SKINNYFAT PROBLEM WITH CALORIES INTAKE...

queenierz
queenierz Posts: 210 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I am sooo LOST with how much I'm supposed to eat anymore! At the beginning, I ate only 1200 calories per day, and I barely had any energy. So I slowly increased to 1800 as my workouts are intense and a lot... But then, I always come acorss articles that says to go by TDEE, and because I weight only 44 kg, my BMR Is only at 1130. Multiplying with 1.5 due to my level of workouts, my TDEE is 1680 something. THEN, to lose fats, I need to have 20% deficit, which comes around 1300 calories per day... I CAN'T EAT THAT LOW!! What am I going to do... Do I follow this advice or not?

Myfitnesspal gives me 1560, after including my activity levels. What I'm still confused was that, everytime I input the cardio exercises for the day, the remianing number of calories I need for today automatically increases, that means I can eat more than 1560 calories... but isn't 1560 calories include my activeness already?

Anyone mind sharing their experiences with me? I really don't know what to do anymore. It's so frustrating that I've been stress about it, and stress is the last thing I need to happen in losing the dang FATS.

Replies

  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    You could try losing more slowly with a deficit smaller than 20%.
  • BombshellPhoenix
    BombshellPhoenix Posts: 1,693 Member
    You could try losing more slowly with a deficit smaller than 20%.

    She's 5' 2" and 96 lbs. I honestly don't think she needs to lose weight.

    Op, your posting history you got some advice to join the gaining weight forum. You're already underweight for your height. I think you'd greatly benefit from a small surplus and heavy lifting like strong lifts 5x5, new rules of lifting for women, all pro barbell routines. Body weight exercises like you are your own gym if you cannot access barbells and weights.

    You placed yourself around 17% BF. That's very lean for a woman. Unless you plan to compete, getting below isn't necessary. Gaining muscle in a small surplus will do you better than trying to lose more weight. Healthier too.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member

    She's 5' 2" and 96 lbs. I honestly don't think she needs to lose weight.

    Op, your posting history you got some advice to join the gaining weight forum. You're already underweight for your height. I think you'd greatly benefit from a small surplus and heavy lifting like strong lifts 5x5, new rules of lifting for women, all pro barbell routines. Body weight exercises like you are your own gym if you cannot access barbells and weights.

    You placed yourself around 17% BF. That's very lean for a woman. Unless you plan to compete, getting below isn't necessary. Gaining muscle in a small surplus will do you better than trying to lose more weight. Healthier too.

    All of this!
  • itsbasschick
    itsbasschick Posts: 1,584 Member
    if you want to add muscle you need to eat enough calories to make that happen. it won't happen if you're losing weight. and since you're underweight, you should eat enough to have plenty of energy for your workouts.
  • queenierz
    queenierz Posts: 210 Member
    Oh no, I'm not trying to lose weight here but to lose the body fats... right now I'm trying to gain muscles by lifting, not light weight lifts though. I know I'm underweight, and BMI says Im in the unhealthy range as well. HOwever, my body fats are pathetically distributed towards my center of the body, and I really wnat to get it off... I used to have the mistake of eating very less, but that doesn't work, so I am eating at a normal range, not too much nor too less, and eating clean (tried my best). HOwever, I am VERY EASILY influenced by different articles I've found online and magazines... so far I haven't seen much progress on the fat part, but I'm seeing progress in my upperbody muscles. I want to gain weight, but with muscles, while trimming out the excessive fats... I just don't know what to do. :( I thought I was going on the right track, but then I keep reading on and on, and instead of becoming more enlightened, I feel it was more like a curse, hahaha.
  • queenierz
    queenierz Posts: 210 Member
    oh, and I don't think I'm 17% BF anymore... I think it's an underestimation. I place myself around 20-21%
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    If you're trying to gain muscle you shouldn't be eating at a deficit.
  • queenierz
    queenierz Posts: 210 Member
    And not over the calories limit either right? Should I stick to 1560 daily despite of how much I burnt that day though? I mean, it's TDEE, so it probably included my active levels?
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    Skinny fat is just a term made up to make women feel inferior. We all have body fat, around our abdomens especially, it's there for reproductive and health purposes.

    You might find more relief from your dissatisfaction with your body from addressing the dissatisfaction rather than the body. Your body isn't over-fat. If you reduce your fat, you're going deeper into unhealthy territory, chasing a perfect body that is not achievable for 99% of us.

    Good luck!
  • 212019156
    212019156 Posts: 341 Member
    To OP, are your profile pictures current? If so then you don't have much fat around the middle. I wouldn't even worry about watching your diet that much at this point. Just lift heavy, compound movements. You could even indulge in junkfood and you won't have to worry at this point.
  • queenierz
    queenierz Posts: 210 Member
    Yep it's current... but it's not really flat as it is seen though. I accept the fact that I don't have much to lose, but I just want to make my body more lean and defined. I guess the only way to is to build more muscles...
  • queenierz
    queenierz Posts: 210 Member
    Yeah, I'm not over-fat. I just want to flatten my stomach and trim down the waist a little. I understand that having low body fat percentage is extremely unhealthy, for a woman. Do you know how to reduce the waist and belly fat without going into unhealthy territory?
    Skinny fat is just a term made up to make women feel inferior. We all have body fat, around our abdomens especially, it's there for reproductive and health purposes.

    You might find more relief from your dissatisfaction with your body from addressing the dissatisfaction rather than the body. Your body isn't over-fat. If you reduce your fat, you're going deeper into unhealthy territory, chasing a perfect body that is not achievable for 99% of us.

    Good luck!
  • BombshellPhoenix
    BombshellPhoenix Posts: 1,693 Member
    And not over the calories limit either right? Should I stick to 1560 daily despite of how much I burnt that day though? I mean, it's TDEE, so it probably included my active levels?

    If you're working with TDEE. I'd see what the scales do with a set amount. If you're dropping weight, increase by about 100 or so and wait. Continue this slow process until you're maintaining and slowly make your way to a bulk. Are you intending on doing lifting and gaining? I think it's your best bet. You'd slowly add calories every few weeks until you average around 2 lbs a month gain. Slower bulk gives better odds to muscle gains and not excess fat.

    The one note I will say is, the fat gain is inevitable. It's a mind f to see scales fluctuations going upward but it is very worth it! I've gained 6 lbs and wear the same size jeans, etc. I've released my death grip of giving the scale the power over me on my self worth. I've made a conscious effort to improve myself and focus on strength gains above all else.

    As other have stated, I'm not sure what you want is a healthy or attainable goal. We have to have fat to survive. Loving yourself for who you are is a huge step in self acceptance. Now, I'm not saying you have to quit or lie complacent, just that often the obsession to be perfect and have a made up "ideal body" leads to madness. For the record, you're gorgeous. Perhaps if you take less focus off the visual parts you don't like about yourself and find all the wonderful things you DO like, it'll relieve some tension.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    Yeah, I'm not over-fat. I just want to flatten my stomach and trim down the waist a little. I understand that having low body fat percentage is extremely unhealthy, for a woman. Do you know how to reduce the waist and belly fat without going into unhealthy territory?
    Liposuction is all I know of to remove body fat from one area. I'm sorry.

    Your stomach looks flat to me and your waist trim. I'm not so sure all of us can realistically have visible abs without it becoming a pretty serious hobby like with figure competitors and such. I think they eat a very, very limited diet and then dehydrate for that look, and go back to a more normal look (like you) after competitions.

    I really think your expectations are what need the work, not your body. I wish you the best!
  • Aemely
    Aemely Posts: 694 Member
    First, "skinnyfat" is a ridiculous word. Yeesh. Second, if you're really worried about your shape, you could consult with a personal trainer to help you pick an exercise regimen that will address specific body shape issues. As others have noted, since you lean towards underweight, you should make sure you are eating as many calories as MFP recommends. You need fuel for your exercise regimen.
  • queenierz
    queenierz Posts: 210 Member
    d
  • queenierz
    queenierz Posts: 210 Member
    So if I burnt 200 calories that day, I can basically have my limit up to 1700 ish right?
    Yep, right now I'm focusing on lifting and gaining more muscles... I don't want to eat too less beucase I won't have energy to lift the next days and I don't want it to be too unhealthy either. I know this is a stupid question because I didn't exactly plan to BULK like that, but if so, I have to eat more than my TDEE nor not?

    I understand; I wish I could chang emy thinking like how you did! It's sooo hard to change mental thoughts... It is extremely hard for me, gotta admit, that I'm pretty obsessed witht he ideal body image... I keep seeing "success transformations" of people with flat abs, and so it makes me feel like I have to try focus more too. It is a madness... You really have a good point... I'm focussing way too much on things I don't like that I forgot about the other parts... It'll take some time for me to accept it slowly, but thank you so much for the advices...
    And not over the calories limit either right? Should I stick to 1560 daily despite of how much I burnt that day though? I mean, it's TDEE, so it probably included my active levels?

    If you're working with TDEE. I'd see what the scales do with a set amount. If you're dropping weight, increase by about 100 or so and wait. Continue this slow process until you're maintaining and slowly make your way to a bulk. Are you intending on doing lifting and gaining? I think it's your best bet. You'd slowly add calories every few weeks until you average around 2 lbs a month gain. Slower bulk gives better odds to muscle gains and not excess fat.

    The one note I will say is, the fat gain is inevitable. It's a mind f to see scales fluctuations going upward but it is very worth it! I've gained 6 lbs and wear the same size jeans, etc. I've released my death grip of giving the scale the power over me on my self worth. I've made a conscious effort to improve myself and focus on strength gains above all else.

    As other have stated, I'm not sure what you want is a healthy or attainable goal. We have to have fat to survive. Loving yourself for who you are is a huge step in self acceptance. Now, I'm not saying you have to quit or lie complacent, just that often the obsession to be perfect and have a made up "ideal body" leads to madness. For the record, you're gorgeous. Perhaps if you take less focus off the visual parts you don't like about yourself and find all the wonderful things you DO like, it'll relieve some tension.
  • queenierz
    queenierz Posts: 210 Member
    It might be a ridiculous word, I've heard. I don't know how to describe myself anymore because the irony is, I'm "unhealthily" underweight, but my fats are disposed in one freaking area only, lol. I tried eating as much as MFP recommends already, but I don't feel any changes in the amount of those fats, lol. Another thing is, maybe it's the resistance fats- fats that no matter how you exercise, it own't go away. Or another option is, it's too early for me to decide the result.. guh, i'm impatient :(
    First, "skinnyfat" is a ridiculous word. Yeesh. Second, if you're really worried about your shape, you could consult with a personal trainer to help you pick an exercise regimen that will address specific body shape issues. As others have noted, since you lean towards underweight, you should make sure you are eating as many calories as MFP recommends. You need fuel for your exercise regimen.
  • BombshellPhoenix
    BombshellPhoenix Posts: 1,693 Member
    So if I burnt 200 calories that day, I can basically have my limit up to 1700 ish right?
    Yep, right now I'm focusing on lifting and gaining more muscles... I don't want to eat too less beucase I won't have energy to lift the next days and I don't want it to be too unhealthy either. I know this is a stupid question because I didn't exactly plan to BULK like that, but if so, I have to eat more than my TDEE nor not?

    I understand; I wish I could chang emy thinking like how you did! It's sooo hard to change mental thoughts... It is extremely hard for me, gotta admit, that I'm pretty obsessed witht he ideal body image... I keep seeing "success transformations" of people with flat abs, and so it makes me feel like I have to try focus more too. It is a madness... You really have a good point... I'm focussing way too much on things I don't like that I forgot about the other parts... It'll take some time for me to accept it slowly, but thank you so much for the advices...
    And not over the calories limit either right? Should I stick to 1560 daily despite of how much I burnt that day though? I mean, it's TDEE, so it probably included my active levels?

    If you're working with TDEE. I'd see what the scales do with a set amount. If you're dropping weight, increase by about 100 or so and wait. Continue this slow process until you're maintaining and slowly make your way to a bulk. Are you intending on doing lifting and gaining? I think it's your best bet. You'd slowly add calories every few weeks until you average around 2 lbs a month gain. Slower bulk gives better odds to muscle gains and not excess fat.

    The one note I will say is, the fat gain is inevitable. It's a mind f to see scales fluctuations going upward but it is very worth it! I've gained 6 lbs and wear the same size jeans, etc. I've released my death grip of giving the scale the power over me on my self worth. I've made a conscious effort to improve myself and focus on strength gains above all else.

    As other have stated, I'm not sure what you want is a healthy or attainable goal. We have to have fat to survive. Loving yourself for who you are is a huge step in self acceptance. Now, I'm not saying you have to quit or lie complacent, just that often the obsession to be perfect and have a made up "ideal body" leads to madness. For the record, you're gorgeous. Perhaps if you take less focus off the visual parts you don't like about yourself and find all the wonderful things you DO like, it'll relieve some tension.

    Your TDEE should already account for your exercise. So, you'd eat a stagnant amount, irregardless of exercise. As long as you're decently consistent with activity every week, it'll take a bit of the guess work out of pinpointing where to move calories.

    Gaining weight is a huge mind game. We're often taught that losing weight is good, gaining weight is bad. No one really talks about muscle gaining often for women. Being on MFP and finding so many inspirational lifting women who bulk changed my mindset forever.

    There are some women who've worked years to build muscle to have six packs, etc. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit envious. I also know that's a difficult look to not only achieve but to maintain, outside of a brief stint for competitions. Some get lucky with genetics. I'm one who happens to carry more fat in my stomach than anywhere else. I remind myself that, that doesn't define me. I would drive myself insane to keep aiming for that alone, only to want something else once that's achieved. It is a road to never being happy. We have to accept ourselves and our uniqueness and improve ourselves within those limits and take progress slow and steady.

    Also, keep in mind posture and lighting play a role in definition, etc. I recently posted in a blog about how nobody is perfect.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/BombshellPhoenix/view/immeasurable-progress-687166
  • Springfield1970
    Springfield1970 Posts: 1,945 Member
    Skinny fat is just a term made up to make women feel inferior. We all have body fat, around our abdomens especially, it's there for reproductive and health purposes.

    You might find more relief from your dissatisfaction with your body from addressing the dissatisfaction rather than the body. Your body isn't over-fat. If you reduce your fat, you're going deeper into unhealthy territory, chasing a perfect body that is not achievable for 99% of us.

    Good luck!

    Do you mind if I politely disagree? I think skinny fat is a very empowering term. It helped me understand why I was so dissatisfied with my shape even though I was a low bmi.

    I'd never been low body fat, so I didn't know how amazing it would be when I did it! I've cut, bulked, cut bulked my way to 15-18% body fat and my weight isn't much less than when I was 30% plus. I felt really awful about my body. It wasn't in my head. I now feel amazing and want to show it off. My waist is 24/25 and my hips are 36/37 and it is smooth. My butt is higher. I've got enough body fat for reproductive purposes. My hormones are at full speed ahead because I'm eating a lot.

    OP. GO ON A PROPER BULK. get your exercise and burn numbers organised. Write it all down, weigh every day and average out every week. Be patient, eat 250 cals over your needs daily. Eat all you exercise cals. Lift heavy, avoid cardio.

    Yes you will out fat on, but when you're done, you go on a sloooow cut. Then you can keep doing those cycles.
  • DMadelineP
    DMadelineP Posts: 50 Member
    Eat more protein, less carbs.
  • Holla4mom
    Holla4mom Posts: 587 Member
    Skinnyfat exists.

    You don't have that problem as you are 17% body fat.

    Your stomach is lean/ flat/ muscular based on your picture.

    Whenever I see posts about people with unrealistic views of themselves it is sadly people your age, who look pretty much perfect, will never look better in their life and just don't know it. I'd recommend talking to someone about how you see yourself or read some books on body acceptance/ self-esteem.

    If you want to add weight, and get more visible ab muscles, than by all means do that too.
  • queenierz
    queenierz Posts: 210 Member
    Thank you so much! You are right; genetics DO actually have a role in the six-ack thingy, and it's not a happy road for some girls. Everybody's body is different, and I guess we have to learn how to accept what we can do the most.
    Yeah, I used to freak out about gaining weight, but then I changed my mind after I joined MFP as well because gaiing weight doesn't mean you are getting fatter- it actually means you are getting stronger. So, the scales are not relaly a big of my worries :P
    I'll check your blog out! Thanks so much again!
    So if I burnt 200 calories that day, I can basically have my limit up to 1700 ish right?
    Yep, right now I'm focusing on lifting and gaining more muscles... I don't want to eat too less beucase I won't have energy to lift the next days and I don't want it to be too unhealthy either. I know this is a stupid question because I didn't exactly plan to BULK like that, but if so, I have to eat more than my TDEE nor not?

    I understand; I wish I could chang emy thinking like how you did! It's sooo hard to change mental thoughts... It is extremely hard for me, gotta admit, that I'm pretty obsessed witht he ideal body image... I keep seeing "success transformations" of people with flat abs, and so it makes me feel like I have to try focus more too. It is a madness... You really have a good point... I'm focussing way too much on things I don't like that I forgot about the other parts... It'll take some time for me to accept it slowly, but thank you so much for the advices...
    And not over the calories limit either right? Should I stick to 1560 daily despite of how much I burnt that day though? I mean, it's TDEE, so it probably included my active levels?

    If you're working with TDEE. I'd see what the scales do with a set amount. If you're dropping weight, increase by about 100 or so and wait. Continue this slow process until you're maintaining and slowly make your way to a bulk. Are you intending on doing lifting and gaining? I think it's your best bet. You'd slowly add calories every few weeks until you average around 2 lbs a month gain. Slower bulk gives better odds to muscle gains and not excess fat.

    The one note I will say is, the fat gain is inevitable. It's a mind f to see scales fluctuations going upward but it is very worth it! I've gained 6 lbs and wear the same size jeans, etc. I've released my death grip of giving the scale the power over me on my self worth. I've made a conscious effort to improve myself and focus on strength gains above all else.

    As other have stated, I'm not sure what you want is a healthy or attainable goal. We have to have fat to survive. Loving yourself for who you are is a huge step in self acceptance. Now, I'm not saying you have to quit or lie complacent, just that often the obsession to be perfect and have a made up "ideal body" leads to madness. For the record, you're gorgeous. Perhaps if you take less focus off the visual parts you don't like about yourself and find all the wonderful things you DO like, it'll relieve some tension.

    Your TDEE should already account for your exercise. So, you'd eat a stagnant amount, irregardless of exercise. As long as you're decently consistent with activity every week, it'll take a bit of the guess work out of pinpointing where to move calories.

    Gaining weight is a huge mind game. We're often taught that losing weight is good, gaining weight is bad. No one really talks about muscle gaining often for women. Being on MFP and finding so many inspirational lifting women who bulk changed my mindset forever.

    There are some women who've worked years to build muscle to have six packs, etc. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit envious. I also know that's a difficult look to not only achieve but to maintain, outside of a brief stint for competitions. Some get lucky with genetics. I'm one who happens to carry more fat in my stomach than anywhere else. I remind myself that, that doesn't define me. I would drive myself insane to keep aiming for that alone, only to want something else once that's achieved. It is a road to never being happy. We have to accept ourselves and our uniqueness and improve ourselves within those limits and take progress slow and steady.

    Also, keep in mind posture and lighting play a role in definition, etc. I recently posted in a blog about how nobody is perfect.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/BombshellPhoenix/view/immeasurable-progress-687166
  • queenierz
    queenierz Posts: 210 Member
    Skinnyfat exists.

    You don't have that problem as you are 17% body fat.

    Your stomach is lean/ flat/ muscular based on your picture.

    Whenever I see posts about people with unrealistic views of themselves it is sadly people your age, who look pretty much perfect, will never look better in their life and just don't know it. I'd recommend talking to someone about how you see yourself or read some books on body acceptance/ self-esteem.

    If you want to add weight, and get more visible ab muscles, than by all means do that too.

    I'm sorry, but in a polite way, where did you get the "17% body fat" information from? I'm around 20-21%. And politely disagreeing, it just looks flat on the picture because I was raising my arms and the angles make it look slim. Apparently, I'm not the only one saying this, but my family and friends agree too when they see me physically... But thank you for the advice anyhow :) And yes, I'm trying to gain muscles. on da progress
  • blaccoffee
    blaccoffee Posts: 26 Member
    So if I burnt 200 calories that day, I can basically have my limit up to 1700 ish right?
    Yep, right now I'm focusing on lifting and gaining more muscles... I don't want to eat too less beucase I won't have energy to lift the next days and I don't want it to be too unhealthy either. I know this is a stupid question because I didn't exactly plan to BULK like that, but if so, I have to eat more than my TDEE nor not?

    I understand; I wish I could chang emy thinking like how you did! It's sooo hard to change mental thoughts... It is extremely hard for me, gotta admit, that I'm pretty obsessed witht he ideal body image... I keep seeing "success transformations" of people with flat abs, and so it makes me feel like I have to try focus more too. It is a madness... You really have a good point... I'm focussing way too much on things I don't like that I forgot about the other parts... It'll take some time for me to accept it slowly, but thank you so much for the advices...
    And not over the calories limit either right? Should I stick to 1560 daily despite of how much I burnt that day though? I mean, it's TDEE, so it probably included my active levels?

    If you're working with TDEE. I'd see what the scales do with a set amount. If you're dropping weight, increase by about 100 or so and wait. Continue this slow process until you're maintaining and slowly make your way to a bulk. Are you intending on doing lifting and gaining? I think it's your best bet. You'd slowly add calories every few weeks until you average around 2 lbs a month gain. Slower bulk gives better odds to muscle gains and not excess fat.

    The one note I will say is, the fat gain is inevitable. It's a mind f to see scales fluctuations going upward but it is very worth it! I've gained 6 lbs and wear the same size jeans, etc. I've released my death grip of giving the scale the power over me on my self worth. I've made a conscious effort to improve myself and focus on strength gains above all else.

    As other have stated, I'm not sure what you want is a healthy or attainable goal. We have to have fat to survive. Loving yourself for who you are is a huge step in self acceptance. Now, I'm not saying you have to quit or lie complacent, just that often the obsession to be perfect and have a made up "ideal body" leads to madness. For the record, you're gorgeous. Perhaps if you take less focus off the visual parts you don't like about yourself and find all the wonderful things you DO like, it'll relieve some tension.

    Your TDEE should already account for your exercise. So, you'd eat a stagnant amount, irregardless of exercise. As long as you're decently consistent with activity every week, it'll take a bit of the guess work out of pinpointing where to move calories.

    Gaining weight is a huge mind game. We're often taught that losing weight is good, gaining weight is bad. No one really talks about muscle gaining often for women. Being on MFP and finding so many inspirational lifting women who bulk changed my mindset forever.

    There are some women who've worked years to build muscle to have six packs, etc. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit envious. I also know that's a difficult look to not only achieve but to maintain, outside of a brief stint for competitions. Some get lucky with genetics. I'm one who happens to carry more fat in my stomach than anywhere else. I remind myself that, that doesn't define me. I would drive myself insane to keep aiming for that alone, only to want something else once that's achieved. It is a road to never being happy. We have to accept ourselves and our uniqueness and improve ourselves within those limits and take progress slow and steady.

    Also, keep in mind posture and lighting play a role in definition, etc. I recently posted in a blog about how nobody is perfect.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/BombshellPhoenix/view/immeasurable-progress-687166

    Its honestly not difficult to have visible abdominal muscles, just a low body fat percentage and doing ab exercises that you can add weight to.

    http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/sports_body_training_performance/best_of_abs

    http://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/abs-exercises/ab-solute-truth-shredded-stomach
  • Holla4mom
    Holla4mom Posts: 587 Member
    OH, sorry, don't know where I got the 17% from. Did you use to be 17% body fat? Did I see it on your profile.

    Anywho, 20-21% is still a healthy, thin body fat percentage. I don't know why your friends would comment on your stomach being too fat, though? I'm just saying don't be TOO hard on yourself! You DO look great. If you want to be even more cut/ defined, that's fine too.

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