Help!! I feel like I'm killing myself and getting nowhere!?

TeacherTurnedNurse
TeacherTurnedNurse Posts: 15 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I am eating about 1200 cal/day and working out at minimum 3-5x per week and burning about 450-500cal each time. I have never had an issue losing weight if I'm dieting and this is the first time I've added exercise.. After losing maybe 3-4lbs at the start, now 45 days in the scale isn't budging.

I'm really getting frustrated..
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Replies

  • Jellybean01222
    Jellybean01222 Posts: 5
    when i asked my gym bout that they suggested to drop a few more kcals and do more cardio
  • Jellybean01222
    Jellybean01222 Posts: 5
    uve hit ur wall dont give up :)
  • Lisa1971
    Lisa1971 Posts: 3,069 Member
    You need to eat more if you are burning so many calories!
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    Your not eating enough to sustain the amount of calories you are burning, You have to fuel your body for the workout that you demand of it.. 1200 is the absolute bare bone amount and you are going into a negative net by burning 400-500 additional calories.... You aren't eating enough..... Best of Luck
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    when i asked my gym bout that they suggested to drop a few more kcals and do more cardio

    I would not follow that advice at all.... Whoever is instructing you is not well versed in nutrition.... I would run from that advice but that is just me....
  • nje444
    nje444 Posts: 62
    I agree with Ed's posts above. Your body is probably going into "starvation mode" (that sounds so dramatic) and its holding on to whatever calories it has and storing them.
    If you eat less, you will probably make things more difficult plus you will be hungry and sad. :(
  • Emmabulliemum
    Emmabulliemum Posts: 294 Member
    eat more 1200 cals is NOT enough to feed you when you are exercising, OK for short term but really no lower than 1500 and you'll still lose. And maybe more protein don't know what's in your diet but I have been told by a PT protein helps when you hit the wall.
  • wendybird5
    wendybird5 Posts: 577 Member
    You have such a small amount to lose so it definitely gets harder. (I've been trying to burn off the last ten pounds for two months and am finally just two pounds away from goal.) I can't see your diary so I don't know what you're eating, but one thing that helped me was adding healthy fats into my diet. (Avocado in my case.) Also changing up my workout routine helped as well and keeping my sodium low.)

    I definitely would not eat less than 1200 calories though you might consider raising it up to your BMR or eating some of your exercise calories if you are feeling hungry and see what affect that has.
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    1200 is too little. It's too little for ME to eat, and I'm only 5 ft, 105 lbs. You're starving yourself, no wonder you feel like you're killing yourself! Go to:

    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

    Fill this out, hit calculate, then subtract 20% from the number it gives you. That is the number of calories a day you should be eating to safely and sustainably lose weight. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how many calories you can eat and and still lose weight!
  • TeacherTurnedNurse
    TeacherTurnedNurse Posts: 15 Member
    Sometimes I do eat back the calories from exercise but usually not all of them.. Guess I will see if eating more helps..
  • deannajf4
    deannajf4 Posts: 223 Member
    when i asked my gym bout that they suggested to drop a few more kcals and do more cardio

    Two words: BAD ADVICE!!
  • Hairwyz
    Hairwyz Posts: 12
    KEEP PUSHING AND DROP A FEW CALS OR MAYBE TAKE A WEEK BREAK TO GIVE UR BODY A REST....
  • dietstokes
    dietstokes Posts: 216 Member
    I would suggest trying to change your calorie amount. Change it, and then give it a few weeks to see how your body responds. Also, you may want to look at where you are getting your calories from. Carbs over a certain amount make me hold onto weight (and I love my carbs). I still eat a fair amount of them, just not as many now. I try to stay in in 80-120 range. Also, look at your food choices. Are you getting your cals from more processed foods, or all whole foods. What about sodium? Water? All of these things need to be looked at. Also, when you work out, are you just doing cardio or are you lifting (and I don't mean girlie 3-5 pounds weights). Have you changed your workout routine recently, or has it been the same thing since the start. Your body will eventually adapt to your routine. Try switching it up a bit. Good luck!

    BTW, you profile pic is so cute :)
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    when i asked my gym bout that they suggested to drop a few more kcals and do more cardio

    Two words: BAD ADVICE!!

    This belongs in the "worst advice you've ever been given" thread.
  • kwennerholm
    kwennerholm Posts: 13 Member
    Get off the scale and start taking measurements! The numbers on the scale can be deceiving because even though you are losing fat, you are rocking the gym so you are gaining muscle. Measure your thighs, waist, butt, chest, and go off of that instead of the scale. It will re-motivate you too!
  • Pixi_Rex
    Pixi_Rex Posts: 1,676 Member
    eat more. I am 4'9.5" and eat at least 1450 calories a day. 1200 calories and working out = my friends missing limbs and parts of their body.
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    KEEP PUSHING AND DROP A FEW CALS OR MAYBE TAKE A WEEK BREAK TO GIVE UR BODY A REST....

    HEADDESK_02b841_135751.jpg

    No. No...just NO.
  • Cr01502
    Cr01502 Posts: 3,614 Member
    when i asked my gym bout that they suggested to drop a few more kcals and do more cardio

    Two words: BAD ADVICE!!

    This belongs in the "worst advice you've ever been given" thread.

    Yup.
  • kimad
    kimad Posts: 3,010 Member
    If you are exercising that much and only eating 1200 cals per day, you aren't eating enough -- especially if alot of that is weight training.
  • kimad
    kimad Posts: 3,010 Member
    when i asked my gym bout that they suggested to drop a few more kcals and do more cardio

    Two words: BAD ADVICE!!

    This belongs in the "worst advice you've ever been given" thread.

    Yup.

    Agreed 100% terrible advice.
  • gs09
    gs09 Posts: 8 Member
    1200 is too little. It's too little for ME to eat, and I'm only 5 ft, 105 lbs. You're starving yourself, no wonder you feel like you're killing yourself! Go to:

    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

    Fill this out, hit calculate, then subtract 20% from the number it gives you. That is the number of calories a day you should be eating to safely and sustainably lose weight. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how many calories you can eat and and still lose weight!

    this says I can eat over 4000 cals?!!?! Think I've done something wrong somewhere!! lol!
  • curejenn
    curejenn Posts: 70 Member
    when i asked my gym bout that they suggested to drop a few more kcals and do more cardio

    I would not follow that advice at all.... Whoever is instructing you is not well versed in nutrition.... I would run from that advice but that is just me....

    Ageed!! It is astounding to me the advice that some doctors give. This is NOT good advice at all. What are they teaching some of these people?!
  • KenosFeoh
    KenosFeoh Posts: 1,837 Member
    Also, since you say you feel like you're killing yourself, you're probably experiencing a lot of stress which throws off your hormone levels and prevents weight loss. I think you need to take a step back and relax. This isn't a race.
  • kaylinn9
    kaylinn9 Posts: 112
    I think you're reaching a plateau - the best way to get rid of this plateau is to eat a lot for one or two days, because apparently that somehow gets your metabolism confused and gets you to burn off your fat that won't budge before.

    I am not sure how it works, but it does! I've had the same problem as you for a while.

    But not too many days of binging or you'll end up gaining all the weight back.

    Good luck.
  • bevmcarthur
    bevmcarthur Posts: 341 Member
    Hi Super teacher
    I am 5.3 and i eat about 1290 cal's a day and i do cardio at least 5 days a week and yoga 6 days , i eat a lot of veggies that really help me as they are great for low calories and i make sure that i get good Fats like Avocado and coconut oil in my diet. i do add 200 or so Calories to my diet on my long cardio days and long is an hour for me. And then once a week or so i will add an extra 300 calories so about 1500 total for one day then i go back to my 1290 and i also make sure i eat a lot of good clean protein and clean food i hope this info helps you out best of luck and do give up just eat Clean and more.
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    KEEP PUSHING AND DROP A FEW CALS OR MAYBE TAKE A WEEK BREAK TO GIVE UR BODY A REST....
    absolutely not.

    Folks, the OP is not eating early enough to support herself and some of you are telling her to eat less?

    No. Please don't give awful advice.
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    Try this. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    Try this. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
    this is fantastic advice.
  • bjornsdottir
    bjornsdottir Posts: 1 Member
    At this point you may want to eat at whatever your daily maintenance caloric intake is (ie mine is 2400). Let your body realize that it's getting what it needs and that it doesn't need to horde calories any more. You will put on scale weight as carbs are converted to glycogen (essentially the body's first choice for 'go juice'), but it won't be fat weight. Give it a few days to a week, then start at a nice 10-15% deficit. You should see results, especially if you drink plenty of water and limit the amount of sodium you take in.
  • Crossfitmandy
    Crossfitmandy Posts: 28
    i used to struggle with high bodyfat and eating as dictated to by a formula.

    I decided, to rest more and let my body recover and its worked, i work out less frequently maybe 3-4 times a week, and rest and recover.
    i have also cut down on crap but if i feel hungry i will just get a balanced meal and eat.... if i feel hungry sometime after i'll do the same, Listening to our body will help.

    I beleive in quality of food rather than quantities.

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