scaryann1 wrote: »

@DSFit I've been working my way up to my TDEE for almost a year now. I still have a little ways to go. I have had to fight with myself almost every day to up my calories. The mental aspect is crazy difficult to deal with some days. After getting my daily average up to 1900 consistently, I'm working on getting them consistently up to 2100. I've hit it two weeks out of four, and not two weeks in a row yet either. I'm not going to give up! I can't believe how much energy I have now compared to a year ago when I was eating under 1000 calories a day. I ate so little then that I considered 2000 calories a major binge and would become physically ill the once a week that I hit that many calories. Once I hit that 1900 a couple of weeks in a row I no longer had the desire to binge, and I haven't since! I have learned so much this year, it's been a crazy roller coaster ride mentally though.

May I quote for the group?:)

I wouldn't worry about the fat grams. As you increase calories the fat grams will increase as well. If you are hungry all the time, you need more food.

I'm not to my goal yet but I have come to love myself and to feed my body. It's much better on this side I promise you. Give into the process.

@DSFfit , considering your workout description you are definitely at least moderate, forget light activity. But you probably are scared of the numbers the calculator are giving you. Don't be afraid, you are burning all that. 1600 is too little, no wonder you are hungry all the time. Increase your calories slowly, go for 1700 for a week, than 1800 for another and so on until you reach your TDEE. Stay there for some weeks so your body can remember what maintenance is and introduce a slow cut. In a nutshell that's a reset.
Being hungry is the way that your body finds to try to make you keep the calories coming. It's a good sign, it shows that the body is changing and the metabolism is increasing.

This post talks about not eating enough calories http://eatmore2weighless.com/not-eating-enough-calories-for-weight-loss/

Tereza
Team EM2WL

The mental part of this is the hardest. Just know that you are loving and healing your body and you deserve that.
Just increasing your calories is a great step.
I'd like to leave you with the quote I have on my profile;
"... the scale can only give you a numerical reflection of your relationship with gravity. That’s it. It cannot measure beauty, talent, purpose, life force, possibility, strength, or love. Don’t give the scale more power than it has earned. Take note of the number, then get off the scale and live your life. You are beautiful!” ~ Steve Maraboli

This process does get easier. Hang on in there, we are here to support you.
Ichel
EM2WL Ambassador and Moderator

Yay for upping the calories, you are doing great!

How are your macros doing? If they are balanced, it does not matter how many grams of fat you are eating, specially if they are healthy fats. The 40-30-30 is my goal on the macros, even thought I've been doing more a 40-35-25. As long as your protein is close to 30%, the other two will fall in place. Eating all the time? Well, it may feel like that and isn't that great? Honestly, it will feel like a chore sometimes, but just eat.

You will use your current weight on the calculators. Then you recalculate every 5 lbs or so. The difference between the calculator results will basically be because of the activity level you are putting. That's the hardest part to figure out, to be honest. You and I are almost as tall and now that I have my metabolism higher I would eat about 2300 to maintain.

Considering that, I'd think that the 2100 TDEE is the more appropriate one for you. The calculators will usually give me less than what I actually eat, but I am way happier eating above them, lol. Right now I am not focused on my weight, I look at my size and body fat %. I am a SAHM and focus on strength training with some 15 minutes HIIT workouts here and there. I do have a Fitibit and when I was wearing it, that was close to the burn it would give me when I added the ST.

Tereza
Team EM2WL

I believe all the calculators call for your CURRENT weight.

Dont worry about being over on fat right now. Your goal right now is to get to TDEE... THEN we will worry about cleaning up the macros:)
And yes, it will feel like you are eating all the time because your not used to getting those cals in. You will adjust, and as you go, you will learn ways of increasing your meals with more cals so you dont eat all the time.

Kelly
EM2WL Ambassador and Moderator

keep trying

@DSFfit Great job! Work the up slowly!

Tereza
Team EM2WL