Should I be adding more calories? Long, sorry!

LeiselEB

My wedding is five months away so I decided to really get myself in gear and lose some weight before my dress fittings. I started counting calories of what I usually eat (without trying to limit anything, just eating as I normally do) just to see where I'm starting from. My average for a week was about 950 calories per day. One night I went out to dinner and had a huge Italian dinner and dessert - I was so full, and my calorie count was only 1470. That all seems REALLY low to me, especially given that people are told to reduce to 1200-1500 per day when trying to lose weight. I'm in good health and while I don't medically need to lose weight, I also am within a healthy weight range and losing weight wouldn't be harmful to me. I'm not in what people call "starvation mode" whatsoever. 

What I can't figure out is why I'm not losing weight already doing my normal activities - I walk for about an hour total each day, and will occassionally do other cardio and strength things (not a fan of running, but I'll dance or just do jumping jacks, ha). With that few calories, you'd think I'd be withering away! 

Should I actually eat more? That seems so counterproductive to me. Should I change my workout routine? 

Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated

Elle1036

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_should-i-be-adding-more-calories-long-sorry?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:9ecc05ef-cbfe-420e-be20-f709d6bd3bf7Post:0e40aaaa-66d9-46b6-b637-7bc69a53570d">Should I be adding more calories? Long, sorry!</a>:
[QUOTE]My wedding is five months away so I decided to really get myself in gear and lose some weight before my dress fittings. I started counting calories of what I usually eat (without trying to limit anything, just eating as I normally do) just to see where I'm starting from. My average for a week was about 950 calories per day. One night I went out to dinner and had a huge Italian dinner and dessert - I was so full, and my calorie count was only 1470. That all seems REALLY low to me, especially given that people are told to reduce to 1200-1500 per day when trying to lose weight. I'm in good health and while I don't medically need to lose weight, I also am within a healthy weight range and losing weight wouldn't be harmful to me. I'm not in what people call "starvation mode" whatsoever.  What I can't figure out is why I'm not losing weight already doing my normal activities -<strong> I walk for about an hour total each day, and will occassionally do other cardio and strength things (not a fan of running, but I'll dance or just do jumping jacks, ha). With that few calories, you'd think I'd be withering away</strong>!  Should I actually eat more? That seems so counterproductive to me. Should I change my workout routine?  Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated :)
Posted by LeiselEB[/QUOTE]

Yeah, you should aim for at least 1200 calories a day.

I was really frustrated when I went almost two months without losing a pound when I was religiously watching my diet and exercising daily.  Then I did the math and discovered I was only eating around 1000 calories a day.  You'd think the weight would have been melting off, but no.  The thing is, our bodies are amazingly good at conserving energy when they need to be.  We're built to survive periods of starvation.  We can burn very few calories if our bodies decide that's necessary for some reason.

So I upped the calories so that I eat between 1200 and 1500 every day.  It's been a little over a week, and I'm down a pound and a half.  That's the magic range, apparently.  Aim for that every day.

Good luck!

doeie04

I was also not eating enough. When I made sure I ate 1200 calories a day (I am only 5'2") I started to see my weight drop. Slowly, but it is coming off.

You should go to a site like Myfitnesspal.com and see what you should be eating daily to lose what you want. It takes into account your weight now, activity level and your height. It also lets you track all your calories.

doeie04

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_should-i-be-adding-more-calories-long-sorry?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:238Discussion:9ecc05ef-cbfe-420e-be20-f709d6bd3bf7Post:0e40aaaa-66d9-46b6-b637-7bc69a53570d">Should I be adding more calories? Long, sorry!</a>:
[QUOTE]My wedding is five months away so I decided to really get myself in gear and lose some weight before my dress fittings. I started counting calories of what I usually eat (without trying to limit anything, just eating as I normally do) just to see where I'm starting from. My average for a week was about 950 calories per day. <strong>One night I went out to dinner and had a huge Italian dinner and dessert - I was so full, and my calorie count was only 1470</strong>. That all seems REALLY low to me, especially given that people are told to reduce to 1200-1500 per day when trying to lose weight. I'm in good health and while I don't medically need to lose weight, I also am within a healthy weight range and losing weight wouldn't be harmful to me. I'm not in what people call "starvation mode" whatsoever.  What I can't figure out is why I'm not losing weight already doing my normal activities - I walk for about an hour total each day, and will occassionally do other cardio and strength things (not a fan of running, but I'll dance or just do jumping jacks, ha). With that few calories, you'd think I'd be withering away!  Should I actually eat more? That seems so counterproductive to me. Should I change my workout routine?  Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated :)
Posted by LeiselEB[/QUOTE]

That does seem really low. What else did you eat that day? What did you eat at the restaurant? Usually pasta is around 200 calories for one cup of it uncooked, and that isn't including the sauces and dessert you ate. Maybe you are counting it wrong? (Not to be mean! Maybe you are not counting right and eating more than you think?)

LeiselEB

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_should-i-be-adding-more-calories-long-sorry?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:9ecc05ef-cbfe-420e-be20-f709d6bd3bf7Post:f775363d-15f7-41a6-a917-7042696db32a">Re: Should I be adding more calories? Long, sorry!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Should I be adding more calories? Long, sorry! : That does seem really low. What else did you eat that day? What did you eat at the restaurant? Usually pasta is around 200 calories for one cup of it uncooked, and that isn't including the sauces and dessert you ate. Maybe you are counting it wrong? (Not to be mean! Maybe you are not counting right and eating more than you think?)
Posted by doeie04[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>No, you're not being mean, don't worry! I appreciate the responses.</div><div>
</div><div>I've been using an app on my phone to calculate things and set goals based on my height and weight, but also keeping track myself in case the values provided in the app sound a little off - that particular day I'd had yogurt for breakfast and a turkey sandwich for lunch. At the restaurant I had spinach canneloni, foccacia and olive oil - dinner plus dessert and drinks came out to about 1190 and with breakfast and lunch I was still under 1500. </div><div>
</div><div>I mean I'm counting everything correctly, and I know that I'm not letting myself go hungry, so it's a bit frustrating to not be seeing any results. I'm 5'10" and 130 lbs, and I'd love to get down to 120 (or at least lose some inches from my waist), so it just seems crazy to me to have to eat MORE to get there, ya know? </div><div>
</div>

J&K10910

You're 5'10" and 130 lbs?

Well...you  might not be able to lose more.  You not losing is probably your body's way of saying "Hey, we like this weight.  Cut it out!"  That's really quite thin, and you're really not fueling yourself properly.

If you'd like to make everything look a bit better without focusing on what the scale says, I would suggest some good weight training.  You'll shape up your muscles, tighten everything up, and you won't have to lose any more weight to do it. 

sparkles776

Completely agree with PP. You are already very thin. I would do some weight training, instead of trying to lose weight. I am trying to get to 120 lbs, but I am only 5'3.

dogsandfrogs

130lbs for 5'10" sounds really low to me, but I'm no doctor...

I do want to point out that even though you may not feel like you're in starvation mode, your body may think differently.  For basic functions, the body needs at least 1200 calories a day.  If you're not taking that in, your body will go into starvation mode and start holding onto every little scrap of energy it can get its hands on.  Some people who have trouble losing weight will actually start dropping pounds once they up their calorie intake.

As J&K said, it may be worth paying less attention to a scale and more to how you feel about your body and how things fit you.  I've actually gained weight since starting to work out, but it's because I didn't have much excess fat to lose and I started building muscle.  I'm much more comfortable and happy with the way I look now (my waist actually goes IN now!), but I put on 5lbs in the process.

quiggels219

I say eat more - it sounds crazy but eating more I think will help, it did for me. Honestly I counted calories my whole life and at 5'2 was always hovering around 128-130. Then I had a bf years ago (who was crazy but did help the way I look at food, his one good thing haha) anyways he hated me counting calories all the time and said I bet if you stop and ate more you would see the results you want. Well he was such a nag I finally gave in and just stopped for about a month and it worked! I used to count and limit myself to 1000 a day and sometimes less and I worked out 6-7 times a week and I was 128-130, now I eat about 1400 a day and work out 3-4 times a week and I'm 118-120. 10 lbs by adding food. So I know my story is kinda longish for the response and you didn't ask for it, but I know i didn't really believe eating more could help so I thought I'd give you my example

dplett

I totally agree with PPs.  130 and 5'10 seems easily low to me.  I don't want to make any unseen judgements because I know that everyone's body shapes and types are very different.  I would also agree that your body probably thinks it needs to be conserving every calorie it gets if you are only taking in 950. 
I would encourage you to focus on toning up rather than just losing weight.  I am 5'8 and hovering between 135-138.  I would like to take that down a bit but am mostly happy with where I'm at.  Instead of focusing on losing weight I am trying to tone up, focusing on different areas of my body two or three times a week (arms, legs abs, etc.) as well as keeping up my cardio. 

LeiselEB

I'm at a healthy weight right now, and would still be at a healthy weight if I were to lose a few pounds. I've spoken with my doctor about my weight before, and it's not an issue - I haven't been able to see her since I've been trying to get in shape, however. I'm thinking she'll be able to offer an informed opinion on this, but I thought I'd get some input from others in the meantime. I already do weight training and have seen considerable improvements in that regard, but there is still fat over the muscle I'm building and I know that cardio/healthy diet is what gets rid of fat. That's kind of where I'm at.

I'll try adding more calories and see if that makes a difference - it's just so weird to me that I should be eating more in order to lose weight! I'll see what happens though, thanks so much!

doeie04

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_should-i-be-adding-more-calories-long-sorry?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:238Discussion:9ecc05ef-cbfe-420e-be20-f709d6bd3bf7Post:cfb66c01-9081-41b1-917b-f98228c45121">Re: Should I be adding more calories? Long, sorry!</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm at a healthy weight right now, and would still be at a healthy weight if I were to lose a few pounds. I've spoken with my doctor about my weight before, and it's not an issue - I haven't been able to see her since I've been trying to get in shape, however. I'm thinking she'll be able to offer an informed opinion on this, but I thought I'd get some input from others in the meantime. I already do weight training and have seen considerable improvements in that regard, but there is still fat over the muscle I'm building and I know that cardio/healthy diet is what gets rid of fat. That's kind of where I'm at. I'll try adding more calories and see if that makes a difference - it's just so weird to me that I should be eating more in order to lose weight! I'll see what happens though, thanks so much!
Posted by LeiselEB[/QUOTE]

Good luck! Let us know how it is going!