Calorie Call--for those 2+ years out

Hi all.

I've been getting myself back on track, but after three mostly strict weeks of eating and only seeing a 1lb loss (which I assume is mostly water, anyway), I'm getting discouraged. Trying to stick to an 800 calorie diet at 2.5 years out is HARD--my brain cries out that I'm depriving myself, and then after a week of "excellent behavior" I'll break and eat two cupcakes. Here's what I've been TRYING to do:

800-1000 calories. 90+ protein. 70+ water. Daily walking, at least 30 mins. Net carbs <40, total carbs <50. Fat ~30-50. 

If I'm lucky I can stick to that a few days. Now here's what really happens: 

1200-1400 calories. I usually nail all the other goals, getting in 100+ protein, more water, and keeping carbs low. Walking turns out every other day instead of daily. Of course, the cupcake day really screwed me up...

So my question:

Am I really doomed to an 800 calorie diet to prompt more loss? Isn't that a bit low for someone this far out? I know I don't do a lot of exercise because of my condition, but I walk around on campus sometimes, and on the treadmill every other day. Mentally I am fighting this.

Also, I would love to hear what the rest of you this far out are doing to prompt loss. I am at 132.2 today and want to reach 120. I thought that meant I should be eating ~1200 calories?

Hiya.. I know that I'm neither 2 years out nor in maintenance, but I wanted to share with you about my recipes. Although I'm not as far out, I grapple with hunger issues and struggle to keep my calories low.

So I adapted some very dense recipes I call "sleeve busters" as they are extremely filling, low calorie/carb and high protein. They will help you get your calories lower without feeling so deprived or empty. You can find them on my blog under my profile. Hope that helps.. hugs..

Rose...I went looking for the sleeve busters on your blog...the only recipies I saw were links to eggface and another site...am I looking in the wrong place....really want some good sleeve busters

 Honestly it isn't going to help you much to read what the rest of us are doing because you are the only one with your body.  Your body is telling you that to lose you need to either lower calories or increase activity or both.  It sucks eggs, I know.  You are getting enough protein and not too many carbs, and the calories are very individual.  You might want to get a body bug and see how many calories you are really burning in a a day.  Then shoot for a couple hundred calories less than that in food or move more.  I also encourage you to listen to Sublimate and make her recipes they really work.

I guess I'll just have to be patient, increase my walking and start with a caloric baseline for a few weeks. I think I'll do 1200 to start, then slowly reduce until i hit some sort of sweet spot...

You and I are about a month apart and I eat about 1300-1800 or sometimes more per day.  I don't think this far out I could do less.  I would feel too deprived.  But at my current level, I'm perfectly satisfied.  I mostly stick to dense protein and veggies with a double scoop shake for breakfast most days and snacks of cottage cheese, egg beaters or greek yogurt.  I always seem to have room in my daily diet for a treat or two, but that usually consists of a Hershey kiss or 4 peanut MnM's.  I do drink a lot of hot teas/lattes throughout the day and they seem to keep me very full.

I weigh 134 currently and am just where I want to be...don't want to lose or gain.  I am 5'7.  I exercise usually about 4 or 5 hours per week and have been in to bodybuilding for at least 12 years.  I think my muscle mass helps me maintain easily.  I realize you have health issues that prevent you from vigorous exercise but you have done so well with your sleeve despite the limitations.

I would think it would be tough this far out to maintain 800 cals a day.  I know I couldn't do it, but I do wish you luck in attaining your goals.

Laura

I pretty much did 600 to 800 during weight loss phase and stay at 1100 to 1200 to maintain withh 70 g protein. not much but seems to be all i can do. I am 17 months and got to current weight after about a year.

I noticed you had a higher bmi to start and are down to a 23 which is well within normal range. Maybe your body is saying this is the place you should be. If the really low calorie count causes you to binge from time to time you might do better with a little more calories, especially protein, to maybe very slowly take off a little more.

I am going to put a separate post of my cinnamon almond recipe made with brown sugar splenda. its the thing that kept me from eating sweets and junk at christmas. I had these instead.

hope this helps.

diane

Cinnamon Almonds

3 cups raw almonds
1 egg white
1-2  tsp cinnamon (or more)
1/2  tsp vanilla
2 heaping TBS brown sugar splenda
1/2 tsp salt.

Beat the egg white with a whiskand then whisk in the vanilla, cinnamon, salt and brown sugar splenda. stir in the almonds until well coated. they will seem sticky. spread on a cookie sheet in a single layer that has been well sprayed with pam. Bake 10 minutes at 300 degrees, then stir well and bake another 10 minutes.  remove and cool on sheet. they will seem still sticky when removed but will crisp up as they cool. Tastes great and while brown sugar splenda has some real sugar in it, tastes great. could probably do it with a reduced amount of white splenda if you want to avoid every bit of sugar. I have lots of diabetic friends and they are getting these for xmas.

Thanks, I'll try making these. : )

First of all, wow!  I just looked at your ticker for the first time, and for you to have started at 51+ BMI and to be at 23 BMI now is simply outstanding!  You have done an INCREDIBLE job!  If you never lost another pound, you need to walk around so proud of your achievement!

But I understand your desire to lose that extra bit of weight.  I'm 5'3", only slightly taller than you, and I find that I have to keep my caloric intake around 1000-1200 to maintain without exercise.  I can go as high as 2000 on a weekend day, and under 600 on a weekday(believe it or not I forget to eat if I'm busy!), but I average 1000-1200.  I guess that's the price we pay for being "petite"! 

I found spinning really took the weight off for me.  Why not give that or some other high energy exercise a try?  Maybe that will kick your metabolism into action.