calories consumed - help!

ChristinaWgettingfit
ChristinaWgettingfit Posts: 37
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone, I've got a question.
Basically, I've started struggling with my weight loss. I think my problem is calories comsumed. I'm not sure how many calories I should be eating. I've been consuming roughly 1200 calories a day, usually a tad bit over, but never under and I just don't know if I should be consuming so little with what I'm doing exercise-wise. Here's some background on me, I'm a 22 year old female, I'm 4' 11" and I'm down to 113.5lbs (I still have huge thigs and a belly) and I'm working out pretty intensely (Jillian Michaels body revolution) 6 days a week. I'm also a nursing major so I'm on my feet a lot when I'm in the hospitals. Unfortunately, I'm not really seeing any results on the scale or measurement-wise. I'm not even concerned about the scale, I'm more focused on measurements but it's just not changing. I'm afraid that I'm entering into starvation mode.
I'm just nervous that if I increase my calorie intake that I'll end up gaining weight. I'm hoping that someone or multiple people can help me out and if they've been in a similar situation give me some insight on how you got out of it and how to keep motivated. It's tough to keep working out and eating well when it feels like nothing is happening.

Thanks,
Christina

Replies

  • nebulinda
    nebulinda Posts: 120 Member
    There are a lot of people that would say that eating 1200 calories a day is not enough. Usually I agree with them, however, you are very short, so you don't require as many calories as most people. Using MFP's calculator, I calculated your BMR to be 1180--you should never go below this number, since this is what your body needs just to function.

    Since you're on your feet a lot, I would suggest setting your activity level to lightly active. Also, eat back your exercise calories. Don't eat back all of them, because MFP notoriously overestimates calorie burn.

    How long have you been trying to lose weight? If you've only been at it a couple of weeks, you probably just need to give it more time. Also, you are already in the healthy BMI range, which will make it much harder to lose weight than a more overweight person. Based on what you've said, I don't think you're in starvation mode (unless you don't eat back your exercise calories--then maybe). It would be useful if you opened up your food diary so people could see exactly what you've been eating.

    My advice is to give it two more weeks so see if anything changes. If not, change it up a little. Try a low carb diet for a few weeks, or a low fat diet. Try eating at maintenance for a few weeks. Try a different workout routine. You'll get it, you just need to not give up.
  • ChristinaWgettingfit
    ChristinaWgettingfit Posts: 37
    I don't usually eat back my calories burned, and I don't rely on MFP for it, I have a HRM. I've been really working towards my goals for 3 months and I've lost 11lbs. I do know that at my current weight it is a lot harder for me to lose the additional weight. I don't think it's my workouts, I switch them up every 2 weeks with the Jillian Michaels Body Revolution.
    I will open up my food diary, I do know that I haven't been eating completely "clean" and I know that is also contributing to my lack of weight/measurement loss.
    Thank you for your response
  • nebulinda
    nebulinda Posts: 120 Member
    Well, 11 pounds in 3 months is a pretty good loss. And I looked through a few days of your diary, and you appear to eat just fine. Eating completely clean 100% of the time isn't crucial, though it will help. God knows I don't eat clean all the time.

    You're not burning ridiculous amounts of calories, so it's not as much a big deal that you don't eat them back. You're always above your BMR, so I doubt it's starvation mode. Try three weeks where you do eat them back to see if that does anything for you. Right now the best advice I have for you is to keep on trying, and experiment with different ways to see if something gets you past this plateau.
  • ChristinaWgettingfit
    ChristinaWgettingfit Posts: 37
    Thank you for your input :)

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