Too much or too little? Crossfitters needed

I've been logging for 4 weeks, crossfitting 4 days/week for 3 weeks and experimenting with my calorie intake. Yes, I weigh and measure everything! My diary is open.

I started at 1500 c/day and I was starving! Did that for a week and then I upped it to 1750 (been there for about 3 weeks) and I'm less starving (still hungry AF tho) and the scale has not budged!

158... week after week... the scale says 158. Zero change. 158... I'm seeing it in my nightmares.

So, am I eating too much and sabatoging myself or too little and starving myself?

I'm 5'5", 32 years old, TDEE is about 2000 calories according to various online calculators. I am tracking body fat and inches (no change) and my clothes don't feel loose. I have no visible signs of progress.

Please help!
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Replies

  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,741 Member
    You don't gain or maintain weight by eating too little, so that's not the issue.

    Are you sure your scale is working properly? If so, then it's only been 4 weeks. With a new exercise schedule and making dietary changes at the same time, water weight fluctuations are normal.

    Keep taking your measurements. If you're consistent and patient you'll see results soon.
  • Cassandraw3
    Cassandraw3 Posts: 1,214 Member
    In my non-expert opinion, I would say it appears that you are eating at a maintenance level. Since you are doing crossfit, have you at least noticed progress there? Certain moves getting easier, lifting heavier, etc.

    I'm 5'4", 29 years old, CW 163 and I go to crossfit 3x a week. I found that with eating around 1500 cal/day, I was losing .5 lb/week. To get that extra .5 lb/week I have been adding running the last few weeks which I find burns fat better than crossfit for me. I knew eating less wouldn't work for me, so that is why I added the extra cardio sessions.
  • DanielleTake2
    DanielleTake2 Posts: 51 Member
    Ok, thanks all. Sorry to seem impatient-- I just didn't want the post to get buried. I appreciate all of your insights.
  • Muscleflex79
    Muscleflex79 Posts: 1,917 Member
    definitely not starving - if you were starving you'd be losing like crazy! as others said - patience!
  • KarenSmith2018
    KarenSmith2018 Posts: 302 Member
    If your TDEE is 2000 calories then eating at a 250 cal deficit a day will result in a 0.5lb a week loss (1750cal deficit). This can be so easily masked by water weight, TOM, DOMS, food in your system etc. You certainly need to give it more time to see a downward trend. I fluctuate my 0.5lbs between daily weigh ins, if not more. Trust the process and give it time for such a small rate of loss (that is entirely appropriate BTW!) I understand the hungry feeling as I cut my calories for a month before my holiday from 2200 to 1700 which should have had me lose a couple of kgs (4ish 1lbs) but only a kg of that actually materialised long term because of the timescales in which i was trying to measure.

    Experiment with what you eating: consider lots of volume foods like vegetables where you can get a whole lot for only a few calories. I long ago swapped rice for cauliflower rice during calorie restriction as you get lots of volume for a tiny amount of calories. It also takes time to adjust to a new eating regieme.

    Good luck and stick with it. The results will appear.
  • SCoil123
    SCoil123 Posts: 2,111 Member
    When you said how many calories you’re eating it looks like a consistent daily amount. Are you logging and eating a portion of exercise calories the days you work out? I know on the days I do my gym workouts (1hr weights followed by 1hr boxing) I eat 300-500 more calories because my body really does need more those days to fuel the activity. I don’t do CrossFit but I think the weight lifting and boxing are probably similar on the body. There is always a conditioning section in our boxing too with things like box jumps and battle ropes

    Play with your macros. This is very individualized, different combinations make people feel more satisfied longer.

    I eat 1500-2000 a day depending on activity and am never that hungry anymore since figuring out which macros work best for me. Proteins and fats keep me full longer than most types of carbs. An example day -

    Breakfast: Black coffee, 2 eggs, piece of fruit or black coffee and protein enriched oatmeal with some dried fruit mixed in and sometimes some nuts

    Lunch: my husband is a chef who makes balanced “Fit meals” so he makes my lunch usually. All are 350-450 cals and protein centric with some steamed veg and starch added. If he doesn’t pack my lunch it’s usually a protein shake I make or I’ll go to jamba and get a smoothie

    Snacks: typically avocados, nuts, protein bar, or yogurt

    Dinner: changes all the time based on how many calories I have left, how active I was that day, and what we have at home to prepare
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited May 2018
    I've been logging for 4 weeks, crossfitting 4 days/week for 3 weeks and experimenting with my calorie intake. Yes, I weigh and measure everything! My diary is open.

    I started at 1500 c/day and I was starving! Did that for a week and then I upped it to 1750 (been there for about 3 weeks) and I'm less starving (still hungry AF tho) and the scale has not budged!

    158... week after week... the scale says 158. Zero change. 158... I'm seeing it in my nightmares.

    So, am I eating too much and sabatoging myself or too little and starving myself?

    I'm 5'5", 32 years old, TDEE is about 2000 calories according to various online calculators. I am tracking body fat and inches (no change) and my clothes don't feel loose. I have no visible signs of progress.

    Please help!

    If you're TDEE is in fact 2,000 calories and you're eating 1750, that would put you at .5 Lb per week deficit. I have done this when I'm training and don't want my performance to suffer but still wanting to cut some weight and the difficult part of having such a small deficit is that it can take a couple of months to see much of anything because your natural weight fluctuations will mask such a small loss.

    Having such a small deficit is also hard because there's basically no margin for error and even when you're trying to be as accurate as possible, there are just inherent inaccuracies in calorie counting.

    If it were me, I'd go with a larger deficit and then play with your macros in regards to your hunger.
  • DanielleTake2
    DanielleTake2 Posts: 51 Member
    Thank you all, so much!!! This is so helpful.
  • DanielleTake2
    DanielleTake2 Posts: 51 Member
    ... and the difficult part of having such a small deficit is that it can take a couple of months to see much of anything because your natural weight fluctuations will mask such a small loss.

    Having such a small deficit is also hard because there's basically no margin for error and even when you're trying to be as accurate as possible, there are just inherent inaccuracies in calorie counting.

    If it were me, I'd go with a larger deficit and then play with your macros in regards to your hunger.

    THIS! This makes sooooooo much sense. Thank you so much!
  • DanielleTake2
    DanielleTake2 Posts: 51 Member

    Measure - yes. Weigh - No. Most of your food logging is by volume (1 cup strawberries, 1/2 cup roasted carrots) or by piece (2 eggs, 1 banana, 1/2 med avocado). Weighing by ounce or by gram is much more accurate. Those "2 eggs" could range from 45-60+ grams each, a combined caloric difference of 44 calories. That "1/2 med avocado" is calorie dense and the logging inaccuracy could be significant.

    Those small inaccuracies can negate any perceived reductions in caloric intake.

    I hear you. And I understand, on an intellectual level, that this is a science - and accuracy matters. But, I have to admit... I'm a bit skeptical of weighing everything (even though I know people swear by it) because... honestly... did any of us get fat by eating an extra ounce of baby carrots? Or 2 extra grams of hard-boiled eggs?

    I'm trying to balance getting results with making realistic changes I can stick to long term.

    I'm thinking about that awful book that came out a few years ago called "French women don't get fat." Essentially, I'm fat because I have a fat person's mentality: FOOD IS THE ENEMY and if I eat it I should hate myself. And I'd really like to develop a healthier relationship with food. Food is something to be enjoyed in moderation.

    I'm really just venting here. NOT trying to offend anyone or sound like I know better (because I don't.) Just spitballin'
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member

    Measure - yes. Weigh - No. Most of your food logging is by volume (1 cup strawberries, 1/2 cup roasted carrots) or by piece (2 eggs, 1 banana, 1/2 med avocado). Weighing by ounce or by gram is much more accurate. Those "2 eggs" could range from 45-60+ grams each, a combined caloric difference of 44 calories. That "1/2 med avocado" is calorie dense and the logging inaccuracy could be significant.

    Those small inaccuracies can negate any perceived reductions in caloric intake.

    I hear you. And I understand, on an intellectual level, that this is a science - and accuracy matters. But, I have to admit... I'm a bit skeptical of weighing everything (even though I know people swear by it) because... honestly... did any of us get fat by eating an extra ounce of baby carrots? Or 2 extra grams of hard-boiled eggs?

    I'm trying to balance getting results with making realistic changes I can stick to long term.

    I'm thinking about that awful book that came out a few years ago called "French women don't get fat." Essentially, I'm fat because I have a fat person's mentality: FOOD IS THE ENEMY and if I eat it I should hate myself. And I'd really like to develop a healthier relationship with food. Food is something to be enjoyed in moderation.

    I'm really just venting here. NOT trying to offend anyone or sound like I know better (because I don't.) Just spitballin'

    Have an extra oz of peanut butter every day and let me know what happens over time. It matters, especially if you're going to come in here complaining about immediacy and results.

    That said, I do think the bolded is key. That's the sweet spot we are all striving for. However, where that sweet spot is varies person to person, but be ready... it might not be where you want it to be.
  • Golferdrone
    Golferdrone Posts: 68 Member
    Most important thing is trust the process, and don't quit. Time will go on regardless, and you will regret it if you do. Here is a rule to understand: Weight Loss is not always a direct reflection of effort. My personal experience: I wakeup every morning around 330 and go for a 8 mile run, 5 days a week. Several of these days I also then go to a cycling class for an hour, and follow up with wrestling practice that I actually wrestle and not just coach. Days I don't go to cycling I go to the gym and work out. In theory the weight should have been falling off, but I hit a stall for weeks after increasing from 5 miles to 8 miles about a month ago. Very frustrating. It took 4 weeks before my body started allowing me to lose again, and now I have lost additional weight. I highly recommend daily weight checks and log them into a tracker that you might be making better progress then you realize. I doubt you are missing 750 calories a day assuming 1.5 lbs a week loss, but if you miss judge your exercise and food it is hard to find the errors. If you get very accurate on your food using a food scale, it makes adjustments much easier. January 8th I was at 278 and now about 225. Yes, it is possible to increase your lifting numbers as well on a calories deficit, just don't expect the same numbers as eating in a surplus.
  • jenniday1229
    jenniday1229 Posts: 27 Member
    edited May 2018
    cwolfman13 wrote: »

    If it were me, I'd go with a larger deficit and then play with your macros in regards to your hunger.

    I agree with this. Personally, I have to go heavy on protein and fats and light on carbs for breakfast or it throws my whole day off and I feel hungry all day, no matter what I eat. So, it's not just macros but how they're allocated throughout the day so you can manage a lower deficit.

  • DanielleTake2
    DanielleTake2 Posts: 51 Member
    Thanks for all the helpful comments, guys. You've all given me a lot to think about.

    Jjpptt2 - Honestly I am not complaining. I am just frustrated with myself and I apologize it came off as impatient or ungrateful. There's really no need to hate me because rest assured, I already want to jump off a building head first. So I hate myself enough for the both of us. I got the message loud and clear: I'm being impatient and I will chill.

    I do sincerely appreciate everyone's advice and words of encouragement.
  • Calliope610
    Calliope610 Posts: 3,783 Member

    Measure - yes. Weigh - No. Most of your food logging is by volume (1 cup strawberries, 1/2 cup roasted carrots) or by piece (2 eggs, 1 banana, 1/2 med avocado). Weighing by ounce or by gram is much more accurate. Those "2 eggs" could range from 45-60+ grams each, a combined caloric difference of 44 calories. That "1/2 med avocado" is calorie dense and the logging inaccuracy could be significant.

    Those small inaccuracies can negate any perceived reductions in caloric intake.

    I hear you. And I understand, on an intellectual level, that this is a science - and accuracy matters. But, I have to admit... I'm a bit skeptical of weighing everything (even though I know people swear by it) because... honestly... did any of us get fat by eating an extra ounce of baby carrots? Or 2 extra grams of hard-boiled eggs?

    I'm trying to balance getting results with making realistic changes I can stick to long term.

    I'm thinking about that awful book that came out a few years ago called "French women don't get fat." Essentially, I'm fat because I have a fat person's mentality: FOOD IS THE ENEMY and if I eat it I should hate myself. And I'd really like to develop a healthier relationship with food. Food is something to be enjoyed in moderation.

    I'm really just venting here. NOT trying to offend anyone or sound like I know better (because I don't.) Just spitballin'

    If you are eating (based on your logging) @ 1750cals and your TDEE is 2000cals, your deficit is only 250cals/day, which translates into a weight loss of about 1/2 lb per week.

    Those couple extra grams and ounces can be critical when dealing with such a small deficit. Especially if the logging isn't tight and accurate. I don't intend to criticize your methods, but if one isn't aware of potential problems, one can't correct them in order to reach the desired results.

    Case in point, your dairy listed Grilled chicken - Chicken, 5 oz @ 125 calories. USDA database for boneless, skinless grilled chicken breast at 210cal for a 5oz serving. 85 calorie discrepancy. Now your deficit is 165 calories. An ounce here, a couple of grams there reduces your deficit even more, until you are really just eating at maintenance and not losing weight at all.

    This approach does not negate the concept of healthy food relationships or even enjoying what you eat. This approach merely addresses accurately assessing how much you consume so you can realistically set weight loss expectations and avoid having nightmares involving unchanging numbers on the scale.
  • Calliope610
    Calliope610 Posts: 3,783 Member
    Jrodasff wrote: »
    Sorry if someone has already said this, but I’m not reading every response. I also am a crossfitter. A vast majority of CF workouts build your glutes, quads and shoulders. These are big muscles. Muscle is way denser and heavier then fat. As you continue to build muscle and increase weight in your lifts, your muscles will naturally continue to grow and the weight scale will not change to much. Weight loss isn’t the tell all truth that we think it is. What I do is not follow my weight so much as I follow my total body fat count. Go get your BF checked at a legit place where they either place you in a body fat measuring Pod or they check you in a pool. Once you measure it, it can be used as a great goal setter to decrease in a few months for the next time you check it. Hopefully this makes sense. In a nutshell follow your Body Fat loss instead of weight loss.

    OP states in her first post that she tracks body fat and takes measurements and has seen no change.