BMR, weight loss, general frustrations

So, I understand the mechanics of weight loss. Calories in must be less than calories burned. 3500 calories = 1 pound. To lose 1 pound a week there must be a deficit of 3500 calories each week, whether you achieve it by exercising more or eating less or a combination of the two. And in order to accurately gauge what you can take in each day or what you have to burn each day to get to that point, you have to know your BMR. I GET it.

What I don't get is...how do I calculate my BMR? Some calculators tell me I burn 1500 calories a day; some tell me I burn 2400 a day. I'm more inclined to go with the 1500 value because after all the years of torturing it, my metabolism is really slow and I find 2400 to be a really unrealistic number, given that I don't weigh THAT much. But then...to lose a single pound a week, I'd have to have a deficit of, on average, 500 calories a day. Which puts me at 1000 a day. Totally doable, I really have no problem with it - and that's what's suggested at Ash is Fit, but I feel like that value is a crazy in-between, where it's too much and too little for weight loss. You're getting just enough not to starve to death, but just little enough that your body potentially goes into starvation mode and holds on to those calories, regardless of deficit.

Is my assessment of this right? I mean...seriously, I don't know what to do. Eating 1200 a day and doing cardio (pure cardio, as I put on muscle really quickly and wanted to see how the weight would go) daily to burn 200 calories a day for a week led to a weight gain of 1.4 pounds. This week I've reduced cals to 1150 and upped my calorie burn to 250, so I'll technically be at 900 intake overall, which is a deficit of 4200...but I feel even worse than I did last week. I don't really know if I'm going to lose this week at all; I actually feel like I'm going to gain. I weigh myself daily just to see what direction I'm headed in, and it looks like I'm still headed up. I just...don't understand.

So..............where do I go? What do I do? Up, down? I've had success with 500 calories a day and doing cardio + strength training. I've had success up to 700 calories a day. But I am honest to god trying to be healthy this time around, and it doesn't seem to be working. It's like a crazy vicious (viscsious?? visious??) cycle. So where do I go from here??

Roar!

Week 1 weigh in

I'm up 1.4 today from my start weight. I'm feeling really dejected actually...especially after I was down 1 pound two days after the initial weigh in. That day, I thought "Yes! And that's after I couldn't exercise yesterday! So let me exercise today!" and then I went up half a pound the next day. And it happened again, and again, after each work out.

I know that I gain muscle quickly. And my clothing is already fitting better, after just 1 week. My face even looks better in pictures already. But it's still so...dejecting. I know logically it's probably because I'm retaining water (which happens for a bit right after I start working out) and I might have gained some muscle (which happens almost immediately, especially in my legs). But....still. I could already see it coming every morning as I got on the scale and I saw it creep up, but I still clung to hope.

Well...there's nothing to be done. I'll let myself be disappointed for however long it takes me to finish this post, and then it's done. I'll look forward to next week, I'm sure I can catch up. That muscle (at least, I hope it's muscle!!) will start kicking into calorie-burning mode soon, and I'll catch up. I'll be healthier and my clothes will fit better, even if the number doesn't go down. I can do this.

I know it seems silly, but even though I'm sure my whole group has gotten losses this week, it's still really helpful to know that there's a sort of built-in support group. They can lose, so can I! Even if mine is slower, they're there being encouraging JUST by being part of my group and checking in each day. Knowing I have to write in and check in is really...encouraging to me, somehow. Even if I have bad news to report, I look forward to hearing their good news and hopefully giving them good news one day soon! So..I guess this buddy group thing is working out for me. :)

It begins! Well, not really.

Ok, so...let's see if I can keep up any kind of consistency. I didn't work out yesterday, not at all. I didn't have the energy or the time after having to go straight from work to a networking reception for alumni of a diversity program that I participated in while in law school, and that lasted a few hours so by the time I got home after my loooong day, I was too tired to do anything but sit. But at least I kept within my calories!

The day before, though, I kind of made a breakthrough at the gym. I used to think that I could only use my iPod for music to motivate me during a workout if I did it while I was running outside. I get bored on the treadmill unless I'm watching something, so I assumed that it's because music doesn't do it for me unless I'm outside with visual stimulus. Now, however, I'm guessing it's just that I hate the treadmill with a passion. If I'm going to run, it's going to be outside!

What happened is I got on the elliptical because I went late enough that no one was in my building's gym (awesome, as there's only one functional elliptical left and it's always in high demand) and had nothing to watch, so I used music out of desperation.

And it worked! I worked out harder than I do when I'm watching something, and I didn't get bored, and I was able to go longer than normal. I don't know what it is, but I don't care, because the time went by so quickly. This is SO going to be helpful.

On another random-ish note, I'm feeling a little dejected because though I know it's supposed to be a weekly weigh-in, I'm up a pound from my start weight as of this morning, which means that I have 2 days to lose 2 pounds. I know it's probably just water weight, but it's still sort of disheartening. I'll keep my chin up and hope for the best on Friday, though. :)

Pound For Pound Challenge

I've pledged my weight loss to the Pound for Pound Challenge, which is a group that donates 1 pound of food for every pound lost. Since I'm doing this 25 pounds in 20 weeks thing, I might as well pledge my weight! I think it's a really great cause...I love helping people however I can, and this costs NOTHING. I've pledged 6 pounds, because I think the final weigh-in is at 6 weeks from now. I'm excited...not only am I helping myself, but I'm helping others! I hope other people join in, too. :)

In a related note, today's the beginning of Ash's (from Ash is Fit) 20 Pounds in 20 Weeks challenge. It's the first weigh-in, and it totally looks like it's shaping up to be an awesome group. I was hesitant about the group thing at first since I tend to be bad at checking my e-mail at night and on weekends, but it seems like she's going to group is in accordance with our different lifestyles and whatnot, so that's perfect! I'm really excited. :)

You know, I'm going to be brave and post my start weight. It's.....155.6. I know that's not tons for a lot of people, but I'm short, so it's a big deal. On top of that, I have other issues, so...it's an even bigger deal. I'm looking to lose 25 pounds, so that'll put me at 130. Here's looking at 130 in 20 weeks! That'll be at the end of July...right at my birthday! So that'll be a nice birthday present to me.

Ok...that's it, I guess.

20 Pounds in 20 Weeks, Steps 1 and 2

Ok! So I ran across Ash is Fit and her 20 Pounds in 20 Weeks challenge, and I've signed up. I think it's such a great idea for me...a weekly weigh-in as a motivator [because I get pretty competitive], group dynamics to keep me encouraged and not feeling so alone, all that good stuff. Plus, I think this will be a good supplement to my membership in the 20-Somethings Biggest Loser competition...so we'll see!

So, Step 1 is to make a plan and set my goal. My plan is slightly higher than the actual challenge's name...I'd like to lose 25 pounds in 20 weeks, so it's only 1.25 pounds a week. I don't think it's a big deal at all, and I can definitely do it. My goal is basically the same. I'd like to reach my goal weight - and I'm too shy about posting my weight publicly, so I'm not going to post my goal weight since I'm pretty sure everyone can do math. Maybe one day I'll be brave enough to post it, but...not just yet, haha. BUT, I will also add a supplemental goal - lose at least 1 pants' size. That would be so awesome, and given my body shape it's very hard to lose pant sizes so that's why I'm only going for 1. Here's hoping for more!

Step 2 is to set my reward. I'm going to give myself 2 rewards - 1 at 10 pounds lost, and a second when I lose the full 25. My first reward will be a beautiful new pair of shoes, and my second reward will be a massage and facial. I've been DYING for a facial, so that's going to be really exciting for me and will really, really motivate me to get there.

Ok, so I guess that's it. The challenge is set to start this Friday, March 20 - so that'll be the first weigh-on. 25 pounds in 20 weeks, I can totally do it!