Help On Changing Meal Plan... Advice

supergal3

Sunny_Bunny_ wrote: »

If you think you are eating out of habit or otherwise when not actually hungry then you should work on that for sure. But, as far as weight loss, what you've been doing is working so there's absolutely no reason to think that it has suddenly stopped. It just doesn't work like that. Looking at the scale as validation that "it's working" will eventually be disappointing to everyone because at some point the body always slows down on weight loss to do some maintenance or whatever... but it just stops at some point. That doesn't mean fat loss stops though.
I weigh the same today as I did a year ago but I wear a full size smaller clothes and it's very obvious I've lost a lot of fat in photos. I tried doing different things to "break the stall" too and nothing changed on the scale. At one point I was actually 8 pounds less than right now, but I'm still the same size as I was then. That was just a few months ago. I put on about 8 pounds from my lowest ever weight but I've not gotten bigger anywhere. If I let that scale number decide that what I'm doing isn't working, I would've been so discouraged and given up eventually, but since I was also interested in keto for other reasons, and kept eating right, I got to learn that the scale is a big fat lying, liar pants!

Work on being aware of real hunger signals and keep doing what you've been doing and you'll keep losing fat even if the scale doesn't seem to be cooperating.

I love your attitude. I need to copy and paste this quote somewhere on my computer and read it once a week. I am so close to goal but can't make it. But reading your post will help keep me on point. I have a hard time distinguishing between hunger and habit, especially now that I have recently retired. Working kept my mind focused on other matters.

collegefbfan

@kpk54 I am a little mixed up. In your intro you stated that deficit is not extreme, but the 1400 to 1500 calories is extreme. Not sure what this means? Was there a typo in there? Just curious, not bashing.

kpk54

@collegefbfan What I was trying to indicate was that if you are a HEALTHY individual void of the medical issues making weight loss difficult: if the calculators estimate you should eat about 1800 calories for weight loss, then 1600 isn't too far off so not "extreme". However if you drop down to 1400, well that IMO is getting a little extreme and completely unnecessary.

Completely unnecessary, is the real point. Possibly unhealthy. Perhaps you have read some of the follow up studies of the folks on The Biggest Loser? Their extreme rapid weight loss has crashed their metabolism. They clearly have to eat hundreds of calories LESS than what should be their maintenance just to maintain. Forget about losing. Maintenance is not even happening. There are some great studies out there on the grehlin (hunger) hormone.

You're doing so well. I would really hate to see you or anyone do damage to their body by engaging in unnecessary, very low calorie intake. It just isn't worth it. A healthy body needs fuel to function for everything from hair and nail growth to heart. Calorie reduction is stress to the body. The body needs time to adapt.

collegefbfan

Thanks. To all of you. Ok give me your best advice on this next part. Only 1.5 pounds to go in the contest at work. I weigh in on Friday. I haven't cheated a bit, but I am not on track to losing that 1.5 pounds. I am not far off either. Is there anything I can do Wednesday and Thursday to get that 1.5 pounds down? After the contest is over, I will stop obsessing so much. I am winning by 10 pounds. I feel like just starving myself for two days. That should do it... lol.. but I might not be able to take it.

Sunny_Bunny_

collegefbfan wrote: »

Thanks. To all of you. Ok give me your best advice on this next part. Only 1.5 pounds to go in the contest at work. I weigh in on Friday. I haven't cheated a bit, but I am not on track to losing that 1.5 pounds. I am not far off either. Is there anything I can do Wednesday and Thursday to get that 1.5 pounds down? After the contest is over, I will stop obsessing so much. I am winning by 10 pounds. I feel like just starving myself for two days. That should do it... lol.. but I might not be able to take it.

Don't starve for two days. Not a good plan.
Did you ever try the 24 hour fast?
For example, stop eating at 3pm one day and fast until 3pm the following day. That way you can sleep through much of the fasting.
Did you try that last time? You can always do that. Should be no health risk for a healthy person.

Sunny_Bunny_

Also, I think you're obsessing too much on the breakdowns and calories.
Maybe an Eat Stop Eat method would be more relaxed way to go forward for you.
You eat maintenance calories on eating days and fast for anywhere from 16-24 hours like once or twice a week. With most of it being while you sleep.
Check out Brad Pilon. Eat. Stop. Eat.

collegefbfan

Cool. I might do that. Surely look that up in a few.

kpk54

I don't think it's obsessing. Just an inquiring mind... by a guy who mentioned he likes to have breakfast, has some flexibility for lunch and enjoys dinner with his wife in the evening. Sounds like a nice routine that is working. At least I think it was @collegefbfan who mentioned that routine in another thread.

collegefbfan

Yes that was me. I just meant the obsessing as far as the work contest goes. Also, it seems like this woe has some factors that other woe's don't or ones I am not familiar with. Just getting used to. A little frustration with stalls or even weight gain. I know fluctuations happen, but weighing 231 in the morning and then 236 in the evening sucks... lol. That is without eating a crazy amount of food. Just a rant.

kpk54

I hear ya. Good luck in the competition!