Am I eating enough?

Patriots96

I am 5'5" tall and 202 pounds. I started MFP about a month ago and joined a gym at the same time. I have been doing 1700 calories a day and working out 4 days a week at the gym doing strength training on machines with weights for 30 minutes, then abdominal crunches, followed by 30 minutes on the treadmill with varying routines (cardio, wt loss, etc, all at 3 mph or more) I added stationary bike this week in place of treadmill to change things up. I have lost 6 pounds total but seem to only lose every other week, otherwise I stay the same. I was totally sedentary before I started this. I measure ALL my food and log every day. I lost 30 pounds before on MFP at 1700 calories a day but my exercise then was Curves 30 minutes 3 times a week. I wonder if because I am doing more strenuous workouts ( and gaining muscle) is 1700 too little? I am feeling better and my lothes fit better so I know I am making progress. I am 42, type 1 diabetic on a pump and on thyroid meds. I am told these things can also slow weight loss. Any advice is appreciated. Also, I need more friends so please consider friending me so we can encourage each other!

louubelle16

As you are diabetic and on medication, you probably need some more specialist support which is tailored to your medical needs, so I would ask your doctor. The last thing you want to do is make yourself ill!

Maybe your weight isn't going to be the best measure for you anyway, why don't you try measuring your body (in all the usual places) and seeing how your inches go down, rather than your weight? That way you won't be put off by any weight gains coming from muscle-gain.

TavistockToad

You're not gaining muscle.

If you're not losing weight it's because you're not in a deficit.

zoeysasha37

You mentioned you measure foods? Can you explain if your using measuring cups or a proper food scale? A food scale is very important.
Since you say that your eating at a deficit, your not gaining muscle.
To be sure your actually eating at a deficit, you'll need to be as accurate as possible by weighing everything you consume with a food scale.
Since you have medical issues, I'd definitely mention this to your doctor at your next visit.

emmy15rocks

Not sure if this advice applies because of your medical needs. But the NHS website (in the UK) has a weight loss scheme that recommends 1400 calories a day. Maybe you need to lower your calories a little more to be more consistent? 1400 might be too low for you so maybe just go to 1600? I dunno :')

Cchioles

If You Are Not Losing Weight At 1700 Calories A Day, Than I'd Drop To 1500 A Day And See what Happens Over Course Of 2 Weeks.. You Should Aim To Lose A Half A Pound To A Pound A Week. If At The End Of Two Weeks You Still Haven't Lost Any Weight, Drop Too 1300 Calories.. Everyone's Bodies Are Different.. You Gotta Find What Your Body Reacts Too.. If You Don't Lose At 1300 Calories, I'd Say You Have Metabolic Damage And Need a To Reverse Diet.. Good Luck! Let Me Know If You Have Any Questions!

SergeantNarwhal

6 pounds in a month really isn't bad! I'd say stick with it. Maybe lower your calories a little or see if shaking up your macro ratio helps a little, but don't be discouraged.

Patriots96

Thanks all for the replies. I read that decreasing calories while strength training and lots of exercise makes your body go into starvation mode which is why I think I need more calories vs less. My workouts are tough and I am building muscle which needs food, just need the right amount. Will ask my doc what he thinks

Cchioles

Patriots96 wrote: »

Thanks all for the replies. I read that decreasing calories while strength training and lots of exercise makes your body go into starvation mode which is why I think I need more calories vs less. My workouts are tough and I am building muscle which needs food, just need the right amount. Will ask my doc what he thinks

yes! If You Are Weight Training And Your Goal Is To Add Lean Mass, Then You Need The Calorie Surplus! But If You Are Weight Training To Tone And Lose Fat, This Isn't Entirely True.. Get With Your Doctor As Planned, That's Never A Bad Idea!

3bambi3

Patriots96 wrote: »

Thanks all for the replies. I read that decreasing calories while strength training and lots of exercise makes your body go into starvation mode which is why I think I need more calories vs less. My workouts are tough and I am building muscle which needs food, just need the right amount. Will ask my doc what he thinks

Nope. Starvation mode as you describe it is a myth. You don't gain weight eating too few calories. 6 pounds in a month is excellent. What were you expecting to lose? I'd say you're doing great and you should keep at it. Make sure to get your protein in, keep at the weights to retain that muscle, and you'll be fine.

emmy15rocks

They say that you hit starvation mode if you eat less than 1200 cals

3bambi3

emmy15rocks wrote: »

They say that you hit starvation mode if you eat less than 1200 cals

Yeah, that is incorrect. If that were true, there would be no starving people in the world. There is starvation response and adaptive thermogenesis, where your metabolism slows to adapt to a lower intake, but this takes months or longer at eating very low calories. If you want more information, look up the Minnesota starvation experiment.

You're not in starvation mode, and you won't be unless you literally start starving yourself. You have a good rate of loss and you will continue to see success if you keep doing what you are doing.

strong_curves

When you say you measure all your food, do you mean a food scale? Measuring by grams/ounces exactly? If you are also logging your exercise calories, are those accurate too? Do you use a HRM? Even tho they aren't 100% accurate either. Maybe opening up your food diary can give others some insight onto where your problem may lie.

3bambi3

strong_curves wrote: »

When you say you measure all your food, do you mean a food scale? Measuring by grams/ounces exactly? If you are also logging your exercise calories, are those accurate too? Do you use a HRM? Even tho they aren't 100% accurate either. Maybe opening up your food diary can give others some insight onto where your problem may lie.

She doesn't have a problem. She's lost 6 pounds the past month. She's doing great, just needs to keep at it.

emmy15rocks

Yeah, that is incorrect. If that were true, there would be no starving people in the world. There is starvation response and adaptive thermogenesis, where your metabolism slows to adapt to a lower intake, but this takes months or longer at eating very low calories. If you want more information, look up the Minnesota starvation experiment.

You're not in starvation mode, and you won't be unless you literally start starving yourself. You have a good rate of loss and you will continue to see success if you keep doing what you are doing.

Thanks for the info