weight loss plateau so early?

curvygirly911
curvygirly911 Posts: 105 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I am really frustrated because I have been eating at a caloric deficit of 500-700 calories daily and in the last two weeks I have lost 0.6 lbs. This is my first month trying this and I do not think I could have hit a plateau already.
I am just wondering if I can workout, track my food and eat at a deficit and get results even if the scale says otherwise? I understand that I could be gaining muscle but I am wondering if it could be muscle this early on in the game?

I eat about 1300-1500 calories daily and with my BMR and exercise calories I burn about 2100. I use a polar hrm to track how many calories I burn so it is accurate. I tend to overestimate calories just so I do not end up eating more than I should be eating. My diet is not clean, it is about average in which I eat relatively healthy with some junk and fast food here and there. My medication's side effect makes it tough to lose weight but I am really not happy to take any other medication or stimulants to counteract that.

Just wondering if it is normal to have the weight scale show differently compared to what MFP is estimating your loss should be. For example, MFP said I would lose 1.5 lb this week and I lost 0.1.

Sorry if I sound negative, it's just that in the past I have also worked out and eaten relatively healthy and didn't lose weight. I am incorporating tracking my food calories now so I am hoping that will make a difference.

Replies

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    First off, a plateau is 4-6 weeks of no loss.

    It possible that you have some inaccuracies in your logging...these can be caused by using erroneous database entries, generic database entries, or eyeballing of serving sizes.

    Beyond that, weight loss isn't a linear function...the formula MFP uses is overly simplistic...it's just using the whole 3,500 calories = 1 Lb thing and doing a simple formula...our bodies are for more complex than that. Weight loss is a general trend over time....lots of time. You will have weeks with smaller losses, weeks with bigger losses, weeks with no losses, and even weeks with gains...but as a general trend over weeks and months, weight should be overall trending down. If it's not, you adjust your calories down.
  • dearmrsowl
    dearmrsowl Posts: 151 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    First off, a plateau is 4-6 weeks of no loss.

    It possible that you have some inaccuracies in your logging...these can be caused by using erroneous database entries, generic database entries, or eyeballing of serving sizes.

    Beyond that, weight loss isn't a linear function...the formula MFP uses is overly simplistic...it's just using the whole 3,500 calories = 1 Lb thing and doing a simple formula...our bodies are for more complex than that. Weight loss is a general trend over time....lots of time. You will have weeks with smaller losses, weeks with bigger losses, weeks with no losses, and even weeks with gains...but as a general trend over weeks and months, weight should be overall trending down. If it's not, you adjust your calories down.

    ^ This exactly.
    Are you using a food scale?
  • foiensoi
    foiensoi Posts: 49 Member
    Keep tracking, it will make a difference. Weight loss isn't the same every week so don't be discouraged by the scale not moving. Be consistent and you'll get there. And eating at a deficit, you may be strengthening muscles but you won't be building up any muscle (you have to eat at a surplus for that), certainly not enough to lead to weight gain anyway. Weigh yourself at the same time on the same day each week (I do it in the morning first thing after the bathroom) and bear in mind it could go up or down a little bit each day, try to keep the overall journey in mind. If you're continuously at a deficit, you'll get there!
  • GsKiki
    GsKiki Posts: 392 Member
    If you are certain that you log and weight everything correctly, and that you are indeed in calorie deficit, just keep going with your plan and you will see results.
    Some people gain a little bit of weight when first starting, some lose a lot, and some just a little. Every body reacts differently.
    If you are 100% sure in your logging and exercising, keep on with your plan.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    i dont think plateau means what you think it means.....
  • blues4miles
    blues4miles Posts: 1,481 Member
    callsitlikeiseeit wrote: »
    i dont think plateau means what you think it means.....

    Inconceivable!

  • curvygirly911
    curvygirly911 Posts: 105 Member
    Thank you for everyone's nice replies. I was mistaken about the term plateau. I was under the impression it was a plateau if there was no change on the scale for two weeks. Thanks for the clarification!
  • rgbmore
    rgbmore Posts: 85 Member
    http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/weight-loss-plateau-myth-muscle-weighs-more-than-fat/

    This is a great article about "plateaus".

    But like everyone else has said, it'll probably just drop off the longer you go at it rather than at a steady, mechanical rate.
    Good luck!
  • MikeAV8s
    MikeAV8s Posts: 85 Member
    In the last 5 weeks I have lost a little over 6 pounds. LAST WEEK, I lost .4, that's POINT 4. But that is how it works. Keep digging, you will get there!!
  • MikeAV8s
    MikeAV8s Posts: 85 Member
    rgbmore wrote: »
    http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/weight-loss-plateau-myth-muscle-weighs-more-than-fat/

    This is a great article about "plateaus".

    But like everyone else has said, it'll probably just drop off the longer you go at it rather than at a steady, mechanical rate.
    Good luck!

    Hey, That's pretty good!
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,783 Member
    callsitlikeiseeit wrote: »
    i dont think plateau means what you think it means.....

    Anybody want a peanut?
This discussion has been closed.

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