What do you think I should put my activity level to?

strawberries11
strawberries11 Posts: 15 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey everyone,

Here is a little about myself, I am a 20 year old female, I weigh 157, I'm 5 '5', and my BMR is around 1550.

I do turbo fire six days a week for about an hour and burn at least 500 calories, and all six are intense cardio, and three are weight lifting. I go to college 5 days a week so I walk around campus, but not that much. Other than that I don't do much, unless it is nice outside, than I take my dog for a walk, but since it is getting cold out I cannot do that much. I try to be as active as possible.

I eat 1800 calories a day and I am not losing weight. Just gaining and losing the same few pounds. :ohwell:
I am trying to figure my TDEE and I am not sure if I should set my activity level to moderately active, or active because my workouts are so intense? After my workouts I'm netting at most 1350 calories. Is this enough? should I eat more? My goal weight is 130 and I am getting very frustrated with this plateau.

Please help me?

Thank you so much!!! :smile:

Replies

  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    This thread could use a bump.

    You sound active to me, but TDEE calculators are always just an estimate. You may need to do some trial and error to find the sweet spot for weight loss.
  • Rays_Wife
    Rays_Wife Posts: 1,173 Member
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    I would say you are definitely "active" and need more calories. I plugged your numbers into scooby and picked "5-6 hours strenuous exercise" for your active level. Here are the numbers

    For a 20% cut you should be eating 2130 cals per day. Your TDEE is 2662 according to this calculator. It looks like you may not be eating enough? Your deficit may be too big based on the fact you only have about 30 pounds to lose. Larger people can get away with larger deficits. Also are you weighing your food? How accurate is your food logging? You gotta make sure your logging is as accurate as possible. No eye balling or guessing food portions.

    If I were you I would eat 200 more calories per day for a couple weeks and see where that gets you. I agree with dianne, you should play around with the numbers to see where your sweet spot is. It could be more, or less even depending on how accurate your food logging is. I would try more though, I have a feeling your deficit is too big for the intense workouts you are doing. Good luck.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    I do turbo fire six days a week for about an hour and burn at least 500 calories...

    500 calories at your size is equivalent to about a five mile run. Can you run 5 miles, six days a week? If not, that 500 calories is most likely an overestimate. Eating back over-estimated burn is a very common reason for stalls on MFP.

    IMO it sounds like your best bet is cutting back on the intake and maintaining the activity level.
  • strawberries11
    strawberries11 Posts: 15 Member
    That is according to my HRM. I put my all into my workout and work very hard so maybe that's why I get those numbers.
  • strawberries11
    strawberries11 Posts: 15 Member
    Thank you so much!! :smile:
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Don't blindly trust HRMs for calorie burn, they will significantly over-estimate for anyone not already in good cardiovascular shape.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    What kind of HRM do you use? I know 500 calories for turbo fire if you go all out is probably not impossible. So I'd definitely eat more.

    If you're not losing though, you're probably not eating 1800 calories, but way more.. you should be losing at 1800, heck you should be losing at 2100, so you're probably doing something wrong, or have a thyroid issue.... Do you weigh all your food?
  • lessac
    lessac Posts: 105 Member
    Set your activity level according to your job if you have one or average daily activity at home (like if you have to chase your toddlers etc.) and log any kind of exercise manually. I think that's a better way to track calories as long as you take calorie burns from exercises with a grain of salt.
  • TemikaThompson
    TemikaThompson Posts: 222 Member
    bump
  • strawberries11
    strawberries11 Posts: 15 Member
    I have a polar FT4, and I know I don't eat more than 1800, because its really hard for me to get 1800 calories in. I weigh and measure everything. Maybe I just need more calories?
  • lessac
    lessac Posts: 105 Member
    How long has it been since you started this diet and exercise routine? With exercise, you will see fluctuations because of water retention, it also depends on your sodium intake, hormone changes (and overall carb intake for some people).
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    How long has it been since you started this diet and exercise routine? With exercise, you will see fluctuations because of water retention, it also depends on your sodium intake, hormone changes (and overall carb intake for some people).

    This. It might just be temporary. I have 3 week stalls all the time, then the weight comes down.
  • shapefitter
    shapefitter Posts: 900 Member
    I know logging everything you eat and do can simulate a millitary operation. I spend a lot of time logging, and double checking the data has been logged correctly. Cutting corners, by just guessing and estimating is not going to get you very far.
  • strawberries11
    strawberries11 Posts: 15 Member
    I have been dieting and exercising since February. I have already lost 70 pounds, and I have been doing Turbo Fire for 2 months and, I do not know how much I was eating, but I know it was not enough so I gradually upped my calories to 1800. I stopped getting my period in June, and after I increased my calories to 1800 I got it back in September, it was very light though. I was told I was not eating enough at 1800 so I don't know if my body is still adjusting to the 1800, or if i truly need more calories? I write down everything I eat, and I am very strict about what i eat. I am just getting very frustrated. I just don't know what I am doing wrong? :frown:
  • Rays_Wife
    Rays_Wife Posts: 1,173 Member
    Did you even read what myself and others have told you??
  • happysherri
    happysherri Posts: 1,360 Member
    I sit at a desk all day, so mine is set to Sedetary and then add exercise and eat back atleast half of the calories. I do not add slow walking (although like I said I don't usually walk -desk job). I also try and stay away from prepackaged foods and try to prepare my own food so I know what's in it. I plan my meals ahead so I can pack them for each day. This seems to work for me. My calories are set at 1600 losing 0.5 cals a week.
  • Cyclingbonnie
    Cyclingbonnie Posts: 413 Member
    I personally think everyone should set things to a low activity, and then log in their activities. That way you won't be surprised when you have a non active week.
  • strawberries11
    strawberries11 Posts: 15 Member
    Did you even read what myself and others have told you??

    Actually, yes. I am getting different answers from everyone
  • Rays_Wife
    Rays_Wife Posts: 1,173 Member
    Did you even read what myself and others have told you??

    Actually, yes. I am getting different answers from everyone

    You know yourself best. Pick a suggestion and try it out for awhile. See what happens. And by awhile I mean at least 2-4 weeks. If you get results, stick to it. If not, try another suggestion. I was just sharing what works for me personally. Bumping up the calories helped me. It might help you. *shrug* If not, dial it down. Not sure what else to say....a lot of this weight loss thing is trial and error. Just don't give up.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    [You know yourself best. Pick a suggestion and try it out for awhile. See what happens. And by awhile I mean at least 2-4 weeks. If you get results, stick to it. If not, try another suggestion.

    Two thumbs up.
  • shapefitter
    shapefitter Posts: 900 Member
    I suggest you make an appointment to see your gp, to find out why your period is irregular. It is what I would've done without hesitation.
  • strawberries11
    strawberries11 Posts: 15 Member
    Thank you so much for the suggestions everyone!!
    I really really appreciate it!!

    :flowerforyou:

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