Feeling like a dog chasing its tail...

tracieangeletti

Not sure where best to post this and not sure if anything can be done about it but maybe some of you have some ideas. I'm not seeing the results I thought I should be seeing yet. I know I need to be patient and every day I keep plugging along but I want to make sure I'm not doing something wrong and wasting time.

For starters I'm a 47 year old female, 5'1 1/2", around 125 lbs although this varies from 2 to 5 lbs depending on the day, with a bf% between 26-27. According to Scooby my tdee is 2218 and at a 15% cut I should eat 1885 calories a day. I used the 5-6 hours a week activity level. I just finished my 9th week of my heavy lifting program. I lift about an hour to an hour and a half four to five days a week and spin for an hour three days a week.

I'm not losing scale weight. I keep playing with the same 3-5 lbs. This bothers me but I have been told it might happen so I'm trying to not let it get to me. BUT I'm not really noticing too many physical changes either. I'm feeling firmer and stronger, which is AWESOME, but the fat on top is hanging on for dear life. I'm progressing in weights and I'm even adding in extra sets. I'm trying to average 1700- 1800 calories a day.

Last night I freaked and binged. Haven't done that for awhile and it was all carbs. It did help to give me an awesome workout today but I'm sure it didn't help my situation much. So where am I going wrong? Is my activity level wrong and I'm eating too much? I could maybe drop 100 to 200 more calories but much more than that I'll be very sad. I'll do it if I have to. :-( I know I'm not gaining muscle being in a deficit so I'm still a little confused as to why the scale won't budge either.

Someone suggested I cut out dairy. I try not to eat too much of it. Another said to cut out wheat and grain products. I have already cut out white bread and white rice. UGH. Just ugh. Any ideas?

ElliottTN

What's happening with your measurements? You are taking measurements right?

seabee78

At 125lbs you probably don't have much to lose so the weight will not fall off you as fast as it will off a heavier person. You haven't mentioned how long you have gone without losing.

psuLemon

How tall are you? Do you weight and measure your foods?

tracieangeletti

I weigh and measure and I've even become even stricter on the weighing. My weight loss was good at first but has dropped off to almost nothing. I have been around this weight, plus or minus a few lbs, for months. I have gotten smaller so I know I'm making some progress but it is ridiculously slow. Another worry is at first I thought 123 lbs was a good goal weight for me but not anymore. I'm afraid I still might have 10 lbs to lose and at this rate I might get there before I'm 60. Lol I'm also afraid I might not be able to maintain that weight.

tracieangeletti

Any ideas?

psuLemon

Any ideas?

How tall are you?

tracieangeletti

I'm 5'1 1/2" tall. I edited my original post because it posted before I was done typing!! Stupid kindle!! Lol There is more personal info in the original post now that might help. :-)

tracieangeletti

Does staggering your calories work? Someone at the gym was telling me that some days she eats 800 calories and then on others she'll eat 1200 and then 1800, and just keep mixing it up. Does this help?

Krista916

Any ideas?

How tall are you?

It's in her original post. She is 5' 1.5"

deksgrl

Weight loss is slow when you are close to your goal weight. Focus on reducing body fat %, which sounds like it is happening if you are getting smaller.

tracieangeletti

So you think my calories are in line and it's just a matter of time? I'm really working hard and as much as I don't want to cut calories further but at the same time I'd hate to have too many calories holding up my weight loss. Although I ate much lower and did not lose much there either. :-/

deksgrl

What does Scooby give you if you choose the next activity level down from the one you chose?

There is a nifty spreadsheet where you can customize to more closely figure your TDEE with your type of workouts and time spent, depending on your goals

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/813720-spreadsheet-bmr-tdee-deficit-macro-calcs-hrm-zones

Try that out and see if you get a much different number.

KANGOOJUMPS

get a cat

tracieangeletti

Took me forever to get spreadsheet to work but I got it and it gave me a tdee of 2214 and an eating goal of 1849, so not too different than Scooby. I gave a goal weight of 118 just because I think to get the extra chub off I'll need to still lose that six to ten pounds. So I guess more time is needed. I'll keep at it and hope that I get there in this decade! Lol

tracieangeletti

I think I looked at the spreadsheet wrong or accidentally hit a button cuz now it says my calorie goal a day is 1782. So maybe it is too many calories that are getting in the way.

deksgrl

I think I looked at the spreadsheet wrong or accidentally hit a button cuz now it says my calorie goal a day is 1782. So maybe it is too many calories that are getting in the way.

Check the values in the yellow cells and make sure they are correct.

tracieangeletti

Looks right now. So 1782. I'll eat at 1800 and add in more walking to make up for the difference.

tracieangeletti

I'm a little confused on the macros he suggests though. He's got 60% carbs and 20% for both fat and protein. I always heard it should be 40-30-30. Do the macro % make a huge difference?