Need help--am I eating enough?
Hi all, I could really use your help! I'm 5'5.5", and right now I weigh 122 (athletic, size 0/2). In the past two years, I have lost 50 pounds in a safe way at a reasonable pace. Now, I am training to maintain, but as many of you know, it's terrifying and very difficult!
My issue is that I don't know if I'm eating enough. I run 5-6 times a week for 40-60 minutes a session and even though I know I need to make up for those calories lost, I'm not very hungry in general. Here is a typical menu for me (total calories = about 1200):
B: 1/2 cup shredded wheat, 1/2 cup Fiber One, small banana, 1 cup fat free milk, 2/3 cup blueberries
S: 2 small apricots
L: Salad with 1/2 cup fava beans, 1/4 avocado, 1/3 cup tofu, carrots
S: Apple; 1 small apricot
D: 1/2 cup cooked quinoa with 1/4 avocado, 3/4 cup baked potato, 1 oz. fat free cheese; 1 cup cooked broccoli; 1/4 cup black beans
Can anyone help me out? Is 1200-1400 calories a day enough for someone who exercises intensely 5-6 times a week? I am going to be training for a half-marathon soon and want to keep the weight on and be healthy. Thanks in advance for the help!
No, I would think that 1500 - 1800 would be the minimum range you would want. There are a ton of calulators on the Net (including here) that you can Google/Yahoo/Bing for {BMR calculator--BMI calculator--Body Fat--Calories Needed--metabolism--Exercise calculator--healthy diet for active female, etc.: There are many similar terms and phrases you can use to find calculators; since I have so many sites Bookmarked, I won't list a bunch of them now, but if you don't find any you like, I will list them for you later, if you wish}.
As active as you are, I would doubt that you could keep weight on and take in only that many calories. If you have a good protein breakfast and get your metabolic engine revved up, with all that exercising, you are surely in need of more than 1200-1400 calories. I strongly recommend that you use a Search Engine and find some additional sites that suggest good healthy meals for an athletic person like you. This site can certainly help you, but there are many others, too.
And I would weigh once daily and log every weight. Weigh at the same time of the day.
I would definitely add some lean protein , chicken fish, (tofu, if your vegan) and some whole grain carbs. You will have almost no muscle mass if you are exercising that much and don't add protein. And some "good" carbs will give you more energy to keep going during your race and training...
I can certainly understand how you would be concerned about increasing your calories after such a successful weight loss, but your muscle mass needs to be built back up or you will start gaining again and will have a difficult time maintaining or losing later in life...
You're way off..... The typical, lightly active woman your size could expect to maintain on 2000 cals a day. If you add in intensive exercise you're looking at 2500-2700 quite easily and possibly more. On 1200-1400 .... which is a weight-loss intake for a fairly sedentary old lady.... you'd have no energy, no muscle tone, and you'd be at serious risk of malnutrition, fainting, dizzy spells.... terrible.
Double your intake.... any combination of food will do the trick.... and take it from there.
I am 5'5" and 122 lbs and maintain on 1700-1800 with only a pound or two fluctuation either way. I workout 4X a week for 45 - 60 mins (running and weight lifting). I have lots of energy and have never felt better! I was nervous about upping my calories too, just do it slowly and you'll be fine.
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