What am I doing wrong

Hi all, I started clean eating a month ago, I used to eat tons of carbs, lots of sugar and well a lot of bad food. I'm now eating healthy, under my calories, 2 litres of water per day and exercising. Initially I lost 15 pounds but it now won't move please I would appreciate any advice. I'm scared if I don't get results ill fall back into my old habits.

Replies

  • martazdz
    martazdz Posts: 89 Member
    maybe your body has now got used to the new routine and is not burning that much. Maybe try to change something, eat less/more, exercises more or do some new type of exercise. Don't give up!
  • maybe your body has now got used to the new routine and is not burning that much. Maybe try to change something, eat less/more, exercises more or do some new type of exercise. Don't give up!

    Thanks for that, I've been walking but maybe it's time to bite the bullet and get that trainer :) eek
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    What is your current calorie intake?
  • I range from 1200-1600
  • You've hit a plateau, which happens to the best of us. Eat protein-only, low carb food for two days; 5-6 small meals or snacks every two hours to keep you full and your body functioning. This will force your body to burn your fat as fuel since there are no carbs to use. Then on the third day, introduce ONLY complex carbs like vegetables, brown rice/pasta/flours, for one meal - preferably lunch. This resets your body and gives it more fuel so it doesn't go into starvation mode, it also gives you energy.

    Then, after the third day, repeat this eating schedule every other day (protein, carb, protein, carb, etc.)... this tricks your body so it won't get used to the "routine".

    Also, LOTS of water - half your weight in ounces each day. Ex: 160 lbs. = 80 ounces of water).
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    You've hit a plateau, which happens to the best of us. Eat protein-only, low carb food for two days; 5-6 small meals or snacks every two hours to keep you full and your body functioning. This will force your body to burn your fat as fuel since there are no carbs to use. Then on the third day, introduce ONLY complex carbs like vegetables, brown rice/pasta/flours, for one meal - preferably lunch. This resets your body and gives it more fuel so it doesn't go into starvation mode, it also gives you energy.

    Then, after the third day, repeat this eating schedule every other day (protein, carb, protein, carb, etc.)... this tricks your body so it won't get used to the "routine".

    Also, LOTS of water - half your weight in ounces each day. Ex: 160 lbs. = 80 ounces of water).
    Don't follow this.
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    I range from 1200-1600
    That is a 400 calorie difference. That is huge. I would stabilize that calorie intake. Are you weight training?
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    You probably lost a lot of water weight from cutting carbs in the beginning. Now your body has adjusted to your new reduced carb intake and things will be much slower. How long have you been stalled? It seems to me like you probably haven't given your calorie intake enough time to work. Also are you completely stalled or are you just losing slower?
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    You've hit a plateau, which happens to the best of us. Eat protein-only, low carb food for two days; 5-6 small meals or snacks every two hours to keep you full and your body functioning. This will force your body to burn your fat as fuel since there are no carbs to use. Then on the third day, introduce ONLY complex carbs like vegetables, brown rice/pasta/flours, for one meal - preferably lunch. This resets your body and gives it more fuel so it doesn't go into starvation mode, it also gives you energy.

    Then, after the third day, repeat this eating schedule every other day (protein, carb, protein, carb, etc.)... this tricks your body so it won't get used to the "routine".

    Also, LOTS of water - half your weight in ounces each day. Ex: 160 lbs. = 80 ounces of water).

    This seems excessively complicated. Losing weight is simple. Just eat at a reasonable deficit and get enough protein.
  • Am I a bit naive to assume that because this is such a drastic lifestyle change for me it would come off faster ? Thanks for your advice everybody. Ill regulate my calories, it feels like I've stayed on the same number for a while. Hopefully it will get moving again.
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    If you set your diary to public we could see what you are eating (if you're logging properly) and make some more useful suggestions?
  • erinsueburns
    erinsueburns Posts: 865 Member
    A couple of questions. What are your goals set to? Have you calculated your BMR and TDEE? And are you actually measuring your food?

    And have you read-

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,455 Member
    You've hit a plateau, which happens to the best of us. Eat protein-only, low carb food for two days; 5-6 small meals or snacks every two hours to keep you full and your body functioning. This will force your body to burn your fat as fuel since there are no carbs to use. Then on the third day, introduce ONLY complex carbs like vegetables, brown rice/pasta/flours, for one meal - preferably lunch. This resets your body and gives it more fuel so it doesn't go into starvation mode, it also gives you energy.

    Then, after the third day, repeat this eating schedule every other day (protein, carb, protein, carb, etc.)... this tricks your body so it won't get used to the "routine".


    uh. No. You don't need any magical combo of foods. That's not going to fly here.
    Am I a bit naive to assume that because this is such a drastic lifestyle change for me it would come off faster ? Thanks for your advice everybody. Ill regulate my calories, it feels like I've stayed on the same number for a while. Hopefully it will get moving again.

    All weight loss comes in fits and spurts. Plateaus are common. That generally means you've gone a month with no weight change.

    So, if that is the case, and you have your calories set correctly, then you will keep losing. If you are under-eating, you could be shooting yourself in the foot. Here:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/186814-some-mfp-basics

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/3817-eat-more-to-weigh-less

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/804485-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
  • LadyIntrepid
    LadyIntrepid Posts: 399 Member


    Thanks for that, I've been walking but maybe it's time to bite the bullet and get that trainer :) eek

    Yes! The better in shape you get, the more your body gets conditioned and then the more you have to up the ante to burn the same amount. Sounds like it might be time to increase your exercise routine in some way in addition to the walking -- strength training, high intensity cardio, walking steeper faster, etc. If you can afford it, get that trainer.
  • Thanks your all so wonderful :) I've made my diary public. I think for a while there I got a bit obsessed and was under eating, when I eat more and drink more water it seems to come off faster. I just weighed myself and 2 kg down from yest :)
  • Firefox7275
    Firefox7275 Posts: 2,040 Member
    Unless you are massively overweight you should be looking to lose one to two pounds a week, more is likely to be muscle and water. Walking is lifestyle activity not really exercise after the first few weeks, unless you are doing more than 10,000 steps a day and a very brisk pace/ steep incline (never hold on if you are using a treadmill)?

    You have some great foods in your diary but eating far too low under your overall calories some days so risk missing out on nutrients. Try to get up to nine servings of dark and bright fruit and veggies in the full rainbow of colours, maybe more variety, more variety of proteins meat too often get in plenty of oily fish and some seafood. Be sure you are hitting your three servings of dairy, more seeds like the chia or pumpkin instead of so many nuts (richer in minerals and omega-3/ some are lower in fat). If you are going lower carb you must increase your protein to compensate or you risk losing muscle mass.
  • I hope you've gotten passed your plateau. To all those users saying "don't follow this" or that my first responses was "to extreme"... that diet made me lose 40 pounds in 4 months, losing 7 pounds the first week of each month. I went from size 12/14 to a now 4/6 and love it.

    So to all of you skeptics... HA.