1200 kcal and maintaining

AspireXX

Hey fellow MFPs

I have the following problem: I weigh about 129 lbs and would like to go down to about 120. According to MFP I am allowed to eat 1200 kcal a day. I do excercise (cycling, 2 times a week) and usually eat most of my exercise calories back. I also drink enough.

However, I am not losing weight at all. I am also never hungry. I feel more like I am in maintaining mode which is a bit depressing because I fear that I will gain weight if I eat more than 1200. It has been like that for about 4 months now. Do you have any suggestions? What could I do wrong?

Thank you for your help and keep up the good work! I am amazed by your spirit and motivation !

yarwell

How tall & what age are you ?

Are you eating the 1200 + exercise with accurate reporting.

AspireXX

Hey - sorry forgot to tell you that. I am 22 and my height is 1.66 m or (according to an internet converter) 5.4 feet.
I log everything and yes.

gaiareeves

1.66m is more like 5'5 and a half.

As for why you're not losing; you've plateaued. Your body has become used to eating the same low amount of calories every day, and thus has altered itself to run on that amount.

The easiest way to break a plateau is to up your intake and cycle your calories. As in, one day eat 1400, the next day eat 1800, the next day eat 1600, and repeat.

AspireXX

Thanks for your advice! Do I need to exercise when doing this or not?

suziecue66

Thanks for your advice! Do I need to exercise when doing this or not?

Yes. Change up your exercise too and increase the intensity.

FlaxMilk

You may want to try eating back only 1/2 your exercise calories or some days even none at all if it is a light exercise day. You may just be eating at maintenance depending on how much you are eating back.