This just isn't working

chrissy_1987

In the last 30 days i've lost 1.5lbs. Well, technically, i've only lost half a pound because i've put a pound on this week! I'm so disheartened. I'm sat here eating toast laden with butter. I've not had toast in over 6 months! I'm not going to sabotage the weight I have lost though. Tomorrow i'm going to back to eating 1680 cals, whereas i've been on 1950 for the past month (which is my BMR) But today i'm having the day off and trying to mentally recharge myself. Does anyone have any advice?

bradthemedic

Stick to it. I've gained 11lb in 3 weeks. We all reset at different rates and weights. The first 2 weeks are water retention and your body responding to a "low calorie intake for years" hold. You basically are shocking the body and it's holding onto calories because it thinks you're going to starve yourself again soon.

ladyace2078

How long did you do the lower calorie amount before starting EM2WL? 4 weeks is hardly long enough to say it isn't working. This philosophy is a LONG TERM approach, so why not try it for 6 months at least before throwing in the towel?

ANewLucia

Chrissy, I won't lie, it is mentally challenging to see weight go up instead of down. But think about what BMR stands for...it is what your body needs to function for 24 hrs laying in the bed doing nothing....if you eat below that you are forcing your body to conserve energy and store fat.

Eating below for extended periods of time does cause gains when you finally start to fuel because we were built to survive, so your body holds onto everything, storing it as fat, to have for when you deprieve it again.

Please take a look at all the stickies...go to the site www.eatmore2weighless.com and read the testimonials of women who walked through what you are going through...too many successes to deny that fueling is the only way for long term success. You can fuel, strength train, gain/retain muscle, and lose true fat at a small deficit OR drop it quick (maybe) with VLCD and gain it all back quickly once you eat "normally" again.

Please don't throw in the towel after 4wks....I am so saddened to see people do VLCD over and over...come back year after year doing the same thing...up in weight down in weight...cycle repeat over and over but give EM2WL less than a few months and walk away....don't give up.

chrissy_1987

I appreciate all of your replies, Thank you

What gets me is, I wasn't technically eating a VLCD (although I see your point ANewLucia, if it's below my BMR, it must be low calories) Plus, I actually was losing a steady 2lbs a week eating at 1680 a day.

I think as a general rule of thumb, this EMTWL has done something to my mind, to my way of thinking, to....something. Because I decided to take today 'off' from the 'diet', I wasn't even going to log. I decided to, just out of curiosity to see how many cals I would be over. Only 224. Now that's good for me! Yeah I indulged in some toast and butter but that was about it. No 'binging', no going to the shop and buying everything in sight!

I feel a hell of a lot better eating more calories, maybe my problem is in the amount of exercise i'm getting (or not getting as it were!)

Off to read the stickies (should have done that 4 weeks ago! haha)

EDIT to say, decided to up cals to TDEE -20% (2130) and perhaps not weigh for a month? Gym 3 times a week? And hopefully stay away from the scales!

laccy40

Please stick with it for longer. And maybe don't restrict yourself so much with your diet. Toast and butter is one of life's staples, not a binge! And I mean real butter not any of this fake rubbish.

chrissy_1987

Please stick with it for longer. And maybe don't restrict yourself so much with your diet. Toast and butter is one of life's staples, not a binge! And I mean real butter not any of this fake rubbish.

Lurpak is my absolute fave! Wont have toast unless its with Lurpak!

But I dont restrict myself. I have ice cream, chocolate, cheese. Whatever I fancy. If i deprive myself, I give in. Maybe that's why i'm panicking. Because it just doesn't feel like a diet

Flowers4Julia

Hi Chrissy,

I think all the advice so far is spot on. Don't give up. I am 54 and have starved and binged since I was in high school. I came to MFP only to lose 35 pounds, but I had to starve way below my BMR to do it...When I went to "maintenance" it started to creep back on. Then I found this group and the "In place of a road map group" and i use the spreadsheet there in the stickies, I think it is the most complete calculator .... more than MFP or any other websites.

What I would add is to really be as accurate as you can during this reset period. Measuring/weighing food to the gram or ounce really does make a difference, accounting for your exercise as honestly as you can, etc. It all makes a difference. I've had some of my pals give up because they just wouldn't do the work. And, it is work, but so worth it.

Another idea to keep you distracted is to thinking about eating as clean as possible (although you may already, I can't see your diary :-) Yes, real butter :bigsmile: real fresh foods, no processed stuff, etc. Learning to cook a new way and more new dishes, etc. I myself follow a "primal/paleo" food and lifestyle and it has been great for me. So, keep exploring and figuring out all the neat stuff there is out there.

You can do this, just hang on to the rope, as they say. :flowerforyou:

chrissy_1987

haha I don't eat at all clean microwave meals and quick snacks. I'll eat veggies and proper meals when cooked for me.....that's something I really ought to fix I think! I'm just lazy, hence why I put so much weight on I guess

I'll look into eating healthier and leaner, and upping my protien seems to be recommended a lot. I was the same as you Flowers4Julia. 1st diet i remember doing was at 15/16 with Weight Watchers (cod that was what my mum was doing) but I clearly remember surviving on Quavers because they were 'allowed'....I have a poor relationship with food! If i'm 'on the wagon' I can eat well but when my mind knows im not on a 'diet' I will eat everything in sight. To the point that like today, i'm not sticking to it 100%, I wont eat my healthier foods because I deem it a waste lol

Cinbad3178

Hang in there, Chrissy!!

Right now it's the mental game you've got to worry about. If you're telling yourself to eat more after eating below BMR for quite a while, then you've got give your body the opportunity to enjoy what its been missing!

My yoga instructor told me I've got to treat myself and my body like I would that of a friend's. I'd give one of my friends a pep talk and tell them that they can do it and not to beat themselves up. Id remind them that what they're doing is a good thing and will be amazing in the long run.

Sometimes I've got to remind myself that time and sticking with it is pertinent with this way of life. On the plus side - who doesn't love being able to eat more!?

fresh_start59

You've received excellent advice so far.
The only thing I'd add is this, if you haven't already used it:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Amt7QBR9-c6MdGVTbGswLUUzUHNVVUlNSW9wZWloeUE

It is a link to heybales spreadsheet on the "In Place of a Roadmap" group:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/8017-in-place-of-a-road-map

The spreadsheet helps you to determine your BMR and TDEE taking into account your body fat percentage.

Unlike most of the guys and gals on this board, I'm, well, "fluffy". I have a large amount of body fat, which surprisingly resulted in a lower BMR than I got from the Scooby BASIC calculator. (I know Scooby has the accurate calculator but I did not have an idea of my body fat until I used heybales spreadsheet.

DaniH826

I think sticking to (give or take) 20% below TDEE and getting your butt moving on a regular basis sounds like a solid long-term plan.

I personally eat at goal weight calories based on my exercise load, but that was my personal decision. The scale is budging, but sloooowly, which is fine. Because I'm lifting heavy and on off days I do light cardio. I track what I eat and make healthy choices for myself. My body is responding to it beautifully, and at the end of the day I'm usually below goal by a couple hundred calories, which I'm fine with. Because that way if pizza or chips end up getting the better of me, it's alright. I'm happy eating at the limit I've chosen, I never feel deprived and that's all that matters.

You have to do what works best for you, although all of these guidelines basically boil down to the same thing and end up in the same place: We give our bodies what they actually need by way of nutrition and activity, without letting Dictator Scale dictate everything we feel, think or do. My happiness isn't tied to my body weight any longer.

Also, real butter is awesome! Our bodies need fat too, and butter is a fine way to ingest fat as long as you don't eat a huge amount of it. You have to retrain your thinking, and that's the hardest part because we've been conditioned to believe "the less calories to scrape by with, the better" which simply isn't true. Calories aren't the enemy! The enemy is imbalance and excessive behavior, regardless of which way your excess goes (either too much or too little).

Find your balanced sweet spot and stick to it; that's the challenge; but it's not as complicated or difficult as it seems, really. Your body is just waiting to meet you there, and then all will be well.