Well this is new…
So I’ve been doing some reading and thinking and talking to folks who know a little something about nutrition.
It appears I need to actively work on INCREASING my calorie intake.
I’ve noticed in the last week I’ve been REALLY tired. I mean like REALLY tired. I got to thinking and started wondering if I was actually ending up too low on the calorie count each day. In other words, I wasn’t giving my body enough energy to get the job done.
Then I thought about what I ate in Italy. I’d estimate I averaged 2400-2600 calories a day on that trip. Granted, I was walking 10 miles a day, so I was really active, but I lost three pounds that week and I felt fantastic.
I also noticed it’s taking less and less food for me to not be hungry. As I write this, I’ve eaten 1121 calories today and burned off 430. That puts me at less than 700 calories for the day. There is simply no way my body can run off of that. Mathamatically is should mean weight loss, but health wise, I just don’t think it’s going to cut it.
So I’m getting a little worried I might be pushing my body into starvation mode. That would explain the slowing of weight loss, the lack of energy and the lack of appetite.
I’ve used quite a few calorie calculators to get an idea of what I should be eating if I want to lose weight. None of them come in lower than 1600 or 1800 calories. That seems so high to me, but I also know now I was probably eating 3000-3500 calories a day before I started tracking things.
So, as much as it makes me paranoid that Scottie will rocket past me this week, I’m going to aim to increase my calorie intake.
I’d been aiming for around 1000 net calories a day. My new goal is 1200-1400 net calories a day. That means 1200-1400 calories on the days I don’t work out and 1600-1800 calories on the days I do work out.
We’ll see what happen.
March 9th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Interesting. Have you come across the data on the extreme dieters and the okinawans who go for only every eating until 80% full? Apparently as a long term plan this is the way to go, not that I’m sure I could ever develop the will power to live that way. I’m currently at the changing patterns and always feeling hungry stage!
March 9th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
How in the world does someone know when they are “80%” full?
I’ve never heard of that, but sounds funky.
I mean our bodies tell us we are hungry for a reason. Sure we can screw with it (stretch stomach, shrink stomach, anorexia) but for the most part, our bodies tell us when we should eat.
For instance, I’m sitting here right now, having just shoveled the walk. 80 minutes of solid snow shoveling. Wet snow about 18″ deep. Burned more than 750 calories. Added up what I’ve eaten so far and it’s 742 for the day. It’s 4pm, I shouldn’t be hungry, but I am. Going to go make a PBJ here in a few minutes.
I’m burning more than I’m using these days, but a LOT. You have to give your body the fuel to keep working. Going to be hunting up some more info this week, will share what I find.
Really do think I need to start hitting 1200-1400 net calories for the day though. Should be interesting to try and fit that extra food back in.
March 9th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
LOL!
If it makes you feel better, I’ve seriously plateaued. I’ve been gaining and losing the same pound all week. It just won’t stay gone!
March 9th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Makes me feel a little better.
I’m in the same boat as you. Up and down up and down.
My brain keeps thinking…
“Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line.”
and jumping to…
“Never go in against Atkins when rapid weight loss is on the line.”
March 10th, 2008 at 7:54 am
I think it’s more important to be healthy than to win a contest, even if it is for charity. Thanks for writing this post, it was very informative
March 12th, 2008 at 6:37 am
Hara Hachi Bu - eat until you are 80% full. Found it on a site that’s selling the Okinawan diet, but no, no tips on how you actually do it. Read about it first on the bbc though, when it was comparing three communities all of which have a way higher rate of ppl living past 100 and was looking into why. The idea is that diet may have something to do with it.
March 12th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
[...] changes. I think the biggest will have to be making exercise a priority. I really love what Jennifer Laycock wrote about calories because I do believe that your body needs [...]