Scared to eat more but I am hungry sometimes

jett254

I reached my weight goal - I'm 5'1'' and I started at 116 lbs (gradual weight gain after having 2 kids). I'm currently between 97-99 lbs depending on the day, and I've been at that weight since August (I started with MFP in April).

I'm happy with my weight and my body so now it is just a matter of maintenance. I work out 6 days per week - 2 days of cardio kickboxing, 2 days of high impact cardio classes and 2 days of more sculpting classes with a little cardio mixed in. I wear a polar HRM for my classes and typically burn only ~350 calories in the cardio/kickboxing (despite working hard and being soaked at the end) and more like 250 calories or sometimes lower in the sculpting classes.

My BMR is ~ 1200. I've been eating 1460 calories per day for a while (although realistically, I'm really eating around 1550 calories because of the few things I don't log like some extra apple I cut for the kids or extra carrot sticks, etc...). I've definitely been maintaining but sometimes feel low energy or hungry. How do I know if I can eat more without just trying it and seeing if I gain. I really don't want to gain anything - I've worked hard to lose it and I plan to stay at this weight!

I'm happy to make my diary public if I can figure out how. Thanks for the help!!!

Jen

Firefox7275

If your weight is more important than your health seek medical help. Even at 99 pounds you are underweight for your height and age.

jett254

Maybe I should have rephrased. I'm not scared to eat more - I'm happy to eat more. I don't want to lose any additional weight and I'm happy to eat so I truly don't think I have an eating problem - I love food. I'm more "confused" about whether I can eat more. I've followed the MFP recommendations on calories but I'm trying to figure out if I can eat more and still maintain. My calorie burns seem low to me relative to my workout intensity so I don't know whether to "trust" them also.

Kmenczynski88

Maybe I should have rephrased. I'm not scared to eat more - I'm happy to eat more. I don't want to lose any additional weight and I'm happy to eat so I truly don't think I have an eating problem - I love food. I'm more "confused" about whether I can eat more. I've followed the MFP recommendations on calories but I'm trying to figure out if I can eat more and still maintain. My calorie burns seem low to me relative to my workout intensity so I don't know whether to "trust" them also.

So try it out. Eat a bit more and see if you gain... you won't die if you gain a pound.

jett254

Yeah, I know! I'm being ridiculous, but I work my butt off in the gym.

Firefox7275

Yeah, I know! I'm being ridiculous, but I work my butt off in the gym.

Then all the more reason to give your body the nutrients it needs to rebuild, repair and refuel. Exercise breaks the body down, rest and nutrition build it back up again.

jett254

Fair enough. I'm finding this stuff confusing - I was just trusting the MFP goal numbers and since I haven't lost anything since August (which is what I wanted - I'm not trying to lose anything I swear), I figured that meant that if I ate more, I would gain. I guess that isn't correct. Any suggestions on a new calorie goal to try based on your experience? I do appreciate the help.

Sabine_Stroehm

Here's your other thread asking the same question. Several folks answered there too.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/862466-can-i-should-i-be-eating-more-maintenance-help-please

jett254

Thanks! I figured out that food and nutrition wasn't the best place to post. We can stop this one? I'm new to the message boards.

redsundress

Listen to you're body, if you're hungry, eat.

Firefox7275

Fair enough. I'm finding this stuff confusing - I was just trusting the MFP goal numbers and since I haven't lost anything since August (which is what I wanted - I'm not trying to lose anything I swear), I figured that meant that if I ate more, I would gain. I guess that isn't correct. Any suggestions on a new calorie goal to try based on your experience? I do appreciate the help.

Accurately set your weight, maintenance goal, activity level and log your exercise correctly and MFP will calculate the new goal. Get a pedometer and/ or a heart rate monitor to more accurately assess your calorie burn through activities of daily living and formal exercise. If you are new read the stickies and familiarise yourself with the search function.

raecork

Firefox So I am new, what is Stickies??? I have been reading the message boards and trying to learn more about MFP.