2 months and no weight loss... Advice?
daniellepage12
Posts: 6 Member
Wondered if I could ask some advice - I'm 25y/o, 5'5, weighing 11st2 (as of this morning), BMI 26.7 according to NHS calculator. About 2 months ago I bit the bullet and decided I wanted to properly do something about my weight (I was 11st6), so I started eating healthier, counting calories, and joined a gym.
Beforehand, I would eat pretty much whatever I fancied, whenever I fancied it - and I have NEVER been an active person beyond walking. So I'm a bit confused, given that I'm now eating much healthier and exercising for the first time in my life, that I'm not really shifting weight.
I'm definitely eating healthier - choosing healthier options overall, limiting snacking - and I'm sticking as best I can to a daily calorie goal of 1200 - although I don't want to totally deprive myself (I won't stick to a diet if I'm not enjoying it!) so some days I might go a little closer to 1400 to allow myself a treat. I would estimate my weekly average to be about 1300. I'm counting absolutely everything I eat/drink in the limit, including even adding calories for the coffee I might have at work. Some days if I really fancy something a bit unhealthy or higher calorie, I'll make sure to balance it out - e.g. if I really want that bacon sandwich at lunch, I'll have something low carb/low fat/high protein/overall low calorie for dinner, so I'm still as close to 1200 as I can be.
I'm exercising at least 3 times a week, doing a mix of resistance work (I have noticed I'm able to lift a little more with my arms now, so at least that is a gain of some sort!), and cardio - usually burning a minimum of 200 calories per visit, with a mix of rowing, indoor cycling, elliptical machine, and fast walking on a high incline or jogging on the treadmill, or a HIIT style class sometimes. I have definitely noticed changes in my fitness (given I had 0 fitness before), and am able to go longer on the machines now without feeling like I have hit my limit, so I aim for about 40 minutes cardio total, either on 1 machine or total 40 minutes on a mix of machines.
Can someone shed any light on any reasons why, given all of the above, I seem to not be losing any weight at all!? I'm pretty much stuck somewhere between 11st-11st4, and nothing is shifting. I keep thinking I've noticed a slight difference in the shape of my arms/waist/stomach, but then I don't know if I might be *trying* to notice a difference, or if I actually am. I don't think I'm one of those people who is 'naturally' this shape, as I used to be a lot thinner (granted, it was when I was in my late teens). It's really starting to demotivate me that I'm trying hard, eating better and doing much more exercise than I ever have, but not dropping any weight!
Beforehand, I would eat pretty much whatever I fancied, whenever I fancied it - and I have NEVER been an active person beyond walking. So I'm a bit confused, given that I'm now eating much healthier and exercising for the first time in my life, that I'm not really shifting weight.
I'm definitely eating healthier - choosing healthier options overall, limiting snacking - and I'm sticking as best I can to a daily calorie goal of 1200 - although I don't want to totally deprive myself (I won't stick to a diet if I'm not enjoying it!) so some days I might go a little closer to 1400 to allow myself a treat. I would estimate my weekly average to be about 1300. I'm counting absolutely everything I eat/drink in the limit, including even adding calories for the coffee I might have at work. Some days if I really fancy something a bit unhealthy or higher calorie, I'll make sure to balance it out - e.g. if I really want that bacon sandwich at lunch, I'll have something low carb/low fat/high protein/overall low calorie for dinner, so I'm still as close to 1200 as I can be.
I'm exercising at least 3 times a week, doing a mix of resistance work (I have noticed I'm able to lift a little more with my arms now, so at least that is a gain of some sort!), and cardio - usually burning a minimum of 200 calories per visit, with a mix of rowing, indoor cycling, elliptical machine, and fast walking on a high incline or jogging on the treadmill, or a HIIT style class sometimes. I have definitely noticed changes in my fitness (given I had 0 fitness before), and am able to go longer on the machines now without feeling like I have hit my limit, so I aim for about 40 minutes cardio total, either on 1 machine or total 40 minutes on a mix of machines.
Can someone shed any light on any reasons why, given all of the above, I seem to not be losing any weight at all!? I'm pretty much stuck somewhere between 11st-11st4, and nothing is shifting. I keep thinking I've noticed a slight difference in the shape of my arms/waist/stomach, but then I don't know if I might be *trying* to notice a difference, or if I actually am. I don't think I'm one of those people who is 'naturally' this shape, as I used to be a lot thinner (granted, it was when I was in my late teens). It's really starting to demotivate me that I'm trying hard, eating better and doing much more exercise than I ever have, but not dropping any weight!
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Replies
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If you open your diary, we may be able to help you figure out if you have any logging errors. The most common cause of people not losing when they expect to do so seems to be accidentally eating more than they think they are.11
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Are you using a food scale? Have you double checked that the entries you are using in the database are giving you accurate numbers? Would you be willing to temporarily make your diet public?
With your stats, you should be losing weight. 1200 cals is just not a lot of food, and you aren't very short or sedentary. 99.9 times out of 100, it's a logging issue - it's a skill that for a lot of us took some practice and advice to get right!13 -
First look at measuring accuracy. If you are truly eating 1200-1300 calories, your fat loss should be in the neighborhood of 1 pound per week - if you were doing zero exercise.
You should have at least some trend by now, even if it's partially masked by fluctuations. How often have you weighed yourself over these 2 months?
Are you measuring and weighing everything you eat?7 -
I would also use a tape measure to be sure- of inches lost sometimes this is a good indicator as well as how snug your clothes fit. Seems like you may not have a whole lost to lose- I am not familar with stones( I am american so I know pounds lol). However, if you are truly eating less and exercising more then maybe the weight loss is coming.1
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Hi guys - thanks for all the quick replies!
I am trying to over-estimate calories if something doesn't have a count and I'm unsure, and I'm weighing everything I cook as much as is possible - right down to measuring out 125ml wine if I have a drink on a Saturday! And I always check the numbers are accurate for calories etc if I add something to my diary. I do genuinely think I'm logging as accurately as I can but perhaps I'm making errors somewhere that hasn't occurred to me...?
It has occurred to me that this can't really be possible but I do genuinely think I'm recording everything accurately..! Even when it means being harsh on myself and admitting I've eaten more than I should have.
I *think* I've just made it public - if that helps!0 -
daniellepage12 wrote: »Hi guys - thanks for all the quick replies!
I am trying to over-estimate calories if something doesn't have a count and I'm unsure, and I'm weighing everything I cook as much as is possible - right down to measuring out 125ml wine if I have a drink on a Saturday! And I always check the numbers are accurate for calories etc if I add something to my diary. I do genuinely think I'm logging as accurately as I can but perhaps I'm making errors somewhere that hasn't occurred to me...?
It has occurred to me that this can't really be possible but I do genuinely think I'm recording everything accurately..! Even when it means being harsh on myself and admitting I've eaten more than I should have.
I *think* I've just made it public - if that helps!
It looks like you're using entries for homemade foods that have been created by other people (the chili?). These can be an issue because you have no idea if your recipe is close to theirs or not.
Coffee with milk -- don't log this as one entry (unless you make the entry yourself). You have no way of knowing if the amount of milk you're using is the same as the person who created the entry.
Everything you're logging in weights is very round numbers. Are you sure you're weighing all these items? It's odd that everything would come out exactly round like that.
It looks like you just started logging on the 23rd. Before you conclude your plan isn't working, I would give it a chance to actually work and get a few more weeks of logging in (maybe creating your own entries for food you're cooking yourself).12 -
daniellepage12 wrote: »Hi guys - thanks for all the quick replies!
I am trying to over-estimate calories if something doesn't have a count and I'm unsure, and I'm weighing everything I cook as much as is possible - right down to measuring out 125ml wine if I have a drink on a Saturday! And I always check the numbers are accurate for calories etc if I add something to my diary. I do genuinely think I'm logging as accurately as I can but perhaps I'm making errors somewhere that hasn't occurred to me...?
It has occurred to me that this can't really be possible but I do genuinely think I'm recording everything accurately..! Even when it means being harsh on myself and admitting I've eaten more than I should have.
I *think* I've just made it public - if that helps!
There's a lot of name-brand recipe style entries used, like sausage roll and sandwich - were these takeaways you got? And a homemade chili entry - was the chili your recipe, or did you find that in the database?
If you are choosing recipe style entries in the database for things you are making yourself, they can be way off. You are better off logging individual ingredients or using the recipe builder to create your own entries.
Also, I don't see any cooking oil, condiments, beverages other than the coffee. Are you not using any or are they including in the one meal entry?7 -
janejellyroll wrote: »daniellepage12 wrote: »Hi guys - thanks for all the quick replies!
I am trying to over-estimate calories if something doesn't have a count and I'm unsure, and I'm weighing everything I cook as much as is possible - right down to measuring out 125ml wine if I have a drink on a Saturday! And I always check the numbers are accurate for calories etc if I add something to my diary. I do genuinely think I'm logging as accurately as I can but perhaps I'm making errors somewhere that hasn't occurred to me...?
It has occurred to me that this can't really be possible but I do genuinely think I'm recording everything accurately..! Even when it means being harsh on myself and admitting I've eaten more than I should have.
I *think* I've just made it public - if that helps!
It looks like you're using entries for homemade foods that have been created by other people (the chili?). These can be an issue because you have no idea if your recipe is close to theirs or not.
Coffee with milk -- don't log this as one entry (unless you make the entry yourself). You have no way of knowing if the amount of milk you're using is the same as the person who created the entry.
Everything you're logging in weights is very round numbers. Are you sure you're weighing all these items? It's odd that everything would come out exactly round like that.
It looks like you just started logging on the 23rd. Before you conclude your plan isn't working, I would give it a chance to actually work and get a few more weeks of logging in (maybe creating your own entries for food you're cooking yourself).
Thanks Jane - I have been logging a bit longer but there are 2 gaps where I went away and didn't log, although I was still eating healthy even if not keeping strict track of it. Fair points on the entries from other people - perhaps I'm underestimating at times by using these... The weights are correct though for when I'm making something myself - I am just a bit of a weirdo for round numbers so I tend to stick to multiples of 5g/ml a lot. Genuine measurements, I'm just weird!!
I'll be a bit more careful to log my own items more carefully going forward - hopefully that will help!0 -
daniellepage12 wrote: »Hi guys - thanks for all the quick replies!
I am trying to over-estimate calories if something doesn't have a count and I'm unsure, and I'm weighing everything I cook as much as is possible - right down to measuring out 125ml wine if I have a drink on a Saturday! And I always check the numbers are accurate for calories etc if I add something to my diary. I do genuinely think I'm logging as accurately as I can but perhaps I'm making errors somewhere that hasn't occurred to me...?
It has occurred to me that this can't really be possible but I do genuinely think I'm recording everything accurately..! Even when it means being harsh on myself and admitting I've eaten more than I should have.
I *think* I've just made it public - if that helps!
There's a lot of name-brand recipe style entries used, like sausage roll and sandwich - were these takeaways you got? And a homemade chili entry - was the chili your recipe, or did you find that in the database?
If you are choosing recipe style entries in the database for things you are making yourself, they can be way off. You are better off logging individual ingredients or using the recipe builder to create your own entries.
Also, I don't see any cooking oil, condiments, beverages other than the coffee. Are you not using any or are they including in the one meal entry?
Yes, they likely will be! I work in a city and (terrible, I know) I tend to buy my lunch most days, so sandwiches and things tend to be brands. I do try to choose healthy options as much as I can though, even though I know I should prep my own lunches! The chilli wasn't my recipe, so I'll have to be careful with that sort of thing...
I don't use cooking oil often at all, and condiments very very rarely - and I tend to stick to water when I'm not drinking coffee so no extra calories there!! If I ever have drinks with calories I do note them - e.g. there's a fruit juice I sometimes get with lunch, which I add, when I have it.
Thanks again everyone for the help I feel like I must be doing something dumb to not be making progress...!1 -
daniellepage12 wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »daniellepage12 wrote: »Hi guys - thanks for all the quick replies!
I am trying to over-estimate calories if something doesn't have a count and I'm unsure, and I'm weighing everything I cook as much as is possible - right down to measuring out 125ml wine if I have a drink on a Saturday! And I always check the numbers are accurate for calories etc if I add something to my diary. I do genuinely think I'm logging as accurately as I can but perhaps I'm making errors somewhere that hasn't occurred to me...?
It has occurred to me that this can't really be possible but I do genuinely think I'm recording everything accurately..! Even when it means being harsh on myself and admitting I've eaten more than I should have.
I *think* I've just made it public - if that helps!
It looks like you're using entries for homemade foods that have been created by other people (the chili?). These can be an issue because you have no idea if your recipe is close to theirs or not.
Coffee with milk -- don't log this as one entry (unless you make the entry yourself). You have no way of knowing if the amount of milk you're using is the same as the person who created the entry.
Everything you're logging in weights is very round numbers. Are you sure you're weighing all these items? It's odd that everything would come out exactly round like that.
It looks like you just started logging on the 23rd. Before you conclude your plan isn't working, I would give it a chance to actually work and get a few more weeks of logging in (maybe creating your own entries for food you're cooking yourself).
Thanks Jane - I have been logging a bit longer but there are 2 gaps where I went away and didn't log, although I was still eating healthy even if not keeping strict track of it. Fair points on the entries from other people - perhaps I'm underestimating at times by using these... The weights are correct though for when I'm making something myself - I am just a bit of a weirdo for round numbers so I tend to stick to multiples of 5g/ml a lot. Genuine measurements, I'm just weird!!
I'll be a bit more careful to log my own items more carefully going forward - hopefully that will help!
Yep, when you're choosing "homemade" or "generic" entries that other people have made, you're really rolling the dice. The person who created it could be anyone -- a fantastically accurate logger or someone who has no idea what they're doing. Even if they created a perfect database entry for the chili they made, you have no idea if the recipe resembles the chili that you're making. Different choices in ingredients can results in differences of hundreds of calories. So it's always safer to use the Recipe Builder to create an entry for the version that you're making.
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janejellyroll wrote: »daniellepage12 wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »daniellepage12 wrote: »Hi guys - thanks for all the quick replies!
I am trying to over-estimate calories if something doesn't have a count and I'm unsure, and I'm weighing everything I cook as much as is possible - right down to measuring out 125ml wine if I have a drink on a Saturday! And I always check the numbers are accurate for calories etc if I add something to my diary. I do genuinely think I'm logging as accurately as I can but perhaps I'm making errors somewhere that hasn't occurred to me...?
It has occurred to me that this can't really be possible but I do genuinely think I'm recording everything accurately..! Even when it means being harsh on myself and admitting I've eaten more than I should have.
I *think* I've just made it public - if that helps!
It looks like you're using entries for homemade foods that have been created by other people (the chili?). These can be an issue because you have no idea if your recipe is close to theirs or not.
Coffee with milk -- don't log this as one entry (unless you make the entry yourself). You have no way of knowing if the amount of milk you're using is the same as the person who created the entry.
Everything you're logging in weights is very round numbers. Are you sure you're weighing all these items? It's odd that everything would come out exactly round like that.
It looks like you just started logging on the 23rd. Before you conclude your plan isn't working, I would give it a chance to actually work and get a few more weeks of logging in (maybe creating your own entries for food you're cooking yourself).
Thanks Jane - I have been logging a bit longer but there are 2 gaps where I went away and didn't log, although I was still eating healthy even if not keeping strict track of it. Fair points on the entries from other people - perhaps I'm underestimating at times by using these... The weights are correct though for when I'm making something myself - I am just a bit of a weirdo for round numbers so I tend to stick to multiples of 5g/ml a lot. Genuine measurements, I'm just weird!!
I'll be a bit more careful to log my own items more carefully going forward - hopefully that will help!
Yep, when you're choosing "homemade" or "generic" entries that other people have made, you're really rolling the dice. The person who created it could be anyone -- a fantastically accurate logger or someone who has no idea what they're doing. Even if they created a perfect database entry for the chili they made, you have no idea if the recipe resembles the chili that you're making. Different choices in ingredients can results in differences of hundreds of calories. So it's always safer to use the Recipe Builder to create an entry for the version that you're making.
That's really helpful Jane - thank you!4 -
daniellepage12 wrote: »daniellepage12 wrote: »Hi guys - thanks for all the quick replies!
I am trying to over-estimate calories if something doesn't have a count and I'm unsure, and I'm weighing everything I cook as much as is possible - right down to measuring out 125ml wine if I have a drink on a Saturday! And I always check the numbers are accurate for calories etc if I add something to my diary. I do genuinely think I'm logging as accurately as I can but perhaps I'm making errors somewhere that hasn't occurred to me...?
It has occurred to me that this can't really be possible but I do genuinely think I'm recording everything accurately..! Even when it means being harsh on myself and admitting I've eaten more than I should have.
I *think* I've just made it public - if that helps!
There's a lot of name-brand recipe style entries used, like sausage roll and sandwich - were these takeaways you got? And a homemade chili entry - was the chili your recipe, or did you find that in the database?
If you are choosing recipe style entries in the database for things you are making yourself, they can be way off. You are better off logging individual ingredients or using the recipe builder to create your own entries.
Also, I don't see any cooking oil, condiments, beverages other than the coffee. Are you not using any or are they including in the one meal entry?
Yes, they likely will be! I work in a city and (terrible, I know) I tend to buy my lunch most days, so sandwiches and things tend to be brands. I do try to choose healthy options as much as I can though, even though I know I should prep my own lunches! The chilli wasn't my recipe, so I'll have to be careful with that sort of thing...
I don't use cooking oil often at all, and condiments very very rarely - and I tend to stick to water when I'm not drinking coffee so no extra calories there!! If I ever have drinks with calories I do note them - e.g. there's a fruit juice I sometimes get with lunch, which I add, when I have it.
Thanks again everyone for the help I feel like I must be doing something dumb to not be making progress...!
Healthy option doesn't do anything to weight loss, it's calories in vs calories out. You can gain weight by eating healthy and you can lose weight by eating junk too. All of these is a possibility if you don't check your calories and weigh your food. Ideally you should prepare your own meals and weigh them out so that you can accurately know how much you're eating, but judging by what you wrote, there isn't much accuracy and that's the problem on why you're not losing weight or at the very least reduce some of your portions of foods that you usually eat if weighing is a burden on you. So even though you thought you were eating at 1200 calories, in reality you were most probably eating much more than you thought.8 -
daniellepage12 wrote: »daniellepage12 wrote: »Hi guys - thanks for all the quick replies!
I am trying to over-estimate calories if something doesn't have a count and I'm unsure, and I'm weighing everything I cook as much as is possible - right down to measuring out 125ml wine if I have a drink on a Saturday! And I always check the numbers are accurate for calories etc if I add something to my diary. I do genuinely think I'm logging as accurately as I can but perhaps I'm making errors somewhere that hasn't occurred to me...?
It has occurred to me that this can't really be possible but I do genuinely think I'm recording everything accurately..! Even when it means being harsh on myself and admitting I've eaten more than I should have.
I *think* I've just made it public - if that helps!
There's a lot of name-brand recipe style entries used, like sausage roll and sandwich - were these takeaways you got? And a homemade chili entry - was the chili your recipe, or did you find that in the database?
If you are choosing recipe style entries in the database for things you are making yourself, they can be way off. You are better off logging individual ingredients or using the recipe builder to create your own entries.
Also, I don't see any cooking oil, condiments, beverages other than the coffee. Are you not using any or are they including in the one meal entry?
Yes, they likely will be! I work in a city and (terrible, I know) I tend to buy my lunch most days, so sandwiches and things tend to be brands. I do try to choose healthy options as much as I can though, even though I know I should prep my own lunches! The chilli wasn't my recipe, so I'll have to be careful with that sort of thing...
I don't use cooking oil often at all, and condiments very very rarely - and I tend to stick to water when I'm not drinking coffee so no extra calories there!! If I ever have drinks with calories I do note them - e.g. there's a fruit juice I sometimes get with lunch, which I add, when I have it.
Thanks again everyone for the help I feel like I must be doing something dumb to not be making progress...!
It really is a learning process! It isn't necessary to log super-accurately to lose weight (it's not necessary to log at all!), but because you are stalled, you might want to get really anal about it for a few weeks, just to get a good baseline. Don't use existing recipe style entries. When I make chili, I weigh all my ingredients as they're going into the slow cooker, divide by the number of servings and log each one - __g of ground meat, __g of black beans, __g of diced tomatoes, etc. Or I could use the recipe builder, weigh everything going into the pot and then just log 1 serving of my recipe.
If the places you are buying lunch from don't have entries in the database, it might be a good exercise to try mentally deconstructing the item and log individual ingredients to get an idea if a similar restaurant's entry in the database really is a good one to use. You'll figure it out!3 -
daniellepage12 wrote: »daniellepage12 wrote: »Hi guys - thanks for all the quick replies!
I am trying to over-estimate calories if something doesn't have a count and I'm unsure, and I'm weighing everything I cook as much as is possible - right down to measuring out 125ml wine if I have a drink on a Saturday! And I always check the numbers are accurate for calories etc if I add something to my diary. I do genuinely think I'm logging as accurately as I can but perhaps I'm making errors somewhere that hasn't occurred to me...?
It has occurred to me that this can't really be possible but I do genuinely think I'm recording everything accurately..! Even when it means being harsh on myself and admitting I've eaten more than I should have.
I *think* I've just made it public - if that helps!
There's a lot of name-brand recipe style entries used, like sausage roll and sandwich - were these takeaways you got? And a homemade chili entry - was the chili your recipe, or did you find that in the database?
If you are choosing recipe style entries in the database for things you are making yourself, they can be way off. You are better off logging individual ingredients or using the recipe builder to create your own entries.
Also, I don't see any cooking oil, condiments, beverages other than the coffee. Are you not using any or are they including in the one meal entry?
Yes, they likely will be! I work in a city and (terrible, I know) I tend to buy my lunch most days, so sandwiches and things tend to be brands. I do try to choose healthy options as much as I can though, even though I know I should prep my own lunches! The chilli wasn't my recipe, so I'll have to be careful with that sort of thing...
I don't use cooking oil often at all, and condiments very very rarely - and I tend to stick to water when I'm not drinking coffee so no extra calories there!! If I ever have drinks with calories I do note them - e.g. there's a fruit juice I sometimes get with lunch, which I add, when I have it.
Thanks again everyone for the help I feel like I must be doing something dumb to not be making progress...!
It really is a learning process! It isn't necessary to log super-accurately to lose weight (it's not necessary to log at all!), but because you are stalled, you might want to get really anal about it for a few weeks, just to get a good baseline. Don't use existing recipe style entries. When I make chili, I weigh all my ingredients as they're going into the slow cooker, divide by the number of servings and log each one - __g of ground meat, __g of black beans, __g of diced tomatoes, etc. Or I could use the recipe builder, weigh everything going into the pot and then just log 1 serving of my recipe.
If the places you are buying lunch from don't have entries in the database, it might be a good exercise to try mentally deconstructing the item and log individual ingredients to get an idea if a similar restaurant's entry in the database really is a good one to use. You'll figure it out!
Thanks Kim - I think I will need to be super strict with it until I see some changes.
For lunches, if I don't have the specific calories, I tend to try to do that and estimate overall calories, even over-estimating to be careful, but perhaps I need to think about ingredients it a bit more to make sure I'm logging accurately...
This is really helpful, thank you! Fingers crossed I'll start to see progress before long.3 -
daniellepage12 wrote: »Wondered if I could ask some advice - I'm 25y/o, 5'5, weighing 11st2 (as of this morning), BMI 26.7 according to NHS calculator. About 2 months ago I bit the bullet and decided I wanted to properly do something about my weight (I was 11st6), so I started eating healthier, counting calories, and joined a gym.
Beforehand, I would eat pretty much whatever I fancied, whenever I fancied it - and I have NEVER been an active person beyond walking. So I'm a bit confused, given that I'm now eating much healthier and exercising for the first time in my life, that I'm not really shifting weight.
I'm definitely eating healthier - choosing healthier options overall, limiting snacking - and I'm sticking as best I can to a daily calorie goal of 1200 - although I don't want to totally deprive myself (I won't stick to a diet if I'm not enjoying it!) so some days I might go a little closer to 1400 to allow myself a treat. I would estimate my weekly average to be about 1300. I'm counting absolutely everything I eat/drink in the limit, including even adding calories for the coffee I might have at work. Some days if I really fancy something a bit unhealthy or higher calorie, I'll make sure to balance it out - e.g. if I really want that bacon sandwich at lunch, I'll have something low carb/low fat/high protein/overall low calorie for dinner, so I'm still as close to 1200 as I can be.
I'm exercising at least 3 times a week, doing a mix of resistance work (I have noticed I'm able to lift a little more with my arms now, so at least that is a gain of some sort!), and cardio - usually burning a minimum of 200 calories per visit, with a mix of rowing, indoor cycling, elliptical machine, and fast walking on a high incline or jogging on the treadmill, or a HIIT style class sometimes. I have definitely noticed changes in my fitness (given I had 0 fitness before), and am able to go longer on the machines now without feeling like I have hit my limit, so I aim for about 40 minutes cardio total, either on 1 machine or total 40 minutes on a mix of machines.
Can someone shed any light on any reasons why, given all of the above, I seem to not be losing any weight at all!? I'm pretty much stuck somewhere between 11st-11st4, and nothing is shifting. I keep thinking I've noticed a slight difference in the shape of my arms/waist/stomach, but then I don't know if I might be *trying* to notice a difference, or if I actually am. I don't think I'm one of those people who is 'naturally' this shape, as I used to be a lot thinner (granted, it was when I was in my late teens). It's really starting to demotivate me that I'm trying hard, eating better and doing much more exercise than I ever have, but not dropping any weight!
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Hi Danielle,
I find that I can gain weight ( probably water retention) when I’m lacking sleep. After 3 days and I get on the scale. No matter how good I kept to my same lifestyle. Only difference was not sleeping properly or enough.
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First of all, your weight/height seems ideal, so I wonder why you are trying to lose, unless you are a fashion model. One thing I would ask you are you weighing and checking your serving sizes? Are you being truthful with your food diary and yourself. Also, have you cut back on your carbs? Are you eating too much fruit? Are you taking a medication that have weight gain as a side effect? Are you getting enough sleep? Are you staying hydrated? You know, our bodies sometimes plateau, even for a long period of time, and I find sometimes you have to shake it up. Do an intermittent fast, up your exercise, even increase your calories a little. You know that when you don't eat enough, your body will fight to keep your weight as a means of protection against starvation.10
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elsie6hickman wrote: »First of all, your weight/height seems ideal, so I wonder why you are trying to lose, unless you are a fashion model. One thing I would ask you are you weighing and checking your serving sizes? Are you being truthful with your food diary and yourself. Also, have you cut back on your carbs? Are you eating too much fruit? Are you taking a medication that have weight gain as a side effect? Are you getting enough sleep? Are you staying hydrated? You know, our bodies sometimes plateau, even for a long period of time, and I find sometimes you have to shake it up. Do an intermittent fast, up your exercise, even increase your calories a little. You know that when you don't eat enough, your body will fight to keep your weight as a means of protection against starvation.
Her BMI is 26 which means she's overweight. It's not wrong for her to want to lose weight and you're implying that being within a normal BMI range is only obtainable by fashion models. That's nonsense and most people can easily be within a normal range. It's the lower end of that range that is a bit more difficult to obtain and really isn't necessary for everyone due to their body type.
Also, starvation mode is not a thing and the body does not need "shaking up". It's been established that this poster isn't as accurate as they think with their food diary. Accurate logging and patience is all it takes; everything else is just noise.8 -
Another thing to factor in here, in addition to needing to tighten up your logging, is that you are new to exercise, like brand new, and you're going to retain water while your muscles get used to that. Factor that in, plus monthly hormonal water weight fluctuations and the logging issues, and I'd say you're actually doing better than you think you are. Your body should be pretty used to the level of exercise you're doing now, so I think if you get on top of the logging accuracy things will start moving in the right direction5
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I am 5’ 2”, 63, and eating 1200 calories. I maintained for 8 months around 129, then got lazy and went up to 133. I decided to tighten up my logging by weighing everything and not eating out if I didn’t have a way to be accurate in my calorie count. I also stopped my one meal a week over “somewhat” ( probably a big culprit in my stalling). In a month I’ve lost 6 pounds and am now 127 (my goal is about 123).
My point is that I hadn’t really “plateaued” or “stalled”. My body didn’t need to have things jump started, shaken up, or anything. I just needed to stay at 1200 calories, for real. I also needed to watch my exercise calories and I stopped adding routine ones, like playing the fiddle. Now I just add the workouts and eat back half the calories. I’ve been doing this app for years and thought I was very accurate. The mind is a funny thing tho, and I think guessing Sunday dinner calories and being a “little” over (400 cal or so) was doing me in. It seemed so little in the big scheme of my week.7
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