Sorry for jumping in like this (I lurk a lot, but rarely post), but I thought you guys were my best chance at good advice .
So I'd been maintaining at 143-145 for years at 2100-2200 calories. I started trying to lose some (some of you might remember me from previous attempts...sigh) that I regained 9 years ago and never lost. So I went down to 1800 and started losing slooooowly but surely. In 2 months I got down to 138 and kind of lost my motivation (ha! what else is new?). That was about 2 weeks ago. I sighed and said to myself "ok, try to at least maintain 138, then". Then I went back to 2000-2100 and have regained 2 pounds. Steadily. Like half a pound every 4 days or so. There's been no change in my exercise or in sodium consumption. It's not TOM. I can't believe that after a 6-pound loss my maintenance calories are much lower than they used to be. I mean, if I maintained 144 at 2100-2200 calories, I'd expect to maintain 138 at 2000-2100, right? Please?? What do you wise ladies think? I used to maintain at 132-134 lbs and 2100 calories, but that was 9+ years ago, so I'm ready to accept that I need less food now, but that much less with such a small weight loss?
Clarabr, I think it's a good question. We all have such different metabolisms.
Age, genetic make-up, diet/weight/food/health history, and other things influence our metabolic rate. Some are sensitive to lectins in plant foods, and other such things, that stimulate an insulin response, causing weight gain. Many cannot tolerate lactose and casein in dairy. Caffeine and artificial sweeteners also can cause problems. Some find that eliminating such troublesome foods allows them to eat more and weigh less.
Most of us find that as we get older, we must reduce the amount of food we eat.
I have found that I have to do what works well for me, even if other people have very different standards or recommendations. I weigh the same as I did thirty years ago and eat less than half the amount of calories I did then.
The only insight I can offer is that our bodies are the sole authorities on what our maintenance calories are. Regardless of past experience, what calculators tell us, or what works for other people, the only information that matters is what our bodies tell us. If we're gaining weight, then we know we're in a calorie surplus. If we're losing weight, we know we're in a calorie deficit. And if our weight is staying the same, then we know we're in calorie equilibrium. If we listen to what our bodies are telling us about our calorie intake, then we know everything necessary for weight loss and maintenance.
I'd caution you not to draw any conclusions on only two weeks of data, but it's possible that your body is telling you that your calorie needs at this weight and point in your life are less than what you thought. Silver is right that there are so many variables that go into metabolism and calorie needs -- apparently there are more than 400 hormones that control weight and appetite! -- that science has yet to untangle. Our maintenance calories may not be logical or what they used to be, but -- our bodies make it pretty clear to us what they are.
And my experience is like Silver's that my calorie needs are a lot less as I get older. Even though I've worked hard to maintain the same muscle mass as I did nine years ago when I lost the weight, my maintenance calories are several hundred less than they were at first (I'm 55 now). There must be some wonderful, magical hormone that kicks in when we get older that lets us survive on nothing but air!
My suggestion is to keep tracking calories as religiously as possible, keep track of your weight, and reassess in another two weeks or so. If your weight continues to go up at 2000-2100 calories, then you have your answer (as frustrating though it may be!)
Thanks, guys. I know you're right, I don't know what I was hoping for. I already plan on staying on 1800 from today on because I refuse to gain any more. We'll see what happens. I'll report back whatever happens. I just find it hard to believe that I was *losing* on 1800 and now I'm gaining fast on 2000-2100.
Our bodies are the sole authorities on what our maintenance calories are.
Regardless of past experience, what calculators tell us, or what works for other people, the only information that matters is what our bodies tell us.
If we listen to what our bodies are telling us about our calorie intake, then we know everything necessary for weight loss and maintenance.
..apparently there are more than 400 hormones that control weight and appetite! -- that science has yet to untangle. Our maintenance calories may not be logical or what they used to be, but -- our bodies make it pretty clear to us what they are.
what makes you think you are gaining an fat?
seriously, if youve JUST come off of a deficit and are eating at "maintenance" than you probably are just putting back on the water and glycogen you lost from being in a deficit. Id be willing to be if you just stuck it out and continued to eat 2000 a day, that your weight will level out.
Remember, that water weight you lose when you first start dieting down has to come back when you stop. People dont understand this, and freak out, thinking they gained a few pounds of fat in a short time
what makes you think you are gaining an fat?
seriously, if youve JUST come off of a deficit and are eating at "maintenance" than you probably are just putting back on the water and glycogen you lost from being in a deficit. Id be willing to be if you just stuck it out and continued to eat 2000 a day, that your weight will level out.
Remember, that water weight you lose when you first start dieting down has to come back when you stop. People dont understand this, and freak out, thinking they gained a few pounds of fat in a short time
I hope you're right, but what I'm finding weird/discouraging is that I've been gaining steadily. Half a pound at every weigh-in. It's never been like this before when I transitioned into maintenance.
But we'll see. The good news is that the scare has motivated me to go back to 1800. Who knows, I might even get below 138 one day.
My suggestion is to keep tracking calories as religiously as possible, keep track of your weight, and reassess in another two weeks or so. If your weight continues to go up at 2000-2100 calories, then you have your answer (as frustrating though it may be!)
Exactly right. In fact, the entire post as was SilverLife dead on correct.
Reporting back... so I've been eating 1700 calories a day for 3 days and have dropped those 2 pounds. So it was definitely just water weight. Phew! I'm relieved that I don't suddenly need to eat a lot less just to maintain.
A maintenance question for the wise ladies...
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