[Nickyzeekat]

Hi everyone-

I have no idea how many calories to consume a day any more. I feel like my weight loss could be happening a bit more rapidly, and I think it would if I knocked down the # of calories I eat every day. This is my plan, so maybe you can help me:

I work out 4-6 days a week and make sure I burn 350 calories while at the gym. I do a combination of cardio workouts (elliptical, stepper, and treadmill).

For strength I do yoga strength training at home a few nights a week even if I go to the gym.

When I started working out I burned only 250 calories at the gym, and ate 1600 cal per day. I am still eating the same amt. of calories.

I have been between 176 and 180 for 2 weeks now. I eat healthy and have been avoiding alcohol. I AM PMS'ing this week and during this time I tend to retain some water. For my weight goal (my first being 155 lbs), and for the weight that I am at, should I cut down my calorie intake?

thank you!!!

Nzk

[bethbeth]

I am close to your weight/height, and get a lot of exercise. I have cut back my calories a bit. I try to get 1400-1450 about 3-4 days a week, and 1450-1500 2-3 days a week, and then about 1800 one day a week. I recently starting cutting back to the 1400-1450 a few days a week and I think it really helped get the weight dropping again!

[JayEll]

Hey! How do you know you are burning that many calories at the gym? I ask because sometimes the calorie estimates the machines give you run high...

Have you used any of the online tools like FitDay to try to set a calorie target? They can be helpful, but even with those tools, you need to do some individual adjustment.

Also, how do you track your calories?

Jay

[JulieJ08]

My height and weight are similar to yours, and I'm working out less than you I think. I'm doing about 1:15 of yoga every morning. Haven't been to gym or started a walking program yet.

I'm averaging about 1475 cal per day, and I've lost 17 pounds in 7 weeks so far - although it has slowed down from an average of 2.5#/week the first month, to an average of 1.75#/week the second month. It's been slower the past 2 weeks, but those are also TOM/post TOM weeks, and so far it's been slow those 2 weeks each month. Next week is when I would expect to see a bigger loss, so I wouldn't consider myself slow or plateau'ed until the next couple weeks go by.

It's hard to say if you should lower your calories as you didn't say how many you were eating, but I wouldn't think they would need to be very very low. But we're all different. Maybe I'll change my tune if I really stall out, but I'd rather keep up a moderate rate of weight loss and an enjoyable diet, than to feel very restricted. I'm trying to change my eating habits forever and improve my health.

I guess my real point is, don't think something is wrong if you plateau a bit around TOM. You will probably do it every month. Once you're a few months into this, you will see your pattern.