Hypothyroid and maintance

dezb64

I finally hit my goal after a year and a half of working my butt off. I can't believe I am struggling with maintenance but I am. I raised my calories to maintenance (2000) and I started gaining. Yes, I know some of it can be my glycogen stores replenishing but to keep from gaining I can't seem to go over 1800 cal on workout days and 1600 on rest days. That just seems too low. Oh and my doctor recently lowered my synthroid. He claimed it was too high.

editorgrrl

My maintenance is way less than that, but I'm only 5'2".

It will take trial & error to find the number of calories at which your weight will stabilize. And your weight will fluctuate. Pick a range—for example +/-2 lbs. Weigh yourself weekly. If your weight goes above your window, cut 100 calories. If you go below, add 100 calories.

dezb64

Thanks, I've been doing that. It's been hard to stay in the range. It's almost hysterical to say this but loosing was easier, cut calories and you loose. Maintaining is hard. I'm 5'9 and it just seems that I am eating too few calories.

editorgrrl

Everybody's different. Losing was way harder than maintenance for me—it took me a whole year to lose 20 lbs.

What exactly do you mean by "it just seems that I am eating too few calories"? If you mean you're hungry all the time, then my standard answer is to use MFP's protein & fiber goals as minimums. But I looked at your diary, and your protein & fiber numbers are pretty good.

What stands out for me is that you're not weighing your food. (Also, you use generic entries. And are those recipes yours?) If you're not weighing your food, then you're underestimating your calories. Weigh everything.

Guesstimating may have worked well enough while you were losing, but the margin of error is way smaller in maintenance. You need to log even more accurately & honestly now.

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

dezb64

I have always weighed and measured everything, that has not changed. I have also created most of my regular recipes calculated into it as well. I do keep an eye on my protein and aim for 100-110/day. It just seems that if I eat at or near the top of my range I gain. For someone who is 5'9" it seems too low on most days.