[tiawyn]

So, I did the calorie counting thing for a few weeks, without making any changes to my diet, to see where I stood with everything, and of course counted to the last M&M to pass my lips. I noticed that for my height/weight, I needed to eat around 1400-1600 calories. However, my diet on a daily basis is only around 1100-1300. I eat small portions during meals and have a snack in-between. That being said, before incorporating exercise, I maintained my 150lbs for the last 6 months without making changes to my diet. Is this because my body is in "starvation mode" and is saving every bit of carb that I eat or is the need to eat 1400 calories wrong to lose weight?

I have a few theories, either my eating is fine and all I need to do is exercise more (which I have been doing) or I need to eat more calories somehow to get above the starvation mode calorie benchmark for me to start losing.

I believe that my diet is not poor to any sort of standard. I eat pretty much all whole foods; whole grain, no preservatives or additives... My plate is 1/2 veggies/fruit 1/4 grain 1/4 meat during meals.

So, final question...If I do need to up my caloric intake, what should I eat/drink to make up for it?

That is all.

P.S. This calorie confusion thing is the main reason why I don't do it. Imputing all the food is time consuming and I would rather spend that time doing more meaningful things like study or exercise. I did it before, but it didn't seem to help. I just do a rough guestimate now, which is pretty accurate. This is just me, I am not bashing on others that do it, it is just my preference.

[JudgeDread]

Are you deducting you're exercise calories to your total intake? If not, you could be well under 1000 calories.

If not, then try upping your calories. Eat anything healthy just add 100 or 200 for a few weeks and see what happens. Good luck!

[tiawyn]

What do you mean by that? Like including exercise, my calorie intake should be within the 1400-1600 frame? Example being if I burned 150 calories and ate 1400 calories, then my actual calorie count would be 1250, so I should eat the 150 that I burned? I'm confuzzled @_@

[JudgeDread]

Well it depends on what you Recommended Daily Intake is. Is MFP telling you you need to eat 1400-1600 to lose weight or maintain. I see you are 4'11, but I don't know your age. I think you are safe to go down to 1200, for awhile. Do it for awhile and when you platue again I would go up on calories.

[tiawyn]

Well, I looked at a few online calculators, and from what I have been seeing, I need to eat 1900 calories to lose a pound a week. What? And to maintain, I can eat 2200 calories?

You can double check for me. I work out moderately I guess (30-60 min 4-5x a week) 23 YO 150 lbs and 4'11"

[bargoo]

I do not believe the 1900 calorie recommmendation. I am 5' tall just slightly taller than you and if I were to eat 1900 calories I would soon regain all my weight. At my height and I am small boned and do not exercise much. I need about 1400 calories a day to maintain. Everyone is different , of course.
To increase your calorie count you can eat larger portions or add in a couple of 100 calorie items, yogurt at 100 calories for example.

[JudgeDread]

Yeah that doesn't sounds right for you. I know I needed less calories than that when I was your age and I am 5'7.

Just one I checked said you need 1763 calories just to maintain your weight.

To lose at 1lb per week you would eat a total of 1263 (that would mean workout included you would eat a bit more to get to 1263 if you burned it off)

To lose 2lbs per week you would eat 763 calories...personally I think that is way too low, but if you were do to that I would try to burn those calories rather than starve yourself at 763...So you could eat 1000 for example and burn off the rest.

Keep in mind, not every day has to be the same calories. It is better to keep a variety so your body isn't getting used to one thing. Besides, you will have different things going on different days. As long as you don't go above 1763 you will not gain weight.

[tiawyn]

Thanks for the info. I did the calorie counting for the last two days and stayed around the 1200 calorie frame, and I burned 300 calories, so I have a 200 calorie deficit. We'll see how incorporating exercise does to my weight loss. I think I stand by my first theory that I don't eat too many calories, and diet alone cannot help me lose weight, but there should be progress when I incorporate daily exercise.