What gives?

krisiepoo

I ran your number and here is what I came up with:
Mifflin - St Jeor
BMR 2395
TDEE 3353
Cut 20% - 2682

Also, I don't know your age, so I used 40 and an activity level of 1.4 (lightly active; little daily acitivity and light exercise 1-3 days a week).

With these numbers, you need to eat A LOT more!

HA! I did the same thing on Scooby's calculator (http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/) , but used 30 years old ;-) The 20% cut came up with 2626 cals/day.

You probably weren't losing at 2000 cals/day because you were STILL undereating (sounds crazy, I KNOW). Do some more research on what your BMR/TDEE is because once you understand the information you'll understand why you need the calories.

also, just FYI, you need to eat (based on the exercise pattern you described) 4070 cals/day to maintain.

goblynn

Looks like you have received lots of great advise.

I just want to add a couple things:

Before I bought my food scale I guessed at the weights of my food. Because I wasn't losing weight I posted something similar to what you have and someone suggested I buy a cheap food scale which I did. Much to my surprise I was under-estimating the weigh of most of my food my 50-100%!!!

It does take discipline but weighing (more than measuring) is what flipped the weight loss switch for me. The size of ONE CUP of mashed potatoes can greatly vary depending on if it is a level cup, heaping, cup and if you also include what you just licked off the serving spoon. Weighing it is consistent- you know you have 100g of potato no matter how big or small it looks.

Good luck to you!!

mikeschratz

I ran your number and here is what I came up with:
Mifflin - St Jeor
BMR 2395
TDEE 3353
Cut 20% - 2682

Also, I don't know your age, so I used 40 and an activity level of 1.4 (lightly active; little daily acitivity and light exercise 1-3 days a week).

With these numbers, you need to eat A LOT more!

HA! I did the same thing on Scooby's calculator (http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/) , but used 30 years old ;-) The 20% cut came up with 2626 cals/day.

You probably weren't losing at 2000 cals/day because you were STILL undereating (sounds crazy, I KNOW). Do some more research on what your BMR/TDEE is because once you understand the information you'll understand why you need the calories.

also, just FYI, you need to eat (based on the exercise pattern you described) 4070 cals/day to maintain.

Knowing now you are 26.... ^^^^^ THIS ^^^^

moosegt35

I ran your number and here is what I came up with:
Mifflin - St Jeor
BMR 2395
TDEE 3353
Cut 20% - 2682

Also, I don't know your age, so I used 40 and an activity level of 1.4 (lightly active; little daily acitivity and light exercise 1-3 days a week).

With these numbers, you need to eat A LOT more!

HA! I did the same thing on Scooby's calculator (http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/) , but used 30 years old ;-) The 20% cut came up with 2626 cals/day.

You probably weren't losing at 2000 cals/day because you were STILL undereating (sounds crazy, I KNOW). Do some more research on what your BMR/TDEE is because once you understand the information you'll understand why you need the calories.

also, just FYI, you need to eat (based on the exercise pattern you described) 4070 cals/day to maintain.

So I need to force myself to eat more? I am not ever hungry at my current cal intake. I would feel like I did nothing but eat if I ate that many calories. I eat stuff low in fat and cals so I can eat more and still stay under goal.

mikeschratz

I ran your number and here is what I came up with:
Mifflin - St Jeor
BMR 2395
TDEE 3353
Cut 20% - 2682

Also, I don't know your age, so I used 40 and an activity level of 1.4 (lightly active; little daily acitivity and light exercise 1-3 days a week).


With these numbers, you need to eat A LOT more!

HA! I did the same thing on Scooby's calculator (http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/) , but used 30 years old ;-) The 20% cut came up with 2626 cals/day.

You probably weren't losing at 2000 cals/day because you were STILL undereating (sounds crazy, I KNOW). Do some more research on what your BMR/TDEE is because once you understand the information you'll understand why you need the calories.

also, just FYI, you need to eat (based on the exercise pattern you described) 4070 cals/day to maintain.

So I need to force myself to eat more? I am not ever hungry at my current cal intake. I would feel like I did nothing but eat if I ate that many calories. I eat stuff low in fat and cals so I can eat more and still stay under goal.

Eat good and natural food as often as possible. Don't worry about low cal or the like, just eat so that you hit these calories. Your body has gotten used to eating "not enough" and you taught it how to do that.... now you have to teach it how to "EAT ENOUGH". It will take time, but your body will love you for it.....

If you want to play with the numbers here is a easy spreadsheet to use....
https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B3kFzsaVmRjmd1k4YjA1SlVWaFU/edit

Good luck!

krisiepoo

eat denser foods, add veg and fruit. I love fresh veg juice (I juice my own) and one of my favorites is around 450 calories.

I eat a lot of salmon, tuna, chicken, turkey and whole wheat (I buy my bread for an acutal bread store). It has cals, but not as many preservatives and it is dense and keeps me full longer.


almonds are a great snack that are calorie dense.

Your body needs more nutrients

mikeschratz

Please read this.... it is what I did and it really worked for me!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/635529-corn-used-my-man-parts-as-a-speedbag

mrstravisjones

Not going to repeat any advice I've already seen on here - a lot of it looks like good advice! But here's a few more things to think about.

I was taught by a nutritionist to always eat SOMETHING within one hour of waking up. It will jump start your metabolism for the day. After that, don't let any more than 3hrs go by without eating - 2 hrs is probably better.

Sodium rich foods tend to make people retain water - which makes people look and feel heavier. It also slows down weight loss.

I'm not saying that Atkin's (low to no carb) is a good healthy option for a diet, but I would reduce the amount of pasta. Even whole wheat pasta isn't as healthy and nutritional as you think it is.

Without lots of veggies in your diet, your body doesn't get all of the nutrients it needs and therefore will hold on to food. (Same thing with not enough calories - the whole starvation mode thing)

Good luck to you.

castlerobber

I eat stuff low in fat and cals so I can eat more and still stay under goal.

The low-fat thing may be part of the problem. Your macronutrients are set to 40% carbs, 40% protein, and only 20% fat, and you don't seem to be eating even that much fat. Dietary fat (except trans fat) is not the enemy; your body does require some. It's quite possible you're carbohydrate-sensitive, if you're eating as few calories as you say and still not losing weight. Try dropping the carbs down to 25%, protein down maybe to 35%, with the rest fat. Make the carbs count: Plenty of colorful veggies, berries and other lower-sugar fruit; reduce or even eliminate grains, starches, sugar, and processed stuff. Skip the man-made trans fats and highly-polyunsaturated vegetable oils.

You might take a look at the Paleo/Primal way of eating, or South Beach, or Atkins, or even the old Harvey/Banting diet. Some people do fine eating anything that fits into their macros and calorie count; and some people can handle more carbs. Others of us have to be more selective.

sssygirl

I agree, you are not really eating good food. Powders and bars are great to supplement..but they should not be your "food".

Can I suggest eating plain Oatmeal for breakfast with some fruit (fresh or frozen) on top and about a tsp of protein powder on it.

For lunch eat your lean meat, a salad, some frest cut veggies and fruit..soups are great and you can make a large amount ahead of time and freeze.

Dinner, meat or beans..make sure if you have pasta or potatoes that it s a side..not your whole meal. Soup and Salad with a nice piece of crusty bread is a favorite of mine.

For snacks, try fruits, veggies, hummus and crackers, popcorn, yogurts.

I also think you need to eat a little more.
Make sure you are drinking enough water and not drinking any calories..
Best of luck! You will get there!