am I eating enough?

JBWILLOW

I wondering if I am eating too few of calories? I only have 7 pounds left to lose, then I will maintain. I am eating 1200 a day, and I exercise pretty hard for an hour a day 5 days a week. I do now eat back my exercise calories (kinda scared too). But the scale isnt budging much and its getting frustrating. Like yesterday for instance I did 1 hr and 50 min of Tae Bo and and only went over my calories by like 45 calories... and gained 2 pounds this morning??? Ugh.....Any advise ?

JBWILLOW

DO not* eat back exercise cal

MinnieInMaine

I don't think you are eating enough. Two suggestions:

1) set you weight loss goal per week to 1/2 pound. With less to lose, this gradually gets you closer to maintenance calories so you'll have less of a jump.

2) eat back your exercise calories. If you're still worried about it, only eat back half or 2/3rds. But you should be eating them back.

Obviously what you've been doing isn't working anymore so why not try something else? Remember, give it at least 3 weeks for results to allow your body to get accustomed.

kellicci

Now is the perfect time to start eating back your exercise calories! Don't be afraid it actually works. I do it. Check my diary if you want...I eat 1300 per day and eat back exercise calories and I lose .7 pounds a week on average that's a pound every 10 days which is a good rate when you're close to your goa like we arel.

The gain today was your muscles retaining water and glycogen to repair after that awesome workout. Don't worry it'll go away and then some in a few days.

gsager

Eat your exercise calories. No you aren't eating enough.

JBWILLOW

Thanks guys I will try and up my calories and see if it helps

JBWILLOW

Should I up them to 1600 or 1300?

kellicci

Should I up them to 1600 or 1300?

..

Without knowing your stats (curent height, weight, age lifestyle) and goals it's hard to say. I eat just below my BMR b/c I figure estimation and rounding probably gets me to my BMR anyways. So my BMR is about 1360 and my goasl is set to 1300. I eat back almost all of my exercise calories.

I would say eat 50 calories up or down from your BMR and eat back exercise calories then when you get really close cut to halfway between there and your TDEE.