Nutrition Question - JP Fitness Forums

GinaKina · 03-18-2008, 08:04 AM

Well, I started a log on here, and from the feedback I have gotten, it seems like I'm not eating too much....which I just don't understand. I thought I followed the advice in the book exactly.

I am 5'4''
23 years old
126 lbs

I got that I should be eating 1920 calories on non-workout days, and 2170 calories on workout days. Is this horribly wrong???

If so, can someone help me out, because I've done the calculations more than once, and this is still what I come up with.

Cynthia · 03-18-2008, 08:14 AM

Gina - I think those calculations are a good benchmark as a place to start. You can re-evaluate after 4-6 weeks to see if you need to move in either direction.

It doesn't look like you've posted a whole day's menu in your training log (just your calorie range and one dish that you enjoy making) so I'm not sure the comments were fair that said you aren't eating enough. You haven't really given enough information in your log to make a statement either way. If you are, in fact, eating the level of calories you've committed to, I think you should be ok for now.

rixatrix · 03-18-2008, 08:16 AM

What makes you think the number is horribly wrong, specifically?

The calculation is only a calculation. You're the only one who can figure out what's right for your body and metabolism. Have you been logging your food consistently? If so, you've got good data - if you've lost weight and you don't want to, you can stand to eat more. If you're gaining weight, it could be that you're eating too much, making poor food choices, or that your metabolism was sluggish to begin with and it's adjusting. If you've stayed the same, you're spot on.

So you tell me - DO those number seem horribly wrong? And what are your goals?

ledove · 03-18-2008, 08:23 AM

The calorie calculations in the book are estimated maintenance calories, so they might be too high or they might be too low. It all depends on you. The book suggests starting at the calculated values for a few weeks to see how you're doing.

I hung out at my maintenance calories for all of Stage 1 (1900 and 2200 calories), and I maintained. I thought about dropping them a little to speed up the fat loss, but then I started Stage 2; I don't think I could finish Stage 2 on fewer calories!

GinaKina · 03-18-2008, 10:03 AM

Thanks for the input. Rixatrix, the only thing that made me think this range was wrong was that I got two comments in my blog (mind you, there are only maybe 5 comments total, haha) that said "whoa, you need to eat more".

I wasn't planning on posting my meals for entire days. I stick to that calorie range and the 40/30/30 macro range almost religiously, and it's been working for me, but I guess I will do a sample one. I guess that since two people told me that what I was doing was way off base, I figured I should ask about it.

Oh, and I am more than halfway through Stage 1, and have MAYBE lost a pound, so I've pretty much been maintaining...which was my goal, I am not looking to lose weight.

LisaS · 03-18-2008, 10:22 AM

If you are working out hard, gaining strength, have sufficient energy to get through your days and your workouts and maintaining your weight - it seems like you are eating at proper maintenance for your activity level.

rixatrix · 03-18-2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GinaKina

Thanks for the input. Rixatrix, the only thing that made me think this range was wrong was that I got two comments in my blog (mind you, there are only maybe 5 comments total, haha) that said "whoa, you need to eat more".

I wasn't planning on posting my meals for entire days. I stick to that calorie range and the 40/30/30 macro range almost religiously, and it's been working for me, but I guess I will do a sample one. I guess that since two people told me that what I was doing was way off base, I figured I should ask about it.

Oh, and I am more than halfway through Stage 1, and have MAYBE lost a pound, so I've pretty much been maintaining...which was my goal, I am not looking to lose weight.

Just keep in mind that everyone has their own goals and biases. Some women want to put on more lean mass (which is probably inevitable on this program), and some want to lose more fat. To someone cutting, your calories might seem high. To someone actively bulking, they may seem low.

Because you've been maintaining, you could stay the same, or bump your calories up a bit and see what happens.

(Here comes the after school special...) Only YOU can know what's right for you.

Haha...it's such a cliche, but it's true.

GinaKina · 03-18-2008, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rixatrix

(Here comes the after school special...) Only YOU can know what's right for you.

Haha...it's such a cliche, but it's true.

Haha, thanks. Really, I do know that, and I passed it off when I got the first comment, but the second comment made me think I had messed something up.