eating more & exercise to lose more question

50ishFoodie

I've had a similar problem. I've been stuck at a plateau for about 2 years. I've tried eating less, exercising less, eating more, exercising more, and all possible combinations of those two. I lost about 22 pounds, and then hit a wall. I will be 52 soon, and post menopausal. The plateau began when I hit menopause. My BMR is 1454 and TDEE is 2254. I average around 1350 calories, and work out an average of 6 hours a week. I mix up my workouts which include walking, interval jogging, spinning, elliptical and the occasional Zumba class. I also lift weights or do strength training 2 x a week and two yoga classes on most weeks.

It seems that every time I eat more, I gain within a week. If I eat less, I run out of energy by the end of the week....

Any advice would be welcome!

CoderGal

I've had a similar problem. I've been stuck at a plateau for about 2 years. I've tried eating less, exercising less, eating more, exercising more, and all possible combinations of those two. I lost about 22 pounds, and then hit a wall. I will be 52 soon, and post menopausal. The plateau began when I hit menopause. My BMR is 1454 and TDEE is 2254. I average around 1350 calories, and work out an average of 6 hours a week. I mix up my workouts which include walking, interval jogging, spinning, elliptical and the occasional Zumba class. I also lift weights or do strength training 2 x a week and two yoga classes on most weeks.

It seems that every time I eat more, I gain within a week. If I eat less, I run out of energy by the end of the week....

Any advice would be welcome!

Of course your going to gain within a week, you're body is starved and every time you eat more your glycogen levels are going to get back to normal (which weighs more). However, if you stick it out and eat your TDEE for a couple weeks, your weight and then some will drop off again.

neverstray

I've had a similar problem. I've been stuck at a plateau for about 2 years. I've tried eating less, exercising less, eating more, exercising more, and all possible combinations of those two. I lost about 22 pounds, and then hit a wall. I will be 52 soon, and post menopausal. The plateau began when I hit menopause. My BMR is 1454 and TDEE is 2254. I average around 1350 calories, and work out an average of 6 hours a week. I mix up my workouts which include walking, interval jogging, spinning, elliptical and the occasional Zumba class. I also lift weights or do strength training 2 x a week and two yoga classes on most weeks.

It seems that every time I eat more, I gain within a week. If I eat less, I run out of energy by the end of the week....

Any advice would be welcome!

Read the info here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/3834-eat-more-to-weigh-less

You are eating less than your BMR AND exercising on top of that. No wonder you have hit a wall. If you are averaging 1350, but your BMR is 1454, your body has you in survival mode. You should be eating 20% or so less than TDEE. That puts you at about 1803 a day to lose 1 lb per week. With this, don't eat back exercise cals. See how that works. Make small adjustments monthly up or down depending on what's going on.

mmapags

I've had the same thing happen to me (I lost more when I ate the same cals and exercised less). I researched BMR and TDEE. I started eating to net at least my BMR everyday and started losing again.

I've found I lose more on the scale when I exercise less. However, I lose more in inches when I work out more. Plus, I like the way I feel and look from exercising. For me, it's a matter of finding the right balance.

^This, I'd rather go up and look skinnier then be a light flab ball. I got to goal doing the light flab ball thing, my butt has increased it's hotness 10 fold since I started hiking :P

^^^^AGREE WITH THESE^^^
I exercise and started to eat 20% less my TDEE about 6 wks ago and havent lost lbs but have lost inches, and I get compliments on my new toned arms & legs. I dont want to be "skinny fat".

You just inspired me to make a post. I didn't think the pics would come out much different in a few weeks but they did:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/603357-120-lbs-weeks-of-no-loss-activity-level-change-pics
sedentary->active
Net 1650->net over 2000
no waist or butt measurement changes

Way to go girl!! Awesome job!! You are looking hotttt!!

50ishFoodie

Thanks for the advice. I will try it, starting today!

em9371

I've had a similar problem. I've been stuck at a plateau for about 2 years. I've tried eating less, exercising less, eating more, exercising more, and all possible combinations of those two. I lost about 22 pounds, and then hit a wall. I will be 52 soon, and post menopausal. The plateau began when I hit menopause. My BMR is 1454 and TDEE is 2254. I average around 1350 calories, and work out an average of 6 hours a week. I mix up my workouts which include walking, interval jogging, spinning, elliptical and the occasional Zumba class. I also lift weights or do strength training 2 x a week and two yoga classes on most weeks.

It seems that every time I eat more, I gain within a week. If I eat less, I run out of energy by the end of the week....

Any advice would be welcome!

Of course your going to gain within a week, you're body is starved and every time you eat more your glycogen levels are going to get back to normal (which weighs more). However, if you stick it out and eat your TDEE for a couple weIeks, your weight and then some will drop off again.

This.
You will gain the first week or two of increasing cals as your body has to adjust to the new levels. Stick with it at least 3-4 weeks.
Take 20% from tdee and eat that, you should lose around 1 a week once your body has adjusted

50ishFoodie

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/501511-great-read-on-plateau-ing

50ishFoodie

Thanks! Changed my numbers today and will start eating more. Yikes!

CoderGal

Thanks! Changed my numbers today and will start eating more. Yikes!

while you're eating more you should totally try my chocolate peanut butter protein pancakes in an avocado hole
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/604069-28g-protein-chocolate-pancake-in-an-avocado