Thinking about upping my calories...

LetYourLightShine

In December, I started out at 159 and now I'm at 154-155. In my previous attempts to lose weight, my body always plateaued at 154-155. It's almost as if my body is comfortable with this weight. I'm 5'2" (and a half), my current calorie intake goal is 1420, my activity level is set to lightly active (I'm a certified nurse aide and I spend most of my time on my feet), my goal is to lose 1 pound/week, and I workout 6 days a week at the minimum of 30 minutes/day. I'm thinking of setting my goal to losing 0.5 of a pound/week and or setting my activity level to active. Maybe my calorie intake is too low? I'm undecided and not totally sure what to do... Have any of you been in the same spot? Any advice? Thank you!

angiek2322

try it.....but give it a couple of weeks for your body to adjust. I upped my intake and got over a plateu.......

LetYourLightShine

I have also thought about zig-zagging my calories... Not sure which one I should try first. Maybe try all three?

jlewis2896

Try it!! I agree with Angie -- give your body a little bit to adjust. I personally would maybe just try upping your calories before you try zig-zagging??

Also -- 155 is where I get 'stuck' as well. So annoying!!

evelyngrice

A lot of people have told me to up my calories when I start to plateau.
They say it kick starts your metabolism again, or something like that

I am yet to try it, because I am still losing, but let me know if it works for you :flowerforyou:

LetYourLightShine

I guess I'll wait until my next weigh in and see if the scale has moved... If not, maybe I'll up them. I'm just skeptical!

mymelody_78

Let me know if it works out. I am 5'2" also but plateauing at 146.

amberaz

I am short too, barely 5'3" The only thing that really works for me is a high protein, no processed food diet with a combination of weight training and cardio. If you don't do any strength training, consider adding some a couple of times per week. It really seems to help. I know it's hard to lose weight as a short person

_GlaDOS_

Are you eating back the calories burn from exercise? Could be a reason for a stall in weight loss.

Also, I have a desk job and MFP's "lightly active" setting for my maintenance calories is pretty accurate (I have a Bodymedia FIT, and MFP is actually a little low). If you are on your feet most of the day, you may want to consider changing your activity level to "active" and see if that helps.

LetYourLightShine

Are you eating back the calories burn from exercise? Could be a reason for a stall in weight loss.

Also, I have a desk job and MFP's "lightly active" setting for my maintenance calories is pretty accurate (I have a Bodymedia FIT, and MFP is actually a little low). If you are on your feet most of the day, you may want to consider changing your activity level to "active" and see if that helps.

That's what I was thinking... I think I'm underestimating my activity level. I'll give that a try tomorrow!

LetYourLightShine

Let me know if it works out. I am 5'2" also but plateauing at 146.

I sure will!

_GlaDOS_

Are you eating back the calories burn from exercise? Could be a reason for a stall in weight loss.

Also, I have a desk job and MFP's "lightly active" setting for my maintenance calories is pretty accurate (I have a Bodymedia FIT, and MFP is actually a little low). If you are on your feet most of the day, you may want to consider changing your activity level to "active" and see if that helps.

That's what I was thinking... I think I'm underestimating my activity level. I'll give that a try tomorrow!

Great! And what I meant is that if you are not eating back the calories you burn from exercise, that could be the reason for the stall in weight loss.

Michele7091

You should up them for sure. Mine are set at 1550 and I sit at a desk all day. I LOVE this site but I do think that the calorie goals are a little low. They had me set at 1200 and I was STARVING all day! So I googled what I should eat to maintain my current weight with no working out at all and the answers ranged from 1400 to 1800! So I went kinda in the middle. I've only been at it a week but I lost 2.4 pounds so I think that was the way to go for me. You can always go back if it doesn't work...good luck!!

LetYourLightShine

Are you eating back the calories burn from exercise? Could be a reason for a stall in weight loss.

Also, I have a desk job and MFP's "lightly active" setting for my maintenance calories is pretty accurate (I have a Bodymedia FIT, and MFP is actually a little low). If you are on your feet most of the day, you may want to consider changing your activity level to "active" and see if that helps.

That's what I was thinking... I think I'm underestimating my activity level. I'll give that a try tomorrow!

Great! And what I meant is that if you are not eating back the calories you burn from exercise, that could be the reason for the stall in weight loss.

I usually do, but yesterday I burned so many calories it was hard to eat them all back!

LetYourLightShine

You should up them for sure. Mine are set at 1550 and I sit at a desk all day. I LOVE this site but I do think that the calorie goals are a little low. They had me set at 1200 and I was STARVING all day! So I googled what I should eat to maintain my current weight with no working out at all and the answers ranged from 1400 to 1800! So I went kinda in the middle. I've only been at it a week but I lost 2.4 pounds so I think that was the way to go for me. You can always go back if it doesn't work...good luck!!

Interesting... I'll have to mess with my numbers!