Eating 1500 calories and gaining wieght?

gutisteve
gutisteve Posts: 4
in Health and Weight Loss
I am 33 and 5'8, male. I started at 150 and was eating 1200-1500 calories a day for about 2 weeks, i lost 5 pounds. I exercise 30-60 min moderate/heavy cardio 3-4 times a week and maybe some light weight lifting 2 days a week. I plateaued at 145 for 3-4 days and then by the end of the 3rd week i am back up to 147. i have read about eating too little calories but when I have ate more I would just maintain my weight. I am in good shape, low body fat, mostly muscle but i want to lose 10 and be 135, anyone have any advice?

Replies

  • shred_me_up
    shred_me_up Posts: 267 Member
    youre not eating nearly enough.... up your calories! why are you trying to weigh so little anyways?
  • Mock_Turtle
    Mock_Turtle Posts: 354 Member
    Your sample size is too small - give it at least 4-6 weeks and then re-evaluate.

    IMO you should be at the high end of your range, at least 1500-1600. That'd be about a 2 lb/wk loss which is pretty aggressive.
  • MsTT80
    MsTT80 Posts: 59 Member
    It's still very early days but I agree with a post above....you are eating too few cals for a man. 1500 should be your minimum each day not 1200. You are risking going into starvation mode.
  • ackeebee
    ackeebee Posts: 1,042 Member
    hey, you must be my twin!

    i am also 33, 5'8" though female :-). at 152 lb at the moment and my goal is anywhere between 135 and 139.

    i am currently eating 1946 sals. i agree with a previous poster in that you are eating way too little and your goal weight is way too low. you might need to reconsider these points.
  • laddyboy
    laddyboy Posts: 1,565 Member
    You probably lost water weight...Make your diary public so we can see what you're eating and make proper suggestions.

    If you're eating 1200 calories and then exercising your net calories is way to low to loose weight. Add your exercise calories on the exercise tab and eat those calories. MFP already figured in a deficit for you.
  • SOCOLOCO87
    SOCOLOCO87 Posts: 128 Member
    I am wondering just like shred_me_up, why so little, im 5'8 male and if i weight even 145 i would be skin and bones!
  • BflSaberfan
    BflSaberfan Posts: 1,272
    I'm 5'2 female and eat 1500-1700 calories per day. You need to eat WAY more to lose weight.
  • Josee76
    Josee76 Posts: 533 Member
    Why would you want to weigh 135 lbs at 5'8"? Think about that and start eating!
  • lioness803
    lioness803 Posts: 325 Member
    You don't need to lose more weight...
  • Mock_Turtle
    Mock_Turtle Posts: 354 Member
    What's up with everyone here telling him that he shouldn't lose more weight? Who are you to say?

    It's not like we have pictures to go off of.


    While I would agree that in general 5'8 135 seems like a pretty low weight, there are plenty of skinny bros who have that kind of size ...... just go watch a soccer game and half the people will have that body type.
  • sexymuffintop
    sexymuffintop Posts: 636
    Good lord man I'm 5 ft 4 female who eats about 500 cals more than you! Eat up!! Google TDEE and deduct 20% for a steady fat loss if you must. I don't think you need to lose weight though by the sound of it? Maybe gain muscle but not lose weight I suspect.
  • knitwit0704
    knitwit0704 Posts: 376
    You probably lost water weight...Make your diary public so we can see what you're eating and make proper suggestions.

    If you're eating 1200 calories and then exercising your net calories is way to low to loose weight. Add your exercise calories on the exercise tab and eat those calories. MFP already figured in a deficit for you.

    I agree with this guy.
  • gutisteve
    gutisteve Posts: 4
    I was 135 for 15 years and did endurance cycling, the lower weight is better for climbing and I just feel more myself at that weight. At some points I was eating 6000-8000 calories for cycling and maintaining my weight. I don't train like that anymore though. I don't have body image issues, it's just a weight that I would prefer. I am not in a rush but I would prefer to lose faster just to not have to pay attention to my diet for very long.

    I will certainly eat more at your recommendations, although I have ate more in the past and just ended up maintaining my weight. but how much more should I be eating? what should my net be and what should I eat total with the amount of exercise I described?

    I cant post my diary because I do not enter every day. I typically eat healthy, nuts, greens, oatmeal, chicken, beans, avacados, sweet potatos, yogurt etc. really was eating 1500, I only was closer to 1200 on a couple days and I didn't work out that day. been doing lower carbs for this diet but not extremely low, I drink some rice milk before and after workouts.
  • zlauerMom
    zlauerMom Posts: 183 Member
    Oops. I misread your post and thought you were trying to get back to a body you had 15 years ago.

    I'd say you need to be working out like you did then to maintain that sort of physique.
  • MsTT80
    MsTT80 Posts: 59 Member
    Just remember to factor in your exercise cals. 1500 a day should be your basic. If you work out and burn 300, you need to eat 300 more and so on.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    Dude, I'm your height, 10+ years older and a chick, and I eat more than you do, and I'm losing fat! Eat up man, you need more. If I can lose fat on 1800-2000 cals a day, I would think you surely could.
  • BhanGoes
    BhanGoes Posts: 75 Member
    I was 135 for 15 years and did endurance cycling, the lower weight is better for climbing and I just feel more myself at that weight. At some points I was eating 6000-8000 calories for cycling and maintaining my weight. I don't train like that anymore though. I don't have body image issues, it's just a weight that I would prefer. I am not in a rush but I would prefer to lose faster just to not have to pay attention to my diet for very long.

    I will certainly eat more at your recommendations, although I have ate more in the past and just ended up maintaining my weight. but how much more should I be eating? what should my net be and what should I eat total with the amount of exercise I described?

    I cant post my diary because I do not enter every day. I typically eat healthy, nuts, greens, oatmeal, chicken, beans, avacados, sweet potatos, yogurt etc. really was eating 1500, I only was closer to 1200 on a couple days and I didn't work out that day. been doing lower carbs for this diet but not extremely low, I drink some rice milk before and after workouts.

    Hold on a second.

    1. Just a question: if you don't log on a regular basis, how can you be sure of your daily intake?

    2. Don't resolve to eat more based on the advice of the first ten random MFP responders. (Truly no offense intended, everyone. *Please* stay on topic instead of getting angry with me.) Do your research (like knowing your TDEE, BMR, etc), consider speaking to a nutritionist to optimize your nutrients, and make the decision that's right for YOU.
  • jukyu
    jukyu Posts: 80 Member
    1. I don't know where you got 1500 calories from. Calculate your TDEE and macros here: http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/
    2. "Weight loss" can means one of many things: loss of lean mass, loss of water, or loss of fat. If it's fat mass you want to lose, start lifting heavy and swap your steady state cardio for HIIT. Spare the muscle.
  • gutisteve
    gutisteve Posts: 4
    I was 135 for 15 years and did endurance cycling, the lower weight is better for climbing and I just feel more myself at that weight. At some points I was eating 6000-8000 calories for cycling and maintaining my weight. I don't train like that anymore though. I don't have body image issues, it's just a weight that I would prefer. I am not in a rush but I would prefer to lose faster just to not have to pay attention to my diet for very long.

    I will certainly eat more at your recommendations, although I have ate more in the past and just ended up maintaining my weight. but how much more should I be eating? what should my net be and what should I eat total with the amount of exercise I described?

    I cant post my diary because I do not enter every day. I typically eat healthy, nuts, greens, oatmeal, chicken, beans, avacados, sweet potatos, yogurt etc. really was eating 1500, I only was closer to 1200 on a couple days and I didn't work out that day. been doing lower carbs for this diet but not extremely low, I drink some rice milk before and after workouts.

    Hold on a second.

    1. Just a question: if you don't log on a regular basis, how can you be sure of your daily intake?

    2. Don't resolve to eat more based on the advice of the first ten random MFP responders. (Truly no offense intended, everyone. *Please* stay on topic instead of getting angry with me.) Do your research (like knowing your TDEE, BMR, etc), consider speaking to a nutritionist to optimize your nutrients, and make the decision that's right for YOU.


    1. ive been eating close to the same things every day for the past couple weeks,I just deduct or add to a base diet so its easier to keep track of. i am not planning on doing this long term.

    2. good advice, thank you.
  • gutisteve
    gutisteve Posts: 4
    thanks for all the advice everyone, very helpful. I have decided to up my base calories to 1600 which is my BMR and will be adding calories based on activities that day which will bring me closer to 2000 especially on exercise days. I will also be trying some HIIT and lifting. I will let you know how it goes, Thanks!

Categories