Plateauing for 2 months
Replies
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Thanks
I guess my expectations got a bit messed up then. Was hoping for a 1-2lb loss a week to be honest! 1 -
I’m trying to be strict, because I’m very motivated! I’m not stressing too much over it, but it would be cool to drop a bit more since it’s summer and all I use insulin and cortisone though, so I have to be strict
So I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with this. I’m happy when I see a loss, even if it is only 0.6lbs.. It’s just kinda weird to go from -8kg in a month to -2kg in 2 months on the same diet.
Accepting that the situation is as you report, I think there's potential that you could be seeing some confounding water weight gains masking fat loss, and/or your personal situation or your low calorie level are depressing your non-exercise activity (NEAT). Your medical situation could involve water weight fluctuation, so could summer, so could stress, and more.
Some (very few) people do lose at a higher/lower calorie level than MFP estimates (it has to do with statistics, not necessarily laws of thermodynamics). Usually, the biggest factor in these is NEAT variations. Try to work at being more active throughout your day: Don't sit when you could stand, don't stand when you could move, fidget more, prioritize some higher-energy home chores or home improvement projects, etc. There's a thread about that strategy here, and it can move your TDEE upward by a surprising amount: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10610953/neat-improvement-strategies-to-improve-weight-loss
You could also add some exercise, if you can fit it in. It doesn't have to be a mega-big deal, just more walks or something like that. Strength training could be helpful, but primarily in a long-term sense.
As I said, unusually low calorie needs are . . . unusual. It's far more common to have overlooked something food-logging-related, to have overestimated exercise, or something of that nature. And a difference of the magnitude you're reporting - not losing at 1000 calories at age 23 - would be way, way, way outside the norms, even for a quite petite woman.
You mention having 36 pounds left to lose, but I didn't see where you mention your height or current/starting weight. Are you by any chance already at the lower end of a normal BMI, striving to be very thin? That would make a difference.
And I agree that it would be a good idea to see your doctor. Since you obviously have certain medical conditions, and report slow weight loss on very low calories, plus may be short-changing your nutrition given the low calories, it may be time for blood tests or other medical tests to get to the bottom of the situation.5 -
I’m trying to be strict, because I’m very motivated! I’m not stressing too much over it, but it would be cool to drop a bit more since it’s summer and all I use insulin and cortisone though, so I have to be strict So I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with this. I’m happy when I see a loss, even if it is only 0.6lbs.. It’s just kinda weird to go from -8kg in a month to -2kg in 2 months on the same diet.
Ding ding ding Have you checked with your doctor about reducing your insulin? Insulin is a hormone and one of its functions is to tell the body to store energy. If you are losing weight, you more than likely need less insulin. This could definitely be contributing to the slowed rate of loss.4 -
I’m trying to be strict, because I’m very motivated! I’m not stressing too much over it, but it would be cool to drop a bit more since it’s summer and all I use insulin and cortisone though, so I have to be strict So I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with this. I’m happy when I see a loss, even if it is only 0.6lbs.. It’s just kinda weird to go from -8kg in a month to -2kg in 2 months on the same diet.
Accepting that the situation is as you report, I think there's potential that you could be seeing some confounding water weight gains masking fat loss, and/or your personal situation or your low calorie level are depressing your non-exercise activity (NEAT). Your medical situation could involve water weight fluctuation, so could summer, so could stress, and more.
Some (very few) people do lose at a higher/lower calorie level than MFP estimates (it has to do with statistics, not necessarily laws of thermodynamics). Usually, the biggest factor in these is NEAT variations. Try to work at being more active throughout your day: Don't sit when you could stand, don't stand when you could move, fidget more, prioritize some higher-energy home chores or home improvement projects, etc. There's a thread about that strategy here, and it can move your TDEE upward by a surprising amount: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10610953/neat-improvement-strategies-to-improve-weight-loss
You could also add some exercise, if you can fit it in. It doesn't have to be a mega-big deal, just more walks or something like that. Strength training could be helpful, but primarily in a long-term sense.
As I said, unusually low calorie needs are . . . unusual. It's far more common to have overlooked something food-logging-related, to have overestimated exercise, or something of that nature. And a difference of the magnitude you're reporting - not losing at 1000 calories at age 23 - would be way, way, way outside the norms, even for a quite petite woman.
You mention having 36 pounds left to lose, but I didn't see where you mention your height or current/starting weight. Are you by any chance already at the lower end of a normal BMI, striving to be very thin? That would make a difference.
And I agree that it would be a good idea to see your doctor. Since you obviously have certain medical conditions, and report slow weight loss on very low calories, plus may be short-changing your nutrition given the low calories, it may be time for blood tests or other medical tests to get to the bottom of the situation.
Thank you so much for your comment! And linking to the "NEAT Improvement Strategies to Improve Weight Loss". I will definitely check this out! My personal situation is for sure impacting my non-exercise activity, so it is so great that you told me about this! I am still classified as obese according to BMI, so it's nothing like that. I'm looking to get into the middle normal range of the BMI. I'm looking to get healthier, to feel good about my choices and that of course my body reflects the good choices I make. I'm gonna give my doctor a call sometime this week and ask her if she can help me.1 -
michelle172415 wrote: »I’m trying to be strict, because I’m very motivated! I’m not stressing too much over it, but it would be cool to drop a bit more since it’s summer and all I use insulin and cortisone though, so I have to be strict So I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with this. I’m happy when I see a loss, even if it is only 0.6lbs.. It’s just kinda weird to go from -8kg in a month to -2kg in 2 months on the same diet.
Ding ding ding Have you checked with your doctor about reducing your insulin? Insulin is a hormone and one of its functions is to tell the body to store energy. If you are losing weight, you more than likely need less insulin. This could definitely be contributing to the slowed rate of loss.
I have reduced my insulin dose because of the weight loss. I need like half the insulin I used to! Feels amazing I also cut back a bit on carbs so that I could use even less insulin. But I have type 1 diabetes, so I'm always dependent on some insulin. My blood glucose has improved a lot That's a win! 13 -
My weight loss has slowed too the closer I am to goal. I also exercise. Just be patient and keep it up! I think of how much I would weight if I wasn't tracking !!!
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Fitoverfortymom!!! wow! The post about the scale was amazing!! I meticulously measure my food but once I weighed it by gram it was less. My kodiak pancake mix says 1/2 cup but it's really 1/3 plus one tablespoon. This was my problem -- I'm certain of it!! Thanks sooooo much for the post and posting it!!!! Woo hoo. Now to cut off pieces of tortillas. 😟5
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michelle172415 wrote: »Ding ding ding Have you checked with your doctor about reducing your insulin? Insulin is a hormone and one of its functions is to tell the body to store energy. If you are losing weight, you more than likely need less insulin. This could definitely be contributing to the slowed rate of loss.
You can't store energy in a deficit. It is all used and then some which is how fat is used and weight is lost.
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Hey!
So the last 2 months I’ve only lost 5 pounds, this qualifies as a plateau right? That’s 0,6lbs / 200 grams a week! I was eating 1200kcal a day (I’m not very active), but the past couple of weeks I’ve been eating 1000kcal a day instead.. But it’s not helping at alI, so I really don’t see the point in eating so few calories. I weigh everything so I’m 120% sure that I’m not eating more calories. I’m a 23 year old woman. Any thoughts on this?
You're either not entering your food correctly, weighing your food correctly or you're so slim and short that you are at your new maintenance which I highly doubt. You're eating so little food if that were the case.
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I’ve gained 5 pounds in the past two months. I was under no illusion that I was in a plateau! Now I’m working on losing those 5 pounds. You’re doing great. I’m also on 1200 calories. It’s tough to be this low, and my maintenance is 1350, so it’s very easy to gain and there’s very little wiggle room. Just keep doing what you’re doing (at 1200 tho).6
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I’m trying to be strict, because I’m very motivated! I’m not stressing too much over it, but it would be cool to drop a bit more since it’s summer and all I use insulin and cortisone though, so I have to be strict So I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with this. I’m happy when I see a loss, even if it is only 0.6lbs.. It’s just kinda weird to go from -8kg in a month to -2kg in 2 months on the same diet.
Accepting that the situation is as you report, I think there's potential that you could be seeing some confounding water weight gains masking fat loss, and/or your personal situation or your low calorie level are depressing your non-exercise activity (NEAT). Your medical situation could involve water weight fluctuation, so could summer, so could stress, and more.
Some (very few) people do lose at a higher/lower calorie level than MFP estimates (it has to do with statistics, not necessarily laws of thermodynamics). Usually, the biggest factor in these is NEAT variations. Try to work at being more active throughout your day: Don't sit when you could stand, don't stand when you could move, fidget more, prioritize some higher-energy home chores or home improvement projects, etc. There's a thread about that strategy here, and it can move your TDEE upward by a surprising amount: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10610953/neat-improvement-strategies-to-improve-weight-loss
You could also add some exercise, if you can fit it in. It doesn't have to be a mega-big deal, just more walks or something like that. Strength training could be helpful, but primarily in a long-term sense.
As I said, unusually low calorie needs are . . . unusual. It's far more common to have overlooked something food-logging-related, to have overestimated exercise, or something of that nature. And a difference of the magnitude you're reporting - not losing at 1000 calories at age 23 - would be way, way, way outside the norms, even for a quite petite woman.
You mention having 36 pounds left to lose, but I didn't see where you mention your height or current/starting weight. Are you by any chance already at the lower end of a normal BMI, striving to be very thin? That would make a difference.
And I agree that it would be a good idea to see your doctor. Since you obviously have certain medical conditions, and report slow weight loss on very low calories, plus may be short-changing your nutrition given the low calories, it may be time for blood tests or other medical tests to get to the bottom of the situation.
Thank you so much for your comment! And linking to the "NEAT Improvement Strategies to Improve Weight Loss". I will definitely check this out! My personal situation is for sure impacting my non-exercise activity, so it is so great that you told me about this! I am still classified as obese according to BMI, so it's nothing like that. I'm looking to get into the middle normal range of the BMI. I'm looking to get healthier, to feel good about my choices and that of course my body reflects the good choices I make. I'm gonna give my doctor a call sometime this week and ask her if she can help me.
I think you're closing in on a good plan for going forward. If your doctor isn't terribly helpful, ask her/him for a referral to a registered dietitian. You can sort this out! 2 -
Hey!
So the last 2 months I’ve only lost 5 pounds, this qualifies as a plateau right? That’s 0,6lbs / 200 grams a week! I was eating 1200kcal a day (I’m not very active), but the past couple of weeks I’ve been eating 1000kcal a day instead.. But it’s not helping at alI, so I really don’t see the point in eating so few calories. I weigh everything so I’m 120% sure that I’m not eating more calories. I’m a 23 year old woman. Any thoughts on this?
You're either not entering your food correctly, weighing your food correctly or you're so slim and short that you are at your new maintenance which I highly doubt. You're eating so little food if that were the case.
How could she be at her new maintenance if she is continuing to lose weight?
With less than 40lb to lose I would expect a loss of 0.5lb - 1lb per week if there were zero logging errors, and everyone has an error occasionally. So the current rate seems acceptable. This may be more about expectations than anything else3 -
I can read Norwegian well enough and know what's available in supermarkets. If you let me I can have a look at your diary and see if something is off. With so little to lose, it's often the small things that add up.5
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You're either not entering your food correctly, weighing your food correctly or you're so slim and short that you are at your new maintenance which I highly doubt. You're eating so little food if that were the case.
Or maybe the OP figured out what was wrong from one of the other responses. The thread is only 2 pages long...2 -
Hey!
So the last 2 months I’ve only lost 5 pounds, this qualifies as a plateau right? That’s 0,6lbs / 200 grams a week! I was eating 1200kcal a day (I’m not very active), but the past couple of weeks I’ve been eating 1000kcal a day instead.. But it’s not helping at alI, so I really don’t see the point in eating so few calories. I weigh everything so I’m 120% sure that I’m not eating more calories. I’m a 23 year old woman. Any thoughts on this?
You're either not entering your food correctly, weighing your food correctly or you're so slim and short that you are at your new maintenance which I highly doubt. You're eating so little food if that were the case.
For other aworkoutroutine.com fans, here's the article that image came from:
https://www.aworkoutroutine.com/1200-calorie-diet/
SUMMARY:
There are countless women claiming to be eating 1200 calories a day but not losing weight, and darn near all of them are wrong. In reality, they are unknowingly eating more than they think they are, inconsistently eating the amount they claim to be, or tracking their progress in a manner that prevents them from seeing that it’s working. Also, bonus fact: starvation mode is nonsense.5 -
Hey!
So the last 2 months I’ve only lost 5 pounds, this qualifies as a plateau right? That’s 0,6lbs / 200 grams a week! I was eating 1200kcal a day (I’m not very active), but the past couple of weeks I’ve been eating 1000kcal a day instead.. But it’s not helping at alI, so I really don’t see the point in eating so few calories. I weigh everything so I’m 120% sure that I’m not eating more calories. I’m a 23 year old woman. Any thoughts on this?
You're either not entering your food correctly, weighing your food correctly or you're so slim and short that you are at your new maintenance which I highly doubt. You're eating so little food if that were the case.
How could she be at her new maintenance if she is continuing to lose weight?
With less than 40lb to lose I would expect a loss of 0.5lb - 1lb per week if there were zero logging errors, and everyone has an error occasionally. So the current rate seems acceptable. This may be more about expectations than anything else
Which is why I said it's highly unlikely.1 -
Look out for the little things that can add up and put you out of your deficit and into maintenance. Things like water flavoring, liquid calories from absentmindedly drinking more than anticipated or forgetting drinks, ketchup, dressings, sauces and dips.
Best guess from experience. At one point on my diet I was aiming for 1,000 calories since I was leaving room for a margin of error in my counting before I got a food scale. I actually was consuming 1,300 to 1,600 a day and it was reflected in my only losing 0.5 lb a week. When I tightened up my logging and weighed my food and drinks I was consistently eating 1,200 and losing 2 lbs a week. My deficit, maintence and gaining numbers will obviously be different from yours I’m short.
If you are truly only eating 1,000 a day you will burn out quickly. Eating only 1,000 calories a day isn’t healthy and is unsustainable. Likely you will at some point get insatiable hunger and will start overeating to compensate for the too aggressive deficit and hunger. I can eat 1,000 calories a day for about 2 weeks before the hunger is overwhelming. Eat more. You won’t suddenly gain a ton and your body will thank you for it by giving you energy. You can still lose weight eating a moderate deficit instead of an aggressive restrictive one.4
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