how to burn extra cals?

So I recently went back to school and its been great for losing weight. I'm constantly running all over the place, I take the stairs instead of the elevator so I usually walk up about 40 flights of stairs a day. I also dont really have the time to over eat because I'm so busy, I'm able to see food as fuel rather than as something to do. But now the weight loss is slowing down as my body adjusts...and the problem is that being so busy I dont have any time (or money b/c of tuition) for the gym! I've lost about 5 pounds but I have about 10 more to go. I walk everywhere, I'm more active than I have been in years...but I'm hitting a plateau and with no time to spare I'm not sure how to get over it! Does anyone have any tips?
my day usually goes something like this:
atkins bar and coffee for breakfast
tea and a granola bar and apple with peanut butter for lunch
carrots and humus as a snack
microwavable weight watchers meal for dinner
plus maybe 1/2- 1 mile of walking briskly
40 flights of stairs and many errands!
I dont know how I could improve...this is the best its been in a while! does anyone have any tips? any extra things I could do to increase the calorie burn?
On the weekends I usually take a 2 mile walk each day.... I'm lost!

Mon. Jan 30, 11:55pm

Maybe eating too little

Sometimes when your body is not getting enough food, it goes into starvation mode eventually and you may stop losing. Try eating a little bit more and see what happens, everyone needs different amounts of foods. I have a friend with the same problem, she added 200 calories to her day and started losing quickly again.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006, 1:06 AM

thats the same with me when my goal was to lose 25 lbs. I started by losing 5 lbs. but that was only by cutting out a lot of calories for the day. Then i added a few nutrtious snacks like a piece of fruit then i started losing again. i was so confused also because i was stuck in the same 2 pound range for a month. But i now am a raw foodist and i chaged my eating schedule to little snacks during the day. Also it is important to keep in mind that dinner is nnot the most important meal of the day becasuse you go to bed shortly after. Your body needs more to run off off during the day. Hope that helps

Tuesday, January 31, 2006, 7:56 AM

I agree with the first posters - you're not eating enough! Try adding in some fresh foods too; everything sounds very processed. Even, like, a whole wheat low carb bagel w/ cheese on top for breakfast instead of the Atkins bar, or pick up a fruit smoothie somewhere (just trying to think of fast things), and a sandwich with an apple for lunch, with turkey breast, lettuce, tomato, etc., or tuna fish, or whatever. Eating the same thing over and over can have the same effect - your body gets used to it, and doesn't burn it all off. Try changing it up and adding some more calories.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006, 11:13 AM

where are all your veggies????? where is your variety?? check out the veggie thread. There's bananas, mangos, melons, grapes, apricots, berries, citrus, soooo many fruits to choose from- enough to have 2 different kinds every day of the week!

Don't use being in school as an excuse to cut out on healthy, varied eating. I did school full time, work full time, and spent at least 2 hours a day on the phone ong distance with my boyfriend, and still kept a varied diet (and an A- average). You have to make it a priority, because it's more than just 10 lbs, it's your HEALTH, and YOU ARE WORTH IT! :)

Tuesday, January 31, 2006, 11:25 AM

Variety and protien

I would add BOTH to your diet. I didnt see any protien in there! How is your body going to re-build if you dont give it the tools?
Also, you sould like your doing a great job staying active~ if you wanted to try and go a class, most schools have gyms that students can use or some type of fitness room;) Or maybe a team sport? like rowing, swimmingor rock climbing?
Good luck and keep up the great job!
~~ Workout25

Tuesday, January 31, 2006, 11:35 AM

Make sure to eat more than 1200 calories, more like 1400-1500.

Also, add some weight training to your routine! Muscle will burn calories all day long, even when you aren't working out. Vary your workouts and add some high-intensity intervals.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006, 5:03 PM

OP here

That makes alot of sense but the trouble is that I've tried adding more food (all healthy )and I just gained weight..not much but still! I dont understand it really...how can you figure out how many calories you burn a day? I know with all those calculators that I burn about 1700 or something but is there any way to get a more accurate calculation based on your specific body type etc?

Tuesday, January 31, 2006, 8:20 PM

Based on charts only, your Resting Metabolic Rate can be off by as much as 500 calories. There are deivices that measure your Resting Metabolic Rate. HealtheTech makes one called Body Gem. It's kind of like a breathalyzer - but you breathe into it for about five minutes or so. You may be able to find a gym in your area where you can take the test.

Even still, if you are accurately counting calories and not underestimating portions, you should be losing about a pound a week if you eat 1500 calories a day and exercise for about 500 calories.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006, 9:44 PM

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