Metabolism inefficiency?

kjoy_
kjoy_ Posts: 316 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi, I've been at this for 170 days, or so MFP tells me. In the beginning, I admittedly went about this wrong...I was averaging about 1,000 calories a day for probably 3 months. In the time I went from 136-125. Once I stalled weight wise in March, I decided to up my calories to see if I could get things going again. I ate between 1300-1500 calories a day for two months and stayed off the scale to try to break my obsession with weight. I still exercised (lifting moderately and 5-10 miles per week running).

However, here I am three months later sitting at my starting weight of 136, plus some. My question is, is it possible that I actually lowered my BMR by eating very low calories for three months? Or is that not enough time to have a huge impact on my metabolic rate? I am just trying to figure out what's going on here, since I seem to be gaining on what should be a moderate deficit at my height of 5'2".

Replies

  • bigsicklittlesick
    bigsicklittlesick Posts: 55 Member
    I really don't think you would have done enough "damage" to lower your BMR. You could try eating at your TDEE (or eating at maintenance) for a couple of weeks and then slowly decrease your calories to a moderate deficit again.
  • peachfigs
    peachfigs Posts: 831 Member
    bump
  • kjoy_
    kjoy_ Posts: 316 Member
    I really don't think you would have done enough "damage" to lower your BMR. You could try eating at your TDEE (or eating at maintenance) for a couple of weeks and then slowly decrease your calories to a moderate deficit again.

    I honestly don't think at this point I could bring myself to eat at my TDEE because I'm convinced the calculators are overestimating my caloric burn. I have a desk job and go to bed early, but do exercise moderately. However that doesn't leave much room to burn more "daily" calories from other activities. It says i'm at 1750, but due to my weight gain I'm guessing it's around 1500-1600.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    FWIW, I'm 5'2" & 115 lbs. I ate 1200 to go from 135 to 115 and did not eat back exercise, still don't but I eat a maintenance diet of about 1500 now. I'm 55 so that knocks off some calories from my BMR compared to yours but if I go much over 1500 I start gaining again. I have a desk job and run or cycle for exercise.
  • kjoy_
    kjoy_ Posts: 316 Member
    FWIW, I'm 5'2" & 115 lbs. I ate 1200 to go from 135 to 115 and did not eat back exercise, still don't but I eat a maintenance diet of about 1500 now. I'm 55 so that knocks off some calories from my BMR compared to yours but if I go much over 1500 I start gaining again. I have a desk job and run or cycle for exercise.

    sounds a lot like me! i'm going to stay low calorie, but try to reduce my carb/sugar intake to under 100 grams a day to see if that helps anything. i'm just frustrated. how long did it take you to go from 135-115?
  • MichelleAnn10
    MichelleAnn10 Posts: 13
    I'm having the sme questions. I'm 5'2. I've been eating under 1200 for 3 months because much above that and I start gaining. But I also haven't been loosing either. I'm very frustrated because I know I should be losing but I'm not and I can't figure out why

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