Why am I not losing weight on 1200 cal a day and exercising

Heyyleigh
Heyyleigh Posts: 268 Member
in Introduce Yourself
Hi All! I am new to the site and I read all the posts everyday. This is my 5th week. I eat very good food, lots of fresh veggies, fruits and proteins. I log my food perfectly and I also walk anywhere from 20-30 miles a week. All of this is new - I was eating crap before and added my new diet and exercise at the beginning. So I am extremely confused as HOW I can log and stay in my range of calories, gave up sugar ( haven't had a sweet tea in 5 weeks ) that was my weakness! I stretch my calories over the day, so I eat about 5 times a day. I had lost a total of 8.2 pounds as of last Saturday and today I weighed and I have gained 3 back!!!! Unless I just eat air, I have no idea what else to do. I added more time to my walks and I increased my water to 84ozs. -I was already drinkng well over 32ozs a day. No sodas- I hate diet drinks.
I know we want it off fast, when it took years to gain.................but Geeze - really! 3 pounds gained.
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Replies

  • AzhureSnow
    AzhureSnow Posts: 289 Member
    It's hard to really tell without looking at your diary, but here are some thoughts -
    PMS and hormones - I gain anywhere from 2-4 pounds the week of my cycle, every month, without fail.
    When are you weighing yourself? The time of day can really change your weight - I'm always about 1.5 lbs heavier at night.
    Maybe your body needs more fuel than you're giving it - I alternate about every week or two between a 1200 calorie base and a 1400 calorie base. I guess it keeps my metabolism on it's toes?
    Are you eating your exercise calories? It's important to keep fueling your body after workouts.

    Or maybe, you've hit a plateau and you need to up the game on your cardio. Instead of walking 20-30 miles, run at least 10 of those miles each week. Start a muscle building program because muscle, just by existing, burns a lot of calories on its own. Incorporate some weight lifting into your week - even if you just start with 5 lb hand weights.
  • sundropc14
    sundropc14 Posts: 37 Member
    hi, i wasn't losing weight on 1200 cal. so upped it to 1350 . I'm 5'1" 135lbs very active. Your probably not eating enough calories to fuel your body so its holding everything you give it. open your diary. Or just add some more calories and see. It seriously is a little bit of a game you need to play with your numbers to see what works for you. 6 months and I'm still playing
  • juliekaiser1988
    juliekaiser1988 Posts: 604 Member
    Please use the Search option. There's plenty to read about this subject. It's been covered 100,000 times.
  • mecaseyrn
    mecaseyrn Posts: 76 Member
    I am having the very same problem! I can't seem to lose any weight, its like I plateaued after losing 8lbs and I have almost 50 to lose to be healthy or even like myself for that matter. If you find the answer let me know please!!!
  • Heyyleigh
    Heyyleigh Posts: 268 Member
    Hi, I opened the diary- have a l@@K. Thanks!
  • ebony467
    ebony467 Posts: 15
    Yes I believe this too :)

    I have the whole 1200 cal diet, and my weight constantly jumps around but lowers gradually, then jumps up again another couple pounds for no reason. Even if you gain about 3 pounds they will (or should) fall off pretty fast in the next couple of days so long as you keep pushing yourself.
  • ebony467
    ebony467 Posts: 15
    It's hard to really tell without looking at your diary, but here are some thoughts -
    PMS and hormones - I gain anywhere from 2-4 pounds the week of my cycle, every month, without fail.
    When are you weighing yourself? The time of day can really change your weight - I'm always about 1.5 lbs heavier at night.
    Maybe your body needs more fuel than you're giving it - I alternate about every week or two between a 1200 calorie base and a 1400 calorie base. I guess it keeps my metabolism on it's toes?
    Are you eating your exercise calories? It's important to keep fueling your body after workouts.

    Or maybe, you've hit a plateau and you need to up the game on your cardio. Instead of walking 20-30 miles, run at least 10 of those miles each week. Start a muscle building program because muscle, just by existing, burns a lot of calories on its own. Incorporate some weight lifting into your week - even if you just start with 5 lb hand weights.
    lol sorry I've never quoted before on MFP >.<
  • runningindigo
    runningindigo Posts: 63 Member
    Hey there!! It could be because you're net eating enough calories! Do you have a heart rate monitor or can you gauge how many calories you're burning when you workout? I eat between 1750-2000 calories on the days I have workouts...I have a heart rate monitor that I wear during my workouts. It shows me how many calories I'm burning during my workouts. Once I"m done, I'll add it to my exercise log here on MFP and then I eat dinner. I've been losing 1-2 lbs/wk doing this!

    I hope this helps!
  • sundropc14
    sundropc14 Posts: 37 Member
    I didn't go that far back to see that your hardly even eating your 1200 cal. or your exercise cals. walking that much requires fuel. log on your macronutrients your sodium.
  • jgray08
    jgray08 Posts: 11
    Great posting very interesting because although I haven't been doing this long I feel the same way on 1200 calorie. I can't seem to lose anything. I will look for other boards that address this can someone point them out for me??
  • Heyyleigh
    Heyyleigh Posts: 268 Member
    So eat more! Like today, I ate alot of steamed califlower at lunch and I am still full. I can't eat anything else today. Ok, I can try this.
  • allycat54
    allycat54 Posts: 67 Member
    Eat your exercise calories,
  • Heyyleigh
    Heyyleigh Posts: 268 Member
    Hard to hear someone say EAT MORE! ;) Certainly will try that.
  • allycat54
    allycat54 Posts: 67 Member
    I looked at your diary, you definitely need to eat more. Even if it's a couple of spoons of peanut butter. :smile:
  • Heyyleigh
    Heyyleigh Posts: 268 Member
    BTW, I had been debating on a purchase. I searched the Fitbit, but it had terrible reviews, so I am thinking of purchasing the Body Fit. I want to really see what is going on. I always knew loggin the food is a chance, because even though I search and log and read lables, I could still be off a bit.
  • Heyyleigh
    Heyyleigh Posts: 268 Member
    :) thanks, its going to be hard.
  • sherrykwilk
    sherrykwilk Posts: 12
    20 miles a week burns at least 1400 calories a week and if you are walking fast like 4 mph then it burns about 1800. A heart rate monitor as suggested would help you know more. You are most definitely starving yourself and your body is holding on to the fat. You need to eat your protein !!!!!! When I was training for marathons and walking 20 to 22 miles a week I was starving all the time and was eating about 2000 calories a day...also was weight training twice aweek. EAT MORE and add more protein to your diet.
  • Meggles63
    Meggles63 Posts: 916 Member
    You're not even netting 1000 on many days! You need to make sure that, at the very least, you are netting 1200. I would suggest you start with that, and once you are used to eating that much, increase them by 100-200/week and see what happens. Good luck!
  • ber3023
    ber3023 Posts: 146 Member
    Try to make everyday look more like last Monday and see if that works. Yes, I'm agreeing with the eat more!
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    1. eat more
    2. ?????
    3. Profit
  • goldfinger88
    goldfinger88 Posts: 686 Member
    I just looked at your diary. You are not eating nearly enough and, in fact, you're in dangerous territory with some 800 calories. You're also not getting nearly enough protein. I don't know about the sodium. I didn't see that. But you need to stay within the right range on that.

    You should go to fat2fitradio.com and use their tools to figure out what you really need. Then, eat that and do not eat back exercise calories.

    Your body is now in starvation mode. It is burning muscle and saving back the fat in order to survive.

    If you do as I suggest, I think you'll find you begin losing weight and feeling better.
  • chellebelle315
    chellebelle315 Posts: 298
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/23912-links-in-mfp-you-want-to-read-again-and-again


    Look at the posts on this list...especially "the answers to the questions" I promise there's tons of information here, most of it more thoroughly sourced and documented, but the gist is going to be that you're not feeding your body enough for it to take care of itself.


    good luck, you can do it!
  • chellebelle315
    chellebelle315 Posts: 298
    1. eat more
    2. ?????
    3. Profit


    This made me laugh and laugh and laugh.
  • Heyyleigh
    Heyyleigh Posts: 268 Member
    I had debated about posting this, and very glad I did, Thanks for the Info!
  • kjm3579
    kjm3579 Posts: 3,974 Member
    I can't imagine the FitBit getting bad reviews -- I've been using mine since Oct. and wear it everywhere including to bed to calculate my sleep... there is a group of FitBit users here on MFP..... and I agree that you need to eat more to loose weight, just be sure to keep carbs and sugars low.
  • bewitchinglife
    bewitchinglife Posts: 167 Member
    Check out the group 'eat more to weigh less' . You have to feed your body if you want it to let go of fat. When I stopped eating a low fat diet and started embracing good fats, my body started shedding fat.

    If you are eating too little, then your body will hold onto the food you are eating, every time. I'm eating 1800 calories and moderately active and losing 2lbs + a week.

    Bump up your protein and fat. Eat good healthy food and move your body.

    You gotta eat to lose!
  • jennkain97
    jennkain97 Posts: 290 Member
    I am having the very same problem! I can't seem to lose any weight, its like I plateaued after losing 8lbs and I have almost 50 to lose to be healthy or even like myself for that matter. If you find the answer let me know please!!!

    even if she finds the answer for herself, if won't necessarily work for you. but the above suggestions to increase calories, increase cardio intensity, and add strength training are all very good places to start ;)
  • AlanaMaree55
    AlanaMaree55 Posts: 1 Member
    WOW...This is the first time I have looked at the board since I joined 3 months ago...well...seriously joined and started working out and watching! I learned a lot here...I am having the same problem! Because I am doing an hour of Walk Away the pounds and an hour of areobic swim...I am burning about 1000 calories a day! Can't seem to eat more than 1200...and it leaves me with 1000 calories left. AND I have only lost 6 lbs! I will try everyone's suggestion's too...and EAT more especially protein! This is so helpful everyone! Thanks a bunch!
  • Heyyleigh
    Heyyleigh Posts: 268 Member
    Thanks for the info.. Seriously if u look it up on the internet, it was crazy bad. I read them on Amazon too.
  • VannessaKss
    VannessaKss Posts: 14
    Hello Heyylelgh , you know , this is also happening to me , i went with a nutritionist because i was eating really bad and i thought that was the best option , she gave me a 1040 cal diet and i haven't lose anything it makes me feel bad , i fully understand you , and like others have told you hormones can be the cause of the problem, only the time will tell for me , hope you get to the bottom of this . Good luck with that :) .

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