Did weight matter?

I have four more pounds to lose until I reach my goal weight of 138 pounds (I'm 5'7). Will eating more at this point really help me weigh less?

Replies

  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    The eating more is based on comparison to a massive restriction diet, a huge deficit.

    Yes, you merely need to eat less than what you burn.

    And a reasonable deficit almost always works out better than an extreme deficit long run.

    And the less you have to weight, the less margin for error you have in doing things wrong and seeing success.

    At this point, you should be taking a 10% deficit, or using MFP method 1/2 lb weekly.

    Are you actually losing at this point?

    And if you are, losing what exactly?
  • ChelseaAClanton89
    ChelseaAClanton89 Posts: 72 Member
    When I ate 1500-1600 calories, I was losing 2-3 lbs. per week. Then I had a rough week were my diet was terrible (2000-2100 calories per day) and I lost .4 pounds.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    So the question is, would it appear you actually have a deficit in place of 1000 to 1500 calories daily for that to ONLY be fat loss?
    (2-3 lbs x 3500 calories lb of fat / 7 days = 1000 to 1500)

    Meaning, you ate 1500-1600, but your actual daily burn from all activity was 2500 to 3100 calories? (1500+1000 to 1600+1500)

    If that really was your TDEE level, then the week you ate 2000-2100 should have still caused a loss in fat of 1-2 lbs easily.
    (2500-2000 to 3100-2100 = 500 to 1000 daily deficit still)

    If you do the math - there is no way you are only losing fat.

    Considering muscle only supplies 600 calories per pound for energy use compared to 3500 calories for fat, that means it is much easier to burn off a pound of muscle than a lb of fat.

    I think you are doing that.

    With only being 4 lbs away from goal weight, are you happy with the shape your body is in?
  • ChelseaAClanton89
    ChelseaAClanton89 Posts: 72 Member
    I'm okay with my body now, but I wouldn't mind toning more. But I am kinda obsessed with the number on the scale.

    I'm definitely not burning that much so I don't understand how my weight loss can speed up like that.

    thank you for your help. I'll try keeping my calories around 1600 until I reach goal and then slowly increasing my calories until I reach maintenance.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Well, your weight loss is LBM, and muscle mass, not just fat. That's how it's possible to lose that much weight without that much deficit actually being in place.
    It's the only way actually.