" My LBM is increasing and BF decreasing at the moment so no weight loss. "

But you are now eating 600 more calories per day and in just two weeks have lost 1% bf so that's just incredible! You changed NOTHING except the calories, right?

I don't know about anyone else, but as we age, I think taking a bodyfat loss as opposed to a weight drop is preferred! I'm sure the weight will follow but your body is obviously thriving on EM2WL principles. Hurray!

Update for me from earlier post:

Some background first-
Age 60 as of January, current weight 231, height 6'0", and male.
Weight 268 BF% 37 on 3/12
Weight 231 BF% 26.6 on 10/24/12
Stalled all of November
I was eating at 1660 calories net since July 1st
After Thanksgiving I began EM2WL.
Weight still 231 BF% 26.6
BMR = 2048
TDEE = 2765 (using a 1.35 TDEE factor which is between sedentary and lightly active).
TDEE with a 20% cut my net calories are 2212 or ~1 pound loss per week

So, my NSV for today on 12/15 or just over 2 weeks of upping my calories from 1660 to 2212 my weight has remained the same at 231, but my BF% has dropped from 26.6% to 25.5% or 1.1%

It should be noted that on active days I am really active since I cycle and long distance power walk (training for a half marathon walking it) I eat back those huge burns after backing out the TDEE calories for that time period to get a net burn. My goal is to net 2212 daily. Hopefully, the weight will follow. My LBM is increasing and BF decreasing at the moment so no weight loss.

As of 12/17/12 I am edging my net calories up to 2267 or a 18% cut. 18% cut = a 498 calorie daily deficit.
Since 11/26 my cut was 20% or 2212 net calories (553 calorie deficit).

I'll be 50 in February. I'm 5'3 and currently weigh 130. I'd like to get down to between 120 and 124 which is where I feel my best. Right now I'm eating at a 10% cut from my TDEE, or 1800 calories per day.

Losing weight after 40 is definitely more challenging but I've found lifting has become much more important than cardio in firming things up and changing the shape of my body.

Don't lose sight of cardio as it is important also. Both should be in the mix. Merry Christmas! :-)

I'll be 50 in February. I'm 5'3 and currently weigh 130. I'd like to get down to between 120 and 124 which is where I feel my best. Right now I'm eating at a 10% cut from my TDEE, or 1800 calories per day.

Losing weight after 40 is definitely more challenging but I've found lifting has become much more important than cardio in firming things up and changing the shape of my body.

Don't lose sight of cardio as it is important also. Both should be in the mix. Merry Christmas! :-)

Oh, I agree. It is important and I still do it, just not as much. I went from an hour per day of cardio, 7 days a week down to 2 or 3 times per week. Merry Christmas to you too! :-)

My update is I finally seem to be losing steadily. In the last 3 weeks I have lost a pound a week. It is mostly due to my active jobs so when they slow down after the holidays I will have to stay active. My 6 days a week 1 hour a day exercise doesn't do as well with weight loss but has other benefits so I am looking forward to having the time to get back to more of it then.

So glad to see this thread! I was thinking I was the only 50+ person on this group. :-)

I am. 53. My stats are 5"4" about 240-245 pounds. (Got a new scale and officially weigh in tomorrow morning).

I have been obese or morbidly obese for about 17 years. I've been dieting off and on for 25+ years. Until September, I spent a full 12 months being EXTREMELY sedentary. (long, boring story) Needless to say, I am VERY out of shape.

I started walking several times a week and eating a 1,500 calorie diet in September.. I lost a few pounds at first, then things just stalled.

My problem isn't too many calories. It is junk food, eating only one meal a day, and not exercising.

I am on Day 2 of my full metabolism reset. Ive fallen slightly short of my calories and protein both days. It is going to take awhile to figure out what foods will help me reach my calorie/protein levels without going over in the carb/fat area. Also, I am NOT hungry until 1, 2 or 3 p.m. It is all I can do to force myself to eat every three hours before 3 p.m

I feel bloated and heavy today, and I am very concerned about gaining even more weight, but I'm willing to give EM2WL a try.

My first Official weigh in since beginning EM2WL, and I was pleasantly surprised with a 2.5 lb loss!
That should help with the motivation through the Holidays.

My first Official weigh in since beginning EM2WL, and I was pleasantly surprised with a 2.5 lb loss!
That should help with the motivation through the Holidays.

That is terrific!

I also wanted to give you guys a bit of an update on my holiday indulgences...

I have inadvertently been eating at my TDEE and above for the most part for the past week and a half or so. I have been keeping up with my workouts but not worrying about my diet so much. I've still been logging, but not staying within my calories of 1750 for a 14% cut. I've been averaging anywhere from 2100 to 2900 everyday (hasn't been pretty and that includes lots of sugar!)

Initially I have gone up about 2 lbs and have since dropped about a lb and a half. not too much damage done, but have noticed that I'm a bit 'softer'. I've been running mostly but have to get back to the heavy weights.

So...my reason for posting is to encourage those who are considering upping their calories to have faith in the process and not stress about the scale. if you calculate the numbers properly, it WILL work

Hi.. today I'm 43 and 5'3" tall. Yes.. it's my 13th annual 30th birthday!

I started MFP almost 12 months ago and have consistently lost at 1200 calories up until June, Then it was a dead stop! I've been EM2WL since November (late October maybe) trying to eat at 1800 and have put on about 15lbs. I started at 238lbs and I'm at 179 lbs right now. I can't even bring myself to track the numbers on the weigh in as it is depressing. Christmas has been rough and I've allowed myself a bit more than normal, but not excessive.

I work out a lot. Today I bought myself a Polar FT7 and am going to track my calorie burn. Everything I read says that I'm burning about 2300 cals at TDEE. I'll lose the weight, of that I am sure. The interesting thing here is that I am in the same size of clothes that I was before. That means I am not getting bigger, just stronger.

i'm 51 years old, 5'10" and about 286#, I need to get down to 225, because i am going to get rid of exercise body fat. I have been down to 225lbs and been told i look great and i felt great. if anyone has recipes it would help tremendously. computer generated myp says 2180 calories a day 300 grams of carbs 13 grams of fat and 82 grams of protien. my fitness goals are 1930 calories burned a week and 3 workouts for 60 minutes. target diet 3150 calories a day and my calories now is 2180 a day consumed 970 calories deficit 1-9 weight loss week
doesthat sound about right?
i would love to join 40's and up!:)

Update to my previous threads here:

On 11/27/12 when I upped my calories from 1660 to 2267 my BF% was 26.6%

Today, on 12/31/12, approximately 1 month later my BF% has dropped to 25.3% or 1.3% in 30 days.

Weight has remained unchanged during the same period.

I’m seriously thinking about jumping on (and staying on) the EM2WL bandwagon. I’ve been eating 1400 calories a day (plus exercise calories) for a couple months now, and while I lose weight when I’m strict, I’m HUNGRY; I have also ended up having lots of days where I just give in and eat way too much (because I’m HUNGRY) and don’t log. That gets me off track sometimes for weeks. The holidays were a serious blow.

I think that I may have better luck staying on track if I have a higher calorie goal every day. Also, I am trying to stop being a slave to the scale. I’m 44 years old, 5’7” tall, and 140 pounds. I originally set my goal weight as 133-135 pounds, but in reality, I think I need to focus more attention on losing body fat and getting stronger rather than what the scale says. I just want to lose the jiggle and a little fat around my middle.

Oh, and I want to be able to eat. I’m tired of being hungry.

I have two concerns. One is that I’m impatient and I won’t give this the time it needs to be successful (I tried once before but for only a couple weeks). The second is that if I’m not actually logging and getting to eat exercise calories, I’ll slack off the exercise and then gain weight. I realize both of these are just a matter of self control; I just need to do it!

My first Official weigh in since beginning EM2WL, and I was pleasantly surprised with a 2.5 lb loss!
That should help with the motivation through the Holidays.

That is terrific!

I also wanted to give you guys a bit of an update on my holiday indulgences...

I have inadvertently been eating at my TDEE and above for the most part for the past week and a half or so. I have been keeping up with my workouts but not worrying about my diet so much. I've still been logging, but not staying within my calories of 1750 for a 14% cut. I've been averaging anywhere from 2100 to 2900 everyday (hasn't been pretty and that includes lots of sugar!)

Initially I have gone up about 2 lbs and have since dropped about a lb and a half. not too much damage done, but have noticed that I'm a bit 'softer'. I've been running mostly but have to get back to the heavy weights.

So...my reason for posting is to encourage those who are considering upping their calories to have faith in the process and not stress about the scale. if you calculate the numbers properly, it WILL work

Hi All...

Just some words of encouragement to those considering this approach. As an update to this post from a week ago, I've since lost 2 lbs and 0.4% bodyfat. I've been eating around a 15% cut rate for the last week or so. I have a running injury and haven't been able to get to bootcamp, and have had to scale my workouts back a tad, but I'm still doing a little bit of something almost everyday.

I do a quick 20 minute full body weights routine including pushups, burpees, weighted squats and lunge complexes (will double up bicep curls with squats, or shoulder raises with my lunges, etc.), one legged bent over rows with a tricep press and plank to failure. I was also able to get two half hour easy runs in.

I am thrilled to see that this really works!! I had tried using the sedentary tdee - 15% and eating back exercise cals on workout days which did work, but got annoying having to wear my HRM all the time since I would forget it occasionally and have to guess, and have since calculated my tdee at moderately active - 15% and just eat at that level daily. I've been doing this for the last 4 weeks or so.

I've been thinking that I am inadvertently 'zig-zagging' my cals as I will net different amounts each day based on my workouts and general daily activity, therefore keeping my body guessing a bit.

Anyway....that's my ramble for the day and my update. Keep up the good work everyone!!