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Am I hitting the plateau or eating too much?

poma91
Posts: 181 Member
Hello everyone.
So I started using MFP around mid February. Till now I have lost 14 lbs (around 6.5 kg). My height is 5"4' (162 cm) and current weight is 154 lbs (70 kg). My daily calorie intake is around 1400 kcals and I exercise 6 days a week, burning around 400 kcals for each training. There are also days that I skip my workout since I have very busy schedule.
However for the last 3 weeks I have lost only 1 lbs as my eating is relatively clean and healthy. I am really trying to stay away from bad food and I do think that I make good food choices. Once or twice a week I will allow myself a treat but it usually is very small, like hot chocolate with whipped cream, not a full blown meal. I drink plenty of water everyday, around 14-16 glasses. I don't feel hungry and I find that 1400 kcals are absolutely enough for me.
So I start to wonder whether I am already hitting the plateau or is it that I eat a bit too much? I am really confused here. Since I know to break past the plateau I have to increase the intensity of my exercises (which are quite intense and different every day so I doubt that will work) or I have to increase my calorie intake. On the other hand could it be that I am eating too much which means that I have to decrease my calorie intake?
I am aware that I am not going to keep losing weight with the same tempo and of course at the beginning there is always a big drop and then the scales creeps down very slowly. But still I want to see a drop of at least a pound a week
All your advice and comments will be appreciated! Thanks!
If it could help here is a small preview of my meals for one day (my days are more or less similar, but not the same)
1. Breakfast - half a cup of oatmeal cooked with water, splash of low fat milk, half a cup of berries, scoop of protein powder
2. Snack - some fruit (banana, apple) or protein bar
3. Lunch - salad with half a cup of canned kidney beans or 2 hard boiled eggs
4. Snack - some fruit (banana, apple) or protein bar, or sandwich (2 whole grain toasts, turkey deli breasts, light cheese, light mayo)
5. Dinner - steamed veggies or soup, or grilled fish
So I started using MFP around mid February. Till now I have lost 14 lbs (around 6.5 kg). My height is 5"4' (162 cm) and current weight is 154 lbs (70 kg). My daily calorie intake is around 1400 kcals and I exercise 6 days a week, burning around 400 kcals for each training. There are also days that I skip my workout since I have very busy schedule.
However for the last 3 weeks I have lost only 1 lbs as my eating is relatively clean and healthy. I am really trying to stay away from bad food and I do think that I make good food choices. Once or twice a week I will allow myself a treat but it usually is very small, like hot chocolate with whipped cream, not a full blown meal. I drink plenty of water everyday, around 14-16 glasses. I don't feel hungry and I find that 1400 kcals are absolutely enough for me.
So I start to wonder whether I am already hitting the plateau or is it that I eat a bit too much? I am really confused here. Since I know to break past the plateau I have to increase the intensity of my exercises (which are quite intense and different every day so I doubt that will work) or I have to increase my calorie intake. On the other hand could it be that I am eating too much which means that I have to decrease my calorie intake?
I am aware that I am not going to keep losing weight with the same tempo and of course at the beginning there is always a big drop and then the scales creeps down very slowly. But still I want to see a drop of at least a pound a week

All your advice and comments will be appreciated! Thanks!
If it could help here is a small preview of my meals for one day (my days are more or less similar, but not the same)
1. Breakfast - half a cup of oatmeal cooked with water, splash of low fat milk, half a cup of berries, scoop of protein powder
2. Snack - some fruit (banana, apple) or protein bar
3. Lunch - salad with half a cup of canned kidney beans or 2 hard boiled eggs
4. Snack - some fruit (banana, apple) or protein bar, or sandwich (2 whole grain toasts, turkey deli breasts, light cheese, light mayo)
5. Dinner - steamed veggies or soup, or grilled fish
0
Replies
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If you aren't eating back your exercise calories, then you're not eating enough.
Most are going to point you to 'In place of a roadmap' - it really does work.
We have almost exactly the same stats (5'4'', I started at 163 and now 147ish). I eat 1550 calories a day, AND eat back my exercise calories (300/400 a day) so end up eating 1900ish a day, and I'm losing steadily.
Edit: your meals look good, to boost calories I'd add almond/cashew nuts and possibly some natural peanut butter with snacks.0 -
If you aren't eating back your exercise calories, then you're not eating enough.
Most are going to point you to 'In place of a roadmap' - it really does work.
We have almost exactly the same stats (5'4'', I started at 163 and now 147ish). I eat 1550 calories a day, AND eat back my exercise calories (300/400 a day) so end up eating 1900ish a day, and I'm losing steadily.
Edit: your meals look good, to boost calories I'd add almond/cashew nuts and possibly some natural peanut butter with snacks.
all of this!0 -
Thanks a ton. I will try that0
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If all your numbers are correct, it looks like you have a deficit of 700-800 calories a day.
Personally I would say that's fine and just give it a few more weeks but I'd bet 90% of the people here are going to demand that you eat moaaaaar.0 -
Bump0
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If you aren't eating back your exercise calories, then you're not eating enough.
Most are going to point you to 'In place of a roadmap' - it really does work.
We have almost exactly the same stats (5'4'', I started at 163 and now 147ish). I eat 1550 calories a day, AND eat back my exercise calories (300/400 a day) so end up eating 1900ish a day, and I'm losing steadily.
Edit: your meals look good, to boost calories I'd add almond/cashew nuts and possibly some natural peanut butter with snacks.
I'm same as this lady here and you, except I eat almost 1700kcals.0 -
I will increase my calories for a week or two to see what if that has some result0
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If you aren't eating back your exercise calories, then you're not eating enough.
Most are going to point you to 'In place of a roadmap' - it really does work.
We have almost exactly the same stats (5'4'', I started at 163 and now 147ish). I eat 1550 calories a day, AND eat back my exercise calories (300/400 a day) so end up eating 1900ish a day, and I'm losing steadily.
Edit: your meals look good, to boost calories I'd add almond/cashew nuts and possibly some natural peanut butter with snacks.
Best Comment!0
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