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Hit a wall - Why has progress stopped

clairebear2504
clairebear2504 Posts: 4 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I've been using MFP for almost a year and have lost 28lb. I haven't tried to drastically reduce my calories overnight because I didn't want it to feel like punishment :D I was steadily losing weight but now I am finding that although my clothes are much looser and I am buying a smaller size again, my weight hasn't been going down. I am finding that I sit at the same weight for weeks. Why is this? I was 13st12lb for almost a month and then I weighed myself one morning (I weigh daily) and 6lb had disappeared. I'm now still at 13st6lb and have been for 3 weeks and have just fluctuated +\- a lb or two. Despite the scales not budging I have lost another dress size and am in a size 12 again.

I have cut my calories down by 200 the last 2 week to 1000 a day in hope that it may push the weight loss but no results so far? Am I doing something wrong? It's worked for me the rest of the time so why not now?

I love the idea of going by how my clothes feel but I can't do that now because I need my BMI to be 29.9 or less to qualify for our upcoming IVF treatment so numbers matter - currently have a bmi of 30.2

Replies

  • omakase619
    omakase619 Posts: 226 Member
    1. Are you weighing your food?
    2. Exercise more?
    3. Weigh yourself in the morning before you eat anything
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,488 Member
    Your calories are too low. 1000 does not provide you with adequate nutrition.
    Please raise them back up to losing 1 lbs a week.
    With such a low calorie goal you will become lethargic and your normal activity level will drop. This will in turn mean you will need less calories than one needs for a sedentary activity level. You could also develop health problems.

    As to why you aren't losing. Without much information, the most obvious thing for you to look at is your logging. Make sure you are using a digital scale to weigh all solids. Liquids can be measured with cups and spoons.

    If you put it in your mouth; put it on the scale first.

    Double check that you are using accurate entries also.

    If you haven't been for a check up since you started losing weight make an appointment for one. There are a number of problems (thyroid, hormone imbalances, etc) that, if left untreated, can affect your weight loss.

    If you post your stats, goals, and make sure your diary is open you will get more specific help.

    Cheers, h.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,150 Member
    Kinda sounds like your a person who losing weight in whooshes rather than steady losses.
  • StealthHealth
    StealthHealth Posts: 2,417 Member
    edited April 2017
    IMHO @middlehaitch 's post nails the key questions.

    I note that for 26 YO woman of 5'5" (I just picked an average height) that the difference between BMI of 30.2 and BMI 29.9 is 1lb, so there is no reason to panic - You could (not suggesting that this is the best or your only option) drop that by eating low carb for a couple or three days before your weigh in.

    When is your weigh-in appointment?
  • clairebear2504
    clairebear2504 Posts: 4 Member
    Is it bad to "whoosh"?

    Yes am 5"5 and a half , I think I have my BMI calculated correctly based on this? it's not far at all but that is the maximum I can be but naturally I would like to be as healthy as possible before starting treatment.
  • StealthHealth
    StealthHealth Posts: 2,417 Member
    edited April 2017
    I think that there are two things being discussed here.

    Whooshes are a frequently seen phenomenon as part of normal weight loss. This is where a dieter will see their weight drop in "chunks" rather than a more linear (a little bit each few days) pattern.

    The thing that I mentioned is more of a trick to show a lower scale weight for a specific weigh-in. It's something that sportsmen and women sometimes to to make a weight classification for their sport (like in boxing where the competitor must not be over a specified weight). In this instance, the "dieter" is manipulating their glycogen stores and therefore retained water to reduce weight - the weight reduction is not fat loss.

    So, this second method is a bit of a cheat really, but it a tool that you may want to fall back on if you can't make the weight by fat loss.

    So, moving on...

    I still agree with everything that @middlehaitch says.. I think you need to be eating more and suspect that lower calories plus the stress of the IVF deadline are contributing to your lack of loss recently (Cortisol increase = fat retention). So, keep calm and carry on with a moderate deficit. Don't do anything stupid or be looking for any quick fixes (until few days before where you may want to look at low carb for the glycogen/water losses as mentioned above)

  • VintageFeline
    VintageFeline Posts: 6,771 Member
    I'm 5'5, I have never ever dropped to 1000 calories a day. Ever. Bad idea. Especially bad if you're trying to be healthy enough for IVF cycles.

    Whooshes are not bad as StealthHealth says, it's just how your body works. It's largely how mine works too. On average you are still losing and knowing it comes off in chunks you shouldn't be doing anything to your calorie goal for a good 6-8 weeks as that's how long it will take to see what's happening.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,368 Member
    Water retention due to hormones. Guaranteed. Guessing your period is due soon (or ending)?

    I only ever lost the week after my period (sometimes 6 pounds at a time too), then nothing until the next one.
  • clairebear2504
    clairebear2504 Posts: 4 Member
    edited April 2017
    No period due or just finished, partly why I am doing IVF...

    Just to clarify I have been on a steady 1200 calories before my little meltdown for weigh in. I'll go back to this now I know it was a dumb move to make!

    Stress is at peak! Ivf referral imminent and wedding in June...
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Do you use a food scale?

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This discussion has been closed.