Do I need to do the reset?

himel13

Hi everyone!
In an attempt to break my 7 month plateau, I upped my calories from 1320 to 1570 (my maintenance cals according to MFP) for 6 weeks. I then ate back my exercise calories and averaged around 1650 cals/day (just food) or 1540/day (after exercise) for these 6 weeks

I just read about TDEE and did the Scooby calculation. It turns out that 1650 cals is my TDEE - 10% cut. and 1540 (without eating exercise calories back) is TDEE-15% cut.

I've only lost and gained the same 1/2 pound in the last six weeks. My question now is, should I eat at my TDEE (do the reset) for a few weeks, or have I upped my calories enough? For the last few days I've been trying to eat 1540 calories without eating back my exercise calories and have found that I get too hungry and end up binging.

Any advice is welcome..I'm uncertain about what to do. The thought of being able to eat 1800 calories a day is really exciting, but I'll eventually have to make the cut if I want to lose weight, so I'm wondering if now is the time!

Saelina

Welcome to the group

The mods will want you to post your age, weight, height and activity level to make a calorie recommendation.

HeidiHoMom

I think you sound like a good candidate for a reset!

himel13

Thanks for replying! I'll put my stats here..could really use the advice!
Age:28
CW: 130 pounds
Height: 5'1"
Activity level: Light (I'm currently doing the Hip Hop Abs program, which is about half an hour, 6 days a week)

So, reset or just try harder to stick to TDEE-15%?

Zylayna

Thanks for replying! I'll put my stats here..could really use the advice!
Age:28
CW: 130 pounds
Height: 5'1"
Activity level: Light (I'm currently doing the Hip Hop Abs program, which is about half an hour, 6 days a week)

So, reset or just try harder to stick to TDEE-15%?

Based on your stats your numbers are as follows:

BMR: 1369
TDEE: 1883
TDEE - 10%: 1694

I'd say based on your stall and your binging, that going up to a full reset would be the way to go. Eat your TDEE amount for 8 weeks (be as consistent as possible), then drop to a 10% deficit at first (we want to curb the binging and keep you as consistent as possible once you drop into a deficit so smaller deficits will help with that). Once you find you stall again at 10%, then try dropping another 5% (or you can take a diet break, go back up to tdee for a week and come back to your 10% cut instead).

Doing the reset should help get you stabilized in your eating patterns and get your body ready to lose at a smaller deficit.

himel13

Thanks for the reply!! I've done proper measurements and upped my calories accordingly..have started the Reset and am very excited!!