We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Why am I not losing weight?

enembe
enembe Posts: 11 Member
edited January 10 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm 5'4"' and now 135 lbs. About ten days ago, I decided I wanted to eat healthier and weigh less. I was drinking alcohol almost every night or at least every other night... and I have a high tolerance so I was drinking a lot of calories. I've always watched what I eat so that I didn't gain weight, but now I have stopped drinking alcohol, am eating whole grains, fruits, vegetables, chicken, etc... using myfitnesspal as a guide to how much I can eat, and brisk walking 30 minutes a day. I was not exercising at all before and my weight stayed the same. It's been over ten days and I gained two lbs. It's not a fluctuation. I keep weighing myself to be sure. I weighed 133 when I was being careless. it makes no sense and is very unmotivational. What is the problem...?

Replies

  • gmansmom2
    gmansmom2 Posts: 201 Member
    How many calories are you eating? Can you open your diary?
  • enembe
    enembe Posts: 11 Member
    It's not accurate. Many days I didn't list foods because I was busy and never got around to it. I usually eat between 1200-1400, give or take.
  • magician31
    magician31 Posts: 2 Member
    Try keeping your diary as accurate as possible for a week - you may be over or underestimating your calorie/portions
  • enembe
    enembe Posts: 11 Member
    I don't see how not eating enough will make you not lose weight. My mother in law lost 200 lbs by a 500 calorie diet in like a year or so. I thought she was ignorant, but it worked....
  • magician31
    magician31 Posts: 2 Member
    I don't see how not eating enough will make you not lose weight. My mother in law lost 200 lbs by a 500 calorie diet in like a year or so. I thought she was ignorant, but it worked....

    WOW.

    Most people on here who follow nutritional advice will say anything below 1200 calories means your metabolism may slow down.

    MFP gives you a calorie goal with the expectations you won't go under it OR over it each day for that very reason.
  • misssmarita
    misssmarita Posts: 130
    That is normal, and there could be several reasons.

    a) Did you weigh yourself at the same time of the day? Weighing yourself at 8am on day 1 and weighing yourself at 8pm on day 10 may account for a 2 lbs gain.

    b) Are you/have you been on your period? You may gain some weight at this point of your menstrual cycle, and it's completely normal.

    c) Have you been under a lot of stress? Weight loss is a basic equasion of calories in vs. calories out, but how many calories you burn can be affected by your hormone levels (including stress).

    d) Are you sure you have calculated both your calories consumption and calorie expenditure accurately? It's important to be accurate.

    You're pretty slim to begin with, this weight loss will take time. If you are doing a lot of strength your weight might come off even slower, with the extra muscle mass you'll be gaining, even if you're losing fat. What I'd to is to have a rethink about your regime, be more accurate in your calorie counting, and then repost on MFP if you haven't lost anything in, say a month or so.

    GOOD LUCK!
  • gmansmom2
    gmansmom2 Posts: 201 Member
    Calculate your BMR and your TDEE. You can search and find calculators online. You should NEVER eat below your BMR and the best way to lose seems to be you TDEE minus 20% and reduce that as you get closer to your goal. If you are exercising I bet your TDEE is around 2200 and your BMR around 1400. I would suggest you eat closer to 1700 calories. Then you can have a drink if you want!
  • enembe
    enembe Posts: 11 Member
    Lol she didn't use this site. Mine is only 1300 that it gives me... Is it possible my body is used to a higher calorie intake because I was consuming close to that in alcohol alone before. Bad, I know... but that's why I decided to change it..
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    Wait longer than 10 days?!
  • gmansmom2
    gmansmom2 Posts: 201 Member
    I don't see how not eating enough will make you not lose weight. My mother in law lost 200 lbs by a 500 calorie diet in like a year or so. I thought she was ignorant, but it worked....

    I thought you said you wanted to get healthy. This is NOT healthy. It may have worked but it won't last.
  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
    I don't see how not eating enough will make you not lose weight. My mother in law lost 200 lbs by a 500 calorie diet in like a year or so. I thought she was ignorant, but it worked....

    Run the numbers on how fast she lost weight and how many calories she was supposedly burning. A 500 calorie diet is an EXTREME diet and will break through almost any hormonal imbalance created by eating too little.

    However, too few calories usually results in malnutrition and reduced energy to organs, causing them to run slower. This damages the organs.

    Basically, as you eat under your BMR, you are slowly building up a hormone called cortisol. This is a stress hormone. When it reaches a certain level, your body goes into the fight or flight response. In this state, your body reduces the energy given to organs and increases energy to other systems needed for immediate survival. Think if a lion is attacking you, liver and kidney functions are not longer the most important thing, neither is processing food in your stomach. Instead, anything that gets you safely out of that situation is what is important.

    Our bodies are not meant to operate for prolonged periods in that state. So, you are eating 1,000 less calories a day... under that state, your body may be USING 1,000 less calories a day. So now you are just spinning your wheels. Even worse, it is possible to eat 800 less a day and have your body use 1,000 less a day, meaning a small surplus and corresponding weight gain.

    This does not happen immediately. It takes several weeks/months to get to that point.

    Now as to your original post, if you've only recently started, there is a LOT of water weight fluctuation that can happen due to changing your diet and exercise patterns. Not logging accurately is the #1 way to shoot your weight loss goals in the foot.

    To give an example. I am also 5'4" and about 135lbs. I took a hot bath and shaved. I lost 2.8 pounds doing that. Water weight will do weird things to you.
  • enembe
    enembe Posts: 11 Member
    Sorry, I would never do what she did. I was just trying to understand the logistics to it. I could never eat 500 calories a day. I love food too much for that.
  • moonsforeyes
    moonsforeyes Posts: 228
    I don't see how not eating enough will make you not lose weight. My mother in law lost 200 lbs by a 500 calorie diet in like a year or so. I thought she was ignorant, but it worked....

    so unbelievably unhealthy. Eating that low is dangerous and not good at all. It is definitely not good after you're "done losing," because you will gain it all back when you eat normally again. & normally doesn't mean junk food and a lot. Normally is what a normal "healthy." person eats a day and what some of us losing weight eat a day (1200-2000) calories give or take. Definitely not a good idea if you REALLY want to lose the pounds.

    Be as accurate as possible when logging your diary. If you eat a tiny piece of candy, log it. You wouldn't believe how fast calories add up. Eat back your exercise calories back.
  • gmansmom2
    gmansmom2 Posts: 201 Member
    Sorry, I would never do what she did. I was just trying to understand the logistics to it. I could never eat 500 calories a day. I love food to much for that.

    That is great. Very good and you can enjoy alcohol in moderation as you lose.Just make sure it is within your calorie allowance. If you are exercising and changing your diet your body will need time to adjust. I also recommend tracking as accurately as you can so you can evaluate your progress and make changes as needed.
  • samantha1242
    samantha1242 Posts: 816 Member
    It's only been 10 days. It doesn't appear you have much weight to lose, if any, so it will come off way slower. You could also try something else then just walking. A fitness class, or even a workout video. Or go lift some weights. Also, sometimes you may be eating more then you think so I would recommend getting a food scale and trying that out as well.
  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member


    Basically, as you eat under your BMR, you are slowly building up a hormone called cortisol. This is a stress hormone. When it reaches a certain level, your body goes into the fight or flight response. In this state, your body reduces the energy given to organs and increases energy to other systems needed for immediate survival. Think if a lion is attacking you, liver and kidney functions are not longer the most important thing, neither is processing food in your stomach. Instead, anything that gets you safely out of that situation is what is important.

    I learn something new almost every time you post. You're awesome. :)
  • enembe
    enembe Posts: 11 Member
    Thanks everyone for all the information. I really appreciate it. As far as other exercise goes, I am completely out of shape. I can't keep up with exercise videos and get very winded on the treadmill if I try jogging or running... however my legs don't twitch after my exercise like they used to after only a twenty minutes walk, and I don't get as sweaty. (I weighed 154 after my pregnancy and had to lose that previously and am just getting back into all this.)
This discussion has been closed.

Categories