love the theory, determined to actually implement it this time!
megrosborne
Posts: 13 Member
Hope it's ok to post here. I figure doing so might keep me accountable. I have lurked on this board and the EM2WL site for years (yep, actual years), and every now and then I'd work out my numbers and start, only to quit after a week or two. I'd convince myself it isn't for me because I don't lift heavy (I have a health issue which means I have to stick to low-impact exercise, but I think body-weight would be ok) or I'd obsess over getting the numbers just right. For a while I wondered if it wouldn't be easier just to work out what my maintenance would be at goal, and eat that from the get-go, but again, never stuck to it. Basically, I'm a flake, and I overthink it all too much! All that said, this approach keeps pulling me back as the sanest and most live-with-able out there. And all my hopping back and forth and switching things up has done precisely nothing to help my weight loss, other than help me gain more weight.
Anyway. I decided to come back, reread everything, watch the videos - I even downloaded the starter kit, because even though I already "know" everything, I could do with hearing it again, step by step.
My numbers:
female/31 years old/5'4" - I weighed myself this morning at 164lbs, so that's what I'll work with for now. I do have a fitbit, but I'm going to use the calculators for ease.
eatmore2weighless.com/weight-loss-calculator/ gives me the following:
bmr: 1517
+ light activity: 2086
+ moderate activity: 2351
I'm not totally sure whether I'm light or moderate activity - I do about an hour a day walking and/or cycling, sometimes more, above and beyond general day to day activities (housework, gardening, walking around) and sometimes some yoga. I'd like to start some simple bodyweight exercises too.
And, even though everything in me wants to jump right into a cut, I'm going to commit to eating at TDEE for the month of June. I don't technically know that I need to do this, or a full reset, as I haven't been eating particularly low calorie anything (in fact quite the opposite...!) but it's more for the mental break, because I really have been obsessively thinking and rethinking food and weightloss ridiculously lately.
Sorry if this is boring for you guys (and thank you anybody that's managed to read this far without falling asleep!) I mostly wanted to type it out for my own peace of mind, and also to check that I'm doing this right. I'll pop back in a few weeks and update with my experience eating at TDEE and my plans for a cut in July and onwards. I'm also going to keep track of my fitbit burns to see how close they match my calculated TDEE, averaged over time.
Alrighty. Onwards!
Anyway. I decided to come back, reread everything, watch the videos - I even downloaded the starter kit, because even though I already "know" everything, I could do with hearing it again, step by step.
My numbers:
female/31 years old/5'4" - I weighed myself this morning at 164lbs, so that's what I'll work with for now. I do have a fitbit, but I'm going to use the calculators for ease.
eatmore2weighless.com/weight-loss-calculator/ gives me the following:
bmr: 1517
+ light activity: 2086
+ moderate activity: 2351
I'm not totally sure whether I'm light or moderate activity - I do about an hour a day walking and/or cycling, sometimes more, above and beyond general day to day activities (housework, gardening, walking around) and sometimes some yoga. I'd like to start some simple bodyweight exercises too.
And, even though everything in me wants to jump right into a cut, I'm going to commit to eating at TDEE for the month of June. I don't technically know that I need to do this, or a full reset, as I haven't been eating particularly low calorie anything (in fact quite the opposite...!) but it's more for the mental break, because I really have been obsessively thinking and rethinking food and weightloss ridiculously lately.
Sorry if this is boring for you guys (and thank you anybody that's managed to read this far without falling asleep!) I mostly wanted to type it out for my own peace of mind, and also to check that I'm doing this right. I'll pop back in a few weeks and update with my experience eating at TDEE and my plans for a cut in July and onwards. I'm also going to keep track of my fitbit burns to see how close they match my calculated TDEE, averaged over time.
Alrighty. Onwards!
1
Replies
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I found nothing boring in here!
So glad you posted this. It is hard to commit to start with but consistency is the key.
You've definitely done your research, and I would say you are at moderate activity level from what you say.
Great idea to start out at TDEE too. The stress of all the weight loss/ calorie counting can be counter productive and have the opposite effect0 -
Not boring at all!
If you are walking/cycling daily and don't spend the day sitting, you should go for moderate. The idea to start with a TDEE is great to ease yourself in the process. The key is to be consistent and keep moving. There are excellent low impact workout routines out there. I did the Low Impact series from Cathe (www.Cathe.com) and they were great but not a cakewalk for sure. Body weight is a good way to build your way up and start seeing changes in your body.
Let us know how it goes!
Tereza
Team EM2WL
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Just for frame of reference - that TDEE chart assumes sedentary activity level outside of exercise, and it is only looking at hours of exercise. It doesn't account for increased daily activity.
Using even MFP's sedentary activity level, which is higher than that charts - I get a Fitbit bump over sedentary on my truly sedentary day of sitting almost all day, and about 4000 steps - so even that is not truly sedentary.
Sounds like your daily life is Lightly Active all on it's own easily.
Sounds like your exercise routine is Moderate all on it's own, unless the walking is easy dog-walking pace and short, and the bike ride is about as intense. In which case it might be Lightly Active also.
Gotta smash the 2 together to be honest with yourself for potential TDEE.
You can work your way up higher than first estimate obviously - just thinking realistically about potential future level.
And ditto not boring, very normal story others have too.0 -
thanks all 0 -
I'm so in your boat, @megrosborne! Everything you said! I'm gonna lurk your lurking in the hopes that some of your positivity and conviction rubs off onto me! x1
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Welcome! Coming out of the shadows can be hard but we are so glad you did! Feel free to ask any questions you have!
As the others have said, Id count you as moderate as well..
Let us know how it goes over the next while
Kelly
Team EM2WL0 -
I would say moderate as well. Glad you decided to commit! I struggled for quite some time off and on with eating more and finally made the commitment and am seeing incredible results. If you see an increase on the scale, don't worry. As women our bodies fluctuate with water weight all the time. Keep us posted on how you are doing, and if you ever need help, you can always ask anyone of us!0
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