I just want to welcome everybody who have just recently joined. I'm fairly new also. But I just wanted to make sure you all read the stickies that the admins of this group have posted. There is vital information in there that we all should know from the jump when it comes to up-ing your calories. I look forward to sharing this journey with each and every one of you.

Hello everyone! My name is Bobbi and I decided to live a healthier life about two weeks ago. Thankfully I found out about fat2fit radio and this site right off the bat so I haven't had to starve and I've already lost a couple of pounds. Ive decided to eat like the size of person that I intend to become(heard that on the podcast). I have 4 kids of which the youngest is still at home with me. She's 4 and she loves to do my workout DVDs with me! My hope is to be a good example to her and maybe she won't have to go through the ups and downs that I have experienced.

After reading some of the threads on here I know that I need to do some strength training but I've never touched more than a three pound weight in my life so any pointers on how to start are welcomed! I look forward to getting to know you all better!

There is a book called New Rules of Lifting for Women. You might can find it at your local library to check out. If not check out Amazon. I also like CharLean Extreme. Its a dvd program I use that works multiple muscle groups at one time. You need to lift heavy to burn the fat more effectly/efficiently. It won't bulk you up. Oh also some people use strong lifts 5x5 work out. I don't know much about it but you can google it or use the MFP search. There should be a thread on it.

Thanks so much!

HI, finally introducing myself. I started eating more 2 weeks ago. Based on my TDEE my daily goal is set at 1920. I averaged my week out based on 1 rest day per week so my goal would not change daily. Since starting I have only lost .2 since and now my weight is going up. Trying hard to remember that this is normal and I have not actually eaten enough "extra" calories to gain. Hoping to find advice or proof here.

Hi

My name is Candice. I'm a 32 year old mom of 2 boys ages 6 and 4. I am a SAHM who works from home part time. I have lost about 35lbs since last June, the first 8lbs using Weight Watchers and then the rest after I joined MFP in October. I was diagnosed hypothyroid a couple years back and my meds are finally at the right place so I'm actually able to lose weight now. I started exercising 5 days per week back in January, and swapped out 2 days of cardio for strength training/toning about a month ago. I am considering switching to 2 days cardio and 3 days strength soon. I am almost done the C25K program (week 7), and I think once I finish that I'll make the switch and start lifting heavier. Right now I only do 5lb weights with a toning DVD I have, just to get myself started. I increased my calories from 1290 - 1600 net about 3 weeks ago, then this week I bumped up again to 2000 calories (Making sure to net at least my BMR of 1850 on exercise days). I am finding myself satisfied, energized, and happy at this calorie intake

I joined EMTWL because I want to have energy, maintain/increase muscle tone, and be able to sustain any weight loss I am fortunate enough to experience. I have about 85lbs left to go, so I may be one of the bigger gals in the group, but I figure if I can get this right now, maybe I will actually succeed :-) I am trying to get out of the "get there NOW" mindset and rather set myself up for a lifetime of health and fitness

So far I haven't gained since increasing, I'm actually down a couple pounds, but I am prepared for the next 4-6 weeks to be a bit nerve wracking while my body adjusts.

I think the key is try not to stress, trust in the system, come back to the boards and read other encouraging stories of people further along...and RELAX...I think some of the EM2WLer's stress a bit which may impede prgress because of cortisol release. So, you take a nice deep breath when you step on the scale and just remind yourself this is a wonderful journey that will get you to goal...:-)

Hi! I’m Diane and I joined MFP in January 2012. In the past I’ve done Weight Watchers, Lean For Life, Low Carb… and none of those plans were something I could stick with. On MFP I lost 10 pounds in just over a month and then got miserably sick. And I was hungry, getting hungrier every day no matter how much I moved or didn’t move. My initial thinking of “I can stick to this lower calorie plan forever” flew out the window and I needed to find another way to reach my goals. I found this group in March and have been lurking around the boards ever since. I’ve upped my calories and feel like a new woman! (my husband thanks you ) I am starting to strength train (began this week) and I have a long way to go but I’m ready for the challenge.

Hi Everyone,

It was recommended on some of the forums to come check out this group so here I am. I'm struggling to understand exactly how many calories I should be eating everyday, MFP says something much different from everything else and I don't really understand the TDEE and all of that. Maybe someone on here can help me out?

On March 1st I made an entire lifestyle change. I quit smoking, started eating healthy and started exercising. For the last two months I have been exercising 3 times a week two days of cardio for an hour and one day of weight training 30 mins bodypump and 30 mores core training. I am 5'4 and weight 137lbs which is what I weighed before I made all the changes. For the last two months my body weight has been around 140ish before it went back down to around 137. Some days I am back around 140 with water retention.
I can see more muscle definition but no changes in my measurements or weight, though I feel like I look a bit thinner.
My goal is to lose fat as I have a lot of it around my abdonmen thighs and butt I need to lose. I also want to build muscle and increase strength ( just not too much, more for toning once the fat goes away).
I'm obviously not doing something right since I can't actually see any results so that's why I am here.
I am going to copy my BMR and TDEE into this message. Can anyone explain to me what I should actually be eating around?
Thank you SO much in advance for your help!!!!

Height: 5'4
Weight: 137Lbs
Age: 31
Gender: Female
BMR: 1371
TDEE:2531
Goal Weight: 115LBS

Hello! They call me Turbo here. I am a Married 37 year old Mom of two. I began my weight loss journey in January of 2011. I exercise 6 days a week doing Turbo Fire and have been tracking my calories and lost 30 lbs. BUT I have been on a plateau now since October. No inches, No sizes and No weight on the scale. I started out eating 1200 calories plus my exercise calories back. That worked until October. When I started to plateau I upped that to 1620 which was a deficit on MFP of 250 calories.

I have been so frustrated and trying to figure this out for months. I burn anywhere from 400-700 calories in exercise a day. I took a month off from exercise from March to April and didn't gain a lb, I actually lost a few by maintaining a 1620 calorie a day deficit. I began exercising again after the month long break and I immediately put on 4 lbs on the scale..

Today I was re-thinking all of this again and thought, maybe I still am not eating enough. Maybe when I wasn't exercising my body was getting the calories it needed, the minute I started exercising it started holding on for dear life again.

I have had a hard time eating to much. It feel like my body isn't hungry half the time. Anyhow, today I decided to up my calories.

A friend sent me a link to find out my BMR and the calculator gave me the BMR of 1597. I am highly active with exercise and I am busy and not sedentary when I am not exercising.

Here are my stats:
Height: 5'7"
Weight 154
Age 37
BF% 19-20
BMR 1597
TDEE 2200-2500
Goal Weight 140 or to decrease my body fat to look ripped without flexing
Plateau since October
Workout to Turbo Fire 6-7 days a week
Just added running back into my routine. Run 3.1 miles a couple times a week in place of Turbo
Strength training added with free weights and JM Killer butt and thighs video

Can someone tell me how much I should be eating in calories. I set my calories at maintenance which MFP has at 1860 a day. Should I be eating more? Do you think this is why I have plateau'd?

Hello! They call me Turbo here. I am a Married 37 year old Mom of two. I began my weight loss journey in January of 2011. I exercise 6 days a week doing Turbo Fire and have been tracking my calories and lost 30 lbs. BUT I have been on a plateau now since October. No inches, No sizes and No weight on the scale. I started out eating 1200 calories plus my exercise calories back. That worked until October. When I started to plateau I upped that to 1620 which was a deficit on MFP of 250 calories.

I have been so frustrated and trying to figure this out for months. I burn anywhere from 400-700 calories in exercise a day. I took a month off from exercise from March to April and didn't gain a lb, I actually lost a few by maintaining a 1620 calorie a day deficit. I began exercising again after the month long break and I immediately put on 4 lbs on the scale..

Today I was re-thinking all of this again and thought, maybe I still am not eating enough. Maybe when I wasn't exercising my body was getting the calories it needed, the minute I started exercising it started holding on for dear life again.

I have had a hard time eating to much. It feel like my body isn't hungry half the time. Anyhow, today I decided to up my calories.

A friend sent me a link to find out my BMR and the calculator gave me the BMR of 1597. I am highly active with exercise and I am busy and not sedentary when I am not exercising.

Here are my stats:
Height: 5'7"
Weight 154
Age 37
BF% 19-20
BMR 1597
TDEE 2200-2500
Goal Weight 140 or to decrease my body fat to look ripped without flexing
Plateau since October
Workout to Turbo Fire 6-7 days a week
Just added running back into my routine. Run 3.1 miles a couple times a week in place of Turbo
Strength training added with free weights and JM Killer butt and thighs video

Can someone tell me how much I should be eating in calories. I set my calories at maintenance which MFP has at 1860 a day. Should I be eating more? Do you think this is why I have plateau'd?

Hi!

Your BMR is 1624 (fitnessfrog.com). Never eat below this.

Your TDEE (maintenance) is 2469 (fitnessfrog.com) multiply that by 15% = 2098 (cut)

Eat your cut daily. If you burn more than 474 calories from exercise eat the extra calories back to stay above your BMR. I got the 474 by subtracting your cut from your BMR.

Also make sure you are consuming 1 gram of protein per body weight so for you its 154 grams of protein.

You have no idea how grateful I am for you taking the time to reply to this! I am going to give it a whirl. I am at the end of my rope of options. I have tried everything else and cannot seem to break the plateau...This has got to be it....I have not been eating enough. THANK YOU!!! xo

My stats:
30 yrs.
201.8 lbs.
bmr: 1644
Tdee: 2448 (15% cut)
Need to lose 35-40 lbs.
Workout 5 times a week burning 400-500 Cal per workout

Hi I just joined this group a couple of days ago. I turned 30 last September. I'm a sahm to 3 beautiful boys. I have been doing low Cal diets off and on for a lot of years now including the hcg one. I'm so tired of feeling tired all of the time and not having any energy. That is why I decided to check out what eating more to weigh less was all about. I can't wait to start feeling like my old self. I have been eating around 990-1190 (my setting on mfp was 1200) for a while now. I just upped my Cal to 1350 today. I read I should gradually increase my Cal rather than all at once. My bmr is 1644 and my tdee is 2448 (this includes subtracting 15% for weight loss). Does this sound right? Should I be eating more than 1350 right off the bat? I also workout 5 times a week doing MELT IT OFF!! with Mitch Gaylord (it's old. I bought it many years ago. It is a cardio workout but also works on strengthening as you use e medicine ball) and P90X cardio, kenpo and plyometrics. I have seen some small changes in my body but that scale has not been my friend. I would appreciate any advise. :0)

I would at least start at your BMR and then move up from there.