HELP! eating NET is NOT working :(

c7eat2live

So eating back my exercise calories...ie reaching my NET is not working for me. I have been stuck stuck stuck for awhile now. Truly, if you look in my diary, its not completely accurate (I have been having internet difficulties when I am home later in the days, so these last few weeks my entries have been incomplete, and I have always either met my NET or been very close. These past couple weeks I have also been burning 400-800 calories a day, so when I eat my NET it is like 2000 calories (I am set at 1200) I lost my first 16 lbs quickly and relatively easily, basically by upping my exercise and especially weights, and not worrying too much about eating exercise calories back or not, but now that I am into my last 13 lbs, its like completely impossible. I guess I could be eating back calories too late in the day...I work out often in the second half of the day, or I am just not eating the right foods, but I am really really frustrated. Should I experiment for a week NOT eating back my exercise cals? or eat half? I know this is really personally variable, but I was just looking for anyone in similar situations. Also...my workout schedule includes 35-50 mins a day of cardio, burning at least 8-10 calories a minute ( I measure with my HRM) and weights 3-4 times a week, with usually 3-4 yoga classes and also alternative (out of the gym) cardio like trail running or hiking.
THANKS for any input!

i_love_vinegar

same here. from your pic you look rather thin already, so I think that is the problem. People who are already thin might not want to follow the same rules as those who have more weight to lose ^.^

BroncoMan

I personally don't eat my exercise calories.

See_Jenn_Run

Have you been updating your weight too? Your calorie goals should change as you lose weight. I'd try eating back only half of the exercise calories and not eating after, say, 7 or 8 p.m. if that's possible with your schedule as eating later in the day gives you less time to burn off the energy you just consumed. Good luck!

c7eat2live

Right now I am at 158 and I want to get to 146, which for my height is right in the middle of healthy. I think I am going to try not eating them back...doesnt make sense in my head how many times I try to work through it...and isnt working for my body. And really if I carefully portion things I dont get hungry on 1200 even when I work out. experiment time I guess.

2ht2hand1e

I eat half. That way, if my exercise calories are an overestimate and/or I do not log all of my food, I am still doing well.

CaptainAmerica1970

Try to zig zag your calories.

Edestiny7

It is not a joke that the last 10 pounds are the hardest to lose. But, it sounds like you have a hit a plateau. Your body is used to where you are now and has grown accustomed to it. To break the plateau, according to Jillian Michaels, eat OVER your calories by 500- 700 calories for 3 days, while also either increasing the intensity of your exercise, or switching up your exercises. Something to shock your body. It worked for me when I did it. And at 1200 calories, you HAVE to eat back your exercise calories. You don't want your metabolism to slow. Look at my 'About Me' for things that worked for me.

wolf23

I found that with eating back my exercise calories I was not taking into account the calories I would normally burn if I was not exercising. For instance, I worked it out I burn approx 61 calories an hr being sedentary when my HRM tells me I burned 500 calories in 1 hour I eat back 439 (500 - 61). Doing this has helped me get past my plateau and helped with those last 10 pounds. Hope this makes sense.

i_love_vinegar

It is not a joke that the last 10 pounds are the hardest to lose. But, it sounds like you have a hit a plateau. Your body is used to where you are now and has grown accustomed to it. To break the plateau, according to Jillian Michaels, eat OVER your calories by 500- 700 calories for 3 days, while also either increasing the intensity of your exercise, or switching up your exercises. Something to shock your body. It worked for me when I did it. And at 1200 calories, you HAVE to eat back your exercise calories. You don't want your metabolism to slow. Look at my 'About Me' for things that worked for me.

I'm gonna try this! Thank you for sharing!!!

TrishJimenez

When I started lifting weights my weight didnt drop for awhile either. And it has only budged one pound but I have lost inches. Someone on here told me the body needs to adjust. But it might help to try only eating back half your work out cals

SoCalSwimmerDude

Throw me into the "trust your body" group. If you're hungry, eat your cals back and you won't feel the least bit bad about it. If you're not hungry then don't eat them back. I've found that when I'm really hungry, I'm going to listen to my body and eat.