People tell me to eat more

Drdmike
Drdmike Posts: 66
edited February 23 in Food and Nutrition
I try to not go above 1350 calories a day but I have been told by many people, including my personal trainer, that I should go for at least 1800 when I workout. If I go that high, I gain weight. If I stay at 1350, I lose weight. In fact, I am so used to eating 1350 that I don't feel hungry after hitting my goal. The only exceptions are the weekend, when I go upwards to 3000 calories a day. I am 32, 5'9 and weigh 195. I would like to lose 10-20 pounds. What gives?

Replies

  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    I try to not go above 1350 calories a day but I have been told by many people, including my personal trainer, that I should go for at least 1800 when I workout. If I go that high, I gain weight. If I stay at 1350, I lose weight. In fact, I am so used to eating 1350 that I don't feel hungry after hitting my goal. The only exceptions are the weekend, when I go upwards to 3000 calories a day. I am 32, 5'9 and weigh 195. I would like to lose 10-20 pounds. What gives?

    Do the math. Your BMR is in the 1900 range ... sedendary NEAT calories close to 2300 ... a pound per week means 1800 net calories per day.

    Pretty simple... you're eating far too little.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,368 Member
    You might be gaining weight at 1800, but I can guarantee you it's not fat weight. It's water weight, which is normal when you increase your calories... but it doesn't stay long.

    Eat more.
  • Linnaea27
    Linnaea27 Posts: 639 Member
    You might be gaining weight at 1800, but I can guarantee you it's not fat weight. It's water weight, which is normal when you increase your calories... but it doesn't stay long.

    Eat more.

    Yup, I agree.
    As PP said, calculate your calorie needs and pay attention to which numbers represent what you need including exercise, or not including exercise. Try using the "guided" goals on here; you'll need to log exercise separately if you do that, and eat back at least some of the calories you burn from exercise. That is probably the easiest way to use this site and I've found it to be very effective.

    I saw a thread recently where someone had posted this same exact problem a few weeks ago. She was advised by everyone to recalculate her needs and eat more. She came back 9 days later and gave everyone an update after having significantly raised her calorie goal-- and she'd lost about 2 pounds in that time! I will see if I can dig it up out of my posting history to share with you.
  • YorriaRaine
    YorriaRaine Posts: 370 Member
    Another thing to keep in mind if your tracking your calories is if your not weighing your food you don't REALLY know how much calories your consuming. So if you think your eating 1350 it could be your already eating 1800 but not tracking properly.
  • Linnaea27
    Linnaea27 Posts: 639 Member
    OK, here's the thread I saw. It is old but I think her experience will resonate with you and be helpful. Read the first couple pages (her update is on page 2). http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1091693-isn-t-1200-calories-too-much-for-a-5ft-tall-woman?page=2
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    There's a reason why you're gaining weight when you shift to 1800 cals a day during the week. If you don't also change your weekend habits, you're overeating. Look, doing what you're doing now averages out to ~1800 cals per day. Keep doing what you're doing if you like, you're not undereating.

    (1350 cals * 5 days) + (3000 cals * 2 days) = 12750 cals/wk
    12750 cals/wk / 7 days = 1821.4 cals/day

    ETA:

    On the other hand, following the trainer's advice and not changing your weekend habits:

    (1800 cals * 5 days) + (3000 cals * 2 days) = 15000 cals/wk
    15000 cals/wk / 7 days = 2142.9 cals/day

    Oh, yeah, I can see where you gain weight on this plan.
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