Keep going at 1200, or switch to maintenance?

shiseido_faerie

Hi you guys,

I started logging with mfp at the beginning of nov 2011, I know it says 2010 but that's just when I originally created an account. Anyhow I'm 5'2 and started at 131lbs. I didn't, and still don't have a goal weight really but I set it at 115lbs which is what I was before I took my current job and got lazy. So, mfp gave me 1200 net a day to lose 0.5lbs a week. Normally by the time I eat back exercise calories I've eaten a total of 1350-1450, still 1200 net. So far I have lost 3lbs, I am fine with that. Here's the thing though, I've come to the realization that I don't really care if the number on the scale gets smaller,I really just want to be rid of this little belly I've developed over the last couple of years, i want to be strong and toned and healthy with tons of energy, so what I'm wondering is....to achieve this do I continue going how I have been and wait for the weight to drop, or do I go into maintenance mode and just focus on improving what I'm eating and exercising more? Thanks for any thoughts!

mallory3411

If you're just mainly looking to tone up and not really lose much more weight maintanence is probably best. It will allow you more calories to allow you to better work out on things like weight lifting and such to help tone your muscles and make them stronger. You will still probably lose weight in the process... however the scale may not change much if you focus on building and toning muscles.

shiseido_faerie

Aha! I just went in to check out my settings and apparently I did NOT have it set to lose 0.5lbs. Per week as I had thought. I had it set to the recommended lose 1lb a week, which clearly has not been happening, I just changed it to 0.5 which now gives me 1310net, see how eating some extra calories goes.