Would changing how I eat help my workouts

So I am thinking about upping my calories to the 1800-2000 (from around 1600) range because I feel like I am constantly thinking about what I eat, how many calories, etc, and it gets tiring...I am assuming that this is ok because I strength train 2-3x a week and do cardio another 2-3x a week and am 19....

what I want to know is that if this amount is still ok for my goals of losing that extra troublesome body fat and getting stronger, I don't want to lose weight really, just get rid of some fat around my thighs and hips....I know my trainer wants me to eat a bit more but I'm afraid I won't look any different since well I dont know...I think I just need some reassurance...maybe just try it for a week and see what happens?

and i guess my main question...would this help me for my goals? is eating too little sorta counterproductive?

also....I put this in fitness rather than weightloss since I want to become more fit and more fit-looking...not lose weight...but mods can move if that isn't the right place

thanks!!

I think it's a good idea, and you should listen to your trainer.  I would give it more like a month though.  There's too much variation in weight from day-to-day or even week-to-week to only try it for a week. 

I don't know your stats, but if your trainer is suggesting, it's likely needed, especially if you are not trying to lose weight. 

Yes, it makes a huge difference, but you need to do some research on what types of fuel you need to add to your diet.  You need some carbs around 30-40 mins. before any kind of workout.  Just 75-100 calories' worth will do.  Then, you need something with protein, carbs and tiny little bit of fat afterwards.  The quantity seems to depend on how much, how intense and what type of exercise you do.  You should do some research about it. 

My own story is that while training for my first half marathon six years ago, I did not fuel (eat) properly before my training sessions and the actual half marathon and had a difficult time maintaining weight, performing well and had a lot of stomach problems, such as constant indigestion.  The next time around, I got smarter about taking the right types of nutrients (carb/ protein) before and after workouts, and feel a 1000% better and the workouts and daily life are so much better.  I also started at around 160-165 spring 2008, dropped down to 135 and maintained ever since then.  I am actually at 132 this morning because of good fuel timing and better nutrition.  I'm not perfect at all, but I can at least share this much.  :)

Ok I think I will try to up it a bit, but by using healthy things like some more protein, etc, and some good fats...i'm just hoping I don't gain; yeah my trainer really wants me to eat more so I will try hard

yeah and I am hoping I'll more energy as well

lets hope it works

I think I also sort of answered my own question...the last 2 days I have been feeling so burnt out and I think it's because I just simply haven't been providing my body with enough food...my only other question is that at work I often can't eat for 6-8 hours at a time...should I like load up on calories somehow before or after...or make up for it the next day because work days are always way too low...but I don't want to feel like I need to pig out to make up for it...does that make sense

and does 2000 seem about right? I know that bcm calculator says way more but its the only one i can find that says so, all the other ones give me around 2000ish or so...the more i try to learn about this the more i get confused because then I see all these like stars who workout, have great bodies, but don't eat a lot and i get confused about what is right, etc and then i come here and everyone says to eat more then I go and look at the athlete thread on the young calorie counter forum and all these kids are eating less than 2000, and yeah....so many opinions i don't know what is right anymore!!!

Well, I don't know all of the answers, but I can help you out with the long work days.  I learned from The End of Overeating that different types of nutrients leave the stomach at different rates.  Fats and protein stay in your stomach longer.  I think fat exits at 2 calories per minute, while protein exits at 4 calories per minute.  Because I work at dinner time and evenings, I usually eat a very high protein dinner around 3 or so and it keeps me full or at least not terribly hungry for at least three for four hours.  You might try to eat one and a half chicken breasts before work and see if that holds you.  It will also bump up your calorie intake to a more normal level.  If you can combine a protein with a higher fiber such (cheese stick and apple, carrot sticks and tiny bit of peanut butter, boiled egg and slice of whole wheat toast, yogurt and fiber one) then you will stay full longer and up your intake in a very healthy way.

I would really appreciate it if you would come back to this thread at the end of the month and tell us how it worked out for you. I have a similar routine (and I'm also the same age as you). I've been trying to eat 1500 calories a day and keep up my 3x's a week weight training and 2 to 4 x's a week cardio sessions, and I have no energy since I started cutting calories. But losing fat is a very big priority for me. I'd like to see what your results are like.

apfelkuchen:  that's a good idea...my issue is more i just don't get hungry, it's like after a certain point i just lose the desire to eat and if i get home at 11 the last thing i want to do is eat..i just want to shower and go to sleep...but that is a good idea and i'll try having a higher calorie meal before that has more protein than i normally eat, thanks for the tip!

danaofdoom: it seems like we have really similar routines, cool! yeah I had been doing fine on 1500 a day for the last 2 or 3 weeks (i averaged almost exactly 1600 over 21 days...some days a lot less because of work, a few days more because of restauarants, etc)...and it is only the last 3 days where all of the sudden its become incredibly hard to do, i don't know why..maybe it's catching up to me...but in some ways i want to push through it since i want to get rid of the extra fat and other ways im afraid maybe it's too much on my body, etc...i ate around 2000 today because i was just so tired...i am going to try to hit more around 1800-2000 (i think...still considering it...maybe if i sleep well then my 2 or 3 day difficulties will go away)...but yeah im just wondering if im hurting myself since im so tired, etc...ill try to let you know what happens!! and what i decide to do starting tomorrow morning and i'll talk to my trainer and see if he thinks thats why my energy is low, and then make a decision about how much to eat (either staying with 1500 or bumping it up)...hope that helps! 

any more advice is super super super welcome whatever it is, thanks!!

thank you, and good luck tomorrow!

Hey danaofdoom...so today I got around 2000, I was super hungry and worked out really hard...but I am still semi-wavering about staying at that level.....especially now that I work the rest of the week...these last few days have been nice though as a way to reset I suppose and give myself a break, and then starting tomorrow I am going to try to lower back down to around 1600...i hope it works...

Hey thanks for the update sorry I didn't notice it sooner. I've been trying to keep it around 1500 and I'm starving! Last night I literally had trouble sleeping I was so hungry, and woke up really suddenly at six a.m., completely ravenous, and had to eat something. I think my body must be telling me something...

How are you feeling when you keep your cals at 1600? What about 2000? I find at 2000 I have all the energy I need and I sleep well, but I'm just not losing any body fat.  I don't know what to do.

hey! so this week I actually ate a bit above 2000, i was so tired and just needed a bit of a mental break...im going to try to be a bit less obsessive over it and just go for a range, between 1800-2200 because at work im on my feet for 6 hours, and workout for an hour as well...and looking at the calculators i would still but slightly under maintence at that level and maybe feel less restricted and more energetic....i hope it works...and that i lose body fat as well...because im in the same situation as you, it's frustrating!

It is frustrating, but I think you're doing the right thing. Its better to be healthy and have energy.