Weight Loss Stuck - 1200 Cal Diet

k2max67
k2max67 Posts: 11 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
It has been approx 4 months since i started on MFP ( 262 lb Height 6'3") . I started with a 3 day fruit diet followed by 1250 calorie diet (I was generally short of 500-700 cal on my weekly target so it basically averaged to 1350 cal). I am a vegan and taking full nutrition.Take eggs though. The weight loss has been very good. I started on June 24 at 262 pounds and was 231.5 pounds on Sep 24. Approx 33 pound loss.I used to have occasional cheat days especially some were because i had to attend parties.But still weight loss was consistent. But after after Sep 24 i attended a few parties and my weight jumped to 236 pounds.
That was on October 2. Since then my scale isnt't bulging. Its stuck at 236.

I have attended quite a few parties this month and was averaging at 1500 calories till 3 days back. My current weight is 236.
As per MFP i should be taking 1510 cal/day for a 1 kg weight loss/week (As per my BMR i need 2100 cal). So why didn't i loose any weight in the past month. I have noticed earlier as well that i don't lose weight if i am on a 1500 cal diet.
I exercise occasionally and eat back the calories. Would it be a better approach to exercise and eat more?
Energy levels wise i am good with 1200 calories.No issues at all.

One more thing to note is that i have been started on meds - Haloperidol(1.25mg/day) and Clonazepam (3mg/day) due to my other issues(Tics). Can these meds be stopping the weight to drop , they are known for weight gain.I'll ask my doc if can switch meds with the ones that don't cause weight gain in my next appointment. I am also facing constipation issues maybe due to the meds. Taking lactofiber for it.

Or is that i have hit a plateau or starvation mode.I am still a lot overweight so i don't think this should be the case ?
Please help.This was all really working very well and for the first time i took weight loss seriously,consistently and now things have gone haywire.

Thanks.

Replies

  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    . I am a vegan and taking full nutrition.Take eggs though.
    if you eat eggs you are not a vegan so please don't call yourself such. A vegan does not consume it use any animal products you do so are not one.

    So from what I understand your weight is stuck for three weeks. That isn't long I'd give it some more time and just double check you are weighing and measuring your food accurately
  • PeterCohenUK
    PeterCohenUK Posts: 13
    Try to build some muscle as it improves your metabolism rate. Don't over concern about temporary plateau, continue your effort and it will go away. Be patient, it took a long time to build up body fat and it will take sometime to melt it down too.
  • 10manda86
    10manda86 Posts: 229 Member
    Agree with above poster, you are not a vegan. Also, you need to exercise more than occasionally, you need to make it part of your lifestyle and enjoy it to make it not a chore!
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    When you say your BMR is 2100, where are you getting that from?
  • croftsylvia
    croftsylvia Posts: 3 Member
    I have been having 1200 cals per day with the very occasional blip when I use 1500 .Minimal weight loss.i saw my GP who said that to lose weight I need to reduce to 1000 cals per day.Totally confused now.
  • jackielou867
    jackielou867 Posts: 422 Member
    I have been having 1200 cals per day with the very occasional blip when I use 1500 .Minimal weight loss.i saw my GP who said that to lose weight I need to reduce to 1000 cals per day.Totally confused now.

    Your GP should be struck off. I plateaued for a while on a low cal diet. If you are sure you are working out calories and portion sizes correctly, then I would up your calories a little. Too many people on low daily target, ie 1200, eat under and think that is a good thing, it is not, and certainly not long term. I started throwing an extra couple of hundred calories here and there, and started losing again. The next time I had a plateau it was by choice, to give my body a break. There is no race, losing slowly is not a bad thing. It may take a while longer but you will be healthier when you get there.
  • croftsylvia
    croftsylvia Posts: 3 Member
    decided to try slimming world and still use my fitness pal to monitor calorie intake. I was really upset when I left my GP.It was like " you must be Stuffing your face".God knows its hard enough trying to lose weight I needed his help and assurance.
  • Yooperm35
    Yooperm35 Posts: 787 Member
    Your BMR is over 2200. You are way under eating
  • k2max67
    k2max67 Posts: 11 Member
    . I am a vegan and taking full nutrition.Take eggs though.
    if you eat eggs you are not a vegan so please don't call yourself such. A vegan does not consume it use any animal products you do so are not one.

    So from what I understand your weight is stuck for three weeks. That isn't long I'd give it some more time and just double check you are weighing and measuring your food accurately

    Ok. Check. Approx how much more time should i wait if i am unable to get any results ? Should i up my calorie intake ?
    Agree with above poster, you are not a vegan. Also, you need to exercise more than occasionally, you need to make it part of your lifestyle and enjoy it to make it not a chore!

    I consume eggs max twice or thrice a month.Nothing regular. I can be called an eggeterian i guess!
    Cardio exercise is sufficient initially or i should start strength training as well ? Basically i should exercise and eat back the calories,right? ofcourse as long as i stay under my calorie target.
    When you say your BMR is 2100, where are you getting that from?

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/tools/bmr-calculator
    It comes to 2,096.
    Your BMR is over 2200. You are way under eating
    BMR comes to 2096 asper fitnesspal. Since i was mostly out of my weekly calorie goals so you can say i was averaging at around 1400 cals.

    I am thinking of staying around 1250 for a week and see the results.Otherwise i'll up my calorie intake to 1500 or so as MFP suggests? What say ?
  • 89nunu
    89nunu Posts: 1,082 Member
    Most important question: are you using a food scale?
    guessing weight of things and actually weighing things is often a big difference, you could be eating far more than you think.

    You can start weight training now (I would recommend that actually)

    Your bmr is 2100??? try scoobysworkshop.com
  • Yooperm35
    Yooperm35 Posts: 787 Member
    http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/
  • janetteluparia
    janetteluparia Posts: 318 Member
    Alternate a VLC day with a normal target day. Look at the 5:2 diet for some insight. It works and it does NOT cause starvation mode.
  • Faye_Anderson
    Faye_Anderson Posts: 1,495 Member
    I'm not sure if anyone actually read what you were saying. If your BMR is 2100 you shouldn't be eating less than this, men shouldn't really go below 1800. Even with the meds you are taking there is a HUGE deficit and it's not healthy or sustainable.
  • 89nunu
    89nunu Posts: 1,082 Member
    I put your stats into the calorie calculator. And that's when I noticed, of course you are really tall!!
    You can easily eat 2000 calories and should still lose!

    Now saying that, don't go out and eat 2000 straight away, you would have to gradually up your calories... try adding about 100/200 every week
  • TX_Rhon
    TX_Rhon Posts: 1,549 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/976981-welcome-to-mfp-don-t-worry-there-s-cliff-notes

    And search for other "I'm eating 1200 calories and not losing weight" threads. They are posted daily! Good luck. :flowerforyou:
  • 1princesswarrior
    1princesswarrior Posts: 1,242 Member
    Check out the group Fit Train Progress. Some of the best information out there. Also, as per your medications, you can look up information about them on webmd or other reputable internet sources and get actual study results about weight gain.

    I personally believe several things could be happening:

    1. You are eating more that you think you are - you need to weigh everything. Measuring cups and spoons are not accurate.

    2. You are not getting enough exercise and burning lean body mass, which in turn will slow your metabolism - you are not in starvation mode (a term very commonly misused and misunderstood)

    3. A combination of 1 and 2

    Also, you need to understand what your BMR and TDEE are in order to get a feel for what amount you should be eating.
  • mjharman
    mjharman Posts: 251 Member
    I read an article once that was written by a doctor. She said that her patients would typically hit a plateau after about 4 months on a diet, so when I hit that 4 month mark, I wasn't surprised that I also hit a plateau.

    Someone on MFP once told me that it isn't a plateau, it is a period of adjustment. You have lost a lot of weight in a short amount of time. I like that - your body is simply adjusting to the weight you have already lost. Give it time.

    Patience is key. This is not a race, its a journey and a lifestyle change. We all want to get to the goal, but there is much to enjoy along the way. Don't give up...just keep doing what you have been doing. It's been working for you, and it will work for you again.

    :flowerforyou:
  • ariamythe
    ariamythe Posts: 130 Member
    Just to echo the chorus ... you are waaaaayyyy undereating. Yes, you've lost weight, but at that calorie load you've probably lost muscle mass as well. When the body is starved for calories it eats available protein, i.e. our own muscles.

    Up your calories to at least about 1500, and probably 1800 given your height(I am 6' 4" and I eat 2000). And start some light muscle building routines.
  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    I exercise occasionally and eat back the calories. Would it be a better approach to exercise and eat more?
    Energy levels wise i am good with 1200 calories.No issues at all..
    Try exercising regularly. Apart from anything else it helps regulate your appetite ('cos for me at least eating as little as 1,200 and not feeling hungry or having a lapse in energy would be pretty abnormal!).

    You can't go wrong walking fast enough to get out of breath and aiming for an hour in total every day, with at least half an hour of that in one go.
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    I'm not sure if anyone actually read what you were saying. If your BMR is 2100 you shouldn't be eating less than this, men shouldn't really go below 1800. Even with the meds you are taking there is a HUGE deficit and it's not healthy or sustainable.

    Bingo. OP, I plugged in your numbers on fat2fitradio.com and your basal metabolic rate is 2305 calories. Those are the calories you would burn lying in bed in a hospital in a coma. Do NOT eat less than your BMR.
  • Siansonea
    Siansonea Posts: 917 Member
    "I'm not losing weight, am I in Starvation Mode™?"

    No. You know when you're in starvation mode when you can count your ribs in the back and in the front, and you look like an extra from The Walking Dead.

    If you're not losing weight, your math is off somewhere.
  • RippedMisha
    RippedMisha Posts: 2
    Weight loss requires 1 thing: a calorie deficit (ie. burning more than you eat). There are 2 factors that control that deficit: eating calories and burning calories. In order to achieve SUSTAINABLE weight loss, you have to adjust BOTH factors.

    If all you do is reduce your calorie intake, your weight loss will only be temporary unless you intend to keep that low calorie diet for the rest of your life. And that's not healthy. Your body needs nutrients. Don't consume less than 1500 calories a day. That's called starvation.

    You need to get active. It gets your metabolism up and burns the calories that you consume. You have to make sure that you're eating enough to get the nutrients that your body needs to function properly. Regular exercise is what will help you continue losing weight and will also help you keep it off.
  • danimalkeys
    danimalkeys Posts: 982 Member
    At 6'3 and 230 some pounds I'm guessing you are male? Even if you are female, there is no way you should be eating 1200-1300 calories a day at that size. You need to at least hit your BMR and preferably more. Are you lightheaded/dizzy? No energy?

    Find your TDEE and eat 500 under that. You'll feel better and you'll still lose weight.
  • Siansonea
    Siansonea Posts: 917 Member
    Weight loss requires 1 thing: a calorie deficit (ie. burning more than you eat). There are 2 factors that control that deficit: eating calories and burning calories. In order to achieve SUSTAINABLE weight loss, you have to adjust BOTH factors.

    If all you do is reduce your calorie intake, your weight loss will only be temporary unless you intend to keep that low calorie diet for the rest of your life. And that's not healthy. Your body needs nutrients. Don't consume less than 1500 calories a day. That's called starvation.

    You need to get active. It gets your metabolism up and burns the calories that you consume. You have to make sure that you're eating enough to get the nutrients that your body needs to function properly. Regular exercise is what will help you continue losing weight and will also help you keep it off.

    False. You can lose weight without exercise. How do I know? I'm doing it. :drinker:

    And you don't have to eat a "low calorie" diet for the rest of your life. Because if you do that, you continue to lose weight, because math. No, when a non-exerciser is at her goal weight, she then transitions to maintenance calories, i.e., eating the same number of calories she expends. Again, just math. :bigsmile:

    Each person is different. Some people don't like to exercise. Personally, I'd rather cut calories than exercise just so I can eat more. And being ripped and toned is not a look I find appealing either, I'd rather keep a little softness to my contours, but maybe that's a girl thing. :smokin:
  • k2max67
    k2max67 Posts: 11 Member
    Thanks for all the response.:smile: I also have a query regarding cardio. Does the resistance level on the stationary bike/elliptical matter as long as i am at my target heart rate? I am exercising at resistance 1 but i am fast enough to keep my heart rate in the zone.I do it for 30-40 min. And any other tips to get off the plateau?
    Most important question: are you using a food scale?
    guessing weight of things and actually weighing things is often a big difference, you could be eating far more than you think.

    You can start weight training now (I would recommend that actually)

    Your bmr is 2100??? try scoobysworkshop.com

    Yup. Although guessing weight of things was coming off pretty accurate earlier but i have ordered a food scale now. Will start weight training shortly. scoobysworkshop.com seems like a great site.Thanks:smile:
    Just to echo the chorus ... you are waaaaayyyy undereating. Yes, you've lost weight, but at that calorie load you've probably lost muscle mass as well. When the body is starved for calories it eats available protein, i.e. our own muscles.

    Up your calories to at least about 1500, and probably 1800 given your height(I am 6' 4" and I eat 2000). And start some light muscle building routines.

    I have upped my calories to 1500 and started with cardio,eating back the calories as well. Will start strength training in a week or so.

    At 6'3 and 230 some pounds I'm guessing you are male? Even if you are female, there is no way you should be eating 1200-1300 calories a day at that size. You need to at least hit your BMR and preferably more. Are you lightheaded/dizzy? No energy?

    Find your TDEE and eat 500 under that. You'll feel better and you'll still lose weight.

    MFP puts me at 1510 cals/day. Infact since i started dieting i am energetic and don't feel anything like these. I have started cycling 30-40 mins a day since i have a stationary bike and eating back the calories burnt.

    Weight loss requires 1 thing: a calorie deficit (ie. burning more than you eat). There are 2 factors that control that deficit: eating calories and burning calories. In order to achieve SUSTAINABLE weight loss, you have to adjust BOTH factors.

    If all you do is reduce your calorie intake, your weight loss will only be temporary unless you intend to keep that low calorie diet for the rest of your life. And that's not healthy. Your body needs nutrients. Don't consume less than 1500 calories a day. That's called starvation.

    You need to get active. It gets your metabolism up and burns the calories that you consume. You have to make sure that you're eating enough to get the nutrients that your body needs to function properly. Regular exercise is what will help you continue losing weight and will also help you keep it off.

    False. You can lose weight without exercise. How do I know? I'm doing it. :drinker:

    And you don't have to eat a "low calorie" diet for the rest of your life. Because if you do that, you continue to lose weight, because math. No, when a non-exerciser is at her goal weight, she then transitions to maintenance calories, i.e., eating the same number of calories she expends. Again, just math. :bigsmile:

    Each person is different. Some people don't like to exercise. Personally, I'd rather cut calories than exercise just so I can eat more. And being ripped and toned is not a look I find appealing either, I'd rather keep a little softness to my contours, but maybe that's a girl thing. :smokin:

    I agree with you. I have lost 12 kgs without any exercise or feeling unhealthy. I was 119 kgs in June end and am 107 now since the past one month.Hit a plateau i guess.I have started with 30-40 mins of cardio daily to up my metabolism and maybe it would break me off the plateau.
  • fashionosack
    fashionosack Posts: 94
    Nutrition weight loss on the premise that ensure health and safety, based on balanced nutrition through supplementary elements to achieve the purpose of burning fat, lose weight while adjusting our sub-health and improve our health, to repair our damaged tissues and organs, to achieve a beautiful slim body.
  • croftsylvia
    croftsylvia Posts: 3 Member
    Well after 2 weeks on SW I have lost 5lbs!!!!!.
  • DiKoehler
    DiKoehler Posts: 65 Member
    you would have to be really creative and careful food wise to get enough nutrition at 1000 calories. Better to tell you that you need at least 30 minutes of exercise a day minimum and good job on what you have done so far.
  • Rai007
    Rai007 Posts: 387 Member
    Dont have much to say
    but
    guys with our height and structure need to eat a lot.

    1200 is not encouraged for girls here so being a 6' above guy that seems very wrong to me.
  • cfsccsmith
    cfsccsmith Posts: 1
    I find I have trouble losing unless I get a significant amount of exercise. I am 64 & was 260 when I started trying to lose. My metabolism seems to slow each year. I shoot for 1.5 hrs a day- don't always make that but usually get an hour in. If the weather is good, I bike to work (about 22 minutes 1 way) and then walk briskly and/or jog slowly 30 minutes before work. Then on my 2 15 minute breaks, I walk briskly. I am pretty sure the exercise revs up my metabolism & even improves my mood (no longer on antidepressants). I usually est out with friends weekly and am still losing weight even when eating some mighty tasty and not low cal restaurant foods! Good luck!

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