Help!!! I'm not losing any weight!

ldriver10

Finally decided to post something because I'm becoming increasingly discouraged by my lack of weight loss. I've been tracking for over a month now (1200/day, I'm about 5'3") and I exercise 5-7 times/week and I'm still not losing any weight. I started out at about 140 and am still right where I started. Additional info. I've seen related to these posts that might be helpful is that I know I'm fully hydrated as I drink at least a gallon of water a day, the majority of my foods are whole foods and I do not eat wheat at all. Also I do have a heart rate monitor and have been burning around 400 cal each workout, I occassionally eat these back when I'm hungry but not all the time. Any suggestions about how to speed up my weight loss would be greatly appreciated.

ldriver10

Yeah I was thinking the same thing at first but the scale hasn't budged at all. I resisted the urge to weigh myself until now because as much as I try not to let a silly thing like an arbitrary number get me down it still has a tendency to make me upset... like what's the point ya know?

AndOne8675

I have been working my butt off for about a month and eating right too and have not lost any weight. So at the advice of a friend I started measuring my hips, butt arms and waist every week and I am losing inches! My clothes do fit better. It IS hard to not get discouraged when the scale doesn't budge. Maybe measuring can help? It helped me and now I am not going to weigh in until 2 weeks have passed.

mickey2168

I am 5'2" and started at 133 - I was not losing much either at 1200 until I started eating my exercise calories back. The weight has been coming off since then at a slow rate but it is (thank God) finally coming off. Try eating your calories back - you should be netting at least 1200 or more. Hope that helps.

chlsyrhd

Have you taken measurements at all? Are your clothes feeling loose? That's shows progress much more than a scale.

ldriver10

Yes, I am taking measurements and although my body feels firmer. I've lost a negligible amount of inches overall and actually gained 1/2" in my thigh area from I think the lunges/squats that I do daily... wasn't exactly pleased about that.

ldriver10

I was curious too if I've slowed my metabolism by exercising so rigorously and not eating back those calories because I only recently got my heart rate monitor and realized just how many calories my workouts were burning.

LeanneGoingThin

I take it those 1200 aren't your net calories? Then that would explain why you're not losing weight, your body is in starvation mode.

LeanneGoingThin

Also, read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing

TavistockToad

if you weigh and measure everything, and usually net under 1200 cals, you probably need to eat more.

Broejen

You can't gain muscle eating at a deficit, especially that low. You need to eat more! I'm 5'2" and netting 1650 a day but still losing.

beachlover317

Muscle gain?

Muscle gain in a month? On a deep calorie deficit? Not possible. Be patient. Eat more or at least fuel your workouts by eating back your exercise calories. Oh, and did I say be patient? You're on the last 35 pounds and those are the hardest to lose. Be patient.

MrsK20141004

if you weigh and measure everything, and usually net under 1200 cals, you probably need to eat more.

Agreed. You're not eating enough to fuel those workouts so your body is hanging on to what it can. Up your calories (gradually if you prefer) and keep doing what you're doing. Maybe by 100 a week until you reach 1400 or 1500. Also, search the forums for "in place of a road map" and take a read. It worked for me!

WifeofPJ

Can you open your diary up? There may be something there that is explaining things. Do you weigh and measure your food (Not sure if you answered this question) It could be you are actually over/under eating what you think you are eating.

ndj1979

I take it those 1200 aren't your net calories? Then that would explain why you're not losing weight, your body is in starvation mode.

No, starvation mode is eating nothing for 72 hours and I did not see that anywhere in the OP's post.

missdibs1

try eating more calories! you may be under eating

ihad

This could be a helpful place to start.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/952996-level-obstacles-lose-weight-target-fat-easy

ChangingAmanda

You need to eat more. You're netting less than 1200/day which isn't giving your body enough fuel to function. Too large of a deficit can hinder/stall weight loss as much as too little of one. If you're finding it "hard" to eat enough, start adding in calorie dense foods - nuts, nut butters, full fat dairy. 2Tbs of peanut butter is approx. 200 calories. The In Place of a Road Map thread has resources for calculating your calorie needs: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974888-in-place-of-a-road-map-2k13?hl=road+map#posts-14885708

According to BMI, you're just at the high end of the normal range. Getting down to 105 would put you in the unhealthy range. Since you're in a normal range, it'll be harder/slower to lose the weight. You many need to stop focusing on a number and instead focus on inches lost, how you're clothes are fitting and how you're feeling. This link, http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/ is a great example of how the scale really doesn't matter, it's body composition.

flower_chops

Can you open your diary up? There may be something there that is explaining things. Do you weigh and measure your food (Not sure if you answered this question) It could be you are actually over/under eating what you think you are eating.

This.

KatieBee8

We are similar (ish) figures and I had the same problem last month. I was eating 1200 calories and exercising 5 times a week and I lost nothing at all. I was told by numerous people to up my calories and that's exactly what I did. This month I have been eating 1400-1500 calories and exercising 4 times a week and I've lost almost 6lbs.

I would definitely suggest upping your calories

psuLemon

As others have stated, you will probably need to eat more. I know it sounds counter productive, but eating enough calories will prevent or lessen the chances of hormones preventing weight loss. While it's not starvation mode, it's a famine response that our body has.

Based on your stats, you should probably be eating around 1750 calories daily (you would not have to eat exercise calories back in this case as I have it figured into your TDEE). Additionally, do not workout 7 days a week. Your body needs rest and your make your strength gains during rest. If you continue to workout 7 days a week, at some point you can be over training and it will adversely affect your progress. Additionally, are you weight training? If not, you should start and lift heavy. You might as well maximize muscle retention and strength gains during your weight loss progress. This will affect your goal of 105 but you will get a lean and tight body much quicker. A goal of 120 would probably be better. What I suggest is not have a weight goal but a look (mirror results) or a body fat goal. I say this because weighing less doesn't always mean better looking; as shown below with Staci.

Also, ensure you are getting enough protein and fat. I generally suggest macro's around 40% carbs, 40% protein and 20% fats. You can adjust them to your desire but you should aim for 1g of protein per lb of lean body mass and .35g of fat.


http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

alyhuggan

I take it those 1200 aren't your net calories? Then that would explain why you're not losing weight, your body is in starvation mode.

No, starvation mode is eating nothing for 72 hours and I did not see that anywhere in the OP's post.

Logically if she is eating at a huge deficit she should be losing pounds and pounds right now but she's not, please explain how not if as you say her metabolism has stayed the same?

khall86790

Muscle gain?

At 1200 cals per day it is NOT muscle gain.

You need to eat back your exercise calories every time if you are going to eat 1200 cals per day.

savithny

I take it those 1200 aren't your net calories? Then that would explain why you're not losing weight, your body is in starvation mode.

No, starvation mode is eating nothing for 72 hours and I did not see that anywhere in the OP's post.

Logically if she is eating at a huge deficit she should be losing pounds and pounds right now but she's not, please explain how not if as you say her metabolism has stayed the same?

The "Starvation mode is a myth" people all use the strawman of "You have to actually be *starving* and not eating anything!

So call it something else. Call it Conservation Mode. The fact is that steep caloric deficits cause metabolic slowdown. For some people, with smaller deficits, that might be "only" a 10% slowdown. But studies have found much higher numbers - 15-25% in one study, higher in others. The infamous "Minnesota Starvation Experiments" found slowdowns of up to 40%.

Then run the numbers with a 25% slowdown. For smaller women with lower BMRs to begin with, a 10-25% slowdown can erase almost all of even a fairly big deficit.

psuLemon

I take it those 1200 aren't your net calories? Then that would explain why you're not losing weight, your body is in starvation mode.

No, starvation mode is eating nothing for 72 hours and I did not see that anywhere in the OP's post.

Logically if she is eating at a huge deficit she should be losing pounds and pounds right now but she's not, please explain how not if as you say her metabolism has stayed the same?

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/why-big-caloric-deficits-and-lots-of-activity-can-hurt-fat-loss.html

Read that. While she may be losing lean body mass or even fat with a large deficit, it can be offset by water retention and/or metabolic adaptation. There are many variables. Additionally, there are a lot of people on this board that have gotten several RMR test. In fact, one girl was on a lcd for 6 months and her RMR slowed down to 900-1100. After 3 months on maintenance and upping calories, it went to around 1500.

SusanTrueman1973

I'm sure you'll find this website a great help if you look through the past posts - there are some great tips and useful info that I have discovered. If it helps - what worked for me was a plan by nutritionist Isabel De Los Rios, I found her via this website: http://www.wowitworked.com/fast-weight-loss - hope that might be of some help!?

ndj1979

I take it those 1200 aren't your net calories? Then that would explain why you're not losing weight, your body is in starvation mode.

No, starvation mode is eating nothing for 72 hours and I did not see that anywhere in the OP's post.

Logically if she is eating at a huge deficit she should be losing pounds and pounds right now but she's not, please explain how not if as you say her metabolism has stayed the same?

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/why-big-caloric-deficits-and-lots-of-activity-can-hurt-fat-loss.html

Read that. While she may be losing lean body mass or even fat with a large deficit, it can be offset by water retention and/or metabolic adaptation. There are many variables. Additionally, there are a lot of people on this board that have gotten several RMR test. In fact, one girl was on a lcd for 6 months and her RMR slowed down to 900-1100. After 3 months on maintenance and upping calories, it went to around 1500.

Starvation mode is when you body begins to turn to muscle and/or itself for energy when you have ate nothing for a minimal of 72 hours ...so I stick with my original assertion that the OP is not in starvation mode.

savithny

There are many variables. Additionally, there are a lot of people on this board that have gotten several RMR test. In fact, one girl was on a lcd for 6 months and her RMR slowed down to 900-1100. After 3 months on maintenance and upping calories, it went to around 1500.

Assuming that 1500 was her pre-restriction RMR, that's a 26% drop. Right in line with what shows up in studies. You really can erase your caloric deficit through restriction.

And then what's your choice -- restrict even further (possibly causing even more slowdown) in order to lose? If you do that, when you finally give up because sub-1000 calorie totals are unsustainable long-term, you're going to gain rapidly as soon as you start to eat again. Your "maintenance" calorie level will be lower than other people's weight-loss calorie goals. It's a recipe for rapid regain and weight cycling.

Lochlyn_D

Before changing your diet based on what some people on the internet tell you, go to your doctor and get some professional advice.

pcastagner

Wow, post after post telling you how much to eat.

Not one post asking how you measure food?


This forum needs a standard questionnaire. This is ridiculous. Nobody giving any advice here has the faintest idea how much you are eating, yet they feel free to repeat the same stock answers.


Sorry to be harsh, but you can't make judgements without data.

psuLemon

I take it those 1200 aren't your net calories? Then that would explain why you're not losing weight, your body is in starvation mode.

No, starvation mode is eating nothing for 72 hours and I did not see that anywhere in the OP's post.

Logically if she is eating at a huge deficit she should be losing pounds and pounds right now but she's not, please explain how not if as you say her metabolism has stayed the same?

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/why-big-caloric-deficits-and-lots-of-activity-can-hurt-fat-loss.html

Read that. While she may be losing lean body mass or even fat with a large deficit, it can be offset by water retention and/or metabolic adaptation. There are many variables. Additionally, there are a lot of people on this board that have gotten several RMR test. In fact, one girl was on a lcd for 6 months and her RMR slowed down to 900-1100. After 3 months on maintenance and upping calories, it went to around 1500.

Starvation mode is when you body begins to turn to muscle and/or itself for energy when you have ate nothing for a minimal of 72 hours ...so I stick with my original assertion that the OP is not in starvation mode.

We aren't contesting your point about starvation mode. I agree that her body isn't in it, but it doesn't mean her body won't adapt or conserve. Also, it is very common that a body will catabolize lean body mass during any kind of weight loss. So I don't get where you are going with that? Larger deficits lead to large catabolization rates.