CONFUSED.COM please help!

Hi! I'm really confused about the concept of burning more calories than you eat. I mean, I obviously understand what it means, but whilst I'm trying to eat properly (without my 6 daily chocolate bars) I'm struggling to eat even 1100 calories which I reckon isn't too great? Also, I'm doing 2hrs exercise a night every mon-fri plus 2hr vigorous dance class every sat, but apparently I'm still not burning off the calories I'm eating. Am I misunderstanding the Burnmeter or something? I'd really appreciate someone's help understanding!!

 

The number on the burn meter is what you will be burning already, it is not a goal.  I agree, it's a little confusing.  The calorie meter is a goal, but the burn meter is a pre-set number. 

Please please please find a way to get to your recommended caloric intake also.  1100 calories is not enough for any woman, regardless of size.  I was in the same place when I first began, not making it to my 1350 calories that are recommended.  The weight came off VERY slowly, but when I got my act together and started eating closer to the 1350 my weight loss picked up. 

Keep asking questions around here until you totally get the eat and burn meters, they are vital.  This is an awesome place to come for advice and support.

a

You'll have to start eating more. You have your daily burn (total estimate) that you burn when you don't do anything. When you log your workout it will be added to that number. When you then subtract 500 calories (a day, or a maximum of 1000 - depending on how fast you want to lose weight - no more than that) you'll get your daily allowance.

When you don't eat enough you body won't have enough energy to keep itself working and it will store everything you eat because "these are tough times". So why don't you try to eat one of those chocolate bars? Or something healthy instead???? It is just not healthy to go lower than 1200 per day and most of us can eat more than that and still lose weight.

Imo it is important to log your workouts when you do them so often, or do a bit less...

Jolanda (ITHINKIUNDERSTAND.COM)

Assuming you're an average size adult woman and reasonably active you'd burn up about 2000 cals a day just going about your business.  If you chuck in 300 calories of extra exercise you might burn 2300 or even a little more. 

So to lose weight you have to consume a little less than you burn up.  500 cals a day less and you'd lose around 1lb a week.  700 cals a day less and you'd lose a little more.   1 - 2lbs a week is a fairly safe and healthy weight-loss.

Use the CC tools to work out the amount of calories you need to maintain your current weight setting your activity level to 'moderate'.  Then deduct about 700 from the total as your start point.  It'll be a lot more than 1100..... so choose your foods carefully, plan your meals ahead and make sure you eat/snack regularly to get it all in.

Good luck.

I also am having a hard time eating up to my 1200 calories a day.  I don't want to go over so if I get within 1000, I don't want to chance eating more that my 1200 goal but I also keep getting the "you have to eat calories to burn calories!" pounded in my head by my doctor and am having a hard time grasping that concept.  I guess I have always thought, the less you eat, the better off you are when you exercise because then you are burning past the amount you have consumed.  Let me know if you find any ways to get past this!  Best of luck!!

Don't forget that you have already indicated what level of activity you do. The estimated burn figure includes that, so don't add it in again using the activity log. I registered as sedentary and then I log all activities I manage to do. Then I eat up to that number minus a 500 cal deficit. I have lost a pound a week for four months (21lbs down) and am within 5lbs of target, so it has worked for me.

Best of luck

Please, listen to all of these smart people.  It works! It really works.  Follow what the tools tell you to do and you will reach your healthy weight.  Plus you won't need to wear down your body with two hours of exercise daily to be healthy and fit.   Exercise is wonderful and I love the way it makes me feel.  But, you can overdo.

Isnt your workout making you hungrier??

If you think about it. If you keep at 1100 calories, and you hit a plateu. Are you going to drop your cals down? To like 800? 900? Thats not good!

Eat higher! Around 1800-2000, that way say your weight loss stalls you can go down around 1600, and bump it.

Also, you should eat the way you want to for the rest of your life. 1100 calories just does not seem like enough!