All of a sudden cannot lose weight :(

jonesftw102 · February 2013

Hello
new to this site

I go to the gym 5 times a week, I do 60 minutes cardio +( 30 minutes weights every other day).
I literally have not seen the scales move in a few weeks.
I'm trying my best. I've not been eating much around 1000 kcals or even less per day due to the work shifts I've been on recently.

Can anyone give me advice or examples of the meals I should be having?

few months ago I used to do 40 minutes cardio and ate more yet lost over a stone.
Really not too sure what I should be doing or eating or anything!

Someone help?

:brokenheart:

diannethegeek · February 2013

I'm going to guess that MFP didn't set a 1000 calorie goal for you. Especially since the site isn't designed to set a goal of less than 1200 calories since that's generally considered the lowest amount anyone should eat safely.

I'm going to recommend you eat some more. Set up your MFP profile honestly, eat the amount they set for you, and log your exercise and eat back some of the calories you earn. (or check out the In Place of a Roadmap thread and try that method)

I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but every plateau I had to break was caused by me eating too little.

dangerousdumpling · February 2013

I'm sure you're feeling really frustrated after working so hard. My advice would be to eat more to fuel your body for all that exercise. I know it sounds strange to be told to eat more to lose weight, but it works. Definitely don't go under 1200. I would try logging your food and exercise and eating back your exercise calories. You'll feel much better and you'll surely start seeing results.

Davina_JH · February 2013

definitely eat more.

http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

akaMrsmojo · February 2013

Eat more, your body is working hard and needs the fuel. Eat back your calories. That is the way MFP was designed to work.

ladypitek · February 2013

You're definitely not eating enough calories throughout the day to fuel your workouts! You should consume a MINIMUM of 1200 calories each day.

Serah87 · February 2013

Try this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

trogalicious · February 2013

you're not eating enough, but if we say "eat more" then we'll just get scolded... so:

figure out your BMR using some online calculators. Whatever that number is, don't eat less than that or you'll just be back here soon.. asking the same question.

AnexRavensong · February 2013

You can't lose weight because you're eating too little. Believe it or not that actually does the OPPOSITE of what you want to do, especially while you're doing all that exercise.. you should be eating WAY more than 1200 calories..

I ate about 1200 calories for years, stopped losing weight and then started to gain.. only until recently by eating more did I start losing again.. O_o I know it is crazy, but yeah...

Anyway check out the highly recommended Road Map, I hope it gets you going again!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

Hellbent_Heidi · February 2013

I don't usually jump onto the 'eat more' bandwagon very quickly, but 1000 calories is low without working out....adding on what you're burning on top of that, and I have to agree...you're definitely eating too little!

Andrea_Alexis_1980 · February 2013

I had the same problem working out hard staying under my daily calorie intake but the scale is saying the same number .... I recommend you measure yourself once a month your gaining muscle and that weighs more then fat ... Good luck

jlapey · February 2013

There a lot of really good info at this group

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/10067-eat-train-progress-

Read all the threads with the red pins.

Bownzi · February 2013

Also how much sleep do you get? because I found in the past I had hit a plateu when I would work out constantly.... but slept only a few hours a night...

Hellbent_Heidi · February 2013

I had the same problem working out hard staying under my daily calorie intake but the scale is saying the same number .... I recommend you measure yourself once a month your gaining muscle and that weighs more then fat ... Good luck

NO NO NO.....:noway:

OP, while muscle is smaller/denser than fat and might make you appear smaller, the fact is...you're NOT gaining significant muscle while eating at such a big deficit. This is a very common and inaccurate statement that people constantly make on this site

izoom3 · February 2013

A person can not live on 1000 calories a day for very long eventually you will binge. The minimum ANYONE should ever eat is 1200 and thats without the exercise that you are doing. Your body is probably in "starvation mode" and holding on to everything you eat. Please reconsider your diet. Eat as close to the hoof, ground and tree as you can. In other words, good food that is natural and unprocessed. The more chemicals and preservatives you eat the harder it will be to lose weight.