After much research and pulling of hair, I've decided that eating too little is causing me some problems. My journey has taken years and I've probably been netting under BMR for a lot of it. My problem is that when I try adding more calories, I immediately gain weight and freak out (a story I'm sure most of you can relate to) so I don't stick with it. After gaining and losing the same 5 pounds since Christmas with a lifting program, the completion of C25K and a decent amount of cycling, I'm ready to bite the bullet and try something different.

Just want to check in and get some advice on the numbers:

I'm 37F, 5'8" and 158

I've had MFP set to 1300 and generally eat almost all of my exercise calories back (which I measure with a Polar FT4 HRM). I've /gained/ 3 pounds in the last 7 months and haven't lost inches or clothing sizes, despite eating very well and exercising religiously. I'm apple shaped and while I'm getting to be ok with my arms and legs, I have a lot of fat in my midsection, so there's definitely at least 15 pounds left to go.

I lift weights MWF for about 45min, go on a brisk walk every night after dinner, and usually ride my bike 10-15 miles a couple times a week. Assuming my exercise level is "moderate", Scooby is giving me these numbers:

BMR: 1481
TDEE: 2295
15% reduction: 1951

If I plug in "light" for exercise they change to:

1481
2036
1731

Recommendations of where to start? I was thinking 1900...is that still not enough to reset? Also, do you guys suggest adding calories slowly (say 100 per week), or just doing it all at once?

Tips, tricks, support, etc welcome. Thanks everyone

Well, I'm starting my life today, I guess. I reset my mfp calorie goals from a ridiculously low amount to my TDEE (averaged from a few different web sites). I'm going to work on my netting at least my BMR over the next couple of weeks, as well. I'm anticipating a slow process as I'm coming from a place of negative net and extreme caloric restriction. But, I tell ya', looking at my diary today.... I keep feeling almost.... shocked... THERE'S SO MUCH FOOD!

Yeah, going to be slow and tough. But I'm committed to eating what my body needs and right now I'm trying to only think of that benefit, not even trying to see the potential weight loss down the road.

Anyway, I guess I was just looking for a place to voice this. To say hey, I'm starting. Now. A wee bit of out-in-the-open goal setting never hurt, right?

Thanks!!

The whole journey has been more like 5 years. The plateau has been 7 months

2300...I really can't even wrap my head around a number like that. All I see is weight piling on. Right now if I have a fun weekend and go 1000/2000 over 1300 for one DAY the scale is up 3 pounds the entire next week. I shudder to think what might happen if I stick to that for a couple months. How the hell do you let go of the fear?

P.S. MFP is telling me that maintenance for my age/height/weight is 1820. Why such a big disparity between here and what Scooby's calculator is telling me? Anyone have any experience with using one set of numbers vs the other?

It is hard to to imagine at first. When I was eating 1500ish calories a day and found this philosophy I went all the way up to 2300 (that was my cut value). Now I'm eating 2600 on maintenance. I had the same fears. You will very likely see a gain, maybe even for several weeks. This is a HUGE test of patience and faith that this is the right way to go. The best thing you can do is read through the information until the logic clicks and you truly feel that this is the best way for you to go. Stick around this thread. Everyone is super supportive.

As far as the discrepancy, there's different calculation methods out there. Personally I don't trust MFP's numbers as it tells me I should be gaining weight when I manually enter my calorie goal. You will find a bit of difference between various online calculators. The best thing to do is just to pick one and stick to it. Consistency is key!

What she said:)
Its a huge mental game. You have to be willing to accept that there will be gains in both scale and likely inches. You will have days where you want to throw in the towel and go back to your low cal diet. You will have days where you will cry and not have a clue why you are doing this. But one morning, the cloud will settle, you will realize just how much better you feel, how much better you sleep, how much better your stress levels are, and you will realize the scale does not have control over you anymore.
Have faith. You will be amazed how much food you can eat again:)... I jumped from 1400 to 2800 on maintenance.. it feels great!:) And knowing that I will never again have to starve myself on 1400 or lower, that I can enjoy myself and have an occasional treat or "overage" day and not feel guilty... I WONT HAVE TO FEEL GUILTY ABOUT EATING!!! Isnt that what we all want?:)

The reset is like the spiritual journey through the beginning of your new weight loss path. You will come out on the other end so much more focued and refreshed about things:)

^^^^^^THIS!!!!! This journey is about so much more than the weight gain which will happen - and the fact is - you eventually welcome the gain because it means that you are beginning to treat your body with kindness & to feed it what it needs to repair.

My journey is a bit different - the first few weeks I was HAPPY!!!! I got to eat & I was feeling great - had so much energy and my workouts were so much more fulfilling. Sure I had some bloat & uncomfortablness but I expected that - and I learned what to expect as the weeks past because of this thread.

I have never stuck with any one "diet" for 8 weeks - and I am excited to say that I am now entering my 8th week - up 5 pounds and some of my clothes I won't see until next summer....BUT I am happy and more conscious about my food choices....

Stick with it -- 8 weeks is nothing....oh and throw out the scale for the first 4 weeks -- best decision I ever made.....