making a smart change.....?
 

hey 3FC gals!

So my weight loss has stalled at a disappointing 137 with no change for a month now. Thankfully, there are also no gains apart from the usual water rentention.
One problem: I seem to be sticking to a daily cal range about 1200 cals.....and end up staaaaaarving and binging in the evenings, or after 2 days of eating well!!! :?:
I decided today to just up my cals to 1400-1500 a day, and maybe the constant snacking on fruits/veggies will prevent my binges and overeating.
Do you think this is a smart move.......?

I still jog or do my Turbo Jam 5-6 days a week. Please let me know!!! I'd love to get down to 135....and ideally 130. Help! :o


xoxo
leda

Leda? do you track even on binge days? can you get fitday to give you an average for the last two weeks? or a month?

Susan---

I actually use TheDailyPlate--- which says I SHOULD be eating 1,286 dals a day if I want to lose 1.5 pounds a week.
Once a start binging (usually late afternoon), I don't track because it upsets me too much to see proof of my failure for the day. :(


leda

It's going to hurt, but: this is precisely what and why you should track. I know, it sucks; I don't like doing it myself, when it happens I have to wrestle it out of my pen like there's no tomorrow... In a way, it's like having my nose put in my own crap. Nobody likes that. On the other hand, once you can't escape the 'proof that you did it', well, what other solution is it to not do it? (The sheer thought of "I'll have to note that down in Fitday/my notebook/whatever" is, once out of twice, wayyy enough to make me stop in my track, wonder what the **** I'm doing, and turn to something else than food. Maybe that can work for you as well?)

Now, maybe slightly upping your calories is indeed a good move. If you have an active lifestyle and exercise quite regularly and enough, 1200 isn't always sufficient--it will be on some days, not on others... and it probably also depends on what those 1200 calories are made of. (Proteins are more efficient in my case, while if I've eaten too many carbs like pasta/rice, I feel hungry more easily. Too bad those are easier to buy when you're a student without much money. :()

I agree with Kery. What if you find that, binges included, you're averaging 1700 cals per day and maintaining?

Yep, that's just what I was thinking. You're AIMING for 1200, but you're actually eating something more. You need to figure out what that is. Besides, logging everything (ESPECIALLY the binges) is a good habit. Like Kery said, sometimes just the thought that I'm going to have to write it down is enough to make me toss the cookies in the garbage.

My guess is you will need to bump up your daily calories a tiny bit (maybe 1300 - 1400) and start eating more filling foods. You need to make sure you have adequate protein in your diet, and a lot of fiber. Increasing fiber really helps me feel full! Eat fiber-rich cereals and LOTS of veggies. Veggies are super-low-cal and very filling. I keep those microwave-in-the-bag veggies in the freezer and eat a whole bag myself with a dinner! Eat more veggie rich, broth-based soups (minestrone, vegetable soup, tomato soup) since they are also filling.

ladies, thank you so much!!!

I guess my biggest downfall are those stupid binges I do every other day..... I have to remember to make myself remember to log them, and maybe that will WAKE ME UP enough to stop!
and thanks for the hi-fiber advice! I'll buy lots of those veggie packs and some broth-based lo-sodium soups! :)

I decided to stick to 1400 cals.

leda

Hey TurboLeda: I am RIGHT WITH YOU GIRL! I finally got down to 141 and felt I needed to lower my cals to 1300 daily ( 600 cals burned every day too) I found I was always really hungry. I would do good for maybe two days and also have a binge. I decided to take a break on trying to keep losing and work on maintaining for a while. So, I'll up my cals, maintain for a month or so, and then try lowering my calories again. So, I'd say up your cals so you aren't binging, and track it all! Good luck!