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When to do a diet break?
astunningimpact
Posts: 27 Member
Hi everyone,
My name is Ashley, and I've been EM2WL since September of last year. I did not do a reset as I started MFP July 1st and had been eating @ 1600 calories a day and eating my exercise calories back. Before that, it wasn't pretty, but I KNOW I was eating over 2000 a day, easily. As I lost, my calories went down, and I was not a happy camper. I found EM2WL soon after. I quickly (and easily) upped my calories to 1900 and have been happy as a clam ever since. Initially, I was supposed to be eating over 200, but mentally I couldn't get myself there, so I settled on 1900. I have been eating 1900 calories since September (I seem to resist lowering my cals) and have been steadily losing weight. So far, I have lost 36 pounds and am half way to my goal
However, the past few weeks I have been staying the same weight-wise, and I wonder if I should be taking a "diet break" and eat at TDEE for a week? I have never done that before, I think just because I thought I would see how long I could eat at 1900 and continue to lose. I'm not super obsessed with my "plateau," I have come to realize that this is a long, slow process, and I have actually enjoyed getting to know my body. I am just unsure if it actually is a plateau. Does that make sense?
My current stats: Age:25, F, Height 65 inches, Weight 179, I choose lightly active as my modifier as I do Jillian Michaels videos 1-4 days a week, and I have a desk job. TDEE per Scooby: 2222, Daily cals @ 15% reduction: 1888 (I just round up to 1900), BMR: 1616. I do not have an accurate BF%, but I am going to the doctor next week to get it measured. I seem to remember an online calculator that had me at over 50% before my weighloss.
One other factor, last week I had the flu, and this week I had a weird gastrointestinal bug, so I had a day or two where my calories were quite low (not on purpose). Should I incorporate those "lost" calories into the day(s) after, or not?
Thanks for your help !
-Ashley
My name is Ashley, and I've been EM2WL since September of last year. I did not do a reset as I started MFP July 1st and had been eating @ 1600 calories a day and eating my exercise calories back. Before that, it wasn't pretty, but I KNOW I was eating over 2000 a day, easily. As I lost, my calories went down, and I was not a happy camper. I found EM2WL soon after. I quickly (and easily) upped my calories to 1900 and have been happy as a clam ever since. Initially, I was supposed to be eating over 200, but mentally I couldn't get myself there, so I settled on 1900. I have been eating 1900 calories since September (I seem to resist lowering my cals) and have been steadily losing weight. So far, I have lost 36 pounds and am half way to my goal
However, the past few weeks I have been staying the same weight-wise, and I wonder if I should be taking a "diet break" and eat at TDEE for a week? I have never done that before, I think just because I thought I would see how long I could eat at 1900 and continue to lose. I'm not super obsessed with my "plateau," I have come to realize that this is a long, slow process, and I have actually enjoyed getting to know my body. I am just unsure if it actually is a plateau. Does that make sense?
My current stats: Age:25, F, Height 65 inches, Weight 179, I choose lightly active as my modifier as I do Jillian Michaels videos 1-4 days a week, and I have a desk job. TDEE per Scooby: 2222, Daily cals @ 15% reduction: 1888 (I just round up to 1900), BMR: 1616. I do not have an accurate BF%, but I am going to the doctor next week to get it measured. I seem to remember an online calculator that had me at over 50% before my weighloss.
One other factor, last week I had the flu, and this week I had a weird gastrointestinal bug, so I had a day or two where my calories were quite low (not on purpose). Should I incorporate those "lost" calories into the day(s) after, or not?
Thanks for your help
!-Ashley
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Replies
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Definitely take a week or two at TDEE. If that doesn't break your plateau, you should consider doing a reset. Don't worry about adding back in the calories from being sick. Hope you're better now!0
This discussion has been closed.