Eat MORE or eat LESS? Please help/convince me!

Lyra89
Lyra89 Posts: 674 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
First off, I've come a long way already by being sensible about things. I lost 50lbs in a year and a half, then maintained that weight loss for another year and a half (because I couldn't find balance and was always trying to lose but kept 'falling off the wagon' on weekends)

I've won the battle with my food demons.

I got back on track about a month ago and am now 7lbs away from goal.

I adore healthy food.

I run and have already completed my first 10k.

I'm halfway through doing the 30 day shred.

Just now, I followed a link somewhere in the forum & did some measuring/calculations and whatnot and apparently my lean body mass is 100ish lbs so I'm therefore carrying 27lbs of FAT, and my body fat percentage is 21%...is this good or bad? And I'm slowly being more and more convinced that I should eat back ALL of my exercise calories (have MFP set at my BMR) can you guys please give me your thoughts? Thanks.

I lost most of my weight eating between 1350 and 1750 calories every day.

Is this okay for someone who is 5'5, 127lbs, and works out about five times per week for 40 minutes & ISN'T on her feet all day?

I just don't want to do myself any long-term injustice by slowing my metabolism, but ALSO don't want to be eating too much when I could be losing quicker.

Thanks so much in advance to any replies. X:smile::smile: :smile:

Replies

  • pixelled
    pixelled Posts: 70 Member
    I'm also wondering about this. I workout in the morning and very often skip breakfast, not eating until around 11 or noon. I'm not sure if eating less is actually helping or hurting me. Sometimes I will also skip dinner altogether or just have something small like a handful of nuts. I think I may be sabotaging myself even though I'm thinking I'm doing better by eating less.
  • SarahCW1979
    SarahCW1979 Posts: 572 Member
    Just a guess at your age from your name but at 23 21% body fat is pretty much bang on perfect. The best way for you to go (I think) would be to find out the BMR for your target maintenance weight, stick to that and carry on as you are! You really seem to have nailed it!
  • Lyra89
    Lyra89 Posts: 674 Member
    I'm also wondering about this. I workout in the morning and very often skip breakfast, not eating until around 11 or noon. I'm not sure if eating less is actually helping or hurting me. Sometimes I will also skip dinner altogether or just have something small like a handful of nuts. I think I may be sabotaging myself even though I'm thinking I'm doing better by eating less.

    I'm not talking about this AT ALL...I always ALWAYS eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks...I eat healthy foods that I enjoy and watch my macros.

    I'm just wondering if I should be eating at the lower or the higher end of all the conflicting recommendations :frown: :sad: :sad:

    Sometimes I get so confused! I know a lot of people who eat the typical 1200 calorie diet and lose weight and stay thin & look great. But I'm also friends with people on MFP who eat 2000 calories every day of GOOD food and look incredible also.

    I'm looking for people with results, before & after pictures, open diaries, or people who are certified and KNOW the science to back up what they say.

    x
  • Lyra89
    Lyra89 Posts: 674 Member
    Just a guess at your age from your name but at 23 21% body fat is pretty much bang on perfect. The best way for you to go (I think) would be to find out the BMR for your target maintenance weight, stick to that and carry on as you are! You really seem to have nailed it!

    Thank you :smile: I'm not sure how accurate this thing was though because I can CERTAINLY pinch a few inches around the tummy still :tongue: Not fat or overweight anymore, by any means, but certainly have a way to go.
  • almc170
    almc170 Posts: 1,093 Member
    Agree with the other poster that said 21% bf is already a good place to be. If you still want to lose a little more, set your calories in MFP to a .5lb/week loss and eat your exercise cals. At 21% bf, rapid weight loss is not your friend, as you risk losing muscle in the process. If you're not already, consider strength training. It will help shape and define your body.
  • SarahCW1979
    SarahCW1979 Posts: 572 Member
    http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator/

    Try this calculator, it seems pretty accurate then take an average :)
  • SPNLuver83
    SPNLuver83 Posts: 2,050 Member
    check out my youtube video "eat more to weight less" http://www.youtube.com/jaymebales83 i've been told its pretty helpful
  • RetiredAndLovingIt
    RetiredAndLovingIt Posts: 1,395 Member
    bump
  • pixelled
    pixelled Posts: 70 Member
    Lol I wasn't speaking for you hon. Simply saying that my conflict is whether i should not eat if I'm not hungry or is it better to eat for the sake of having regular meals and keeping the metabolism stoked. That is MY conflict.

    When I eat I eat very healthy and only have a few lbs left to lose which are the toughest.
  • kykykenna
    kykykenna Posts: 656 Member
    bumping
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    As close as you are to your goal, eat more, lift weights and ignore the scale.

    I'm 5'5, 40 years old and about 133#. I eat about 2000 calories a day and I'm still losing, but more than that, I'm SHRINKING.

    Even though I've been lifting weights for over a year, it's only been 2 months since I've been doing free weights (barbell, not machine). This is the results: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/744311-free-weights-vs-machines-holy-crap

    I've been more or less "in maintenance" for a year and a 3 months, but even though my weight hasn't changed much, my body has. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/LorinaLynn/view/it-ain-t-over-when-you-hit-your-goal-423924

    The really long story... after 600 days on MFP, everything I thought I knew about weight loss was wrong: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/709987-how-wrong-i-was-600-days-of-mfp-lotsa-pics
  • Lesa_Sass
    Lesa_Sass Posts: 2,213 Member
    I did not lose that last 5 lbs I wanted to lose until I ate around 1500, then I raised it to 1600 and kept losing. I am 5"3 and 44, so I would not suggest anything less than that for you, you probably could eat 1700 or higher and continue to lose.

    Do not forget that it takes more time to lose that last little bit. .4 to .5 lbs a week loss is what I maintained since I did not give up or allow myself to get frustrated due to how slow it was going, I made it.

    Keep up the good work and eating clean.

    As for the poster that is skipping meals, yeah, not good. We need food it keeps us alive.
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    Two groups I would suggest you check out and read a lot of information on, and ask questions are:

    Eat More to Weigh Less
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/3834-eat-more-to-weigh-less
    The School of Strout
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/8101-the-school-of-strout

    These two groups could really help you work this out!
  • Lesa_Sass
    Lesa_Sass Posts: 2,213 Member
    Lol I wasn't speaking for you hon. Simply saying that my conflict is whether i should not eat if I'm not hungry or is it better to eat for the sake of having regular meals and keeping the metabolism stoked. That is MY conflict.

    When I eat I eat very healthy and only have a few lbs left to lose which are the toughest.

    YES, you need to eat! I find that if I am not hungry a yogurt or a shake goes down fine. Sometimes I think I am not hungry until I start eating something.
  • tobnrn
    tobnrn Posts: 477 Member
    For a woman at 21% BF, a loss of 0.25-0.5 lbs a week is all you want to shoot for nothing more this close to goal. I would say stop focusing on the scale at this point.

    I would say start lifting weights if you don't already. There are some great programs out there, new rules of lifting for women, stronglifts, starting strength. Your weight may stay the same, but your body composition will change dramatically.
  • beansprouts
    beansprouts Posts: 410 Member
    Congratulations...you are now in the normal weight range (18.5-24.9%) body fat. This means that losing weight ( ie losing excess body fat is no longer your real problem)...If after losing the excess body fat...you are still unhappy with your body (dress size)...Look into doing some weight training to lose inches.
  • NewAngel35
    NewAngel35 Posts: 182 Member
    First off, I've come a long way already by being sensible about things. I lost 50lbs in a year and a half, then maintained that weight loss for another year and a half (because I couldn't find balance and was always trying to lose but kept 'falling off the wagon' on weekends)

    I've won the battle with my food demons.

    I got back on track about a month ago and am now 7lbs away from goal.

    I adore healthy food.

    I run and have already completed my first 10k.

    I'm halfway through doing the 30 day shred.

    Just now, I followed a link somewhere in the forum & did some measuring/calculations and whatnot and apparently my lean body mass is 100ish lbs so I'm therefore carrying 27lbs of FAT, and my body fat percentage is 21%...is this good or bad? And I'm slowly being more and more convinced that I should eat back ALL of my exercise calories (have MFP set at my BMR) can you guys please give me your thoughts? Thanks.

    I lost most of my weight eating between 1350 and 1750 calories every day.

    Is this okay for someone who is 5'5, 127lbs, and works out about five times per week for 40 minutes & ISN'T on her feet all day?

    I just don't want to do myself any long-term injustice by slowing my metabolism, but ALSO don't want to be eating too much when I could be losing quicker.

    Thanks so much in advance to any replies. X:smile::smile: :smile:
    Hi there,
    First of all well done for loosing all that weight .Its brilliant. Dont start doubting yourself. Yes its fine to work out that many times a week.In My opinion.You are not eating to low as long as that is the lowest your calories go. why fix something that is not broken...what your doing is WORKING.
    I am the same height as you .I do think the weight you are now is ideal. your body fat percentage is great.If you do wish to loose those 7lbs. You wil have to work hard.In my experiance that weight for our height is hard to maintain. I am not telling you what to do but once I drop below 124 I start to loose my muscle tone etc.My body feels healthy about that weight. Those last few pounds are what I call vanity pounds(on Myself).You will find your body will fight you as you are on the low end of so called perfect weight range.Again Well done 50lbs is a huge loss you must feel fab!!!.
  • sanvanhaaften
    sanvanhaaften Posts: 118
    bump because Im always hungry :)
  • Lesa_Sass
    Lesa_Sass Posts: 2,213 Member
    bump because Im always hungry :)

    Oh dear, EAT! 1200 a day is not enough. I was eating that and going no where and lets just say not in the best of moods. Why would anyone want to be hungry?

    EAT!
  • a1schwei
    a1schwei Posts: 617 Member
    bump
  • Lyra89
    Lyra89 Posts: 674 Member
    Bump!
  • JenMull44
    JenMull44 Posts: 226 Member
    BUMP! I started at 1200 but as I began working out more I moved to 1350.
    That did it for me and I started to lose weight.
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    Just a guess at your age from your name but at 23 21% body fat is pretty much bang on perfect. The best way for you to go (I think) would be to find out the BMR for your target maintenance weight, stick to that and carry on as you are! You really seem to have nailed it!

    Thank you :smile: I'm not sure how accurate this thing was though because I can CERTAINLY pinch a few inches around the tummy still :tongue: Not fat or overweight anymore, by any means, but certainly have a way to go.

    I wouldn't say that further weight loss is in your best interest. Start lifting weights and eating back ALL of your exercise calories. I strongly believe that at this point it's a lack of muscle that is preventing you from fully liking your body because your bf% is basically perfect as mentioned above.
  • LadyIntrepid
    LadyIntrepid Posts: 399 Member
    It sounds like you you're doing great and right on track! Like other posters have suggested, it's probably time to add in more weight training. And eat all your exercise calories back. You need the calories to gain muscle anyway. Keep up the terrific work!
  • qtiekiki
    qtiekiki Posts: 1,490 Member
    You don't really have weight or body fat to lose at 127lbs and 20% bf. If you are still not happy with your body, then strength train to add definition and recomposition your body.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I lost most of my weight eating between 1350 and 1750 calories every day.

    Is this okay for someone who is 5'5, 127lbs, and works out about five times per week for 40 minutes & ISN'T on her feet all day?

    I just don't want to do myself any long-term injustice by slowing my metabolism, but ALSO don't want to be eating too much when I could be losing quicker.

    Thanks so much in advance to any replies. X:smile::smile: :smile:

    Those amounts are fine for your height and age and should not damage your metabolism.
  • cheryl5115
    cheryl5115 Posts: 154 Member
    Bump
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