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Too many numbers to figure out....

Pink_Cheek
Pink_Cheek Posts: 92
edited January 25 in Health and Weight Loss
Wondering if anyone here who has had success would like to help me out. I want to get my calorie intake under control, but I am at a loss as to what it should be. I have lost 4 lbs in 4 weeks...but most of that was all at once.

Here is what I do know:
I am 5'3 (maybe a bit shorter) and 34
I run a computer lab, so I am sitting most of the day.
I wear a bodybugg that tells me I burn on average about 2800 cals a day (think it underestimates my workouts though, or just isn't great for Insanity as it barely gets above 300 for a workout)
I do Insanity 6 days a week, an occasional 1.5 mile walk in the evening or a 20 minute zumba if time permits.

Any advice or insight? I haven't been eating as healthy as I can, but I am keeping my cals under or right around 1800 a day. I need to cut back on sugar and sodium.

Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    If you burn on average 2800 cals, take 20% from that figure and you should lose a pound a week
  • dgoradia
    dgoradia Posts: 109 Member
    Your TDEE is 2800 and you eat under 1800 daily and you're not losing weight. Ye, sure!

    I highly doubt your TDEE is 2800. What's your bodyweight?
  • Pink_Cheek
    Pink_Cheek Posts: 92
    220 is what I weigh. I don't know about my TDEE, all I am going off of is what the bodybugg tells me I burn daily. I took the average from a 7 day period of wearing it and it came out to 2800. And yes, i eat right around 1800 calories a day. I log everything that goes in, and weigh it if at all possible.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    220 is what I weigh. I don't know about my TDEE, all I am going off of is what the bodybugg tells me I burn daily. I took the average from a 7 day period of wearing it and it came out to 2800. And yes, i eat right around 1800 calories a day. I log everything that goes in, and weigh it if at all possible.

    But you say you lost four pounds and you've only had this account since 5/7/2013? Give it a little more time. If you are properly accounting for ALL your food (use a digital food scale) then you will start to lose. You need a period of consistent eating and logging.
  • jamielhance
    jamielhance Posts: 4
    I'm certainly no expert, but my initial thought is that you want to look at WHAT you're eating and not just how much. Clean eating will serve your body well. Insanity is an intense workout. Make sure you are getting enough protein and healthy fats to keep your body fueled and repairing itself. Your calorie intake may, in fact, be too low sending your metabolism into starvation mode. Try adding 500 calories for a week, but really focus on clean eating (no processed food) and getting enough water. Don't just fill your belly up, FEED your body :)
  • dgoradia
    dgoradia Posts: 109 Member
    220 is what I weigh. I don't know about my TDEE, all I am going off of is what the bodybugg tells me I burn daily. I took the average from a 7 day period of wearing it and it came out to 2800. And yes, i eat right around 1800 calories a day. I log everything that goes in, and weigh it if at all possible.

    Using your age, height and weight; your TDEE would be closer to 2000 at sedentary. ~2300 with an activity factor of 1.375.
    Eating at 1800 kcals a day sounds fine for you. I misread earlier but the fact that you lost weight means you're doing it right.
    I don't know what a bodybugg is and I'm too lazy to google it but it's obviously very inaccurate.

    Keep eating at 1800 and eat plenty of protein and you'll continue losing weight. Many people find that much of their weight loss happens suddenly and is quite normal. Lyle McDonald summarizes is quick nicely here: http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/of-whooshes-and-squishy-fat.html

    With regards to this so called "starvation mode": While evolutionarily, it makes sense for our bodies to lower metabolic rate during times of actual starvation, there is no science/study that I've come across that shows eating at your deficit will cause a lowering of your metabolic rate. It's typical bodybuilding dogma that get's regurgitated way too much on this forum. Now if there is a study I'm missing, please enlighten me.

    While there are benefits to eating "clean"; in terms to micro nutrients present in these so called clean foods, it's not necessary for losing fat. I will have two greasy burgers today and remain sub 10% bf. The rules to losing fat are quite simple, if you're accurate with your food intake, you will end up losing fat.

    Good luck to you.
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