How much should I be eating?

Hey everyone,

I'm new to this site but would really appreciate some help!

Here's my stats:
Age: 20
Weight: 135

My dilemma:

I have always been thin, maybe because of a high metabolism throughout the "teen years". I played tennis my whole life up until college. During those years I ate whatever I wanted and stayed around 115-120 and was in great shape somehow. Now, at 20 years old and three years into college (i think it also has something to do with being on birth control when starting college, it made me extra hungry and I didn't play tennis like I used to), I have gained at least 15 pounds. My boyfriend and family say they haven't noticed any change, but of course I have. I've always been active and worked out (cardio/weight training). Recently, I started a fast-paced weight training program with a personal trainer. In two months I went from 132 pounds with 25% bodyfat to 135 and 18% bodyfat. I guess I gained weight from muscle..but now I'm back in college, and I feel like my arms have gotten "fatter" and have noticed fat on other places I have never noticed fat before..I feel as if everything looks bigger because of the large amounts of muscle I have gained with the fat I had as a teen laying over it...

Sorry about the story, but sometimes a background gives good insight into what might be happening!

Currently, I started a fitness kickboxing class and try to get 1200 calories a day (veggies, fruit, and essential carbs). My question is, should I even be on a calorie deficit to lose these extra fat pounds? Should I eat less to lose some muscle? Do I add calories to this 1200 for exercise? Example: On MWF I burn around 550 calories kickboxing. With a calorie deficit of 1200 should I add those 550 to the 1200 to get a net calories of 1200 a day? So I don't put my body into starvation mode? Or is eating not enough making me gain weight? I fluctuate between 131 and 135, but I still feel bigger than I used to. Legs feel bigger, arms feel bigger...everyone says just eat whatever and workout! But I'm too scared to do that...

I'm just frustrated, any help is appreciated. I'm sorry for the long post!

Sun. Nov 21, 3:52pm

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