does anyone use my fitness pal who can answer maybe a few questions for me?

[dreamsize8 0]

I have started to use my fitness pal to log most of my food intake. Lately my scale is saying that I have gained 8 pounds in the last week ( you know scales its prob wrong).

According to my fitness pal I have to eat the calories that I also excersise off. Okay I get that. But yesterday I had to eat almost 1700 calories which seems to be alot for a person with lap band. I felt totally full and today almost feel bloated.

My question is should I stick to 1200 calories to lose weight, and excersise and not eat the excersise calories or should I eat the excersise calories. I would love to get a nutritionist but money is tight right now. Any advice would help

Its just really hard to get in all those calories when I am only supposed to have 3 meals a day at 4 ounces.

Edited September 19, 2008 by dreamsize8

[RestlessMonkey 7]

How tall are you and how much do you weigh now? That will make a difference in how many calories you need each day to keep losing....I don't know "my fitness pal" but am VERY familiar with calorie counting LOL

[dreamsize8 0]

i'm 5'4 and was 192. now the scale says 200. :[ How many calories am I supposed to have now knowing I have the band?

[smsmithart 4]

Stay under 1200 to lose 1 to 2lbs a week..

[RestlessMonkey 7]

ok...the basic metabolic rate calculator I found on line (love google) says just to maintain, at rest, you get 1700 cal a day. So with NO exercise, eating 1200 cal a day, you'd lose 1 pound a week (500 cal a day times 7 days = 3500 cal, = 1 pound of fat) I think honestly you're eating too much. I'd keep my calorie intake to a max of 1400-1500 on days i exercise and 1200 on days I don't, if I were you, and try that for a week. See where it gets you.

Our bodies are funny; if it is almost your time of month, you may be retaining Water. If your muscles are sore, ditto you are retaining Water.< /p>

SO Only weigh once a day MAX (once a week is better) weigh at the same time same clothes (you probably know all this) and try to keep the cals to 1200 w/no exercise, 1400-1500 with, and see how you do.

JMO...not a trainer. Also see how you feel....and make sure your calories are Protein first, then veggies, then fruits, and then breads etc. It should start coming off again for you.

[dreamsize8 0]

i was eating around 900-1200ish and it stopped working. I was thinking i was in starvation mode.

[RestlessMonkey 7]

How long did you give it? At your height/age/weight 1200 a day should NOT put you in starvation mode unless you are exercising like a maniac every day. But you know your body best. You tried eating all the calories from your exercise and that wasn't working.

[dreamsize8 0]

I gave it a 4 month try. I lost alot of weight at first. then for almost 6 weeks I lost nothing and began eating more. Then I went in for a fill and after the fill lost 11 pounds in the first 2 weeks. then now a week later i've gained 8 pounds back. I am begining to think its my scale partly maybe giving me the wrong weights. But my scale had been right when I went in for a fill. it matched what the Dr. had. So thats why I started to eat more calories and well I think I am eating to much now.

I dont excersise all the time maybe 4 or 5 days a week. and depending how much Time I have I burn 200-600 calories a day. And excersise is something I had just started to do. My first 50 pounds I did nothing but be lazy. So i'm just frustrated on just trying to find something that really works. I Don't want to starve and then I am scared to eat alot.