The scales just won't budge a kilo...

oinkoink2242
oinkoink2242 Posts: 17 Member
edited November 12 in Health and Weight Loss
In April 2014, I ate barely anything. I was consuming very little and lost four kilos within four weeks.
However, since then I have been dieting healthily. I have been eating 1200 calories, then eating my BMR, now eating to a calorie plan which is customised to my statistics.
But since April I have not lost a single kilo.
I have been exercising more, eating better, making healthier choices but still the scales won't budge.
Oddly, people have been saying how much weight I've lost, even though I haven't lost any, but my clothes do feel looser.
How can I look like I've lost weight, be fitting into smaller clothes, be exercising and eating healthier and be 14kg over weight but not have lost any weight in 9 months?
Please, any help or advice would be more than welcome!
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Replies

  • zymurgea
    zymurgea Posts: 5 Member
    Remember muscle weighs more than fat. Give it time.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    zymurgea wrote: »
    Remember muscle weighs more than fat. Give it time.

    Muscle does not weigh more than fat. I think 9mths is enough time to know if something is working or not...
    OP do you weigh and measure your food? What are your stats? It's hard believe that someone isn't losing eating only 1200 calories a day
  • superexcellently
    superexcellently Posts: 25 Member
    edited February 2015
    You're roughly the same height and weight as me, 1200 calories isn't enough food for me personally - have you set it to loose 2 pounds a week? Try 1.5 instead.
  • oinkoink2242
    oinkoink2242 Posts: 17 Member
    I personally don't think I've gained muscle, but I have been doing cardio.
    I tried switching up my calories after about two months of 1200, and started eating at 1500. The scales did a massive drop - 8 pounds, but soon went back to 174. I started a calorie plan from http://www.healthyweightforum.org/eng/calculators/calories-required/ and put in my current statistics and desired weight in desired amount of time.
    I'm 5"2 and weigh about 173 pounds, and I am an Australia 12/14 dress size which equates to an American 8/10, according to the ASOS size guide.
    I'm thinking of going back to 1200, and it is very tempting to eat very little again because I will probably be attending a formal and want to look reasonably slimmer in June.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Of course you haven't gained muscle

    You are making calorie mistakes, either with weighing and logging your food or overestimating your calorie burns

    (Subject to usual assumptions that you have no thyroid or underlying medical issues)
  • oinkoink2242
    oinkoink2242 Posts: 17 Member
    I use a fitbit to log my calorie burns, and I try to be as accurate as I can. What can I do to be more accurate with calorie logging? I log my serving sizes.
    But I am fitting into smaller sized clothes and people have been commenting on my weight loss. I'm definitely smaller physically, but not mass wise.
  • pamfin
    pamfin Posts: 169 Member
    I weigh all my food on a digital scale. If it's not possible to weigh it (such as being out) I'll use the serving sizes on the site as a guide but overestimate rather than under.

    If you're physically smaller though and toning up, maybe use measurements as your measure of success rather than the scales.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    oinkoink2242 wrote: »
    I use a fitbit to log my calorie burns, and I try to be as accurate as I can. What can I do to be more accurate with calorie logging? I log my serving sizes.
    But I am fitting into smaller sized clothes and people have been commenting on my weight loss. I'm definitely smaller physically, but not mass wise.

    In which case it will whoosh eventually, just keep going...scale weight is unimportant in relation to measurements

    You should be weighing food on a digital scale, are you? Pick carefully from database as there are lots of incorrect entries

    Have you set your stride length on your fitbit, it's still just an estimator you know
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    zymurgea wrote: »
    Remember muscle weighs more than fat. Give it time.

    With the exception of newbie gains, one doesn't build muscle in a deficit. Additionally, fat and muscle weigh exactly the same, muscle is just denser than fat.
  • oinkoink2242
    oinkoink2242 Posts: 17 Member
    I haven't set my stride strength in fitbit but never eat the calories back they allocate. I haven't been weighing my food, just estimating with metric measurements like a cup and so on because it's a hassle weighing it at family meals, rather than scooping out a cup.
    I'm going to be more cautious of that, as well as just generally improving my health with exercise and healthy food, which is what I have been doing for the past month. Hopefully with some more time I will start seeing results on the scale as well as longer running distances!
  • 01divey
    01divey Posts: 50 Member
    edited February 2015
    Muscle is denser than fat, not heavier, if that helps you understand.
    Meaning you can weigh the same, but you'll be slimmer and fit into your clothing better.
  • 01divey
    01divey Posts: 50 Member
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    zymurgea wrote: »
    Remember muscle weighs more than fat. Give it time.

    With the exception of newbie gains, one doesn't build muscle in a deficit. Additionally, fat and muscle weigh exactly the same, muscle is just denser than fat.

    sorry just seen this!
  • Izzwoz
    Izzwoz Posts: 348 Member
    I would definitely suggest starting to weigh your food and consider the accuracy of the calories in vs. out. If all of the individual numbers are just a little bit out and you are aiming for a small deficit, this might be enough to keep you at maintenance rather than loss.
  • srclark89
    srclark89 Posts: 79 Member
    oinkoink2242 wrote: »
    In April 2014, I ate barely anything. I was consuming very little and lost four kilos within four weeks.
    However, since then I have been dieting healthily. I have been eating 1200 calories, then eating my BMR, now eating to a calorie plan which is customised to my statistics.
    But since April I have not lost a single kilo.
    I have been exercising more, eating better, making healthier choices but still the scales won't budge.
    Oddly, people have been saying how much weight I've lost, even though I haven't lost any, but my clothes do feel looser.
    How can I look like I've lost weight, be fitting into smaller clothes, be exercising and eating healthier and be 14kg over weight but not have lost any weight in 9 months?
    Please, any help or advice would be more than welcome!

  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    oinkoink2242 wrote: »
    I haven't set my stride strength in fitbit but never eat the calories back they allocate. I haven't been weighing my food, just estimating with metric measurements like a cup and so on because it's a hassle weighing it at family meals, rather than scooping out a cup.
    I'm going to be more cautious of that, as well as just generally improving my health with exercise and healthy food, which is what I have been doing for the past month. Hopefully with some more time I will start seeing results on the scale as well as longer running distances!

    Well you aren't getting readings tailored as closely as possible to you if you haven't set your stride length ...and whilst it's all estimated you would want to get as close as possible to accurate ...why wouldn't you eat the calories back?

    That said as you have no idea how much you are eating either ..because you're not accurate there so it probably cancels out

    My guess is you're eating close to maintenance and your exercise is giving you a small body recomposition
  • srclark89
    srclark89 Posts: 79 Member
    I don't know how old you are but wonder at who set the scale of the number that dictates that you are over weight. May be that number has changed. There comes a time when it is less about the weight and more about the measurements and how good you feel.? Sorry I'm not very helpful I just know when I reached a certain age I had to re-evaluate those numbers.
  • oinkoink2242
    oinkoink2242 Posts: 17 Member
    To put it into perspective: over the last three days, the scales have not fluctuated a single gram. Even though I ate less on one day and more on the other, and my water intake varied, I didn't lose or gain a single gram.
    I don't eat all the calories back because I like to assume it's a tiny bit inaccurate, and don't want to over eat.
    I'm going to try weighing food, but it just feels a little awkward.
    I'm more than happy to be able to see and feel results, but it's just odd.
  • Soon2BeMrsSherriff
    Soon2BeMrsSherriff Posts: 82 Member
    I completely understand! I have been the same weight for 5 days in a row. 182.3 to be exact! It stinks and I haven't gone over my calorie goal once. So disheartening
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    oinkoink2242 wrote: »
    I haven't set my stride strength in fitbit but never eat the calories back they allocate. I haven't been weighing my food, just estimating with metric measurements like a cup and so on because it's a hassle weighing it at family meals, rather than scooping out a cup.
    I'm going to be more cautious of that, as well as just generally improving my health with exercise and healthy food, which is what I have been doing for the past month. Hopefully with some more time I will start seeing results on the scale as well as longer running distances!

    That's your issue.

    Start weighing your food and I'm sure you'll see movement,
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    oinkoink2242 wrote: »
    How can I look like I've lost weight, be fitting into smaller clothes, be exercising and eating healthier and be 14kg over weight but not have lost any weight in 9 months?
    Please, any help or advice would be more than welcome!

    ^^ This is not the question you should be asking. If you are losing inches, are getting smaller, and even other people are noticing favorable changes in your appearance, who gives a damn what the scale says?
  • Marybeatles
    Marybeatles Posts: 4
    Hi. Im new here. I have been just using the calories and exercising thingy. I do not know what length thing is that you talked about.

    As far as the not losing weight. . . I have found that I could be allergic to a food. If youre allergic to it, it can cause 1/2 lb weight gain per day. Also, are you eating the same foods everyday? if so, id change it up and see if the scale moves. Also, i didnt lose wt for a long time, but lost in inches. The scale can drive a person nuts. I have learned to go by my clothes and how i look in the mirror. No matter what, i exercise! I lost 75 lbs. First was w watchers, but not much in weight. Now 1200 cal give or take. I wish you luck :) its not easy. I gained back 15 lbs from stress recently, but am back on track for 3 days :)
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    @oinkoink2242‌ just wanted too add, I'm in Adelaide. Good too see more Aussies on the boards :D
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    oinkoink2242 wrote: »
    To put it into perspective: over the last three days, the scales have not fluctuated a single gram. Even though I ate less on one day and more on the other, and my water intake varied, I didn't lose or gain a single gram.
    I don't eat all the calories back because I like to assume it's a tiny bit inaccurate, and don't want to over eat.
    I'm going to try weighing food, but it just feels a little awkward.
    I'm more than happy to be able to see and feel results, but it's just odd.

    That's not how weight loss happens ...it's not linear ...and it's certainly not daily ...see how it goes up and down for a couple of weeks then drops ..that's not down to food I've recently consumed but the overall defecit taking into account change in exercise, sodium and hormones. Scale weight in the short term is a bad judge of success

    Here this is mine over a couple of months nboxrqvof0sd.jpg
  • jessupbrady
    jessupbrady Posts: 508 Member
    Side Steel and SaraUK have a ton of great articles (here on FP) that you might want to read. Here is a List.
    I'd recommend starting with this Article.

    OP, When I first read your question it reminded me of what they said about "What you think is accurate may not be". If you are accurately logging your information, then you can use your own information to adjust your goals as opposed to some online calculator.

    Although, you will want to consider accurately measuring with a digital scale. In the aforementioned article there was a link to this youtube video that explains it.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    edited February 2015
    Here's a good graphic of the woosh. This usually what happens to me when I have a stall.
    myx6ckkm6lal.jpeg
  • Springfield1970
    Springfield1970 Posts: 1,945 Member
    christinev297 wrote: »
    Here's a good graphic of the woosh. This usually what happens to me when I have a stall.
    myx6ckkm6lal.jpeg

    The Woosh happens with me every time! I have to have nerves of steel, but I totally believe in my numbers, sit it out, and wooooosh. I'm currently in a stall. I know exactly what's going on with those naughty fat cells, and I'm sitting it out. No way am I cutting further!

  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Springfield1970 wrote: »
    christinev297 wrote: »
    Here's a good graphic of the woosh. This usually what happens to me when I have a stall.
    myx6ckkm6lal.jpeg

    The Woosh happens with me every time! I have to have nerves of steel, but I totally believe in my numbers, sit it out, and wooooosh. I'm currently in a stall. I know exactly what's going on with those naughty fat cells, and I'm sitting it out. No way am I cutting further!

    good on ya :D I refuse to lower my calories even further to!!
    One thing we need in abundance when losing weight is PATIENCE lol :s

  • rustmitt
    rustmitt Posts: 1
    That's happened to me and even though the scale is not reading lower, if you're exercising it's because you are toning muscle in the right places and losing fat from the right places. So the weight is probably just moving around. You'll feel when your waist gets smaller because that's where your clothes are tightest, you probably wouldn't notice if your biceps or calves filled out with muscle because we don't button our clothes there. I've been there! Keep going!
  • MJharry
    MJharry Posts: 8 Member
    Don't want to hijack the thread but this is the first time I've heard of the woosh factor and I like it. How long roughly would you say the woosh cycle is, weeks? months? ... I'm trying to be patient...
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    @mjharry for me it's around every few weeks. But I think it's different for each individual, depending how much weight you need to lose etc etc
    Some signs to look for before a woosh... your fat feels extra squishy, sometimes you can feel tiny marble size lumps under your belly fat, and for me, I wee ALOT the day/night before
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