hello! I am an 18-year-old 5’4" female college student. SW 156 lbs, CW 145 lbs, and GW 120 pounds. I exercise three times a week and maintain a calorie deficit (which I meticulously track). The problem is that I am extremely resistive to weight loss, and it appears that the moment I eat even a little more, I gain weight. I’ve lost weight in the past, but when I got back to maintenance, I gained it. This is perplexing to me. My body does not enjoy being under a specific weight, but based on cals in/cals out, I believe that if I eat at maintenance, I will not gain weight. Yes, I am tracking correctly.
I know from previous experiences that if I return to my maintenance weight, I will be 150 pounds or more. Honestly, I believe the most of my weight loss thus far has been water weight XD. I adore the changes I’ve made by going to the gym, eating more fruits and vegetables, and limiting my calories. But I don’t want to be in a deficit forever. So far, my calorie deficit is great, and I’m losing weight, but I’m worried about regaining it once I reach maintenance (as has happened before). Any advice?
Maintenance calories are the calories required to maintain your weight. If you’re eating at what you think is “maintenance” and gaining weight, it suggests you’re not eating at maintenance and should adapt accordingly.
There is something known as homeostatic set point weight. Your body prefers to be at a certain weight in order to perform optimally. So you’re not insane to suppose it doesn’t want to be below a specific number. Remember, we give life. As women, we are actually created to give life. As a result, the body does whatever it can and needs to achieve this goal. If your hormones want you to weigh 150 pounds so you can have a baby, they will strive to keep you there.
My weight has consistently ranged between 130 and 153 pounds throughout my life.
I used to be your same size and ambitions, but because to life events, I developed binge eating disorder. Overeating should be avoided because it may indicate a medical problem. Before committing to a fitness regimen, I would consult with a doctor. I’m visiting a dietitian and a gynaecologist this month due to medical issues that have caused me to acquire a lot of weight.
You may be monitoring your calories accurately, but maintenance calories refer to the number of calories consumed at which you maintain your weight. Any formula on a website is just an approximation. You may want to get a test performed to obtain a BMR reading for yourself individually. The place that does my DEXA scans charges around $90.
Another approach is to get a little extra exercise. I do not mean anything insane.
Walking or jogging a mile burns approximately 100 calories and is quite sustainable for most people.