Normal, daily activity counts, it may not count "as much" once your body gets used to it, but it definitely still counts.
My father is a great example. For more than 30 years, he got almost no exercise at home, because his job was so active that he was exhausted by the time he got home. He worked a bread delivery route, 12 hour days of walking, lifting, and carrying heavy bread trays all day (Many of those years in an unheated truck with no air conditioning).
His health and weight were both fantastic until retirement. Until then, he didn't need any extra exercise, because he got enough at work.
Most people don't work hard enough to get all of their exercise at work, but there are a few.
I can second burning calories while waitressing!! When I first lost my weight I did so much walking, lifting and carrying while I was a banquet waitress (and young 18-19) that all I changed was my eating habits! I ate less meat at meals and more veggies. I didn't calorie count, I just started cutting my meals in half. I lost about 40lbs that way. Of course, I was still a bit flabby since I wasn't doing strength or more cardio. But, it was still an active lifestyle.
Normal, daily activity counts, it may not count "as much" once your body gets used to it, but it definitely still counts.
My father is a great example. For more than 30 years, he got almost no exercise at home, because his job was so active that he was exhausted by the time he got home. He worked a bread delivery route, 12 hour days of walking, lifting, and carrying heavy bread trays all day (Many of those years in an unheated truck with no air conditioning).
His health and weight were both fantastic until retirement. Until then, he didn't need any extra exercise, because he got enough at work.
Most people don't work hard enough to get all of their exercise at work, but there are a few.
I get 90% of my exercise on the job. Like your father I often come home utterly exhausted. Yesterday at work I walked a total of 14 miles and lifted a cumulative half a ton. If that's not exercise then I don't know what to call it.
Day of eating-
Breakfast after I workout (9am) (its always the same) 4 egg whites, 1/2 c. Mushrooms, 1/2 C spinach with salsa, bowl of plain oatmeal, and a coffee.
snack: Oat ban pancake (oat bran, greek yogurt and 2 egg whites) and some kind of fruit
Lunch: Usually a protein shake, sometimes a ham/turkey/PB+J sandwich
Snack: Varies from another bowl of oatmeal to a can of tuna or some other fruit/vegetable, whatever I feel like.
Dinner: I try to get some kid of protein (usually chicken or salmon) along with broccolli or cauliflower or something along those lines..
around 8:00... Hunger hits!
So maybe Ill just try going up to 2000 calories a day and see where that takes me... thanks again for all the advice and for reading my little rant-- Im happy to hear any other suggestions as well!
I would seriously be starving if this was what my day of eating was like with all that you do. You need to eat more and for sure more protein since you are so active. Like everyone else said try adding in 200-300 more calories per day and see how it goes. Maintenance is just that maintaining the weight you are at now. If your burning 2500 cals per day you should be eating minimum that or close to it. Up your calories for a few weeks and see how it goes. If you start gaining then you will know your eating to much and need to drop some calories but I would start by dropping 100 at a time, although I doubt this will happen.
