How did you hit your goal weight?

What is your calorie goal set to? I found that when i started eating RIGHT above (25-50 calories) above my BMR and consistently eating back my exercise calories the weight just started falling off after a 7 week plateau. Haven't had any issues since then.

mfp has me eating 1320, and i usually eat that plus about a quarter of my exercise calories....

What is your bmr?

How does MFP work? For me:

1. Eat clean
2. Meet your calorie goals, don't fall below them
3. Set your goals to lose 1lb/week unless otherwise advised by a doctor
4. Log every bite--if you are tasting during cooking chew gum or just log each taste.
5. Keep your routine varied, try something new: Zumba, martial arts, body combat, Tai Chi, power yoga...keep your body confused and your mind from getting bored.

I reached my goals in September. I also read Everyday Food magazine (makes it easier to log--nutrition info included), www.dailygarnish.com, and Whole Living Magazine. You can get free recipes on all of their websites.

I start to measure calories weekly instead of daily so you can vary what you consume daily. That generally kickstarts things for me when I plateau.

This is my general plan.

Monday - 800 (I use Intermittent Fasting)
Tuesday - 1200
Wednesday - 1500
Thursday - 1200
Friday - 2200
Saturday - 2900
Sunday - 1800

This averages out to 1500 calories/day and I think the higher calorie weekend resets the body somehow.

(I did lose 28 lbs last year - I started this about halfway thru when I hit a 3 week plateau)

1458

I would up your calories then for sure. I would probably try eating 1500 calories a day and any calories burned with cardiovascular exercise (assuming you use a HRM).

You will still be eating at a caloric deficit, and you've plateaud, so whats there to lose? Except more weight, that is!

I can almost bet you money its because you are eating too few calories.

^^^^ THIS

1458

I would up your calories then for sure. I would probably try eating 1500 calories a day and any calories burned with cardiovascular exercise (assuming you use a HRM).

You will still be eating at a caloric deficit, and you've plateaud, so whats there to lose? Except more weight, that is!

I can almost bet you money its because you are eating too few calories.

I would say she needs to go higher than that.

So BMR is 1458... As a SAHM, she is already active and adding P90 to the equation.

I would say at a minimum it would be 1800 (formula below)

TDEE = 1458*1.55 * .8 = 1800

But more than likely since she is active during the day its more like

TDEE = 1458 * 1.725 * .8 = 2012

So my suggestion is eat 1800 calories (35%c, 40% p, 25% f). This will also line up more with beachbody guidelines. And since she doesn't have much to lose, you have to eat more.

1458

I would up your calories then for sure. I would probably try eating 1500 calories a day and any calories burned with cardiovascular exercise (assuming you use a HRM).

You will still be eating at a caloric deficit, and you've plateaud, so whats there to lose? Except more weight, that is!

I can almost bet you money its because you are eating too few calories.

I would say she needs to go higher than that.

So BMR is 1458... As a SAHM, she is already active and adding P90 to the equation.

I would say at a minimum it would be 1800 (formula below)

TDEE = 1458*1.55 * .8 = 1800

But more than likely since she is active during the day its more like

TDEE = 1458 * 1.725 * .8 = 2012

So my suggestion is eat 1800 calories (35%c, 40% p, 25% f). This will also line up more with beachbody guidelines. And since she doesn't have much to lose, you have to eat more.

Depends on the person.

I'm 1200/day to lose 1lb/week
1400/day to lose .5/week
and 1600 to maintain.

I personally would gain with 1800 NET Vs the 1600 NET.

thanks so much rainbowbow!! I think I may try upping the calories (it just feels wrong when you've been thinking you should eat so little)

Huskery - what exactly is intermittent fasting...is it just about switching up how many calories you eat day to day? Or is it also what you're eating?

I know--it goes against everything we are taught. You have to fuel your body in order for it to let go of any extra weight. As it stands now with 1320, and only eating 25% of your exercise calories back you are following below 1200 (NET) on a regular basis. I find it really helps to pre-log my workouts and spread the extra calories around during the day.

This is the same concept they teach in Weight Watchers. Friends of mine on WW say it is often the hardest concept to learn. In your case on paper it seems that taking in 1320 calories on days you work out would cause your body to lose weight. In fact what you are doing is eating a deficit to an already built in deficit to the MFP program.

It should look like this:

1320
- 500 workout

---

820
+ 500 in healthy whole foods spread throughout the day
= 1320

On days you workout you're taking in more than 1320 in total calories, but at the end of the day you're still reaching the 1320. 25% of your exercise calories back is causing you to NET below 1200.

Ok I think I've got this! Apparently I've been having a serious duh moment for the past few months and not paying attention to the fact I was already at a 500 a day deficit + not eating back exercise cals....I'm going to try bumping up my calorie intake and see how that goes. THANKS EVERYONE!!

You're most welcome. So the 1320 is correct but that is your NET number. You've got this! Don't adjust your settings...just make sure you're not over or under that NET goal.

I did plateau right around 35 pounds. I was just running and dieting at that point. So I added in circuit training / strength / flexibility (first jillian's no more trouble zones, then i started mixing it up with her kickbox fast fix, 6 week 6 pack and yoga meltdown), and started eating a little bit more. Then I lost the last 11 pounds.

eta: i was only eating back half my exercise calories. i started eating back 3/4 to all of them, and that's when i started losing again. i have never figured out my bmr or any of those things.

Thanks Onesnap looking at it like that makes even more sense!

Happy to help!

Those aren't net numbers. Those are gross calories (no pun intended).

Maybe I'm confusing myself. I thought the definition of NET numbers was: Net (or Nett) refers to the amount left over after all deductions are made. Once the net value is attained, nothing further is subtracted. The net value is not allowed to be made lower.

We actually said the same thing

In your example, you ate 1320, burned 500 and then ate back 500 calories. When I suggested calories, I said 1800-2000 which puts us in the same ball park. Mine you do NOT eat exercise calories as it's already in your TDEE. The reason i did not use the OP's 1320 calories was for the simple fact her account could be set up wrong. For example, if she set her account to sedentary or her goal is too aggressive (2 lbs per week with only 20 lbs to lose). SAHM are very rarely sedentary (as compared to someone who has a desk job) and are more likely lightly active. I based my figures off of BMR, TDEE and then cut 20% from there.

I am 5'7 and I am eating 1600-1700 and losing weight!
I am not active either!
(On MFP using a new goal, lost alot before)