Quote:
Originally Posted by Kathieaz
Libby what how many calories do you average each day? I am a 5'5 and weigh 150 my goal is 125. I haven't started an exercise program yet. I want to get my eating in control then move on to exercise. You are such motivation!!!  |
When I first started I averaged between 1200 and 1500 calories a day. About 4 months ago I moved to 1400 - 1650 calories a day and I've been averaging that amount ever since. I make sure I have a deficit of at least 500 calories a day between calories and exercise. I need to eventually increase my calories to just over 2000 a day once I'm in maintenance. And frankly, it scares me. But I'm sure I'll do ok. I'm so used to weight loss mode, that it's become my comfort zone. But like the original challenge, I will have to master this one as well.
I did this for almost 3 months in the beginning without a fitness routine. I did get some results, but it was amazing how much faster it all fell into place once I incorporated cardio and strength training. Strength training is as important if not more so than cardio. Reason being, building lean muscle allows our bodies to burn fat 50 times faster than with just cardio alone. And it allows us to burn calories even when we are NOT doing cardio. Throughout our day. Believe it. I am proof. I lost 9 1/2 inches after the first 2 weeks I started strength training and have lost 64 inches of fat to date. That's more inches than I have in height.
Getting your eating in control is important, but looking back, the reason for me not starting a fitness regime immediately, was fear. And in retrospect, I should have dug right in. Who knows where I'd be right now if I had that 3 month head start? Fitness needs to be part of all of our routines. Not just during weight loss. This whole experience has taught me that eating well, as healthy as possible and moving as much as I can, will keep me healthy, drastically cut my risk of horrible diseases and possibly allow me to change my family history for my children.
Even if you just walk 30 mins a day and do some work with a resistance band 3 times a week, it would benefit you so much in the long run. Besides, you don't have to eat as few calories with exercise as you would without it to lose weight. So it's a win win!
You can eat more with exercise...YAY!!
Best of luck to you and I'm honored to be a motivation to you.
I have 1 lb left to lose...
