Fustrated not losing weight on 1200 calories

masonnsmamma
masonnsmamma Posts: 17
in Motivation and Support
i've been on a 1200 calorie diet, some days I dont even eat the full 1,200, and im not losing any weight i started at 138, then that first week i went to 133, but now its like one day im 135.4 then im 134.7 and then this morning i was 132.1 so i weighed myself a little earlier and 135.7!

Sooo fustrated that im not losing anything, and gaining some back! Is anyone else having this problem!

Replies

  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member
    A vast number of people have this problem, actually. It boils down to 1,200 or less a day is not enough to sustain your body, so your body doesn't have the extra energy to burn fat. The solution is to eat more. Up your calorie goal - there is a really neat way of calculating this called "In Place of A Road Map" - someone will jump in here and link it soon. That's a great way to go about it. If you are nervous about it and want to increase in smaller amounts - yank it up 100 a week until you are at 1500 or so.

    Undereating (even if it is with exercising) stresses the body too much for it to behave like we want it to.
  • megsmom2
    megsmom2 Posts: 2,362 Member
    your body thinks theres a famine so it is holding on to itself for dear life. comfort it with a little more sustenance and it will relax and let loose.
  • jjwoods
    jjwoods Posts: 13 Member
    I'm very frustrated too. I work out everyday, watch what I eat and I'm nursing. I have been at the same weight for over a month now. Makes me want to give up, but I will keep trying. Have 10 pounds of baby weight to loose still.....
  • masonnsmamma
    masonnsmamma Posts: 17
    that baby weight is awful to get off thats what im working off too! my son turns 1 next month and im still working it off !


    thank you for the answers, just nervous to eat that many calories, this losing weight thing has made me scared of food!
  • phyllisbobbitt
    phyllisbobbitt Posts: 347 Member
    :flowerforyou: you may be in starvation mode. that happened to me for a while & my dietician told me to add good calories to my daily diet like fresh veggies, fruits, water & protein. I did that & began to lose the weight. another thing is do not weigh but 1 time a week at the same time & day. I weigh in the a.m. when I get up go to the bathroom & before breakfast.
  • allew48
    allew48 Posts: 17 Member
    I agree w/ other posters that you may be eating too little, adding slowly will help you understand how much you need. A couple other things that I thought when I read your post:
    You mention weighing at least 4 times, sounds like you are scale obsessed! Try weighing once a week or once every two weeks. Your body weight naturally fluctuates based on hydration, and in addition, keep in mind after a heavy workout your muscles hang on to water a day or so for healing. Finally, one thing that has helped me busy a plateau is tracking sugar intake, cutting sugar (including fruits) and subbing for green veggies may help jump start weight loss.
    Keep us updated!
  • purplegoboom
    purplegoboom Posts: 400 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    Follow the directions. This dude knows what he's talking about and lots of MFPers have lost weight with this method.

    BTW: Put away the scale, and measure youself once a week to track progress. Only weigh yourself once a month or so because the scale isn't reliable and doesn't account for things like water weight.
  • aliann30
    aliann30 Posts: 291 Member
    are you weighing at the same time everytime? You said you weighed this morning at 132.1 but later today at 135.7. During the day your weight will fluctuate, and you'll obviously weigh less on an empty stomach in the morning. And how many weeks have you been at it? If you're down to 132.1 from 138 it seems like you are losing weight.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    i've been on a 1200 calorie diet, some days I dont even eat the full 1,200,

    That's your problem right there. Stop starving yourself and you'll likely have more success. And don't weigh yourself multiple times a day.
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    How tall are you?
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I'm very frustrated too. I work out everyday, watch what I eat and I'm nursing. I have been at the same weight for over a month now. Makes me want to give up, but I will keep trying. Have 10 pounds of baby weight to loose still.....

    If you are nursing you can't cut your calories too low. I don't remember what the recommendation is but I want to say it's around 1800 calories. I think if you look up breastfeeding in the database it will add calories to your goal for you. Remember you're supplying your baby's nutrition, so make that your first priority. :flowerforyou:
  • masonnsmamma
    masonnsmamma Posts: 17
    i guess i could be little scale obsessed. i weigh myself like twice a day. and ive been doing it for like three weeks the first week i lost 5 lbs n now im like gaining a pound one day then losing 2 the next then gaining two.
  • purplegoboom
    purplegoboom Posts: 400 Member
    i guess i could be little scale obsessed. i weigh myself like twice a day. and ive been doing it for like three weeks the first week i lost 5 lbs n now im like gaining a pound one day then losing 2 the next then gaining two.

    That sounds like water weight. Put it away and only weigh yourself once a month. It may be hard at first, but it's better than going crazy.
  • masonnsmamma
    masonnsmamma Posts: 17
    im 5'3
  • MJH2
    MJH2 Posts: 55 Member
    You have to eat to loose. I know it sounds crazy and let me tell you when I was told that I thought it was crazy...171 lbs lost and I eat 1500-1800 calories and I am 5'3". I was obsessed with the scale too, my husband actually through it out the bathroom window. Now, I weigh once a week, that's it.
  • jlfoster0427
    jlfoster0427 Posts: 86
    You probably need to eat a bit more to get your metabolism moving. I found I starting losing and feeling better 1400 calories a day. Try it for a week and see how it works :)
  • masonnsmamma
    masonnsmamma Posts: 17
    You have to eat to loose. I know it sounds crazy and let me tell you when I was told that I thought it was crazy...171 lbs lost and I eat 1500-1800 calories and I am 5'3". I was obsessed with the scale too, my husband actually through it out the bathroom window. Now, I weigh once a week, that's it.

    That gives me hope! Maybe ill try it for a two weeks and see what the results are!
  • masonnsmamma
    masonnsmamma Posts: 17
    You probably need to eat a bit more to get your metabolism moving. I found I starting losing and feeling better 1400 calories a day. Try it for a week and see how it works :)

    i think thats what im going to do thank you!
  • CrazyTrackLady
    CrazyTrackLady Posts: 1,337 Member
    i guess i could be little scale obsessed. i weigh myself like twice a day. and ive been doing it for like three weeks the first week i lost 5 lbs n now im like gaining a pound one day then losing 2 the next then gaining two.

    Stop worrying about the numbers on the scale and let your clothes tell you you're losing inches.
  • rladohl
    rladohl Posts: 2 Member
    I am with you !! I am so confused with all these numbers...I lost around 5 lbs the first couple weeks now according to the scale i gained back 2!... I dont know at the end of the day if my FOOD calories should equal to or be around my GOAL calories or if I should be eating the REMAINING calories or NETas well??.. My daily goal is 1320 and my exercise calories are usually between 500-700 each day. ANy suggestions??? I have about 7 lbs more to lose and I am very faithful in my exercise routine and logging in my food intake. Please help!! thanks
  • masonnsmamma
    masonnsmamma Posts: 17
    I am with you !! I am so confused with all these numbers...I lost around 5 lbs the first couple weeks now according to the scale i gained back 2!... I dont know at the end of the day if my FOOD calories should equal to or be around my GOAL calories or if I should be eating the REMAINING calories or NETas well??.. My daily goal is 1320 and my exercise calories are usually between 500-700 each day. ANy suggestions??? I have about 7 lbs more to lose and I am very faithful in my exercise routine and logging in my food intake. Please help!! thanks

    everyones been saying to eat 1500 calories so im going to try that and hopefully it works!

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