More activity, more eating but still maintaining?

Hi there

I havent been on here for a while (just silently reading the forums)

Earlier this year (Jan) I weighed 145. I am 5'5.5". Medium/Athletic build (you can see pics in my profile) 25 years old.

I did the New Rules of Lifting for Women program Jan-July of this year. I sometimes did it three times a week but most of the time 2 times. I also played baseball once a week and went on short walks and  bike rides occasionally. I lost approx 7 lbs. I am down around 137-138 now.

July-August I didnt do too much, was on vacation etc etc etc, but continued to try and moderate my eating, drinking and played baseball.

Now its October and I am 4 weeks into my new program. I am doing a kickboxing/MMA class for 1 hour on Tues and Thursdays. I also play competitive dodgeball for 1 hour straight (intense cardio) on Wednesdays.

I am eating more now that I have been. Maintenance is around 2000 cals for me, and I bet I've been eating 2500 daily. I cant get away from those sweets!!!!

Anyways- I am wondering how it is that I am maintaining my weight loss when Im eating above maintenance? Am I burning more cals than I think from my Tues-Wed-Thurs exercise? I am now around 136-140

Thanks!

As a way to compare, in July I was consuming 2715 calories daily and maintaining at around 170 pounds.  In September I was consuming 3186 calories daily and maintaining at almost exactly the same weight.  How was that possible?  Here are some ideas:

• If one is exercising more, not necessarily in time but in calorie burn, he/she can eat more and still maintain.
• If one has gotten his/her metabolism revved up, then he/she can eat more and still maintain.

Whatever you are doing is working!  Congratulations.

Thanks.

I'm counting on kickboxing and dodgeball to keep me in shape throughout the holidays. If I can survive with maybe being up only a couple lbs, or maintain, that would be really awesome.

If needed- I can start to add another day of exercise to my plan in January if I need to drop a couple lbs.  lol

I think I am burning more now than I think. I just checked and it looks like I burn around 500-600 cals in 1 hr of kickboxing/MMA class. It sure feels like I do! So burning around 1000 cals a week with that + dodgeball which is probably around 300-350 or so cals.