not losing weight

bpotts44

There could be many reasons why you are not losing weight. Have you checked your BMR (Basal metabolic rate), this will give you the exact calories that you need to stay alive. So if you are consuming lesser than your BMR, your body does not lose weight. Secondly have you checked your thyroid levels? If you happen to have hypothyroidism (which I have) it is tougher to shed the excess pounds. Also do you get 8 hours of sleep? Do you drink more than 8 glasses of water everyday? MFP has a great app for keeping count of water. Also on MFP we tend to overestimate our exercise numbers and underestimate our eating habits. Take a look at various factors and you might just figure out what is holding you back. All the best!!!!

If you eat less than your BMR you will lose weight. This is a myth. Also, all the formulas are estimates and are NOT exact.

Are you sure you're not confusing BMR with TDEE? I don't think this point is a 'myth' at all. Most successful 'losers' on here eat at least their BMR...

Or was it hypothyroidism you were suggesting was a myth Or the water issue? (Hydration is obviously important, rather than water per se.) I'm not sure which bit you're taking issue with, from your post.

The issue was the comment that if you eat below your BMR you will not lose weight... this is simply inaccurate. There are a lot of ways your body responds to a low calorie diet and eating significantly below BMR has it's effects, Including increasing the % of loss that will come from Muscle, lowering of BMR (but not enough to totally compensate for lower calorie intake), energy level drop, etc...but one of them is NOT that your body magically and stubbornly stores fat and draws energy magically from the air... calories in Vs out... your body will drop calories burned certainly, but not enough to fully compensate for the low intake...

I'm not suggesting anyone eat below their BMR, but around or near is fine and a bit below is also likely ok for those with more weight to lose as it seems individuals with excessive weight can sustain a significant calorie deficit better than those closer to ideal weight...

Yes, best advice for most people is still eat above your BMR and below your TDEE...


to the OP...Meerkat has it to a T... great advice there...

I didn't confuse anything. You can eat below your BMR and lose weight and to say that you can't is a myth. I don't think the original person giving advice was mistaken either. I personally eat right about my BMR and lose 1-2 per week.

TallCurvyMuscles

Ok you are around my age, here is my advice b/c 40s is hard to lose weight for women

Lower your carbs I would see if you could cut it in half. Make your carb intake with fresh veggies not bread products.

Lower your salt, when I started eating fresh/clean and my salt lowered below 1000mg I am losing weight daily.

Up your protein to lean meats like lean chicken, pork (not bacon) and lean steak cuts that trimmed.

Losing weight has to be a balance in food intake and exercise.

Btw I do bout 60g carbs daily and i have lost 18lbs in 49 days so it works if you can work it into your diet.

Good luck !

AFitJamie

[threadhijack]

...... Have you checked your BMR (Basal metabolic rate), this will give you the exact calories that you need to stay alive. So if you are consuming lesser than your BMR, your body does not lose weight. .....

If you eat less than your BMR you will lose weight. This is a myth. Also, all the formulas are estimates and are NOT exact.

Are you sure you're not confusing BMR with TDEE? I don't think this point is a 'myth' at all. Most successful 'losers' on here eat at least their BMR...
...

The issue was the comment that if you eat below your BMR you will not lose weight... this is simply inaccurate....


to the OP...Meerkat has it to a T... great advice there...

I didn't confuse anything. You can eat below your BMR and lose weight and to say that you can't is a myth. I don't think the original person giving advice was mistaken either. I personally eat right about my BMR and lose 1-2 per week.

ok.. read the original excerpt again please... I believe you are agreeing with Meerkat and I.... in which case, I would agree with you :flowerforyou:

[/threadhijack]

bpotts44

[threadhijack]

...... Have you checked your BMR (Basal metabolic rate), this will give you the exact calories that you need to stay alive. So if you are consuming lesser than your BMR, your body does not lose weight. .....

If you eat less than your BMR you will lose weight. This is a myth. Also, all the formulas are estimates and are NOT exact.

Are you sure you're not confusing BMR with TDEE? I don't think this point is a 'myth' at all. Most successful 'losers' on here eat at least their BMR...
...

The issue was the comment that if you eat below your BMR you will not lose weight... this is simply inaccurate....


to the OP...Meerkat has it to a T... great advice there...

I didn't confuse anything. You can eat below your BMR and lose weight and to say that you can't is a myth. I don't think the original person giving advice was mistaken either. I personally eat right about my BMR and lose 1-2 per week.

ok.. read the original excerpt again please... I believe you are agreeing with Meerkat and I.... in which case, I would agree with you :flowerforyou:

[/threadhijack]

Yes, sorry. We are in agreement. I quoted the wrong post.

mollyW2012

Most of the time, the culprits for not losing weight are A) underestimating food intake and overestimating calories burned.
To counter this, get a scale and measuring devices, use them, and make sure that everything you put in your mouth is logged....accurately. Know the proper way to measure - pasta is weighed dry, chicken is weighed before cooking, always measure and log oils, sauces, and dressings. Check labels and look up the correct info on fresh/natural items on nutritiondata.com.

Be very conservative in your exercise calories. I know people that say they burn 500 calories for 30 minutes on the elliptical or 1000 calories during an hour of zumba, but sadly, that is NOT me. I actually burn about 30% of what the machines and MFP calculate it to be. And even then, I only eat back half or so. Keep in mind that the Fitbit will keep on ticking even if you do nothing at all, so you need to deduct those calories from the "additional burn" due to exercise. Ie: My hourly, sedentary, calorie burn is 70. So if I go work out and my Fitbit shows 300 for an hour, 70 of that is what I would have burned asleep or sitting on my butt watching TV. So my extra is really only 230!! And I'll eat about 110-120 of that, depending on how ravenous I feel.

I lost 40 lbs doing this. And sometimes, nothing happens for weeks, just stick to it and NEVER give up.

I agree with this. Measuring is KEY!!! Exercise is important too, but basic nutrition will help you lose weight. So, measure everything!!! And, you might want to at least cut your carb intake and your sugar intake in half. This will help you lose more quickly.

miriamwithcats

http://todayhealth.today.com/_news/2012/08/28/13509775-weight-gain-wont-budge-after-menopause-study-offers-diet-strategies?lite

I found this article of interest.

Also, psychiatric meds, including antidepressants SERIOUSLY affect weight. This is such a huge problem that the Federal government is trying to address it with a Whole Health program. Life expectancy for a person with a mental illness is now 53 years of age! Far less than those without mental health challenges.

One of the things that the Whole Health program is trying to address is stress, which can also impact weight, as well as food intake. They are teaching very simple meditation techniques to help reduce stress levels for people with mental illnesses.

I have struggled my lifetime with a mood disorder, and have been on antidepressants since the age of 19. This has definitely made it much harder for me to manage my weight. We just have to work much harder than the "average" person to lose and to maintain. And of course, with depression, motivation, energy and hope are all lacking. Please add me as a friend.

AronrFells

i watch biggest loser. the adivce it gave me it. eat more the calories go down down down. this is how i do it. if i eat 400 calories for lunch. i need to burn off 400 calories before dinner time. if you have knee and back trouble you should do some water exercise in a swimming pool.

bpotts44

There could be many reasons why you are not losing weight. Have you checked your BMR (Basal metabolic rate), this will give you the exact calories that you need to stay alive. So if you are consuming lesser than your BMR, your body does not lose weight. Secondly have you checked your thyroid levels? If you happen to have hypothyroidism (which I have) it is tougher to shed the excess pounds. Also do you get 8 hours of sleep? Do you drink more than 8 glasses of water everyday? MFP has a great app for keeping count of water. Also on MFP we tend to overestimate our exercise numbers and underestimate our eating habits. Take a look at various factors and you might just figure out what is holding you back. All the best!!!!

gobraves47

I'd either try lowering your carbs to about 100-130 g a day or trying to eat about 1500-1700 max calories. I'm about your age and that is working for me. But, everyone is different and it might take some time to figure out what works for your body. Good Luck!

TheRealAutumnShiranui

Ugh it is such a pain! Sadly for me, being off of medication will never be an option because my Mental Illness progresses with time, as it is a form of Schizophrenia, and I was untreated for my entire life up to the past 6 months. I am on Trazodone for anxiety (Which can be treated to the point where I wont need meds for it :]) and I have went from 140 to 180, and I was a binge eater at 140 and never gained a pound before meds!!! I am going to ask my doctor about adding something to help me control my weight gain, because I really don't want diabetes at 18! Hope everything goes good for you!