I am stuck!

mel630
mel630 Posts: 11
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey guys! So I eat 1200 calories a day. My first month i ran 20 mins and walked 10 one day and did abs the other day, 7 days a week. In the first month I lost 20 lbs. Now I work out everyday of the week. On one day I run for 20 mins walk 10, go on a gym bike for 20mins and go on the elliptical for 20 mins then the next day, I do the weight machines at snapfitness along with a ab workout and squats. I have lost 2 lbs and am struggling to lose my last 18 lbs. i always eat back the calories I burn and dont go over. I am just stuck now, any ideas on how to help?

Replies

  • qtgonewild
    qtgonewild Posts: 1,930 Member
    just keep swimming.
  • Siansonea
    Siansonea Posts: 917 Member
    Clearly your math is wrong.

    You're actually eating at a maintenance calorie level. If you were eating at a calorie deficit, you'd know because you'd be losing weight. Since you're not losing weight, you know you're not eating at a calorie deficit. It's not a mystery.

    However you're tracking your calories, intake and output, it's wrong. Fix it. Do that and you'll lose weight.
  • lucan07
    lucan07 Posts: 509
    http://www.acaloriecounter.com/blog/why-am-i-not-losing-weight/
  • mel630
    mel630 Posts: 11
    Do i want a calorie deficit of 500? Or 1000?
  • JustMeee333
    JustMeee333 Posts: 233
    Well, it's probably one of two things.. Either as Siansonea said, you're overestimating what you burn/underestimating what you eat.

    Or your body's just being a B!tch, and you have to keep doing what you're doing and it'll unb!tch itself soon.



    Do i want a calorie deficit of 500? Or 1000?
    Depends on how much you want to lose/how much it would be safe to lose at your current weight. For which, we'd need stats. Weight/Height, etc.
    Or just use MFP as it's meant to be used, input your data and follow their guidelines.
  • missomgitsica
    missomgitsica Posts: 496 Member
    Have you been keeping track of your measurements? With as much as you're working out it could be that you're gaining muscle, but you could still be losing inches.
  • mel630
    mel630 Posts: 11
    Im just doing what my myfittnesspal said to i dont even know what a calorie deficit is
  • Siansonea
    Siansonea Posts: 917 Member
    Im just doing what my myfittnesspal said to i dont even know what a calorie deficit is

    :huh:

    Okay, so here's the thing:

    When you eat fewer calories than you expend through activity, you are at a CALORIE DEFICIT.

    When you eat the same number of calories as you expend through activity, you are at MAINTENANCE.

    When you eat more calories than you expend through activity, you are at a CALORIE SURPLUS.

    So, based on whether you're gaining weight, losing weight, or staying the same, you know whether you're at a calorie surplus, a calorie deficit, or maintenance. If you want to lose weight, cut calories. If you want to gain weight, add calories.

    That's it. That's all you need to know about losing weight. But other people will tell you it's about drinking lemon water, eating "clean", lifting, cardio, etc., etc., etc., etc. But that's all sound and fury, signifying nothing about weight loss. Weight loss is math, pure and simple.
  • mel630
    mel630 Posts: 11
    So i should not eat my calories back?
    Im just doing what my myfittnesspal said to i dont even know what a calorie deficit is

    :huh:

    Okay, so here's the thing:

    When you eat fewer calories than you expend through activity, you are at a CALORIE DEFICIT.

    When you eat the same number of calories as you expend through activity, you are at MAINTENANCE.

    When you eat more calories than you expend through activity, you are at a CALORIE SURPLUS.

    So, based on whether you're gaining weight, losing weight, or staying the same, you know whether you're at a calorie surplus, a calorie deficit, or maintenance. If you want to lose weight, cut calories. If you want to gain weight, add calories.

    That's it. That's all you need to know about losing weight. But other people will tell you it's about drinking lemon water, eating "clean", lifting, cardio, etc., etc., etc., etc. But that's all sound and fury, signifying nothing about weight loss. Weight loss is math, pure and simple.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    How are you estimating your exercise calories? Are you using a heart rate monitor or MFP/gym machine estimates? You may be eating back too many calories if you're using MFP or machine estimates as they tend to overestimate your calories burned.
  • mel630
    mel630 Posts: 11
    I guess all i want to know now is should i strictly eat 1200 calories and not eat any back? I dont want to eat too little
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    I guess all i want to know now is should i strictly eat 1200 calories and not eat any back? I dont want to eat too little

    Maybe, but probably not.

    Dieting is based on estimates. You're estimating your activity level, you're estimating the number of calories in your food, etc. Sometimes that means you need to play around and do your homework to find the sweet spot where you lose weight.

    Getting your estimates as accurate as possible is useful. This means a heart rate monitor and food scale. If you can't invest in those (and I recognize not everyone has the money for them) then you need to play around with your intake a little.

    You don't give us your stats (height, weight, age, activity level), so it's impossible to even guess at how much you should be eating.

    I don't want to confuse you by throwing too much but you have two choices. You can continue to use MFP's numbers, but start reducing your calories a little at a time until you start losing weight again.

    Or you can figure your BMR and TDEE from a site like http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/ and start with the number of calories they give you. Let your body adjust if you're increasing your calories (a week or two), but again cut by a little a week (like 100 a week) until you start losing again.
  • mel630
    mel630 Posts: 11
    I guess all i want to know now is should i strictly eat 1200 calories and not eat any back? I dont want to eat too little

    Maybe, but probably not.

    Dieting is based on estimates. You're estimating your activity level, you're estimating the number of calories in your food, etc. Sometimes that means you need to play around and do your homework to find the sweet spot where you lose weight.

    Getting your estimates as accurate as possible is useful. This means a heart rate monitor and food scale. If you can't invest in those (and I recognize not everyone has the money for them) then you need to play around with your intake a little.

    You don't give us your stats (height, weight, age, activity level), so it's impossible to even guess at how much you should be eating.

    I don't want to confuse you by throwing too much but you have two choices. You can continue to use MFP's numbers, but start reducing your calories a little at a time until you start losing weight again.

    Or you can figure your BMR and TDEE from a site like http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/ and start with the number of calories they give you. Let your body adjust if you're increasing your calories (a week or two), but again cut by a little a week (like 100 a week) until you start losing again.

    Sorry i am 5ft 6in female and weigh 149 i just need to loose 18-19 more pounds. Im a sales associate/ cashier so im on my feet alot and as i said when i posted this i workout everyday

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