Weight Loss Help

haley1053
haley1053 Posts: 8
in Health and Weight Loss
Good morning everyone! Cheers it's almost the weekend! After reading many posts with problems like mine I figured I might as well just make my own topic.

I'm 5'5 and currently weigh 144.5 lbs. My friend got a gym pass 3 weeks ago so we've had eachother to motivate eachother. We have been working out 5-6 days a week consisting of 30 minutes of cardio (ellyptical/stationary bike/walking with incline on a treadmill) and about another 25 minutes of weights machines. We switch focus on weights everyday so as not to over use one muscle group. We also add in wall squats, lunges, etc.

I've lost about 8 1/2 lbs but I have hit a plateau. Today I'm going out to buy measurement tape to track my progress as I've seen others have stated that I may not be losing lbs per say but I may be gaining muscle mass and retaining water. My arms have toned out very nicely and when I flex them they are almost as hard as a rock (excited with my progress!)

I'm currently eating 1200 calories and eating back my exercise calories. I went to that snoopy website and it said I should be eating 1600 calories. I feel that is a bit much so I have considered eating 1400 because the past 2 days my energy level has decreased making working out tough. I suppose the small amount of calories is starting to affect me. I should also add that I wet to a nutritionist a year ago who suggested a 1200-1400 calorie diet.

My goal is 135 lbs and eventually 130lbs.

Do I seem to be somewhat on track?

Thanks for the input in advance!

Replies

  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    The 1600 Scooby's is giving you is what you would eat every day. You wouldn't eat more on the days you exercise. You'd just eat 1600 every day. I think that's actually a good goal for you, if you weren't eating back exercise calories. But 1400+more for exercise calories, sounds pretty good for you, too. It'll give you tons of energy for your workout.
  • corgarian
    corgarian Posts: 366 Member
    A 1200 calorie diet is typically meant for someone who is not working out. 1400-1600 sounds like a good goal. If you dont hit it, but arent feeling hungry or drained then thats fine. But if you are eating 1200 calories and are dragging at your workouts you may not be eating enough to fule you.

    Also are you sleeping enough? Thats really really important too.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    A plateau is generally considered to be 4-6+ weeks without any movement on the scale while doing the same things. From your post, you've lost 8 1/2 pounds in 3 weeks. I'm not sure I see the problem?
  • hilly510
    hilly510 Posts: 46 Member
    Congrats on the loss! Sounds like you're on a great track. A personal anecdote that might apply: I've been working out for 6 weeks and watching everything I eat, but felt so drained the past couple days. I pushed myself through a workout and didn't feel good before/during/after. Then I made yesterday my rest day instead of today. I dropped 2 lbs overnight and feel AMAZING today. Sometimes its good to listen to your body. If you're drained, give yourself a rest.
  • frankiebaybay69
    frankiebaybay69 Posts: 1 Member
    Haley,
    Forget about the snoopy website. Just calculate your maintenance level using the Katch-McArdle BMR calculator (the most accurate I know of, google it) then eat 25%-30% less every day every 3-4 hours 5-6 times a day at the following ratio of carbs, protein and fats: 40/40/20. 1200 per day is low for your level of activity. Hope this helps.
  • Sarge516
    Sarge516 Posts: 256 Member
    Haley -

    First of all, good job for what you have done so far.

    Question for you....when you are doing cardio, is it "easy" for you, or are you huffing, puffing, and can only get a few words out at a time when you try to speak. If it's the former, you aren't working hard enough. It needs to challenge you to change you. Crank it up, and watch your carb intake, especially later in the day.

    I am a Personal Trainer.
  • haley1053
    haley1053 Posts: 8
    A 1200 calorie diet is typically meant for someone who is not working out. 1400-1600 sounds like a good goal. If you dont hit it, but arent feeling hungry or drained then thats fine. But if you are eating 1200 calories and are dragging at your workouts you may not be eating enough to fule you.

    Also are you sleeping enough? Thats really really important too.

    Hi Corgarian,
    I thought that I should up my calorie intake, thank you for reassuring me!
  • haley1053
    haley1053 Posts: 8
    Congrats on the loss! Sounds like you're on a great track. A personal anecdote that might apply: I've been working out for 6 weeks and watching everything I eat, but felt so drained the past couple days. I pushed myself through a workout and didn't feel good before/during/after. Then I made yesterday my rest day instead of today. I dropped 2 lbs overnight and feel AMAZING today. Sometimes its good to listen to your body. If you're drained, give yourself a rest.

    Hi Hillylatcha,

    My friend and I decided to take Friday and Saturday off as we had both felt like our bodies needed those 2 days. I'm feeling a lot more energized today! Hope my new intake of calories supplies me with enough energy for my workouts! I'll listen to my body in the future when I'm drained!
  • haley1053
    haley1053 Posts: 8
    Haley,
    Forget about the snoopy website. Just calculate your maintenance level using the Katch-McArdle BMR calculator (the most accurate I know of, google it) then eat 25%-30% less every day every 3-4 hours 5-6 times a day at the following ratio of carbs, protein and fats: 40/40/20. 1200 per day is low for your level of activity. Hope this helps.

    Thanks I'll have to try this!
  • haley1053
    haley1053 Posts: 8
    Haley -

    First of all, good job for what you have done so far.

    Question for you....when you are doing cardio, is it "easy" for you, or are you huffing, puffing, and can only get a few words out at a time when you try to speak. If it's the former, you aren't working hard enough. It needs to challenge you to change you. Crank it up, and watch your carb intake, especially later in the day.

    I am a Personal Trainer.


    I'm definitely huffing and puffing and my friend next to me is always trying to talk. Most of the time I just put my headphones in so she'll leave me alone Hana! I didn't think about the carbs at night time, I'll definitely watch for those and minimize the amount I eat at dinner!


    Thanks again to everyone! Sorry for the late replys it's been a crazy weekend, I should've replied to these earlier though!

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