Should I increase my calorie intake? Is my metabolism increasing?

Brt33690
Brt33690 Posts: 7 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Good Morning!

I started my weight loss journey last April at 158 pounds. Through the end of August, I was able to lose 20 pounds and ended at 138 before starting a maintenance stage for a couple months. I lost approximately 1 pound a week over that period. To lose the weight, I focused on having a net caloric intake of 1500/day. I used a step-tracker (I'm on my feet all day at work) and also walked my dog 2-3 miles a day. The steps were subtracted off my daily food intake. I was normally eating between 1800-1900 calories a day.

I took September-November off and focused on other aspects of my life. After Thanksgiving, I picked back up my weight loss journey at 141 pounds. In addition to walking my dog, I started training for a half-marathon at the beginning of December. I'm now running around 3 miles/3 days a week. Since the 1500/day worked previously, I've logged my running time as exercise and focused on remaining at the same net caloric intake. I'm now eating between 1900-2000 calories a day.

My weight has been melting off (thankfully!) and I'm currently down to 134-135 range. Over the past couple of weeks, I've noticed the weight is coming off more in the range of 1.5 pounds/week. In addition, I've been starving! My diet has been really consistent (foods I eat, when I eat) and I've been consistent with my alcohol intake. I've also been feeling a little tired as well. Should I up my net calorie level? Is this an effect of the running increasing my metabolism?

My goal weight is 130, and once I reach that weight, I'm hoping to start toning.

Any feedback is welcome!

Replies

  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Yes, with only 4-5 pounds to lose, you should set your weekly weight loss goal to 0.5 pound per week, so do up your calories and that should take care of the fatigue and hunger.
  • HutchA12
    HutchA12 Posts: 279 Member
    You're exercising and burning calories. You'll get hungry because your body wants energy. If your losing 1.5 per week you can up it a bit if you believe it's making you tired but still run a deficit. Your metabolism is just your bodies caloric burn. Running burns calories but trust me your not going to keep any special caloric burn if you stop running.

    Also toning isn't really a thing. Losing bf% to show your muscles? You are already doing that. The only other option is to build muscle by lifting heavy things.
  • kaitlinteeter
    kaitlinteeter Posts: 13 Member
    I remember from when I am in half marathon training mode, I always felt like I was starving after longer run days. I combated it with a bit more food, focusing on veggies as I could eat a greater volume to fill up that burning pit of hunger :-)

    Good luck with the race! Half marathons are a lot of work but it feels so amazing to complete one!
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,092 Member
    Add 500 calories a day. Don't panic over any immediate gains. Continue tracking results. Reassess in three or four weeks.
  • Brt33690
    Brt33690 Posts: 7 Member
    Thanks everyone! I started yesterday eating 300-400 more calories. I'm already feeling a lot better this morning. It's odd how that happened all of a sudden.

    And Hutch, yes, I want to start lifting and working on building muscle. I feel like the 130 range is good for me. Now, I just want to have less flopping around.
  • Talan79
    Talan79 Posts: 782 Member
    Lift! It's the best thing for changing body composition. It took me a year to get myself in the weight room but so glad I did.

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