Health & Support

A lot of you have read so many of my posts, and I really hope you are celebrating my progress with me!  I think I have come a long way since my first days of CC when I was just an ignorant teen that refused to believe I needed more than 600 cals a day!  Did I ever mention I'm sorry for those days?  I am =P  And I wanted to thank everyone that has helped me on this site, I have learned a lot!

Anyways, lately I've added some new foods to my diet, which was a very scary thing to do but I've managed!  I am eating peanut butter, Ezekiel bread, Wasa crackers, salmon, and more foods that used to scare me half to death!

I have also increased my calories from the 600 up to 1800-2000 a day.  I have done it consistently and I'm not sure if I've gained weight or not.  I will probably check kinda soon, but I'm trying not to get too caught up with that.

Even though I have been making myself reach 1800-2000 cals a day, I still get those voices that are screaming in my head and telling me it's far too much.  I guess I just need a little reassurance that I'm doing the right thing and motivation to keep going.  At times I feel like dropping back again, but I haven't given in to that yet!!!!  It's hard to keep it up by yourself though, and my family and friends are everything BUT supportive.

I was also wondering if that is a good amount.  I generally exercise for 1-2 hours a day, 5-6 days a week doing circuit training.  On days I do 2 hours I burn about 600 cals, and only about 300 on my 1 hour days.  Should I be eating more or less?  I always see the 1200 female + 300 teen + exercise, so the days I do 1 hour of workouts, or no workouts, when I eat 1900 +, is that too much?  I am pretty much sedentary otherwise, but that might change as I have just gotten a new job that keeps me on my feet and moving.

I wouldn't mind losing a little more body fat, but I'm not working to lose more weight necessarily.  What would be a good intake to allow myself to maintain the muscle I have and lose a little more fat? 

Thanks again for all your help!  I heart you all =D

Oh yeah..My stats are 17 (18 in a couple months..Wooo!) 5'4" and 115-120 lbs (it fluctuates quite a bit)

Congrats on upping your calorie intake! I'm in a similar position, only a few years older than you (I turn 23 tomorrow!). I was diagnosed with anorexia and bulimia and have spent the past year and a half bringing my calorie intake from ~200 calories/day to 1800-2400 calories/day (although I don't really count anymore, I just trust my body).

I'm no expert but I would say that your calorie intake still looks a little low for all that exercise you're doing. Are you an athlete? Why are you exercising so much? I only do about 3-4 hours of formal exercise a week, although I do walk everywhere and have a fairly active job (teacher). In any case, if you plan on doing that much exercise, I think you ought to be eating more.

Look at it this way- As a woman maintaining, you should be eating 1600 cals (1200 cals is for losing weight, which I hope you're not trying to do). Plus 300 for being a still-growing teen. That's 1900 *before* exercise. If I were you, I would aim for something in the 2400 range.

Hope that helped!

Politica

p.s. Don't weight yourself. Numbers are silly.

if u feel the rumbly in your belly, eat.  that's my rule of thumb!  but it does seem like you could eat a little more, if you're going for weight gain

I have to say, that picture of your back is pretty inspiring! Congrats on the weight loss, good job on upping cals and keep up the good work!

I don't count calories anymore - they are a good guideline to follow by but it's not a law. Feel free to eat over or under every now and then, you aren't breaking any law if you go under or over a little! And most of all enjoy your meal :D

Thank you all for your replies! 

Politica - The reason I exercise so much is just because I really truly enjoy it, I love to move!  And, I figured I could take advantage of this little period that I have the extra time for it.  I thought I could use it to get in really good shape so I wouldn't have to work so hard when I get busy with work and school, and during that time I can just focus on maintaining it.  Your post was very helpful =)

The thing about not counting cals and eating when I'm hungry, I kinda got myself to the point where I don't know what that's really like.  I don't get hungry too much anymore, I just eat because I know I should.  Sometimes I do get hungry and when those times roll around, I do allow myself to eat.  But if I only ate when I was hungry I don't think I'd eat near enough =\  I'm a little afraid to try too..to be honest!

And I'm not trying to gain, just maintain and maybe go for a little more fat loss (not weight loss). 

So that's a good amount for maintaining, but if I add more I'll gain? (going from juleroos post)  Or is it possible I will still need to eat more just to maintain well (going from politica's post)?  I'm kinda paranoid I guess haha =P

I spent *years* in a nutritionist's office and I'm gonna have to disagree with juleroo. Upping your intake to the 2400-range is what you need to maintain. You would need considerably more to gain weight.

I eat as much as 2400 cals/day, ha sometimes more, and I haven't put on a pound . . . plus, you exercise considerably more than I do :)

Keep up the good work!

Politica

Boy, politica I hope you're right!  Today I was absolutely RAVENOUS and ate about 2300 cals.  I don't feel too good about it and I'm a little nervous about gaining...but I'll just hope for the best!