Almost Ready to Quit

evedavies
evedavies Posts: 23 Member
edited September 25 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi Everyone, I have lost 1 stone (10lbs on MFP) since January 17th and I was thrilled with my progress! I have one more stone to lose until my goal weight. I am 5'2" and currently weigh 9 stone.

But now............ nothing has been lost since the 1st of March. I obviously need to change something and people are telling me to eat more (currently eat about 800 cals a day). I am sure they are right but I am so scared to start eating more and that I will put weight back on. I also find it really hard to get above 800 calories the healthy way as I am a fussy eater, dont like nuts etc.

At the moment I feel like all my hard work if for nothing and I am close to giving up. Has anyone experienced this also and does anyone have any advice?

Replies

  • missy1970eb
    missy1970eb Posts: 1,209 Member
    no dont give up u've done so well, just try and extra 5 minutes exercise each time and maybe extra water if ur intakes not that high:smile:
  • CassieLEO
    CassieLEO Posts: 757 Member
    You wont put on more weight if you make healthy food choices and not get yoru calories from junk. Your body needs those calories to thrive and be healthy.
  • Mads1997
    Mads1997 Posts: 1,494 Member
    If you opened your diary to the public people would be able to advise you better. Until then you need to eat more.
  • JulsDiane
    JulsDiane Posts: 349 Member
    Awww, keep at it ;) Plateaus are hard but I agree with the other advice you are getting, you need to up your calories. I am by no means a dr but the advice mine gave me was that if i started feeling fatigue or plateaued then I was not eating enough. The max deficit he said your body can handle is 500 cals whether it's from exercise or reduced food.
  • shumatet1982
    shumatet1982 Posts: 93
    Hey there from germany.

    Do you only cut down kcal to 800, or do you work out also?

    I had several friends with great success with high intensity workouts. Excellent effect from about 30 min/day.
  • RichB77
    RichB77 Posts: 88
    You're in starvation mode by the sounds of it. you're not fuelling your bodies' fire and so anything you do eat is being retained.
    Again, making your diary public may help people make more informed comments.
    Also, too much sodium will make your body hold on to water
    Just a thought, hope u can find a remedy


    :drinker:
  • jesshall281
    jesshall281 Posts: 219
    You really do need to eat your goal calories a day, 800 is way too little and its most likely youre in starvation mode. I know you say its difficult to eat more than 800, but if you really want to lose weight then youre going to have to eat more. How about a protein bar? you can get loads of flavours and they can be high in calories, if you find youre low for the day, munch on one of those to bring yourself up to your daily calorie goal
  • shumatet1982
    shumatet1982 Posts: 93
    I agree to richB77 and jesshall281. My initial thought was, that your intake is too low.

    How do you eat? Maybe you would like to open your diary for us, so we can help
  • shalynna89
    shalynna89 Posts: 324 Member
    One of my friends didn't lose anything for about a month and she upped her calories by a couple hundred for a week, and then the next went back down to what she was eatting before and she has started to lose again. I also didn't lose anything for a few weeks changed up my exercise a bit, and started losing. Your body may need time to catch upto, so you may be losing inches instead of pounds. I suggest taking you measurements and then times like this if you aren't losing weight you can see if you are inches. But don't give up!! You have done great so far!! I read a thing earlier that said its like a war that we are battling on 3 fronts, our bodies, our minds, and our cravings. You are battling all these things and its hard right now put you have to push through it and stay strong to win the War!!
  • evedavies
    evedavies Posts: 23 Member
    Thanks everyone for your advice. I do also exercise for an hour 3 times a week, maybe I should up that also. Looks like I am going to have to face my fear and eat more and see what happens
  • evedavies
    evedavies Posts: 23 Member
    When you say you switched up your exercise, what exactly did you change? Did you just do a different type of exercise?
  • maureak
    maureak Posts: 107 Member
    I was stuck in a plateau for 3 months. I lost and gained back the same couple of pounds the whole time. But, and this is a big one, I dropped another size during that time. I continued to do my normal work outs and stuck to my eating plan and I believe I was firming up during those 3 months. How are your clothes fitting you?

    I would not be able to function on 800 calories. You might just try adding gradually and see how it works out for you.

    Also - throw in an extra intense work out every so often. This is how I eventually got off my plateau.

    Good Luck!
  • evedavies
    evedavies Posts: 23 Member
    Thanks Maureak.

    My clothes are looser, I can fit in the next size down but not comfortably.

    I just hope I can stick this out :(
  • shumatet1982
    shumatet1982 Posts: 93
    Why don't you open your diary? Do you track your food? What's a normal daily meal plan?

    My advice would be: Switch one one hour work out to a high intensity interval training (HIIT), and add one HIIT. You should really try this, it works!

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_interval_training
    (sounds hard but actually is easy: fast, slow fast slow...)
  • M_lifts
    M_lifts Posts: 2,218 Member
    hey, you and i are the same size and height, im 8st 13lbs and 5'2". and my average calorie intake is about 1200 cals.

    i would say 800 cals is far too low to survive on. I joined on the 15th of jan and was 10st 2lbs so have lost about 16lbs so far. I would say increase your water intake as well. atleast 8 cups a day or more if you can. I work out about 3-4 times a week and average about 1-3lbs loss a week. not reached a plataeu yet. so its worked for me
  • maritajane
    maritajane Posts: 17
    This is such an encouraging thread - as I also have been on a plateau for a long time. But suddenly lost another lb yesterday - wonderful feeling. The great thing is that I haven't given up and the general trend is downwards. I do think that sometimes I underestimate my calories though - and my portion sizes may be too big.
  • millerll
    millerll Posts: 873 Member
    You say you're afraid to eat more, but you can't lose and want to give up. Soooo....if you give up, you'll probably end up....eating more, right?

    Well, why not do that now, but only with healthy foods instead? Added to a sensible exercise plan, you should get results. You give up, and I guarantee nothing positive will happen. Just a thought. Good luck!
  • kimd1974
    kimd1974 Posts: 113
    I went through a 3 week phase of not losing a pound. I ask for some advice and it worked, I just weighed in and lost 1/2 pound. The advice I was given was to have a spluge meal to shock my body and change 2 workouts a week to interval workouts. I only have around 10 more pounds to lose and they are hanging on for dear life.
  • rosebarnalice
    rosebarnalice Posts: 3,488 Member
    Keep in mind MillerII's signature: "It's a life STYLE not a life SENTENCE".

    If you're in this for the long haul, then you've got to muster up the courage to eat a few more calories per day. You can't live on 800 calories a day the rest of your life and be healthy.

    And if you're not in it for the long haul are are looking for a quick fix, well. . . then that brings up a whole different set of issues that I don't know that you are going to find answers for here.

    Don't give up on yourself!
  • getfitgirl1
    getfitgirl1 Posts: 21
    i've never been successful enough to get to where you are even, but i've always heard that when you get to trying to lose your last 10 pounds or less, it will be slow slow slow. a girl in my boot camp hit a plateau for about 6 month, but then all of a sudden, a lot more came off! please don't quit - DRIVE THROUGH AND DON'T GIVE UP!
  • realrayne10
    realrayne10 Posts: 388 Member
    Yeah, you are probably in starvation mode.

    I can empathize with you. I have a hard time getting my 1290 calories in each day let alone try to eat back my exercise calories. I am a very picky eater too (if I listed my food rules, you all would try to have me committed i'm sure.) On those days when I just cant bear the thought of eating more, I try to add healthy higher calorie foods like guacamole, bananas and almonds. I never liked almonds but I just kept eating them anyway. I found these dark chocolate roasted almonds that come in 100 calorie packs. They are a lifesaver!

    Up your intake in a healthy way and you will be ok. good luck!
  • isaiahxoxoender
    isaiahxoxoender Posts: 50
    In the book the Glycemic Index it says, "If you are currently eating healthy foods most of the time,with an occasional indulgence, and do physical activity for at least thirty minutes four to five times a week, then your present shape and size might be right for you." I usually go by that rule since it seems the most accurate. I mean whats the point in losing all of that weight just for it to come back again once you reach your goal? Something to think about...
  • dlaplume2
    dlaplume2 Posts: 1,658 Member
    Thanks everyone for your advice. I do also exercise for an hour 3 times a week, maybe I should up that also. Looks like I am going to have to face my fear and eat more and see what happens

    Don't let the fear take over. Eat more make sure it's healthy. Don't panic if you gain the 1st week or two of eating more. Your body might feel it needs to hold on to it at first. It will go the other way, just have patience. I don't want you to eat more and gain and say that eating more isn't working, because it is probably your body just being confused. 800 is very low to have maintianed.

    Best wishes. FYI my diary is open if you want to get some meal or snack ideas.
  • Tamie_Girl
    Tamie_Girl Posts: 218 Member
    I always say "losing" is like maintaining - so STAY THE COURSE. Results will come.

    Besides, almost ready to quit, quit and do what? Start to gain? No.

    Just say you're going to take a break and just maintain - and believe it or not, you'll start to see results.

    I had a period where I wanted to maintain and was surprised when I lost 2 pounds during that maintenance.
  • evedavies
    evedavies Posts: 23 Member
    Thank you all so much guys, you really are a big help.

    I also am sure that i dont drink enough water so I will change this as well.

    I guess the reason I am scared to eat more is that I dont trust myself to be sensible and I will just rubbish again in order to get the extra calories.

    I will take all of your advice on board and report back :)
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