I can't lose unless I starve?

cuarrech

I just averaged out my calories for the past 30 days, trying to understand - I average around 1500kcal/day. And I am in the exact same weight range throughout that time (actually since February or so), from low days to high days (more right after high days, especially carbs) - 215-220lb. I did hit a freakish low a while back, which is what I have logged (I only log weight if it goes lower than the lowest I had), but it only happened once. I'm sad and angry I can't lose on 1500kcal average, and I'm sad and angry that if I push 2000kcal/day for a few days in a row I start to gain. When I go to 800kcal or lower I do start to lose weight, but I feel deprived, then often binge, which brings me to that average, or even higher if I get into a vicious cycle. I just don't get it. Why can't I lose, even slowly, on 1500kcal/day? Even through periods where I experimented with consistent exercise? Through low carbing? Through paleo? Through calorie cycling? Carb cycling? Through whatever - it doesn't seem to matter! I even gained (I'd go from 213-215 average to 218-223 before giving up) during some of those periods, especially exercise. I don't know what else to do but VLCD or even fasting and try to find some tactics to make it through the binge urge days. I'm at pulling-my-hair out stage.

I know I have a lot of health issues that could be holding me back (in my profile), but by that much? I would've though I'd lose at least slowly on 1500kcal/day average, but nope. Nothing. Just wobbling up and down in the same 10 pound block.

Anyone else been through the same thing, and got through it? Particularly with similar health issues? What did you do?

gabriellejayde

i looked at your food diary and i'm wondering if you're calories are accurate. You only have a few things on there per day, but if you use oils, butter, sauces, you need to log those. Spread your calories throughout the day to thwart hunger, and make sure you have fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains if you have carbs.

Graelwyn75

Where are your vegetables and fruits? You seem to be living on a diet that is primarilly meat. I am sure that cannot be healthy.
I would suggest checking out what your actual BMR and TDEE are, and then eating at 20% below TDEE, keeping active, and have some patience even if you seem to be gaining to begin. I don't think going on a near starvation diet is the answer, that is not going to help your health issues any.

cuarrech

i looked at your food diary and i'm wondering if you're calories are accurate.

Friday through Monday (previous) excepted as we were out of town (I put that in, but it was from memory), I log everything I eat, and I often weigh whatever I'm eating on the kitchen scales. I also try to err on the side of overestimating if I am not entirely sure. What I have logged is what I've eaten, even if it's embarrassing or I went really high that day.

VelociMama

You could simply be on a plateau. Work on increasing your activity level a bit and make sure you log absolutely everything every day for the next month and see if that helps.

When I was losing, it wasn't unheard of for me to be on a plateau for a solid 6-8 weeks. It sucked, but eventually it breaks and you can drop a lot quickly.

I went from 218 to 176 on 1500-1800 calories per day, so that calorie level sounds reasonable to me.

bowseramanda

i looked at your food diary and i'm wondering if you're calories are accurate. You only have a few things on there per day, but if you use oils, butter, sauces, you need to log those. Spread your calories throughout the day to thwart hunger, and make sure you have fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains if you have carbs.

I know this may be a silly question, but how do you look at someone else's diary? I have only ever looked at my own or if someone posts at the end of the day and it says view diary occassionally I will peek at it.

bowseramanda

What are your stats now? current height and weight?

Wyutzy

I really don't have the answers, but I wonder if it would help if you tried eating a more balanced diet. Try adding fruits and veggies! I don't agree with the starving idea. You can't maintain that!

Yes2HealthyAriel

people told me to eat more to lose, I tried it and it doesnt work for me. I try to eat between 1200-1300

MeMyCatsandI

Are you eating fruits and veggies and just not logging them? If not, I think you need to add some. I'm all for protein in the way of meat, but I think you need to replace some of it with fresh fruits and veggies.

And in all honesty, it could be due to your health issues. Have you specifically discussed your inablility to lose weight with your doctor(s)?

Phaedra2014

[/quote]

Friday through Monday (previous) excepted as we were out of town (I put that in, but it was from memory), I log everything I eat, and I often weigh whatever I'm eating on the kitchen scales. I also try to err on the side of overestimating if I am not entirely sure. What I have logged is what I've eaten, even if it's embarrassing or I went really high that day.
[/quote]

Hello!

A lot of the foods you consume are pretty high in sodium. My suggestion is to turn on the sodium feature under settings. You could be retaining a bunch of water which makes your weight stay high even if you are within your calories.

Yes, it would help you out so much to add more vegetables, fruits, nuts and beans.

joannathechef

I just averaged out my calories for the past 30 days, trying to understand - I average around 1500kcal/day. And I am in the exact same weight range throughout that time (actually since February or so), from low days to high days (more right after high days, especially carbs) - 215-220lb. I did hit a freakish low a while back, which is what I have logged (I only log weight if it goes lower than the lowest I had), but it only happened once. I'm sad and angry I can't lose on 1500kcal average, and I'm sad and angry that if I push 2000kcal/day for a few days in a row I start to gain. When I go to 800kcal or lower I do start to lose weight, but I feel deprived, then often binge, which brings me to that average, or even higher if I get into a vicious cycle. I just don't get it. Why can't I lose, even slowly, on 1500kcal/day? Even through periods where I experimented with consistent exercise? Through low carbing? Through paleo? Through calorie cycling? Carb cycling? Through whatever - it doesn't seem to matter! I even gained (I'd go from 213-215 average to 218-223 before giving up) during some of those periods, especially exercise. I don't know what else to do but VLCD or even fasting and try to find some tactics to make it through the binge urge days. I'm at pulling-my-hair out stage.

I know I have a lot of health issues that could be holding me back (in my profile), but by that much? I would've though I'd lose at least slowly on 1500kcal/day average, but nope. Nothing. Just wobbling up and down in the same 10 pound block.

Anyone else been through the same thing, and got through it? Particularly with similar health issues? What did you do?

cuarrech

Where are your vegetables and fruits? You seem to be living on a diet that is primarilly meat. I am sure that cannot be healthy.
I would suggest checking out what your actual BMR and TDEE are, and then eating at 20% below TDEE, keeping active, and have some patience even if you seem to be gaining to begin. I don't think going on a near starvation diet is the answer, that is not going to help your health issues any.

Yes, I am low-carbing currently, or at least trying to, but even the frozen fruit and dry wine I've had recently seems to keep me out of ketosis, so I think I have to go very low carb. I don't know.. I've tried it before, and didn't work beyond 3-4 weeks, but maybe if I have long-term cycles.. I just don't know. I have gone through periods of eating boatloads of veggies, raw and cooked (and trying to see if there was a difference between raw or cooked). Didn't matter weight-wise.
I figured my BMR & TDEE, and I played with different settings for activity, and I know I'm under what it calculated even for sedentary, though I don't recall by how much. I think I just don't burn much. I think I would have to go to a metabolic ward(?) to figure what I actually expend, and I can't afford that.
I don't think, psychologically, I could handle gaining right now. I'm back up to 218 from 215 average last week and I'm seriously stressed out. I can't see 220 again (AGAIN). I just can't.

zyxst

Find out what your BMR is or post your height, weight, and age so someone can figure it out for you. My guess is that you should try eating more than 1500/day for more than few days. Yes, you probably will gain, but you need to give it a few weeks before claiming it doesn't work and give up. There will be an initial gain when you up your calories. It's usually water weight and will go away nearly as quickly.

_granola

You are not being consistent with sticking to a calorie goal for long enough to see if it works. You need to have commitment, consistency, and patience.

This is a good calculator to figure out the calories you should eat to lose weight: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator

I am willing to bet you should be eating at least 1600-1700 calories to lose weight. Unless you exercise (I didn't see much in your diary), then it would be more. Stick to it for a couple of months, try not to go over your calories too often (and by so much), and see if it works.

georgie181

I have been trying to lose weight for over 2 years now, so far I have lost 60lbs, I figure if I lose another 16lbs that will be perfect (with lean muscle) anyway its beens long and arduous and yes I have gained and lost and gained and lost over and over and over!!!! when I started I just changed what I ate, not how much I ate of it. It worked at first then it stalled for month and months then I gained, then lost again and this is how its been since I started, no consistencey, lots of pitfalls.....sometimes I would just give up for a couple of days, weeks and this was a mistake because its about hanging in there because eventually you will see results, keep on trucking girl you will get there!

joannathechef

sorry about posting with out my text....

But you have said you try 1,500 and do not lose then mention 800 (very low) what about 1,200 or 1,100 this is pretty doable and if you eat lots of veggies with your protein you will not be hungry.

SuffolkSally

Try being more consistent. Work out a reasonable deficit from your TDEE for weightloss, and pick a balanced plan for carbs/protein/fat (I'm not going to get into the various arguments arising from this, you have to make your own call as it's your body and health. Personally I go higher than Mfp recommends on protein, try to keep fat intake lowish, don't bother about carbs but have a high fibre intake).

Then stick with it, with moderate exercise and plenty of water, for two months.

If you still haven't lost anything, we'll still be here.

But I do think extreme diet changes hopping form one thing to another won't help - even if you don't take the above advice, then whatever plan you do choose you need to stick with, otherwise you're just not giving your body time to adjust, and it may be going into a sort of "help, what's going on, better hunker down and assume it's war or winter and I'd better hang on to the fat stores" mode.

Trapwolf

Hi, I would suggest maybe like eevryone has said...have alot more veggies and get protein from them too, and less meat..especially less red meat. This is just a suggestion. I would say too, go to 1,450 cals. dont go over...do...not....go...over....But if you do, make yourself workout to "pay" for the calories you went over...if you know you are going out of town build up a sort of "bank account" by working out a bit more through the week. Try veggie burgers they are filling and mine are only about 170 cals. :O) Iwish you well, feel free to add me , Peace.

SeaRunner26

I've found that it's exercise that keeps me from falling into starvation mode. If I had to stick to my goal of 1220 calories per day I'd be pretty miserable. But because I exercise a lot, often burning 800 to 1800 calories extra per day, I can add extra food without going over my net calorie goal.

MonicaMeeks

Are you drinking water? You should be drinking a minimum of 8 glasses a day. Starving yourself will only make it worse. Also increase your work out times by 15 minutes. You can do this! Don't give up just change up! More water and longer work out sessions.

akgordoa

like everyone is saying, try a BALANCED diet. The richer in fruits and vegetables the better. I started working out heavy without changing my calorie intake. Instead, I had the same amount of food for a while, but just healthier food. When I got used to the lifestyle of healthy choices, I started adjusting my calories a little lower, month by month till I found an amount I could lose to and not feel starved, even while working out.

Maybe it will work for you too?

zyxst

Ok, someone check my maths on this.

Taking info from your profile, your BMR is 1786. If I set your activity level to Lightly Active, your TDEE is 1917. I'm not sure how much you're exercising though, just guessing from what your profile says.

Eat at least your BMR - 1786 cals per day. Stay with that for a few weeks/a month and see if that drops any weight. I can't help much more than that as I see you have a lot of health issues that make losing weight difficult.

tonibrindisi

Might sound glib but must cut all the refined processed foods out of your diet and load up on veggies and lean protein. Make some low cal high protein shakes for a treat. Cut out fruits. If you eat veggies and protein you will lose, and 1500 calories is alot if you are eating lean and green. I feel better eating this way.

ensi1116

"I've found that it's exercise that keeps me from falling into starvation mode. If I had to stick to my goal of 1220 calories per day I'd be pretty miserable. But because I exercise a lot, often burning 800 to 1800 calories extra per day, I can add extra food without going over my net calorie goal."

This guy gets it.

cuarrech

I'm 5'9" tall.

The trouble with exercise is that I can start right after my period, but about mid-cycle (2 weeks in) I get tired and by 3 weeks in I am absolutely exhausted and I can barely do the minimum to take care of my family. My muscles hurt and ache all over (and not DOMS) and I just feel weak and tired.
I guess it's pretty clearly my health issues at fault here. I am just so frustrated and sad and angry and I think it's other life issues that have brought my tolerance level down.

Anyone else recovered from similar health issues?

bowseramanda

May I suggest renaming your meals? It may help if you have them split up throughout the day so we can see if you are craving at any certain time of the day. I have mine listed as bkf, am snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, eve snack. I did it that way so I could see if there was a pattern. I learned I want to snack in that 4-5:30pm time after work, but before husband gets home for dinner. For a bit log everything... every drink, condiment, etc.

Also, consider changing your formulas in the settings.

And though you may not want to hear it, consider changing what diet you are following. Maybe low-carbing isn't for you. Maybe balanced all the way around will work better for you. personally any diet that tells me eating an apple isn't permitted just isn't the route for me.

As for your medical issues, not only am I a Nurse but one that is 37, had a recent hysterectomy (Feb), taking hormone replacement and an antidepressant (paxil) for hormone stabilizing but also have hypothyroidism and take meds for it. 3 issues and meds known for not only causing weight gain but also hindering weight loss. Throw in only eating 1 carb a day and I may go off the deep end

KeriW626

My suggestion is that you speak to a nutritionist. You are barely eatting enough to keep your body going, much less improve your health to the point your body is willing to let go of the excess weight. I am glad to see that you goal weight is acutally based on how you wiil feel, look.


Good luck.

_granola

I'm 5'9" tall.

The trouble with exercise is that I can start right after my period, but about mid-cycle (2 weeks in) I get tired and by 3 weeks in I am absolutely exhausted and I can barely do the minimum to take care of my family. My muscles hurt and ache all over (and not DOMS) and I just feel weak and tired.
I guess it's pretty clearly my health issues at fault here. I am just so frustrated and sad and angry and I think it's other life issues that have brought my tolerance level down.

Anyone else recovered from similar health issues?

Have you been checked for any health issues you might have with this pain?

I would suggest not going low carb. Carbs are great for fueling exercise and daily activities. I imagine if you are eating more food consistently, more carbs, including more whole, nutrient-dense foods (fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins), then your energy levels, pain (if you have no other health issues causing it), and mood would improve significantly.

georgie181

I just had a look at your diary, there are long gaps between your meals, that will cause you to binge, I don't believe in holding onto to fat stores personally......I used to, not no more. But not eating regulary is going to cause binges, I know this trust me......

you need more fiber this is for sure, for your digestive system to help you go, sorry for personal question, but are you suffering any constipation? maybe your just blocked up, lol. fiber will also keep you fuller for longer. I did go low carb and no carbs, but carbs especially fibrous ones really help me to stay full and focussed, not to mention fuel my extreme workouts.

this is what works for me, but its taken a long time to realise these things. I am currently on a basic rate of 1200 a day and if I exercise extreme then I eat back SOME of my exercise calories. this is my 2nd week into it and the past five days have been pretty good. lost 2inches off my waist! not sure of weight because I don't own scales, am going to weigh in on Sunday, but am not focussed on weight anymore, just judge myself by the I look in the mirror, the way I feel and of course inch loss!

bowseramanda

My suggestion is that you speak to a nutritionist. You are barely eatting enough to keep your body going, much less improve your health to the point your body is willing to let go of the excess weight. I am glad to see that you goal weight is acutally based on how you wiil feel, look.


Good luck.

^^^ this.... and an ob/gyn!