Maintaining, but still losing

erikmsp72

Awesome! I am having the same thing happen with me, and part of it is apparently the weather change. Now that it is cooling down for autumn in my area, I find I do in fact need some more calories just to keep my weight even! Who knew?

sklebar

Okay, can't believe I lost a pound in the last week, so upped my calories again today, as it's been about two weeks on my current calorie level of 1,920.

Current stats: 5 ft. 10 in. & 62.5 kg. The lowest I've ever been in my entire life. So I have upped my calories to 2,000 now and will keep you posted again. It's going to be this way, I reckon for some time.

TavistockToad

Okay, can't believe I lost a pound in the last week, so upped my calories again today, as it's been about two weeks on my current calorie level of 1,920.

Current stats: 5 ft. 10 in. & 62.5 kg. The lowest I've ever been in my entire life. So I have upped my calories to 2,000 now and will keep you posted again. It's going to be this way, I reckon for some time.

2000 isn't loads, I maintain on 2000 net and I am smaller than you... An extra 80 cals per day won't really make that much different, I would add a bit more if I was you.

heybales

Okay, can't believe I lost a pound in the last week, so upped my calories again today, as it's been about two weeks on my current calorie level of 1,920.

Current stats: 5 ft. 10 in. & 62.5 kg. The lowest I've ever been in my entire life. So I have upped my calories to 2,000 now and will keep you posted again. It's going to be this way, I reckon for some time.

if you lost 1 lb in 1 week, that would imply a daily deficit on avg of 500 calories.

You'd need to eat about 2400 to offset that, a mere 80 calories ain't going to do nothing, that's the amount of inaccuracy in food labels and probably logging estimates.

Sure you got valid weigh-in days, at least for this week to week review?
Morning after rest day eating normal sodium levels, not sore from last workout.

If you did a big cardio workout last night, and didn't even enough carbs to replenish by weigh-in, you'd easily lose a lb.
if you ate less sodium than normal yesterday and it was a rest day, you could easily drop a lb.
If last weigh-in you were sore and retaining water and ate higher sodium, and this week not, you could easily drop a lb.

sklebar

Thanks guys, I ramped it up again to 2,170 from 1,920 for now to gain 0.2 kg per week. Hopefully that will help things. I weigh myself every morning at the same time Monday to Friday to check things, as I know my weight fluctuates a bit, so it's back up to 63 kg. and then we will see. Just ate my breakfast and I actually feel really full. I also don't like the idea of eating crap to try and get my weight up. I've tried that twice and felt sick, so I'm ramping up the calories again, still eating healthy and clean, with just a couple of quick release carbs like oatmeal and yogurt and we will see what happens.

TavistockToad

Thanks guys, I ramped it up again to 2,170 from 1,920 for now to gain 0.2 kg per week. Hopefully that will help things. I weigh myself every morning at the same time Monday to Friday to check things, as I know my weight fluctuates a bit, so it's back up to 63 kg. and then we will see. Just ate my breakfast and I actually feel really full. I also don't like the idea of eating crap to try and get my weight up. I've tried that twice and felt sick, so I'm ramping up the calories again, still eating healthy and clean, with just a couple of quick release carbs like oatmeal and yogurt and we will see what happens.

steak, salmon, cheese, peanut butter, avocado, nuts, lamb, full fat greek yoghurt...

as heybales said, you need an extra 500 per day if you are in fact losing on 1920...upping to 2170 is only 150cals which equates to less than half a pound extra.

Sandigesha

Sorry cant bother reading all, but if you didnt know, myfitnesspal doesnt know what is your caloric needs are, it is just a stupid web site(i eat 3200 cal on a cut, its advice was around 2200). You should you it to track your calories etc, and figure out what your needs are. (you said you keep losing weight at 1700? go 2000 for a week, try yourself and find what works for you)

sklebar

I know I could ramp it up even more, but I'm just overwhelmed by the amount of food already. I have noticed a huge difference in the way I look now. I look a bit better, my hair and skin feels better and I have tons of energy, just in the last 48 hours. I never really needed support while I was losing, but really need it with maintaining. Thank you all very much. I'll keep you updated, not only so you guys can tell me off if I'm doing stuff wrong (in the best and caring sense. ), but in case there is someone out there that is going through the same thing. Currently at 2,170 calories per day, 5 ft. 10 in. and 63 kg. today.

TavistockToad

I know I could ramp it up even more, but I'm just overwhelmed by the amount of food already. I have noticed a huge difference in the way I look now. I look a bit better, my hair and skin feels better and I have tons of energy, just in the last 48 hours. I never really needed support while I was losing, but really need it with maintaining. Thank you all very much. I'll keep you updated, not only so you guys can tell me off if I'm doing stuff wrong (in the best and caring sense. ), but in case there is someone out there that is going through the same thing. Currently at 2,170 calories per day, 5 ft. 10 in. and 63 kg. today.

You dont necessarily need to eat MORE food, just food that is more calorie dense. for example, swap all your low/non fat dairy for full fat stuff- you dont have to eat more, but it will increase your cals.

Also, i noticed that between 4-500 cals are used on wine most days - you say you dont want to fill your cals with junk, but alcohol has little nutritional value for your body!

sklebar

Lol, I know. It's the fact my other half is a chef, so wine is big in our household. Anyway, I ramped up my calories to 2,200 and ate a little extra over the weekend and have now gained 1 pound, so I'm sticking on this and will watch and ramp up on a daily basis if I see my weight go down even a little bit. It's gotten to the point where a couple of good friends were a bit worried for my health and I don't really blame them, to be honest.

sklebar

Weight gain successful. Back up to just under 65 kg. today. So my last day of eating loads. It was getting tiring. Phew!

Sjenny5891

I'm fighting with it too.
I bumped my activity level up a notch, changed it to "gain 1lb a week" and still eat back my exercise calories. We'll see where that puts me next week.

KisaraKaiba

I know this is an older thread, but I'm saving it since I'm now having a similar problem.

heypurdy

the same thing is actually happening to me. i've lost all the weight i want to but i keep losing and going down in pants sizes. really annoying since i have to keep buying new clothes! i'm not eating any less and i can't eat more than i am. not sure when i'll start to maintain a constant weight, but hopefully soon.

sklebar

Well, I re-introduced things like bread back into my diet and also light sugary things into my diet when I have exercise days. I have been steady at 2000 calories, but still at the lower weight of 63 kg. and I just feel too skinny, so I'm ramping my calories up to 2,100 per day now, which is the maintenance calories for a 64.5 kg. woman at my age.

I just need to eat more, so I really pack in a little more protein and all the carbs I used to avoid like bread or potatoes, but at a limit. That really stopped me from losing. I was trying that whole cheat meal thing, but it just seems stupid. Now I just have a pizza or a burger once a month with a little bit of a chocolate and that's about it. I feel ten times better eating healthy anyway.

Fivepts

Thanks guys. I ramped up my weight level to what I want it to be at 65kg. and at maintenance on slightly active. I over-ate a little on my calories last week and so far, it has now stabilised at 63 kg. I'm even eating back my exercise calories, so we will see. I think this is the calorie count for me now at 1,920 per day, 5 ft. 10 in., 36 yo female. I'll keep it at that for now. I'm not sweating it anymore and actually quite happy at this calorie count. Eating lots, eating healthier and still feel good.

Wow. It's so complicated. Hoping to get to that point one day and saving this thread.

neandermagnon

This might be a dumb question, but have you readjusted your MFP settings and calorie goals to maintenance level?

it's not a dumb question, however even if she has the number could be out by a lot. the number MFP gives me for maintenance is about 300-400 cals below the amount I actually maintain on, that's if I'm sedentary

so OP just keep on adding more calories until you get to the point where your weight is stable. 100 cals/week is probably a good way to do it as it gives you time to see if your weight actually is stable and you're not thrown by daily fluctuations

ekaustin7

No need to panic. I went into maintenance 2 months ago and am only now starting to stabilize in weight. I think I lost an additional 7.5 pounds after I hit my goal weight, but that's because I increased my calories so slowly so I wouldn't experience a big gain right away. Your body will eventually find its equilibrium after being in maintenance for so long, it just takes a little time to get there.

CactusF1ower

Also, your lifestyle does not sound like lightly active to me.

lilawolf

I'm 5'9, 145lbs and female, and I am maintaining on 2200 net calories. I'm trying to bulk but it isn't happening. I lift 2-3 times a week, do martial arts 2x a week, and sometimes run or bike once on the weekends. I eat all of those calories back.

1900 calories is probably still not quite enough, but it depends what you log for exercise. I would listen to Sidesteel though. He knows what he is talking about. The 200 cal approach is a good one.

geekyjock76

You're adjusted TDEE depends on how much of a decrease in daily energy expenditure potential you've experienced from baseline by chronically eating sub-1400 calories to lose - I assume - 9 kg (20 lbs) in body weight. Although it's unknown what your original TDEE used to be prior to restriction, it was likely significantly greater than 2000 calories if your weight has yet to reach relative stability. Considering your experience, it's highly possible you sustained a large deficit - approximately 3-4x larger than need be - which is why you're having to spend so much time increasing calories by this wide margin.

Flab2Thin

Bump. For future reference.

janettebishop940

Bump.

cbfliz

I've been maintaining for around 6 months now, Thought I'd nailed it but weighed myself this morning and found I'd lost again. I log every weekday but have been giving myself weekends off for a few months now. Today I've decided to up my daily cals again and see where I end up. Really don't want to be losing any more, lower now than I ever intended to be.

Stats:
Female
H: 168cms
Age: 46
C.W: 53.5kgs
Ideal weight: 55kgs

lynn_glenmont

Yes, but then they say my calories should be at 1750 if I'm sedentary and 1990 if I'm lightly active. So I'm not sure, with my activity level, what I should do?

Assuming you don't count that commuting (walking and stairs) as exercise that you log, I would think you are at least lightly activity. I selected sedentary when I started at MFP, because I have a desk job, but I have been losing a lot faster than my calculated calorie deficit would predict (for two and a half months, so not just water weight), so I recently reset it for lightly active (I also walk for part of my commute),

sklebar

Yes, but then they say my calories should be at 1750 if I'm sedentary and 1990 if I'm lightly active. So I'm not sure, with my activity level, what I should do?

Assuming you don't count that commuting (walking and stairs) as exercise that you log, I would think you are at least lightly activity. I selected sedentary when I started at MFP, because I have a desk job, but I have been losing a lot faster than my calculated calorie deficit would predict (for two and a half months, so not just water weight), so I recently reset it for lightly active (I also walk for part of my commute),

Yeah, I tried lightly active and that's where I was losing. MFP has me on 1890 calories a day on "Lightly Active." I'm currently at 2,100 calories a day and that seemed to have stabilised the weight and will be having a cheat meal every two weeks rather than every four weeks from now. i.e. cheat meal means a burger and fries or a pizza. Other than that, I usually eat incredibly clean because I feel sick on sugary sweets or get a bad stomach from fatty foods, even with full-fat yogurt.

sklebar

Just an FYI on how things are going. I haven't really had any cheat meals, except still once every four weeks, but the 2,100 calories are doing it for me. I'm steady at about 63 kg. and at least I'm steady and not losing. Once this seems to keep on working for me over the next three weeks, I'll ramp it up to gain a little weight and then go back down to a good level of calories. Plus, I feel fantastic eating so much veg. It was a slow introduction, but I just feel amazing now! I'm almost 37 and yet still feel like 25 years old!

Sjenny5891

I put myself at "Sedentary" when I started. I had it there when I went to "Maintain" and kept losing.

I stopped losing the weight when I changed it to "Active" and " gain 1 pound a week" Sounds kind of funny, but it works for me.

sklebar

I put myself at "Sedentary" when I started. I had it there when I went to "Maintain" and kept losing.

I stopped losing the weight when I changed it to "Active" and " gain 1 pound a week" Sounds kind of funny, but it works for me.

Interesting. Well, I may very well have to do that. Will see how it goes. It is sort of going up and down within a pound, so at least I'm no longer losing, but we will see. I'm going to see how another two weeks goes on 2,100 calories and then weigh myself.

LGS1974

There is a good topic on here about TDEE and BMR - it will give you the magic number to maintain.