The Journey begins with me page 286

[athomeontherange]

How long have you been seeing the plateau-gain from 1600 calories? You seemed to lose great in the first month on your original macros.

I was just looking at lower HSIS macros because I noticed that your kg goal was close to mine even though I have several inches on you. I also was trying to encourage you not to go as low as 1200-1300cals. I would say 1500 should be your minimum.

Honestly, My advice is always eat more, not less. What if this slow down in weight loss is your body's reaction to a) losing so much in the first month or 2) a metabolic slow down due to your body burning 2300 cals (BMR x1.2 for sedentary) and you only feeding it 1200-1300 cals. What does the fitbit say you burn?

Maybe have some cycle up days where you try to eat to your BMR (1900) and others where you go down to a lower goal. I have my BMR set as my base calories and try to eat at least that every day.

Just my 2 cents based on my n=1 that may not work for everyone.

I did lose great the first month. For the last 2 weeks its been zip. I was hoping to get back to that losing streak again but you are probably right in that my body might be catching up.

I have to admit, I have not been wearing the fitbit. It has been the last thing on my mind. :/

that is a good point Paula. My BMR is 1850 (that is the base with no multiplier for any activity). I tend to eat between 1400 and 1600 calories. This has, up to now, not at all been successful. So I am thinking I need to throw in a couple of higher calorie days and see what happens, keeping my net carbs below 15 and my protein below 70. Today is likely to be a high day.

I tend to eat on the low end because in the past (and probably still) I tend to underestimate things like how much HWC I put in my tea at lunch. It is actually very likely 3 to 4 tablespoons as opposed to the 1. (I just went and changed it!). HWC is likely my biggest culprit, as I tend to put it in my tea most of the time and don't always record it, although at home I do usually weigh it out to 1T, but I may do as many as 3 or 4 in a night. So, in my mind, by eating on the low side I am compensating for inaccurate tracking.

so you and Paula are saying about the same thing. Take the total number of calories allotted and break it up.

I am on occasion OCD about this.. how many higher days to lower should I start with? I know our bodies do not have rules like this and I know I am not the only one frustrated..

[Pebbles67]

I would do two to three high then one low. So 1-2 low days / wk to start.

I would wear the fitbit for a week and get an average calorie burn. That should be the limit for a high day. A low day could be 30% but no more than 40% below that.

[demuralist]

My suggestion, for what it is worth given I haven't lost any since we started in January, is to take the month where you lost weight. Total the calories for all the days you kept good records. Divide by that number of days and let us know what you get. (how is that to fulfill your OCD fantasies?). Then we can see how different it is from your BMR. Then maybe use one as your high number and one as your low.

[demuralist]

p.s. to add on to Paula's suggestion, maybe one ff if you get really stuck?

[athomeontherange]

So for instance:
1. 1600
2. 1600
3. 1600
4. 1200
5. 1600
6. 1600
7. 1200

to start for example?

[Pebbles67]

Oooh, good idea Chris.

[athomeontherange]

My suggestion, for what it is worth given I haven't lost any since we started in January, is to take the month where you lost weight. Total the calories for all the days you kept good records. Divide by that number of days and let us know what you get. (how is that to fulfill your OCD fantasies?). Then we can see how different it is from your BMR. Then maybe use one as your high number and one as your low.

don't toy with me.. LOL!! I am gonna do it thought!

p.s. to add on to Paula's suggestion, maybe one ff if you get really stuck?

So like one day at @ 1000?

ok.. I need to charge my fitbit..

[demuralist]

do your losing month average first and then I will think about the details of your days. Right now I am thinking maybe one close to 1000 FF, then at least one day of your BMRx's activity, then the other 5 hover around your losing month average.

[Pebbles67]

You can do a 90 day calorie bar graph on MFP. It is under reports. Your average cals in Feb. seemed to be 1500.

I wouldn't throw in the FF day unless the low calorie days are not working for you.

* You are not going to like this...Your BMR is 1900

I was thinking more like:
1900
1900
1500
1900
1900
1500
1900
1900

[demuralist]

Yes, I really was thinking the FF was more of a throw in from desperation, ie. the above didn't work.