So about two months ago I lowered my calorie intake and was eating between 1000-1200 calories a day. After two weeks I was beyond exhausted, falling asleep all the time and feeling anemic and ill. I finally figured it was the calories and uped them. After that I was fine, lost about 5 more pounds. When I got to 150 I pretty much stopped counting calories and stopped caring too much about the scale. I went on a little hiatus and have been stuck between 147-149 for a little bit. So three days ago I decide "hey there is only about 8 more pounds I want to lose I should buckle down and get them off" I then started counting calories strictly and giving myself about 1300-1400 a day. Wow exhaustion is back! Part of it is training for a half marathon, part of it is suddenly working 30-40 hours a week at an always standing job (was working 0 hours before summer), part of it is just doing things more (hanging out with someone etc).
So tonight, after going the whole day eating about 1300 calories I decided that I couldn't eat that few. I stuffed myself and it is amazing how much better I feel. I am still tired but the complete exhaustion is much better. I'm really thinking that I need to not worry about losing the last 10 or so pounds during the summer. I am at a good weight, I don't need to lose more I just want to. So I'm pretty much convinced that right now isn't the time to try and lose weight, to put it off two months when I go back to school, quit my job again, and the marathon is about over (plus I'm away from my family which gives me more time to just sit around and relax).
But I want you girls' opinion. Do you think I should just maintain until the summer is over or do you think I should just increase my calories a little more and see if I'm still exhausted? Let me tell you though, I'm going to be tired no matter what, so even increasing my calories by 100-200 might still make life more difficult. I asked my parents opinion and they said I looked great and they thought it was a good idea to not keep trying to lose weight right now.
I lost weight very slowly and graduatly after reaching my goal weight by training for a half, being stressed, and working all the time. I wasn't counting calories, just making very healthy choices when I was trying to learn about maintaining.
I've got a big questions for you - what is your training like, and are you replacing those calories you've burned? I just ran 5 miles and burned 600 calories. I'm eating about 1200 -1400 a day, so that's almost half my daily calories! You have to replenish after your work outs, or add extra calories into your day. Are you doing this?
Also, evaluate how you feel about yourself, if you don't try to loose the extra weight will you look back and say you wish you had? Or are you happy where you are?
Maybe start focusing your goals towards other things like food choices and fitness goals. Good luck!
I would be very cautious trying to train for a half-marathon and eating that little--there's no way you'll be getting peak performance out of your body!!!
So you are both thinking 1300 was too low for overall calories, which I agree after feeling the side effects. I guess right now I am trying to figure out how many calories to eat.
I jog 5 days a week the pattern is usually 5 miles monday, 3 tuesday, rest wednesday, 4 thursday, 3 friday and my long run is saturday which today was 7 miles. I'm not really working out other than the training bc I didn't have a gym membership (although I got one yesterday since the heat is now too bad to run in). i do work on my feet, standing and walking around for about 30 hours a week (we never sit). I'll probably start adding some weights back in now that I have the gym again.
I am having a hard time knowing how many calories will make me lose weight and how many calories will make me maintain or gain. Some of these online calculaters say that 1700 calories will still make me lose but that seems like so many calories. I'll probably start eating around 1700 for one week, maybe two and see what that does to my weight.
The training for the HM stuck out. I always thought it was widely accepted that when you're in training you won't see much weightloss (and may actually gain) because you need to keep your calories up. I've had several friends come out of a marathon or half marathon weighing a little more for that reason.
I think going up to 1700 for a week or two might give you some insight. Who knows, it could really just be a matter of 100-200 calories to find that "sweet spot".
This is what I do, on the days that I don't work out, i try to stick between 1200 - 1400 calories. On the days I run, I add more calories depending on how long I'm running. A 3 mile run, I'll add something smaller like a granola bar and yogurt. Any time I'm going an hour or more of cardio, I add about 500 calories extra split between before and after. Usually in the form of peanut butter toast, eggs, power bars, avocado, turkey, any combo of carbs/protein both before and after my runs. I know that I have to re fuel my body after those long runs.
Do some reading, try out what feels right, you'll find your "groove" soon!
Exhaustion
