Do I have to up my calories?

ottawagirl613

So I am currently set to 1 pound per week weight loss and it gave me a net of 1400 calories (which I always hit). I've only got 7 pounds to go (definitely not lowering my goal when I get there) and I'm wondering if a pound per week weight loss is too fast for the amount I have left to lose. I definitely don't want to lose any lean muscle mass because there is easily 7 pounds of fat in me that needs to go. I'm just afraid if I don't eat enough/lose too fast I will lose the muscle instead of the fat, and if I eat too much I won't lose ANYTHING! Can someone who knows more about these things than me shed some light?

BTW I am a female/5'5.5"/137lbs.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

I'd go down to .5 lbs per week for your last 10 lbs or so-- that's where I am now.

shovav91

From what I hear, when you near your goal weight you should lower your weight loss goal (say .5 pounds per week) so that when you go into maintenance you don't shock your system too badly and essentially just ease into it.

ottawagirl613

bump!

MaximalLife

From what I hear, when you near your goal weight you should lower your weight loss goal (say .5 pounds per week) so that when you go into maintenance you don't shock your system too badly and essentially just ease into it.

^^^^^^
THIS!
That close to goal, slow down!

And congratulations!

KareninCanada

I would say yes. Your BMR calculates at 1436 calories/day (http://health.discovery.com/centers/heart/basal/basal.html) - that's your subsistence level and you should never be below that amount of calories to fully support your body. Activity beyond lying in bed all day requires more than that. The info my trainer gave me says women should be between 1500-2500 calories per day, most women being around 1800.


And, way to go!

christina571

I agree with everyone else, you should probably switch to .5 loss per week. I only have 4 lbs to lose, and i put my goal to .5 weight loss per week, and i eat all of my exercise calories back. there's no rush.