questions!

Hello- ok so i've been calorie counting all summer, and i have only lost about 8 lbs. or so.  i was wondering what my activity level should be set at( i think right now i have it set at moderately active). i try to work out everyday (sometimes i only do 5-6 days a week though)... I do 25 mins of pilates and then run for around 20 mins or so (almost 2 miles).  I've been trying to eat around 1650-1800 cals

Also, I keep seeing the term "water weight"....how am i suppose to know when i'm retaining water or not?

my stats are 20y.o., 5'7, 154.5 lbs.

any advice would be much appreciated :)

Hi there,

Maybe we can help each other.  I tried to create my own group, but I find this site confusing.  I looked at some posts, and saw you have no replies and aslo we had some things in common.  I'm 44 yrs old, 5'5" -very solid hourglass.  I usally weigh about 143, 10 years ago I was 132.  I just weighed myself this morning and I am 148!  This has got to stop.  My eating habits have been terrible lately.

I do run, and lift weights.  I am actually fairly active.  Last year I had joined a gym and had a personal trainer.  I think I can help you.  I buy Oxygen Magazine-it great!  What do you think about picking up a copy?  It will give us a reference point on the working out aspect.

So much to say, but let me know your out there.

What do you think about a weekly weigh in on Fridays?  By end of October, let's see if we can reach our goals.  It will mean we are " on top of reaching it" so if you are willing I am in!

Christine

For the OP... because you're 20, try using this calculator to determine your energy needs.  http://www.bcm.edu/cnrc/bodycomp/bmiz2.html I'd also say you were moderately active (about an hour a day)...  which comes back to a total burn of about 2500 per day.  So on 1650-1800 you should theoretically be losing weight.  1lb a week would not be a bad result for you because, of course, you're not actually overweight.

However, if you've been on reduced calories all summer what can happen is that your body becomes more efficient at the way it uses energy.   So everything slows down a little and weight-loss peters out.  

What can be really effective is to give your body an injection of energy and get your total calorie needs for a day.  The full 2500 in your case.   This can liven things up no end, give you an appetite and also gets your body using up energy at the right speed again.

Once done with 2500 then go back to weight-loss on 1800 average.... Every two or three weeks repeat the exercise.  i.e. One day at 2500 and back to a steady 1800 afterwards.

Hey there.  I am 44 not 20.

So are you suggesting that every 2 or 3 weeks for one day I consume 2500 calories?  I probably do that already on a bad eating day.  Hahhahahaa!!!

I forgot to say...I am very active.

chrisy, gi-jane was trying to offer advice to the OP (funkykunky)

Uh oh....I get it.  OOOOPs

Original Post by gi-jane:

For the OP... because you're 20, try using this calculator to determine your energy needs.  http://www.bcm.edu/cnrc/bodycomp/bmiz2.html I'd also say you were moderately active (about an hour a day)...  which comes back to a total burn of about 2500 per day.  So on 1650-1800 you should theoretically be losing weight.  1lb a week would not be a bad result for you because, of course, you're not actually overweight.

However, if you've been on reduced calories all summer what can happen is that your body becomes more efficient at the way it uses energy.   So everything slows down a little and weight-loss peters out.  

What can be really effective is to give your body an injection of energy and get your total calorie needs for a day.  The full 2500 in your case.   This can liven things up no end, give you an appetite and also gets your body using up energy at the right speed again.

Once done with 2500 then go back to weight-loss on 1800 average.... Every two or three weeks repeat the exercise.  i.e. One day at 2500 and back to a steady 1800 afterwards.

Thanks for the advice, I'm definitely going to try this.  I've been on a plateau of 154.5 for a couple weeks now even with the exercise and supposed correct amount of calories.  It's sort of intimidating to eat 2500 calories... I mean its just a lot more than I'm used to eating!  but I'll try it and maybe it will help me re-kick start this weight loss.  So basically one day ever 2-3 weeks eat 2500 cals and in the between time stick to the 1800? Sounds like a plan.

It's not a bad strategy.  If you've got a day coming up where you could eat more than normal .... an event, a meal out.... then timing your 2500 cal day to coincide can be a practical move.   Otherwise, all you need do is increase portion-sizes a little, add in a few extra snacks and swap a few low-calorie foods for high-calorie foods.... avocado on the salad instead of cucumber, ice-cream instead of low-fat yoghurt etc. 

And even though 2500 cals sounds like a lot, it's only what you need to maintain your current weight.  So look at it as a kind of 'rehearsal' for maintenance.

As you lose weight you'll need to revise your intake because your energy needs will change.  Check that chart when you've lost another 7lbs and redo the calculations.