Hi all - First time poster here but this board has been a source of continual inspiration for me. I started my weight loss journey on July 1 and have lost 42 pounds to date. However, since the holidays I have been stalled. I did afford myself a couple of splurge days over the holidays but since I have been quite a stickler about my 1400 calorie per day regimen. I exercise 3 days a week at the gym and go for long walks 2 additional days each week.

My question for you is, did you downgrade the # of calories you ate over the course of your weight loss? I'm very frustrated by the lack of progress I'm seeing and wonder if I should drop down to 1300 calories. I did use a bodybugg for a few months in the beginning to see what my actually calories burned were and on an average day with no exercise I was burning 2200 calories, on a day I went to the gym I was burning 2700 so in theory I should be losing. I also log all of my foods and use measuring cups and spoons to insure accuracy.

Help?

Ive heard about calore cycling to keep your body guessing whats coming next I dnt have a lot of info on it but its something you might wat to check out

Welcome, luka!

I started at the beginning of 2009 at 1500 calories a day. I cut it back to 1400 mid-2010. When I entered maintenance, I raised it back to 1500 and am now trying to figure out my maintenance calories, which I had originally thought would be about 1750 but may end up being closer to 1600.

Data from tools for estimating how many calories you burn or how many calories you need should be taken with a large grain of salt. It varies hugely from person to person.

Alternatives to decreasing your calories include calorie cycling (as mentioned by ashley) and changing your balance of macronutrients (for some people, increasing protein and/or decreasing carbs makes a difference).

Good luck!

I have heard quite a few people talk about calorie cycling where you don't eat the same amount of calories every day. Some people have mentioned that they might eat their 1,500 calories Monday-Friday, and then maybe do 1,700-1,800 on Saturday & Sunday (just an example). It might be something to look into! You could always try 1,300 calories for a few weeks and see what happens, and if nothing happens you could dabble in calorie cycling.

Thanks for the tips ladies. I'm going to go down 50 (hard for me to let these calories go) and see what happens over the next week. I think, reflecting over the past few weeks, I might be eating out too often and even though I refer to the restaurant's nutritional info they provide, who really knows what goes on with butter and portions. I'm going to also eat at home exclusively for the next two weeks and see if that helps.

Can I ask, Oboegal and Emme - how long has it taken you to reach your weight loss goals (Emme, not goal maybe but you're at approximately double my loss). Congratulations - very inspiring!

I too would try calorie cycling. It really works for me.

Calorie cycling it is. Kateryna, can you give me an example of your weekly calorie limits? Really appreciate this and congratulations to you on your impressive loss!

I started off about about 1500 and lost regularly for about six months until July/August where I plateaued and lost about 2 lb for the entire 2 months.

I adjusted down to 1350 and started losing again!

Sadly as your body decreases in size it requires fewer calories to just function, so it also means that you have to eat fewer calories to maintain your rate of loss.

Currently I eat about 1250-1300 to lose.

Thanks! I started my weight loss journey in the summer of 2006 after sitting down and realizing that my largest pair of jeans were cutting into my stomach really hard, which meant that I'd have to go buy a new pair of bigger jeans. Not happening.

I did it very slowly and I reached 195 in October 2009. So, I guess that would be around three years. But, I did take a lot of breaks in there and didn't count calories or anything like that. Just a lot of changing the way I ate and getting out there and exercising.

You are doing great -- good luck to you!

Luka, it took me almost exactly 2 years to lose 115 pounds. For the first 15 weeks, I lost exactly 2 pounds a week, then the pace slowed. I ended up losing 77 pounds the first year and 38 pounds the second year. I was fortunate not to have any significant plateaus during the two years.

(Update to my previous post--it now looks as if my maintenance calories for this weight are 1700-1750, which I'd be pretty happy about. It will probably still take me a couple of months more to fine-tune.)

I posted in the "Goal" thread if you're interested in more details.

Unfortunately I only started in December and have already felt the need to take my calories down. I was losing continuosly for several weeks on 1400-1800 calories with a 3 days a week walking for 30 minutes. I stalled for about a week and a half so I upped my walking to an hour for 3 days per week and caloric intake down to UNDER 1400 at all times. I've already lost 2 pounds in two days since changing so I think I did the right thing. FYI I am extremely sedentary in my workplace but not in general....this might have something to do with my tardy metabolism.

You might want to think about giving yourself more than a week and a half to see if you are really stalled. I have heard that sometimes people will lose every week while others will have a big "whoosh" of weight loss once a month. Don't cut so many calories that you put your body into shock, also! I know where you are coming from, though...I tend to freak out if I don't see a loss consistently, but I've learned to be more patient (a little).

Well I broke through this am with a 1/2 pound loss, which I'll take. I'm going to give the cycling a go though - seems like it's a great concept and worth a fair try. I'm very glad I registered, you are all wonderful.

Luka,
I would definitely suggest calorie cycling. You eat the same number of calories per week, the number varies day to day. I found it to be very helpful.

Here is a calculator you can choose to calorie cycle (zig zag) near the bottom and it will figure it all out for you!

http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

So I just went to the website in the previous link and it told me to eat 1800 for extreme weight loss and more for regular weigh loss. I have been aiming for 1300-1400. I think 1800 is to high. I weigh 226 and work out 2-3 time a week for an hour. What do you think? If anybody weighs about what I weigh can you tell me how many you are eating and if you are getting results?