Busting my butt but the scales not moving

How are you measuring calories burned?

Just to clarify. No eating disorder. Just a stay at home mom who homeschools her kids. I havent really changed my eating habits since I started exercising( just stopped going to chinese every saturday lol) I feel Fine. I know I am building muscle. My hair, nails and skin are all fine. Im just a very active person who choses to exercise instead of watching tv. Thats all.

You aren't building muscle at an extreme calorie deficit. You may feel fine for the time being, but what you are doing is very unhealthy. I stand by my recommendation that you speak with a doctor.

Not trying to be rude or mean, just worried that you're not understanding what you're doing to your body. A doctor visit would be beneficial and is usually a good idea when starting a new diet anyway.

I dropped a full pants size without losing a pound - no one knows what my scale says, but people sure noticed I was wearing smaller clothes! Who cares what the scale says if you're body is changing for the better? Grab a tape measure and a camera - much better way to see progress!

Thank You. I really am glad that I took measurments. And I see a huge difference in my body already<3

And let me add that this happened while I was (and still am) eating 1800+ calories a day, and never netting below my BMR of 1400. Gotta fuel that machine!

I apologize that this is not what you want to hear, but you CAN NOT go on very long netting -800 calories. You say you feel fine and that your hair and nails are fine, but you haven't been at this long enough to ruin your health yet. I am not going to push you to eat a ton of food, but at the very least try to NET 1200 calories.

I am 29. 5'2" and 157 lbs. I eat >1200 calories a day and exercise three times a day burning approx 2000 calories but the scale has only moved three pounds since 1/17. I have lost approx 11 inches over all ( thrilled!!) but why isnt the number on the scale dropping?

Three pounds in 2 weeks is an amazing weight loss for a woman your weight! And congrats on the inches lost as well. You're well on your way to your goal.

Now, as to your numbers. You should maintain a calorie deficit of ~400 calories a day. That's not quite a pound a week of weight loss, but trying to lose weight more aggressively than that will likely damage your metabolism.

Secondly, you should eat your exercise, but I don't believe you can be burning 2000 calories a day. I'm close to your weight, and it would take me about 5 hours of all-out cardio to burn 2000 calories. Where are you getting your numbers for how much you're burning?

Oh, and as to your hair/ nails....it takes about 6 months to notice the effects of a protein deficiency. You won't know it after 4 weeks.

I know. Even though I was eating well above my BMR, I wasn't getting enough protein bc I train HARD. it's been about 4 months since I started making sure I get enough protein and my nails are still not quite right.

Not going to comment on the intake-output of calories because I think there's something drastically off with the calculation (I hope!) because to burn 2000 calories in a day I have to go out snowboarding for a full 8 hour day. I would HIGHLY recommend getting an inexpensive Heart Rate Monitor to get an accurate picture of your calories burned. I got a good deal on a Timex Ironman set on Amazon, I can set the chronograph mode while I'm doing my exercise and after I stop the chronograph it gives me min/max/avg heart rate as well as calories burned. I think this would be a more appropriate approach to calculating your calories burned.

Definitely take a look at the already posted information about BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate), or the fuel your body needs to just exist in a day doing nothing. It's kind of like the minimum amount of gas you need to put in the car to get the engine to start and drive you to work. You can't drive a car on negative gas!

So I must either call shenanigans, or conclude that your measurement of either food, exercise or both is very inaccurate.

I considered shenanigans on the entire thread as I was the first person to say "What? You're netting a negative number?!?!?!? NOOOO. Don't do this."

PS> And while I do think that most exercise estimates without a HRM are over estimates, we'll say she's burning at least 50% of what the estimates say. She's still netting too low.

Tae Bo. That will make you shed the weight. Do that instead of whatever exercise you are currently doing. And it really works out the nice lean muscles so you won't get bulky.

Maybe you've added a lot of muscle mass.

NO. You will only gain significant amounts of muscle eating at surplus. Which clearly you are NOT. Am I correct in understand that you are netting in the negative everyday? You are not eating enough. That's why you haven't lost much weight. Your body isn't going to shed pounds if it's afraid it may not get to eat tomorrow, or all week, or goodness knows when.

I suggest you ALWAYS net at 1200 or above. Prepare for possible health issues and an almost certain protein deficiency if you don't (splitting/cracking/peeling fingernails, bad hair and skin)

PS. Eating at such a large deficit plus your steep exercise deficit is actually going to cause you to LOSE lean body mass.

I agree here, not to mention wearing out your joints! Believe me, you'll feel it when you reach the 40's abd 50's!!!

So let me see, you're netting nothing (actually negative) a lot and you're wondering why your body is rebelling and not shedding pounds? Hm..

Is that 1200 net or just eat 1200 and burn 2000 meaning you have a negative bazillion deficit.... how the hell do you think you are going to lose weight if you don't eat properly?

Either - Eat more food... or cut back on exercise.

Seriously not rocket science.

Edited to fix some wording because... its been a long day and I don't proof read.

Tae Bo. That will make you shed the weight. Do that instead of whatever exercise you are currently doing. And it really works out the nice lean muscles so you won't get bulky.

Seconded.