activity level vs net calories

HotSouthernMess

ok, i asked this question when i originally started and it made sense at the time but things have changed...when i first started, i had an 8-5 desk job monday through friday, came home to the kids (single mom, has all responsibilities) and on the weekends i rarely sat down at all between chasing my 3 toddlers, house work, chores, etc. i chose "sedintary" for my level of activity because that was recommended for a desk job. i started out with 1220 calories. now i have lost 21 lbs and my calories have gone down to 1200. i am now only working part time on tues, wed, and thurs and the other days i am a SAHM and again, rarely sit down. so here are my questions: 1. should i keep my activity level at sedintary even though im alway moving at home (i was told to not count your daily activities like cleaning up and chasing your kids as "activity") or change it to lightly active? 2. if i am still at least 100 lbs from my goal weight, why am i already eating the lowest amount of calories possible to eat and be healthy? and what will happen after i lose the next 50 and still have 50 to go and have not changed the amount of calories i have taken in? how am i supposed to lose weight and not go directly into a plateau? maybe i missed something....any help would be appreciated! thanks

WashingtonGrown

I'm a full time Stay at home mom and I have mine set to moderately active, (whichever one is a step higher than you are on now). It's working for me, I've lost 3 lbs in less than 2 weeks. But I feel like I have enough calories.

Amcantar

1 question, what is your weight loss goal set at? This low of calories seems like you're trying to lose too much at once, like 15. or 2 lbs a week. I would really recommend trying only 1lb a week, and it should allow you more calories.
Also, i would put yourself as lightly active, second step up. You shouldn't count daily stuff as EXERCISE but yes you can count it as activity, because, well, you are being active! Sedentary means you are sitting literally all day, you aren't
Hope that helps!

HotSouthernMess

1 question, what is your weight loss goal set at? This low of calories seems like you're trying to lose too much at once, like 15. or 2 lbs a week. I would really recommend trying only 1lb a week, and it should allow you more calories.
Also, i would put yourself as lightly active, second step up. You shouldn't count daily stuff as EXERCISE but yes you can count it as activity, because, well, you are being active! Sedentary means you are sitting literally all day, you aren't
Hope that helps!

my weight loss goal is 2 lbs a week, working out 5 times a day for 30 minutes. but i dont actually lose 2 pounds a week. could it be that im not eating enough because my activity level is wrong? most days i feel like im not eating enough unless i do a REALLY intense workout and "earn" more calories

Coyla

As you lose, you will likely need to change your weekly weight loss goals in order to avoid going under 1200 calories a day, especially if you're feeling this is too restrictive. Aiming for a smaller calorie deficit (in other words, eating more) will likely help you lose better as well, even if it seems counterintuitive.

Your calories seem really low. I have mine set at 1770 per day, and I struggle with that.

Ultimately, it depends on how you feel. If it's hard to maintain this, if you're feeling deprived and hungry, you'll need to bump up the calories. Otherwise, you'll burn yourself out.

I've discovered I don't lose weight if those green numbers are too high. It's kind of weird, but that's how it's been working for me.

P.S. I hit a plateau for almost a year. I've just recently started losing again, and that was after I bumped my calories higher.