EyesoftheBlueDog's Journal, 11 October 2021

Who was supposed to bump up my exercise this week since I was going to a wedding this Sunday? Me. Who gave up after 10 min of HIIT and just decided to eat under 1000 calories a day? Also me. I'm so proud of you guys who exercise heavily to counteract calorie intake, but I find it soo much easier to eat less instead. I still walk 8000 steps a day and do PT and yoga 2-3 times a week each, but I've been doing it for years so it doesn't really count as far as calorie consumption goes. Is there a good reason for me not to switch to 1000 calories a day? 

I got a lot of good advice on the calorie question from our FS Friends. Before I worked out and lifted, I focused on calories which got me 10 pounds down. I hovered around 1000. I'm 5'5" so this was ok for me at the time. Now my goal is around 1300-1500 per day which accounts for 45 minutes high intensity exercise 4x a week and an office job. It was suggested to up my protien and that REALLY helped me. Thinking of you ❤  

👍. That's all "me". Is your objective still loosing the weight? I was at my min calories 1300kcal +/- 100kcal. Probably not a minimum for me any longer now that I shed 20+ lbs. So my weight has been slow to drop. But I have increased my workouts so maybe the muscles are up. There are a lot of good advices from FS community. But I also realize what work for them doesn't mean my body will be happy with short-term.  

I think it is totally up to you and what works for you you've already lost 15 

I’m doing between 700-1000 kcal average per week (under a doctors supervision). Due to past exercise injurys I really have to rely upon diet, however I am lifting weights to keep muscle mass as I have been warned that without keeping muscle, which burns calories, weigh will come back faster. It isn’t alot just arm lifts, weighted squats and next week starts weighted planks. Basically that low there are only three things you can eat - very clean protein, vegetable (above ground, not grain) and a limited amount of seeds/nut to get healthy fats. Little room for many fruits (I do rotate in a fruit each day) and nearly none for grains so must be very careful to get B vitamin from seeds (flax, chia, pumpkin, hemp, sunflower). On protein eating fatty fish like mackeral and salmon to avoid gall stones etc. I honestly wouldn’t recommend doing this for a long time without oversight. 

JCordry, if you managed 1000 a day before, I think I can definitely try it too! I'm 5,3 so I think it's quite manageable. Exercise and 1500 sounds way healthier, but I work with what I have... I do put a lot of effort to have at least 46 g of protein a day and 25 g of fiber; it helps tremendously with feeling full. 

Woooow, Tai. I thought you were one of the "I eat 2500 calories a day and just work it off" people. I'm glad to hear you are human. Both yours and JCordry before/after pics are so cool. I honestly think both of your pics got me in the whole "I need to work out more" mode... I do want to loose more weight. I recall that you reached a goal weight before you started working out seriously? Maybe I'll get to my ideal weight first and then get into a more serious exercise routine - it's hard to do both. 

Thank you, Ridemariel!  

Thank you, SparkKG! Spot on with vitamin B. I cut out all carbs back in August and lost a bunch of hair since then... probably vitamin B deficiency. I'm taking supplements now. I'll add flax and chia as well. Good advice! I have been following exactly the same diet that you describe protein + veggies + a single fruit a day. I think if I add nuts/ chia/ flax - I should be good. I'll try it for two weeks and see how it goes! 

Thanks, I did reach my goal weight of 160 before I add abs and bodyweight exercises to my daily treadmill. I am doing the old school approach "loose weight first, then add a little bit of muscles back".