[cheddahcat]

Since I've started the c25k ( 3 weeks now) my weight hasn't budged!! I'm actually up 2 pounds although I haven't been so strict with diet ( snack but no junk food/ chocolate) I'm hungry ALL THE TIME. I improving each run too. Will I ever lose with running? Is it because I'm gaining muscle? Ugh

[Hoopty]

How many calories do you have a day?

[cheddahcat]

I'm at 1300 - 1400 a day but at beginning of weight loss I was around 1000-1100 and just mildly walking. I feel with the food I've become lax. Or that maybe I was eating too little before and now hungry??? I've got to get back to good again on the eating. I need the weight loss motivation again. Although my measurements of bust arms hips and waist are down about an inch. I stress eat and work was a nightmare past 2 weeks and unfortunately today my car was hit. I'm not a negative person at all but seem to be taking comfort in food again.

[lucindaarrowspark]

IKWYM! I have to allow myself a healthy amount of calories in order to get a satisfying Zumba work out, but alas I have put back on 2 pounds.

[cheddahcat]

The problem is that I don't know how many calories a day I SHOULD be eating. With or without the running. I don't want to deplete my body but I don't want to swing the other way either. Any suggestions how to calculate what I should be eating while exercising and lose weight??? Sorry for the whining but I've worked too hard to gain. I'm still in the frame of mind that I can do this. I don't want a slip up any more. Thanks in advance just feeling a bit panicky that all of this is for nothing

[kurisitaru]

Try getting a My Fitness Pal account and plug in the numbers there. Also, this will help tracking how many calories you are eating. Log everything, measure everything, and you'll get a better idea (it's never EXACT) how many calories you are eating. When I first started years ago (before gaining) I just guessed at how much I was eating and didn't log it, tried to do the math in my head. When I finally started logging I was eating about 500-1000 calories MORE than I thought I was, not only was that keeping my weight the same, it was leading towards small gains.

[seagirl]

you aren't going to burn enough calories doing c25k to need to "eat them back." I wouldn't worry about that. Although 1000-1100 is not enough food at all. you can use a site like this to give you an idea:
http://caloriecount.about.com/tools/calories-goal

When you start running, your muscles will retain water due to the stress of starting something new. That is likely what the gain is from.

[Hoopty]

I've found this to be very helpful. It calculates your TDEE, the number of calories you need to maintain your weight.

http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculato...alculator.html

Once you have an idea what your TDEE is, then you can start from there by lowering your calories accordingly. Some people cut their calories by 10%, 15% or 20%.