Looking for thoughts and opinions!

hayleyrue

Hey! I am a 5'6", 22 year old woman and I have gone from 188lbs to 165 lbs in the last year.. I would really like to lose at least 15 more pounds. MFP has given me a goal of 1200 net calories a day. While having a couple of months of slacking in between the last 12 months or so, I have been following that calorie limit strictly for the last year. I feel like I've hit a plateau. I exercise at least 5 times a week alternating heavy weigh lifting and cardio and drink tons of water. Am I not eating enough? Am I just not being patient?

I also work 13 hour night shifts and usally work out after work and then go straight to bed,.. Idk if this matters or not. I log from the time i wake up till I go to sleep no matter the hours.

unFATuated

How long have you been eating 1200 calories for? For your whole weight loss, or a shorter time? How long has it been since you've seen movement on the scale? Are you measuring and has there been any change in your measurements while you've been plateaued?

Ainar

Year in calorie deficit is quite a lot. It's possible that your calorie deficit is your maintenance now, after being in it for a year. 1200 cals is kinda low so I don't think going lower would be good. What I suggest you to do is go back on maintenance for a while, like a month or two. And then maybe even a couple hundred cals over it for a while. That should speed your metabolism back up so once after that you go back to 1200 cals you should start losing again.

TavistockToad

reduce the amount of weight you want to lose per week and you will get more calories.

Railr0aderTony

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1077746-starvation-mode-adaptive-thermogenesis-and-weight-loss

Sort of what Ainar was talking about it is worth a read.

hayleyrue

How long have you been eating 1200 calories for? For your whole weight loss, or a shorter time? How long has it been since you've seen movement on the scale? Are you measuring and has there been any change in your measurements while you've been plateaued?

I eat more than 1200 calories, but with my exercise and everything i always make sure my NET calories total under 1200 at the end of the day. After losing a substaintial amount of my weight, I switched jobs.. quit working out for awhile and maintained up until about two months ago when I started counting calories again and going back to the gym. Ill lose a lb here and there but ultimately haven't noticed any difference. And i've never measured even though I know I should. I'm just wondering if I'm not eating enough especially with weight lifting.

loneaffliction

Some people will hotly debate the subject in favor of the 1200 calorie diet, but it honestly seems to me that you need to be eating more. Especially if your weight has plateaued for a long time. Although, given that you're not weighing your food and there's some question of accuracy, you may be eating more than you think. (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think)

Read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

Ultimately, when I run your numbers (using http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/, though there are calculators that are potentially more accurate, taking more account for activity level), I find your BMR, the minimum amount that you should be eating each day, what your body needs just for normal functions even if you are lying in bed all day, to be 1527, and your TDEE (at the sedentary level, which would provide you eat back exercise calories), which is what your body typically burns in a day including activity (but in this case, not including exercise), to be 1832. If you've been eating at 1200 for a long time and not losing, you should probably consider increasing your calories for a few weeks and seeing if there is a difference.

It all depends on how accurate your logging is though. You may have been eating closer to maintenance without realizing it. But if you are weight lifting especially, you should probably have higher calories, particularly higher protein.

Some other articles that may be relevant to you:
http://body-improvements.com/resources/eat/#plateaus
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/why-big-caloric-deficits-and-lots-of-activity-can-hurt-fat-loss.html
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/746654-diet-breaks-and-loosening-the-reigns

Basic must reads:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819925-the-basics-don-t-complicate-it?hl=the+basics+keep+it+simple

Group that can possibly help you if you continue to experience this problem, though first I would make sure your logging is accurate and you should probably try adjusting your calories to a more reasonable level first:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10118-eat-train-progress

Sylvitryinghard

I didnt lose when I was on 1200 and felt I was always hungry now Im on 1400. works for me. If Im not slacking (=

SezxyStef

your diary isn't open...so it's hard to say for sure but normally the reason for slow or no weight loss is one of two things or a combination of the two.

Over estimating burns and/or underestimating intake.

do you weigh your food?
How do you measure your burns?

As well if you are trying to be under 1200 and you are not getting enough protien all that exercise and weights will not do what they should. You need to fuel your body for that.

ninerbuff

Your BMR is approximately 1600 calories. And you exercise. So at this point it's sounds like you're trying to lose more than pound a week.
Start by eating at least your BMR.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

hayleyrue

I am going to up my calorie intake a little and see what happens. I have also started to experience some hair loss. Not sure if this is what is contributing to it or not, but I am seeing my doctor.