I know its been asked - 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community

jcatron243 · 10-21-2006, 05:38 PM

a thousand times, but I need some advice.

I have been losing a pound a week for the last 4 weeks or so. Well this week my eating has been a bit on the bad side. I usually stick to an average of 1450 calories, but this week my average has been closer to the 1700 range and I have lost 2 pounds this week. Is it a fluke? or should I give the 1700 a try? I haven't really been hungry on the 1450 until this week.

nineteen · 10-21-2006, 05:45 PM

Any changes in exercise this week?

jillybean720 · 10-21-2006, 06:04 PM

Sometimes, your body just appreciates a change. You could try the 1700 again for a while, but if you find you're not losing as well, then it could just have been a nice break from the monotony of the same amounts that your body was appreciating rather than the actual increase in calories. There's no way to know unless you try it out!

cantforgetthis · 10-21-2006, 09:24 PM

Hi, I can't speak to your specific circumstances. There are so many factors that come into play, but I do know that there are a number of people that have experienced additional weight loss by increasing their calories.

I'm one of them.

Enjoy it!

jcatron243 · 10-22-2006, 01:21 AM

Actually my exericise this week has been on the low side, I usually work out everyday for about an hour, but the last couple of weeks have been very light workouts.

I think I will go up to the 1700 and make sure I get my workouts and see what happens.

determined2succeed · 10-22-2006, 02:31 AM

I think you un-intentially calorie-cycled/calorie zig-zagged so it jump started your metabolism. It's a good idea to toggle your calories to avoid plateuing as much as possible.

jcatron243 · 10-22-2006, 02:31 PM

I actually already calorie cycle, I usually do two 1200-1300 calorie days; two 1400-1500 calorie days, two 1700 calorie days and the 7th day I adjust to make sure my average is 1450 or so. I actually think I am going to go up to an average of 1600 and see how it works for me. I think my body wasn't liking the amount of exercise versus calories in on my average week. (I cut back on exercise and increased my calories for the last two weeks) I think I am going to go back to my regular workouts: 30 minutes of cardio, 20 minutes pilates, then every other day 20 minutes with weights (plus I walk 45minutes 3 nights per week). I will increase my calories to 1600 on average and see were it takes me.

Heather · 10-22-2006, 05:57 PM

I think it's impossible to know on a one-shot basis what's going on. It seems to me that sometimes it takes a little while for my "good behaviors" to show a loss and for my "bad behaviors" to show a gain. So it could be that as well: timing.

I'm a big advocate of eating a goodly number of calories, but I honestly don't think you're going to continue losing an extra pound a week by increasing the number of calories by several hundred each day.

Jasmine31 · 10-23-2006, 12:17 AM

jcatron243 well you are in my halloween challenge so you know that since I have been actually tracking cals this month, one wek was an average of 1880, next week, 1850, I lost 2.5 pounds both weeks each.

(I also walk 60 minutes 6 days a week) This last week I got sick and inadvertently wound up at a 1567 average and lost 3.25 pounds this week! (Still walked my 6 days ) So I am thinking of sticking to around 1600 or so next week and see what happens.

Just remember to keep it at small meals thruout the day to keep your metab going. Thats what I do!

(disclaimer, I also have more to lose than some of you ladies so my cal needs may be different!)

Anyhow I do know that Glory got down to 140 and plateaud for months! She wound up eating 1600-1800 and started losing the last weight! She is now maintaining at 127 pounds!! She had to eat more to lose more. I do think that happens sometimes. Where the body feels like it is getting sufficient food and you start losing as a result. Just make sure they are good cal choices and not adding junk. Try the 1600 for a week or two and see what happens!! Good luck!!

jcatron243 · 10-23-2006, 01:30 AM

Thanks for the Advice and kind words everyone.
wyllenn, After I re-read my original post I saw that I put going up to 1700, I actually meant going up to 1600 as a weekly average. I will increase each day probably by 50-60 calories, and just see what happens in the next couple of weeks.