Something interesting happened to me....(stall break)

kvalmera

I am a 40 yr old female, severely overweight and I follow a low carb (almost ketogenic) lifestyle. I have been aiming for 1600 calories a day and set to sedentary lifestyle. For the past month, I've been hovering 298 lbs. Two weeks ago I started exercising more but was not eating back any of the calories and some days even not getting in 1100, 1200 calories and I went back up to 301 lbs. I work in the ER and sometimes I am on my feet a lot. Not long, brisk walks but short, quick walks back and forth with some downtime but I incorporate that with my sedentary setting. The past two weeks I also started finding myself VERY hungry and sometimes when I got off at 2am/4am, I would come home, eat a piece of sausage or some cheese, nibble on a tbsp or two of peanut butter or throw back about 10 macadamia's, etc. I know I was probably adding 200-400 calories in once I got home, when before I would bite the bullet and go to bed hungry because 1) have always been told not to eat late and 2) I have always been told not to eat within 2 hours of bed and I really thought the less I ate, the more weight I would lose, I was not logging these extra calories because, well....I was in my room, in my bed and nowhere near my computer and I do not use the phone app.

So, since I started adding the extra calories my stall has broken. Today I was 295.6. Sunday morning I was 301. 2. I am sure much of it was water weight but at least I have broken through that month long stall!!! Before when I was low carbing (I originally started at 341 lbs) I didn't even count calories, only carbs. But this go round, I am logging calories, fat, carbs, protein and sodium.

I used some BMR calculators and if I am working out 1-3 days a week it says I need like 1800 calories a day to lose 2 lbs a week (and for the last 2 weeks, I have been exercising 4-5 times a week and that one says I need 2100 calories a day to lose 2 lbs a week.

So I guess I need to keep paying more attention to the amount of calories I am eating and if I am working out, to ensure I am eating close to the guidelines. I guess my calories were just too low ?

RedHeadDevotchka

Yes, eating extra calories seems counterproductive, but it works!
I have been eating at my TDEE which seemed REALLY scary at first, but I haven't gained any weight (GASP!)
Congrats on the sudden success!!! :flowerforyou:

coopersmom2006

Look in to the Eat More To Weigh Less group on here. It'll change your life and open your eyes.

kvalmera

I joined the group last night (surfing the internet at work haha). I am about to go for an afternoon walk because it feels amazing outside and then tonight I am going to do some reading up on it, thanks!!