145.
I aim on going down to 142 to give me some room for gain when i start to maintain.

Im doing a 1200cal day diet which works once i stick to it. My question is should i increase my daily cal slightly now or wait until i get to 142 and then increase gradually..

Replies

  • meganjcallaghan
    meganjcallaghan Posts: 949 Member
    i would start now. if you're still at 1200 that'll have you loosing too much per week
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    A man eating only 1200 cals? Are you mad or just 4' tall?

    Eat more please.
  • Mischievous_Rascal
    Mischievous_Rascal Posts: 1,791 Member
    A man eating only 1200 cals? Are you mad or just 4' tall?

    Eat more please.

    You couldn't have figured out your TDEE. Search some of the forums here, or google it, and start increasing now. You could've lost on a lot more than that! (Unless you are 4' tall...)
  • FoxyLifter
    FoxyLifter Posts: 965 Member
    I'm willing to bet that you lost a bunch of muscle. Not good. Have fun building it back up tho! I heard eating at a surplus is very fun :)
  • petermlynch
    petermlynch Posts: 2
    Im actually 5'9, small frame. Havent lost any muscle really, not that iv noticed anyway, iv been doing strenght training and cardio. I generally eat more than 1200 because i eat back burned calories. So prob between 1300-1500 a day, i do go over the odd time. I can lose 2lbs a week if i stick to it tho. Mfp does recommend 1200 for 2 lbs a week loss also..
  • MelissaPhippsFeagins
    MelissaPhippsFeagins Posts: 8,063 Member
    Congratsn on your loss! Add more now. You could add 100/week and still get to 142 quickly. :drinker:
  • meganjcallaghan
    meganjcallaghan Posts: 949 Member
    Im actually 5'9, small frame. Havent lost any muscle really, not that iv noticed anyway, iv been doing strenght training and cardio. I generally eat more than 1200 because i eat back burned calories. So prob between 1300-1500 a day, i do go over the odd time. I can lose 2lbs a week if i stick to it tho. Mfp does recommend 1200 for 2 lbs a week loss also..

    sure, but the point is that when you're that close to your goal weight you SHOULDN'T be losing 2 pounds a week. that's too much.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Im actually 5'9, small frame. Havent lost any muscle really, not that iv noticed anyway, iv been doing strenght training and cardio. I generally eat more than 1200 because i eat back burned calories. So prob between 1300-1500 a day, i do go over the odd time. I can lose 2lbs a week if i stick to it tho. Mfp does recommend 1200 for 2 lbs a week loss also..
    1200 *might" be suitable for a short & small woman - it is not suitable for a 5'9" male.
    And 2lbs is not suitable when you don't have much to lose.
    With that deficit you are losing muscle.

    I'm same height, 25 years older and maintaining on 2,600 - and I maintain on an unusually low number (c. 300 less than average).

    You asked for advice so here it is:
    Set your weight loss for 0.5lbs a week, get a reasonable amount of protein and be patient. You will get an initial weight bounce from upping your calories but ignore it.

    The prize for crash dieting is losing far too much lean mass and looking like a saggy mess when you get to goal weight.
  • __freckles__
    __freckles__ Posts: 1,238 Member
    Im actually 5'9, small frame. Havent lost any muscle really, not that iv noticed anyway, iv been doing strenght training and cardio. I generally eat more than 1200 because i eat back burned calories. So prob between 1300-1500 a day, i do go over the odd time. I can lose 2lbs a week if i stick to it tho. Mfp does recommend 1200 for 2 lbs a week loss also..
    1200 *might" be suitable for a short & small woman - it is not suitable for a 5'9" male.
    And 2lbs is not suitable when you don't have much to lose.
    With that deficit you are losing muscle.

    I'm same height, 25 years older and maintaining on 2,600 - and I maintain on an unusually low number (c. 300 less than average).

    You asked for advice so here it is:
    Set your weight loss for 0.5lbs a week, get a reasonable amount of protein and be patient. You will get an initial weight bounce from upping your calories but ignore it.

    The prize for crash dieting is losing far too much lean mass and looking like a saggy mess when you get to goal weight.

    Agree with my buddy here on all points.
  • einzweidrei
    einzweidrei Posts: 381 Member
    Im actually 5'9, small frame. Havent lost any muscle really, not that iv noticed anyway, iv been doing strenght training and cardio. I generally eat more than 1200 because i eat back burned calories. So prob between 1300-1500 a day, i do go over the odd time. I can lose 2lbs a week if i stick to it tho. Mfp does recommend 1200 for 2 lbs a week loss also..

    Please eat more, I'm a little over 5'9" and a female. I never had any trouble losing weight. Never did strength training or cardio really. And my calories were never set as low as 1200/day. I started at 1400, realized that was too little bumped it up to 1550 and then 1740 when I realized I was still losing. (And I ate back my exercise calories on top of that, which for me is only walking. I don't work out.)

    What do you plan on eating for maintenance? I wouldn't jump from 1200--->2000 but you should be eating more than 2,000/day, especially if you are working out.
  • l_clc
    l_clc Posts: 126 Member
    Agree with everyone else here.....eat more, and yeah start increasing now. ENJOY :D

    ETA: Congrats on the weight loss!!

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