Trying to lose 20 more pounds

goodluckcharlie123
goodluckcharlie123 Posts: 7 Member
edited November 28 in Health and Weight Loss
So in 3 months I was able to 16 pounds and its been great. I'm 5'4 and 157 pounds now. I've been really struggling with keeping up my calories and for a few weeks I've been only eating 850 calories and obsessing over the scale everyday cringing over the fluctuations. I'm bringing my calories back up to at least 1300. I walk 6 miles every day and was wondering would this work better. I know 1200 is the default, but a lot of people said to eat more.

Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Where did you get the goal of 1,300?
  • erinc5
    erinc5 Posts: 329 Member
    You should definitely eat at least 1300 net.

    This is my favorite calculator: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    It has been very accurate for me. I know it is hard to accept, but weight loss is not quick. 16 lbs in 3 months is very respectable. Keep at it. Eat at least 1300 net. You'll eventually get there. Stop weighing every day if you obsess over it. Switch to once a week at most.
  • goodluckcharlie123
    goodluckcharlie123 Posts: 7 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Where did you get the goal of 1,300?

    When putting in my goals for 1 pound a week, mfp upped my intake to 1300.
  • goodluckcharlie123
    goodluckcharlie123 Posts: 7 Member
    erinc5 wrote: »
    You should definitely eat at least 1300 net.

    This is my favorite calculator: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    It has been very accurate for me. I know it is hard to accept, but weight loss is not quick. 16 lbs in 3 months is very respectable. Keep at it. Eat at least 1300 net. You'll eventually get there. Stop weighing every day if you obsess over it. Switch to once a week at most.

    Thank you very much! The website is also really helpful. Hopefully in a few months I'll get to the place I want to be :)
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    goodluckcharlie123 wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Where did you get the goal of 1,300?

    When putting in my goals for 1 pound a week, mfp upped my intake to 1300.

    Got it.

    That doesn't include your exercise, so you'll want to have a plan to eat back at least some of your exercise calories. Many people eat back 25-75% of them to account for potential over-estimates in the MFP exercise database. This makes sure you're getting close to 1,300 net.

    If weighing every day bothers you, pick a day to weigh and stick to that. Stress about daily fluctuations isn't fun and won't help you meet your goals.
  • tomteboda
    tomteboda Posts: 2,171 Member
    I'm really glad you asked this question. People are telling you to eat more because very low calorie dieting leads quickly to malnutrition. It's virtually impossible to meet your necessary nutrients, and you will quickly develop vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

    If you're really eating 850 cal/day and obsessing over the scale, you need to take a step back and assess what's really going on. This is classic disordered thinking about food and weight and its extremely unhealthy and even dangerous.

    Please consider an appointment with a nutritionist and one with a counselor. There is very affordable counseling available online these days (e.g. Talkspace) This is something you should deal with before it takes a serious toll on your life.
  • Yi5hedr3
    Yi5hedr3 Posts: 2,696 Member
    Jumping from 850 to 1300 should be done slowly. Just sayin......
  • misskarne
    misskarne Posts: 1,765 Member
    "for a few weeks I've been only eating 850 calories and obsessing over the scale everyday cringing over the fluctuations"

    More red flags in this sentence than at Monza on race day.

    Please see your doctor and/or counselor.
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