Why am i not losing!!!!!

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Replies

  • Kirstyw871
    Kirstyw871 Posts: 216 Member
    drink more water
  • Love4fitnesslove4food2
    Love4fitnesslove4food2 Posts: 711 Member
    @jeffpettis Im running 7 miles daily, thats about 800 calories and eating 1,200 a day?

    That's a net of 400 calories. Are you weighing your food? This intake is simply not sustainable or healthy in the long term. I highly recommend you reassessing your diet. If you're eating nuts, cooking fats, or other calorie dense foods you should be weighing them so that you're not underestimating your intake. How long have you been at this?
  • jeffpettis
    jeffpettis Posts: 865 Member
    I didn't believe in eating more to lose but after netting around 800 for a few months (very bad idea) I slowly upped my cals to 1400 and continued to lose weight. I think in the 2 weeks it took to increase my food intake I lost 3lbs going from 115lbs to 112lbs. Being at the lower end of a healthy weight I wasn't aiming to lose anymore but it came off anyway :)

    But even though you started eating more you were still eating less than your maintenance calories and still in a calorie deficit. What most people mean when they say "eat more to lose weight" is to eat more than maintenance and the fat just magically falls off. You can't eat more than your body can use and still lose weight.
  • jamiesillimandunn
    jamiesillimandunn Posts: 270 Member
    ..yes defecit makes you lose weight ! But the only healthy way to do so is to eat above your BMR And Below TDEE ! So I agree with here in parts with all posters .....get more accurate readings with burns and food then reevaluate your daily needs ...it's simple math :) if nothing changes in a couple weeks then yes a dr. Needed to check for other possible medical conditions that can be holding you back ! If the case was you have been eating below your bMR for a long period of time , it can be fixed over time with proper nutrition .....to restore normal function in the body ! Hope for the best for you and good luck
  • jataylorrtcp
    jataylorrtcp Posts: 1
    When you put your height n weight in make sure you put the right level of exercise in that has a big part of how they get you cal goal for the day.
  • marobirob
    marobirob Posts: 4 Member
    She's running 7 miles a day. Certainly does not need to eat more often, for metabolic purposes...
  • Love4fitnesslove4food2
    Love4fitnesslove4food2 Posts: 711 Member
    I didn't believe in eating more to lose but after netting around 800 for a few months (very bad idea) I slowly upped my cals to 1400 and continued to lose weight. I think in the 2 weeks it took to increase my food intake I lost 3lbs going from 115lbs to 112lbs. Being at the lower end of a healthy weight I wasn't aiming to lose anymore but it came off anyway :)

    But even though you started eating more you were still eating less than your maintenance calories and still in a calorie deficit. What most people mean when they say "eat more to lose weight" is to eat more than maintenance and the fat just magically falls off. You can't eat more than your body can use and still lose weight.

    That is absolutely NOT what proponents of "eat more to lose weight" believe. From the eat more 2 weigh less website... "Any deficit will produce a loss! Problems arise when the deficit is substantial. The key to success is losing the weight with a small deficit, which allows all things in moderation. This is the core of the EM2WL philosophy. "

    http://eatmore2weighless.com/about-em2wl/
  • marobirob
    marobirob Posts: 4 Member
    There are several things you can look at. I didn't read all the comments. I read until I realized you weren't getting what you needed.

    There are several factors that lead to not being able to pass walls.

    1st order of business is your work out needs to change. If your body gets used to the 7 mile a day motion; you need to modify your workout to shock the body. You can still run if that's what you like to do but you should try something new like interval training. You can still run 7 miles, but now you're going to run for 5 minutes at a faster pace than normal.....walk for 60 seconds while trying to lower your heart rate during the 60 seconds....then run again for 5, walk for 60 seconds....You may also want to try doing quarters. This is something you can do on a track if you have access to one or you can map out a quarter mile stretch and go back and forth. After a good warm up.....Run your quarter mile as fast as possible, give yourself a 60 second rest then do it all again. Of course you will have to adjust something like these changes.

    Next - are you getting enough sleep? Sleep deprivation can cause you to gain weight as well.

    How is your nutrition? You can make adjustments to this which will help you get past your wall as well. I would say 1200 calories is kind of low myself. The standard for weight loss is 100-600 calories deficit for healthy weight loss. Make sure you add in your daily exercise and lifestyle when you do your calculation. Also, if you started out saying you didn't do anything when you started this program, be sure you go back and change your activity level. You may find your caloric intake needed to maintain weight has increased.

    I am NO expert by the way. I have taken fitness courses and I have been into fitness for about 35 years. I have had my ups and downs like every one else. I just found myself needing to lose 30-35 pounds because I life run my life rather than me run my life.
  • chelsiebanderson
    chelsiebanderson Posts: 1
    Your body might have put itself into starvation mode because your getting so much exercise. So your body is storing fat because it doesn't know when it will be getting it again.

    Or you may just need to shock your body a little bit by eating something different. If I stop losing weight I have to eat spinach or fish and it kinda kick starts the process again
  • akaMrsmojo
    akaMrsmojo Posts: 762 Member
    I have no idea how you have the energy to run 7 miles on 1200 calories. I run a mile and I am starving afterwards. 400 net, is obviously not working. Follow the program and eat the proper amount.
  • Mcgrawhaha
    Mcgrawhaha Posts: 1,596 Member
    Overdoing the cardio and/or not eating enough. Less cardio, more food.

    Calories in vs calories out is lies lies lies, your body is smarter than math and knows what's up with that.

    you are wrong! weight loss, is math, body comp, is macros. if she wants to lose fat, its simple cals in / energy out. if she is looking more for body comp, then yes, types of food rather than calorie count are more important. my 95 pound loss came from eating flaming hot cheetos, donuts, skittles, burgers, fries, beer and chocolate... just had to moderate the amount!
  • rosellasweet
    rosellasweet Posts: 163 Member
    I don't think I'll ever get tired of these posts.
  • SailorKnightWing
    SailorKnightWing Posts: 875 Member
    I didn't believe in eating more to lose but after netting around 800 for a few months (very bad idea) I slowly upped my cals to 1400 and continued to lose weight. I think in the 2 weeks it took to increase my food intake I lost 3lbs going from 115lbs to 112lbs. Being at the lower end of a healthy weight I wasn't aiming to lose anymore but it came off anyway :)

    But even though you started eating more you were still eating less than your maintenance calories and still in a calorie deficit. What most people mean when they say "eat more to lose weight" is to eat more than maintenance and the fat just magically falls off. You can't eat more than your body can use and still lose weight.
    That's not even remotely close to what they mean...
  • k8wash
    k8wash Posts: 1
    Eat less carbohydrates.
  • LishieFruit89
    LishieFruit89 Posts: 1,956 Member
    I don't think I'll ever get tired of these posts.

    I hope you're being sarcastic
  • Akimajuktuq
    Akimajuktuq Posts: 3,037 Member
    really u think, when i entered height and weight that's what it said, 1,200... :(

    yeah, and you probably input too high of a weight loss goal. You appear to not need to lose much, if any, so a half pound (or less-but MFP doesn't have that option) is the max goal you should input. 1200 is the lowest it puts out but we have to use our BRAIN. MFP is a tool, not the deciding factor of how much we should eat. If you are that active, 1200 calories is completely ridiculous and UNHEALTHY.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,330 Member
    Try eating about every 3 hours.it speeds up your metabolism and also eat right and try to be as healthy as possible and stay hydrated ALWAYS =)

    Ignore this. There is absolutely no evidence that frequent meals speeds up your overall daily metabolism over 3 meals. That is a myth which has been tested extensively with results posted in reputable, peer reviewed journals of nutrition and obesity research. Meal frequency's only consideration is what eating style will keep you eating your calorie goal.

    OP, change your goals to something much less aggressive, at most 1 pound per week. Also, check with your doctor to eliminate other possible reasons you are not losing such as thyroid issues, PCOS, and the like. Also, have you measured yourself in any other way than weight. Is your waist getting smaller, or your chest, hips, etc? Finally, with as little as you have to lose, you would be better served doing something other than running. Strength training would likely give you much more bang for your buck. If you have access to a gym with free weights go for something like Stronglifts 5x5 or Starting Strength. If you don't have access to a gym some type of bodyweight program would be good as well.
  • kr1stadee
    kr1stadee Posts: 1,774 Member
    Dance and spin 3 times before you start each run. You will start losing weight then!

    Seriously, with all of these different theories, that's what it's sounding like. Open your diary.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,330 Member
    I'll throw another one out there and agree with everyone else. 1200 calories is WAY too low for that much exercise...

    But...

    If you are not losing weight with that much exercise... wait for it.... You are still eating too much. You are not in a deficit. Something is off with your calculations somewhere, somehow.

    Not necessarily. There are a bunch of other factors that could cause problems with weight loss not happening while fat loss actually is. The problem is weight is not a particularly helpful measure for progress at fat loss. As the RD who teaches the nutrition portion of the PT course I am taking says, "If you just want to lose weigh, cut off your leg. There, you have lost weight." The goal is to lose fat, and just using a scale to measure that doesn't really tell a person much.
  • arielledarae
    arielledarae Posts: 9 Member
    It's because you are not eating enough! Your body needs a MINIMUM of 1200 to function! And with you training so much you need to eat to fuel your workouts. Your body is in starvation mode right now which means because you are not eating enough, it's holding on to all fat for dear life. Eat more (healthy foods) and eventually your body will start releasing fat once it knows you will consistently feed it.
  • Akimajuktuq
    Akimajuktuq Posts: 3,037 Member
    @jeffpettis Im running 7 miles daily, thats about 800 calories and eating 1,200 a day?

    I'm not disputing the fact that you are burning a lot of calories. Sounds like you are Wonder Woman when it comes to running, but the simple fact is if you are not losing weight you are not in a deficit.

    Of course someone will eventually starve to death if they are continually under-eating... but I have seen many examples, including myself, where undereating does cause a slowed metabolic rate. I have an aunt that is so sick and obese (over 300) who is under-eating (about 800 cals per day) for years, avoids fat like the plague, and lost about 15 pounds in 6 months this year. But the doctors always tell her to eat less and avoid fat (which are a necessary macro!).

    So by your reasoning should the OP try eating 800 calories with all the exercise she is getting? Because it's ONLY ever calories in and calories out. Our bodies are not at all a complex system designed to survive in times of famine. yeah, right, whatever.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,330 Member
    I didn't believe in eating more to lose but after netting around 800 for a few months (very bad idea) I slowly upped my cals to 1400 and continued to lose weight. I think in the 2 weeks it took to increase my food intake I lost 3lbs going from 115lbs to 112lbs. Being at the lower end of a healthy weight I wasn't aiming to lose anymore but it came off anyway :)

    But even though you started eating more you were still eating less than your maintenance calories and still in a calorie deficit. What most people mean when they say "eat more to lose weight" is to eat more than maintenance and the fat just magically falls off. You can't eat more than your body can use and still lose weight.

    I would hope not since all the posts concerning how to do it such as In Place of a Road Map, make it clear that is not the case. Perhaps it is just you who thinks that.
  • marleniap
    marleniap Posts: 120 Member
    You are not starving and storing fat. That does not happen. 1200 NET calories is a reasonable intake depending on your height. If you were "starving" and your body was using up muscle to feed itself, you most certainly could not keep up with 7 miles of running and children every day.

    3,500 calories = 1 lb of fat. So, eat 500 cal/day more than you need, and in a week you will have 1 lb more fat stored on your body. Eat 500 cal/day less than you need, and you will burn 1 lb of fat in one week (500 x 7 = 3,500). Per research, you can keep doing that until you get to about 5% body fat, and then other (bad) things will start to happen.

    If you have your stats in MFP set up right (always good to recheck, mine don't seem to update as I lose), it will show you what your daily intake should be to stay where you are at, and how many less calories/day you should avoid eating in order to lose weight. Add your exercise in, and that allows you to eat more in a day. It's your NET calories that is shown at the bottom of your Food Diary, and you should target a balance at the end of the day (0 "remaining"). If you go in the red one day, try to balance that another day.

    Robert

    Finally said so I can understand. Thanks OP and thank you Robert. :-)
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,330 Member
    You might want to try something like this http://www.earlytorise.com/workouts-of-the-day/the-get-ripped-at-home-bodyweight-500/
  • TeresaMarie46
    TeresaMarie46 Posts: 226 Member
    really u think, when i entered height and weight that's what it said, 1,200... :(


    In your goals /profile you add your stats....so if it gave you 1200, more likely this was without all the running/calories you are doing. Use the recommended feature, and perhaps eat more calories.
    Also, you can always figure out your TDEE, then slash that number so you have at the least a 500 calorie deficit, and NOT eat back your exercise calories as they are already included. I am by far no expert, and it won't hurt to try.

    (EDIT) I forgot the link....www.fitnessfrog.com
    Best Wishes
  • Ang108
    Ang108 Posts: 1,711 Member
    LOL! I'm going to be the odd man out and say you're eating too much... You are not in a deficit. If you are doing that much cardio and not losing weight either you are eating more than you think or burning less than you think.

    I am glad I read your post before I put fingers to the key board....lol. I agree with you 100%.
    This " you need to eat more to lose " is a myth. If that were true than the tens of thousands of people i dealt with in over 30 plus years in underdeveloped countries that starved to death or almost to death from lack of calories would still all be alive, because " we all know that not eating enough will force the body to hang onto fat ". Not eating enough ( eating at a deficit ) will make the body lose fat and muscle until there is nothing more to lose, then it will affect organ function......and then one dies.
    There is however one thing I agree to.....
    Many people could eat more and feel better and still lose. Probably due to a smaller calorie deficit they would lose less or slower, but they would lose. But as long as the body is in deficit, the body will lose....a.l.w.a.y.s.
  • sarah_lou22
    sarah_lou22 Posts: 79
    I have been running sooo much I average 100 miles a month training for runs, I have been staying under my calorie count of 1,200 , I cant seem to drop one pound!! I'm feeling frustrated, what could the problem beeeee!!! My mother who really doesn't work out has dropped 10 pounds in two weeks, how is this possible :(

    1ST -- every body is completely different in what it needs to lose/maintain/gain.

    2ND - you probably aren't in a deficit. you're either not burning as much as you think you are, or your eating more than you think that you are.

    3RD - you probably aren't paying enough or any attention to your macros. its not just about calories. since you are running, you should be aiming for between 40-50% carbs, 30% fat, and 20-30% protein. keep in mind the 1st observation, every body is different -- play with your numbers to get your ideal macro percentage
  • jamielyons26
    jamielyons26 Posts: 10
    For every calorie you burn running you have to add that to the amount of calories you are eatting everyday to stay at the 1200 calorie/day allowance. So if you burn 100 calories exercising, than you need to eat 1300 calories that day. Otherwise you are not eatting enough, because 1200 calories a day is the bare minimum your body can run on without going into starvation mode. Once your body goes into starvation mode, it will store everything and actually counteract your weight loss efforts. Another thing you have to consider is changing your routine. Your body does get used to your workouts, which is why it is important to switch it up, in order to invigorate other muscles of your body. The more muscles in your body that are strong, the higher your metabolism. So instead of running tomorrow, weight train and do calisthenics (pushups, situps, lunges, etc), and maybe invest in a jump rope (which is actually more effective at burning calories than running). Don't stop running, but just don't do it everyday. Jumping jacks, jumping rope, swimming, riding a bike, and climbing stairs (go to a local high school football field) are all great alternatives for you! Good luck!
  • jamielyons26
    jamielyons26 Posts: 10
    Where did you learn this from? Just curious. :smile:
  • nixontucker
    nixontucker Posts: 1
    You should have your thyroid checked by a doctor-many people gain/can't lose weight because of hormonal imbalances

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