Not working :(

I don't think you are you eating enough? Are you eating your exersise calories?

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficit

Go to the tools section and figure out your BMI:

Generally someone with a BMI over 32 can do a 1000 calorie a day (2 lbs a week) deficit
With a BMI of 30 to 32 a deficit of 750 calories is generally correct (about 1.5 lbs a week)
With a BMI of 28 to 30 a deficit of 500 calories is about right (about 1 lb a week)
With a BMI of 26 to 28 a deficit of about 300 calories is perfect (about 1/2 lb a week)
and below 26... well this is where we get fuzzy. See now you're no longer talking about being overweight, so while it's still ok to have a small deficit, you really should shift your focus more towards muscle building, and reducing fat. This means it is EXTRA important to eat your exercise calories as your body needs to KNOW it's ok to burn fat stores, and the only way it will know is if you keep giving it the calories it needs to not enter the famine response (starvation mode).

This is just a part of it! please read the link above

Even if the OP isn't, there is still a deficit which technically should result in weight loss.

You are extremely active....have you tried measuring inches instead of pounds? That may be more of an accurate figure of your progress than weighing yourself.

Also - I hate to roll this old nugget out again, but are you eating enough? It could be that you are working your body hard, not feeding it enough and it doesn't feel it's in the right place to allow you to drop weight? Clinging on to ever last scrap.

I plateaued recently and it was so frustrating as I hadn't done anything different or wrong etc. Well, after much cajolling from friends and others on here I upped my calories, shook up my activities completely and started to lose again. Maybe shake up your exercise routine and, for a little while, up your calories.

Someone suggested taking measurements instead of weighing yourself. Did you try that?

It won't hurt to give it a try! Up your calories for the next 2 weeks and see if you see any difference. One of mfpals did this because she hit a plateau and sure enough, it worked...I can't really fathom the idea either, eating more can help you lose weight, but people prove that on here every day! Good luck to you!

With your activity level, you must be building muscles! Weight does not say everything. Measuring yourself, perhaps gives you more useful and motivating information.

:-) Kind regards from Jettebra!

Even if the OP isn't, there is still a deficit which technically should result in weight loss.

Unfortunately, this methodology doesn't work. If your body isn't being fueled properly, it won't work. Your body has mechanisms to hold onto fat when it doesn't get a enough fuel to run this systems.


Ok, lets break this out. Since I don't know your body fat, the BMR calculation might be the most accurate but it's going to be close. At 5" , 158 lbs and 27 yr old female, your estimated BMR is giong to be 1373. Using the Katch McArdle formula and know you are very active we can take your BMR and use a TDEE multiplier to get your dialy caloric needs

TDEE = 1373 * 1.725 = 2368
Add deficit (1/2 lb per week = 2368 - 250 = 2118.


I actually feel that number is light ( i believe you are etremely active) which would be

1373 * 1.9 = 2608
2608 - 250 = 2358

Here is my suggestion, only use MFP as a food tracker (this is what I have done and use on many other people and it works). Set custom goals and set your calories at 2200, your carbs at 50%, your protein at 30% and your fats at 20%. Eat these calories every day even if you don't work out. The deficit is already incorporate and this should turn your body fat into muscle (may not see much weight loss but you will lose inches and tone up. I would eat 2200 (i took in between the two numbers) for 1 month, if you don't lose weight then increase by 200 calories (yes I said increase). I will tell you to expect you might gain a lb or two within the first week. Do not freak out as it's normal. When you body starts to see food again, it will still be holding onto food because it's not used to the extra calories, but it should correct itself after a week or two. some people have this happen, some actually lose right away. Its just a precaution. After doing this for a month, we can re evaluate your situation but it should help.

Lemon