How many calories should I be eating?

FutureMrsWarby

I've been doing MFP since September of last year, I started out at 214 5ft2 sedentary level. The counter put me at 1200 net, and on average I was eating under 1200 which I heard was dangerous and I was also starving all the time. So I set my own cals at 1400 and have stayed with that.

However, I have not lost weight since May, and before that since March. This is largely due to my feeling hungry all the time despite what I eat, and late at night I eventually binge eat and gain either fat or water weight back.

I work out every single day if I can help it, along with a personal trainer 2 times a week. I include both cardio and strength training. I just recently started eating back my exercise cals to meet my net amount, but even so--I'm still REALLY hungry and am staying the same 165/154 due to binge eating and then losing it again.

What should I do? Up my cals or stay the same? Lower them?

And if you look at my food diary, yes, I eat a lot of processed foods due to time limit, but watch my sodium very carefully on most days and stay under. I try to stay green in all areas except fiber and protein, and sometimes sugar.

Thanks for any advice.

Dave198lbs

However, I have not lost weight since May, and before that since March. This is largely due to my feeling hungry all the time despite what I eat, and late at night I eventually binge eat and gain either fat or water weight back.


What should I do? Up my calls or stay the same? Lower them?

if you are binge eating every night how are you staying in a caloric deficit?

FutureMrsWarby

It's not *every single* night. Two-three times a week, maybe I go over on cals.

reneeeeeh

Try adding fresh vegetables to your diet so you stay fuller for longer..

ladyraven68

I've been doing MFP since September of last year, I started out at 214 5ft2 sedentary level. The counter put me at 1200 net, and on average I was eating under 1200 which I heard was dangerous and I was also starving all the time. So I set my own cals at 1400 and have stayed with that.

However, I have not lost weight since May, and before that since March. This is largely due to my feeling hungry all the time despite what I eat, and late at night I eventually binge eat and gain either fat or water weight back.

I work out every single day if I can help it, along with a personal trainer 2 times a week. I include both cardio and strength training. I just recently started eating back my exercise calls to meet my net amount, but even so--I'm still REALLY hungry and am staying the same 165/154 due to binge eating and then losing it again.

What should I do? Up my calls or stay the same? Lower them?

And if you look at my food diary, yes, I eat a lot of processed foods due to time limit, but watch my sodium very carefully on most days and stay under. I try to stay green in all areas except fiber and protein, and sometimes sugar.

Thanks for any advice.

If you are getting so hungry that you binge eat, then no, reducing your calories is not a good idea.

What is your MFP goal? if yo uhave set it to 2lbs per week, you could change it to 1lb and see if that makes a difference. It's better to be set at 1lb and lose 1lb, than to be set at 2lb and lose nothing.

Personally I would work out your TDEE, and then take a deficit from there, because if you go with the MFP method, you will have really low days when you aren't working out, which is what's causing your binges. Calculating your TDEE and then taking a deficit means you will be eating steadily through the week, but it will be natural calorie cycling as some days you burn more than others depending on your workouts.

Good luck