Increasing Calorie Budget

I'm still a ways off from where I want to be, at a normal BMI, but last night I decided it was time to increase my calories and slow down my weight loss.

I ate at a 1k deficit for most of 2024, from the moment I began counting calories and even through the holidays, for the most part. At the height of my weight loss, I was losing around 2.3 lbs per week, and much of that could be attributed to an increase in activity without and increase in calories.

I lost weight quickly but hit a wall here recently. I can now feel my body struggling to find fat to metabolize as I near a normal BMI, and I'm reaching near-ravenous levels of hunger on days that I'm particularly active and/or stressed. So, last night as I struggled to stay out of my kitchen, I realized that my body was telling me I was actually hungry rather than being bored or just having... munchies. And instead of binging, I decided it was time to modify the budget.

In my mind, eating more than my budget is bingeing, but it's not bingeing if I'm still counting my calories and sticking to a budget (which is still a deficit). This is just me listening to what my body is telling me, and giving it what it needs.

I'm writing this post as a sort of declaration of commitment to this new caloric budget (currently ~500 cal, give or take 100, but I won't know for certain until I see the results and adjust accordingly). I also feel it's important for me to state this out loud, because I've gone back and forth with this decision multiple times over the past month or so. And, in an effort to avoid any potential for an eating disorder, I think holding myself accountable to this public statement is equally important.

This new budget will promote the slight change in goals as I aim for a maintenance/recomposition phase once I get down below 178. I can already see the outline of my muscles as I continue to lean down, and the desire to see more of that is becoming a more prominent motivation than "simply" losing the weight.

To anyone who happens across this, thank you for reading. If you're in the same boat as I am, I encourage you to reflect on your own situation and determine whether or not a change in budget is right for you.

Thank you.

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How much should I slow down my weight loss and allow more calories while working a strenuous job?

Just started a job as a dishwasher a few weeks back and have found I need more calories than usual to get through my days otherwise I’m a bed ridden corpse.

The dishwashing job isn’t really hard, but there’s quite a bit of heavy lifting spread through the shift.

Currently I’m floating around 290 lbs, male, 23 yrs.

I usually set a weight loss goal of around 1% body weight per week so 2.5 lbs loss a week.

I’m managing to get at least 1800 calories daily.

How many more calories can I add daily to still get good weekly results while getting enough fuel for the day?

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How do you all stay confident in the in between stages of weight loss?

Like a lot of people, I gained weight in the pandemic. I finally got serious about making healthy choices last year, and have lost some of the weight, but am nowhere near my goal weight and still have a long way to go.

I’m proud of myself but still feeling weird. I moved, and haven’t seen some friends + family in a while. I’ve also been working from home for a few years, and I’ve kinda become a homebody. I’m embarrassed to go out + try new things as much as I used to because of my weight gain + a lot of clothes don’t fit. It’s also strange and frustrating being treated differently by strangers as I’ve gained weight. I’m also ashamed to see old friends + family and have been avoiding it. I know my friends will still be kind, but I am worried about unsolicited comments from family and relatives.

Despite all this, I really want to change my attitude this year, and stop letting my embarrassment and negative thoughts get in the way of living my life. How do you all stay confident in the in between stages of weight loss?

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Posting for the first time to celebrate!

Hello! It's actually my first time posting here but I wanted to share my experience as I'm continuing my weight loss journey. I always struggled enormously with my weight and was laughed at a lot, as well as bullied and treated badly due to the way I am and looked. I am now 24, but the way people behave towards me still sort of haunts me, although I am trying my hardest to gain confidence with the help of my amazing boyfriend who supports me everyday through what I work my hardest to do!

For context, I have multiplr health and hormonal issues that make weight loss very hard for me, hence my multiple failed attempts and discouragement over the years.

I got weighed in back in January 2024 at 248 pounds and was in shock, as I always thought I had maintained the weight around 190. I think this is what tipped the vase, because the next day, I got my gym membership, started to work out, walk everywhere and swim most days of the week! I've been eating on a 1800 cal a day diet until April and moved to 1500 in May. This with walking around 15-25km everyday, swimming around 30 min everyday and hitting the gym whenever i could has me now down to 184 pounds, which is a loss of 64 in total as of now! I went from an XL-XXL to M-L, even S in some garments and I couldn't be happier. This is what I've dreamed of achieving for now maybe 14 years and I'm deeply happy it's finally happening. My goal weight is 165, so I am working towards this right now and I hope this will give motivation to others who may need it! Have a good day :))

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Weight loss after pregnancy

Hi! Before I got pregnant I worked out about 5-6days a week. I had to pack my life and move across country to be with the loml. As we were building our life & i was getting further along, I didn't go to the gym (about 6 months). (Pre pregnancy weight 140). Right before I gave birth I weighed 198, I spiked about 20 pounds my last 5 weeks. Then within the 6 weeks PP went down to about 160. I am now back to the gym again. my question to mothers who have experienced rapid weight gain during pregnancy (or if you are knowledgable on the subject) is how or can you lose your mom pooch? does the loose skin ever go back to normal? Also, Is there something I can do or try to decrease my stretch marks on my tummy? Thank you so much in advance for your time.

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Alcohol is my plateau

What a journey it’s been, so it’s been a year and a half of active weight loss, calorie counting and going to the gym. The one thing I was hesitant to give up completely was alcohol because well i’m in my early 20s and it’s so ingrained into our society it’s easy to forgot. I’ve hit a plateau in terms of weight loss and I know it’s the alcohol doing this. For months i’ve known in the back of mind, so I tried to justify it— I switched to hard liquor because “less calories” and it still doesn’t help. I’ve been able to go 1-2 weeks before I eventually cave in but now I really want to make sure I don’t fall back into that again.

I do great M-F with eating within my calories and going to the gym but the weekend is a gamble I just need to know when to say no. I’ve gone back to my roots and love for THC which isn’t as detrimental. I’m on day 4 after a bender that lasted from New Years to Saturday. I complain about wanting my thin self back but fail to realize I have to sacrifice this to get to my goal so fuck it. It’s my birthday this month too and I want to not only feel sexy but look sexy.

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Would a 10 pound weight loss even make a difference in appearance at my high BMI?

I know there are so so many factors, like genetics, sodium levels, the types of exercise I do, etc. But I was just wondering, I’m currently 205 lb, 5 foot 1 in. I’m down 40 pounds in total. I feel like I hardly look different.

So I wanted to know, assuming I hydrate well, keep my sodium levels in check to avoid puffing, and I tend not to store fat in my face at lower weights, do you think going to 195 would make much of a difference in my face? I feel like because of my high bmi that nothing feels like it’s changing. My jeans are bigger on me so there’s that, but otherwise I feel like I look the same.

I’m getting a professional picture taken in the somewhat near future and I just want my face to look even a tiny bit slimmer.

Thoughts?

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