Don't understand my weight loss results

OP has lost 1.3 lb in 2 weeks.

What is the problem exactly?

rickcantputt wrote: »

Restated another way.....
For my weight loss goal (2 lbs per week) my daily goal is 1700 calories consumed and 380 calories burned through
exercise.
For the past couple of weeks, I have been consuming a daily average of about 1500 calories and burning about
700. I expected better results than 1.3 pounds. Curios as to why this might be ?

Weight loss isn't linear. There will be ups and downs for one reason or another even if you maintain a constant deficit. 3 weeks is hardly any time at all, and you are losing. Patience.

rickcantputt wrote: »

Restated another way.....
For my weight loss goal (2 lbs per week) my daily goal is 1700 calories consumed and 380 calories burned through
exercise.
For the past couple of weeks, I have been consuming a daily average of about 1500 calories and burning about
700. I expected better results than 1.3 pounds. Curios as to why this might be ?

Weight loss isn't linear. There are all sorts variables, some of which you have no control of.

If you are not using a food scale, your calories in are probably a little off.

It is practically impossible to know your exact calorie burn for exercise, so that number can be slightly off as well.

You just started. Sometimes it takes a little time for your body to catch up with what you are doing.

You want to look for a trend over time, and expect to have weeks where your body doesn't do what you expect it to do!

Hi! Congrats on your loss!

I understand it's frustrating that it isn't as much as you had hoped.

The more you hang around here the more you'll see that this is a very, very common topic. I might even say it happens to a majority of people. I can with confidence say it happens eventually to almost everyone.

Don't worry too much, this isn't abnormal. Hang around some and read a few other threads and you'll start noticing a trend.

Move more and eat less and you'll lose weight. It won't magically stick to you.

rickcantputt wrote: »

Restated another way.....
For my weight loss goal (2 lbs per week) my daily goal is 1700 calories consumed and 380 calories burned through
exercise.
For the past couple of weeks, I have been consuming a daily average of about 1500 calories and burning about
700. I expected better results than 1.3 pounds. Curios as to why this might be ?

Welcome to the fight against metabolism you cannot win.

Eat way too little (and 1700 for a male is on the low side to begin with, 1320 and you must be either very short, very thin or very old) and your metabolism fights back by making you colder and wanting to do less exercise.

(expected BMR is calculated based on gender, age, height, weight, activity level - most males with sedentary lifestyles fall in the 1800-2000 calories per day range. At 3500 calories per pound, so less 1000 calories per day to lose 2 lbs per week (7000kcal). The metabolism is looking at borderline starvation.)

If your goal is 1320, then eats 1320 (plus whatever your exercise burns). Stay under that (even by 100) for more than a few days and expect the body to believe it is starving and start trying to conserve. Take 1320 as your bare minimum to consume (and maybe 1800 as your suggested max).

As a experiment for 2 weeks, try averaging 1400-1800 calories per day (including eating back 1/2 your estimate exercise burn). You need to get your metabolism on the same page as your goals (which it sounds like they are currently reading completely separate books).

As others mentioned, weight loss is not linear. Do not expect it to be. Look for weight trends over weeks not days.

2 lbs per week is the MAXIMUM you can safely lose. And the margins between weight loss and metabolism rebellion are very small at that rate.

You may really find for you that you need to eat more to lose more.

Agree with above poster, make sure you are netting at least 1200/1500 a day to fuel your body. Other culprits could be hormonal (time of month if female) or water retention due to high sodium or new workout routine. Please have some patience, as much as we want instant gratification it takes time.

What are your goals and your current weight/height/sex?

rickcantputt wrote: »

69 year old male
5'9"
Currently weigh 172
Goal: 160-162 at 1.5 to 2 lbs per week
Am consuming 1400 - 1600 calories per day (plenty of protein)
Am bicycling about 75 minutes per day at a 10mph pace.
Any suggestions ?

Read about lean mass and prediction re longevity. Read re generating lean mass as we age. Reduce deficit and increase protein subject to kidney function being good to protect lean mass. Engage in strength training 2-3x per week. Weight loss will be much slower. Health results may be better.

Note that as per smartbmi and a whole bunch of longevity studies you are already at an optimum weight level for your age.

Thus you current target rate of loss is excessive.

In my personal lay person opinion, of course. Consult doctor if specific issues, yada, yada.

rickcantputt wrote: »

69 year old male
5'9"
Currently weigh 172
Goal: 160-162 at 1.5 to 2 lbs per week
Am consuming 1400 - 1600 calories per day (plenty of protein)
Am bicycling about 75 minutes per day at a 10mph pace.
Any suggestions ?

A much more reasonable weight loss goal per week would be under one pound. You simply don't have the fat stores to lose at 1.5-2 pounds a week. What you are going to lose at your current rate is not mainly fat, but will be a big loss of lean mass. At 69 that is not a good way to go. You would be far better going at a rate of no more than .5 pound per week, lift weights if you are not already, and eat your calories.

So it seems there is no problem other than unrealistic expectations.

As posters have mentioned above OP should be aiming for loss of around 0.5 lb per week - which he is already getting.

Eat the calorie level (accurately) that you should be and expect a slow and steady weight loss rate.

Good luck Rick, keep it up!