BMR & Settings Question??

I'm not sure about that calculator either. I'm in a weight management program at work & your progress sounds reasonable according to those measurements.

It's discouraging when the scale doesn't fall as fast as we want it to. Remind yourself how much time it took to get from your goal weight to your current weight and perhaps allow yourself that much time to lose it back to your goal weight. Example: I was last at my goal weight around 1981. I'm not working 30 yrs to lose 150 lbs, (Lord, I hope not) It took me only 7 yrs to gain 50 lbs. We wil just stick it out together. Keep going!

I understand completely! Ihave been doing this since January and only down 6 pounds, which I am happy about, but not quite satisfied.

I was actually just thinking about upping calories by about 10% to see if that will promote a change. I also work from home and sit all day. I am set at sedentary and 1200 calories, and I add in my exercise calories daily. I do try to get in some of physical activity every day and recently increased the length of my workouts, but still no change.

Add me as a friend if you want and we can share things we find that works!

Tizzz,

I would do a little honest evaluation of your program. If you're doing the kind of work out where you're really pushing it (i.e. aggressive weights and cardio program), then the higher calorie count is probably the way to go. If your exercise consists of walking or something of that intensity, go with the lower count.

You mentioned that you've only lost 4 lbs but have also lost inches. If you're losing inches and not losing much weight (remember that 4 lbs x 12 months is 36 lbs.......pretty darn good in my book), you're adding muscle which will eventually increase your at rest calorie burn, keep your metabolism up and shape your body in the direction that keeps you motivated.

As a rule, I only weigh once a week and take body measurements every 90 days. Mentally, I try to stay in the marathon and not the sprint mode. If you lose 36 lbs this year and drop inches where you want, I'd say you've had a great 12 months. If this is truly a lifestyle change, then view it as a life pursuit. You're doing great.

Uncle Ted

Is my math off or doesn't 4 pounds in a month mean 1 pound a week? That's the recommendation for healthy weight loss, so maybe it's just some perspective that should be tweaked. You're doing great.

Based on your work out schedule and the fact you're losing pounds and inches, I'd go with the higher caloric setting in MFP. One thing you might try out is an eating system that spreadloads your calories over the course of the day. This way, you keep the metabolism up. I know it's an overused analogy, but the campfire is a great way to look at it. Do you want to throw a huge log on a set of smoldering embers and watch it smoke and never really burn; or do you want to keep an already hot fire going by continually throwing smaller twigs and branches into the flame. I like the ABS Diet and the Body for Life programs. They're both very similar but the ABS is more straightforward and, what I like, gives you a selection of so called "Power Foods" that you can snack on/meal on throughout the day, fill yourself up and help with the fat burn/muscle building program. It's not in the American psyche to eat throughout the day as we're told it's bad. The reality is that more, smaller and healthier meals is the way to go. Once your metabolism adjusts to this approach to eating (my experience was 6-7 weeks with me and my friends/family) you start shedding fat pounds at a very high rate while maintaining muscle mass.

Be warned, the ABS diet is directed towards men but it's got a ton of great information that is not gender specific. Also, it's not really a diet but more of an eating system. You can pick it up in paperback for about $8 at any bookstore.

As the previous post suggests, a consistent one pound per week is really healthy, great progress and, more importantly, sustainable in the long run. People who lose 30 lbs in two months almost always gain it back. People who modify their lifestyles and lose 30 lbs over a year are much more likely to keep it off while still moving in a weightloss direction if they still need to.

Keep it up. Sounds to me like you're doing all of the right things. Patience is the only thing you need to focus on as the rest is right on track.

Uncle Ted