Help, not losing weight.

Mommypiepie

So I started my weight loss journey over 5 weeks ago, I'm not losing weight. I have lost 2 pounds and not measurement loss. I am feeling very discouraged. I exercise almost daily, and on average burn at least 600 calories a workout. It seems to me that with my healthier eating and exercise I should be seeing numbers drop.
Food is a struggle for me, not eating too much, but too little. I find it very hard to eat 1200 calories a day, and that isn't including what I am burning! I could really use some support here...I am feeling very down on myself today, which seems to happen at least once a week since I started this because I am seeing no changes. I do feel stronger, which is great...at least something is changing.

So lets do the math as to why no weight loss.

You eat, lets be generous and say 1200, though less than that.
You exercise on avg daily 500, though you said more than that most days.

That leaves your body with 700 calories of food for basic metabolism for functions of life, BMR.
If that is all it has available, some stuff is left not done, and it slows way down, to that level. That effects all daily activity burn. Which of course means you no longer burn 500 avg for the workouts, but close enough since we underestimated that anyway.

You seem to have daily activity including exercise what would probably be considered between Moderate and Very Active - about 1.63 multiplier.
So true suppressed BMR of 700 x 1.63 = 1141 daily activity burn.

The body will adjust that up as it balances out though. So you are actually eating at maintenance level, if you could even eat 1200.

Just want to be clear that you are going the right direction trying to get suggestions.

In the meantime, to save the muscle you've got, you really should stop working out. You are not doing yourself any favors right now.

You aren't eating enough for metabolism to increase because of it, it can't. It just means more things the metabolism would normally take care of, it can't. Your muscle can't repair fully, can't build more, can't store glucose for energy, because diet is probably in deficit for providing what you need each day, muscle breakdown is occurring to offset lack of blood sugar. Fat burning is still going on, but at such a slow rate because your general daily burn is so low now.

This is not a good direction obviously, so keep eating, great suggestions given to get your body going again.

You can get out of this slump. Isn't it strange your assignment is to eat more so you can lose weight.

Yes. You are saying eat more and stop working out. LOL I am trying to get my calories up...failed today as I skipped breakfast. This is so difficult for me...but, I can and will fix it.

Mommypiepie

I read somewhere that it takes 4 weeks for you to see a difference, 8 weeks for your friends to see a difference, and 12 weeks for the world to see a difference. Perhaps the scale is only slightly moving bc you are adding muscle? Give yourself time! BUT- it does look like you are not eating enough as many others have said. My advice is to up your calorie count, eat less processed and refined crap, eat more whole grains, nutrient dense foods, lean protein, take a multi vitamin, and drink lots of water. Treat your body right and the weight will come off!! Our bodies are amazing machines designed for self preservation. If you aren't eating enough your metabolism will slow and you'll create a starvation cycle. Good luck! (p.s...I wish I had your stamina for exercise. :P )

I have read the same thing...no difference to me after 5 weeks. I felt like I had given myself time, by waiting 5 weeks before "complaining". It is possible I am adding muscle because I feel stronger, I can do workouts now that I could only dream of getting through a year ago. I am trying to get my calories up...I even ate some almond butter the other day, holy crap it has 190 calories in a serving. I am not taking a multi-vitamin, I can add one.
My stamina for exercise is my motivation to get healthier, I know I can lose weight without working out, that's how I lost 60lbs before....but my body remained the same...it got smaller but still looked the same. I am doing things differently this time, exercise is more important for me right now...I am tired of being "the fat girl that can't".

Tzippy7

Just to play devils advocate for a bit, I lost nearly 30 lbs eating under 1200 every day. It was not very hard for me, it feels like the right amount for my body. (till recently that is, it changes when you get closer to the goal weight) I didnt lose anything until I randomly decided to stop eating cheese. For some reason that did it for me. I cut out cheese, and everything with cheese, and I started losing. So my advice is to just play around with your food choices. Eating more may also be a good idea because everyone is different in what their bodies need, but eating differently is what worked for me. Even reduced fat cheese stops me from losing!

nannab4

I am right with you. I also fight to find the 1200 calories, work 12 hours on my feet and then force myself to go to the gym for an hour after work. So far I can fit into pants that were hanging for a long time but no real weight loss. The inches have not disappeared but have only shifted so I can do up the buttons but the measurement is the same. Very depressing. Hang in there. Slowly but surely is the success factor so I am told. I will keep trying if you will.

Colbyandsage

I am 5'3" and I weigh 202.

I am 5'3 and eat around 1500 to 1600, burn around 400. I loose about a pound a week. Not saying it will work for u but it does for me, if I have low days, the scale doesn't move! I try to get at least 100 g of protein since I am working out alot. I watch sodium and try to keep it around 2000. I eat lots of clean food, not a lot of processed. Feel free to friend me if u wanna look at diary