Help! 14 pounds by Year End

vim_n_vigor
vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
edited October 4 in Health and Weight Loss
All,

Looking for some help getting down 14 pounds by the end of the year. I am struggling with finding my correct calorie zone for losing weight, so hoping to get some input here.

These are my stats:

35 year old female
5'4'' tall
214 pounds

Desk job, but I walk as much as possible during the day - make sure to go to peoples offices instead of calling or im. At home I have a 3 and 5 year old, so I don't get to sit too much after work.

For a female, I have more muscle structure than most other women, that is just how the women in my family are built.

I don't believe that the 1200 calories that MFP gives me is enough. No matter what combinations of food I use to get to 1200 (clean, high protein, etc.) I get headaches, am dizzy and tired.

I beleive my TDEE when I calculated it was around 1400, but I don't really know what to do with that number.

Edited to add: I will not use diet pills, HCG, starvation, or anything along those lines to reach my goal.

Replies

  • wgrape
    wgrape Posts: 40 Member
    I am thinking that you are burning more during a normal day that you thought you were! I had this issue after returning to work from the summer months (I am a teacher). The first week back was awful until I realized I needed to eat more. Try aiming for the 1400 calorie mark and see if that makes a difference...I am willing to bet that the weight starts dropping off again too!

    Good luck!
  • IndigoVA
    IndigoVA Posts: 164 Member
    I'm also 5'4 but currently about 155 lbs. My daily calorie goal is 1370, so yes, 1200 seems very low for you. I would think you'd be closer to 1500.
  • McKayMachina
    McKayMachina Posts: 2,670 Member
    I've been at 1200 since starting at 235 in January and it was enough (I'm 5'2"/5'3"). That said, every body is different! If you need more, eat more! Up your cals by 50 or so/day til you feel like you've found a sweet spot. :)

    Worst-case scenario, you lose a teeeeny bit slower. Worth it to feel good!
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    I'm also 5'4 but currently about 155 lbs. My daily calorie goal is 1370, so yes, 1200 seems very low for you. I would think you'd be closer to 1500.

    How did you get to the 1370 calories? I have played with the settings here and keep getting 1200, or slightly over.
  • IndigoVA
    IndigoVA Posts: 164 Member
    My goals are set to lose 1 lb. per week, and my lifestyle is set to lightly active since I have 2 small kids. You'd probably be lightly active also. I don't think anyone with small children can be sedentary, even if you do have a desk job.
  • FoamyRiver
    FoamyRiver Posts: 276 Member
    I think you need to go back and re-evaluate your lifestyle in the settings. Sounds like you entered that you were a lot more active than you really are. Yes, you may be moving around quite a bit but you may not be burning as many calories as necessary for what you chose. When I started out I was 5'4" and 218lbs and I had 1540 calories every day. Now I'm down 63lbs and I still have more than 1200 calories per day.

    If you aren't already, track your sodium. I think that was a big factor in my weight loss this time around. I've never been a salter but I never realized how much was in canned and frozen products. Also, try decreasing your carbs and increasing your lean proteins for a few days and see how you do. Whenever I hit a plateau, that seems to jump start me again. Other than those suggestions, you're just going to have to play around and see what works for you.

    Best of luck to you!!!
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    I readjusted. We will see how this works! I guess if I feel better with the extra calories, an added bonus will be extra energy for exercise too!
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    I think you need to go back and re-evaluate your lifestyle in the settings. Sounds like you entered that you were a lot more active than you really are. Yes, you may be moving around quite a bit but you may not be burning as many calories as necessary for what you chose. When I started out I was 5'4" and 218lbs and I had 1540 calories every day. Now I'm down 63lbs and I still have more than 1200 calories per day.

    If you aren't already, track your sodium. I think that was a big factor in my weight loss this time around. I've never been a salter but I never realized how much was in canned and frozen products. Also, try decreasing your carbs and increasing your lean proteins for a few days and see how you do. Whenever I hit a plateau, that seems to jump start me again. Other than those suggestions, you're just going to have to play around and see what works for you.

    Best of luck to you!!!

    I had put in sedentary. My problem isn't necessarily a plateau, but that I struggle to find a combination of foods at 1200 calories where I feel good. I don't think that is enough for me, but I don't want to add to a point that I go in the other direction either. My sodium is pretty low with the exceptional day.
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