Not losing weight??

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Replies

  • DebbieLyn63
    DebbieLyn63 Posts: 2,654 Member
    I applaud you all for working out everyday! I am so sore the day after my workouts I can't imagine working out again. Now, I do do some stretches and upper and lower ab work on those days, but you all are AWESOME!

    Do you mind explaining what you did? I've been stuck in a plateau myself for the past week and a half.

    A week and a half isn't a plateau. That is just the normal ebb and flow of weight loss. Keep weighing and measuring everything, logging everything, and moving as much as you can. And be patient.
    OH, and take your measurements once a month. When you have gone a week or two without a loss, quite often you have lost some inches, and seeing that progress will keep you going.

    I would also suggest filling out your profile, putting up a pic and sending some friend requests to people around your age with a similar weight loss goal. The daily interaction with friends on here is extremely helpful.
  • keem88
    keem88 Posts: 1,689 Member
    up your cals (eat 300-500 below your tdee), switch up your exercise. 1200 doesn't work for everyone
  • evdenapoli
    evdenapoli Posts: 164 Member
    The minimum a woman needs to eat is 1200 if not your BMR. You are not eating enough.
  • keem88
    keem88 Posts: 1,689 Member
    I applaud you all for working out everyday! I am so sore the day after my workouts I can't imagine working out again. Now, I do do some stretches and upper and lower ab work on those days, but you all are AWESOME!

    Do you mind explaining what you did? I've been stuck in a plateau myself for the past week and a half.

    A week and a half isn't a plateau. That is just the normal ebb and flow of weight loss. Keep weighing and measuring everything, logging everything, and moving as much as you can. And be patient.
    OH, and take your measurements once a month. When you have gone a week or two without a loss, quite often you have lost some inches, and seeing that progress will keep you going.

    I would also suggest filling out your profile, putting up a pic and sending some friend requests to people around your age with a similar weight loss goal. The daily interaction with friends on here is extremely helpful.

    agreed, i considered mine a plateu when i was stuck at the same weight for 6 weeks
  • swtjenny90
    swtjenny90 Posts: 21 Member
    I'm wondering if anyone can answer this for me... do you havr to eat back the calories you've burned off? I thought if you don't it just means that's more calories you're down and closer to losing weight
  • hthrhrpr
    hthrhrpr Posts: 29 Member
    Ok, so is a calorie a calorie, or do I need to be clean eating?
  • skydiveD30571
    skydiveD30571 Posts: 281 Member
    Ok, so is a calorie a calorie, or do I need to be clean eating?

    Depends on your goals really. If you just simply want the scale to show a lower number then yes, a calorie is a calorie. Give your body a deficit and you will lose weight.

    Or is your goal to be healthier, retain muscle while losing fat (still losing weight), feel better, have more energy, etc? Then yes it does matter where your calories come from. Like mentioned earlier, adjust your goals for carb/protein/fat and try to stick to them. An added benefit of eating cleaner is that you almost can always eat MORE....many "dirty" foods like fast food are very high calorie so you can't have much if you want to be under your limit. Good luck!
  • suzannebradshaw71
    suzannebradshaw71 Posts: 15
    I can only speak for myself. Keep in mind I am not a nutritionist I just know my body and what works for me. I am 5'4 and am trying to loose 30 lbs of body fat at least by summer. I eat 1200 calories a day mostly clean whole foods. When I work out hard and really aggresive I eat back some calories if my body is hungry. Somedays I feel great at 1200 and dont eat my calories back but if I am feeling like I need more I will eat yogurt or something for a snack. I do eat every three hours to feed my body. If I dont work out I loose scale weight. I know when I work out I gain weight at first or stay the same but I loose inches. I know from my experiences I build muscle pretty easy. Everyone's body is so different. I am going to take weekly pictures in a bikini and do weekly measurements. I feel the scale will mentally mess me up. I know I had a goal weight of 125......well, I really dont care what I weigh as long as my body fat creeps down and my body gets stronger. More muscle the faster your metabolism. I will gladly trade in fat for lean mass and yes muscle weighs more. I suggest get the tape measure out! Good luck!
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    Ok, so is a calorie a calorie, or do I need to be clean eating?

    You do not need to eat clean. It truly is all about calories. Eating clean will just help you keep full easier. There are several members with abs that eat ice cream and unhealthy snack.The issue comes down is fueling your body. If you are not, then your body will fight the weight loss. And with being active, 1200 calories isn't enough. I would definitely up your calories another 300-500 calories and you should see your weight drop. The average women I know that works out is eating 1700-2100 calories daily. Below is a good thread on clean eating.


    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/822501-halp-my-sandwich-isn-t-clean
  • janeite1990
    janeite1990 Posts: 671 Member
    Eat back your exercise calories if at all possible. Sometimes I find it hard.

    I have to work out more than 3x a week. I aim for 7x a week, but sometimes hit 10x.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Do you eat back exercise calories? If you were losing at 1,200 calories before exercise and now you're not losing with add'l exercise, this is usually a sure sign that you are not eating back your exercise calories and therefore have created a deficit that is too large. Remember, that 1,200 calorie goal already a HUGE caloric deficit in it. If you're not eating back exercise calories, you're creating a Grand Canyon sized deficit for your body.

    When you have too large a deficit, your body goes into metabolic stall to defend itself. This means that it will store, rather than burn fat. This is why most people who do the 1,200 calorie thing and then don't eat back their exercise calories lose early on and then quickly go into plateau. Plateau is not uncommon when eating at any deficit, but they come much quicker with massive calorie deficits. I've been at a deficit for about 4 months and have just started my first plateau. In response, I'm upping my calorie intake for a week or two to TDEE - 10% rather than - 20% to reset a little. I may just keep it there as I only have 15ish - 20Lbs to go. It will be slow, but I shouldn't hit another plateau with that small a deficit I don't think.
  • cmeiron
    cmeiron Posts: 1,599 Member
    Per your diary, you are undereating. 1200 is probably too low, but you are not even NETTING 1200, which would include eating back exercise calories. MFP already has a sizeable deficit and making it greater can be counterproductive.

    this

    QFT

    There are a TON of people on the boards saying they're eating at most 1200 cals (NOT net) and exercising like mad and not losing weight. I see a trend here.

    I net 1500 a day, eat my exercise cals (most if not all) and have been losing consistently with no problem, AND am fuelled properly so I can kick my workouts' *kitten*.
  • 33le
    33le Posts: 11
    Great advice!!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I'm wondering if anyone can answer this for me... do you havr to eat back the calories you've burned off? I thought if you don't it just means that's more calories you're down and closer to losing weight

    MFP already has a deficit built into your calorie goal based on whatever information you put in. Hence, MFP expects you to eat your exercise calories back...you don't need to exercise to create a caloric deficit using the MFP method...the deficit is already there. Creating too large a deficit has the opposite effect of what is intended...you actually go into metabolic stall and your body will shut down "non-essential" functions to preserve energy. You will store fat rather than burn it. Your body will also go after your lean body mass for energy rather than fat stores when too large a deficit has been created.

    When you log exercise, you will notice that MFP resets your calorie goal. It is in fact, a goal...something to be achieved, not undershot or overshot. Just make sure you're getting as accurate a calorie burn as possible...if you are unsure, eat back 70-80% of them. Better bet is to get a HRM and just deduct your BMR calories for whatever amount of time you did the exercise.

    This problem is exactly why I often plead with people not to over train...unless you're training for some specific endurance event and know how to properly fuel your body, you don't need to be doing a bazillion hours of cardio and burning 600+ calories per day or whatever. 30-45 minutes 3-5x per week is all you really need to increase your overall fitness level and heart health.

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