Caloric intake to lose 1 lb a week seems low, thoughts? page

[magpieoz]

I just finished reading Primal Blueprint and I am really excited to embrace the primal life. I am currently on Ideal Protein, but do not think this is a sustainable way to live. I did it for 4 mos this winter and lost 20lbs (went from 140-120), but I put back on 10 lbs when I went off of it, mostly from drinking and not knowing what to eat and how to eat with normal non-packaged foods.

So I went back on Ideal Protein (Our Doctor Derived Weight Loss Program Provides You with a Diet that Really Works) for September and I am getting very lame results, basically none. I want to change to primal eating, but I the calorie intake is still really low and I feel like without the weekly check in I get at the center I may over do it.

My body fat % is around 23%, I calculated my caloric intake assuming it was 25% because I know the scale is not that accurate.

This is the breakdown:
BMR: 655 + (567.3) + (24.8) - (164.5) = 1082.3
BMR + Activity: 1082.3 x1.375 = 1488 calories/day for me.
Subtracting 500 a day for the 3500 calorie deficit equals a total of 988 calories a day to lose 1 lb a week
Protein: 68 grams 273 cals
Carbs: 50 grams 200 cals
Fat: 73.5 grams 515 cals

My question to you is does that seem really low? Do you think I could get away with more calories in fat or protein and keep the carbs low. Maybe I just need to play with it, but I thought you may have some thoughts. I am lifting 1-2 times a week and walking about 25-40 mins a day (to and from work). I am sprinting about every 10 days. Tending towards the lower side of those ranges as I am eating so little right now.

I'd be really excited to hear any insight you might have. Or maybe there is a person who is similar to me that you can point me to. I am 35, 5'3", big skier, desk job, 130 lbs, Body fat % about 23%.

Feel free to share this out with a reply, I just couldn't figure out how to post a new thread!

THANKS!!

[Leida]

Yeah, life sucks when you are on the low end of the spectrum. My maintenance at my activity level is ~ 1600 cals a day, so to lose 1 lb a week I get to eat 1,100 cals a day, which is under the BMR of 1280. Not gonna happen. So, I shoot for 0.5 lbs a week. Well, not so much as shoot, as hope.

[Wildrose]

I'm pretty sure 988 calories a day would actually be starvation. That's way, way too low. Remember that your body will fight back and down-regulate your metabolism if you starve yourself. One thing to keep in mind is that a good percentage of body fat for a woman is 20, although some people can reach 15 no problem. You might be very close to your ideal weight, so losing will be harder.

I just googled it, 2000 calories is about the average of what people eat. Even assuming that's a bit high, I think 988 is very low.

[Leida]

Yes, the "average person" is 150 lbs and 5'5" or 5'4". The OP is both lighter and shorter, that cuts down his/her BMR drammatically. I am 5'6" and my BMR is some 1270 cals - basically leaving me with no room for cutting calories if I did not train. Even when training, I do not get much room. Like I said, life sucks when you are on the lower end.

[Damiana]

That is way too low. I am around your size and I can't imagine eating that little daily. It's not just burn 500 calories a day, lose 1 pound a week anyway. Your body metabolism is complex and will adjust itself to burn fewer calories for energy if it suspects it is getting fewer calories than it needs and similarly will burn a little more if it is getting an excess. Your body is excellent at keeping itself at an equilibrium, which is why it's so hard to lose weight.

[Nigel]

5'3", big skier, desk job, 130 lbs,

My wife is 5'2" and 126lbs. She looks good to me. Were it me, I'd go for muscle tone and see if the shape looks right as I don't think a couple of pounds is anything to worry about.

[emmie]

No, it may not be too low. The only way to know is to try it for a week or two and seek.

I am about the OP's size, and I lose about a pound a week at 800 cal. The difference may be that I am much older (post-menopausal) with the resulting slower metabolism. I'm also hypothyroid.

What is 'starvation' for many people, is 'baseline' for others. I maintain at 145 lbs with 1,100 cal daily--all primal and very low carb (I have a strong carb sensitivity). I don't experience any hunger at this level, and all my lab values are ideal.

[magpieoz]

This is really helpful, thank you very much everyone. Yes, 988 is a struggle some days. I am a hungry monster. I think I need to add more fat and keep the carbs low. While I haven't lost much in the last month on ideal protein, I have lost about a half an inch in my tummy and leaned out a bit, which is good.

I thought starvation mode was thought of to be a myth if you look into the intermittent fasting posts, no??

[Leida]

Starvation is not a myth, starvation is a myth in regards to the IF (i.e. short term fast). Sustained deficit will eventually invoke starvation response. That's why it is important to eat over the maintenance a few times a months.

[magpieoz]

Then I must agree Ledia, life does suck at this end of the spectrum... haha.