Confused about how many calories to eat. Help!

saraht23
saraht23 Posts: 22
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I joined MFP on January 5, 2012. Since that time I have:

- Logged everything I eat each day
- Worked out 30-40 minutes per day 6 days per week (sometimes 7) - mostly circuit training/cardio vids like Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred - right now I'm doing Body Revolution
- Been eating approximately 1,500 cals per day
- Burning approximately 300 cals per day in exercise

Since that time, I have only lost 10 lbs. In nearly 3 months, the weight is coming off so incredibly s-l-o-w-l-y. In the last 3 weeks, I don't think I've lost anything.

In addition to this, I've tried:
- Limiting sodium to 2,500 mgs/day
- Greatly limiting diet sodas (I try to only have one once per week)
- Eliminating alcohol
- Limiting eating out (but trying to make good choices if I must)

I've been working so hard. Giving it my all...and I'm completely frustrated. I understand the weight isn't going to come off over night and I don't mind doing the work, I just thought I'd see better results by now.

My BMR is 1550. I've double checked this online and with a nutritionist. In the last couple of days, I have upped my caloric intake to 1900. My thought is - if I burn around 300 every day in exercise, that brings me to 1600 net cals - over my BMR. On my rest day, I'll just eat 1600 cals.

My question here is - will that finally get me on track? I have GOT to start losing some weight...I'm tried of being chubby.
(Yes, I have seen a change in my measurements, my clothes are fitting better, but still)

Thanks in advance.

Replies

  • ksquared0710
    ksquared0710 Posts: 36 Member
    Healthy weight loss doesn't happen quickly. 2 pounds a week max is usually considered healthy weight loss. I started 2 days after you and have only lost 13 and I think it's a huge success in my book but that's just me. Something is always better than nothing to this optimist.

    Hopefully someone here can tell you more of what you want to hear, but I think you're doing great!

    Keep it up!
  • saraht23
    saraht23 Posts: 22
    Thanks for the encouragement :)
  • lizard053
    lizard053 Posts: 2,344 Member
    Every single person is going to lose their weight differently and at different rates. You are doing the right thing, but it sometimes takes our bodies a while to figure out what it's supposed to be doing. I'm one of those people who tends to lose very slowly. No matter my calorie counts. Right now I'm in a losing phase. I'll stall out again, I know for sure, but that's just how I lose weight!
  • NancyNiles
    NancyNiles Posts: 145 Member
    I lose fairly slowly as well. Pretty much everything you wrote sounds like me, except I burn around 600-700 every OTHER day instead of 300 every day. However, even when I wasn't losing much on the scale, I kept losing inches and in the last 11 weeks (since I started) I dropped a whole pant size.

    Everyone is different and our genetics decide how fast we gain/lose weight, where we keep our weight (apple v pear), etc. Keep up the good work and it will happen for you. At the very least you're eating right and exercising and making healthy choices. Eventually something will shake loose and your body will start cooperating.
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