What am I doing wrong?

nikkilar94
nikkilar94 Posts: 5
in Health and Weight Loss
Hello all - I'm 19 years old, 5'9", 147 pounds, and I have a medium build. I'm just trying to lose about five pounds (that's my "happy weight"). The problem is is that I've been dieting religiously for about a month now. I eat was eating 1300-1400 calories for a little while and I bumped it to 1400-1600. My calories are all "healthy" calories for the most part (except for the occasional frozen yogurt or so) and I always keep within my range. I also run about 2-3 miles a day.

My problem: I have not lost one ounce this whole month.

About a year ago I was 143 pounds and remember being really happy at that weight. Could this weight be something other than fat? I've always worked out so I doubt I've built muscle.

It would be great to get some feedback on this. Thank you so much!

Replies

  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    You're probably trying to lose weight you don't need to lose. Work on strength training to build some muscle and get some definition instead of just doing cardio and trying to starve the "fat" you perceive off.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    1400-1600 calories seems low for someone your age/height, especially if you work out regularly and run too.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    For more constructive feed back, it would be nice to be able to view your diary. Also, curious if you've lost any weight in the last month or if it's just going slower than you'd like. With only 5 pounds to lose, it could take a while as fluctuations from water weight could make a big difference (sodium, monthly cycle, increased workout intensity, etc). Also as Mokey said, you may want to think less about the number on the scale and think more about body composition.
  • red0801
    red0801 Posts: 283 Member
    You're probably trying to lose weight you don't need to lose. Work on strength training to build some muscle and get some definition instead of just doing cardio and trying to starve the "fat" you perceive off.

    ^^ This then find a version of "healthy" that works for you & let go of everyone elses definition.
  • ahmfitn
    ahmfitn Posts: 1
    I don’t know what weight I should use. I’ve never done any weight training before?
  • sarahwilson12
    sarahwilson12 Posts: 70 Member
    My guess is that you might not be eating enough. I'm only 5'5" & my TDEE - 20% is 1662 calories/day.

    I found that this website really helped me:
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    Essentially, it figures out how many calories you'd have to eat to maintain your current weight. Then, you can select how much you want to lose per week, how many meals you have a day & how much you work out per week.
    I guess what I found so helpful about this is that it allowed me more calories than MFP did. Originally, when I first started with MFP (about 2 years ago), I was only allotted 1250 calories. Now that I have about 1660, I find it easier to exercise & I have more energy.

    Strength training would definitely be beneficial. I've read countless stories where people are the same weight, but have lost inches & have gone down in clothes sizes.

    Hope this helps! All the best in your weight loss/healthy lifestyle journey :smile:

    ETA: With the TDEE thing, for every 5 pounds you lose, you can then recalculate how many calories you should be intaking. That way, you won't be gaining weight.

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