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Guess what my dr told me today?

0AmyMarie0
0AmyMarie0 Posts: 315
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
...You need to eat more.

I started trying to lose weight after gaining a bunch due to thyroid issues. When I first started, I was pretty much completely inactive, and had a desk job. My body was too exhausted and drained to do anything. My dr told me to do a 1200 calorie diet until my medication kicked in.

Problem is, I never UPPED my calories. Now, working out around 5 days a week, and when I'm not working out, I'm busy gardening or playing with the kids, 1200 is NOT ENOUGH. I lost 17 lbs fairly quickly, but now I haven't lost anything in over 3 weeks. I am tired, my hair is falling out, feeling depressed. I thought I needed my thyroid dosage upped a bit. NOPE. I need to fuel my body!

He didn't give me an answer of how much I should up my calories though, he just told me to add more fruits, vegetables, and protein to my diet. That's basically what my diet is already, but he wants me eating more of it. What do you think I should hit as a calorie goal? I am 27, 5'2", 132 lbs, work out 5 days a week. Is there a calculator I can look at for that?

Replies

  • Vermilla
    Vermilla Posts: 348
    Yes, under the tools section here on MFP. Also, you can google it and get lots of them.
  • SuperSexyDork
    SuperSexyDork Posts: 1,669 Member
    www.fat2fitradio.com

    Try the BMR calculator. It will determine your BMR and help you decide how much to eat depending on your activity levels/how much you want to lose.

    Also, don't worry if your weight fluctuates up when your first up your calories... I'm doing it about 300 calories at a time (from around 1200-1500 and I want to get up to the 1900 that MFP recommends for me) and the scale told me that I gained 5 lbs in the middle of the week but when I weighed in today I was down another total pound. It will take a few weeks after you up your calories to see results.

    There is also a group on here called Eat More, Weight less. I'd check that out if I were you.
  • lizard053
    lizard053 Posts: 2,344 Member
    I'd go with 200 more to start. Give that a couple weeks. If you aren't doing better, up another 200. Go slowly, as at first it might cause a gain! Just your body's natural reaction to getting more fuel after not having enough for a long time. As it realizes it will continue to get this amount the weight should start dropping again.
  • mrmanmeat
    mrmanmeat Posts: 1,968 Member
    Eat more. Weigh less.
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    www.fat2fitradio.com

    Try the BMR calculator. It will determine your BMR and help you decide how much to eat depending on your activity levels/how much you want to lose.

    ^this this this this this. Or any TDEE tree calculator really:
    http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html

    I'm going to say ~2151 calories give or take...depending how hard those workout sessions are. If they're hard and 5 days a week for 45 minutes, then it'll likely be more

    My Sedentary value on www.fat2fitradio.com still had me loosing a pound a week. So it's likely large then this.

    And incase you're about to say what most everyone else says, no, 2000 is not a large number. It's what most nutritional recommendations are based on.
  • 0AmyMarie0
    0AmyMarie0 Posts: 315
    Thank you everyone :) My workouts are hard some days, some days not. Lately not as hard as normal because I've been so tired!
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    There is a calculator on MFP but generally speaking you should be consuming ANYWHERE between your BMR and TDEE. (this includes any calories burned with exercise)

    Use the katch-mcardle formula (that's the name I think?) that takes your body fat % into account for the most accurate calculation of your BMR.

    Do not eat below your BMR (as I could almost guarantee you are) and create a SMALL/moderate deficit.

    Best of luck!
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    There is a calculator on MFP but generally speaking you should be consuming ANYWHERE between your BMR and TDEE. (this includes any calories burned with exercise)

    Use the katch-mcardle formula (that's the name I think?) that takes your body fat % into account for the most accurate calculation of your BMR.

    Do not eat below your BMR (as I could almost guarantee you are) and create a SMALL/moderate deficit.

    Best of luck!

    ^This
  • 0AmyMarie0
    0AmyMarie0 Posts: 315
    Thank you everyone :)
This discussion has been closed.

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