Where am I going wrong?

Based on your stats, your body uses at least 1800-1900 calories per day - if sedentary - before exercise. So yes, if you eat 1200-1400 per day then you will lose weight. For days you exercise, consider allowing yourself an extra 50-100 calories. Personally its very hard to aim for a specific # each day. Having a range makes life easier.

The key is accuracy. Some things can be a little tricky to weigh & log accurately. Such as if you weigh meat raw, be sure an use an entry for the raw item as weight changes during cooking due to moisture cooking out. A food scale is an eye opener. If you find you're needing more mass of food, increase portions of lower cal items like veggies, lean protein.

As for time, it does not matter directly. It can matter indirectly if eating late causes you heartburn or other side effects. My husband has been known to eat large amounts of acid-inducing food, then being up at 3am with heart burn. He knows better but still. Something like that can have a negative effect on your overall health and wellbeing, as sleep is important.

sophieannstowers wrote: »

Thanks everyone, just weighed some fruit I was having for lunch and realised it was probably more in terms of grams than I thought it was. I do think I've been underestimating the amount I've been eating- healthy diet naivety!

In a weird way I feel as though it never occurred to me that you can still overeat, even with healthy food.

Simple solution to this issue after all

Do you think if I do now TRULY stick to 1200 calories with a similar meal plan to what I posted above, plus about 4 hours of cardio a week I'll see results?

Also about the whole 'time' of eating debate I've seen- what are people's verdicts? Does time matter? I have often heard that you shouldn't eat after 7pm etc

kingdomtech wrote: »

Hey Sophie, counting calories is not the main thing. It is important to TIME your calories correctly in the day to help your metabolism. For example, popcorn in the evening may have little calories but you should try to eat ALL your carbs before the evening. Mornings should be HIGH Carb, little protein and fat, midday should be MEDIUM CARBS, MODERATE protein and fat. Try to not eat carbs or have light carbs after lunch (i.e. no pasta, rice, or potatoes for dinner. ALSO the body has a difficult time with HIGH CARB and HIGH PROTEIN so DON'T DO IT. Good luck!

Gosh, that's very odd: I must be a scientific anomaly!

Somehow, I lost 60+ pounds in less than a year, as a li'l ol' lady, and hypothyroid, without timing a single calorie!

It's a miracle . . . .

For me, I find it easiest to just play with what works for me. I eat a steady number of cals around 1600-1700 NORMALLY (except this week lol) and don't worry about trying to calculate exercise cals into it... Gives me normally a big enough deficit to hit my targets and keeps me from starving and being really angry lol

lizzy_satellite wrote: »

kingdomtech wrote: »

Hey Sophie, counting calories is not the main thing. It is important to TIME your calories correctly in the day to help your metabolism. For example, popcorn in the evening may have little calories but you should try to eat ALL your carbs before the evening. Mornings should be HIGH Carb, little protein and fat, midday should be MEDIUM CARBS, MODERATE protein and fat. Try to not eat carbs or have light carbs after lunch (i.e. no pasta, rice, or potatoes for dinner. ALSO the body has a difficult time with HIGH CARB and HIGH PROTEIN so DON'T DO IT. Good luck!

Okaaaaaaaaay. Explain to me then how I lost all my excess weight whilst not giving a flying *kitten* about the timing of any of my meals, not paying attention to anything except calories, and having carbs every evening?

The funny thing is they can't.

They've read that nonsense off some blog or watched some fad youtuber who makes money off the weight loss industry and have decided it is true. They don't have a clue what they are talking about and don't even understand what they are saying.