Question! HELP PLEASE! Need Answers!

KissesHugs2
KissesHugs2 Posts: 48 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hello all,

I have been on my fitness journey for 2 years now and have lost 26 pounds. I have stayed at the same weight 135 pounds for the past year almost and have not lost anything additional, even though I kept my MFP set to loosing a certain amount of weight a week--which mean't my goal was 1200 calories per day, plus exercise calories. Even after using that formula for a year, I am STILL at the same weight. I have a HRM that helps me calculate my calories burned (even though I know it's not exact) it gives me a good idea at least.

I say all this to lead to my next question. I decided that since I was not loosing anything additional and my main goal at this point is to tone and loose more body fat, that I would increase my weight lifting/strength training and would change my MFP to "maintenance". It now allows me 1650 calories per day. My question is, do I ONLY eat 1650 per day? Or do I eat 1650 per day PLUS the exercise calories I burn? I do NOT want to gain weight, but am not really interested anymore in loosing pounds, just shedding fat and toning my body.

I will also say I usually work out quite a bit. I work out 20 mins + a day on my lunch break--which may include, lifting weights, elliptical, treadmill, jogging down the road... and then I do an hour of zumba or cardio boxing on Mondays, Water aerobics for an hour on Tuesdays, Body Pump for an hour and Cardio burn for 30 minutes on Wednesdays, Body Sculpt for an hour and zumba for an hour on Thursday, and usually I will walk or swim on Fridays... Saturdays depend on my schedule but normally I do an hour of zumba, body pump, burn and zone on Saturdays. Sundays are my rest day.

Do I eat the 1650 calories ONLY per day? Or the 1650 plus exercise calories burned? I just need help with this because I am always swaying between eating more to get stronger and more toned with the weight lifting increase, but then some days I feel fat and want to loose more weight and think I should eat as little as possible.

HELP PLEASE! Simple question but need ANSWERS!


Erika-

Replies

  • KissesHugs2
    KissesHugs2 Posts: 48 Member
    bump

    i really need answers lol
  • BlueBombers
    BlueBombers Posts: 4,064 Member
    I eat back my most of my exercise calories and I haven't gained any weight because of it and I am at maintenance as well.
  • KissesHugs2
    KissesHugs2 Posts: 48 Member
    Awesome @BlueBombers-- that gives me some hope. That I don't have to eat so much less to not gain.
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    What's your age and height?

    In general, though, I'd say try eating 1650 + half of the exercise you do. Or, get something like a FitBit to help track your TDEE every day.
  • KissesHugs2
    KissesHugs2 Posts: 48 Member
    bump
  • katro111
    katro111 Posts: 632 Member
    Figure out your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure = BMR + exercise). There are a lot of online calculators out there. Once you have that number, then you can cut a percentage from it to see how many calories to eat in total for the day.

    http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

    http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/

    ETA: Or get a FitBit or BodyMedia, etc to track your TDEE.
  • KissesHugs2
    KissesHugs2 Posts: 48 Member
    I am 26 years old and I am 5"3.
  • KissesHugs2
    KissesHugs2 Posts: 48 Member
    Thanks a ton!

    I will visit those sites and calculate it that way!
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    I am 26 years old and I am 5"3.

    If you were me, and I was looking to maintain, I'd shoot for 1800-2000 calories per day (and not eat more if I exercise). Maybe for a couple months. Then I'd re-evaluate.
  • KissesHugs2
    KissesHugs2 Posts: 48 Member
    @WBB55 I really like that idea actually and I think I may try that and see how it goes.
  • KissesHugs2
    KissesHugs2 Posts: 48 Member
    It seems as though from the calculators that I should eat about 1700-1800 calories per day depending on which workouts I do throughout the week.

    Thanks for everyone's help!

    I will try this method for awhile to see how it goes!
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    It seems as though from the calculators that I should eat about 1700-1800 calories per day depending on which workouts I do throughout the week.

    Thanks for everyone's help!

    I will try this method for awhile to see how it goes!

    Good job figuring out something you're comfortable with. Let us know how you do!

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