Introduction and some questions

phactory

Hi All!

My name is Phil and I’m 58 and live in Massachusetts.

I started using MFP on 1/20/17. I was at 213.3 pounds and started eating 1900 calories a day.

The pounds started to come off and sometime around April I changed my calorie limit to 1700 a day, as I was always short of eating them all anyway.

I was loosing on a regular basis until around Memorial Day and basically since then I had stayed pretty static.

Around the end of September I again reduced my caloric intake to 1500 a day.

It did bump start my weight loss again, but after a week or two, it ended back to about where I was on Memorial Day, even with only 1500 calories a day.

I also started exercising on March 31st, and have been going at least twice a week, mainly doing cardio. I’m up to an hour on the elliptical.

I’m just at a loss as to why I can get below 30 pounds down and stay there, as I feel that I could easily lose another 10 pounds.

I log everything I eat every day and am really honest about what I eat.

Any ideas or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Phil

Tim_Veal

Phil I am a newbie too and not an expert. There are many people here with more experience than me.
I wonder if a gain in muscle mass might be throwing your weight numbers off? Also, how "verifiable" are your logged meals? I've seen quite a range for the same item - not all are loaded correctly.
I am exploring a whole food plant based eating plan and enjoying it so far. Does your diet include animal products?
/tim

phactory

Hi Tim,

Yes it definitely does. When logging I usually go for something in the middle. I don’t think I’ve gained that much muscle mass as I’m focusing more on cardio.

Thanks, Phil

theabsentmindednurse

You are on the very lowest caloric intake for a male so DO NOT lower calories any further.

The fact is Phil...., Losing weight, changing habits, takes time. A lot of time.
If you are logging correctly (measuring and weighing food), than your body has hit a plateau, or perhaps you are at the weight your body is comfortable with.

Just keep in mind-The scales can't measure fat redistribution, muscle growth, water weight and the change in your shape.
Take measurements and photos regularly and just stick with it.

JeromeBarry1

Does your first post indicate that you are sort of stuck around 183 and just sure you can lose more?

How tall are you?

I'm 5'10". The weight loss from about the area of 180 down to where I am now at 171 and where I was a few months ago at 165 was very, very slow. My calorie target with sedentary activity is 1730. I eat most of my exercise calories and especially do try to get all the protein I'm supposed to get.

If you are taller than I, you might be plenty slim enough and in need of bulking and recomp, at which I am not expert, but several here in the bodybuilding forum are.

phactory

I don’t plan on reducing my intake amount any more. I just had to do something to try and kickstart loosing again.

I’m going to get a scale and start logging more accurately. I know that I have at least another ten pounds of fat to lose, Thats my goal anyway. Maybe I’ll up my intake if I find that weighing everything is that much more accurate.

Thanks!

theabsentmindednurse wrote: »

You are on the very lowest caloric intake for a male so DO NOT lower calories any further.

The fact is Phil...., Losing weight, changing habits, takes time. A lot of time.
If you are logging correctly (measuring and weighing food), than your body has hit a plateau, or perhaps you are at the weight your body is comfortable with.

Just keep in mind-The scales can't measure fat redistribution, muscle growth, water weight and the change in your shape.
Take measurements and photos regularly and just stick with it.