HCB's Journal, 31 January 2014

My trainer told me 2000 calories too! My back story is, I lost 80 lbs from 2011-2012 (about 1# a week). I started out at 1800 calories, no exercise. Then down to 1600 and exercise. Fast forward, dropped down to 1200-1400 calories, more exercise, became vegan. Struggled to eat 1200 calories. Maintained weight. Menstrual cycle stopped. Joined gym, trainer told me 2000 calories - I told him I couldn't do it. We argued some and then we argued more! :) I added 100 calories every week or so. Got up to 1400-1500 calories, added almonds daily. Cycle started back and is actually regular now. I'm now up to 1600-1700 calories. My weight is stable (fluctuates up and down about 3 lbs). I have lost 6% body fat in 5 months and lost a little over an inch around the waist, 1/2 inch around the hips, and my arms and legs are about 1/2 inch smaller - I am more muscular and tone. I look lean. I am hoping to get body fat down 3% to be in the athletic range and trying to drop maybe 5 more pounds. Anyways, being vegan (and eating mostly veggies, unlike those who eat lots of bread/sandwiches, I actually eat 8 cups of spinach a day and have 2-3 servings of extra veggies w/ lunch and dinner - only saying this b/c I eat, I just have a hard time getting my calories in b/c of the volume of veggies and the way I eat them). It's a complete mind boggle to eat more. A daily struggle to convince myself to eat more. But I have not gained weight - other than those minor fluctuations that are more fluid than anything. I'm 38, exercise a lot. I know I don't have thyroid problems, but ... I googled eat more@loseweight and there is info out there to support eating more. I'm sure its the combo of eating more and focusing more on weight training that has got me lean, but whatever works. It's worth a shot. Just gradually add healthier foods - maybe almonds, avocados. If you do it slowly, you probably won't notice weight gain and if you do, then you cut back for a few days. Good luck!  

To add, this was back in October that he told me this - and it has taken me until now to get to 1650-1700 calories. But I am consistent. I get about 100-125 gms of protein, 80+ gm of fiber, probably 25-30% fat (from the nuts, almond milk, and coconut milk). Obviously, I get more carbs b/c of the veggies- my net carbs are 150-200 most days, but all good carbs w/ limited bread/fruit. 

Maybe you should increase to 1400 and see what happens. You eat very healthy, so it shouldn't be hard to manage. Maybe you do need to eat a little more. I try to stay around 2000 and I have a large thyroid that hasn't yet been 100% diagnosed. I know you will figure it out. 

I would talk it out with your doctor first. 

I think NC's method sounds reasonable. Add 100/week and see what happens.  

If your thyroid is well controlled with medication it should really be a problem to increase your calorie intake. I have heard on this site of people who have broken through a plateau by increasing their intake.  

I too keep my calories very low with hypothyroid too. I would never go up to 2000 calories. You could add a bit, but if things are working, you know your body way better than your OTF trainer does. 

I have no advice but would be very interested in the results of your experiment (if you would be kind enough to share). Maybe Favoreic1 has something intelligent to say on the subject?  

if you don't eat, your body will eat itself, muscle first. Muscle burns fat. 

Never heard that one about the body eating itself. My past experience from not eating enough calories is that it goes into a plateau and keeps everything. Do agree that muscle burns fat, but you've got to work them in order for them to do the job.  

There is an App "My Fitness Calculator " you enter your stats and it calculates calories to eat to maintain weight, weight loss or weight gain and it's free.