[AnaisK]

I really hope this calorie counting is working. I looked in the mirror at lunch and couldn't believe i couldn't see a change! (It's been 3 weeks..). I really can't IMAGINE that it isn't working, because i am so focused and determined...so?? I suppose I just need to stay the course and remember that it is a process. And not to give up...because one of these days...I'm going to get on a scale or put on a pair of pants and I'll have lost a ton of weight. And it will seem as if it is out of nowhere! Right?!!!

I've been eating approx. 1400 calories on the days i don't excercise. Though most days I excercise and increase my calories accordingly. Should I not eat a little more on those days?? I did have one cheat day last week, because I didn't plan ahead for a BBQ I went to, but I didn't think one day would make a big difference. Maybe I was wrong.


A.

[Apple Cheeks]

Originally Posted by AnaisK

I've been eating approx. 1400 calories on the days i don't excercise. Though most days I excercise and increase my calories accordingly.

That sounds like your problem right there.

Eating back the calories you just spent all that time burning off through exercise is counter-productive, unless you are just aiming to maintain your weight and not lose any.

Also, part of the problem could be that you have so little weight to lose. The less you need to lose, the harder your body will hold onto every pound. The featherweights forum in the support groups is for people who are fighting to lose those last few pounds, and I'm sure the posters could offer you more insight and support there.

[Horo]

Even when change does occur, it usually tends to take quite a bit longer for our minds to catch up and register that change. Frustrating as heck, I know...

[AnaisK]

But...I use daily plate and logged in my weight loss goals and it said the number of calories i should eat to lose 2 pounds a week if i wasn't working out. So I figured that if I do work out I could eat more, since they tally the net total after the workout. I"m still confused.

I checked out the featherweight forum and I like this one better.(:

Thanks for any input!!

[PhotoChick]

Three weeks is very little time to see a change. I know we all want to see results NOW .. .but give it a bit!

As far as DP goes, I use them to log food and keep track of calories, but I think their whole system of net calories and eating back exercise calories is totally screwed up. They make what is a simple thing *so* unnecessarily confusing and complex.

Eat a reasonable level of calories. Exercise. Don't try to figure out complicated calculations of eating back. Just eat at a healthy level and let everything balance out in the end.

I personally eat between 1300 and 1500 cals a day (try not to go over 1500, although I'm not always successful) and I exercise 4-5 times a week. I don't try to figure out how many cals I burned and eat them back. I just burn them.

So far that works. And it doesn't require me to become a math whiz.

.

[Apple Cheeks]

I agree with photochick.

I generally eat between 1,200-1,600 calories a day, regardless of whether or not I've worked out, what type of exercise I've done, or the intensity of that exercise.

Ignore the suggestions from the DailyPlate that you can eat "X" amount more calories because you've worked out--it, just like the calories it says you've burned through exercise, is completely wrong in most of our experiences!

[AnaisK]

Darn! Good advice...definitely! BUT I'm sad to lose those extra calories. Especially because knowing I could eat more was motivating me to exercise more!!!

[bargoo]

3 weeks is really a very short time to see a change. Actually other people usually notice it before we do. Be patient it will happen.

[aphil]

Well, if you want motivation to exercise:

~Better health
~longer life
~Firmer, more shapelier body



I would give it another couple weeks at 1400 per day. If you don't see any changes in your weight, then maybe try 1300 per day. Something else you want to consider, is that because you are already of a pretty low weight, your losses are going to be much slower per week than someone starting out at 200 pounds. This is normal. Don't expect to lose 2-3 pounds per week at your current weight.

[midwife]

How are you monitoring your weight or changes? There are lots of ways to measure progress, but just looking in the mirror is not one of them. I looked in the mirror this morning and had a moment of panic because I thought I looked exactly the same as I did last year....which was 50 pounds ago and totally a ridiculous thought. Our self image is NOT going to be a consistent way to track progress.

I am a daily weigher, which has pros and cons. Other people measure body parts or use clothes to track progress. Find something objective if you are looking to track progress, cause our eyes can play tricks on us.

I think online calorie calculators are bunk. You need to find out what your body needs. And in order to do that, track your food and your progress and then you can make changes from there.

I would not plan to eat back calories that you burn exercising at this time. Exercise revvs your engines and keeps you burning calories even on days you don't exercise. Especially weight training.

But in the meantime you need objective data. Maybe what you are doing really is working. But checking progress with just your eyes and mirror might not be very accurate.

Good luck!!

[Beverlyjoy]

Hi....I eat 1200-1550 calories a day. I don't try to figure in exercise at all as far as my daily intake. It's way to complicated. If you eat within a certain range and do some exercise everyweek, you'll lose.

I got my calorie range from sparkpeople.com. Seems to work well for me.

Hang in there!!