This doesn't make sense!

Lisa1971

So last week I was working out like crazy and eating about 1,000 calories a day. I didn't lose a pound! So this week I only worked out 2 days so far and have been a little lax in my counting of calories so I know I've had more than 1,000. I just weighed myself and I lost 2lbs! What????


Someone help me!

JulieTX86

maybe you were putting your body into starvation mode by only eating 1000 calories & working out. That seems pretty low. Now that your body knows food is coming in it feels okay letting go of some of the fat. Same thing w/ water consumption, the more you drink, the more your body realizes it has an incoming supply so it quits holding on to it so much. Drinking more water in effect helps you quit retaining water.

lutzsher

Thats an easy one! You will not lose weight unless you EAT enough. Your body will hold onto it and you won't lose an ounce. I am only 5'4" and MUST eat 1200 calories on days that I relax, and at least 1350-1400 on days I exercise or the scale wont budge.

You must eat at least 1200 calories per day, it is not healthy to consistenly consume less than that.

Bellydance

Works for me that way too. So I figured that since I found something that works, keep doing it until it doesn't work anymore. I throw in *****ing about it too and that seems to kick it up a notch.

You can look up on the internet as to why this happens if you like. I found it. However, now I'm just working out like crazy some days in a row, and not expecting any loss, and then when I stop doing it for one reason or another and eat a little more than usual, I'm pleasantly surprised. Bottom line: it works.

erickirb

For 1 you should not eat less than 1200 Net calories (1200 + calories burned through exercise). That being said when you workout hard, increase intensity or begin a new program your muscles retain water to aid in recovery (eventually they will get use to it and no longer retain as much water). Most likely what you saw was your muscles retaining water last week and this week the water was shed as you did not workout enough for them to need as much.

lastchance2010

maybe you were putting your body into starvation mode by only eating 1000 calories & working out. That seems pretty low. Now that your body knows food is coming in it feels okay letting go of some of the fat. Same thing w/ water consumption, the more you drink, the more your body realizes it has an incoming supply so it quits holding on to it so much. Drinking more water in effect helps you quit retaining water.

I agree with this...:happy:

dudleyvic

When you first start out the weight takes about 2 weeks to start showing. I don't know why. Example: I've been watching my food for the first time ever and exercising like made and it took me 3 weeks to start seeing the weight change on the scale. If you watch your body or do measurements you will have noticed that there were changes made, just not on the scale yet.

Chiquita_Banana

i agree i think you need 1200 calories a day minimum

Strawberry79

Eating less than 1200 calories a day puts your body into starvation mode. That means that it is trying to conserve every little thing you've got and everything you put into it. Eating more calories this week actually allowed you to lose weight because your body didn't feel the need to hang on to them.

NoAdditives

You definitely have to eat more. the recommended minimum daily calories is 1200 net, which is calories consumed minus calories burned.

kewkdb

Thats an easy one! You will not lose weight unless you EAT enough. Your body will hold onto it and you won't lose an ounce. I am only 5'4" and MUST eat 1200 calories on days that I relax, and at least 1350-1400 on days I exercise or the scale wont budge.

You must eat at least 1200 calories per day, it is not healthy to consistenly consume less than that.

That is not what happened. He was working out and gained lean mass.

AwMyLoLo

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/23912-links-in-mfp-you-want-to-read-again-and-again

I think the information here will help you. :flowerforyou: You gotta eat!!

mollymom

I agree, I have been consuming around 500-600 calories a day, working out on the treadmill for 30 minutes every day and stomach crunches every day and this week I have not lost a pound. In fact, I have gained weight! Whats up with that?

fitzie63

When preparing your food and serving it: NEVER "eyeball" measure. ALWAYS: use an exact measurement with individual measuring cups for that portion and MEASURING SPOONS. Level the cup or measuring spoon off with a spatula or knife.

WEIGH: the food on a digital food scale before cooking it.

The key: PORTION control, portion control, portion control.

Remember: the teaspoons or tablespoons in your eating utensils are NOT exact measurement sizes.

AwMyLoLo

Thats an easy one! You will not lose weight unless you EAT enough. Your body will hold onto it and you won't lose an ounce. I am only 5'4" and MUST eat 1200 calories on days that I relax, and at least 1350-1400 on days I exercise or the scale wont budge.

You must eat at least 1200 calories per day, it is not healthy to consistenly consume less than that.

That is not what happened. He was working out and gained lean mass.

Sike ?? :huh:

heathersmilez

I agree, I have been consuming around 500-600 calories a day, working out on the treadmill for 30 minutes every day and stomach crunches every day and this week I have not lost a pound. In fact, I have gained weight! Whats up with that?

Your question was already answered, you are in STARVATION MODE. Quit before you kill your metabolism and can't recover.

edorice

For 1 you should not eat less than 1200 Net calories (1200 + calories burned through exercise). That being said when you workout hard, increase intensity or begin a new program your muscles retain water to aid in recovery (eventually they will get use to it and no longer retain as much water). Most likely what you saw was your muscles retaining water last week and this week the water was shed as you did not workout enough for them to need as much.

DITTO

kewkdb

Sike ?? :huh:

There are many posts on the forum that refute the fact that you have to eat your calories especially your workout calories. All the posts list scientific studies as well. MFP is shaping you based on 1 goal: Lose 2lbs a week and all the goals you are given are to ensure you lose only 2lbs a week. MFP does not want to be held responsible for anything that happens to the people that want a more hardcore weight loss. IE 5lbs-6lbs a week people and many people WILL set those goals if they were available.

erickirb

Thats an easy one! You will not lose weight unless you EAT enough. Your body will hold onto it and you won't lose an ounce. I am only 5'4" and MUST eat 1200 calories on days that I relax, and at least 1350-1400 on days I exercise or the scale wont budge.

You must eat at least 1200 calories per day, it is not healthy to consistenly consume less than that.

That is not what happened. He was working out and gained lean mass.

Sorry to tell you but you are not going to gain lean mass on a diet of 1000 cals, unless you are taking some serious (steroids) supplements.

erickirb

I agree, I have been consuming around 500-600 calories a day, working out on the treadmill for 30 minutes every day and stomach crunches every day and this week I have not lost a pound. In fact, I have gained weight! Whats up with that?

Sounds like you may have an ED, you may want to seek help if this caloric intake is "normal" for you.

kewkdb

Thats an easy one! You will not lose weight unless you EAT enough. Your body will hold onto it and you won't lose an ounce. I am only 5'4" and MUST eat 1200 calories on days that I relax, and at least 1350-1400 on days I exercise or the scale wont budge.

You must eat at least 1200 calories per day, it is not healthy to consistenly consume less than that.

That is not what happened. He was working out and gained lean mass.

Sorry to tell you but you are not going to gain lean mass on a diet of 1000 cals, unless you are taking some serious (steroids) supplements.

Are you saying that you cannot gain lean mass from burning stored up calories?

AwMyLoLo

Sike ?? :huh:

There are many posts on the forum that refute the fact that you have to eat your calories especially your workout calories. All the posts list scientific studies as well. MFP is shaping you based on 1 goal: Lose 2lbs a week and all the goals you are given are to ensure you lose only 2lbs a week. MFP does not want to be held responsible for anything that happens to the people that want a more hardcore weight loss. IE 5lbs-6lbs a week people and many people WILL set those goals if they were available.

I don't really get what you are saying.... You're saying that people should starve themselves and work out intensely in order to reach their weight loss goals? Are you saying that the OP gained lean muscle mass by not eating?

AwMyLoLo

Thats an easy one! You will not lose weight unless you EAT enough. Your body will hold onto it and you won't lose an ounce. I am only 5'4" and MUST eat 1200 calories on days that I relax, and at least 1350-1400 on days I exercise or the scale wont budge.

You must eat at least 1200 calories per day, it is not healthy to consistenly consume less than that.

That is not what happened. He was working out and gained lean mass.

Sorry to tell you but you are not going to gain lean mass on a diet of 1000 cals, unless you are taking some serious (steroids) supplements.

Are you saying that you cannot gain lean mass from burning stored up calories?

Exactly. And, where would these stored up calories come from? 1000 calories consumed minus say 300 in exercise = 700 calories net. There are no excess or stored calories there.

erickirb

Thats an easy one! You will not lose weight unless you EAT enough. Your body will hold onto it and you won't lose an ounce. I am only 5'4" and MUST eat 1200 calories on days that I relax, and at least 1350-1400 on days I exercise or the scale wont budge.

You must eat at least 1200 calories per day, it is not healthy to consistenly consume less than that.

That is not what happened. He was working out and gained lean mass.

Sorry to tell you but you are not going to gain lean mass on a diet of 1000 cals, unless you are taking some serious (steroids) supplements.

Are you saying that you cannot gain lean mass from burning stored up calories?

Very little if any. Your body will use those calories for survival and regular bodily functions especially if you are eating below your BMR calories

kewkdb

Thats an easy one! You will not lose weight unless you EAT enough. Your body will hold onto it and you won't lose an ounce. I am only 5'4" and MUST eat 1200 calories on days that I relax, and at least 1350-1400 on days I exercise or the scale wont budge.

You must eat at least 1200 calories per day, it is not healthy to consistenly consume less than that.

That is not what happened. He was working out and gained lean mass.

Sorry to tell you but you are not going to gain lean mass on a diet of 1000 cals, unless you are taking some serious (steroids) supplements.

Are you saying that you cannot gain lean mass from burning stored up calories?

Exactly. And, where would these stored up calories come from? 1000 calories consumed minus say 300 in exercise = 700 calories net. There are no excess or stored calories there.

So if the OP has a BMI of 30 you think there are no more stored up calories?

erickirb

Thats an easy one! You will not lose weight unless you EAT enough. Your body will hold onto it and you won't lose an ounce. I am only 5'4" and MUST eat 1200 calories on days that I relax, and at least 1350-1400 on days I exercise or the scale wont budge.

You must eat at least 1200 calories per day, it is not healthy to consistenly consume less than that.

That is not what happened. He was working out and gained lean mass.

Sorry to tell you but you are not going to gain lean mass on a diet of 1000 cals, unless you are taking some serious (steroids) supplements.

Are you saying that you cannot gain lean mass from burning stored up calories?

Exactly. And, where would these stored up calories come from? 1000 calories consumed minus say 300 in exercise = 700 calories net. There are no excess or stored calories there.

So if the OP has a BMI of 30 you think there are no more stored up calories?

Stored fat is not used the same as food calories, it is used for survival. Even body builders lose muscle when cutting for competition and they are essentially training off of the fat stores. They typically lose strength and mass, they don't continue to gain muscle during these cut phases.

kewkdb

Stored fat is not used the same as food calories, it is used for survival. Even body builders lose muscle when cutting for competition and they are essentially training off of the fat stores. They typically lose strength and mass, they don't continue to gain muscle during these cut phases.

I totally get that but those dudes are in a completely different category. IE they don't have any fat to burn so it burns muscle.

I'm not going to list the many articles that disprove starvation mode, which is what you are all hinting at, because I can list just as many proving it. You can find anything on the internet to prove your point these days.

What I am going to do is continue to lose my weight consistently going under my calorie goals while going over my exercise goals. I will post my results every month.

End6ame

Stored fat is not used the same as food calories, it is used for survival. Even body builders lose muscle when cutting for competition and they are essentially training off of the fat stores. They typically lose strength and mass, they don't continue to gain muscle during these cut phases.

I totally get that but those dudes are in a completely different category. IE they don't have any fat to burn so it burns muscle.

I'm not going to list the many articles that disprove starvation mode, which is what you are all hinting at, because I can list just as many proving it. You can find anything on the internet to prove your point these days.

What I am going to do is continue to lose my weight consistently going under my calorie goals while going over my exercise goals. I will post my results every month.

You CAN gain lean mass on a calorie deficit as a beginner but those lean mass gains will not be linear. The will taper off and your fat loss will taper off as well, especially on such a drastic calorie defecate. Generally to gain lean mass you have to eat.

kewkdb

You CAN gain lean mass on a calorie deficit as a beginner but those lean mass gains will not be linear. The will taper off and your fat loss will taper off as well, especially on such a drastic calorie defecate. Generally to gain lean mass you have to eat.

Yep, and I am assuming that the OP still has some based on the 7lbs loss so far. Tho I think we are all assuming because we really don't have much to go on from the OP >_<

End6ame

I totally get that but those dudes are in a completely different category. IE they don't have any fat to burn so it burns muscle.

That is actually not how the process works. Your body does not burn muscle as a last resort like many people think, but rather it will burn muscle to preserve fat stores for future use if you are not consuming enough calories.

Stewie316

We also need to remember that we can't make concrete conclusions after only a week or 2 of dieting. If you're consistently changing your diet week to week, you're not going to really know what's working and what isn't. I see a lot of people here say, I've been doing everything right for a week and didn't lose anything, so the next week I tried something different and lost weight. Our bodies are very complicated, so what mostly happened was the first week, your body was retaining water, or getting use to something new, but the second week, the weight loss caught up.

I'm just starting realizing this with myself. I'm a numbers person so for the past 11 weeks, I've been charting my deficits and my expected weight loss vs actual weight loss. Two of the weeks, I actually gained weight, but the following weeks I saw the difference. Over the 11 week period according to my calculations I should've lost 12 pounds and I actually lost 11 pounds.

I try not to think about starvation mode, because even though it exists (very rarely), it's probably isn't happening to you after a week or two of dieting. I don't like the blanket 1200 calorie number because it's too genernal, but a lot of people like to use their bmr as the baseline of lowest amount they should eat. Just make sure you're eating enough where you don't feel like you're starving yourself and workout and do what works for you. As long as you have a deficit meaning total calories burned minus total calories consumed, you will lose weight.