What a let down...what am I doing wrong?

vlaclair
vlaclair Posts: 9
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
So, I've been trying to be really good and stick to the 1200 calorie plan/goal. I started September 5 and for the most part, I have been tracking every single thing. I'm even going to the gym 3 times a week, (sometimes 4) or doing some type of exercise. But after three weeks, I've weighed myself and I gained a pound. Ugh. So it's not that TOM or anything. Maybe it's water weight from muscle pain? But they don't hurt like they did the first week. What else can I do?

Replies

  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    Are you eating back your exercise calories? Click on the search botton above and ask the question.
  • SuperSnoopy
    SuperSnoopy Posts: 3,459 Member
    What types of excersise are you actullay doing at the gym?
  • starwhisperer
    starwhisperer Posts: 367
    I just looked at your profile. If you are only trying to lose about 5 pounds then it is going to take a lot longer than if you had 50 to lose. Seems unfair, but totally true. Keep up what you are doing, start measuring yourself, and if you can, go get your body fat % checked. If you are on the lower side of the BF for women then that will make it hard to lose weight too. Your body doesn't want to give up its store of fat if there isn't much to give up :)
  • Lisa_222
    Lisa_222 Posts: 301 Member
    I haven't seen your whole profile, but it says you only want to lose 5 pounds so it sounds like you are pretty close to your ideal weight. Those are the toughest pounds to lose, so don't compare yourself to someone like me who has a lot of weight to lose. You are working out and that's great and you may be gaining muscle and not really have all that much fat to lose.

    If i were you, I'd not worry at all about the scale and take your measurements. You'd be shocked at how many inches you can lose without losing a pound. You can go down a pant size or two and still weigh the same when working out. Maybe that's all that your body requires. The scale numbers are probably completely arbitrary at this point. Keep up the workouts with a good balance between cardio and weights and you will look fantastic. It doesn't matter what the scale says at that point.
  • chemimangia
    chemimangia Posts: 5
    1200 doesn't sound like enough calories. At that low amount, your body will compensate by slowing your metabolism and you won't lose a pound.
    It's just my opinion, but I think you're being too aggressive.
    I believe that the lower limit for women is 1500 per day. Others can correct me if I'm wrong on that.

    Also, you might want to read this article about cutting calories:
    http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/20/health/20brody.html

    (Disclaimer: I'm a keto guy so I don't believe you lose weight by cutting all calories - just certain types of calories I am losing weight eating 2,200 calories per day or more)
  • auticus
    auticus Posts: 1,051 Member
    Chiming in to repeat that 1200 isn't enough calories, your body will horde the calories, and losing 5 lbs when you are at ideal weight or close to it is probably one of the most difficult things ever.

    =)
  • micahnelson
    micahnelson Posts: 92 Member
    Probably eat more, exercise more. If you are very calorie restricted, and you are working out, your body DEFINITELY does not want to give up its emergency rations of fat. Your body has to be confident that the food supply is strong, and that you need more muscle.
  • sarahkova
    sarahkova Posts: 245 Member
    what everybody else is saying but also it looks as though you are very low in fiber and not drinking much water at all could that be part of it?
  • michedarnd
    michedarnd Posts: 207 Member
    1200 is "I'm OBESE, and I need to lose a TON" level, and even some people like THAT don't lose willingly on 1200 calorie diets. That said, use the tape measure. You may never lose the 5, but may be twice as healthy. Honestly, if you only have 5 pounds to lose, you probably don't need to lose a scale number, at all. Be healthy. Tone your body, and FORGET the scale. There's a point at which it is no longer the point, and 5 pounds is DEFINITELY in that range.
  • AdAstra47
    AdAstra47 Posts: 823 Member
    For some people, it's not about how many calories, it's about the kinds of calories. The chemical process that turns sugar or carbohydrates into energy is very different from the process that turns protein & fat into energy. If your body is better at processing one kind of calorie over another, then you may want to pay attention to your ratio of carbs / fat / protein & adjust it to see whether that helps. That may be what it takes to jump-start your metabolism.

    Also, regardless of what else you do, I would make sure and eat plenty of protein. The chemical reaction that burns fatty acids also requires amino acids (from protein) so if you don't eat enough protein, you can't burn your fat. Or, even worse, your body will take the protein it needs from your muscles, and you'll lose muscle too. Which is bad because the less muscle mass you have, the fewer calories your body burns and the harder it is to lose any more weight.
  • hpsnickers1
    hpsnickers1 Posts: 2,783 Member
    1200 doesn't sound like enough calories. At that low amount, your body will compensate by slowing your metabolism and you won't lose a pound.
    It's just my opinion, but I think you're being too aggressive.
    I believe that the lower limit for women is 1500 per day. Others can correct me if I'm wrong on that.

    Also, you might want to read this article about cutting calories:
    http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/20/health/20brody.html

    (Disclaimer: I'm a keto guy so I don't believe you lose weight by cutting all calories - just certain types of calories I am losing weight eating 2,200 calories per day or more)

    I go with this. I eat below my calorie burn every day. The number on the scale goes up and down depending on what kind of calories I eat. And depending on how much you burn in a day, your body might not like the 1200 per day and will hold onto that fat. I don't believe in the "not a lot of weight to lose so it will be hard to do." I spent 6 months counting calories and eating high-carb, low-fat and I dropped 9.6lbs in that time (lots of exercise) and hit 120.4lbs. I spent the next 4 months eating Primal - low-carb (no grains, flour, sugar, legumes, milk and very little fruit) and high-fat and dropped 9.8lbs - hit 110.6. (I'm 5'2") This was with less exercise and I didn't lose any lean muscle mass - my muscle definition showed up - finally. And I lost my belly.

    (I also don't believe in the whole fiber thing. I get way less fiber than I did and my IBS and gut issues are better now. Fat does more for moving things along than fiber. Veggie fiber is a good fiber. Grain fiber - not so much. Check out "Gut Sense" and "The Fiber Menace")
  • vlaclair
    vlaclair Posts: 9
    This is all very helpful! I started off with the 1200 calorie plan, because that was the "goal" set up by MFP. I honestly don't take in much more than that on a regular basis. I'm not a big eater, but it has helped me to choose more wisely what I do eat. Some of my favorite foods are chips, hummus and cheese!

    But you may be right, perhaps my body is hoarding the calories because I'm burning them away - just by existing and then throw in 3 days a week of cardio or strength training - not helping.

    I may have to rethink the plan a little. And definitely increase my water intake - I usually forget to record that.

    Thanks again for the tips and insight.
  • vlaclair
    vlaclair Posts: 9
    Oh, as for what I do for exercise....

    Zumba - once a week (60 min)
    Tabata - once a week (60 min)
    Running - twice a week (2 miles)
    Strength Training - twice a week (60 min)

    What I do for exercise, usually depends on my work/life schedule and what's available at the YMCA. I'm also going to start a HulaFit class next week! So I'll be doing Zumba and Hulafit (60 minutes each) Wed & Thurs nights.
  • AdAstra47
    AdAstra47 Posts: 823 Member
    Also: are you sure your "ideal weight" goal is realistic for you? As several people have noted, 5 lb is not very much. When I was at my healthiest, in high school, my "ideal weight" was heavier than I thought it should be, but that's because I carry a lot of muscle. Genetically, I'm descended from tall, sturdy German women who could work in the fields all day right alongside the men. Took me a long time to realize that I shouldn't compare myself to other body types. I thought I was fat when I was really just naturally big-bosomed & statuesque... some people are NEVER going to get stick-thin like a supermodel. So I would have a health professional help you determine what your ideal weight should be, just so you don't drive yourself crazy needlessly. Your profile pic looks gorgeous!
  • 8Luisa8
    8Luisa8 Posts: 3
    I feel for you girl! I've been fighting the same battle for some time! Ugh! so annoying and so frustrating. My issue is that the more i work out, I've realized that the more hungry and the harder it is to stick with 1200 cals per day.
    I read this article yesterday that shed some light as to how many calories I should be eating and it really made sense to me. You times your goal weight by 11 and that's how many cals you want to get your body used to eating since eventually that's what you would need to maintain once you get to your goal weight. My goal weight us 125 so, 125 x11= 1375.. I just started yesterday so we'll see what happens. I figured even if it takes longer to loose these extra lbs, at least i wont be flunctuating in weight in the long run.
    I def loose inches rather than weigth and i also noticed that pilates and going on long walks helps me stay lean, rather than doing crazy 1 hr bootcamp aerobics. I'll post the article when i find it. wish you the best!
    Luisa
  • RedMuse
    RedMuse Posts: 50 Member
    You are not eating enough, 1200 Calories as others have said is for the extreme ... honestly you should be eating closer to 1500 a day. Plus all the exercise could be putting your body in shock, and making it want to horde every calorie it can to keep going. Try upping the calorie intake to 1500 and relax, stress doesn't help weight loss either!

    Good Luck!!
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    how has everyone given suggestions without asking the obvious, ht/wt to see if 1200 may actually be a reasonable amount of cals if she was pretty light or petite?
  • BrewerGeorge
    BrewerGeorge Posts: 397 Member
    1200 is "I'm OBESE, and I need to lose a TON" level, and even some people like THAT don't lose willingly on 1200 calorie diets. That said, use the tape measure. You may never lose the 5, but may be twice as healthy. Honestly, if you only have 5 pounds to lose, you probably don't need to lose a scale number, at all. Be healthy. Tone your body, and FORGET the scale. There's a point at which it is no longer the point, and 5 pounds is DEFINITELY in that range.
    Absolutely!
  • angelew
    angelew Posts: 133 Member
    MFP gave me a 1250 calorie limit- I'm 5' 3'' and have 15 pounds to go. The closer you get to your goal, MFP will lower your daily caloric intake. With just 5 pounds to lose, you just won't see the 3 pound losses each week like some folks do. You are going to have to work your butt off for each little movement on the scale. You can do it- just keep doing what you are doing and be patient!
  • vlaclair
    vlaclair Posts: 9
    I am definitely already on the light and petite side, at 5'1 and 117 lbs. My goal to lose 5 lbs isn't extreme, and since I don't eat much regularly, 1200 calories didn't seem like a big deal. But throwing in more time at the gym makes me hungry so I range anywhere from 1200 to 1500 calories depending on what I do for exercise. Just trying to figure out if I'm going at this the right way, or if I just need to be more patient and keep up what I'm doing. I hate the scale, and rarely weigh myself. I weighed in when I started MFP and didn't weigh myself again until this morning. Which led to this discussion! I guess my real goal is just to tone up those trouble areas (hips, thighs and abs).
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    I am definitely already on the light and petite side, at 5'1 and 117 lbs. My goal to lose 5 lbs isn't extreme, and since I don't eat much regularly, 1200 calories didn't seem like a big deal. But throwing in more time at the gym makes me hungry so I range anywhere from 1200 to 1500 calories depending on what I do for exercise. Just trying to figure out if I'm going at this the right way, or if I just need to be more patient and keep up what I'm doing. I hate the scale, and rarely weigh myself. I weighed in when I started MFP and didn't weigh myself again until this morning. Which led to this discussion! I guess my real goal is just to tone up those trouble areas (hips, thighs and abs).

    you may want to think about strength training as a means to improve your body composition instead of more weight loss. start using the mirror and measurements vs the scale
  • starwhisperer
    starwhisperer Posts: 367
    Yes thank you, 1200 calories does not send your body spiraling into the dreaded "starvation mode" If you are 5'1 and 117 pounds then you probably don't need much more than that. The sprint to add more calories on when trying to lose weight makes so little sense. Yes if you are hungry and working out all the time you probably need more calories... but only because it will give you more energy to workout. Not because more calories on their own will suddenly make you lose weight. I would say that weights for body composition is probably your best bet, and just to remember that 5 pounds is going to come off super slow.
  • chemimangia
    chemimangia Posts: 5
    I don't believe what MFP states for my goal.
    I am 5'8" and 190 lbs and it tells me to eat only 1200 per day.

    That is not healthy.

    MFP is a great tool, but you can't believe the goals that it sets for you.
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