THE answers to THE questions

bluroses

THANKS! for all the great information here! I have been on this journey for 2-1/2 years now and have hit a huge plateau in the past few months. I was so confused, because I am diligent about writing everything down, exercising every day, etc. When I started this site to help me track, I did *not* realize that I should be eating my exercise calories, too. When I look back at a report of my nutrition, I see I have been below my goal in terms of net calories more often or not and weas on track to do it again today. (I immediately opened a fiber bar to eat and add!)

It's going to be hard to change my mindset to eat my exercise calories in addition to my "regular" calories, but I'll start working toward that and see how it goes.

Swissmiss

bluroses...When we don't eat our exercise calories then our bodies think that we are not getting enough calories and will hold on to the fat. I sometimes will go over my calories on purpose if I have hit a plateau. This seems to kick-start the weight lose again.

bluroses

I guess I just wasn't getting the idea of "net" calories through my head. I was so careful not to go over my caloric goal most days that it seemed counterintuitive to eat MORE. I am definitely going to start eating those exercise calories and see what happens!

cmriverside

Yes, when you were heavier, your body felt comfortable "giving up" the excess fat. Now that you are getting closer to your healthy weight range, it is saying "Whoa, nellie, we've been in a famine for months now. Now we need to start conserving our fat reserves."

The closer to your healthy weight range, the more closely you need to stay to your recommended net calories. You are around 165, and trying to get to 135? Yep, your body is starting to worry. It's happy right where it is. Unfortunately, your metabolism will slow down if you under-consume, trying to conserve. So add some calories, be patient.

Swissmiss

Also, please let us know if this works for you.

bluroses

Well, it's been an adjustment, but I have been eating all my calories (or within 50-75 of them) the past few days since I read this. My official weigh-in day is Thursdays, so we'll see what happens next week.

Today is tough, though. I ran a 5K this morning, then walked back a mile and ran the last mile again with my friend, *then* went to cardio bootcamp. Just enetered my lunch and I *still* have a lOT of calories to eat! Then again, it's kind of a nice problem to have...

MTGirl

Bump it up!

hiddensecant

Loma

**bump**

SillySkittles

Thanks for posting this and re-bumping for the newer members (like meee) to see!! Really good information!!! I was surprised at some of the information, like getting to eat MORE the more I exercise, but when you think about it, it makes sense!!! If you don't drink enough water, your body gets scared it won't get any more so it begins to store it. I never thought to think the same way with food! But according to my psych class, our bodies #1 goal is always survival so it would make sense that if our bodies "think" that it's not going to be starving, it would be more willing to "let go" of the fat it's storing...

LOL...I think I'm having a break-through moment....

THANKS again!

Monkeymon9

What''s the biggest change you can make? The small ones. (Random stuff)

*I no longer eat what the family is eating, I fix them their dinner and then mine. Nor do I carry the food to the table anymore..We fix our plates in the kitchen then go to the table.
*Don't buy it at the grocery store...then its not sitting in the kitchen calling your name. I simply refused to buy sweets and junk food anymore I replaced them with fruit, veggies,cheese and yogurt. No one has missed them.
*I began walking at least 30 minutes a day..at work or at home. It began a "just do it and get it over with" for the first few days..but now I can't wait to go and the kids and dog love it also.
* I plan my meals the night before for the next day.
* I keep a list of better choices for eating out at lunch from our local resturants. Often we order out on a whelm so I have my choices and I don't order what everyone else is.
* Fish is my new treat at dinner not something smothered in melted cheese. Skinless boneless fillets..Season it up with whatever you have and I like to grill it....I was amazed at the benefits to eating fish just 2x a week.
* I have learned to like water. Its not as bad as I thought it would be and I can tell a big difference in my skin. I also get in a little more unlogged exercise going to potty, but that gets better too. There are also some good low-carb, low-cal drinks out there now. Better than soda and sweet tea.

I have been at this for 1 week. These are the changes I have made and I can not tell you how easy it has been and how much better I feel.....after 7 days.........I wonder why I ever lived the way I was. I felt in order to "diet" I had to give up everything I loved, drah myself to exercise, be hungry and suck down gallons of water....I am never afraid to admit when I am worng. Not to mention having suport from everyone here. I am anxious to see what week #2 brings.

Smiley1010

bump

Ten10

The answer to question 4 made me feel a whole lot better I always knew models were just like us. (normal people)

cmriverside

it's tiiiiiiiiiiiiiime............

laceynacole

thanks! this cleared up a lot! thought i was doing myself a favor by eating fewer calories! i guess not so much! thanks!!!!!

renestl

Excellent information! That was very helpful and straight forward.

mrsmaggie2u

how about the body purifiers, will those help?

cmriverside

how about the body purifiers, will those help?

there are many posts on mfp about "purifiers"

go to community
type in purifiers or cleanses in the "Search" box with the green button.

lulubenmom

bump

Okaaaay, but.....my MBR is 1,200 and the site won't suggest below 1,200 so if I follow MFP and eat my burn calories, I'll just stay the same, right? I have found this to be true. When I make it 1,000 as my nett calories I do lose weight.

BTW I'm 38, 5'2" and very small frame, with 10 more pounds till I reach goal of 115 lb (5lb more than my pre-baby weight).

Is this okay to do the 1,000 nett or am I going to "starve"?

lotusfromthemud

Your BMR is not your maintenance calories. BMR is you Basal Metabolic Rate, what you need to stay alive with zero activity. (think bedridden).
If you go to your goals and change them to "maintain my current weight" that will show you your maintenance calories. (just don't forget to change it back) Your BMR is lower than your maintenance, so eating at your BMR should cause weight loss.

TNTPete

Bump!

lauraa0411

Hi:

Thank you so much for the information. I have a very hard time eating my daily total net calories. I started "dieting" 1 month ago and I already lost 20 pounds (I have been a member for 7 days) and even when before I used to eat around 2,500 or more a day, now I feel like I am betraying myself if I eat more than 1,000 a day. Can you give me some ideas of healthy snacks I could eat to reach at least 1,200 calories.

Thank you again.

lotusfromthemud

A small handful of nuts will give you 200 calories, and some fat (needed in your diet). Also, consider a glass of milk or a protein shake.

All of those things will up your calories without a lot of quantity.
HTH.:flowerforyou:

justforme8

**BUMP BUMP BUMP**

rose1617

I'll help bump it!
Good info!

Sparksfly

bump!!!

gatorgerl

thank u so much.I went over my 1200 calories today and felt bad for doing so. BMR is 1500 so not so bad.. Thanks again for the info.

Nicole718

I really appreciate the tip about eating your exercise calories. This makes sense. At first I felt like I could just spare myself the time, stick to my calorie limit and leave it at that. But deep down, I think we all know better. Exercise not only burns calories while we are doing it, but for hours later, not to mention the extra calories that muscle tissue burns. In fact, exercise provides a how list of benefits from improved skin, to energy to those wonderful endorphins. Lets face it, if we feel better and more energetic, we are much less likely to indulge in junk that should not be going into our bodies.

So although I kind of already knew the answer, reading your post just settled it for me.

tractor

Thank you so much! This post answered all my questions/concerns which have been keeping me up all night searching for some kind of answer. This makes so much sense. I lost 10lbs since I started working out last month, but the last two weeks, nothing is happening. I was beginning to get frustrated and even started working out more and burning more calories and eating less. Hopefully I will start losing lbs again.

Thank you MFP, youre my new bff! :P

ccdo

very informative thanks im not takin diet pills no more if they dont work waste of money and i will start trustin the tape and my clothes as weight loss scales are not moving much for me :flowerforyou: do u have to eat the calories u have lost through excercise ????