Women who eat more than 1800 calories a day !!!!

bumping the new thread! I love checking this out everyday to see what new information is shared!

Yep, Me too!

The longer I do this, the more I'm convinced that scales are completely useless.

I went on maintenance in October at 1700 plus exercise calories when I reached 126 pounds, and slowly over the next 3-4 months (including the winter holidays and an injury), went up to 133. One pound was during January when I pretty much took the entire month off while I recovered from my stress fracture and stopped logging my food. But going by measurements, photos and how clothes fit, I was smaller and tighter at 133 than I was at 125. So I had no interest in losing weight.

In February, I started logging my food and exercising again, easing back into running by starting C25K, with my adjusted maintenance goal of 1730 plus exercise calories. By the end of February, I was down 1 pound. By March 10th, two weeks later, I'd lost two more, so I was 130 pounds.

Last week, I increased my calorie goal, changing my settings from lightly active to active (I'm a housewife, artist and web publisher... I'm not all that active when I'm not exercising), with a new goal of 1840. I netted over 1800 every day this week, possibly more because on weekends, I don't log my food (and pigged out on half price appetizers at Applebees on Saturday night)... and I'm down another pound.

Bizarre.

OK, y'all. I just can't keep this to myself. Since we all seem to be ladies posting here, I hope this doesn't offend anyone (I'll probably take it down soon anyway).

I've been making an effort to eat back all my exercise calories, for a total intake of anywhere between 1700-2000 calories for the past month (and I keep track of calories burned during my strength sessions as well as cardio). I seem to be maintaining more than losing, although occasionally, I'll lose a half a pound here or there. In the past 5 months, I've only lost a total of 6 pounds.
Now, if I were going by the scale alone, I would be discouraged at my lack of progress. Even though I'm feeling pretty good where I am and even though I can see progress in other ways, I've still been wondering if maybe I should cut my calories a bit. I tend to second-guess myself.
But I took another set of progress pics yesterday to compare. Although the angle and lighting is a bit different, I am pleased enough with the progress I can see to stay my course.



(I keep staring at that 2nd picture. I can't believe it's me. I never thought I would be able to look like that again after children. )

All I can say is , "WOW!!!" You look like a totally different person!

Ok - update - I increased my calories from 1300 to 1500 last week and I have more energy for my workouts, but I have gained 2 lbs since. I know I said I was going to give it two weeks and not freak out, but ... I'm kinda freaking out.... Somebody PLEASE talk me down - I really want to cut my calories back again. HELP!!!!! I have this inner dialogue going on - half of me thinks that if I give it another week, it will be ok and I'll go back down, the other half thinks that everyone is different and I shouldn't calculate my calories on what works for everyone else.

Stick with it a bit longer!

I've been eating 1800 for a week now and I have much more energy already.

I know I don't want to eat 1400 calories for the rest of my life and knowing I never have to again makes me feel soooo good!!

I'm eating 1800-1900 cals per day and maintaining at 125 lbs!

This makes me want to bang my head against a wall. I'm eating the same amount and am no where near 125. Even working out 10 times a week. GRRRR!

I am 5'9, 215lbs - 51 years old, and have just in the past two weeks upped my total calories eaten from 1500 - 1600 to 2100 - 2400 calories per day... This includes eating most of my exercise calories (previously I would only eat about 40 - 50% of them)

This has decreased my daily calorie deficit from over 1100 per day to around 600 / 700 per day (as measured with my Bodymedia Fit) , and I have seen a 7 lb loss in two weeks on the scale (this is after a 4 month plateau)

I know my losses will get smaller - but as long as I see some movement I will be happy!!

I try to eat between 1800-2200. I should eat 2200 though. I'm trying to gain weight. So far, I'm seeing more muscle development, just gotta keep getting the calories in.

Ok - update - I increased my calories from 1300 to 1500 last week and I have more energy for my workouts, but I have gained 2 lbs since. I know I said I was going to give it two weeks and not freak out, but ... I'm kinda freaking out.... Somebody PLEASE talk me down - I really want to cut my calories back again. HELP!!!!! I have this inner dialogue going on - half of me thinks that if I give it another week, it will be ok and I'll go back down, the other half thinks that everyone is different and I shouldn't calculate my calories on what works for everyone else.

I am not sure what others have responded but I question whether 1500 calories is enough to get your metabolism going again. Yes I think it is wise to up slowly but I would think that unless you are very sedentary and very short 1500 wouldn't convince your body to speed up the metabolism. I guess it depends on how long you were eating below your BMR and what your BMR is though. 1500 has not worked well for me in the past. I thought originally it was too high and yes for a while 1340 worked well. Now I am wondering if it wasn't too low since when I started here I was already exercising regularly. I am now at 1700 and am maintaining and may be slowly losing. I am wondering if to get my metabolism going I may have to up it to maintenance for a while. I am just a bit above my BMR. Just my initial reaction.

OK, y'all. I just can't keep this to myself. Since we all seem to be ladies posting here, I hope this doesn't offend anyone (I'll probably take it down soon anyway).

I've been making an effort to eat back all my exercise calories, for a total intake of anywhere between 1700-2000 calories for the past month (and I keep track of calories burned during my strength sessions as well as cardio). I seem to be maintaining more than losing, although occasionally, I'll lose a half a pound here or there. In the past 5 months, I've only lost a total of 6 pounds.
Now, if I were going by the scale alone, I would be discouraged at my lack of progress. Even though I'm feeling pretty good where I am and even though I can see progress in other ways, I've still been wondering if maybe I should cut my calories a bit. I tend to second-guess myself.
But I took another set of progress pics yesterday to compare. Although the angle and lighting is a bit different, I am pleased enough with the progress I can see to stay my course.



(I keep staring at that 2nd picture. I can't believe it's me. I never thought I would be able to look like that again after children. )

Wow! What an inspiration. I guess a big part of the worry for me right now is I am in a weight loss contest at work that ends the last weekend in April. I feel like having the contest in the back of my mind is a bad motivator for me because I know that if I drop my calories and stop exercising - I'll win the contest. I'm just going to keep my head in the game and do what I'm doing - I may win the contest anyway. Going to keep my head in the game and feel better for it.

Thank you everyone for all the feedback! You guys are awesome. I really love this site.

I can relate to this. I am moderating a weight loss challenge in my group. I took it over since the past moderator was having some health issues and couldn''t do it. It is a great group of MFPals but I feel like for now I just need to get my metabolism going and not focus on weight loss yet. It is almost over but they are already talking about the next one. I am thinking about what to say. I love the group but weight loss challenges really don't work for me I have decided.

Femtec, it might take a little time to adjust. What are you doing for exercise?
I am planning to start a 3x5 lifting program 3 days per week, but I was going to follow the calorie guidelines of the New Rules of Lifting for Women:
1. Step 1 - weight in kg
2. resting metabolic rate - run this equation: 795 + (7.18 x body weight in kilograms) = resting metabolic rate
3. Step 3 - body mass index - there's a table in the book, so if you don't know your BMI, give me your height (imperial measurements) and your weight (in pounds).
4. Daily activities multipliers - If your BMI is under 25, your multipliers are: a) no workout = 1.6, b) active workout day = 1,8, c) strenuous work and active workout day = 2.0. HERE IS WHAT YOU EAT: on a non workout day, multiply your Step 2 number by 1.6 and on a workout day, multiply your Step 2 number by 1.8. Those are your calories (for non-workout and workout days, respectively).
5. Eat like that for ONE MONTH. Then, you can add in a small deficit, perhaps 300 calories per day.

So, going to try it for one month even though it seems really high-1800 for me on rest days!

What are the multipliers if your BMI is above 25?