Hi girls, how are you? My name is Tess, and I have dieted my whole life! I have read every diet, and I cannot handle the crazy ones.
I started to to basic calorie counting (on a program on my Ipod) upped the walking a little, and lost the 20 pounds I had put on in my early 20's. I have just started toning exercises (abs, arms, butt, quick ten mins cardio)
I found with the calorie counting, that if I eat over 1200 cals (that's with walking to work, burns about 180 cals) that I put on 200g's. Doesn't sound much, but over a week, that's 1.4kgs or around 3 pounds.
I do not eat much during the day, I am too busy most of the time (might eat 400 cals, say protein drink/yoghurt or banana for breakfast, peanut butter on wholegrain ryvita crackers, carrot sticks and hummus etc) but eat a pretty normal vegetarian dinner (lots of protein). If I have also walked home, I will have a small dessert.
So, my question is (you all seem to smart!) Is less than 1200cals ok (I am 5'3 and 118lbs) to be my everyday amount. I know I need to try and spread it out better during the day, would eating it in smaller meals, more often, really increase my metabolism enough to eat more cals every day? Or would it not really make a huge difference?
Thanks for any advice you girls have. I am a little worried to change my eating habits heaps, incase I start to put on a lot of weight! I am happy with how much I weigh, so only concerned about maintenance.