Advice please! :)

ellend17
ellend17 Posts: 58
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi guys,
I'd really appreciate some advice on what to do next as I feel like I'm stuck in a bit of a rut with my weight loss.
I've been on MFP since mid February this year, and have lost 19lbs to go from 11st 4 to 9st 13. My ultimate goal is around 9st 7 so I can comfortably fit into UK size 10 clothes. (I'm 5'7" and 20 years old)

For the last 6 weeks or so I have hovered around my current weight of 9st 13, which is getting increasingly frustrating as I would love to at least lose a few more lbs by my 21st birthday in November and so I have some wiggle room for indulging over Christmas!

Aside from one holiday abroad where I couldn't log, I have logged everything and stayed within my calorie allowance 95% of the time. After a couple of months eating 1200 cals, I worked out my TDEE based on a sedentary lifestyle as I sit at a desk for a lot of the day, and then eat back some exercise cals as I don't do a regular amount of exercise each week - it's just as and when I can, and this method seemed to work as it allowed me to eat more so I didn't feel so restricted and still lose weight.

My question is, what is the best way to kickstart my weight loss again? I feel like I've been eating better since I moved out of home a month ago, as I have more control over my meals and can make them a lot more balanced. I haven't taken a break from calorie counting since starting my journey, and even whilst on holiday made sure I swam to compensate for at least some of the indulgences.

I've seen a lot of ideas on these threads - from cheat meals/days, eating at maintenance for a while then getting back to a deficit, maybe I'm eating too many calories?

Just wondering if anyone has any advice on what would work for me! I really appreciate all the advice I've got since joining MFP and feel a lot more comfortable with my food choices, just a few more lbs to go!

Thanks in advance! :smile:

Replies

  • bethannien
    bethannien Posts: 556 Member
    If I'm doing the math right, 9 st 13 lbs adds up to like 139 lbs. Your calorie goal is 1600 and you usually seem to come close to that. I weigh 193 and my goal is 1540 calories. Maybe you need to reevaluate your calorie goal to make sure you're at a deficit?
  • stephaniegreaves93
    stephaniegreaves93 Posts: 6 Member
    when I hit a rut like that, I had to increase the amount/intensity of my exercise. I did the 30day shred and lost 7inches, if you don't have much time these work outs are only 20mins
  • ellend17
    ellend17 Posts: 58
    When I use a TDEE calculator online it says between 1700 to 1800 to maintain, that's based on being sedentary. As I said I do work at a desk. I also walk for 15 minutes in my lunch break and am up and down a bit during the day and on my feet for the majority of the evening at home...I guess that's why I thought 1600 a day would be an alright target.
    It was set at 1500 until 3-4 weeks ago so I think maybe I need to lower it again and see what happens?
    Thanks for your reply.
  • nelinelineli
    nelinelineli Posts: 330 Member
    If I'm doing the math right, 9 st 13 lbs adds up to like 139 lbs. Your calorie goal is 1600 and you usually seem to come close to that. I weigh 193 and my goal is 1540 calories. Maybe you need to reevaluate your calorie goal to make sure you're at a deficit?

    If indeed you eat 1600 a day then I'd recheck the math. You're not that big and might be too close to maintainance levels to see a difference. If you only have about 150 calories deficit a day (based on a 1750 TDEE) you'd take a month to lose a pound.
  • nelinelineli
    nelinelineli Posts: 330 Member
    When I use a TDEE calculator online it says between 1700 to 1800 to maintain, that's based on being sedentary. As I said I do work at a desk. I also walk for 15 minutes in my lunch break and am up and down a bit during the day and on my feet for the majority of the evening at home...I guess that's why I thought 1600 a day would be an alright target.
    It was set at 1500 until 3-4 weeks ago so I think maybe I need to lower it again and see what happens?
    Thanks for your reply.

    If your TDEE is 1750, you should try TDEE-20% = 1400 cals / day. That will put you at a 350 calorie deficit and you should lose a pound every 10 days. Go to 1300 to lose one a week.
  • Faye_Anderson
    Faye_Anderson Posts: 1,495 Member
    When I use a TDEE calculator online it says between 1700 to 1800 to maintain, that's based on being sedentary. As I said I do work at a desk. I also walk for 15 minutes in my lunch break and am up and down a bit during the day and on my feet for the majority of the evening at home...I guess that's why I thought 1600 a day would be an alright target.
    It was set at 1500 until 3-4 weeks ago so I think maybe I need to lower it again and see what happens?
    Thanks for your reply.

    If your TDEE is 1750, you should try TDEE-20% = 1400 cals / day. That will put you at a 350 calorie deficit and you should lose a pound every 10 days. Go to 1300 to lose one a week.

    With only 6 lb to lose :noway: OP I think you should eat at TDEE and concentrate on strength/lifting to lose the inches rather than focusing on the scale :flowerforyou:
  • ellend17
    ellend17 Posts: 58
    The reason it's such a small deficit is because I thought as you got closer to goal you had to reduce the deficit to continue losing? Thats why I increased from TDEE -20% to TDEE -10-5%.

    I'll take it back down and see what happen. Thanks
  • ellend17
    ellend17 Posts: 58


    With only 6 lb to lose :noway: OP I think you should eat at TDEE and concentrate on strength/lifting to lose the inches rather than focusing on the scale :flowerforyou:

    I'm glad its not just me that is horrified at having to eat so little again! I have started doing weights in the last few weeks, I will concentrate on doing them religiously a good few times a week. Thanks!
  • Poods71
    Poods71 Posts: 502 Member
    I don't think you should be eating less. I am only 5' 2.5" and when I was eating 1600 I was maintaining, so at your height you should be losing. You have maybe just hit a plateau. You say you have just starting doing weights, I find when I exercise more I lose slower but I think that is maybe just muscle. You should try taking your measurements rather than focusing on the scales and you might find you are losing inches :smile:
  • nelinelineli
    nelinelineli Posts: 330 Member


    With only 6 lb to lose :noway: OP I think you should eat at TDEE and concentrate on strength/lifting to lose the inches rather than focusing on the scale :flowerforyou:

    I'm glad its not just me that is horrified at having to eat so little again! I have started doing weights in the last few weeks, I will concentrate on doing them religiously a good few times a week. Thanks!

    If you want to lose weight, strength training won't help - only a caloric deficit will. If you just want a hot bod though, TDEE+weights will do that! :D
  • wingchungym
    wingchungym Posts: 30
    I don't think you should be eating less. I am only 5' 2.5" and when I was eating 1600 I was maintaining, so at your height you should be losing. You have maybe just hit a plateau. You say you have just starting doing weights, I find when I exercise more I lose slower but I think that is maybe just muscle. You should try taking your measurements rather than focusing on the scales and you might find you are losing inches :smile:

    Do that and also have you looked into intermittent fasting, check out Dr Moseley 'Eat fast and live longer' you can keep your calories up but fast 2x a week to stimulate fat burning. Doing weights is a very good idea.
  • ellend17
    ellend17 Posts: 58
    So if I stay at 1600 a day MFP says that's a .4lb a week loss, plus get into a regular weights routine?

    Thank you, Any other advice would be great!

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