Eating far below BMR and not losing weight
geniusgamer
Posts: 61
I count my calories really accurately.
My BMR/TDEE
manytools.org: 2219/3107
iifym.com: 2240/3080
myfitnesspal.com: 2084/????
I'm 32, male, 6'3", and weigh 230 lbs.
I run 2 or 3 times a week and do a lot of pushups and curls throughout the week.
I've been eating around 1000 calories a day. The average is actually slightly less.
Initially (about two weeks ago) I lost 10 pounds in a week. I knew a lot of this was bowel movements and water weight.
For the past five days my weight has not budged. I'm stuck at 230. I've had plenty of bowel movements and gone for a couple runs. Naturally, immediately after the runs I'm around 227, due to sweating so much water and exhaling so much CO2. But it comes back the next day.
I don't understand what's going on. I know the starvation mode stuff is a myth. I've read a ton about that and it's illogical, doesn't even obey the basic laws of thermodynamics. The notion that your body "holds on" to more if you eat less is absurd. Your body gets all the calories out of food regardless, so the implication would then be that the body is holding onto calorieless garbage. So where is the body storing up all this magical thermodynamics-evading starch/fiber/etc.?
Also, I lost 120 pounds a couple years ago eating 1000/day for 11 months. So I know that works.
I've hit plateaus before, but this one just makes no sense at all.
My BMR/TDEE
manytools.org: 2219/3107
iifym.com: 2240/3080
myfitnesspal.com: 2084/????
I'm 32, male, 6'3", and weigh 230 lbs.
I run 2 or 3 times a week and do a lot of pushups and curls throughout the week.
I've been eating around 1000 calories a day. The average is actually slightly less.
Initially (about two weeks ago) I lost 10 pounds in a week. I knew a lot of this was bowel movements and water weight.
For the past five days my weight has not budged. I'm stuck at 230. I've had plenty of bowel movements and gone for a couple runs. Naturally, immediately after the runs I'm around 227, due to sweating so much water and exhaling so much CO2. But it comes back the next day.
I don't understand what's going on. I know the starvation mode stuff is a myth. I've read a ton about that and it's illogical, doesn't even obey the basic laws of thermodynamics. The notion that your body "holds on" to more if you eat less is absurd. Your body gets all the calories out of food regardless, so the implication would then be that the body is holding onto calorieless garbage. So where is the body storing up all this magical thermodynamics-evading starch/fiber/etc.?
Also, I lost 120 pounds a couple years ago eating 1000/day for 11 months. So I know that works.
I've hit plateaus before, but this one just makes no sense at all.
-3
Replies
-
A) weight loss isn't linear. You had a big drop, I'm not surprised it hasn't moved much after that.
B)Five days is not enough time to see a trend. Because of the above.
C)Why on earth if you know what your BMR is, are you eating only 1000 calories a day?? Yeah starvation mode is a myth and all that, but why would you do that to yourself when you can eat more than that and still lose if you're logging accurately?0 -
I've read some theories that suggest as fat cells are depleted of contents, they fill temporarily with water before dropping that a few days later. It would explain the plateau-plateau-loss effect, but you can take that with a giant mountain of salt because I can't recall where I saw it, so its basically unsourced.
That said, you really should eat at at least your BMR. Too sharp a calorie cut will make you feel awful.0 -
shadowofender wrote: »A) weight loss isn't linear. You had a big drop, I'm not surprised it hasn't moved much after that.
B)Five days is not enough time to see a trend. Because of the above.
C)Why on earth if you know what your BMR is, are you eating only 1000 calories a day?? Yeah starvation mode is a myth and all that, but why would you do that to yourself when you can eat more than that and still lose if you're logging accurately?
re:B - I keep telling myself that. But it's just so weird. Everything I'm doing seems like it should lead to lower weights.
re:C - Basically, to fast track it. Also, because I have a hard time trusting the BMR/TDEE calculators. During periods where I've put on 10-20 pounds, I've tried to do a rough calculation of how many calories I was eating per day during that period. And no matter how generous I am, I can't seem to come up with a >3000/day value. These could just be bad estimates on my part though. It just really feels like if I ate 3000 calories a day I'd gain a lot of weight though. I've been considering testing it and just weighing myself every day for a week, then blasting 3000 calories/day for a month, without any weighing, then at the end, weigh myself every day for a week again, to try to determine big trends and true BMR/TDEE. But I'm afraid of undoing a lot of progress.0 -
geniusgamer wrote: »shadowofender wrote: »re:C - Basically, to fast track it. Also, because I have a hard time trusting the BMR/TDEE calculators. During periods where I've put on 10-20 pounds, I've tried to do a rough calculation of how many calories I was eating per day during that period. And no matter how generous I am, I can't seem to come up with a >3000/day value. These could just be bad estimates on my part though. It just really feels like if I ate 3000 calories a day I'd gain a lot of weight though. I've been considering testing it and just weighing myself every day for a week, then blasting 3000 calories/day for a month, without any weighing, then at the end, weigh myself every day for a week again, to try to determine big trends and true BMR/TDEE. But I'm afraid of undoing a lot of progress.
Well, why not split the difference and try 2000 for a couple weeks and see what happens?0 -
Why would anyone want to eat only 1000 cals a day?
Sure it maybe is a quicker way than eating 1500 or 2000 a day. But this sounds like torture.
And I doubt that with only 1000 cals a day your body gets what it needs.
0 -
In my "uneducated" opinion, you aren't eating enough. Long term, there is NO way you will keep off whatever weight you lose, eating that little. Eat smarter, not less.0
-
Even on crazy weight loss shows like The Biggest Loser - week 2 is known as the crappy weight loss week. They call it the week 2 curse or something, because everyone lost the majority of their water/digestive weight in the first week, and the scales don't seem to budge as much.
So if you're planning on eating as little and exercising as much as they do, you should watch the show! I think it's on Hulu
0 -
geniusgamer wrote: »shadowofender wrote: »A) weight loss isn't linear. You had a big drop, I'm not surprised it hasn't moved much after that.
B)Five days is not enough time to see a trend. Because of the above.
C)Why on earth if you know what your BMR is, are you eating only 1000 calories a day?? Yeah starvation mode is a myth and all that, but why would you do that to yourself when you can eat more than that and still lose if you're logging accurately?
re:B - I keep telling myself that. But it's just so weird. Everything I'm doing seems like it should lead to lower weights.
re:C - Basically, to fast track it. Also, because I have a hard time trusting the BMR/TDEE calculators. During periods where I've put on 10-20 pounds, I've tried to do a rough calculation of how many calories I was eating per day during that period. And no matter how generous I am, I can't seem to come up with a >3000/day value. These could just be bad estimates on my part though. It just really feels like if I ate 3000 calories a day I'd gain a lot of weight though. I've been considering testing it and just weighing myself every day for a week, then blasting 3000 calories/day for a month, without any weighing, then at the end, weigh myself every day for a week again, to try to determine big trends and true BMR/TDEE. But I'm afraid of undoing a lot of progress.
This is NOT to be harsh at all but look at it this way,
you lost 120lbs before, right? And am I correct in assuming you gained a portion of that back or you wouldn't be back here? Because it wasn't sustainable.
It's hard to program our heads to accept slow and steady weight loss when everything is so sensationalized with TV and whatever. We feel like we are failing if we aren't losing insane amounts week over week.
But at the end of the day you need to be able to live forever with the loss, right? So wouldn't it be better to figure out something sustainable and not deprevational, so you can keep living in that manner for the long term?
I lose about 1lbs a week and I have, at that pace, well over a year and a half to hit my goal. it's been hard to deal with the slow and steady, but I'm being realistic. The mental game is a HUGE part of weight loss.
0 -
Not regarding weight loss but with only 1000 cals/day there is no way you are getting enough fat and protein or vitamins and minerals for someone your size.0
-
Billtrek613 wrote: »In my "uneducated" opinion, you aren't eating enough. Long term, there is NO way you will keep off whatever weight you lose, eating that little. Eat smarter, not less.
This0 -
As for the torture aspect, I haven't had any discomfort eating 1000. Whenever I diet, my appetite reduces to match whatever I'm eating. Haven't had any cravings.0
-
shadowofender wrote: »geniusgamer wrote: »shadowofender wrote: »A) weight loss isn't linear. You had a big drop, I'm not surprised it hasn't moved much after that.
B)Five days is not enough time to see a trend. Because of the above.
C)Why on earth if you know what your BMR is, are you eating only 1000 calories a day?? Yeah starvation mode is a myth and all that, but why would you do that to yourself when you can eat more than that and still lose if you're logging accurately?
re:B - I keep telling myself that. But it's just so weird. Everything I'm doing seems like it should lead to lower weights.
re:C - Basically, to fast track it. Also, because I have a hard time trusting the BMR/TDEE calculators. During periods where I've put on 10-20 pounds, I've tried to do a rough calculation of how many calories I was eating per day during that period. And no matter how generous I am, I can't seem to come up with a >3000/day value. These could just be bad estimates on my part though. It just really feels like if I ate 3000 calories a day I'd gain a lot of weight though. I've been considering testing it and just weighing myself every day for a week, then blasting 3000 calories/day for a month, without any weighing, then at the end, weigh myself every day for a week again, to try to determine big trends and true BMR/TDEE. But I'm afraid of undoing a lot of progress.
This is NOT to be harsh at all but look at it this way,
you lost 120lbs before, right? And am I correct in assuming you gained a portion of that back or you wouldn't be back here? Because it wasn't sustainable.
It's hard to program our heads to accept slow and steady weight loss when everything is so sensationalized with TV and whatever. We feel like we are failing if we aren't losing insane amounts week over week.
But at the end of the day you need to be able to live forever with the loss, right? So wouldn't it be better to figure out something sustainable and not deprevational, so you can keep living in that manner for the long term?
I lose about 1lbs a week and I have, at that pace, well over a year and a half to hit my goal. it's been hard to deal with the slow and steady, but I'm being realistic. The mental game is a HUGE part of weight loss.
This is GREAT advice.
OP, what's your plan for maintaining at your goal weight?0 -
Dude, I eat three times this amount and lose weight. Sometimes more is less.geniusgamer wrote: »I count my calories really accurately.
I've been eating around 1000 calories a day. The average is actually slightly less.
My diary is open, and if you want to consider an alternative to your crash diet, try just following the MFP recommendations.
Again, compare our diaries. Who's having more fun and getting results?
I am not trying to be unkind, but long-short is...you're not eating enough.
0 -
Why would you only eat 1000 calories...? You shouldn't eat below your BMR. Eat more, be patient.0
-
Followingsea wrote: »OP, what's your plan for maintaining at your goal weight?
Basically, once I hit my goal weight of around 210 or whatever I'm going to weigh each morning. If I'm under the weight, I eat what I want. If I'm over, I diet that day.0 -
Dude, I eat three times this amount and lose weight. Sometimes more is less.
...you're not eating enough.
Could you elaborate on this? I'm not disagreeing. I just don't understand how more is less in this case.
I can't imagine eating 3k/day and losing weight. But I haven't tried it.0 -
geniusgamer wrote: »I count my calories really accurately..
I bet you don't and I very much doubt you ate 1000 calories for as long as you said. Everyones logging can be more accurate and historically those who come to mfp and assure us they are logging accurately are normally some or the most inaccurate ones. If you want more specific guidance open your diary but look at the link below
Log accurately eat a reasonable amount of food (I mean around 2000 calories or more eat your height and weight) and you'll lose weight.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide0 -
geniusgamer wrote: »Followingsea wrote: »OP, what's your plan for maintaining at your goal weight?
Basically, once I hit my goal weight of around 210 or whatever I'm going to weigh each morning. If I'm under the weight, I eat what I want. If I'm over, I diet that day.
I really think you need to get the mental game under control here first. Because, "dieting" as you say, isn't a cure necessarily. And you can fluctuate 5-10lbs a day depending on a hundred different things. "Maintenence" is a range more than a specific number and you're setting yourself up for dissapointment like that.
Wouldn't you rather learn the healthy habits so even when you're maintaining, you eat resonable amounts and don't restrict, you just know what portion control is? Weighing every day like that is a recipe for basically dieting every day.
0 -
You need to eat more for starters. Given the calories you're taking in, you're probably not getting nutritional balance either.0
-
I bet you don't and I very much doubt you ate 1000 calories for as long as you said. Everyones logging can be more accurate and historically those who come to mfp and assure us they are logging accurately are normally some or the most inaccurate ones. If you want more specific guidance open your diary but look at the link below
Log accurately eat a reasonable amount of food (I mean around 2000 calories or more eat your height and weight) and you'll lose weight.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide
False.
I log 100% accurately. I only eat healthy choice/smart ones type meals and I log everything i eat in a spreadsheet and forget to log or eat some unlogged snack zero times a day.
You are wrong and I'm looking for advice/help not predicated on the assumption that I log inaccurately. That's why I was clear about it from the start.
I welcome everyone's advice, but if yours is going to remain predicated on a false assumption, then it won't be helpful to me.
Note: when I say I log 100% accurately, that's obviously predicated on some level of faith in the reported caloric values for said diet meals. I'm sure they can fluctuate by some % but I can't really factor in since I can't know if they're inaccurate or by how much. And it seems reasonable to use them as a basis for calorie counting. Else, how are people to count calories? Eating only pure nutrient pastes of accurately measured mass for all courses of all meals?0 -
geniusgamer wrote: »Followingsea wrote: »OP, what's your plan for maintaining at your goal weight?
Basically, once I hit my goal weight of around 210 or whatever I'm going to weigh each morning. If I'm under the weight, I eat what I want. If I'm over, I diet that day.
Weight naturally fluctuates up to five pounds from day to day. So if you weigh 206-207, you would eat everything, a few days later at 213 you would be strict again?
You only have twenty pounds to lose. 1000 calories is not going to do you any favors.0 -
Weight naturally fluctuates up to five pounds from day to day. So if you weigh 206-207, you would eat everything, a few days later at 213 you would be strict again?
Yep that's how I would do it.
Some days I'd weigh less than normal due to water/bowel/glucose/whatever fluctuations and cheat when I maybe shouldn't.
But for each day like that, there'd be a day where I'd weigh more than normal due to those things and diet when I maybe didn't need to.
It would average out to making sure I maintain the same weight.
Maybe I'll cheat one day and have to diet a week before I'm back below the weight.
And maybe I'd have a period where I was under weight a few days in a row and get to cheat on all of them. (probably followed by the former period where I needed to diet again for several days in a row)
Should average out I think.
0 -
Should have some interesting fun down the road after doing this multiple times, attempting it with an unhealthy body eventually.
Just wait until then when you hit 6 months with no movement eating what you think is 1000 calories.
And yeah, you aren't likely.
Calories is per gram, not per cup or spoonful.
How do you log the food you do eat?0 -
And yeah, you aren't likely.
Yikes. This is getting frustrating. More rude people here than I thought.
I am counting accurately. I go by nutrition labels. And there is zero eating that isn't logged off those nutrition labels.
It would be super helpful if people could just assume I wasn't an idiot or lying.
I'm not making some distinction between mass and volume, though for a given food they are directly proportional. So your statement "per gram, not per cup or spoonful" is actually wrong.
I'm doing it per serving listed on nutrition labels.
Oh and to answer your question, I log it in a spreadsheet. Google docs.0 -
No one assumes you're an idiot or lying purposefully but this is a hugely common issue (especially on these boards), that people aren't logging accurately. Yes using the labels is good, but are you measuring or are you weighing? That adds up. I've seen SO MANY people swear up and down they log 100% accurately, but they don't weigh their servings, they use generic entries, etc. So it's the default answer for these boards.
0 -
geniusgamer wrote: »And yeah, you aren't likely.
Yikes. This is getting frustrating. More rude people here than I thought.
I am counting accurately. I go by nutrition labels. And there is zero eating that isn't logged off those nutrition labels.
It would be super helpful if people could just assume I wasn't an idiot or lying.
Nobody in here is being rude.
Do you weigh everything you eat using a food scale? If not, you're most likely eating more than you think, which is why you could have been eating over 3000 calories without realizing it.
1000 calories is even lower than the recommended number for women. At that point you're going to be severely cutting yourself off from essential nutrients and causing problems to your general health. The best thing to do would be to eat maybe 15% off your TDEE, since you only want to lose about twenty pounds, and weigh everything so you're certain of that amount.0 -
You are possibly retaining water, especially if the weight loss has stopped for only a couple of days. If you keep eating 1,000 calories you will surely lose more weight. Patience is key. You should eat more than 1,000 calories but I totally understand if you can't. Anyways, if you've been eating salty foods like pickles, or anything just high in sodium you may be retaining water. Also, you might be dehydrated so I would definitely up the water intake. Sometimes people get a majority of the water from the food they eat and then when they start eating less they become dehydrated. So basically, drink a lot of water, fruit and veg (for bowel movements, possible weight from lack of BM), and avoid salty food until you lose some water weight or whatever is causing you to plateau. Good luck to you and I hope you see more differences soon.0
-
[/quote]
I really think you need to get the mental game under control here first. Because, "dieting" as you say, isn't a cure necessarily. And you can fluctuate 5-10lbs a day depending on a hundred different things. "Maintenence" is a range more than a specific number and you're setting yourself up for dissapointment like that.
Wouldn't you rather learn the healthy habits so even when you're maintaining, you eat resonable amounts and don't restrict, you just know what portion control is? Weighing every day like that is a recipe for basically dieting every day.
[/quote]
Exactly! This is a very unhealthy lifestyle! Women aren't even advised to eat under 1,200 and men are naturally supposed to eat more than that. Weighing yourself EVERY day sounds like pure torture! Are you really going to keep this up for the next 30, 40, 50 years of your life?
You need to eat more now to lose weight in a healthy fashion, then once you hit your goal weight you need to eat a little more to maintain that weight for the long term.
There is definitely a reason you keep yo-yoing and the whole "if I'm at my goal weight or under then I eat whatever I want" is terrible. That is setting you up for a constant feeling of failure after your binge eating days.0 -
Genius, I can just tell you from my personal experience that when I ate that little each day it simply didn't work long term. Everyone is different for sure, however I can say (thankfully) that this time I have followed MFP recommendations (my daily goal is 1720 which equals 2 lbs per week) and it's been working, and really well for the first time ever ... Good luck, find what works ... but think long term too ....0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 426 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions