Eat more to lose more?

jgkoutr

I have seen this topic and have looked back over my food and burn logs for the past 6 mnths...and I am depressed to see that there has been no real loss...the same few pounds have been losed and gained.

I have consistently had a 5000-7000 calorie deficiet for almost a year now...if I were to eat more does that mean my calorie deficet should be no more than 3500?

I'm having a hard time with this...I have a body media band so I know how much I burn for the most part so that I could have a 1000 defict a day. I do not want to be stuck at this weight another 6mnths help

JoniBologna

That is an incredibly high deficit for someone with not a lot to lose. There is plenty of information about eating enough, BMR, and TDEE here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/3817-eat-more-to-weigh-less

I would encourage you to check it out and do some research.

jgkoutr

thanks, and to clarify I try to reach the 7000 calorie deficet in total for the week.(2bls is -7000)

Nikiki

I'm a little confused by your deficit, do you mean you're eating a 5000-7000 calorie deficit each week? With 1000 a day under your calories burned? If so I'd say you really should be eating more.

Everyone is different but for me (i'm 5'3 started at 188 and work in an office so the only burn I get is from actual workouts). I eat on average 1400-1700 cals a day, mfp wants me to eat 1650 to lose 1/2 a pound a week. When I work out I eat an extra 500-700 cals depending on my burn (I try to eat back most of what I burn) and generally once a week I have a 2200-2500 calorie day. I've lost a little over 12 pounds in 3 months, it would have been more but I've had a couple bomb weeks of no workouts and awful eating.

The less you eat the slower your metabolism goes so that when you fall off the wagon (which you will because no one can maintain such a big deficit forever!!) you gain back what you've lost often with interest. You also risk losing lean muscle mass when you workout without eating enough to fuel your workouts. It will take time to tweak your diet to find what works for you and it will change over time so you have to re-evaluate occasionally to keep getting results.

Give it a try, you have nothing to lose but LB's!

JoniBologna

thanks, and to clarify I try to reach the 7000 calorie deficet in total for the week.(2bls is -7000)

You're welcome, and I understood. Someone with about 20-30lbs to lose, like yourself would be better suited to have a deficit of 3500 a week. Honestly though, check out that group, calculate your BMR and TDEE, and eat somewhere between those two numbers including exercise calories.

jgkoutr

My BMR is 1578 TDEE-1893...so instead of eating 1200-1400...I should be 1500-1800? (thats if I'm sedentary)...then add in workout cal...seems like so much, it really freaks me out...I wanted to drop 15-20lbs by sept but if I'm eating like that there is no way I will.

To Nikiki...I will eat 1200-1400 calories a day...every once in awhile I may go as high as 2200 but I always balance it out later in the week (eat 1000 cal one day) so that my actual deficit is 7000 for the week. I know how much I burn through the whole day b/c I wear my bodymedia everywhere...

why is it some people can lose weight eating to low while others stall out? It is so frusterating

JoniBologna

Give it a try. You're already not losing, and you say what you've been doing isn't working. At this point, what do you have to lose? If it helps try increasing slowly. Start by adding 200cal a day. Try to fit in little extra healthy snacks like yogurt, nuts, fruit, protein shakes, etc. You may gain a little at first but give it four weeks before you make up your mind on whether it's working or not. I'm sure you will start to feel better and see results. Also, feel free to add me for support. I was once where you are, and I know eating a little more can be scary. Good luck to you!