Training making me RAVENOUS

aikilady
aikilady Posts: 35 Member
edited November 17 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm sorry for whatever reason I keep trying to post and my fitness pal doesn't post it. Really irritating. Anyways… I train jujitsu two-3 times per week plus do strength and conditioning three times per week, and a couple cardio sessions. I wait tables on the weekend and a very active throughout the day. I'm currently trying to stick to 1800 cal per day maybe 2000 on a heavy training day. My fit bit says I burn like 2500 cal or more per day (I have the heart rate version), but I know they exaggerate.
I weigh 158 pounds and I'm 5 foot seven. Very athletic… So just Vanity weight.
My training makes me so hungry though… I don't get hungry if I ate about 2500 cal per day… But then I don't lose weight either.
My macros are pretty balanced and I measure and weigh everything I eat… really frustrating. My goal weight is 155. I was literally stuck at 162 for weeks and weeks… And only started dropping when I cut my calories. I just don't think I can drop my calories any lower with this amount of training.
My fitness pal says to eat 1540 cal without exercise to lose weight… So I'm eating most of my exercise calories back. I feel like I'm doing everything right and my weight loss is excruciatingly slow. How in the heck do other women who are 5 foot seven weigh like 135 pounds or less? Do they starve themselves? Just frustrated.

Replies

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Yeah...that's why I don't typically train when I'm dropping weight...I typically do a moderate amount of exercise when losing...enough to maintain a solid base, but not at a level such as training for an event or race.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Don't compare yourself to other women. They are probably not as active as you, and/or have smaller frames, etc.

    You have a few of options. You can play around with your meal timing and/or your macros to see if it helps your hunger. Lighter earlier in the day so you can eat more after training, more protein or more fat, etc. Or what if you shot for 2250? Somewhere in the middle. You say you won't lose at 2500 but 1800 is a lot less than 2500. There's middle ground somewhere. You could also cut back on your training a bit, maybe cut the "couple cardio sessions".

    Also, I'm 5'8.5" and am for 1800 to 2000 PLUS exercise calories. I started at 165 and am now down to 158 (at which I've been stuck for a while but I'm not consistent with logging or hitting my goal).
  • janjunie
    janjunie Posts: 1,200 Member
    Do you maintain on 2500? If you do then you could easily eat 2250 calories and still lose weight so long as you are really strict with your logging (weighing everything in grams).
  • aikilady
    aikilady Posts: 35 Member
    janjunie wrote: »
    Do you maintain on 2500? If you do then you could easily eat 2250 calories and still lose weight so long as you are really strict with your logging (weighing everything in grams).

    I was maintaining 162 on anywhere from 2400 cal per day to sometimes 2600.
    I wasn't logging as strictly either.
    I wanted to drop a little bit of weight to be lighter for jujitsu purposes, so I tightened up my logging.
    It's hard to add calories from jujitsu because who knows what you actually burn?? I've heard anywhere from 1000 cal to more. I usually enter it as 400 to be on the safe side.
    I was super excited to see the scale drop at the first couple weeks I cut down my calories... The scale said 156 and I was thrilled!!!
    But I've been pretty hungry and not able to stick to 1800 cal so I can eating closer to 2400 again and I'm back up to 159.
    So it looks like it's just due to my inability to stick to the lower calorie amount.
    I might drop the cardio sessions.
    I just added them recently because I figured I would rather burn a little bit more through some cardio than restrict more through my diet… But it's not working out because it's just making me hungrier.

  • aikilady
    aikilady Posts: 35 Member
    In the past I have done intermittent fasting… Back when I weighed 185 pounds I was able to drop 20 pounds doing that. I never felt restricted and I was only eating about 1500 cal per day sometimes less.
    But I did not train jujitsu back then, and I did not do strength and conditioning… It was basically just dieting.
    So I'm thinking it's the training that is making me hungry.
    I don't really want to quit training though, I really enjoy it and my strength and health is better than ever.
  • srk369
    srk369 Posts: 256 Member
    aikilady wrote: »
    janjunie wrote: »
    Do you maintain on 2500? If you do then you could easily eat 2250 calories and still lose weight so long as you are really strict with your logging (weighing everything in grams).

    I was maintaining 162 on anywhere from 2400 cal per day to sometimes 2600.
    I wasn't logging as strictly either.
    I wanted to drop a little bit of weight to be lighter for jujitsu purposes, so I tightened up my logging.
    It's hard to add calories from jujitsu because who knows what you actually burn?? I've heard anywhere from 1000 cal to more. I usually enter it as 400 to be on the safe side.
    I was super excited to see the scale drop at the first couple weeks I cut down my calories... The scale said 156 and I was thrilled!!!
    But I've been pretty hungry and not able to stick to 1800 cal so I can eating closer to 2400 again and I'm back up to 159.
    So it looks like it's just due to my inability to stick to the lower calorie amount.
    I might drop the cardio sessions.
    I just added them recently because I figured I would rather burn a little bit more through some cardio than restrict more through my diet… But it's not working out because it's just making me hungrier.

    This could have hurt your rest time and actually make you retain more water for repairs. I think some built in rest time could help with loss and hunger levels.
  • aikilady
    aikilady Posts: 35 Member
    edited April 2017
    I made my diary public..As you can see I eat plenty of food… And I'm not super strict like a bodybuilder. But I am pretty mindful and my macros are usually pretty balanced. Last night I was not supposed to eat that turkey sandwich and apple and popcorn and all of that, but I waited tables all night and was super hungry when I got home and I caved.
    I don't eat a lot of meat so getting my protein usually from eggs, dairy, or shakes, or plant sources.
    I know I have foods on my diary that are not "clean and "… But I figure as long as I stay within my calories it should be fine right? I'm trying to do this for the long-haul and I don't think eating super strict will ever work for me.
    But anyways I did make my diary public so if anyone has tips maybe there's something I haven't tried.
  • Rawr619
    Rawr619 Posts: 82 Member
    What is your body fat percentage? It's hard to determine if you have weight to lose or not as you just describe yourself as very athletic.

    I am 5'5 current weight 143 lbs, goal weight 132 lbs. I rock climb 3 to 4 times a week, two hours at a time. I have a lot of muscle, but I still have fat to lose.

    My body fat percentage in the fall was just under 19%. I have weight to lose, but as you also describe yours, it is vanity weight.

    I do not eat back my exercise calories typically. I feel that MFP and my sgear watch both overestimate calories burned.
  • aikilady
    aikilady Posts: 35 Member
    17sm4sxaoiak.jpg
    I don't know my body fat percentage; I have calipers but don't really know how to use them. All I know is I'm muscular..this pic doesn't show my trouble area which is my thighs. I would also I like my arms to be smaller and more defined...I think I have a light layer. ?
    I would "guess" myself at like 20% bf.
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