Higher-calorie day?

RBXChas

Hi all,

I am new to MFP but certainly not new to weight loss (or grand attempts at it)! I had a lot of success a few years ago with Nutrisystem, going from 181 to 151.5 (I just could never hit that 30-pound mark for some reason), but now after having a baby in January my body has settled on a post-pregnancy weight of 234. Yuck. None of my pre-pregnancy clothes are even close to fitting, and I can't afford a new wardrobe. I've been wearing my less-maternity-like maternity clothes to get by :frown:

This morning (Day 2) I showed a 2-pound loss on the scale (I'm a daily weigher, I can't help it!), which is no surprise since this is all new right now. I am doing 1500 calories/day since I am still nursing to a degree, and full-time nursing moms are supposed to get 500 or so calories more per day. MFP told me 1260 was what I should aim for, so I am adding in another 240 so that I can continue to nurse as much as possible and for as long as possible. If my supply starts to dwindle, I'll adjust my calories upward with more healthy foods.

Whenever I have done well with weight loss (which, btw, seems to coincide with food tracking), I always do really well for the first two weeks or so, then I slooooooow down to a crawl. People I communicate with will lose 1-2 pounds/week, and I will lose 1/2 pound/week even though my food is spot on. (Whenever I food track I am painfully honest, so I know I can't attribute it to cheating/high sodium intake/low water intake.) I'm one of those people who is cold all the time, and my grandmother had to have her thyroid removed, so I figured it MUST be a thyroid problem, but apparently it's not! I've had my thyroid levels checked before (they were also checked during my pregnancy), and they've always been normal.

Aaanyway, that's the short version of my story. My question is, do any of you do a regular day of eating more than you should to give your metabolism a boost? I know on The Biggest Loser they supposedly have one day a week where they "cheat."

I'm not thinking of doing this right now because I want to get my routine settled first, but once my weight loss inevitably slows down, I'd like to try it.

What do you think? What have your experiences been with this strategy, either good or bad?

Thanks so much for the help!!!

Rebecca
5'7"
SW: 234
CW: 232
GW: 135 but would be thrilled to be at or below 150!

Qarol

Plateaus are just inevitable. Annoyingly so. I think a half lb weight loss per week is very respectable. And during some of my worst plateaus, I would have loved a half lb loss. Although, I can understand wanting to see the 1-2 lb loss per week. Problem is, my body just doesn't understand basic math.

I allow cheat days just because I need them. I need something to look forward to. I love to eat the stuff that's bad for me, and if I tried to tell myself I was never allowed to pig out again, I certainly wouldn't be able to stick with it. Planned cheat days work best for me b/c I can control what I'm going to eat and look forward to it, instead of it being b/c of a moment of weakness. I don't do it weekly; more like every 2-3 weeks.

I'm a daily weigher, too. It keeps me on track every day to see the numbers every day.

Congratulations on the new baby!

RBXChas

Thanks, Q! He is a joy, but he's also a challenge

Anyway, that is another aspect of the planned cheat, that it gives you something to look forward to. I love to eat (especially not-so-healthy foods, which is why I'm here, of course!), so if I made myself stick to this WOE 100% every. single. day. for the rest of my life, my head would explode.

I'm also trying to fit in Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred when I can. Haven't found the time yet, but last time I was doing it consistently I saw vast improvements in my strength. I have no desire to be a tiny little thing and want to improve my strength/fitness level as well as lose unnecessary weight, so I know as I replace fat with muscle that will mess with the scale a bit.

Thanks again for your input!