[SoMuchFattitude]

I'm struggling a bit.

I'm training for a triathlon and I've had to up my caloric intake because I am excersizing so much.

I'm 5'5", 215lbs and from my understanding, without exercise, I should be intaking 1489 calories to reach my goal of 150lbs.

HOWEVER, I am burning at least 1000 calories a day. (I wear a garmin heart rate monitor and I'm training a minimum of 90 minutes a day.) I work out 6-7 days a week up to twice a day.

I've been tracking through the "Lose it" app and it's telling me that I'm budgeted 1489 calories but since I burnt 1090 calories today I should be consuming 2579 calories to still lose 2lbs/wk. This seems INSANELY high to me. My calories are being spent on healthy foods, not junk. (lean protein, whole grains, veggies, fruits, etc.)

Thoughts?

[sontaikle]

Those apps are all over the place. I never used them.

However you probably CAN eat more than 1489 calories and still lose weight at your height and weight. I like to tell people that at my height and weight (5'3", 115lbs) I can lose weight on 1800 calories. I am very active (6-7x a week, sometimes twice a day), but it does put it in perspective for you about how much people can really eat and lose.

2579 does sound high, but if you're really active it's actually not all that out of the question. Some calculators put me at 2400-2500 to maintain my weight but I'm aiming for 2000 right now. I don't know if you necessarily should be eating that much to lose, though and I know how difficult it can be to eat that much if you're sticking with the good stuff! I struggle to eat enough calories to maintain.

Also, you have to remember that chances are the app is overestimating how much you've burned in your workout.

Just remember, if you're exercising you need to feed your body! Because you are so active you can eat more and still lose (yayyy!) so I wouldn't be surprised if you try eating ~2000 calories and are still losing (or, perhaps even more!)

[SoMuchFattitude]

I'm currently eating 2000-2100 a day and struggling to meet that. I just can't imagine eating upward of 2500 calories a day.

I wear my heart rate monitor and track through other sources. It seems 1000+ burn is pretty accurate.

I stopped losing weight when I dropped my calories down to 1400 and I'm losing back at 2000-2100, so I cant help but wonder if 2500ish would promote more loss. haha! Perhaps I should just be happy with what I'm getting. lol

[sontaikle]

Originally Posted by SoMuchFattitude

I'm currently eating 2000-2100 a day and struggling to meet that. I just can't imagine eating upward of 2500 calories a day.

I wear my heart rate monitor and track through other sources. It seems 1000+ burn is pretty accurate.

I stopped losing weight when I dropped my calories down to 1400 and I'm losing back at 2000-2100, so I cant help but wonder if 2500ish would promote more loss. haha! Perhaps I should just be happy with what I'm getting. lol

Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if eating more speeds up your loss. It's what happened to me when I got to maintenance. When I hit 125, I started eating 1600ish thinking I would need that to maintain and I lost 5lbs REALLY FAST. Went up to 1800ish and lost even more. Tried 1900 and still lost. I lost pretty fast for someone well into the healthy range. I probably DO need to eat more than 2000 calories, but like you I'm having trouble getting up to that amount.

Have you noticed that you have more energy for your workouts at the higher calorie count? I got an energy boost when I started eating more and thus I wanted to work out more...which leads me to having to eat more and thus I go around in a circle, haha!