Has this happened to anyone else?

jwinvest

I have been eating good and staying 20% below my TDEE, I've also been working out at the gym 3 to 4 days a week and I'm not losing weight. Granted it has only been about 3 weeks. Is this normal? Do I just need to give it more time? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

lee91356

Yes more time. but also are you measuring and noting your inches? Sometimes the numbers on the scale dont move but youre still shrinking, even if its not time yet for a new wardrobe lol

But always remember we do this not JUST for the lower weight and the smaller clothes, but the for things we cant see like the better health :bigsmile:

escort9580

Everyone is different but sometimes people get stuck at a weight. Don't lose confidence you are still doing everything right. Sometimes you just need a change in routine to jumpstart the weight loss. If you usually walk on a treadmill try skipping that and opt for the rowing machine or a stepper (elliptical is too similar to walking). Try a yoga class or video, something to work a part of your body that you don't tend to target. This usually helps. Good luck!

_Danno_

I have been eating good and staying 20% below my TDEE, I've also been working out at the gym 3 to 4 days a week and I'm not losing weight. Granted it has only been about 3 weeks. Is this normal? Do I just need to give it more time? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Are you eating your calories burned at the gym? I personally don't believe in eating calories burned through exercise.

cwolfman13

Are you sure your calorie estimates are right? Activity level for TDEE is correct? If you are truly eating below your TDEE, then you lose weight because that's just science. So, something else is amiss...either you have calorie creep going on in your diet and you're not truly at a deficit or you may have a medical condition or may be taking medications that are negatively impacting your metabolic rate making these TDEE calculators and what not pretty much meaningless.

GauchoMark

considering that you are in the first 3 weeks, you really should be dropping weight pretty easy. I'd suggest looking at your food and exercise estimates and make sure they are correct.

Are you actually measuring your food? Especially at the beginning it is very tough to get portion sizes correct without weighing.

Additionally, if you eat out a lot, there are a lot of hidden calories in food from restaurants. For example, the other day I tried one of McDonald's new eggwhite delight mcmuffin and when I got it, it was drenched in butter. I added a couple of pats of butter to the standard 220 calorie entry because it was obviously not prepared per McDonald's standard.

nxd10

Everything above about measuring food accurately - YES! It makes all the difference.

Also, are you logging EVERYTHING? That pat of butter? Dab of mayo? Bit of creamer? Dot of whipped cream? Dribs and drabs can add a few hundred calories to my day. You have to be meticulous. Your body counts it, even if you don't.

Also, check your activity level. I thought I was moderately active. In fact, give me a checklist and I can SHOW you I'm moderately active. But my metabolism isn't. I had to drop to sedentary to lose.

I also found that for me, it was very helpful to keep my carbs under 45% of my total calories. 35% is better for me. When I first started, it was almost 65%. As soon as I dropped (and it wasn't hard to do), my calories went way down, so it was easier for me to eat more, and I lost much faster.

I DO eat all my calories back (added onto sedentary). So my walks to and from work, my heavy gardening - all added in. For the first six months I was on MFP I did lose a pound a week on average, just as I was supposed to. Now I'm so close to my goal things are slow in terms of weight. But inches are pouring off and I've dropped another size, so I don't care.

If you are eating as far under your calories as you say and exercising that much AND measuring accurately, you aren't losing because you aren't eating enough.

jwinvest

Yes - i'm eating between 1500 - 1800 and I don't eat back any gym calories. My TDEE says it's 2300.

Sparlingo

I have periodic stalls in my weight despite exercising and eating at a deficit. This month I've only lost 3 lbs (as opposed to my normal 5-6 lbs/month), and in December, I didn't lose a pound for 3 weeks despite eating/moving right.

Thankfully, the measurements continued to decrease .

Keep doing what you know is right (measure food/track food accurately, move more, eat less), and you'll get there eventually.

Sjenny5891

If your TDEE has your exercise factored in you could be eating too many calories. Especially if you are eating the exercise calories back.

I personally have mine set to sedentary and add everything in. Then I know I'm not eating too much on my days off.

dym123

3 weeks? I just went through a 2 month long plateau and was rewarded for my patience. Yes it was frustrating and there were tears, but I pushed play every day and even though the loss wasn't very big, my pants are.

Terry903

Remember muscles weigh more and they make you look and feel great! So check your measurements, muscle tone, how you feel and how your clothes are fitting! keep up the good work! I just hit a plateau and decided the only thing is to really get moving! I can't eat less....

servilia

Maybe you're not measuring all your food or else your tdee is lower than you think. Either way if you haven't lost in your first 3 weeks I'd say you don't have as big a deficit as you think. Do you have a food scale and measuring cups?