Sloooooow weight loss. What's wrong?

ELIZZY20

So ... I was at my heaviest (over 150 lbs) Christmas 2011 thanks to a doting Uncle. In September, I decided to get back to my High School graduation weight (130 lbs). I worked quite hard at losing weight since then, only falling off the bandwagon at Christmas and Thanksgiving. Since the beginning of January, I have been eating between 700-1200 calories per day, I walk 1-3 hours a day, I attend dance class 4 days a week for 1-3 hours a day, and I spend a lot of my day standing playing the flute. But since September I have only gone from 153 to 138. I still have eight pounds to go, and I'm not getting anywhere! I also can't reduce my caloric intake less than 700 since I am trying to gain muscle mass, not lose it. Advice?

MinyMinnie

If you exercise so much I would think it's because you're eating too little. That's how it was for me.

MissKalhan

Why in the world are you eating 700 period unless you are sick? I eat 1500(not including exercise calories) and I'm losing steadily.....
EAT CHILD EAT!

KenosFeoh

Your body thinks there is a famine and has slowed your metabolism so that you don't die before food becomes available again.

Never have a net calorie intake of less than 1200, especially as close to goal as you are.

SRDB00

Why in the world are you eating 700 period unless you are sick? I eat 1500(not including exercise calories) and I'm losing steadily.....
EAT CHILD EAT!

This^^^

1ConcreteGirl

You will not gain lean muscle mass unless you are eating at a caloric surplus.

That said, your body will not lose the last few pounds until it stops feeling so stressed. Eating 700 calories is killing you. If you actually want to drop the last few pounds, go here and follow the directions to the letter. You probably will need to eat closer to 1500 calories OR MORE a day before your body will lose that weight.


http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

deksgrl

Peanut butter sammich and a glass of milk. Several a day, please.

BeingAwesome247

Why in the world are you eating 700 period unless you are sick? I eat 1500(not including exercise calories) and I'm losing steadily.....
EAT CHILD EAT!

This^^^

This definitely

samanthalee87

You definitely need to up your food intake! With the amount of exercise you're getting in, 700 is just crazy!! Aren't you starving all the time? I'm doing intense workouts 6 days a week and try to eat at 1550 cals a day. It's hard sometimes because I'm not always hungry enough but I just fill it with good stuff regardless because my body needs the fuel. I didn't start losing weight until I started eating more. Trust me!

geekyjock76

You will not gain lean muscle mass unless you are eating at a caloric surplus.

That said, your body will not lose the last few pounds until it stops feeling so stressed. Eating 700 calories is killing you. If you actually want to drop the last few pounds, go here and follow the directions to the letter. You probably will need to eat closer to 1500 calories OR MORE a day before your body will lose that weight.


http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

This. The insane amount of exercise coupled with the steep calorie restriction is causing your endocrine system to go bonkers - namely the hormones, leptin and cortisol, as well as driving your Resting Metabolic Rate down quicker. Additionally, we all have a limit to how much fat mass that can be oxidized in a 24 hour period. For example, I have 23 lbs of body fat, presently. That means, 23 x 31 = 731 max deficit will go to fat loss. The closer I get to that threshold, the more lean body mass (muscle, connective tissue, and bone) will be used as fuel. If I exceed that deficit, fuel will come exclusively from lean body mass. With that said, you are likely losing a substantial amount of lean body mass with that insane deficit while being so active. If you treat your body in any extreme manner, expect for it to respond in a similar fashion and be quite resilient to the abuse you give it.

concordancia

700 calories with dance classes? I am surprised you haven't passed out! I dont know what kind of dance or how long your classes are, but I try to get in 1200 before evening classes even start and still have a snack afterwards, if not in between classes!

If you keep this up, you risk putting your health at serious risk. You will lose muscle mass and may suffer other side effects.

Oh, and I would be willing to bet that you have already lost muscle, especially if you have more days closer to 700 than 1200. Even if you are only four feet tall, 700 is too low. Only people who are under doctors orders eat that low, and that is with medical supervision.

Set MFP to a lightly active lifestyle to account for the walking and standing. Set your goal to lose .5 lb/ week. Enter your dance classes as workouts (I enter half the time, considering that part of dance class is watching and listening). Eat back those calories.

wmoomoo

You are most likely losing muscle mass with the amount of calorie you are eating. Find out what's your BMR and TDEE is and eat between them. If you want to tone, add strength training in your work out.

bagge72

You need to eat mor DJ Tanner!