Net Calorie vs. Total Calories - Not losing weight/ Not eati

Shayl32

Hello,

I've been on a "weight loss journey", if you will, since October 2011. After having frequent binges and out of control portions causing me to overeat, I decided to change my eating/exercise habits to become healthier, fitter, and -well- slimmer.

So I logged my calories on an Excel worksheet, drastically cut my calories, and frequented the gym. I went from 138 to 130 in a relatively short amount of time. But that was eating a net of - say- 800-1200 or even less ( even on days that I worked out.)

No bueno.

So I stopped trying all together, still eating mindfully, but no longer went to the gym.

Now, I'm back with a clear head and a firm goal. I take it that if I had continued from last year, I would have met my goal by now. I no longer binge or overeat. In fact, it seems like I am only able to eat a lot less that I used to.

My goal weight is ~120, which is only about 10 pounds to where I am now.

But my biggest concern is trusting figures that I find online telling me how much I should be eating to lose weight. My BMR is around 1400, and MFP has set me at 1200 net calories per day (generic right?) One source suggested that I could eat around 1600 calories a day (active lifestyle) and lose about a pound a week. To me that seems like a lot, especially seeing that they have to be "clean food", which I'm totally down for, granted that I would ACTUALLY be able to shed pounds this way.

I workout 6 days a week (1 hr+, 300-600cals burn per) and walk for 30 minutes two times a week.

I know I should be eating back those calories, thanks to (http://www.shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com), but I still have to do more research on the best and healthiest way to go about this.


If someone out there is willing to take a gander at my diary and let me know what I should be doing differently.

I [think I] know I should be eating more calories but I'm not sure how much. I'm going to continue looking for more success stories of people who've eaten more and lost more in the meantime.

Thank you so much in advance!

(My diary is a bit new because I'm a new member)

lizard053

It's a funny statement to tell someone they need to eat enough to lose weight. Seems to always rub the wrong way. However, I know I need to exercise to lose weight. I can eat as much or as little as I want and get no where at all. So it's taken me YEARS to figure out what worked for me.

Eat to your BMR, minimum. Then, eat if you're hungry. Don't force yourself to eat, but get enough to keep your body fueled and running properly!

Good luck!