1200 cals = weight gain?

ebonie101

okay i saw a post about this while searching but i wanted to get answers on my specific problem. im 4'11 and last friday i was 151 and i have been losing about 8 pounds a month eating about 900-1000 cals. i havent been getting headaches or feeling like im missing nutrients i drink shakes, eat veggies and protein/whole grains but i figured 900 is way below what is recommended so i upped it to make sure i dont create a very bad habit of not eating enough nutrients. now this week(today) i weigh in at 153.5...im lifting weights(lat pull down, rowing) and drink about 60floz of water a day and barely eat salt so i doubt its water weight. do i need to see a doctor to find out my right cal intake or should i see what happens next week and not worry? i figure its my body catching up to my new food intake but this is bothering me and i just want some help if possible thank you

firstsip

EastCoast_Girl

900-1000 calories is deffinately not enough to eat if you exercise too......if your diary would be open I could have taken a look at it...

ebonie101

oh how i love the people on this website so helpful....zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

settledownspazz

ive always heard that 1200 is the minimum for women. it might take your body a minute to adjust to your higher calorie intake, but its healthier in the long run

ebonie101

900-1000 calories is deffinately not enough to eat if you exercise too......if your diary would be open I could have taken a look at it...

it has been working so far but i assumed its enough cause i been losing but i figure its not a good idea to keep this low

ebonie101

ive always heard that 1200 is the minimum for women. it might take your body a minute to adjust to your higher calorie intake, but its healthier in the long run

i figured this but my mind is still wrapped around me gaining 2 pounds in 6 days lol ._. thanks

Awkward30

Did you eat 7000 calories over maintenance?

If you ate 300 more per day for 7 days, that would be 2100 cals. So it is unlikely that if 900 was your maintenance you would have even put on a pound of fat at 1200. I don't buy it. More likely is that upping calories increased carbs which increased water retention.

bathsheba_c

Is that net or total? Since you are short, you might be fine eating that much (assuming you are eating back exercise calores), but I would check with your doctor. You should also probably check with the BMR calculator in the tools section, and use what you are given as the bare minimum of what you should eat.

In any event, some weight gain is common when upping calories. It goes away after several weeks.

3bambi3

ive always heard that 1200 is the minimum for women. it might take your body a minute to adjust to your higher calorie intake, but its healthier in the long run

i figured this but my mind is still wrapped around me gaining 2 pounds in 6 days lol ._. thanks

You didn't gain 2 pounds of fat in 6 days. that would require you eating a 7,000 calorie surplus. You said you've been lifting weights. When you do this, your muscles retain water, no matter how much water you are drinking. I'm calling water weight on this.

Big_Daddy6

According to ur stats.....

Ur BMR is 1594. Do not eat below that. Do not net over 1626. This will give you a 10% calorie deficit.

It's normal to gain some at first when u first up ur cals..........Give it 2 weeks and u will be losing again.


Im no doc............but it's working for me.....
Good luck!

ebonie101

Is that net or total? Since you are short, you might be fine eating that much (assuming you are eating back exercise calores), but I would check with your doctor. You should also probably check with the BMR calculator in the tools section, and use what you are given as the bare minimum of what you should eat.

In any event, some weight gain is common when upping calories. It goes away after several weeks.

im just now finding out about BMR which is sad cause i been on my weight lost journey for a lil while now. according to it i should actually eat 1,375. ignorance is bliss now i need to buy more food lol. thanks for the helpful response

Big_Daddy6

ive always heard that 1200 is the minimum for women. it might take your body a minute to adjust to your higher calorie intake, but its healthier in the long run

i figured this but my mind is still wrapped around me gaining 2 pounds in 6 days lol ._. thanks

You didn't gain 2 pounds of fat in 6 days. that would require you eating a 7,000 calorie surplus. You said you've been lifting weights. When you do this, your muscles retain water, no matter how much water you are drinking. I'm calling water weight on this.

Agree^^^^^
Still u need to eat more.

ebonie101

ive always heard that 1200 is the minimum for women. it might take your body a minute to adjust to your higher calorie intake, but its healthier in the long run

i figured this but my mind is still wrapped around me gaining 2 pounds in 6 days lol ._. thanks

You didn't gain 2 pounds of fat in 6 days. that would require you eating a 7,000 calorie surplus. You said you've been lifting weights. When you do this, your muscles retain water, no matter how much water you are drinking. I'm calling water weight on this.

i didnt know this. glad i asked instead of freaking out and only eating watermelon all day. im going to just make sure i dont go below 1200 now. thank you

MonicaFlachman

depending on how much your working out you need between 1200 and 1500 calories a day. also if you wegh more you probably are gaining muscle. You will notice a difference in your clothes before your weight. Make sure you get your measurements and see if you lose inches

ebonie101

Did you eat 7000 calories over maintenance?

If you ate 300 more per day for 7 days, that would be 2100 cals. So it is unlikely that if 900 was your maintenance you would have even put on a pound of fat at 1200. I don't buy it. More likely is that upping calories increased carbs which increased water retention.

what you mean over maintenance?

ebonie101

depending on how much your working out you need between 1200 and 1500 calories a day. also if you wegh more you probably are gaining muscle. You will notice a difference in your clothes before your weight. Make sure you get your measurements and see if you lose inches

im working out 5 times a week. have 2 fitness classes(boxing and weight training) during the week day and gym so now i know i have to up my cals but i find it really hard eating over 1100.. thanks everybody for the help i learned ALOT

Hgdlrd

Hi ebonie, I to am 4' 11" and right now I weigh 168, my dr told me yesterday I need 1900 calories a day to lose weight, however if that is too much, he said I could go to 1500 per day. I suggest asking your dr to tell you or go online and figure it out.

ebonie101

According to ur stats.....

Ur BMR is 1594. Do not eat below that. Do not net over 1626. This will give you a 10% calorie deficit.

It's normal to gain some at first when u first up ur cals..........Give it 2 weeks and u will be losing again.


Im no doc............but it's working for me.....
Good luck!

my problem is im addicted to checking the scale so these two weeks are going to haunt me lol and thanks

Symonep

Maintenance is the amount you need to eat to stay at exactly the same weight i.e.. maintain your current weight.

ebonie101

Hi ebonie, I to am 4' 11" and right now I weigh 168, my dr told me yesterday I need 1900 calories a day to lose weight, however if that is too much, he said I could go to 1500 per day. I suggest asking your dr to tell you or go online and figure it out.

wow really? is it cause of your height? maybe a visit to my doctor is actually what i need to make sure im in good shape

Big_Daddy6

Check the scales but don't consider it an official weigh in for a couple of weeks.

Sailorwind

It's probably water weight or you are gaining muscle. But if you are concerned about what your daily amount really should be, go see a doctor. A lot of people on this site like to throw back the "1200 calories is the minimum for women, never eat under that or you'll go into starvation mode" story around here, but honestly I have a very hard time believing that. Everyone is different. I can't imagine my minimum calories before entering starvation mode-land as a small boned 5'3 woman is the same as a large boned 5'11 woman. I would clearly need to be consuming FAR less calories than her before we both reach starvation mode. The BMR and TDEE calculators will give you a decent idea, but I'm not sure how you would get a solid answer without consulting with your doctor as to what your maintenance calories would be.

2hobbit1

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

Take a look at this thread. It will explain a lot of what you need to know about how to set your target and what all those initials stand for!

smileyve

Your basic amount of daily calories will depend from one person to another one.

There are many factors to be included.

Its based on age, height and your lifestyle.

I think that the calculator provided by this program gives you a great idea of how much you should eat in a day. It is also recommended not to lose more than 1 or 2 lbs a week.

Eating not enough is almost as bad as eating too much, as your body will retain the food you eat and create reserves for harsher times.

I hope this helps.

Smileyve
Good luck.

ebonie101

Your basic amount of daily calories will depend from one person to another one.

There are many factors to be included.

Its based on age, height and your lifestyle.

I think that the calculator provided by this program gives you a great idea of how much you should eat in a day. It is also recommended not to lose more than 1 or 2 lbs a week.

Eating not enough is almost as bad as eating too much, as your body will retain the food you eat and create reserves for harsher times.

I hope this helps.

Smileyve
Good luck.

i have always known eating too low is bad and can even cause you not to lose weight but i have lost 30 pounds so far doing this and i feel great so im not sure anymore

ebonie101

It's probably water weight or you are gaining muscle. But if you are concerned about what your daily amount really should be, go see a doctor. A lot of people on this site like to throw back the "1200 calories is the minimum for women, never eat under that or you'll go into starvation mode" story around here, but honestly I have a very hard time believing that. Everyone is different. I can't imagine my minimum calories before entering starvation mode-land as a small boned 5'3 woman is the same as a large boned 5'11 woman. I would clearly need to be consuming FAR less calories than her before we both reach starvation mode. The BMR and TDEE calculators will give you a decent idea, but I'm not sure how you would get a solid answer without consulting with your doctor as to what your maintenance calories would be.

i agree with this. there is no way at this moment i could eat like 1600 calories i would die lol my body gets full eating an egg im just too small. making sure i see my doctor for a check up/physical so im not doing more harm than good.

ebonie101

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

Take a look at this thread. It will explain a lot of what you need to know about how to set your target and what all those initials stand for!

thank you! will check this out

Yanicka1

I am 4'11' and my maintenance is 2000 calories a day and that include my exercise.

Eat at maintenance for a few weeks than come back down by 250 calories, it should give you a diet break and help you lose again.

BiscuitsNDavy

If you wear a onesie, then maybe.

californiagirl2012

If you have a lot of body fat reserves you would be surprised at how little you can eat (unless you have emotional eating issues or disorders). The leaner you get the less your body has to draw from and then you have to taper up your calories. There is no such thing as starvation mode for women over 12% body fat or men over 6% body fat. I am a living breathing example of that. I went from obese to now under 12% BF and I've maintained for one year and built muscle the whole time. You don't BUILD muscle in starvation mode, so I proved everyone wrong.

Your body loses weight in chunks, not linear. I have found that you can do everything right and your weight loss seems to plateau but you are patient and keep exercising and eating at a deficit (however slight) you will lose it, it will suddenly "whoosh". There are so many variables for the scale though: water retention, digestion, allergies, sodium, carbs, water intake, DOMS, inflammation, the list goes on. People mistakenly think they lose or gain weight when they eat more or less because of these fluctuations

Only you can decide calories, base it on how you feel and what the scale trend is doing, not what anyone here tells you to do. You can always gradually notch your calories up or down by 100 and see how you do. It takes some experimentation to find what works for YOU. What worked for the next person may not work for you just because it did for them. For the most part, if you have fat reserves eating more to lose weight is just plain silly, think about it.