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

pcastagner

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.

Big hint: she hasn't reported any symptoms of starvation mode, like lethargy.

Ah, first world problems...

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.

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.

Wait, you agree that the OP is not in starvation mode, but the first thing you said is that the OP is in starvation mode...so which one is it?

Broejen

Wait, you agree that the OP is not in starvation mode, but the first thing you said is that the OP is in starvation mode...so which one is it?

In psulemons first post, he said "while its not starvation mode..."

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.

here is the first post it clearly says "your body is in starvation mode"

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.

here is the first post it clearly says "your body is in starvation mode"

I think there is a quoting issue here. Go back to the first page to see what I wrote. I clearly state its not starvation mode but do mention hormonal response such as the release of cortisol. I know metabolic adaptation wont even begin until you go 72 hours without food. But I do also know a under nourish body will fight weight loss. Its also the reason why I struggled to lose weight at 1800 calories daily but have no issue while on 2500-2700 calories. I cant also tell you I have helped first hand hundreds of people and seen thousands of success stories on this board by those who up their calories. This is why I suggested increasing calories to 1700, especially considering the op is 20. And since she only works out 30 min a day for 5-6 days I would consider her lightly active. Using harris benedict and cutting 20% puts her around 1700 calories.

I do take in consideration that she is competent enough to measure correctly. Its my suggestion and obviously the low calorie crap isnt working so why not try 2 months of higher calories. I would also suggest adding 200 calories a week until she hits 1700 and do not eat back exercise calories.

ldriver10

Thanks everyone for the helpful info. I looked into the Harris Benedict Equation and am going to try eating around 1700 calories a day and reduce my exercise regimen to 5 days/week, an hour a day and see how that works for the next few weeks. I have a Corebody Reformer which is a combination of cardio, yoga, and dance with resistance that I absolutely love working out on and I'm going to try to be patient but well it's hard especially since my weight has yo-yo'd somewhere between 115-140 lbs for my entire adult life and being on the high end of my healthy weight isn't where I'm most comfortable.

I noticed some people were asking about how I weigh/measure my portions and in response to that I do have a kitchen scale I use religiously so I'm certain I wasn't going over the 1200 calories that I was eating previously. Also, I have recently been to see my doctor who said I was in great shape (sigh) and to look into weight training but that other than that no thyroid issues or anything health related to be concerned about.

pcastagner

Thanks everyone for the helpful info. I looked into the Harris Benedict Equation and am going to try eating around 1700 calories a day and reduce my exercise regimen to 5 days/week, an hour a day and see how that works for the next few weeks. I have a Corebody Reformer which is a combination of cardio, yoga, and dance with resistance that I absolutely love working out on and I'm going to try to be patient but well it's hard especially since my weight has yo-yo'd somewhere between 115-140 lbs for my entire adult life and being on the high end of my healthy weight isn't where I'm most comfortable.

I noticed some people were asking about how I weigh/measure my portions and in response to that I do have a kitchen scale I use religiously so I'm certain I wasn't going over the 1200 calories that I was eating previously. Also, I have recently been to see my doctor who said I was in great shape (sigh) and to look into weight training but that other than that no thyroid issues or anything health related to be concerned about.

Ok, great! We know now how yu measure food.


Next question!

How have you been feeling?

ldriver10

Overall I've been been fine although there have been days where I would work out and just be so exhausted afterwards that I couldn't do much of anything for the rest of the day.

Can I also ask to those that said I should up my caloric intake to 1700 cals/day, do I maintain this even on days where I do not exercise? I saw the equation takes into account my weekly exercise as opposed to my daily so I was going to assume that I continue to eat 1700 everyday but better to ask than not.

pcastagner

If you don't feel hungry, I gotta wonder how much deficit is actually going on.


If you don't feel like crap, you probably aren't overdoing your deficit.

ldriver10

I can honestly say the reason I probably don't feel hungry is that I've almost always eaten only 1200 calories even when I was just trying to maintain my weight. When I danced professionally I maintained 1200 (not NET) and was dancing for 4-5 hours a day so my body is used to conserving calories, I now realize this as I've begun to learn more about nutrition/exercise. Was this healthy for me to do? No, absolutely not but I was trying to maintain a certain standard in the way my body looked and I didn't really know the right way to do this at the time other than to eat very little effectively sending my body into constant conservation mode. I was almost definitely eating away at the lean muscle mass I would've probably produced otherwise.

psuLemon

If you don't feel hungry, I gotta wonder how much deficit is actually going on.


If you don't feel like crap, you probably aren't overdoing your deficit.

Your body can not tell what kind of deficit you running on. I eat 2500 calories a day (1 lb per week) and starving a lot of the time. But I can still eat 3500 calories a day and feel the same way. In all reality, your body does NOT know how many calories you are eating, only the quantity of food you are eating. Now I will say, some foods provide greater satiety but your body can NOT tell the difference from eating a 2000 calorie pizza than a 500 calories hamburger. It's why it's so easy to over eat.

And I am sorry but my experience suggest that it's much better to be proactive about your health than waiting for my body to tell me something is wrong. Also, your body does not tell you when your are catabolizing your muscle. And in many cases people will still have energy and push hard during workouts. Nor does your body tell you when your RMR is adapting to burn less calories. So I don't get why you would suggest just waiting it out until you can't perform during workouts? Besides, it can't hurt to try something different fo a month or two. The worse case scenario, she found another way it doesn't work.

pcastagner

If you don't feel hungry, I gotta wonder how much deficit is actually going on.


If you don't feel like crap, you probably aren't overdoing your deficit.

Your body can not tell what kind of deficit you running on. I eat 2500 calories a day (1 lb per week) and starving a lot of the time. But I can still eat 3500 calories a day and feel the same way. In all reality, your body does NOT know how many calories you are eating, only the quantity of food you are eating. Now I will say, some foods provide greater satiety but your body can NOT tell the difference from eating a 2000 calorie pizza than a 500 calories hamburger. It's why it's so easy to over eat.

And I am sorry but my experience suggest that it's much better to be proactive about your health than waiting for my body to tell me something is wrong. Also, your body does not tell you when your are catabolizing your muscle. And in many cases people will still have energy and push hard during workouts. Nor does your body tell you when your RMR is adapting to burn less calories. So I don't get why you would suggest just waiting it out until you can't perform during workouts? Besides, it can't hurt to try something different fo a month or two. The worse case scenario, she found another way it doesn't work.

I agree, but for most, huge deficits have side effects, that's why they aren't sustainable. OP just gave a personal history indicating she is probably tough as nails from dancing and won't feel it, so I have to agree with you. However in most cases, people who cut too hard either feel it or show altered behavior, and they do feel like garbage.

My body knows the difference between running a deficit and running a surplus. I can feel it. That is not the same as satiety, which has to do with perception of what you just ate. Not the same thing. Ad I can most definitely feel the difference between a fasted and refed state.


I am hesitant to say the ballerina look is unhealthy, because the world needs ballet.

eventon1

Have you been measuring yourself?
You may be loosing inches instead of pounds x

psuLemon

Have you been measuring yourself?
You may be loosing inches instead of pounds x

You do realize this is a year and a half year old thread? And the OP hasn't posted a message since May of last year.

jaimielynnlee12

Don't worry about the number on the scale, as it isn't always consistent with weight loss. How are your clothes fitting? Do you find them the same, or looser? Have you checked your measurements around your waist? These are better indicators of weight loss. Don't get frustrated about the scale, girlfriend!