Sooooo ready to &*^%&(#!!!! quit!!

MacMadame

In my opinion I don't think anyne should just eat 1200 calories a day I think that is just too low.

Everyone is different. For us shorties, sometimes 1200 is just about right to *maintain*. I know when I eat 1500 calories and workout moderately, I *gain* weight. You just can't make broad generalizations like that and expect them to hold true 100% for everyone.

To the OP: I think the problem is that you are eating your exercise calories. Most people I know who lose weight don't do that. They eat maybe half their exercise calories.

There are a couple of reasons for this, but the big one is that our exercise calories are just an estimate -- even with a HR monitor -- and many of the formulas used to calculate those estimates are overly generous.

I have a spreadsheet. I put in my RMR and then an estimate of my calories burned by exercise and it calculates how much I should be losing a week. If I consistently lose less than my spreadsheet says I should, I know I've over-estimated my exercise calories and I adjust accordingly. My philosophy is that reality (i.e., what I actually lose) trumps online databases every time.

Btw, I'm 5'1" and 135 so we're in the same ball park. Though I'm a lot older so I've had a lot longer to mess up my metabolism. :laugh:

happyhubbard

I just returned from the doctor and she told me to cut out ALL complex carbs and limit my simple carbs. She said she sees this work for many people and is healthy to do....so I will do it and let you all know how it goes.

Wait, what? I think you meant she wants you to cut out the simple carbs and limit your complex carbs right? Cuz I never heard anyone do it the other way before.

Yes- you're right....I said it backwards

SHBoss1673

I just returned from the doctor and she told me to cut out ALL complex carbs and limit my simple carbs. She said she sees this work for many people and is healthy to do....so I will do it and let you all know how it goes.

Wait, what? I think you meant she wants you to cut out the simple carbs and limit your complex carbs right? Cuz I never heard anyone do it the other way before.

Yes- you're right....I said it backwards

darn, I was hoping there was some breakthrough and I could eat hoho's and dingdongs and loose weight.

Falcon

I find that I started gaining weight when I finally figured out that I was consuming less calories then I should''ve, I bought a heart rate monitor that also tells me the amount of calories I have burned, I found I was burning more calories then I thought I was. So now I'm a little better at keeping track of my calorie intake, try to keep the sodium and sugar down and make sure I consume 75 - 90% of my calories for the day and I found I reversed into losing weight, so everyone is a little different, but I would definately think about getting a heart rate monitor that burns cals so you get a better picture of how many you should be consuming, or your body could be at a happy weight already you never know.

mrsyac2

I find that I started gaining weight when I finally figured out that I was consuming less calories then I should''ve, I bought a heart rate monitor that also tells me the amount of calories I have burned, I found I was burning more calories then I thought I was. So now I'm a little better at keeping track of my calorie intake, try to keep the sodium and sugar down and make sure I consume 75 - 90% of my calories for the day and I found I reversed into losing weight, so everyone is a little different, but I would definately think about getting a heart rate monitor that burns cals so you get a better picture of how many you should be consuming, or your body could be at a happy weight already you never know.

Heart rate monitors are awesome- so you know exactly what you are burning when you workout

2BLean

Hi there SHBoss: I have read some of your posts before and think you have such great advice. :happy:
Would you mind breaking it down for me too. I am in the same kind of boat as far as
Having a healthy BMI but would like to get the LB’s down. It’s happening but very slowly. I guess like you mentioned it is because my body is very comfortable where it’s at. Hence I have stayed where I am for quite some time. Currently losing some inches & clothes fitting looser but only lost 3#’s. :grumble:
I’m 5’7”, 141 lbs. - Currently I strength train 3 days a week with an ab workout following.
3-4 days a week I do cardio or interval training.
Any advice/breakdown I would appreciate so much if you have time. I want to make sure I am doing the calorie part correctly. I do eat my exercise calories but wonder if I should be eating more or
“zig-zagging” them up and down. Just not sure.
Thanks in advance for your help!

rstarks54

1200 calories/day
I eat all of my exercise calories
Workout cardio for 40 mins/day (5-6 times/week)
Weightlifting for 20 mins. (3 times/week)
I am 25 years old, 5'2", and 135 pounds with a goal weight of 110 pounds.

Oh and I am a kindergarten teacher- I have set my activity to sedentary also, even though I am probably "lightly active"

You might try upping you caloric intake to 1400 calories/day. It sounds like your body has gone into "survival mode"...take a day off of exercise every few days, let your body heal. It takes 48 hours to repair the muscle after a intensive strengthening day...I found that I was working out six days a week, strength training 5 and cardio 6...in fact, I ended up gaining 2 lbs, so I take a day off without working out, watching my caloric intake, every 3-4 days and immediately dropped those 2 lbs...Best to you...
Rick

SHBoss1673

Hi there SHBoss: I have read some of your posts before and think you have such great advice. :happy:
Would you mind breaking it down for me too. I am in the same kind of boat as far as
Having a healthy BMI but would like to get the LB’s down. It’s happening but very slowly. I guess like you mentioned it is because my body is very comfortable where it’s at. Hence I have stayed where I am for quite some time. Currently losing some inches & clothes fitting looser but only lost 3#’s. :grumble:
I’m 5’7”, 141 lbs. - Currently I strength train 3 days a week with an ab workout following.
3-4 days a week I do cardio or interval training.
Any advice/breakdown I would appreciate so much if you have time. I want to make sure I am doing the calorie part correctly. I do eat my exercise calories but wonder if I should be eating more or
“zig-zagging” them up and down. Just not sure.
Thanks in advance for your help!

Hmm, well, I don't wanna hijack the thread, so I'll answer, but if you have more questions, PM me or start a new one so we don't take this one off track. BUT, I'm happy to offer advice when I can. As long as it's understood that I'm not a registered dietician or doctor so take it for what it is.

OK well, 5'7" and 141 your BMI is really right smack in the middle of normal (22.1 BMI), so I'm not sure why you want to loose weight. If I were you I'd focus on getting your body fat % down and toning. Really examine how you chose your goal. So that being said, I won't recommend any deficit for you at all, instead, I think you should eat your maintenance calories, and then do about 2 days of intense cardio (like, struggling to catch your breath cardio, the type where you want to give up half way in cuz there's no way you will make it to the end) and 2 days of weight training or moderate to heavy resistance training (separate your weight training days by at least 2 days so you give your body time to recover, with one of them being a day off entirely). Then 1 day of lighter cardio, and 2 days off (not in a row though). If your metabolism is normal and I will assume you are lightly active, then you should be eating somewhere around. 1850 calories for maintenance. If you do that, and only eat about 1/2 to 1/3 of your exercise calories, you will keep a small deficit, build some muscle and still burn some fat. Make sure you spread out your food into small, nutritionally diverse meals throughout the day, go protein heavy in the mornings, and go light on the carbs in the evenings. This is only advice, but it's about what I do, I based it on a lot of research, it works for me, and it's pretty sound as far as I can tell.

does this make sense to you?

2BLean

I think so. I went ahead and e-mailed you so I didn't take up this site. :flowerforyou:
Thank you.

aimige

Can you share a daily Food Log..that would help! I follow the Body for life program and I am losing about 2lbs a week and gaining muscle. I have one cheat day a week and I can have anything I want and I still lose weight. It helps to keep your metabolism tip top!