Help!

alison990
alison990 Posts: 8 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
:sad:
I'm quite new to MFP but have done really well since joining and lost 12lb I only had a stone to lose or look at buying a load of new clothes which I couldn't afford! Now after 8 weeks I'm stuck at a 3 week plateau with only 2 lbs to go. I'm already on the minimum of 1200 cals....any tips? Please???

Replies

  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    Are you using a food scale.. And what is your height weight age, workout routine, do you have medical conditions? Can you open your food diary so we can look.

    Also, 2 lbs is just vanity. If anything, you should be close to maintenance, lifting heavy weights and working on a recomp if you want to lower body fat. As a frame of reference, the average women I know is losing between 1700-2100 calories. Generally 1200 is only ok for very small sedentary people or those with metabolic issues.
  • nosebag1212
    nosebag1212 Posts: 621 Member
    unless you're literally a dwarf, if you're not losing at 1200 cals you're most likely retaining water, fat loss isn't linear
  • alison990
    alison990 Posts: 8 Member
    Hi - I am female, 43, 5ft 7 and currently 9 stone - goal weight is 8 stone 12 - very sedentary lifestyle. I log brisk dog walks/gardening/housework as exercise and don't log yoga as anything (muscle toning). I do use food scales sometimes but not always......I'm not sure how to open food diary....?
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    :sad:
    I'm quite new to MFP but have done really well since joining and lost 12lb I only had a stone to lose or look at buying a load of new clothes which I couldn't afford! Now after 8 weeks I'm stuck at a 3 week plateau with only 2 lbs to go. I'm already on the minimum of 1200 cals....any tips? Please???
    Why are you obsessing over that 2 pound you could actually vary that amount in a day (probably more)? 2 pound is just the number on the scale at a certain time of day. That 2 pound is unlikely to make any difference to your physical appearance or health. Take a step back and look at the whole picture. Are you at a healthy weight? If this is all about appearance you may need to start looking at your exercise regime. The right exercise regime will make a difference to you overall appearance reaching that 2 pound number on the scales wont.
  • nosebag1212
    nosebag1212 Posts: 621 Member
    well your bmr is 1260, it's basically impossible for you not to lose on 1200 unless you literally lie in bed all day 24/7, you're most likely retaining water or not weighing your food correctly and eating more than you think, you need to weigh everything
  • gypsy_spirit
    gypsy_spirit Posts: 2,107 Member
    :sad:
    I'm quite new to MFP but have done really well since joining and lost 12lb I only had a stone to lose or look at buying a load of new clothes which I couldn't afford! Now after 8 weeks I'm stuck at a 3 week plateau with only 2 lbs to go. I'm already on the minimum of 1200 cals....any tips? Please???

    I hope you realize that 2 pounds is not going to make a difference in your size. Plus, my weight can fluctuate up to 5 pounds (+-) every day. Work on improving the body you have now. Lift weights, if you can. Stop obsessing over the scale - it is not your friend or enemy - it's just a reporter.
  • alison990
    alison990 Posts: 8 Member
    You're right - I am obsessing probably - It's just I've never had to diet in my life before - then a series of traumas I think led to over eating/under exercising. I set myself a goal and I suppose I want to achieve it. I was 8 stone 7 for twenty years enjoying wine, bacon butties and chips whenever I wanted. I thought I'd allow an extra 5-6 lbs for being older...maybe I need to up that....
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Hi - I am female, 43, 5ft 7 and currently 9 stone - goal weight is 8 stone 12 - very sedentary lifestyle. I log brisk dog walks/gardening/housework as exercise and don't log yoga as anything (muscle toning). I do use food scales sometimes but not always......I'm not sure how to open food diary....?

    Why is your goal to get under 9 stone, that's pretty light for your weight?
  • alison990
    alison990 Posts: 8 Member
    Hi - Nothing more scientific than mainly because all my wardrobe is a size 8 - I thought if I maintained weight a couple of pounds below 9 stone - then 9 stone would be my flag up weight for taking action before it all crept up on me again....
  • ldnmaggie
    ldnmaggie Posts: 222 Member
    You're 5'7? The lowest weight you should be is 127 pounds - 9 stone, which you're at... I just don't understand why these 2lb matter? You need to stop obsessing over the scales, the scales aren't everything.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    If you want to tighten up your body, start weight training. This is even more important at your age as it can help prevent osteoporosis and help maintain metabolic functions. Heck, it would probably help you if you gained some new muscle to improve that.
  • alison990
    alison990 Posts: 8 Member
    OK thanks for the kick up the *** everyone! I will stop obsessing, use the food scales more and give this weight training thing a go... :smile:
  • collingmommy
    collingmommy Posts: 456 Member
    How much is an stone? Pound wise? I weigh 155, translate that to stones for me
  • alison990
    alison990 Posts: 8 Member
    14lb in a stone so 155 is 11.07....11 and a half stone....
  • Blair2374
    Blair2374 Posts: 50 Member
    Some of the replies are pretty harsh. The poster has set a goal which she wants to achieve, like we all have. Good luck in achieving your target :)
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    Some of the replies are pretty harsh. The poster has set a goal which she wants to achieve, like we all have. Good luck in achieving your target :)

    i don't see any harshness. I see people trying to give her a path to reach her real goal (a leaner body). At 126 lbs and 5'7, the OP is very close to being underweight. It is very common for underweight people to struggle with leanness (at least from the thousands of threads I see on this board) because they lack adequate body composition. If the OP wants to lean up her body, she will want to drop body fat and maintain muscle mass. Muscle is what makes people lean. Even if the OP reaches a low body fat and is still not happy with her body, then she will have to add mass to tighten up her body more. This means, gaining new muscle mass (and new fat), known as a bulk, and then follow it with a cut.

    The fact is, if the OP is exercising, she shouldn't be eating 1200 calories. For most people, excluding those with metabolic issues, 1200 calories for an active person isn't good. It will create a large deficit which will increase the chances of muscle loss, especially when combined with low protein levels. If the OP follows the standard deviation and works out for 3 hours a week, then she should probably be eating closer to 1500 calories (40% carbs, 30% protein and fats) or if she works out for 5-6 hours a week, 1700-1800 calories with similar macros.

    Either way, weight training is critical to her success,especially as a women in their 40's. It's not an attacked but it's been proven by science the benefits of weight training.
  • alison990
    alison990 Posts: 8 Member
    Ah thanks Blair2374 - I did feel slightly brow beaten when considering my vain, obsessive OLD self! I had only ever posted letters before - never posted on a forum! Might think twice next time...However the feedback was useful but I was secretly hoping for 'eat more' advice - to re kick start my metabolism....rather than weights. food scales and therapy!!!! But thanks again!
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Ah thanks Blair2374 - I did feel slightly brow beaten when considering my vain, obsessive OLD self! I had only ever posted letters before - never posted on a forum! Might think twice next time...However the feedback was useful but I was secretly hoping for 'eat more' advice - to re kick start my metabolism....rather than weights. food scales and therapy!!!! But thanks again!

    maybe read psulemons last post...
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    Ah thanks Blair2374 - I did feel slightly brow beaten when considering my vain, obsessive OLD self! I had only ever posted letters before - never posted on a forum! Might think twice next time...However the feedback was useful but I was secretly hoping for 'eat more' advice - to re kick start my metabolism....rather than weights. food scales and therapy!!!! But thanks again!

    We did tell you to eat more, but you also need to do weights and foods scales. If you don't want to do it all, you can't expect the results if you aren't committed.
  • Insomniac8
    Insomniac8 Posts: 182
    Read this informative article. It'll definitely help: www.nowloss.com/how-to-break-out-of-a-weight-loss-plateau.htm
    Good luck! :)

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