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2004/07/19, 02:13 AM
Okay, I'm 5'9", 180 pounds (female). I'm trying to get back down to around 150, because I looked really good at 150. (That was 2 babies ago.)
I've been counting my calories for a few days now, and what I'm seeing is confusing me. According to the FT calculations, I should be getting nearly 3,000 calories a day. I'm only eating around 1600 calories a day. So what am I doing wrong? I've had the same eating pattern for as long as I can remember, but I'm still overweight. I've started an exercise program, last week.
Is it that I'm not getting ENOUGH calories, so my body is in this so called starvation mode? Or am I eating the calories at the wrong time of day? (I usually eat 1 very small meal around 2 in the afternoon and a larger meal around 8 in the evening. Then I go to bed around 11.) I spent most of my life really UNDERweight, so I just don't understand what is going on now, and why I can't seem to lose this weight. I'm drinking 5-6 tall glasses of water a day, like the books say. I'm eating very few calories. I'm exercising. What am I doing wrong?
Denise
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2004/07/19, 03:45 AM
There are many things that you will need to improve in regaurds to your eating habits. First of all, you should be eating 6 small meals a day. This keeps your metabolism running at a faster pace. By eating only two meals a day like that your body is completely confused and is storing all that it can when it can. Also, eating a large meal like that is difficult for your metabolism to digest--especially that late at night. You shouldn't be eating past 6 or 7. Also, what your eating makes a difference as well. Check out Assimers post one healthy shopping. That should give you some pointers on how to improve your diet. Furthermore, its great that you are integrating exercise into your routine. Just stick with it and you will see results. I promise.
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2004/07/19, 09:37 AM
Denise,
First of all, I don't know where the 3,000 calorie figure came from, but I guarantee you that that you don't need that many calories in a day. 1,600 sounds much more like a reasonable number for your size - maybe 1,800 if your exercising very intensely every day.
If you don't exercise intensely every day, then on your off days, you should cycle your calories down to around 1,400 and see how that works out.
Also, if you just started your exercise routine last week, you need to give your body some time to adapt. A lot of people actually PUT ON weight when they first start exercising because they put on muscle mass which is GOOD. That muscle mass will help you to burn calories and keep off weight in the long run.
Also, as far as what time of day to eat, 5-6 meals a day should be spread out evenly throughout your day, even in the evening. It is okay to eat at 8:00pm, but that last meal should be as low in carbs as possible. Something high in protein but low in carbs and fat would be ideal - either some lean meat, or a protein shake.
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Aaron M. Potts
Aarons Personal Training
http://www.aaronspersonaltraining.com
http://www.issacertifications.com
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