Under 1200 calories and started gaining weight

ChristyRunStarr

EAT MORE. your body is thinking it's not going to get enough food (because it's NOT).

BootCampC

not seeing results ? make sure you are in your macro range: check this out https://www.bodybuilding.com/content/ask-the-ripped-dude-magical-macronutrient-ratio-for-fat-loss.html

920clb

I think there are just weeks when your body catches up/behind to what you are actually doing. I'm 5' started at the beginning of the year around 145 lbs. Currently in a weight loss challenge at work. Last week I weighed in at 135. The last week and a half I've been pretty sick - missed 3 days of work, barely eating (pretty sure I haven't had an over 1000 calorie day in the last 10 days, my goal is around 1200). Weighed in today, and I weigh the EXACT same as last week. I don't get it either.

BootCampC

I believe tracking macros matter more than the calorie itself.. since I changed to 35% protein 25% carbs and 40% fat , I am seeing results in the mirror and on the scale

TeaBea

tolianie wrote: »

I track every thing I eat and have been staying under 1200 most of the time it's between 1035 and 1100, I make sure I get over 10,000 steps in a day and the last two weeks I started gaining weight. I've stopped all caffeine in Sept. and, pasta, rice, breads and potatoes for this diet. I haven't started a proper exercise routine yet just getting in my steps. The Keto Recipe book I got says I should be eating a lot more calories because I've cut out the carbs. but I've been to scared to up my calories because weight loss has always been a struggle for me, I've gained weight before when I was getting professional help dieting.

Losing weight is about CALORIES. You can choose low carb, or an elimination style diet if you like the food......but it's still about calories.

How long have you been at this current increased weight? There will be natural water weight fluctuations: sodium, time of month, sore muscles hold water, waste cycle. If this gain happened over night or has been just a few days....it's not necessarily fat gain. You need to eat 3,500 calories over your MAINTENANCE to gain a pound.

Measuring and logging food. How accurately do you log. Do you use a digital food scales for solids & semi-solids, and a measuring cup for liquids. Weigh packaged foods too. Are you logging every bite, every taste, every lick, everything? Double check your database selections. There are plenty of wrong entries.

If your logging is accruate and it's not water weight......see a doctor. Barring medical issues, no adult should gain weight at 1,100 calories.

malibu927

BootCampC wrote: »

I believe tracking macros matter more than the calorie itself.. since I changed to 35% protein 25% carbs and 40% fat , I am seeing results in the mirror and on the scale

Nope. Weight loss is all about calories.

cathipa

Regardless of height, being 181 pounds and eating less then 1200 isn't healthy. 2 pounds of weight loss per week is ok, but don't fret when you don't lose for a week or 2. Just keep going. If you are being truthful with your food logging and weighing everything then weight loss will start up again. 0.5-2 pounds a week is healthy weight loss. Stalls happen. If after 6 weeks and no weight or visible change (pics, measurements or clothing size) then reassess.

AnvilHead

ugofatcat wrote: »

Also, to all the people saying that the doctor has no nutrition training, are any of you qualified to speak on behalf of the medical association? How do you know doctors don't receive nutrition training, have you gone through medical school? And stop taking everything you hear from patients second hand at face value. I am a registered dietitian, have heard doctors (and nurses and pharmacists!) give sound advice only for the patient to turn around a month later and interpret what was said said in such a way I can only suspect they didn't listen to a word the doctor said.

Even if some doctors give bad advice, you can't judge the entire profession based on one or two bad apples, it really seems like people just want to feel smart by saying doctors don't know anything. But because someone on here read a few articles on someone's blog they are somehow a nutrition authority. /end rant.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2430660/

Just sayin'.

Rocknut53

deviousme7 wrote: »

Try eating 1200 calories minimum and no extra walking per day and see the weight drop off, this is why I stopped walking so much

Can you explain why this is relevant? Although walking by itself is not necessary for weight loss, the mental benefits are immeasurable. Increasing your walking will not stall your weight loss (unless you underestimate your calorie burn and eat too much back).

debrag12

I'm 5.1-5.2 and in the 180s at sedentary I'm given 1390 calories to lose 0.5lb a week. I eat more due to exercise and work (1800-2000 net). I lose anything from 0-2 lb per week.

Either a medical condition or u are using measuring cups not a scale

kshama2001

tolianie wrote: »

First thank you for the reponses. I'll try to address the questions asked, sorry if I miss any. I'll look into opening my diary, not sure how and I'm at work. I DO weigh and measure everything except the sugar free gum I chew. I'm 5'1 and weighed 181 this morning. I weigh myself everyday and only log it once a week on the same say wearing the same outfit. Most of my walking is done at work. Every time I get bloodwork they say I'm perfectly healthy, my dr said 1200 was still to much which is why I try to stay under. My starting weight was 198 but I did a strict 2 week carb and dairy free diet before I started tracking my food. I've been tracking for approximately a month and half losing about 2 pounds a week until 2 weeks ago. I agree with my calorie intake I should be losing that's why I came here. Thank you again for the responses.

Change your Diary Sharing settings to Public: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings

fitmom4lifemfp

Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »

I'm 5'4", 120 pounds, 57 and maintain at 1800 calories.

Are you a dancer?

Theo166

The real formula is CICO+H2O

Salt and hormones swing the H20 variable up and down, disguising the underlying CICO trend.

fitmom4lifemfp

WinoGelato wrote: »

I'm 5'2 and not a marathon runner and I maintain at 2200. There's just no way that you are maintaining weight with a net calorie intake in the mid hundreds.

That's outrageous. I mean, seriously, I would be at 200 pounds in no time. I guess that's evidence of how differently our bodies work.

ugofatcat

@anvilhead2 Thank you for that research article.

From the results: A total of 106 surveys were returned for a response rate of 84%. Ninety-nine of the 106 schools responding required some form of nutrition education; however, only 32 schools (30%) required a separate nutrition course. On average, students received 23.9 contact hours of nutrition instruction during medical school (range: 2–70 h). Only 40 schools required the minimum 25 h recommended by the National Academy of Sciences. Most instructors (88%) expressed the need for additional nutrition instruction at their institutions.

So I guess it depends on the doctor and where they went to school, as well as if they do their own personal research.

I do want to say as a registered dietitian I can only remember 2 classes where I actually learned about meal planning and education. The rest where biochemistry, food science, food chemistry, a class about giving presentations, and a class where we read research about nutrition and the elderly. Most of the information I actually I use comes from my own research and todaysdietitian.com. I don't think I ever used the Kreb's cycle in a counseling session...

amtyrell

Op any chance these 2 weeks overlap your period? I know i retain water on my period and it can easy be several pounds of bloat for a week or two.

kimny72

It's fascinating how far from the OP's needs a thread can wander

OP was losing @ 2 lbs per week until a couple of weeks ago. She is concerned that she hasn't lost anything in the last two weeks.

OP, weight loss is not linear. There is a lot of other stuff in your body than just fat, and that stuff can fluctuate. These fluctuations can mask fat loss for days and sometimes weeks at a time - no big deal.

Also keep in mind that as you lose weight and don't have as much wiggle room to run a decent deficit, your weight loss will most likely slow down, you won't lose 2 lbs per week right through to your goal weight. So be patient and don't think you have to reinvent the wheel after a couple of weeks.

I would also suggest you don't go below 1200 on a regular basis, it is very hard to get adequate nutrition and fuel for your body on such a small amount of food. Regardless, take care of yourself, have patience, and good luck :drinker:

Annie_01

I had two weeks of basically no weight loss...one week I gained 2lbs...it took another week to lose that 2lbs. The following week I lost 4.2lbs.

I know it can be frustrating but don't panic...just be patient. If you are staying at a deficit the weight will come off...in time.

stealthq

ugofatcat wrote: »

tolianie wrote: »

First thank you for the reponses. I'll try to address the questions asked, sorry if I miss any. I'll look into opening my diary, not sure how and I'm at work. I DO weigh and measure everything except the sugar free gum I chew. I'm 5'1 and weighed 181 this morning. I weigh myself everyday and only log it once a week on the same say wearing the same outfit. Most of my walking is done at work. Every time I get bloodwork they say I'm perfectly healthy, my dr said 1200 was still to much which is why I try to stay under. My starting weight was 198 but I did a strict 2 week carb and dairy free diet before I started tracking my food. I've been tracking for approximately a month and half losing about 2 pounds a week until 2 weeks ago. I agree with my calorie intake I should be losing that's why I came here. Thank you again for the responses.

Really this thread should read: I have lost 17 pounds since starting at about 2 pounds a week until 2 weeks ago and then I stopped losing.

OP does not need to change your calories unless you feel light-headed or are showing other signs of malnutrition such as getting sick a lot, brittle nails, and hair that is following out.

Also, to all the people saying that the doctor has no nutrition training, are any of you qualified to speak on behalf of the medical association? How do you know doctors don't receive nutrition training, have you gone through medical school? And stop taking everything you hear from patients second hand at face value. I am a registered dietitian, have heard doctors (and nurses and pharmacists!) give sound advice only for the patient to turn around a month later and interpret what was said said in such a way I can only suspect they didn't listen to a word the doctor said.

Even if some doctors give bad advice, you can't judge the entire profession based on one or two bad apples, it really seems like people just want to feel smart by saying doctors don't know anything. But because someone on here read a few articles on someone's blog they are somehow a nutrition authority. /end rant.

Can I judge based on my coworkers? I work for a major health care system, most of my colleagues are MDs or MD/PhDs. Those that either 1) don't specialize in metabolic disorders or 2) haven't made an effort to learn nutrition outside of medical school are pretty clueless about it. Some of the questions I've gotten about losing weight, and comments that are made to me about my diet ... oy.

Some of these questions come from highly trained specialists. Literally leaders in their fields, some of them. But their field's definitely not nutrition.

You really only have to look at most medical schools' curricula to see that there isn't much taught on nutrition.

marm1962

Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »

I'm 5'4", 120 pounds, 57 and maintain at 1800 calories.

to show the difference, I am 5'4" 54 and maintain at 1700 calories and I clean houses for a living 2, 3, and 4 per day 5 days a week