Advice from veterans please
1200 calories are not an EEK... really. Especially if you're making good choices.
You spoke of a workout burning about 900 calories an hour.... that's huge. My workouts I usually burn about 300-400 at most (yeah, I'm not hardcore at all), and I do add calories then.
My net (after work out) calories usually end up between 900-1200 now at almost a year out. Yes, it has taken me almost a year to reach goal because the timing was less important to me than adopting an eating way of life that I know I can stick to. When I'm super restrictive with myself, I find I get too focused and think about food too much, so moderation works for me.
Your BMI is already lower than mine though.... and you wish to lose more, so I would maybe set a net calorie goal? It will tell you on Daily Plate "approximately" how many calories you need to consume to lose however much per week you tell it.
Good luck to you!!!
Meg
You spoke of a workout burning about 900 calories an hour.... that's huge. My workouts I usually burn about 300-400 at most (yeah, I'm not hardcore at all), and I do add calories then.
My net (after work out) calories usually end up between 900-1200 now at almost a year out. Yes, it has taken me almost a year to reach goal because the timing was less important to me than adopting an eating way of life that I know I can stick to. When I'm super restrictive with myself, I find I get too focused and think about food too much, so moderation works for me.
Your BMI is already lower than mine though.... and you wish to lose more, so I would maybe set a net calorie goal? It will tell you on Daily Plate "approximately" how many calories you need to consume to lose however much per week you tell it.
Good luck to you!!!
Meg
Goal weight reached ~ without malabsorption!!! Yipee.....
Rhonda, you're doing so well! And with the amount you're exercising, 1200 calories a day doesn't sound bad at all.
1) Did your habits change six months out and were closer to your goal weight?
At 6 months, I had lost 70 lbs. which put my BMI at 27 ish. I experienced a real slowdown in the weight loss at the 8 month mark. I think I was eating a bit more but I don't track so I don't know exactly. I was still following the "rules" but yes, eating more as I was hungrier. By one year, I had lost 94 pounds, putting my BMI right at around 24. The last 15-17 pounds just came off slowly over the next 5 or 6 months and I've been maintaining since then.
2)Did you find yourself increasing your calories?
Yes
3)Have you reached your goal weight and how long did it take you?
Yes, see above
4) Any tips on maintanence?
For me, it's about picking my battles and finding a way of eating that's healthy but is also sustainable for me in the long run. For example, I have a sweet tooth, so I have a little chocolate or a piece of candy everyday. But I still focus on protein at my meals and eat very little bread, pasta, rice, etc. I also weigh every day to keep my focus. So far it's working!
Lizanne
1) Did your habits change six months out and were closer to your goal weight?
At 6 months, I had lost 70 lbs. which put my BMI at 27 ish. I experienced a real slowdown in the weight loss at the 8 month mark. I think I was eating a bit more but I don't track so I don't know exactly. I was still following the "rules" but yes, eating more as I was hungrier. By one year, I had lost 94 pounds, putting my BMI right at around 24. The last 15-17 pounds just came off slowly over the next 5 or 6 months and I've been maintaining since then.
2)Did you find yourself increasing your calories?
Yes
3)Have you reached your goal weight and how long did it take you?
Yes, see above
4) Any tips on maintanence?
For me, it's about picking my battles and finding a way of eating that's healthy but is also sustainable for me in the long run. For example, I have a sweet tooth, so I have a little chocolate or a piece of candy everyday. But I still focus on protein at my meals and eat very little bread, pasta, rice, etc. I also weigh every day to keep my focus. So far it's working!
Lizanne
No, my eating habits did not change at all at 6 months. My eating habits have not changed at 10 months, and they won't change at 12 months either.
The reason you are stalling is because you are no longer working your sleeve like you used to do. You got "close' and started to let up and increase your eating. That's not a good thing to do.
Stay ON PROGRAM until you hit your goal. Then, begin to add in higher calorie foods, etc. But don't even think about doing that until you have actually reached goal.
Once you do reach goal, continue to weight yourself once a week. If you gain more than two pounds for two weeks in a row, or more than 3 pounds in any one week, get back on program and get those excess pounds back off again.
DO NOT LET THEM BUILD UP!
Continue to tak all vitamins and minerals for the rest of your life.
The reason you are stalling is because you are no longer working your sleeve like you used to do. You got "close' and started to let up and increase your eating. That's not a good thing to do.
Stay ON PROGRAM until you hit your goal. Then, begin to add in higher calorie foods, etc. But don't even think about doing that until you have actually reached goal.
Once you do reach goal, continue to weight yourself once a week. If you gain more than two pounds for two weeks in a row, or more than 3 pounds in any one week, get back on program and get those excess pounds back off again.
DO NOT LET THEM BUILD UP!
Continue to tak all vitamins and minerals for the rest of your life.
A former Army Medic (1959-1969), Registered Nurse (1969-2000), College Instructor (1984-1989) and a retired Rehabilitation Counselor. I am also a dual citizen of the USA and Canada.
High Weight 412 lbs. Date of Surgery 360.5 Present 170 lbs
High Weight 412 lbs. Date of Surgery 360.5 Present 170 lbs
I'm going to copy my answers from the LW board so others here can see them.
1) Did your habits change six months out and were closer to your goal weight?
I made my initial goal of a normal BMI at 6.5 month. No, my habits didn't really change. I didn't experience a 6 month window like a lot of people do.
2) Did you find yourself increasing your calories?
I increased my protein, which did increase my calories. But I increased m protein because my exercise increased so my weight loss continued the same. Or relatively the same.
3)Have you reached your goal weight and how long did it take you?
I think I'm done losing. I'm not 100% sure though. If I stay at 113, I will have reached it at 10 months out.
4) Any tips on maintanence?
Man, it's a *****!
A lot of people kind of coast to a stop in their weight loss. So they know how to eat to maintain. They just keep doing what they are doing. Maybe they add in a snack. Or cut out a day of exercise. And that it, they are done losing.
But I had to actively put on the brakes so I'm in a different place. For me, it's a big head game. It's so different moving from trying to eat as little a possible to trying to eat as much as your body needs ... but no more.
I just don't trust my body to tell me how hungry it is. So I fight it a lot. Even though, so far, it doesn't seem to be lying to me or anything. If I eat to my hunger, I don't lose or gain weight and if I actively limit myself, I lose weight. So clearly, I should listen to it, right? But I have to force myself.
1) Did your habits change six months out and were closer to your goal weight?
I made my initial goal of a normal BMI at 6.5 month. No, my habits didn't really change. I didn't experience a 6 month window like a lot of people do.
2) Did you find yourself increasing your calories?
I increased my protein, which did increase my calories. But I increased m protein because my exercise increased so my weight loss continued the same. Or relatively the same.
3)Have you reached your goal weight and how long did it take you?
I think I'm done losing. I'm not 100% sure though. If I stay at 113, I will have reached it at 10 months out.
4) Any tips on maintanence?
Man, it's a *****!
A lot of people kind of coast to a stop in their weight loss. So they know how to eat to maintain. They just keep doing what they are doing. Maybe they add in a snack. Or cut out a day of exercise. And that it, they are done losing.
But I had to actively put on the brakes so I'm in a different place. For me, it's a big head game. It's so different moving from trying to eat as little a possible to trying to eat as much as your body needs ... but no more.
I just don't trust my body to tell me how hungry it is. So I fight it a lot. Even though, so far, it doesn't seem to be lying to me or anything. If I eat to my hunger, I don't lose or gain weight and if I actively limit myself, I lose weight. So clearly, I should listen to it, right? But I have to force myself.
HW - 225 SW - 191 GW - 132 CW - 122
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