Should I lower my calorie intake slightly(250 calories)

deanhiller
deanhiller Posts: 5 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Some context: Previously, I ate whatever I wanted and had 2 sodas a day. I am not sure what my total calorie intake was but I am pretty sure it had to be in the 3000's(but honestly, a wild guess). However, I also play Hockey constantly anywhere from 4 to 9 times per week....more on the 9 times right now during the summer.

During this eat whatever I want period, I have always ranged from 173 to 179 lbs (typically morning to night weights) which I guess can be expected.

I started out what will be two weeks this friday. My first morning weigh in was around 175 when starting. (the week previous to that, I did low carb to get me ready....helps to set me up to not be too hungry).

So, my target calories is 2190. I weigh pretty much(milk is sometimes measured though I should start weighing that too since it is so easy). I add in exercise 531 calories for each time I do Hockey(from some web calculator). I also target less than 20% 'total' carbs, but especially concentrate on no sugar carbs so most of that is milk, veggies. I have mostly hit what I wanted in protein from 30% to 50% of my total calorie intake as well.

Two weeks in, I am still fluctuating and am considering maybe lowering my calorie intake to 1950. I was also considering lowering my 531 / hockey to 450 since I read a bunch that exercise is typically overestimated.

Lastly, I read many underestimate calorie intake as well. I believe as long as I mis-measure consistently though, that can be ok as long as I change my target appropriately down when not seeing results maybe.

Anyone have any thoughts on lowering my calorie intake by about 250? I was planning on modifying stuff eventually but maybe I am getting too impatient here and should wait a bit more?

(I also drink a ton of water, tea and La Croix carbonated water which claims to be 0 everything) and a daily small cappuccino.

oh, and my last weigh in was 175.6 so I am pretty much the same as usual though I have to admit that perhaps I have lost fat and gained a little muscle during this process, but I haven't ordered any calipers or anything like that.

Things I am considering
1. ordering some heart rate monitor to estimate how much calories actually lost in hockey
2. ordering calipers or something to better measure fat%
3. any other recommendations here?

thanks,
Dean

Replies

  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    edited July 2015
    why dont you input all your info in MFP, buy a food scale, and do it the mfp way?

    and how tall are you? 175 isn't necessarily a lot for a guy, depending on height
  • deanhiller
    deanhiller Posts: 5 Member
    Yes, all of the data I refer to above IS in MFP.
  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    Wait...all that...what exactly is your goal here? I don't see that you ever mentioned that.
  • deanhiller
    deanhiller Posts: 5 Member
    heh, and here i tried to give all the context.

    My #1 goal is to lose body fat, not necessarily lose weight(ie. I am fine with keeping muscle weight of course when possible).
  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    deanhiller wrote: »
    heh, and here i tried to give all the context.

    My #1 goal is to lose body fat, not necessarily lose weight(ie. I am fine with keeping muscle weight of course when possible).

    Well...then my advice would be to keep eating what you're currently doing. By your description, it sounds like you're eating close to maintenance (not gaining or losing significantly).

    If you're not currently on a progressive lifting program, start yesterday.

  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    ditto to a progressive lifting program

    honestly (and im far from an expert so take it for what its worth), i would eat more and start on a weight program. youre getting cardio in with your hockey - id work more on recomp and muscle building than fat loss (but thats just me)
  • Btbeam
    Btbeam Posts: 252 Member
    You wouldnt want to go any lower in my opinion.
  • GauchoMark
    GauchoMark Posts: 1,804 Member
    If you have only been on this plan for 2 weeks, made several lifestyle changes during that time, and are accurately logging your food and exercise, I'd give it another 2-3 weeks before I made another change. Your body can be pretty crafty at dealing with changing conditions for about 2 weeks or so, then it succumbs to the "new rules" that you are living by.

    I'd stick to it a little longer, be looking for a sudden weight loss, then re-evaluate after another couple of weeks. If you haven't lost about 3 lbs or so after that period of time, I'd reduce by 250 or so and see what happens.
  • deanhiller
    deanhiller Posts: 5 Member
    After re-reading my post, I guess I should clarify that my target is 2190 + X times hockey * 531 calories. I think that wasn't exactly clear. (so my target varies depending on how much I play)

    So my target mostly ends up being 2721 or 3253 nearly each day so far. Should that be right? I get a bit confused with these calorie calculators on whether I should put sedentary or very active or whatever.

    Or should I lower my base target?

  • blankiefinder
    blankiefinder Posts: 3,599 Member
    A HRM would be useless for hockey, as it's not steady state cardio. You'd have to pause it every time you stepped off the ice, restart it every time you stepped back on, and even then, it wouldn't be accurate.
  • deanhiller
    deanhiller Posts: 5 Member
    oh, I didn't realize I could just make it public...cool.... http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/deanhiller
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