Weight won't budge

awholenewworld
awholenewworld Posts: 61 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I am eating exactly the number of calories that is recommended for losing weight and I am burning off about half of them at the gym or doing other workouts around the house and yet my weight will not budge. I am open to anything to make it go down.

Replies

  • chaaalgeo
    chaaalgeo Posts: 70
    r u eating back exercise calories?
  • prattiger65
    prattiger65 Posts: 1,657 Member
    r u eating back exercise calories?

    I am too slow...................^^^^^

    ETA: What is the "recommended" calories?
  • awholenewworld
    awholenewworld Posts: 61 Member
    No. I do not eat back the calories that I work off. Ever.
  • chaaalgeo
    chaaalgeo Posts: 70
    its just i plateaued when I didnt eat enough so i made sure i ate nearly everything back and I loe 1lb to 1lb 1/2 a week now.x
  • awholenewworld
    awholenewworld Posts: 61 Member
    Mine isn't a plateau though. I never really lost any weight. Will eating a bit more still help me lose?
  • TheRealParisLove
    TheRealParisLove Posts: 1,907 Member
    I could use more information in order to help you out. For instance, how much weight are you trying to lose? If you have less than 20 pounds to go, you need to eat very close to your TDEE in order to lose fat. That means cutting out all white carbs (sugar, flour, potatoes, rice) and most grains. This is because the body metabolizes these nutrients differently than protein and fats, causing you to hold onto your fat stores.

    Vigorous exercise is very important, too. Working at 85-95% of maximum heart rate for short periods of time is essential if you are down to your last 10-20 pounds.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    I would definitely start with eating back your exercise calories. Or at least some of them. Give it a couple of weeks and then reassess.
  • awholenewworld
    awholenewworld Posts: 61 Member
    I have 15 pounds to lose. I do vigorous workouts at the gym every day. I can cut out flour and other simple carbs if that will help.
  • chaaalgeo
    chaaalgeo Posts: 70
    It may be worth a go your body may have gone into shock if you have cut back your calories and exercising more than you used to. it may be trying to hold on to anything you put in.x
  • chaaalgeo
    chaaalgeo Posts: 70
    I would definitely start with eating back your exercise calories. Or at least some of them. Give it a couple of weeks and then reassess.

    congrats on your amazing weight loss (sorry to go off topic)
  • awholenewworld
    awholenewworld Posts: 61 Member
    The number of calories I get a day is super low..because the weight I want to get to is rather low..so maybe my calorie intake should come up slightly?
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    There is no information available on your profile so it's going to be hard to help you. You should open up your diary and give us your stats....height, weight, age, calories a day, types of workouts.
  • chaaalgeo
    chaaalgeo Posts: 70
    how many do you aim for?
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    No. I do not eat back the calories that I work off. Ever.

    There's your problem right there. MFP expects you to. You already have a massive weight loss deficit built into your diet...you're creating something the size of a Grand Canyon deficit with your exercise. Your body can't maintain that so it slows itself down to conserve/provide energy to essential functions like breathing.

    You need to eat more. You know how when you log exercise your calorie goal goes up on MFP? That's because it's a goal. I assume you know the definition of a goal right? Start achieving your goals and your weight will follow suit.
  • chaaalgeo
    chaaalgeo Posts: 70
    No. I do not eat back the calories that I work off. Ever.

    There's your problem right there. MFP expects you to. You already have a massive weight loss deficit built into your diet...you're creating something the size of a Grand Canyon deficit with your exercise. Your body can't maintain that so it slows itself down to conserve/provide energy to essential functions like breathing.

    You need to eat more. You know how when you log exercise your calorie goal goes up on MFP? That's because it's a goal. I assume you know the definition of a goal right? Start achieving your goals and your weight will follow suit.
    [/quote


    second this]
  • awholenewworld
    awholenewworld Posts: 61 Member
    Okay. I guess my previous issues with eating kind of taught me that you have to eat less to lose more..not eat more to lose more. I will work on that. Thanks!!
  • adk88
    adk88 Posts: 143 Member
    I could use more information in order to help you out. For instance, how much weight are you trying to lose? If you have less than 20 pounds to go, you need to eat very close to your TDEE in order to lose fat. That means cutting out all white carbs (sugar, flour, potatoes, rice) and most grains. This is because the body metabolizes these nutrients differently than protein and fats, causing you to hold onto your fat stores.

    Vigorous exercise is very important, too. Working at 85-95% of maximum heart rate for short periods of time is essential if you are down to your last 10-20 pounds.

    This is awesome information! I am really struggling with the last 12.5 pounds. I'm already eating at a very small deficit to my TDEE as I've heard that's best when trying to lose the last bit. But it's interesting about the heart rate thing!

    Thanks for the info!
  • chaaalgeo
    chaaalgeo Posts: 70
    good luck i added you if you want support.x:smile:
  • mockchoc
    mockchoc Posts: 6,573 Member
    No. I do not eat back the calories that I work off. Ever.

    There's your problem right there. MFP expects you to. You already have a massive weight loss deficit built into your diet...you're creating something the size of a Grand Canyon deficit with your exercise. Your body can't maintain that so it slows itself down to conserve/provide energy to essential functions like breathing.

    You need to eat more. You know how when you log exercise your calorie goal goes up on MFP? That's because it's a goal. I assume you know the definition of a goal right? Start achieving your goals and your weight will follow suit.
    [/quote


    second this]

    x 1000. You aren't eating enough. Read the forums, there are others with the same issue. Not eating enough so stuck on a plateau.
  • twinketta
    twinketta Posts: 2,130 Member

    I am eating exactly the number of calories that is recommended for losing weight and I am burning off about half of them at the gym or doing other workouts around the house and yet my weight will not budge. I am open to anything to make it go down.

    What works for me is eating the MFP calories set and adding my exercise cals and eating most of them too?

    You will lose weight if you do it all correctly, that is logging all your food, every little mouthful, and adding your exercise, walking, weights etc. I would not personally add housework, but some people do.

    If you have added some exercise into the MFP calculation then you can eat some /all back?
  • awholenewworld
    awholenewworld Posts: 61 Member
    Yeah. I am going to start eating some of/all of my worked off calories back and cut out simple carbs. :) Thanks everyone for all the help!!
  • prattiger65
    prattiger65 Posts: 1,657 Member
    You need to calculate your TDEE CORRECTLY, then calculate your BMR CORRECTLY. Make sure you eat more than BMR and less than TDEE. However, since you have been eating so few calories, be prepared to GAIN weight initially. It will stabilize, then start going down.
  • Michelleszoo68
    Michelleszoo68 Posts: 12 Member
    OK. I must be totally dense...I've been working my butt off at the gym. It's what I'm good at. I LUV it. I go to the gym everyday and I work out hard. and love entering my work outs in MFP so I can see my burns. I've been sticking to around 1250 calories a day for weeks now and cannot get the scale to budge. I just kept scratching my head thinking no way could I be plateauing already with only 12 lbs. lost. How could that be seriously? I've still got 55 pounds to go!! So I'm reading through the forums and just read all this and I learn that because I'm eating so few calories, and NOT eating back any of the calories I'm burning in exercise, I'm apparently NOT EATING ENOUGH. Eating more = losing more?? Is this for real? My brain is screaming "does not compute! You must starve to lose!!" sigh....for a person who has dieted my entire life, I'm sure not very good at this.
    And Oh wise ones....What exactly is TDEE and how do you calculate it? and how do you calculate your BMR?
  • chaaalgeo
    chaaalgeo Posts: 70
    OK. I must be totally dense...I've been working my butt off at the gym. It's what I'm good at. I LUV it. I go to the gym everyday and I work out hard. and love entering my work outs in MFP so I can see my burns. I've been sticking to around 1250 calories a day for weeks now and cannot get the scale to budge. I just kept scratching my head thinking no way could I be plateauing already with only 12 lbs. lost. How could that be seriously? I've still got 55 pounds to go!! So I'm reading through the forums and just read all this and I learn that because I'm eating so few calories, and NOT eating back any of the calories I'm burning in exercise, I'm apparently NOT EATING ENOUGH. Eating more = losing more?? Is this for real? My brain is screaming "does not compute! You must starve to lose!!" sigh....for a person who has dieted my entire life, I'm sure not very good at this.
    And Oh wise ones....What exactly is TDEE and how do you calculate it? and how do you calculate your BMR?

    tdee is total daily energy expenditure so thats how much you burn off in a normal day just doing normal things you can find loads of websites with calculator for bmr and tdee
  • mockchoc
    mockchoc Posts: 6,573 Member
    This is the best and it's just been update. Anyone that is confused read this thoroughly. It explains everything.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/912920-in-place-of-a-road-map-3-2013
  • prattiger65
    prattiger65 Posts: 1,657 Member
    OK. I must be totally dense...I've been working my butt off at the gym. It's what I'm good at. I LUV it. I go to the gym everyday and I work out hard. and love entering my work outs in MFP so I can see my burns. I've been sticking to around 1250 calories a day for weeks now and cannot get the scale to budge. I just kept scratching my head thinking no way could I be plateauing already with only 12 lbs. lost. How could that be seriously? I've still got 55 pounds to go!! So I'm reading through the forums and just read all this and I learn that because I'm eating so few calories, and NOT eating back any of the calories I'm burning in exercise, I'm apparently NOT EATING ENOUGH. Eating more = losing more?? Is this for real? My brain is screaming "does not compute! You must starve to lose!!" sigh....for a person who has dieted my entire life, I'm sure not very good at this.
    And Oh wise ones....What exactly is TDEE and how do you calculate it? and how do you calculate your BMR?

    It's too simple isn't it? That is the problem most people have, they just refuse to believe it. Eating the right amount is what works, not starving yourself. Exercise helps your overall health, but isn't necessary for weight loss. I exercise to feel better and an added bonus is I get to eat back those calories. Tonight I get ice cream because I walked off 236 calories at lunch!

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