38yr old Female, 5'5.5", 171lbs, HOW MANY CALORIES?

Hi y'all,

I'm 38, Female, 5'5 and a half.  171 pounds today. 

I am eating about 1400-1500 cals a day.  I am swimming for at least 30-45 minutes, 4-5 times a week.  I am usually well under the 500 calorie difference. 

I have lost 4 lbs in almost 4 weeks.  SO SLOW.   I have had a cheat day or two. 

But, my question for the successful is....

how many calories are you eating?

How much exercise, if any? 

And, how has the weight lost progressed?

I think I'm eating too much.  Sucks, cuz I'm hungry!

I think I'd lose is I were to max at 1300-1400/day.  Thoughts? 

Original Post by spongebetty:

I have lost 4 lbs in almost 4 weeks.  SO SLOW.   I have had a cheat day or two. 

 Recommended weight loss is 1lb a week (based on a 500 cal/day deficit). You are right on target. If anything you could eat a little more to make sure your deficit is only 500.

If it helps, I started at 168 (I'm 5'6", age 27) - I worked out about every other to every third day, and found I lost best when I ate 1450-1650. I didn't count on the weekends, but probably rarely went above 2000 (which would have been maintenance).

I hear you loud and clear....I have been doing intense kickboxing and pilates workouts 5 days a week PLUS running on the elliptical for 25 minutes 4 days a week (all for 5 weeks now) and I eat between 1300-1600 calories a day....

This has been going on for 5 weeks, faithfully (only cheat has been drinking alcohol on weekends) and how much weight have I lost???

2 pounds.  And Im no skinny girl, Im 182 pounds and quite short.

So you're not alone.  I wish I had advice for you.  The only thing I can offer is that I try to keep in mind that I feel really good (strong, healthy, proud of myself) despite the lack of weight loss.

Hang in there!

Thank you for the feedback. 

Jade....what's your average over the last 5 weeks? Have you done an analysis here?   2 pounds?  UGH!  That would be extremely frustrating too.  I would bet you need to average around 1300, but I don't know.  Do you lose a little when you are at 1300 or so?  I JUST DON'T KNOW!! :)

Amethyst...your weight loss has been slow and steady.  Yours is a great progression for me to emulate.  Thanks. 

Eat more. That is one of the main things I have learned. I started out at 168 early this summer. I lost a pound a week for 10 weeks then stopped. I was eating about 1400 on ave. but I exercise a lot (teach yoga and spin and walk the dog 3-4 miles every day, hiking...) I hit a plateau for about 5 weeks. NOTHING. Talk about frustrating. I started eating about 1700 calories a day (more on weekends or really active days) and have started to lose 1/2 pound a week . Not a lot, but I am not gaining.

How many calories do you burn swimming? What is your maintenance cal? 1500 cal may be enough IF YOU DON'T exerercise and are inactive. My bet is that you should be eating closer to 1800-2000 a day. Especially on the days you swim! 

Interestingly enough......I was at about 1450 calories last night.  Was feeling hungry, not growling, but just wanting to EAT at about 8:30.  I chose a cup of frozen blueberries with some light cool whip.  I ended up around 1750 calories yesterday.

I weighed a little earlier this morning and BAM, was down another pound.  I just may be eating too little......

But, doesn't that seem to defy logic?  I mean, people who eat too little lose weight, you know?  People who starve themselves.  How could you possibly NOT loss weight if you eat less?  Honestly?

Hi All,

I'm 40 yr old female, 5'6" and 162lbs. Been working with a trainer 3x week since June. Getting very frustrated as the weight isn't really moving. I eat about 1450-1500 calories and lowering the sodium intake also. Have lost no weight to date. Oddly enough the inches aren't doing leaps and bounds either. Like inch off hips half inch off bust and nothing off waist. Anyone have any suggestions as to how to get his weight rolling off me?

It may seem strange, but time after time, person after person, most of us have come to that conclusion. Eat less, but not too little, and you'll lose weight. When you eat too little, your metabolism slows, and you don't lose as fast. Some people have even gained weight by going too low.

How do I figure out my maintenance calories?

I would also boost your calorie intake. I know when you are trying to lose it seems odd, but it seems to work for me. I started with CC in Jan. I weighed 227 and I was 29 and 5'7". I ate the recommended 1950 calories and I worked out a few days a week. (mostly treadmill and walking mixed with general pushups, situps, etc. ) I lost 20 pounds the first month, then 30 more the next 4 months. Since June, I have not been working out, but I am doing a paper route so I am walking a lot. I have not been counting calories and I have lost another 15 in the last 4 months. Now, I am starting again to count calories. I am eating 1650 calories, as recommended on this site and exercising 3 times a week. It seems to work for me, hope it can help some of you. I now weigh 159.2.

Danelle

Original Post by spongebetty:

How do I figure out my maintenance calories?

 Maintenance calories is how much you'd eat to maintain your weight. So it's how much you burn in a day. If you burn 2000/day and you eat 2000/day, you maintain weight.

Well, I again ate over 1700 calories and weighed in at 170.  Stayed the same.  I was sure that damn scale would be up a couple pounds.  I was even slightly over teh 500 calorie difference.  But, numbers could be a little off due to the swimming.  You never know if I burned that exact amount, or more, or less.  I guess I will try the higher calorie for a while and report back. 

Thanks Amethyst! 

Denelleross, like Amethyst, you are a huge inspiration.  Great job on your success.  I can reach my goals.

Well I suppose I will have to try eating a bit more and see what happens. Something has to work sooner or later don't you think? Sure is frustrating. WOrking my butt off at the gym and trying eat right and still the number go up. I will let you know how the eating a bit more works out. Fingers crossed everyone !!!!!! And for those that are losing and have lost WAY TO GO! Keep up the good work!

Shady

I ate a late night slice of pizza, I was about 1800 cals or a little more, I can't remember.....I lost a half pound! 

Then, it caught up with me the next day when I went out to dinner and didn't deprive myself of anything.  I am working to get back to that weight.

Someone that has recently lost about 30 pounds told me not to count calories, just eat healthy foods and fill up on those, fruits, veg, low fat meats, etc, etc.  I told her no way I could do that.  I MUST count my calories and account for everything or I will overeat.  Just a fact. 

What I find I am doing lately is guestimating on calories.  I need to get back to exact calories on all foods. 

How is it going with the higher calories, shady71?

To be continued.........