Ready to lose my extra "Secretary" weight!

Scoo1188

Hello all--
I'm new to MyFitnessPal, and think it's really interesting so far. This is day 3 for me. I'm supposed to eat 1200 calories a day, but I find myself only eating about 1100, being full and then working off 250-300 calories. Should I be eating more? I'm not sure if I should be at 1200 calories after adding in the exercise or not.

I've got about 20lbs I'd like to lose. I gained 10 solid pounds in the last year since graduating college and starting a desk job...40hours at a desk is killer for losing weight. So my first mini goal is to lose those extra 10 and then go on to lose the 10 other pounds I wasn't too fond of before this job.

This website is really encouraging. I've been reading posts by people who have lost a lot of weight on here! Keep up the good work, everyone!

sexyminxinthemaking

i also have around 20lbs to loose add me for support if you like i find the more friends you have on here to spur you on the better you do goodluck xx

morganadk2_deleted

Are you eating to enough?

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficit


This is just a part of it! please read the link above


Generally someone with a BMI over 32 can do a 1000 calorie a day (2 lbs a week) deficit
With a BMI of 30 to 32 a deficit of 750 calories is generally correct (about 1.5 lbs a week)
With a BMI of 28 to 30 a deficit of 500 calories is about right (about 1 lb a week)
With a BMI of 26 to 28 a deficit of about 300 calories is perfect (about 1/2 lb a week)
and below 26... well this is where we get fuzzy. See now you're no longer talking about being overweight, so while it's still ok to have a small deficit, you really should shift your focus more towards muscle tone, and reducing fat. This means is EXTRA important to eat your exercise calories as your body needs to KNOW it's ok to burn fat stores, and the only way it will know is if you keep giving it the calories it needs to not enter the famine response (starvation mode)


Also this might be helpful http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/00trayn/view/how-to-bust-a-3-month-plateau-87677

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/153704-myth-or-fact-simple-math-3500-calories-one-pound-eat



Good luck on your journey

erickirb

Yes eat more, much more, with only 20 lbs to go you should set your goal at no more than 1 lb/week. Then eat all of those cals plus eat back what you burn from exercise. Doing this will help ensure that the weight you lose comes from fat and not muscle. If you don't eat enough when your fat stores are not large enough, you will end up losing a large amount of lean muscle, along with fat.

barbarajean3

Its so good your catching it at 10lbs. Ive worked a desk job so long i swear my *kitten* looks like my chair. Try and eat the 1200 at least all you may need to do is add a spoon of pb or piece of string cheese to help get you over. Jury is out on exercise cals, I think if I work that hard to get them off why eat them back, but some days I get very hungry after a workout and its good to have the option. Good luck to you:drinker: