When did you bump up from 1200 calories?

firstsip
firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Alright guys--started here as 171 lbs first week of June. I am now 158.

However, I only lost 1 lb all of August, and my measurements changed so minimally, my only valid loss was .5 off my neck (a weird place to lose, I feel...).

I've been doing heavy lifting for three weeks, and I know it's near impossible to gain muscle while on a deficit, but that it's vital for strength, fitness, and maintaining as much lean muscle as possible while losing fat.

So, I'm wondering if I should finally just up the calories to see if that pumps up my fat loss more (I'm aiming for 140 lbs right now, or a 20% body fat when I'm about 25/26% right now).

When did you finally go from the bare minimum to higher calories? When did you notice a difference in weight loss after doing so?
«1

Replies

  • deevatude
    deevatude Posts: 322 Member
    when i hit a plateau on 1200 calories, i raised my calories. i instantly lost 4 pounds when i did that
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    Wonderful topic here with links to tools and all the info to set your calories and goals - helped me a ton when I started looking to up my calories: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    I did the 1200 thing for awhile, lost a little, but was "hangry" (hungry & angry! :tongue:) quite a bit, and tired as well - food is fuel, especially if you're doing heavy lifting.

    Another inspiring thread for heavy lifting & eating more: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/709987-how-wrong-i-was-600-days-of-mfp-lotsa-pics

    Can't remember when exactly I bumped mine up - first I just upped my activity level settings on MFP so it would give me more daily calories. I saw changes and felt better, but losses stalled again, so I upped them again manually. Finally found the Road Map thread (first link) and was able to set my calories and macros with more direction.
  • s50s
    s50s Posts: 138 Member
    Upping mine today!
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    when i hit a plateau on 1200 calories, i raised my calories. i instantly lost 4 pounds when i did that

    Ditto. In fact, I'd hit a plateau, wondered wtf so signed up to MFP, realised I was only eating 1200 and immediately started eating more. The rest, like my excess fat, is history!
  • ObtainingBalance
    ObtainingBalance Posts: 1,446 Member
    I upped mine not too long ago.

    I remember when I first started I wasn't noticing much scale difference, then I started eating more and around 5lbs left pretty quickly...probably more of water weight, though. Who knows. I don't measure my neck, just stomach, thighs, arms, etc...

    Now I've lost some more weight, all of while getting atleast 1,400 or above.

    I have 35 more lbs to go, it isn't too bad if I lose it 1lb/week though so I'm trying to be patient =P
  • IronTitaness
    IronTitaness Posts: 117
    I was on the same boat as you.

    I was at the same weight for 2 months. Sometimes I was even gaining weight. Untill i tested my BMR and it was even higher then 1200. So I reved up the calories at once and adjusted my goals and nutrients. From then on... the weight is melting away... :)
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    I bump my calories when I felt tike life was not worth living anymore :tongue: kidding....well almost

    As soon as I started strength training I went up to 1900 on days I lifted and 1600 on day I didn't. Going any lower than 1500 calories when I lift is having a huge impact on my capacity to do my workout.

    Good luck
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Within my first month.

    I always ate my exercise calories, so I wasn't really hungry or anything, but sometimes it was hard to stay in my limits. Like everyone else in the world, when I decided I wanted to lose weight, I wanted it gone as soon as possible, so I selected 2 pounds a week and got 1200. After a while, I realized the only time I lost 2 pounds in one week is when I had a 48 hour stomach flu, and that, by the math, the most I could lose would be 1.3 pounds a week. So I figured, why struggle to lose one pound a week when I can eat a little MORE and STILL lose one pound a week.

    So I switched it, got more calories, felt wonderful, sometimes lost more than one pound a week anyway, switched it to 0.5 pounds a week when I got closer to my goal... and lived happily ever after, in smaller pants.
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    When I started contemplating killing land mammals and eating them raw instead of having another salad.

    Lorina's post is better. :indifferent: as always.
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    So I figured, why struggle to lose one pound a week when I can eat a little MORE and STILL lose one pound a week.

    I like that!
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    Within my first month.

    I always ate my exercise calories, so I wasn't really hungry or anything, but sometimes it was hard to stay in my limits. Like everyone else in the world, when I decided I wanted to lose weight, I wanted it gone as soon as possible, so I selected 2 pounds a week and got 1200. After a while, I realized the only time I lost 2 pounds in one week is when I had a 48 hour stomach flu, and that, by the math, the most I could lose would be 1.3 pounds a week. So I figured, why struggle to lose one pound a week when I can eat a little MORE and STILL lose one pound a week.

    So I switched it, got more calories, felt wonderful, sometimes lost more than one pound a week anyway, switched it to 0.5 pounds a week when I got closer to my goal... and lived happily ever after, in smaller pants.
    :heart: :heart: :heart:
  • criscricket
    criscricket Posts: 69 Member
    when i hit a plateau on 1200 calories, i raised my calories. i instantly lost 4 pounds when i did that

    what did you up it too?
  • slrrese
    slrrese Posts: 180 Member
    I wanted to lose slowly and get fit. I started at 1200 and always ate my my exercise calories back. I Then increased 100 calories and the intensity of my workouts with every 10 lbs lost. I have lost 30 lbs and am lifting and doing cardio. I have not yet decided if I want to lose more or not, but I am currently not losing any more and I am ok with it for now. I am 5.5 and 140.
  • wlkumpf
    wlkumpf Posts: 241 Member
    when I finally realized that I wanted to try something that might work better. Just this week in fact. I have been working my *kitten* off and keep reading posts that at a smaller calorie deficit people were losing 1/2 - 1 lb a week. Since I seem to average less than that I wanted to try it.

    You know what! Eating more I am hungry more often, especially if I up my protein. Unlike most people I see that as a fabulous sign!!! My metabolism is finally kicking it up full force. I am hungry when I sit down for breakfast! I have a ton more energy as well. I don't feel weighed down and sluggish. I actually can drink some water to tide me over an hour or so, never worked for me before... I wake up ravenous! I was NEVER able to listen to my bodies signals before? I think I have actually lived on around 1200 calories for YEARS so when I started tracking I didn't change that much.

    I just upped it to around 1500. I now listen to my body more, eat when I am hungry and you know what, I may not equal 1500 every single day, but I had pizza one night and I didn't feel guilty, calories were free and the scale did not change! I won't do it every day but I have been depriving myself far longer than I was on MFP!

    I am down about 1 lb or so since starting this. I want a lifestyle change, not a diet :) I want slow and steady results, there is no magic cure. Just slow loss and toning up to make the best of the pounds I have.
  • Jennacita
    Jennacita Posts: 116 Member
    Within my first month.

    I always ate my exercise calories, so I wasn't really hungry or anything, but sometimes it was hard to stay in my limits. Like everyone else in the world, when I decided I wanted to lose weight, I wanted it gone as soon as possible, so I selected 2 pounds a week and got 1200. After a while, I realized the only time I lost 2 pounds in one week is when I had a 48 hour stomach flu, and that, by the math, the most I could lose would be 1.3 pounds a week. So I figured, why struggle to lose one pound a week when I can eat a little MORE and STILL lose one pound a week.

    So I switched it, got more calories, felt wonderful, sometimes lost more than one pound a week anyway, switched it to 0.5 pounds a week when I got closer to my goal... and lived happily ever after, in smaller pants.

    I :heart: :heart: :heart: your posts. :wink:
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    Glad to see Lorina comment, since she is my goal marker on this topic.

    I guess I'm just, again, nervous about going up too soon. I don't think I've necessarily "plateaued" by the conventional definition, since I've lost weight and inches... but so minimal in a month that I'm like, "okay, I want to switch it up."

    As an added detail: I have hypothyroidism and have had no thyroid since I was 13 (i'm now 23). 1200 calories has never been an issue to me; I get full very easily. Now I'll have to add the extra issue of TRYING to eat more! (Trust me, I know all the tricks! I just get full so easily!). Plus, this is generally pretty common in specifically thyroid boards: things just work differently for us... hence my anxiety over upping calories.
  • Ruthe8
    Ruthe8 Posts: 423 Member
    I never went as low as 1200.
  • healthyCAL
    healthyCAL Posts: 41 Member
    When I came to the realization that I had become completely obsessed with calories every second of every day. I was enjoying the weight loss but not life. I nearly had a panic attack everytime I was faced with mealtime. Felt I was at a level that would not be sustainable for long. I was tired and cranky all the time. This week I upped my calories to around 1500 and feel much better. Not so panicky and tired.
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    Alright guys--started here as 171 lbs first week of June. I am now 158.

    However, I only lost 1 lb all of August, and my measurements changed so minimally, my only valid loss was .5 off my neck (a weird place to lose, I feel...).

    I've been doing heavy lifting for three weeks, and I know it's near impossible to gain muscle while on a deficit, but that it's vital for strength, fitness, and maintaining as much lean muscle as possible while losing fat.

    So, I'm wondering if I should finally just up the calories to see if that pumps up my fat loss more (I'm aiming for 140 lbs right now, or a 20% body fat when I'm about 25/26% right now).

    When did you finally go from the bare minimum to higher calories? When did you notice a difference in weight loss after doing so?

    I just wanted to point something out--kind of off topic but might be helpful for you in determining what your goals are--assuming you lose 7 pounds of fat for every 10 pounds total that you lose you'll have the following BF% as you go:

    161-22.7%
    151-19.6%

    at 141 you'll have 16% bodyfat which can be pretty unhealthy and difficult to maintain. Perhaps you should make 155 your goal for now just to make the entire process less burdensome.

    My main point is that getting to 140 is likely to be too low or rather unhealthy unless you lose substantial muscle mass in the process thereby resulting in an even greater decrease in your metabolic rate. That is what can lead to rebound weight gain once you transition to maintenance.
  • deevatude
    deevatude Posts: 322 Member
    when i hit a plateau on 1200 calories, i raised my calories. i instantly lost 4 pounds when i did that

    what did you up it too?

    the first plateau, i upped it to 1500, the 2nd plateau, i upped it to 1800 and now i eat 2100 calories and still lose a pound a week.
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    Alright guys--started here as 171 lbs first week of June. I am now 158.

    However, I only lost 1 lb all of August, and my measurements changed so minimally, my only valid loss was .5 off my neck (a weird place to lose, I feel...).

    I've been doing heavy lifting for three weeks, and I know it's near impossible to gain muscle while on a deficit, but that it's vital for strength, fitness, and maintaining as much lean muscle as possible while losing fat.

    So, I'm wondering if I should finally just up the calories to see if that pumps up my fat loss more (I'm aiming for 140 lbs right now, or a 20% body fat when I'm about 25/26% right now).

    When did you finally go from the bare minimum to higher calories? When did you notice a difference in weight loss after doing so?

    I just wanted to point something out--kind of off topic but might be helpful for you in determining what your goals are--assuming you lose 7 pounds of fat for every 10 pounds total that you lose you'll have the following BF% as you go:

    161-22.7%
    151-19.6%

    at 141 you'll have 16% bodyfat which can be pretty unhealthy and difficult to maintain. Perhaps you should make 155 your goal for now just to make the entire process less burdensome.

    My main point is that getting to 140 is likely to be too low or rather unhealthy unless you lose substantial muscle mass in the process thereby resulting in an even greater decrease in your metabolic rate. That is what can lead to rebound weight gain once you transition to maintenance.

    Woah! What calculator are you using? (I'm 5'6", hourglass). 20% body weight always seems to come up for me around 140, and BMI (I know, I know, which is a bad marker) has been as overweight at 158.
  • altacosturabeth
    altacosturabeth Posts: 62 Member
    1200 calories was my plateau number (I believe) and because I didn't want to lose anymore weight, and I struggle to eat a lot of calories anyway, I decided to stick to around that number. But over the past few days I've found myself eating around 1400 (probably TOM related), and I do prefer it so I believe I'm gonna make the switch! I've upped the carbs as well and I've enjoyed that part of it!

    I have lost a couple of ounces since I upped my calories and I'm trying to maintain but then at the same time I wouldn't mind being 110lbs...I hope that made some sense...
  • MSeel1984
    MSeel1984 Posts: 2,297 Member
    This week. I had my goal set for 1lb/week and was making little/no progress. So I changed it to 1/2 lb...a little more realistic since I do not have much to lose.
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    Alright guys--started here as 171 lbs first week of June. I am now 158.

    However, I only lost 1 lb all of August, and my measurements changed so minimally, my only valid loss was .5 off my neck (a weird place to lose, I feel...).

    I've been doing heavy lifting for three weeks, and I know it's near impossible to gain muscle while on a deficit, but that it's vital for strength, fitness, and maintaining as much lean muscle as possible while losing fat.

    So, I'm wondering if I should finally just up the calories to see if that pumps up my fat loss more (I'm aiming for 140 lbs right now, or a 20% body fat when I'm about 25/26% right now).

    When did you finally go from the bare minimum to higher calories? When did you notice a difference in weight loss after doing so?

    I just wanted to point something out--kind of off topic but might be helpful for you in determining what your goals are--assuming you lose 7 pounds of fat for every 10 pounds total that you lose you'll have the following BF% as you go:

    161-22.7%
    151-19.6%

    at 141 you'll have 16% bodyfat which can be pretty unhealthy and difficult to maintain. Perhaps you should make 155 your goal for now just to make the entire process less burdensome.

    My main point is that getting to 140 is likely to be too low or rather unhealthy unless you lose substantial muscle mass in the process thereby resulting in an even greater decrease in your metabolic rate. That is what can lead to rebound weight gain once you transition to maintenance.

    Woah! What calculator are you using? (I'm 5'6", hourglass). 20% body weight always seems to come up for me around 140, and BMI (I know, I know, which is a bad marker) has been as overweight at 158.

    It's basic math--you said you're currently 25-26% right now. Assuming 25.5% means you have 43.605 pounds of fat in your body. If you lost 30 pounds--say 21 of them from fat 9 from muscle then you'd be left with 22.605 pounds and a 141 pound body...that's roughly 16%.
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    Alright guys--started here as 171 lbs first week of June. I am now 158.

    However, I only lost 1 lb all of August, and my measurements changed so minimally, my only valid loss was .5 off my neck (a weird place to lose, I feel...).

    I've been doing heavy lifting for three weeks, and I know it's near impossible to gain muscle while on a deficit, but that it's vital for strength, fitness, and maintaining as much lean muscle as possible while losing fat.

    So, I'm wondering if I should finally just up the calories to see if that pumps up my fat loss more (I'm aiming for 140 lbs right now, or a 20% body fat when I'm about 25/26% right now).

    When did you finally go from the bare minimum to higher calories? When did you notice a difference in weight loss after doing so?

    I just wanted to point something out--kind of off topic but might be helpful for you in determining what your goals are--assuming you lose 7 pounds of fat for every 10 pounds total that you lose you'll have the following BF% as you go:

    161-22.7%
    151-19.6%

    at 141 you'll have 16% bodyfat which can be pretty unhealthy and difficult to maintain. Perhaps you should make 155 your goal for now just to make the entire process less burdensome.

    My main point is that getting to 140 is likely to be too low or rather unhealthy unless you lose substantial muscle mass in the process thereby resulting in an even greater decrease in your metabolic rate. That is what can lead to rebound weight gain once you transition to maintenance.

    Woah! What calculator are you using? (I'm 5'6", hourglass). 20% body weight always seems to come up for me around 140, and BMI (I know, I know, which is a bad marker) has been as overweight at 158.

    It's basic math--you said you're currently 25-26% right now. Assuming 25.5% means you have 43.605 pounds of fat in your body. If you lost 30 pounds--say 21 of them from fat 9 from muscle then you'd be left with 22.605 pounds and a 141 pound body...that's roughly 16%.

    Damn, Jamie Eason's calculations are whack then. Lol, I can't do basic math, SO WHY DO YOU THINK I USE CALCULATORS.

    /said the English major.
  • LadyIntrepid
    LadyIntrepid Posts: 399 Member
    I didn't have too much to lose, so I figured it would be on the slow side. I netted 1200 or under for a couple of months, lost approx. 1/2 pound a week and started to feel fatigued. I upped it to net 1300-1500 (and did a day a week of not counting and all), and I went up to losing a pound a week and feeling much better. (BTW, my sedentary TDEE is around 1500. If yours is higher, you could probably up it to more calories than I was doing, if that felt right for you.)
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    no worries. so a goal of 155?
  • JNJN25
    JNJN25 Posts: 60
    Quick question: If my TDEE is 2509( working out 1-3 times a week) and I want to lose 2 pounds per week how many calories should I aim for? I am confused! Right now I am eating around 1500 calories.
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    Quick question: If my TDEE is 2509( working out 1-3 times a week) and I want to lose 2 pounds per week how many calories should I aim for? I am confused! Right now I am eating around 1500 calories.

    2 pounds per week is A LOT if you aren't over 200 pounds. If you're 150-200 then i'd recommend 1.5 pounds per week maximum. If you're under 150 then .5-1 pound per week.

    But to answer your question you'd eat 1509 calories.
  • MSeel1984
    MSeel1984 Posts: 2,297 Member
    I never went as low as 1200.

    I noticed you show up on almost every thread...just to say something neither useful nor constructive...

Categories