Metabolism and 100-200 calories a day

cafeaulait7
cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi! I'm new, but I have a burning question I've been wanting to ask forever, so that's why I started posting.

Do y'all think it's at all possible to try to lose weight too slowly? By that I mean that do you think it's possible that a body's metabolism could absorb a difference of less than 200 calories a day and not really lose weight?

I know you always hear that cutting out a candy bar a day, for example, will result in X amount of weight lost over time, but are there any studies or anything that show that to be true?

I get stumped on some of the 'a calorie is a calorie' and metabolism change issues related to weight loss. I am trying to lose weight very slowly, like I did several years ago, and I've hit a plateau of like 5 months. Last time I may have, too, as I had no scale and it did take a long time to drop all the weight I wanted to lose (I had no time goal).

The thing is, once I dropped all the weight (30 lbs), I dropped more and more, and I didn't want to. This time around I was hoping that I could keep my calories at a smaller deficit, make the same exercise changes as before, and have it even out better. Maybe plateaus are a given that way? Dunno :(

I know how I gained back the weight! I stopped tracking calories at all and stopped working out as often by far. Simple, lol :D It took 2 years, but it came back on sure as can be!

I've been watching things since January and have not lost half the weight like I expected. I wasn't increasing my weights, so it's possible I haven't gained the muscle I did last time around (yet).

I'm just scared that if metabolisms are elastic at all, I might be having a calorie deficit from diet that doesn't even register! Am I just crazy, or is that possible in theory? Surely there is an elasticity of like, 30 calories a day, right? So where is that line, I wonder? Any thoughts are appreciated :)

Replies

  • stacyhaddenham
    stacyhaddenham Posts: 211 Member
    How long has it been since you re-adjusted your calories? At some point to continue losing weight we all have to either ramp up the cardio or cut back a few more calories. That is why after every so many calories lost MFP suggests resetting your goals and shaves a few more out of your allotment.
  • Hildy_J
    Hildy_J Posts: 1,050 Member
    I know you always hear that cutting out a candy bar a day, for example, will result in X amount of weight lost over time, but are there any studies or anything that show that to be true?

    Hello,

    You can lose weight on a deficit of just 50 calories a day - or you could lose it ten times faster on a deficit of 500 calories a day!

    Weight loss is just a by product of the energy you're taking on board, as food, coming in at less than the energy you're using up. The only way you could have a 5-month plateau is if you do not have any deficit.

    Hope this helps a little! :smile:
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
    I know you always hear that cutting out a candy bar a day, for example, will result in X amount of weight lost over time, but are there any studies or anything that show that to be true?

    Hello,

    You can lose weight on a deficit of just 50 calories a day - or you could lose it ten times faster on a deficit of 500 calories a day!

    Weight loss is just a by product of the energy you're taking on board, as food, coming in at less than the energy you're using up. The only way you could have a 5-month plateau is if you do not have any deficit.

    Hope this helps a little! :smile:

    Well, the other part I can't count really well is how much muscle I'm putting on, because I don't do body composition testing of any sort. I'm reaching each new strength goal, so that's some number; I just don't know what it is!

    But yeah, with cutting few diet calories, it's really hard to be that accurate. I eat out a lot, too (the best vegetarian food is there, lol). They could be using a TBL more oil than the recipe said (I know the owners)! I do know that eating at this same place worked last time, so that's good news, at least.
    How long has it been since you re-adjusted your calories? At some point to continue losing weight we all have to either ramp up the cardio or cut back a few more calories. That is why after every so many calories lost MFP suggests resetting your goals and shaves a few more out of your allotment.

    I am going about it differently, because it's what worked before. I eat the TDEE allowed for the activity level and weight that's my goal weight. Actually, I eat 200 less than that a day, but it's in the same ballpark. The actual number is too close to what I eat when I'm heavy, so I did bump it down a small notch. Apparently, I could get back where I'd like with keeping to my exercise alone (especially the lifting), but that takes too too long :)

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