Still gaining on 1200 calories, 500-800cal workouts

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  • bbygirl3
    bbygirl3 Posts: 1
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    If it makes you feel any better, I'm in this EXACT situation. Everyone I talk to can't believe it, or they think I have a thyroid problem.
  • jlblovely
    jlblovely Posts: 12 Member
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    Good luck chica! Don't let the Donnie and Debbie downers of this world put a damper on your mental health! :):happy: :happy:
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
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    We cannot help if we can't see your diary.

    In all likely hood, you are eating more than you think.

    ETA: I have just seen your post. I agree you got a lot of cr*p responses along with some well intentioned BAD advice. When you are gaining weight, the fix is most assuredly NOT to eat more.

    Good luck to you! :flowerforyou:
  • ekaustin7
    ekaustin7 Posts: 185 Member
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    500 cal burn workout is like the equivalent of working out at a SPRINT pace for 50 minutes. I'm thinking you're burning way less than you think. Also, your body is in starvation mode. 1200 cal intake for working out 6 days a week is way too low. Eating that few lowers your metabolism and has a counter affect. I would also try shorter but more intense workouts as a change.

    Not necessarily true. My workouts are 60 minute Jazzercise classes (35 minutes of cardio, 25 minutes strength and stretch) and I routinely burn 500+ calories. You are right, however, about 1200 calories being way way WAY too low.
  • grantdumas7
    grantdumas7 Posts: 802 Member
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    Sounds like metabolic damage. Here is an excellent video.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHHzie6XRGk&hd=1
  • make_up_mommy
    make_up_mommy Posts: 1
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    Did you have a complete physical before you started your new regimen? I was going through something similar a few years ago. Was on Weight Watchers and still gained 7 lbs. I went to see an endocrinologist, had blood work done, and found out I have a hormone imbalance. I was placed on medication, a gluten free diet, and lost 36 lbs. I would keep that in mind if nothing else works.
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
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    You have metabolic damage. Eat at maintenance for a few weeks. This will hopefully cause your metabolism to repair itself THEN you can go into a small deficit of 200-300. When losing weight you always want to give yourself enough room to work with. If your maintenance is 2800 and you want to lose weight. Then the most you should reduce is 500 which would put you at 2300. Then when you stop losing at 2300, reduce again another 100-200 cals. By reducing too much eventually your will suffer metabolic adaptation where even though you are eating 1200 calories and burning 600 (which gives you 600 calories for the entire day) you will not lose weight. You are not going to outsmart your body. It's designed to SURVIVE and has been doing so through famine for thousands of years. Eat more, lose more. Give your body what it wants and it'll give you what you want.

    simply put, you are not eating enough. I see it all the time. Your body isn't going to let go of the one thing it depends on for survival while your in a severe caloric deficit. FAT. Eat more. Find your maintenance and eat at that amount for a while to reset your metabolism. Then when you are ready to lose again..SLOWLY decrease calories. Right now your eating like a 6 year old.

    How can you possibly diagnose OP with metabolic damage just based on her post?? :noway:
  • grantdumas7
    grantdumas7 Posts: 802 Member
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    Have you had a COMPLETE Thyroid panel done? TSH, Free T4 and T3? Also a Measurement of serum thyroid autoantibodies and thyroglobulin to test for Hashimotos Thyroiditis (which I have but it didn't show up on just a TSH and but did on a titre). Hashimotos is FAMOUS for not showing up on TSH but a complete panel done by a specialist familiar will know EXACTLY what to look for and how to treat it! If you don't get the right answers from your PCP...move on to another. =D
    This sounds like the most sound idea.
  • Gingycat40
    Gingycat40 Posts: 18 Member
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    If your figures are correct then you are NOT eating enough. I was averging 1200 - 1500 calories and exercising min 3-4 times a week - approx. 900 cal burned. Now my trainer has changed my setings here on Fitness Pal... for food percentage of protein/carbs/fat and wants me eating around 3100 calories.

    1200 calories is around the calories the body goes into "Starvation" mode..and then the metabolism goes into hiding and then there is little or no weight loss - believe you me .. I was where you are now.. I used to average 350-500 mins of cardio a week with Zero results.

    Also what you do for exercise makes a difference.... GOOD LUCK !!!
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
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    Closed diary.

    I'd put the chances of OP actually consuming an average of 1200 calories a day over the past 6 weeks somewhere between "I'm actually Brad Pitt" and "OPs mother will get eaten by a wild platypus on her way to work tomorrow."

    Blindly trusting OP's stated numbers and diagnosing her with medical conditions, or telling her to run to her physician to have specific tests, is ridiculous at this point.
  • ChristinaOrtiz23
    ChristinaOrtiz23 Posts: 1,546 Member
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    1200 cal and 500-800 cals burned 5-6 days a week?
    If this is accurate you've definitely got metabolic damage. Your net calories isn't even enough for proper organ function.

    I'd increase my calories if I were you. Then you will probably start losing weight. Doesn't sound right I know but that's how it works.

    Gotta fuel the fire.

    agree with the above......
  • LadyHomestar
    LadyHomestar Posts: 16 Member
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    OP have you ever crash dieted before? That can destroy your metabolism. Also, if you're on any new medication, make sure you're not gaining water weight from that.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
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    You are either eating more than you think, burning less than you think, or need to see a doctor.

    /thread
  • jennk5309
    jennk5309 Posts: 206 Member
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    Bodies are strange- I can work my *kitten* off exercising and eating right and gain a couple of pounds and then suddenly, *poof*, five pounds will be gone overnight. My weight goes up a little before each significant drop. So I don't get discouraged or quit each time I see a gain, because I know that's my body's pattern and that if I stick with it I'll see progress. Hard exercise often makes me temporarily gain weight.

    When I was attending weight watchers, I always had my days off from exercise the day before and the day of my weigh-in, because giving my body that rest always led to a drop in my weight. I don't know the exact science or proper terminology for it, but apparently the body retains water or glycogen or something like that when there is mircro damage to the muscles and joints caused by exercise. So maybe try resting a few days and see what happens? Don't quit working out though, I just mean try some occasional rest days.
  • chantwizzle83
    chantwizzle83 Posts: 82 Member
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    Ya, try eating back half your calories from exercise. You can't survive on that little. Your body will start eating itself. Also, as a side note. Do your measurements. You might not lose any weight for weeks, but you could be losing inches. In your case, I hope its not muscle tissue. You're gonna crash hard.
  • Koldnomore
    Koldnomore Posts: 1,613 Member
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    Closed diary.

    I'd put the chances of OP actually consuming an average of 1200 calories a day over the past 6 weeks somewhere between "I'm actually Brad Pitt" and "OPs mother will get eaten by a wild platypus on her way to work tomorrow."

    Blindly trusting OP's stated numbers and diagnosing her with medical conditions, or telling her to run to her physician to have specific tests, is ridiculous at this point.

    ^^This.
  • keem88
    keem88 Posts: 1,689 Member
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    oh no not another one of these threads!!

    eat more
  • highervibes
    highervibes Posts: 2,219 Member
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    you're probably in starvation mode
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
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    I love when someone comes to MFP and says they've gained 2 lbs over the past 6 weeks...... and people respond with "eat more" and "starvation mode."

    Jesus.
  • highervibes
    highervibes Posts: 2,219 Member
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    I love when someone comes to MFP and says they've gained 2 lbs over the past 6 weeks...... and people respond with "eat more" and "starvation mode."

    Jesus.

    lol

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