Started losing again but don't want to

Shweedog

Hi all. I started MFP in July 2010. I was 147 lbs and wanted to be about 135-140. I am 5'7". Female. I hit my goal, and then some, by October. In trying to figure out just what MY maintenance calories were I got down to 129. Didn't like that. So I upped 'em and got up to 133. I go back and forth between 133-135 depending on weekend ingulgences, sodium spikes, and alcohol intake. The calories that kept me around the same amount for the last eight months is ~1700. So, the last few weeks I have been splurging a litlle (ok maybe a lot) and eating anywhere from 200-800 cals over my maintenance cals. I have since lost 4 lbs. I know that when you are in a plateau that upping your cals can jump start your metabolism to get you through it but I wasn't at a plateau. I was maintaining. Or is there a difference (in the sense that you are staying at the same weight)? I do not want to keep losing. But I am eating well above maintenance so how do I stop this? Right now I eat 1700-2500 cals a day. According to MFP my maintenance cals should be 1680. Thanks!

Oh- and I rarely exercise. Nothing's changed in regards to my activity level.

MrsRobertson1005

bump

good luck!

katy4193

I wonder if you have seen your doctor? I would go for a physical if you have not already? Maybe adding more protein will help but you should make sure you don't have anything else going on as well...
Katy

aippolito1

Are you sure your maintainance calories are correct?

aj_rock

An unexpected side-effect of getting in better shape is increased NEAT, or non-exercise activity thermogenesis.
Essentially, you're much more energetic, and probably unconsciously move around and expend more calories than you think you are!

Basically, just keep playing with your diet. Start from maintanense, and if you're losing weight, increase calories by say 500 a day. If you get too high and start gaining weight, decrease it again.

It's all about finding the sweet spot.

Good luck! And congrats on meeting your goal weight!

jujubean1992

you boosted your metabolism. i would up your calories again and stick to it for a while.

rwd5046

Shweedog, your resting metabolic rate calories is 1350 (current weight x 10) and add in your body functioning metabolic rate plus your excerise activities and your caloire intake for maintance should be around 2000/day as I understand it. You could probably up the calorie intake a little. But I bet whats happening (apart from any medical conditions) is the yo-yoing you've done is confusing the body into a little more weight loss. That's my story on understanding this, hope it helps.

Shweedog

Are you sure your maintainance calories are correct?

Well, thay had me maintain for 8 months so I thought so. I have a desk job and don't exercise so I set my activity level to sedentary.

brnsgrsbody

I know this is supposed to be supportive and everything but am so mad at what I am going through to lose weight I certainly don't want to hear of your weight gain problems.......

Yeah you will pick the weight back up but your maintainance cals are like 2200 cals not 1640. MFP doesn't know everything. People lose weight eating 1640 especially being your height. You also were probably starving yourself so long to the the 133 that your body finally gave up more fatloss after coming out of starvation mode. Up your calories to the 2200 and you will be at maintainence.

Shweedog

I wonder if you have seen your doctor? I would go for a physical if you have not already? Maybe adding more protein will help but you should make sure you don't have anything else going on as well...
Katy

I thought about this. I feel totally fine though. I am scheduled for a yearly physical in 2 months. I will push it up if this continues too much. Thanks.

PNWriter

if ONLY....

Shweedog

Shweedog, your resting metabolic rate calories is 1350 (current weight x 10) and add in your body functioning metabolic rate plus your excerise activities and your caloire intake for maintance should be around 2000/day as I understand it. You could probably up the calorie intake a little. But I bet whats happening (apart from any medical conditions) is the yo-yoing you've done is confusing the body into a little more weight loss. That's my story on understanding this, hope it helps.

I used the BMR tool this morning and realized that MFP had my maintenance at only 300 above my BMR which seemed a bit low. Maybe all this time I have been eating a tad too little and my body just got stuck. And like others have stated I have now boosted my metabolism and expend more energy naturally now. That sounds good. Lets go with that. Lol!

Hollycat

Just wondering if your exercise routine has changed? Wondering if you're losing muscle?

Hollycat
:flowerforyou:

Shweedog

I know this is supposed to be supportive and everything but am so mad at what I am going through to lose weight I certainly don't want to hear of your weight gain problems.......

Yeah you will pick the weight back up but your maintainance cals are like 2200 cals not 1640. MFP doesn't know everything. People lose weight eating 1640 especially being your height. You also were probably starving yourself so long to the the 133 that your body finally gave up more fatloss after coming out of starvation mode. Up your calories to the 2200 and you will be at maintainence.

In case you did not notice this site is for losing AND gaining. Not just losing. Actually, it's for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and I do not want to be underweight, aka, unhealthy. And you're right, this is supposed to be a supportive site. Thank you for your insight though.

anthony438

I wonder if you have seen your doctor? I would go for a physical if you have not already? Maybe adding more protein will help but you should make sure you don't have anything else going on as well...
Katy

I agree. Be safe :flowerforyou:

Shweedog

Thanks everyone! I will just continue to eat well above what MFP says to maintain and see how that goes. Thanks for the advice.