Calories at 8 Months?

[Chrystee 838]

@@Alex Brecher thanks! I think the reason I asked is because it sort of feels on the edge of my control. I've been hyper vigilant about everything and I'm worried that the rise in calories is a sign that I'm slipping a bit and perhaps giving into cravings more. I seem to be having a lot more cravings than usual too, which also makes me anxious. I do exercise a lot, which may be why I'm more hungry than usual, but I can't say that for certain. I weigh in at the doctor's tomorrow so I'll get to see if the added calories have had any effect.

I feel the same.. and sitting in a bit of a stall, which doesn't help!

[Indieflickers 298]

@@Chrystee it's rather terrifying isn't it?

[Chrystee 838]

@@Chrystee it's rather terrifying isn't it?

I get nervous that this is it.. and I'm not ready to be done. Some days I don't even feel like I look any different..

[Indieflickers 298]

@@Chrystee believe me I understand that panic. But I think most of it is in our heads.

[MichiganChic 3,262]

I think it is individual. If you are losing on 1200, then stick with it. I won't lose unless I'm around 900. I'm probably older and have a more sluggish metabolism. I think we each have to figure it out for ourselves.

[Indieflickers 298]

@@MichiganChic that's probably very true!

[Chrystee 838]

@@Chrystee believe me I understand that panic. But I think most of it is in our heads.

I'm sure.. I'm up a couple pounds too.. which I don't know is from my workout this weekend, or what. But annoying.

[Indieflickers 298]

@@Chrystee that is frustrating. I had my appointment today and while I did lose this month, it was only 1/3 of what I've been losing monthly. So I'm going to drop the calories back to the 1000 - 1100 range and see if that makes a difference.

[Chrystee 838]

@@Chrystee that is frustrating. I had my appointment today and while I did lose this month, it was only 1/3 of what I've been losing monthly. So I'm going to drop the calories back to the 1000 - 1100 range and see if that makes a difference.

Good to know.. that's how my last month was.. the least amount that I've lost so far.. so logically I know that its not that much of a big deal, just worrisome.

[Indieflickers 298]

@@Chrystee indeed! It was a good wake up call for me though.

[Madmax68 227]

I am just back from a meeting with my nutritionist. I'm at 1200 calories, as per her recommendation. Today she told me to increase my carbs. Apparently, the reason I am so tired all the time is that my muscles need some carbs to fuel the swimming. I had been eating 50-70 g/day. I'm supposed to increase it to 90-100. I'm a little nervous, but last time I stalled she told me to increase my calories from 800 to 1200 and it worked. I'll give it a try for a week, at least.

[Indieflickers 298]

@@Madmax68 that's a good idea. Did she suggest what kind of carbs?

[Madmax68 227]

@@Indieflickers - Right! I should have mentioned that. Sweet potatoes, peas, Beans (lots of legumes) and squash. They're all great sources of fibre and other nutrients too. She did ask if I could eat rice, but I'm off rice right now - it makes me queasy. I'm making baked sweet potato fries for dinner. (I cut them into fries and spray them with a bit of Pam before putting them in the oven - delish).

[Indieflickers 298]

@@Madmax68 good to know! I happen to have some sweet potato in the fridge but didn't know what to do with it! I've never really cooked it before.

[JerseyCityGal 231]

@@Chrystee gotcha!

I'll never forget when I was listening to a podcast by Jillian Michaels (I know some hate her, but I love her).. and she said, the muscle makes you gain myth is total bunk.. its something people to say to make someone feel better and that its really, really hard to gain that much muscle.

People are explaining it wrong. Jillian is right.

A pound of muscle and a pound of fat weight exactly the same. A pound.

A pound of muscle looks better than a pound of fat because fat takes up a lot more space. Muscle makes you look leaner and harder. Plus, the MORE lean muscle you have, the more calories your body burns. You can weigh the same if you are muscular and look significantly smaller than the person of the same height and weight standing next to you who has half the lean muscle you do.

The part about gaining "muscle" weight while weight lifting being really hard to do is completely true. It takes significant effort to become jacked up or bulked up. Like eat 2 pounds of chicken, 2 pounds of potatoes, etc per day while following a crazy workout schedule. It's like having an extra job.

A very thin person who starts weight training would experience a small weight gain without trying to become bulked up, but anyone else, not really. You would get an increase in blood volume and muscle gain but that would be offset by a much more significant fat loss.

Edited October 8, 2015 by JerseyCityGal