Every time I plateau people tell me that I'm probably not eating enough so I set my calories and make sure I eat to those calories. WELL... lately I've been at a plateau AGAIN and decided to ask an expert. See... sometimes, women make excuses for our entire sex. I.E. "Oh.. you don't have to do the vacuuming/laundry if you don't feel like it! YOU'RE pregnant!" Or.. "you aren't overweight, you just have 4 boys", and of course, we can always blame ANYTHING on the TOM! I just wanted to double check that under consumption was real and not another excuse we feed each other to some how feel better about the situation.
I e-mailed a friend who is a personal trainer and let her know what my calorie restrictions were and how much exercise I was doing to which she responded this:
Yes! You are under consuming! If you are working out that much you should be eating a lot more. I bet your RMR is more than 1200!! You should probably be closer to 2000. I know that sounds like a lot and it is - but if you are doing all that you are, your body needs it. I wouldn't necessarily hit 2000 but I would definitely get at least 16-1700 in. What happens is, when you are not eating enough your body goes into a "starvation mode" where it will store everything you eat for fear it just won't get enough. That will slow down your metabolism and you can actually get what is called metabolic syndrome (google it - it's pretty scary) You don't want that to happen. So eat a bit more - just make sure they are good calories.
YES!! Finally a real answer to my burning question. Back in January, when I shed more than 13 pounds, I wasn't counting calories at all. I JUST took out the WHITE flour and sugar, limited my carb intake and exercised. I was still eating PLENTY of calories and honestly, it was my best month all year. After that month I got all obsessive about calories and blah blah blah and ended up in this frenzy trying to figure out what I was doing wrong. The real question I always had was HOW MANY?? If I'm counting calories and exercising... HOW MANY STINKIN' CALORIES AM I SUPPOSED TO EAT ALREADY!?!?!?!? I kept hearing to "eat more" but HOW MUCH MORE?!? Well girls. Today I will up my calories to 1650. If I end up ballooning out of control... I will know who to blame! ;o)
11 comments:
interesting - thanks. I thought I would mention that before I started this group I had already decided to lose weight so I went to the bookstore to find a diet plan. What I ended up with is the "Biggest Loser 30-Day Jump Start" book (and I totally hate reality shows). It has good menus and meal plans with recipes - all low fat and no refined carbs. It is based on a 1500 a day calorie plan. It is too much for me cause I am short and don't exercise enough. But it might be perfect for someone else. I still use a lot of breakfast and lunch ideas out of it. Everything has been good and there is a lot of variety AND it is a very healthy eating plan. Anyway, just a resource to possibly check out...
I hear that all the time in Weight Watchers...you have to eat all your points or else you will not lose weight. Sometimes I don't seem to have enough points for the week...and other times I can't finish them and I don't want to eat just to eat.
It is a funny balance...but I really didn't take it that seriously. Maybe it comes more into play when you are working out harder as you are...or you are thinner..as you also are.
I am interested to see what happens when you up your caloric intake!
What is RMR?
on the leannesslifestyle.com (the program they are using at DH's work) the computer told me to eat a 1200 calorie diet. and when i set my goal on the program they want me to eat 1086. i'm not sure if they consider exercise into the numbers or what. but i think that is really low. but i guess that is how they can get you to your goal in 5 weeks! LOL
Ellura- Thanks for the info. I wish I lived closer to you so I could come check out that book!!
Jewel I totally agree with the fluctuation. Some days I'm starving at the end of the day, others I feel like eating my weight in CRAP! RMR is my "resting metabolic rate" basically she is saying that I burn that much just by breathing... like if I sat on my butt all day watching Bravo... I would burn 1200 calories! ;o)
ANDREA!!! We are the same weight! I am not quite 5'3" and if my trainer friend is correct that MIGHT be an appropriate amount of calories to consume if you do nothing. If you are exercising you should probably give youself exercise calories... not as a TREAT but as a way to keep your metabolism going and stay out of that "starvation mode".
Love your posts! Very important... I think my calorie intake should be between 1455 and 1700 -- but it is so hard to be sure exactly where.
thanks for the supportive comment, when I first saw your scale, I thought to myself wow, her start is lower than my goal, but then I read on and saw how far you've come! That is great! Very inspirational. Thanks. I especially love your post today.
That's what I told you! Ha! I was right! Just want to make sure to set the record straight! You heard it from me FIRST!!
Good luck! I hope it doesn't back-fire on you!
Karilyn, a good source that your sister pointed out to me was Livestrong.com. It calculates what your daily calories should be based on your activity level and weight, height, and how much you want to lose. I've found it to be a invaluable tool. Just an FYI! You're awesome.
I've used livestrong.com and loved it.. but it recommends calories on a very broad basis. Livestrong is WHY I was limiting my calories so much and it turned out to be WRONG!
Wow, great job on the loss so far. You are an inspiration for sure!!
I’m going to write about this on my blog and tell you what my hubby recommends (he’s a personal trainer that specializes in nutrition). But I will say this. I’m burning on average 3500-3700 calories a day right now and he just put me on a menu that I am eating 3700 calories. EVERY DAY!!!! That’s 40 grams of protein and between 63 & 72 grams of carbs, plus fat (I’m not sure the exact grams.) at every meal (that’s 6 times a day) How many of you think that’s crazy? Last week I lost 5.2 lbs… I’ll try to get something written tomorrow about why. But for now I’ve got to get some sleep! Notjusttalkinganymore.blogspot.com
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