Should I be eating more?

1Kristine1
1Kristine1 Posts: 697 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi there,
I am wondering if I need to increase my daily calorie goal.
I am 5 foot 5 inches, 150lbs, 22yo female. Goal weight of 140lbs.

I have been actively trying to lose weight for almost 10months now. I have lost 30lbs so far and for the majority of my weight loss have been eating a net goal of 1600 calories/day. I was losing steadily 1lb/per week but now I seem to get stalled often for weeks/months at a time. Where my weight just fluctuates between the same 5lbs.

I have a fairly active job as a nurse. I am on my feet for most of the eight hour shift taking care of patients, running up and down hallways, lifting/pulling etc. I also try to work out 1-3 times a week, burning between 200-350 calories per workout.

I never used to get hungry now I find I am hungry often. My BMR is 1510 cals, TDEE for sedentary lifestyle 1760, for lightly active 2016, and for moderately active 2270. So I guess I dont really know what my activity level category is.

I already know my diary will tell you I could be more selective with my food choices but if we think of cals in vs cals out I still should be moving somewhere.

Advice would be greatly appreciated, I dont want to be stuck anymore!

Replies

  • 1Kristine1
    1Kristine1 Posts: 697 Member
    :flowerforyou:
  • djtulppo
    djtulppo Posts: 33 Member
    I think you are eating to much sugar. Also you still have over 500 calories left for today. Do you always eat all your alotted calories?
    I suggest you eat more fruit, veggies and lean proteins (i.e. Chicken and fish) less the chocolate and sugary things you are using your calories for.

    Good luck
  • Crochetluvr
    Crochetluvr Posts: 3,280 Member
    You could try cutting your carbs. You don't have to go no carb but you could conceivably cut 50g a day off and still be eating plenty. Just my take on it. YMMV. :)
  • shinkalork
    shinkalork Posts: 815 Member
    I don't know what you eat but calories aren't the main factor here...
    Carbs and sugar are most of the time.
    Fat and bad fat too.
    Proteins for muscles growth and to burn fat instead of muscle mass.

    So I don't know how your food diary goes but make sure that as per your goal you don't burst in the carbs,fat and sugar!
    Even if your calories are low...if these aren't you will gain weight.

    Take care and good luck
  • 1Kristine1
    1Kristine1 Posts: 697 Member
    I usually eat all my calories, my day isnt over yet. I normally dont eat back all of my exercise calories only 50-75%
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    Honestly I wouldn't worry about carbs unless you have a reason to do so. If I were you I'd go with lightly active. I don't count workouts in activity level. For me activity level is just what you do outside of structured exercise-- running errands, cleaning house, working etc. Then you can log your exercise on top of that. Are you eating back your exercise calories? If so you may be overestimating your burn. I'd eat back half of them, unless you're using a HRM. Make sure you're accurately weighing and measuring everything. Make sure your settings reflect your new weight. If all of that fails then I'd take a break from restricting and go to maintenance for a few weeks. Then you can drop back down to a deficit. I had to do that after 20 lbs and it broke my 3 month long plateau. It also was helpful for me to figure out what maintenance really was for me so that when I went back to a deficit I was able to tailor my calorie intake a little better.

    ETA: I see while I was typing you answered my question about exercise calories. Maybe it's time to invest in a HRM.
  • amnsetie
    amnsetie Posts: 666 Member
    My guess is salt.
    It will retain fluids
    Seems your cals are ok
  • 1Kristine1
    1Kristine1 Posts: 697 Member
    I think you are eating to much sugar. Also you still have over 500 calories left for today. Do you always eat all your alotted calories?
    I suggest you eat more fruit, veggies and lean proteins (i.e. Chicken and fish) less the chocolate and sugary things you are using your calories for.

    Good luck
    I dont eat alot of chocolate but I did eat alot recently at a halloween party a few days ago, if thats what you saw in my diary.
    All I eat for protein it seems is chicken. But I agree more veggies and fruit.
  • 1Kristine1
    1Kristine1 Posts: 697 Member
    The last ten lbs are truely the worst.
  • 1Kristine1
    1Kristine1 Posts: 697 Member
    My guess is salt.
    It will retain fluids
    Seems your cals are ok
    Good suggestion. This + upping my fluid intake might help. I struggle with getting enough fluids.
  • 1Kristine1
    1Kristine1 Posts: 697 Member
    Seems like maybe I just have to be even more strict with my food choices
  • 1Kristine1
    1Kristine1 Posts: 697 Member
    This is such a long road, I never imagined it would take this long for me to accomplish what I have. I know "slow and steady" is good, but somedays I just want to be done and eat like a normal person (maintenance) and not have to be so obsessive.
  • SoonerVet
    SoonerVet Posts: 65
    I can't say from personal experience, but from what I've read from many diaries, doing some weight lifting may help. Muscle burns more calories than fat!

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