Who else here doesn't lose on 1500?

rose313
rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I feel abnormal because so many people have a TDEE up in the 2000s, making it easy for them to lose weight on a normal amount of calories, like 1500-1700.

In January, I netted 1500 and maintained at 157.
In February, I netted 1700 and gained 3 pounds.
In March and April I netted 1500 and maintained at 160...I did not lose the 3 I gained.
In May I netted 1400 and lost 5 pounds!
In June I netted 1500 and maintained at 155.
In the first half of July I netted 1300 but did not lose any weight because of TOM. (I always, always maintain during TOM no matter what I do.)
In the second half of July I netted 1200 and lost 1.5 pounds.

I averaged out all my diary entries (I log accurately every day) I love numbers, so this kind of thing is fun for me. I also keep graphs on my blog here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/rose313

(I think the 5 pound loss was because I started eating cleaner in May.)

Anyway, it's pretty obvious that my maintenance level is 1500. Just looking for others who are the same.

Replies

  • onyxgirl17
    onyxgirl17 Posts: 1,722 Member
    yea I have never lost weight on a net of 1500 calories.
  • rose313
    rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
    bump
  • MtTovey
    MtTovey Posts: 58 Member
    I've been trying to reach that and am seeing the same results, though, not nearly as long. I'm curious to see if there's an answer for this.
  • It_never_ends
    It_never_ends Posts: 105 Member
    Net 1,500 is wayyyy to high for me. I have to net under 1000 to lose weight.
  • BioQueen
    BioQueen Posts: 694 Member
    Sadly I lose consistently when I am on a 1,200-1,400 calories a day. I also only eat back half of my workout calories max. I do wish I could eat more, but it looks like my body doesn't want to do it that way haha.
  • MissKris14
    MissKris14 Posts: 65 Member
    I gain on 1500. If I do 1000 a day, I lose about a pound a week. Super jealous of these people who can actually lose on 1600 :(
  • Arleigh7
    Arleigh7 Posts: 150 Member
    Have you tried increasing your protein to 40% and dropping your carbs to 30%? That might help espcialy if your lifting.
  • fmbomzo
    fmbomzo Posts: 382 Member
    Sadly I lose consistently when I am on a 1,200-1,400 calories a day. I also only eat back half of my workout calories max. I do wish I could eat more, but it looks like my body doesn't want to do it that way haha.

    Same here. I went as high as 1900 and maintained. I dropped to 1700 and still maintained. I dropped to 1500, would gain and lose the same 3 lbs every other week. I dropped to 1200 a few weeks ago and have lost 7 lbs within 2 weeks. I also decreased my daily exercise to one that will burn about 250 cals a day instead of 500+ per day and it seems to be working. I can float between 1200 and 1400 and still lose about 1-2 lbs per week. I haven't even gained significant TOM weight when I maintain 1200-1400. But I did when I had higher nets. I can tolerate an occasional higher net day up to about 1900 without affecting my weight loss.
  • rose313
    rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
    Have you tried increasing your protein to 40% and dropping your carbs to 30%? That might help espcialy if your lifting.
    I can try. I am doing 40/30/30 and have trouble getting more than 20% protein sometimes. I know what I need to eat to get that protein in, and if I do, the other macros just seem to fall into place. I'll pay extra attention to that...I am lifting. Thank you for the tip.
  • Classyandra
    Classyandra Posts: 74 Member
    I started at 1500 and maintained... and maintained. I'm at 1350 and was losing but now i'm maintaining again. Or even gaining? It's soooo frustrating! I'm only 5'1" so I'm thinking of dropping lower? I don't know.
  • mcarter99
    mcarter99 Posts: 1,666 Member
    I don't "net" but need to be below 1800 to lose.

    Could your exercise calorie estimates be inflated? Have you tried not 'netting' and just finding out what 'pure' calorie level you lose at?
  • gomisskellygo
    gomisskellygo Posts: 635 Member
    I don't lose on 1500 either. Since February, I have dropped from 1900 to 1500 and lost and gained the same 5 pounds. Two weeks ago, I finally just sucked it up and dropped to 1360.

    It appears to be working. I do wish I could eat more and lose but I can't. I gave it a good 6 months.
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    It looks like you've done the testing needed to determine it. I'd go ahead and eat slightly underneath that.

    It looks, though, like 1400 might have been a 'sweet spot' for you.
  • jsidel126
    jsidel126 Posts: 694 Member
    Initially I took the 1 lb/week calorie count 1730 provided by MPF. I typically came in about 100-200 calories less each day. I was able to lose for 3-4 weeks then went into maintance mode.

    Recently I changed my settings to 1.5 ibs/wk loss and increased my exercise calories by 100-200 calories/day to 300-400. I now keep my net calories to 1200-1400. I exercise 400 cal/day most days and eat back about half of the exercise calories. I have begun to lose again. :happy:
  • mcarter99
    mcarter99 Posts: 1,666 Member
    Looking at your graphs of calories (not 'net') and weight loss, it looks like you ate around 1600 in Feb, March, April and maintained those three months. I would take that to mean that's about what you burn per day and need to eat well under to lose? If you burn 1600 and eat at 1500, it'll take you a month+ to lose a pound, which won't even be easy to notice as a trend until you've done it for several months in a row.

    That stinks it's so low. My Fitbit has me at under 1550 some days. I sympathize.
  • smikesell61
    smikesell61 Posts: 1 Member
    Me too - 1000 cal a day and maybe I'll lose. Add an hour of exercise and it's a sure bet. Anymore and it doesn't matter how long I exercise - i either gain or maintain.
  • jpoga
    jpoga Posts: 1
    Tried the net 1500. does nothing for me, It is now more than a month lost one pound. Think I have to drop to 1200 and NOT use the exercise extra calories. Losing initiative here. Very discouraged, as I eat well, and not much, relative to others and I exercise MORE than most.
  • elisa123gal
    elisa123gal Posts: 4,324 Member
    The last time I counted caloires I did it for six months at 1500 because on spark people they were all about eating more to lose more. I lost only five pounds and stopped. I tracked everything..excercised ..never lost.

    This time..I went on low carb didn't lose much..was advised to count caloires. So..I'm doing 1200 and low carb and lost five pounds so far this week..tomorrow marks the first week.

    So..I say go down honey...do the 1200.
  • natasha150
    natasha150 Posts: 13 Member
    Me too - 1000 cal a day and maybe I'll lose. Add an hour of exercise and it's a sure bet. Anymore and it doesn't matter how long I exercise - i either gain or maintain.

    Ditto!

    and its a pain!!!!
  • 2Bgoddess
    2Bgoddess Posts: 1,096 Member
    I maintain 170 pounds on 1350 a day. this is why i got as big as i did. I lost my 80+ pounds by netting between 975 and 1100 a day for 10 months. I am aiming for just under the (MFP's opinion of) magic number, 1200, to slowly take off the last 20.
  • rward007
    rward007 Posts: 32
    It's a funny thing. I was losing pretty steadily and was close to my goal, so I added 50 calories to my net and I seemed to have stalled. Guess it's just a fine line.

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