Looking for help!

musiche

Looking for advice: I lost 60lbs a year and a half ago. I gained back 20, then lost 10. 7 months ago I ramped up the workouts big time, started eating even better and all I have done is gain tons of muscle. Though I am more fit than I have ever been, why can't I seem to lose these lingering 30lbs? Also, I feel eating less than 1200 calories is not feasible for me as I burn more than that in a day (daily workouts, sometimes 2, and a physical job). Best I have managed is 1400 but if I get hungry my body fails big time (fast, demanding metabolism), not just hungry. My blood sugar plummets and then I'm a waste case. At the moment I am trying to eat more to see if I have been in a funky plateau for this long (is that possible??). I have been trying 4x harder to lose weight than I did with the first 60, can you say FRUSTRATED?! Lol. Thanks for any advice!

dls06

If you are exercising 1200 cals are not enough. Your body is holding onto the calories because it needs it to function. Read these.


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/6556-the-answers-to-the-questions

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/9433-expectations

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

Srbrosseau

Yes, you need to eat more, just make sure you're eating all whole grains for carbs. When you starve your body too badly, it thinks it needs to save everything it can as though you're in a "famine" cycle.

musiche

Well, I said eating that little is NOT feasible for me. Generally, I am eating between 1800 and 2000 calories, and burning about 1000 per day, leaving me with a deficit of 800-1000 at the end of the day. Thank you though, I will check those links anyway.

musiche

Oh, and I also mentioned that I am trying to eat more at the moment. Not necessarily expecting loss, but more to comfort my body in case it DOES think I am not getting enough. Is there a chance I need to exercise LESS? That sounds crazy to me, and would be difficult as I have a physical lifestyle.

sunshine__angel

You need to be eating more than 1200 calories a day. If you are working out a lot then you will need much more than that. I hit a plateau a while back and actually increased my calories by 170 a day. I started losing weight again afterward. Just try different things and eventually you will find something that works for you. Don't forget to recalculate your daily calorie intake after every 10lbs lost!

Rae6503

I agree. Eat more. Try to net 1600, or maybe even 1800.

hrobinson416

From what I have read you should be eating your exercise calories back...all of them. The defecit is already built in, so you need to eat those exercise calories to keep your body fueled. Thats probably why you arent losing.

musiche

No one read what I wrote... Neither my post or my above replies...

Rae6503

I read them. No, I don't think you need to exercise less. Just eat more. You say you eat 2000 and burn 1000, that means your body is only getting 1000. That is to little. No need to stop burning the 1000, just start eating 2600, so you net 1600.