5 weeks in and no weight loss

scara3584
scara3584 Posts: 5
in Health and Weight Loss
I have been at this for 5 weeks and no success and i've gained 1kg. I have been just under or over in my calories and am very active (as in i go the gym evryday) and i really haven't eaten badly. Concerned my body is in starvation mode and just not responding anymore. Feeling quite defeated at the moment :(

Replies

  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    with a closed diary it's hard to tell...

    but starvation mode is a myth but it leads me to believe you are eating about 1200 calories or less.

    Probably not weighing food so under estimating intake and over estimating calories out from the gym.
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    Open your diary

    Are you sure your weighing and measuring everything??????
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    If you're gaining weight, then you're not eating at a deficit. You're underestimating your food &/or overestimating your burns. Log everything you eat accurately & honestly. Weigh your food. Eat back half your exercise calories.

    Read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
  • drew06
    drew06 Posts: 28
    with a closed diary it's hard to tell...

    but starvation mode is a myth but it leads me to believe you are eating about 1200 calories or less.

    Probably not weighing food so under estimating intake and over estimating calories out from the gym.

    I don't think starvation mode is a myth, I haven't personally seen it, but I have read enough articles from reputable people in the industry to at least think it exists. That being said, Unless you're in an extreme caloric deficit and exercising everyday for hours on end, I think starvation mode takes longer than 5 weeks to happen.
  • lemonsnowdrop
    lemonsnowdrop Posts: 1,298 Member
    with a closed diary it's hard to tell...

    but starvation mode is a myth but it leads me to believe you are eating about 1200 calories or less.

    Probably not weighing food so under estimating intake and over estimating calories out from the gym.

    I don't think starvation mode is a myth, I haven't personally seen it, but I have read enough articles from reputable people in the industry to at least think it exists. That being said, Unless you're in an extreme caloric deficit and exercising everyday for hours on end, I think starvation mode takes longer than 5 weeks to happen.

    Generally the way people use the term on this site is inaccurate. It would take very long periods of eating at an extreme deficit to starve, but it wouldn't make you gain weight.
  • scara3584
    scara3584 Posts: 5
    Opened Diary :)
    I measure everything and am really accurate.. No point in lying your only cheating yourself.
  • MissJay75
    MissJay75 Posts: 768 Member
    A couple of observations based on the past few days of your diary and a random sample from March.. You aren't getting a lot of protein and you are eating way under your calories. Why are you eating so far under and what kind of exercise do you do?
  • sola24
    sola24 Posts: 334 Member
    When you start a new exercise routine you might see a weight gain due to glycogen deplement from muscles and body tends to retain water to repair them. If you are eating properly, you will definitely see a drop in weight.
  • tawnywest
    tawnywest Posts: 45 Member
    There is very interesting research by Dr. James Levine about Non-exercise Activity Thermogenesis or NEAT which may explain why you aren't losing weight. His research had shown that often when people reduce their intake they also reduce their NEAT value which is all the calories you use doing the small continuous activities of daily living. It is an unconscious reduction. For instance you may be working out at the gym but then sitting more for the rest of the day because you are more fatigued with the reduction of food energy. I may not be explaining it well but look him up on Youtube or there was a New York Times article called "Is too much sitting lethal?" After reading about his scientific research I could see how when I've been dieting for awhile I have had days when I just don't have much energy and really cut back on moving around. So I am trying to make a conscious effort to make myself move more like walking up stairs instead of taking the elevator, finding reasons to just move more during the course of the day. Another thing I read was something called "diet creep" which I have been guilty of. It's when you get a little bored on your diet and do alot of almost unconscious snacking that you don't really think is doing harm but is actually adding significant calories that you aren't counting i.e. one spoonful of fruit flavored Greek yoghurt, one little bit of cheese, one small cookie. After awhile it gets to be a naughty little habit. I'm not sure if any of this resonates with you but when I read these things I was amazed at how much it applied to me and my lack of results. Hope this helps and sorry it is so long! Good luck.
  • beautifulwarrior18
    beautifulwarrior18 Posts: 914 Member
    Start weighing your food religiously. Sounds like you're over estimating.
  • Glencarron
    Glencarron Posts: 4
    What is your weight now and how much do you want to lose?
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Get a food scale

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think
  • exterminatingmyfat
    exterminatingmyfat Posts: 21
    You might have gained some muscle since you've been going to the gym. Do you notice any physical differences in your body?
  • dt3312
    dt3312 Posts: 212 Member
    Do you have a scale and measuring cups and spoons? I found at first that I was underestimating the amounts of food I was eating. For example, I thought I was eating about 1/4c, but when I measure it, it was more like 1/3 or 1/2 cup! I didn't really have any idea how much "one ounce of chicken meat" was until I actually weighed it.
  • MissJay75
    MissJay75 Posts: 768 Member
    You might have gained some muscle since you've been going to the gym. Do you notice any physical differences in your body?

    Take a look at OP's diary. She is not gaining muscle with that little protein and calories. I'd lay odds most of her calories burned are from cardio.

    I am curious:
    1) what is OP's height & staring weight
    2) what was OP's diet like before logging on MPF
    3) what kind of exercise is OP doing and how is she tracking the burn
    4) Why is she eating so little
    5) what is her goal - (weight? size? strength? health? looks?)

    Something doesn't add up here
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    with a closed diary it's hard to tell...

    but starvation mode is a myth but it leads me to believe you are eating about 1200 calories or less.

    Probably not weighing food so under estimating intake and over estimating calories out from the gym.

    I don't think starvation mode is a myth, I haven't personally seen it, but I have read enough articles from reputable people in the industry to at least think it exists. That being said, Unless you're in an extreme caloric deficit and exercising everyday for hours on end, I think starvation mode takes longer than 5 weeks to happen.

    What do you think "starvation mode" is, it seems like everyone has their own idea or definition.
  • Markguns
    Markguns Posts: 554 Member
    You are doing a lot of cardio and not eating enough protein. Cardio is Catabolic, it consumes muscle (every seen a bulky distance runner?). Eat more protein, change your goals to at least 30% protein, 45% carb 25% fat. Don't exercise for more than 2 hours continuously. get a digital scale, up your daily calorie goal to 1400 ish
  • scara3584
    scara3584 Posts: 5
    I am not a big eater in the first place and find trying to even get to my calorie intake really difficult, let alone eat more. As for protein, i've been eating more legumes and nuts and eggs and, I don't eat meat (except fish). I don't exercise for more than 2hrs continously, except for derby training actually 3hrs once a week (but changing that isn't an option). I don't feel like it's muscle and body shape hasn't really changed. I'm just frustrated though
  • beautifulwarrior18
    beautifulwarrior18 Posts: 914 Member
    If you're not losing weight then the issue isn't that you're way under your calorie goal, the problem is that you're eating at maintainence (if you aren't gaining weight). You aren't measuring your food if you think you are eating way under your goal but you aren't losing weight.
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    . Cardio is Catabolic, it consumes muscle (every seen a bulky distance runner?).
    Don't be silly of course it doesn't consume muscle. Yes distant runners don't build muscle the same way as strength athletes but going on your theory no runner would have any muscles at all including a heart which is just a muscle.
  • jaz050465
    jaz050465 Posts: 3,508 Member
    I am not a big eater in the first place and find trying to even get to my calorie intake really difficult, let alone eat more. As for protein, i've been eating more legumes and nuts and eggs and, I don't eat meat (except fish). I don't exercise for more than 2hrs continously, except for derby training actually 3hrs once a week (but changing that isn't an option). I don't feel like it's muscle and body shape hasn't really changed. I'm just frustrated though
    If you're not a big eater- why do you need to lose weight. Add healthy calorie dense food like nuts, nut butter and avocado.
  • C3001
    C3001 Posts: 28 Member
    You might have gained some muscle since you've been going to the gym. Do you notice any physical differences in your body?

    Take a look at OP's diary. She is not gaining muscle with that little protein and calories. I'd lay odds most of her calories burned are from cardio.

    I am curious:
    1) what is OP's height & staring weight
    2) what was OP's diet like before logging on MPF
    3) what kind of exercise is OP doing and how is she tracking the burn
    4) Why is she eating so little
    5) what is her goal - (weight? size? strength? health? looks?)

    Something doesn't add up here

    I'm curious as well. Something isn't adding up. OP- from you diary today are you saying you had 2 pieces of mentos candies as part of your snack? Those are 10 calories each and I can't imagine opening a pack to eat 2...
  • loubidy
    loubidy Posts: 440 Member
    What are your stats? Height? Weight? BFP?

    If your 4ft tall then your eating too much
  • scara3584
    scara3584 Posts: 5
    You obviously don't have my job where i am constantly work in crisis situations so forgetting i even opened mentos today is an easy thing to do
  • Unknown
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  • scara3584
    scara3584 Posts: 5
    I work as a social worker with high intense mental health clients who are homeless. Is that crisis enough for you?
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  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    I have been at this for 5 weeks and no success and i've gained 1kg. I have been just under or over in my calories and am very active (as in i go the gym evryday) and i really haven't eaten badly. Concerned my body is in starvation mode and just not responding anymore.
    You only have 11 lb. to lose. Set your goal to .5 lb. per week, and be patient.

    Weight loss is not linear, so take photos & measurements, too. Read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

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