What else can I do?
HEL35
Posts: 8
Hi all,
I am a 26 year old female looking to lose 10-15 pounds. When I was 15 years old, I lost 60 pounds by following a low fat/low calorie diet with little exercise. I have since kept that weight off and fluctuated about 5-8 pounds in the last year which I really want to get off to be happy. I follow all the same guidelines as I did with my initial big weight loss, but have been stuck for months in any change on the scale. I know age and amount needed to lose may be a factor, but I am only 26 and I need to lose the last 10-15.
I tried low carb for about 2 weeks which was difficult for me as I am currently living in France and all they eat is carbs, carbs carbs. But, when I'm dieting, I am very strict and would just eat meat and cheese. Anyway, with no results I figured I should go back to my old method (I did weight watchers where I learned the calories/fiber to pretty much everything) and I am feeling frustrated and lost. This is not the first time I have set out to finally shed the last of my weight. I can't remember the last day I didn't watch what I ate.
Every day for the past 10 days I have made more of an effort to exercise. I do 35-40 minutes of jogging, 20 on the elliptical and 20 on the bike. I then do 2 sets of 20 reps on many machine weights for my legs, arms, and back. At minimum I burn 550 calories at the gym. I am allowed 1200 calories by MFP and sometimes I eat the calories that I burn and sometimes I don't. I feel like the only way I can possibly make the scale move is by eating even less than 1200 calories, and I am very hungry when I do that, and can't exercise much.
How can I get over this plateau? There are areas of my body which have excess skin from losing all the weight, could that be the number I see on the scale? I did not strength train much when I was only 15 but I do now in the gym every day. I don't want to starve myself but like I said, it seems my body only responds to maybe 900 calories a day. There has to be a better way! Thanks.
I am a 26 year old female looking to lose 10-15 pounds. When I was 15 years old, I lost 60 pounds by following a low fat/low calorie diet with little exercise. I have since kept that weight off and fluctuated about 5-8 pounds in the last year which I really want to get off to be happy. I follow all the same guidelines as I did with my initial big weight loss, but have been stuck for months in any change on the scale. I know age and amount needed to lose may be a factor, but I am only 26 and I need to lose the last 10-15.
I tried low carb for about 2 weeks which was difficult for me as I am currently living in France and all they eat is carbs, carbs carbs. But, when I'm dieting, I am very strict and would just eat meat and cheese. Anyway, with no results I figured I should go back to my old method (I did weight watchers where I learned the calories/fiber to pretty much everything) and I am feeling frustrated and lost. This is not the first time I have set out to finally shed the last of my weight. I can't remember the last day I didn't watch what I ate.
Every day for the past 10 days I have made more of an effort to exercise. I do 35-40 minutes of jogging, 20 on the elliptical and 20 on the bike. I then do 2 sets of 20 reps on many machine weights for my legs, arms, and back. At minimum I burn 550 calories at the gym. I am allowed 1200 calories by MFP and sometimes I eat the calories that I burn and sometimes I don't. I feel like the only way I can possibly make the scale move is by eating even less than 1200 calories, and I am very hungry when I do that, and can't exercise much.
How can I get over this plateau? There are areas of my body which have excess skin from losing all the weight, could that be the number I see on the scale? I did not strength train much when I was only 15 but I do now in the gym every day. I don't want to starve myself but like I said, it seems my body only responds to maybe 900 calories a day. There has to be a better way! Thanks.
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Replies
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"sometimes I eat the calories that I burn and sometimes I don't."
Here's your problem...and you're inhibiting progress.
MFP is designed with your daily deficit already built in.
And stop worrying about low carb. Just eat to goal every day. Keep it simple.
This site works to maintain that 1 pound per week goal for weight loss. MFP supports steady, safe and lasting results. When we crash diet and lose weight too fast, our metabolism can stifle. Yes, you'll lose weight, but what kind of loss will it be?
You'll lose too much muscle which further slows metabolism. and once you finally reach your weight goal...guess what? You look and feel bad, and the weight starts piling back on in most cases. Don't be that person.
Remember, this is not a race.
GOOD LUCK!
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I'm 5'7" and 158. I log all my calories! I have been trained to do this since doing WW years ago, and even if I am out or not with a scale I have portion sizes engrained in my head!
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"sometimes I eat the calories that I burn and sometimes I don't."
Here's your problem...and you're inhibiting progress.
MFP is designed with your daily deficit already built in.
And stop worrying about low carb. Just eat to goal every day. Keep it simple.
This site works to maintain that 1 pound per week goal for weight loss. MFP supports steady, safe and lasting results. When we crash diet and lose weight too fast, our metabolism can stifle. Yes, you'll lose weight, but what kind of loss will it be?
You'll lose too much muscle which further slows metabolism. and once you finally reach your weight goal...guess what? You look and feel bad, and the weight starts piling back on in most cases. Don't be that person.
Remember, this is not a race.
GOOD LUCK!
Thanks for the reply. So if I'm only supposed to eat 1200 but then burn 500 at the gym, I should still only eat 1200 every day? This would be eating 700 cals/day. I actually try to do this most days, but on days where I burn over 500 I might eat around 1400 (before subtracting from exercise)
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I'm 5'7" and 158. I log all my calories! I have been trained to do this since doing WW years ago, and even if I am out or not with a scale I have portion sizes engrained in my head!
So you use a food scale? Also, can you open your diary?
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I have found that since turning 26 it is nowhere near as easy as it used to be to lose weight. I've been struggling to shed the last 15lbs too. Not much help, but you're not alone
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how long have you been at it? You mentioned trying low carb for 2 weeks, and I get the impression you're expecting instant results. But I could be wrong. You need to give it 4-6 weeks MINIMUM. Assuming you're logging everything accurately, no medical complications, etc.0
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Thanks for the reply. So if I'm only supposed to eat 1200 but then burn 500 at the gym, I should still only eat 1200 every day? This would be eating 700 cals/day. I actually try to do this most days, but on days where I burn over 500 I might eat around 1400 (before subtracting from exercise)
I eat back (most of) my exercise calories b/c otherwise I would be a cranky mess. So far, it's working for me, but I'm not trying for rapid weight loss but sustainable healthy eating/exercising. I have my weight loss set to 1 lb. a week but b/c I eat back my exercise calories, I'm losing about .7 a week instead. I'm cool with that. Good luck, and be healthy!
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Firstly, there is no such thing as a plateau.
Secondly, carbs arent bad. Low carb diet doesnt = weight loss
Thirdly, calorie deficit = weight loss. Doesnt matter how you do it.0 -
No, you eat 1200 + 500 = 1700... if I'm only supposed to eat 1200 but then burn 500 at the gym, I should still only eat 1200 every day?
And make sure your weekly weight loss goals are set at 1 pound per week.
Keep it simple.
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Oh yea, age 26 is totally over the hill...jdhoward_101 wrote: »I have found that since turning 26 it is nowhere near as easy as it used to be to lose weight. I've been struggling to shed the last 15lbs too. Not much help, but you're not alone
WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE AGE 46!
lol
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jdhoward_101 wrote: »I have found that since turning 26 it is nowhere near as easy as it used to be to lose weight. I've been struggling to shed the last 15lbs too. Not much help, but you're not alone
That's mainly because your activity level drops a lot. The differences in metabolism between a 18 year old and a 26 year old are fairly negligible.
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No, you eat 1200 + 500 = 1700... if I'm only supposed to eat 1200 but then burn 500 at the gym, I should still only eat 1200 every day?
And make sure your weekly weight loss goals are set at 1 pound per week.
Keep it simple.
Right, that is what I meant in my original post, but you said that could be inhibiting my progress? I sometimes eat up to 1700 if I burned 500, but mostly I try to stay in the 1200-1300 no matter what. Thanks!0 -
Oh yea, age 26 is totally over the hill...jdhoward_101 wrote: »I have found that since turning 26 it is nowhere near as easy as it used to be to lose weight. I've been struggling to shed the last 15lbs too. Not much help, but you're not alone
WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE AGE 46!
lol
True, but having a 2500+ calorie range and more to lose as opposed to the last 10 pounds and struggling to stay under 1200 is different!
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I understood that to mean that since you were complaining about being hungry etc, yoi are inhibiting your progress by NOT EATING BACK SOME OF YOUR CALS-- not all of them. Losing weight too fast sets you up for problems including muscle loss. Hell, there was a thread where a girl who lost too fast was saying she was losing her hair. Now who wants to be flabby (muscle loss) and bald at goal weight? Not me.
No, you eat 1200 + 500 = 1700... if I'm only supposed to eat 1200 but then burn 500 at the gym, I should still only eat 1200 every day?
And make sure your weekly weight loss goals are set at 1 pound per week.
Keep it simple.
Right, that is what I meant in my original post, but you said that could be inhibiting my progress? I sometimes eat up to 1700 if I burned 500, but mostly I try to stay in the 1200-1300 no matter what. Thanks!
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caracrawford1 wrote: »
I understood that to mean that since you were complaining about being hungry etc, yoi are inhibiting your progress by NOT EATING BACK SOME OF YOUR CALS-- not all of them. Losing weight too fast sets you up for problems including muscle loss. Hell, there was a thread where a girl who lost too fast was saying she was losing her hair. Now who wants to be flabby (muscle loss) and bald at goal weight? Not me.
No, you eat 1200 + 500 = 1700... if I'm only supposed to eat 1200 but then burn 500 at the gym, I should still only eat 1200 every day?
And make sure your weekly weight loss goals are set at 1 pound per week.
Keep it simple.
Right, that is what I meant in my original post, but you said that could be inhibiting my progress? I sometimes eat up to 1700 if I burned 500, but mostly I try to stay in the 1200-1300 no matter what. Thanks!
OK, I see now - I didn't read it that way! Anyway, my problem the last year hasn't been losing too fast, it's that it's a snails pace if anything! I haven't lost more than a pound in the last 3 weeks and then it just stops, and I get frustrated etc. I think when I was younger and I lost the 60 lbs I lost both a lot of fat and muscle, unfortunately making me flabby in some areas (my arms...) and that's what I struggle with today. I see the number on the scale and it's not like I'm obese, but the problem areas are all I focus on. I can strength train as much as I want to tone, but without losing the flab they stay the same...any tips?0
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