Upped Calories to 1400 and stopped losing weight....

kysue1029
kysue1029 Posts: 97 Member
edited October 4 in Health and Weight Loss
Since June, I have been eating 1200 calories and have lost 32 lbs, and I got almost to my goal weight (140). I was also just starting to get signs that I was not eating enough like my hair was/is falling out like crazy, my skin is really dry, my nails got brittle...etc. SO, I upped my calories 200 to 1400 and I completely stopped losing weight and actually gained 1.5 lbs in the last 3 weeks. I wouldn't mind losing about 5 more lbs, but I don't want to do it if I have to go back down to 1200 when I think I wasn't getting enough then.

So, my question is do you think this is odd? What is your suggestion? Could it just take a couple weeks for the adjustment and then it will start coming off again?

Sorry if this is asked all the time...I searched it but didn't find anything really like it.

Replies

  • mgmlap
    mgmlap Posts: 1,377 Member
    Do you have a nutritionist you can ask? I know I was at 1500 for about 5 weeks..and my weight fluctuated between 143-146. I dropped it back down to 1200..and lost weight..down to 142.5...
  • Redlybird
    Redlybird Posts: 11 Member
    Is there an exercise routine that you're mixing in to all of this? If so, then switching that up a bit to compensate for the added calories (and just changing exercise) can help get you back on track, and generally helps with plateaus, too. :-)
  • 6Pk2Go
    6Pk2Go Posts: 105
    Maybe it's the quality of the food that you are eating? Make sure to get lots of healthy fats and lots of vegetables and lean protein. I can't imagine loosing hair or having dry skin and brittle nails on a 1200 calorie diet if it's clean.
  • Moosiklaydy
    Moosiklaydy Posts: 37
    I just have one question for you. We're you exercising and eating the 1200 calories, or were you just counting the calories and not exercising much if at all?
  • riccoismydog
    riccoismydog Posts: 319 Member
    Unlock your food diary maybe? Are you exercising?
  • lep_623
    lep_623 Posts: 193 Member
    I agree, it's more about what your eating than how much. Also your body is used to that calorie rate, you probably put it in a starvation mode so that now that you are eating more calories it is storing it when it wasn't before. I would stick to the 1400 calories for a little longer to let your body get used to it, but if your not exercising you should be and that should help too, if you exercise in order to get rif of the excess calories your taking it it should help the weight come off. Also, make sure your are drinking water and not having lots of sodium and that should help some too. Good luck :D
  • Justcallmejenny
    Justcallmejenny Posts: 92
    Omega 3 6 9 is helping with my hair loss
  • aclark6818
    aclark6818 Posts: 209 Member
    Definitely speak to a professional since your having hairloss, brittle nails--also signs of low protein. Maybe you need more protein--maybe stick to 1400 cals or up exercise?? Good Luck
    :flowerforyou:
  • mrsrobinsonlauraj
    mrsrobinsonlauraj Posts: 74 Member
    I have been eating 1200 calories since Aug and lost no weight in the first 4 weeks but then lost 5 lbs the following 2 weeks. It has been three months since I began to lose weight and I have lost 6 lbs total so far and can't seem to get any lower. I experienced tiredness,lack of energy and light headedness so I put myself on vitamins (gummy) and I feel TONA better. I don't think I was getting the proper nutrients on the 1200 calorie diet alone.
  • kysue1029
    kysue1029 Posts: 97 Member
    I exercise about 3-5 times a week. I run anywhere from 3-5 miles each time and I lift hand weights at home almost every single night. I could eat a lot cleaner, so I will start doing that and see where it takes me. Thanks for the info. Oh, and also I just started taking vitamins last week, so maybe that will help!
  • seasonalvoodoo
    seasonalvoodoo Posts: 380 Member
    How much are your maintenance calories? If you are close to goal, you should only try to lose .5 a week as the body cannot sustain high deficits when you have little fat to spare. Also, do you eat your exercise calories back? If not, I would try that, too.
  • Quilled
    Quilled Posts: 69 Member
    1200 calories should be an okay amount and shouldnt cause the hair loss and brittle nails. You will probably see a large improvement when you start eating cleaner. Fish are very omega rich and fantastic for your hair, you could also take some fish oil supplements to help. You may want to try a compromise of 1300 calories and trying to eat more of the healthy foods and less of the non healthy.
  • wolfchild59
    wolfchild59 Posts: 2,608 Member
    Caloric increases should be done gradually. I jumped from 1200 to 1500 and gained hand over fist despite eating even healthier food than I had been before. I dropped back down to 1200 and lost again. I've been slowly increasing (50-100 more calories per day for a week or so, then adding another 50-100 more for another week or so) and I've continued to lose while going through the gradual increases in calories. I think that too big of a jump is what messes with the body somehow.

    So maybe scale back to your original net again for awhile and then work on gradually increasing to your new net.
  • Redlybird
    Redlybird Posts: 11 Member
    Since you mentioned vitamins, I'll mention that I started taking my Women's Ultra Mega VitaPak from GNC again - it's packed with everything I could possibly miss out on. I crave less "crap" during the day and really only snack on almonds and fruit (sometimes with high-protein greek yogurt), and I'm more satisfied by my meals. It really helped me!

    Good luck! I hope that eating better food mixed with what you're already doing will help you out. :-)
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I would look more at what you are eating than how many calories. Are you getting enough fat and protein? Especially fat.
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