BMR Clarification

cyndispot

Okay, I just realized after spending some time on the forums I'm not doing food right.

First some quick details. I'm at 209/210 (been there about a week).
I eat on average 1200 calories day. Sometimes I go high, but it's usually a planned thing. But that's been my target.
I calculated my BMR and it was 1696....so I was eating way low (losing well mind you, but still not apparently enough food).

Here's a little about how I eat. I don't eat clean, but I also think I don't always eat junk (don't look to close at yesterday.) I try to eat real and with my family. So I do watch portions and try to limit the eating out. (Pizza is a favorite - I make it at home alot, but use restaurant totals for calories sometimes). Breakfast is usually 80 - 200 calories eaten in two sittings. Lunch is usually around 400 calories or less and I make up the difference at dinner. Anything left is hot cocoa (make with milk and cocoa and splenda) and/or a mug cake (just the cake mix and water). I do eat a little piece of chocolate each day and don't always record that.

I listed myself as sedentary, I pretty much sit at a desk all day except when I work out or am at home and usually there I'm cleaning.

I try to do at least 30-60 minutes of cardio (elliptical, c25k program, ARC Trainer) a day and I'm lifting weights (started this week) 2 days a week. I work 2 x per week with a trainer (she's who told me to set calories at 1200 so never questioned it.)

With that information and researching the plateau, I'm thinking the issue is food. I'm really not eating enough - especially when I add and average workout of 1 hour or 500-700 calories a day in workout calories. But really? 1700 calories a day before exercise? That seems like so much compared to what I've been eating regularly and I also see myself as making that a binge - cuz that's alot of food compared to what I've been doing and I don't want to just try to fill calorie space with junk

...so I wondered about maybe increasing to 1500 for a few weeks adjusting to that amount and then increasing again in a month to the next level.

This is long term, I got the rest of my life to lose the 50 lbs I'm carrying around - so I'm not in a rush and I want to learn to do this to maintain a lifetime, but I'm nervous about the extra calories. I'm going to add some more high calorie items to my menu options and more protein (I Noticed I'm lacking there too), but I just think throwing another 500 in a once is risky and alot to figure out how to fill - unless you all think i should just go to the 1700 and have some options of ways to fill those calories with something other than candy.

Spanaval

Increase your calorie intake slowly. Maybe up 100 cals every couple of weeks or so. it will give you a chance to evaluate what it does for your body.

cyndispot

oh, that's a good idea. I didn't even think of that when I realized that i was not doing it right I was thinking i should change everything at once....