help me understand.

lysistrataNix

I'm looking through calculations my LBM is 117 and I have 79 pounds of fat.
my BMR is 1681
My RMR is 1665
My BMI is 35.84
I won't be out of the obese range until I'm 164lbs... that's almost depressing.
Currently I weigh 196, and I'm 5'2"

Given my LBM does that mean that my goal of 120 is too small? I want to lose fat not muscle, and I've been doing weights every time I work out.
What's the difference between BMR and RMR?
I should be losing 2lbs a week but I'm not. I do have fast food once a week because it's free. I don't eat any sweets anymore. I used to LOVE sweets and I miss them, but losing weight is more important. Yes I've had a frozen pizza here and there, I've been working on changes I can live with. I do try to cook from scratch but I HATE complicated long recipes with a bunch of ingredients. I like simple and flavorful, but recipes like that seem hard to come by, and really there's only so much chicken I can stand. I like beef, and yes even ground beef; I usually eat 80/20 if it's ground.
I finally found hummus and I like it, is it used as a spread only?
Also I think I might be setting myself up for failure with how I do my workouts. I workout in the evening before I eat and by the time I get home and make dinner I'm eating at 8pm or later. I was eating before I worked out but with dinner in my belly it made my workouts really hard.
Do I just need to bite the bullet and get up at 5am and do my workout before my day begins?

If you take the time to answer my bajillion questions, thanks! It's much appreciated.

TeresaC79

When you workout doesn't matter.

What you eat does. Weight loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise. That said, one bad meal a week won't kill you.

How many calories are you netting a day?

What is the healthy weight range for your body size? 120 at 5'2" doesn't sound unreasonable at all.

That said, it isn't a race. It is a long journey that may take years to get to your goal.

bellavie23

So I dont know what the RMR and BMR and all that stands for, my only suggestions would be make sure you are counting how many calories you are taking in with the fast food, instead of frozen pizzas just buy the premade pizza dough, buy toppings, you can prep one and just stick it in the oven when you get home, might take off some calories. I would just work out in the mornings, it will help wake you up afterwards and might help some, worst case scenario you try it, dont see the results you want, and go back to how you were doing it before, but wouldn't hurt to try. I do small workouts through the day, but I stay home with our 3 kids, so I prefer doing 20 minutes before each meal (tends to be nap times for 1 or 2 of the kids if not all). Just try a few different ways and see which gives you the best results! Good luck!

lysistrataNix

I net an average of 646 calories... I'm scared to eat back more.

TeresaC79

you need to eat more. you aren't losing weight. that isnt enough food to fuel your body. your body is slowing your metabolism to deal with the lack of food. eat more and you will begin to see results

3dogsrunning

Keep in mind, regardless of how well you eat and the fact you lift weights you will likely lose LBM.
But here is a calculator that can help you figure out a good goal weight depending on lean body mass and target body fat percent.
http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/ibw/

Also, the scale isn't the best judge of your progress. A number of things can affect the number on the scale. Don't worry about 2 lbs a week, judge your inches lost and how your clothes fit.

3dogsrunning

I net an average of 646 calories... I'm scared to eat back more.

Then you are going to lose a whole lot more muscle even if you are doing weights. You need to eat! You are sabotaging yourself.

3dogsrunning

When you eat doesn't matter. Eating late at night does not cause weight gain.

ironanimal

I net an average of 646 calories... I'm scared to eat back more.

Then you will burn through your muscle much, much faster than fat. That is waaaay too little.

lysistrataNix

I workout for an hour at the gym 6 days a week and I eat 1200-1400 calories, but my net is always in the 600 range. *sigh* I guess I'll try eating more, but I'm so worried about putting on weight with eating more.

eviefly2944

I know you thing that having fast food once a week is'nt a lot or even forzen pizza which is a ton of calories but it all adds up to keep you from losing weight. I'm 5' 3 and when started my weight loss I weighed 230 i've lost 60lbs. The little bites matter try to get 30min of exercise in a day makes the weight come off faster.

Leigh2778

I looked through your food diary. If I were you, I would try eating back most of your exercise calories to see if that works for you. At first when you said you net 600 and some calories, I was like "holy crap, that's not enough!" but I looked through your diary and you are eating a healthy amount of calories, for the most part, you're just burning a lot with exercise, too. Some people don't eat their exercise cals, some do. Sounds like it's not working for you to not eat yours, so maybe try eating them?
Also, are you tracking everything you eat (this is my biggest weakness, which is why I think of it first) and are you sure the calorie counts are correct? Along the same line, are you pretty sure the calories burned are correct? If so, try eating back the exercise cals (like I said- I like to repeat myself :laugh: ), then maybe take a look at the sodium (another huge downfall for me personally).
Finally 120 pounds may or may not be right for you. Everybody and every body is different. Set small goals, then re-evaluate after you meet them.
Good luck!!

KetoMomRN

I glanced through your diary and realized you meant you just don't eat back your exercise calories. Maybe since you are worried about that, try eating back half. Also, are you drinking LOTS of water? I noticed a big difference in loss when I actually started drinking a ton of water. Your body needs that just as much, especially if you are exercising that much. They say you should drink about 1/2 your body weight in oz of water (ie, I drink at least 70oz a day, or at least try haha!)

I'm probably going to get scrutinized over this but also if you can limit carbs and increase protein. That will help with muscle loss and possibly jumpstart weight loss. I know everyone is different and I LOVE me some carbs, but limiting sugar and carbs really jumpstarts my losses. I hope that helps. Feel free to add me!

lysistrataNix

I'm not entirely sure if I'm counting my calories correctly that's why I'm worried about eating back calories. I'll give it a try and hopefully I don't gain weight back. I HATE watching my sodium. I did that while I was pregnant last year and when I did I cut back to a 1,000mg a day. Everything was bland and it didn't help with my blood pressure or water retention ( I had PIH)

As far as water goes I drink 3 16.9oz bottles of water a day, and for me that's pushing it. I used to "nurse" a couple cans of pop a day and that was pretty much my only drink intake at the time. The fact that I rarely consume pop is a miracle.
I do log every little thing that I put in my mouth and I try to read labels. I don't know anything about low carb. Doesn't that mean no bread, potatoes and such (I really don't know) I Had gestational diabetes with my last pregnancy, but I was only told no sugar so I never learned anything about low carbs.

My Grandmother has offered me the use of her south beach diet book, but I don't want to go on a diet and then go off a diet KWIM?

Josie_lifting_cats

I'm about 99.98% sure that you will not gain weight (permanently!) if you bump your calories up to even 1,500. My BMR is 1,453, so I do NOT eat less than that. I do not net below 1,200, no matter what. I've spent months eating 1,200, not eating back exercise calories, doing a lot that you are currently doing, and I had absolutely NO success. I highly recommend eating no less than your BMR (you're fine as long as you're under your TDEE) and continue working out. The body just kind of backfires on you with too little. Last month I wasn't losing weight, but lost a ton of inches, which means I'm doing something right - eating enough to retain and build muscle while shedding some fat. Now in the last week the weight has begun to shift. It will happen for you, too, but you need to eat more! Trust me!

lysistrataNix

Ok, I'll give it a good try and eat back some of my workout calories.