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Original poster

Calories in vs calories out is just not working !

220 replies

noseriouslyguys · 19/09/2025 17:28

Yes I know the principle is correct- I get it. But explain this to me then…

I’ve been weighing every bite I eat or drink for two months - PLUS exercising 5 times a week and I am not losing on the scale.

I have lost weight since the start of the year, without exercising at first, but now the scale is just standing still.

I create a deficit of 1000 calories a day and nada.

the scale teases me, it will say a certain low weight- then I get back on it and it says 2kg more the next day and it will show me that 2 kg more for another two weeks.

I have lost weight already by the way, without exercising since the start of the year- slowly. Maybe a kg a month- some months 2. I thought I would really tighten up my eating and track absolutely everything plus add in exercise. At first I thought it’s normal, water retention- but not after 2 months surely ?

I have gone to the gym a couple of times but mainly playing tennis. For 1-2 hours a day, 5 days a week. Sometimes 4. So it can’t be muscle gain from tennis.

anyway, I am not giving up- but it just makes no sense ?

I do agree with calories in vs calories out, but I have to drop down so extremely low- I mean 800 or so, to lose weight.

I currently eat between 1.200 and 1.500 a day ( max ).

OP posts:
Original poster
noseriouslyguys · 19/09/2025 19:13

@soupyspooni was losing 1 kg a month for ages too. I’ve never lost fast in my whole life. The whole 0,5 to 1 kg a week has literally never applied for me. I’ve been extremely patient. I’ve increased my efforts tenfold and it’s stalling.

OP posts:
Northerngirl821 · 19/09/2025 19:12

The principle of CICO is false. Your body will vary your BMR to adjust to food supply, and hormones such as insulin and glucagon also influence your body’s ability to store or burn fat. If you reduce your calories as severely as you have, your body will crash its metabolic rate to compensate and then try to store any excess calories as fat in anticipation of further starvation conditions. If you then start to increase calorific intake, fat storage will increase too.

You need to read up on the science of metabolism if you want to calorie restrict effectively!

soupyspoon · 19/09/2025 19:11

Hallywally · 19/09/2025 19:05

If you’re already slim and additionally not very tall, it could be likely your body has found its maintenance weight or you’re losing but very very slowly. Are you measuring yourself as well? Sometimes weight loss shows up in measurements before the scale.

At the end of my weight loss I was losing about half a pound a month. Still gave me a loss of half a stone in that final year. OP just needs to stick with it once she is sure she is in a deficit

Original poster
noseriouslyguys · 19/09/2025 19:09

I definitely believe that consuming fewer calories than you consume does work, I just think that for some people they need to drop extremely low, otherwise it doesn’t work. And I don’t think it’s just because of miscalculations.

OP posts:
Poobs2022 · 19/09/2025 19:09

noseriouslyguys · 19/09/2025 18:55

why should I post everything about myself ? I’ve given enough information already. You know my TDEE. Why do you need to know more ?

Maybe you've calculated it wrong and someone here is trying to be helpful and work it out for you.

Sundaymorningcalla · 19/09/2025 19:09

Didimum · 19/09/2025 19:05

Oh bore off with your abusive language. OP has been very open to ideas and change. Stop swearing at people on a forum and get a new hobby.

Edited
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This is the sort of narrative a loser peddles whose not committed to lifestyle change to lose weight..

Go back to weapons world and continue to receive terrible advice and create bad habits and relationships with food.

Friendlyfire1 · 19/09/2025 19:08

popcornandpotatoes · 19/09/2025 18:41

Get checked for insulin resistance. I say it on nearly every thread like this but it really was a game changer for me. Constantly reducing and reducing calories is really not sustainable or an enjoyable way to live. Obviously you can lose weight through starvation, but who would choose to live like that

This 100% it's partly why mounjaro works so well, it regulates insulin.

soupyspoon · 19/09/2025 19:07

popcornandpotatoes · 19/09/2025 19:00

This is still massively unhelpful though. It's impossible to accurately calculate what a calorie deficit is for every individual. There are so many other factors at play like hormones, thyroid, metabolism, intolerances, gut health.

I, for one, found out recently I don't digest protein well, so the high protein diet I'd be trying for years was doing sweet fuck all. Bodies are different and calories in v calories out is too simplistic and science is agreeing, do some research

Show quote history

It doesn't have to be calculated at the levels of a lab in a test tube, it works for the vast majority of people except those in denial and/or who have a medical condition and they need to tweak it as they go to work out what the calculations are

Hallywally · 19/09/2025 19:06

Also are you always weighing yourself at the same time every day? Or weight can fluctuate up to 5lbs a day based on food/water consumed, water retention etc.

Didimum · 19/09/2025 19:05

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Oh bore off with your abusive language. OP has been very open to ideas and change. Stop swearing at people on a forum and get a new hobby.

Hallywally · 19/09/2025 19:05

If you’re already slim and additionally not very tall, it could be likely your body has found its maintenance weight or you’re losing but very very slowly. Are you measuring yourself as well? Sometimes weight loss shows up in measurements before the scale.

childofthe607080s · 19/09/2025 19:04

Calories in - out works but things like - how effective your brain is working, how much fidgeting you do watching telly - all ways in which your body helps to manage the balance

notafraidofthebigbadwolf · 19/09/2025 19:02

Andthatrightsoon · 19/09/2025 17:31

New scales or batteries 😀

This. I've been losing a pound or two a week for a while, then the weight loss mysteriously stopped. Weighing myself a couple of times a day made the batteries go flat. Inserted new batteries and I'm back to losing weight again just like that!!

Original poster
noseriouslyguys · 19/09/2025 19:01

But why do you need to know more than my TDEE ? It’s enough information.

OP posts:
popcornandpotatoes · 19/09/2025 19:00

Woompund · 19/09/2025 18:50

Calories do count 😆 a human body will always lose weight in a calorie deficit. They won't necessarily maintain their muscle or keep the weight off if they don't focus on macros and health, but calorie deficit will always cause weight loss.

Show quote history

This is still massively unhelpful though. It's impossible to accurately calculate what a calorie deficit is for every individual. There are so many other factors at play like hormones, thyroid, metabolism, intolerances, gut health.

I, for one, found out recently I don't digest protein well, so the high protein diet I'd be trying for years was doing sweet fuck all. Bodies are different and calories in v calories out is too simplistic and science is agreeing, do some research

LaughingAloudAsWeGoInsane · 19/09/2025 18:59

noseriouslyguys · 19/09/2025 18:55

why should I post everything about myself ? I’ve given enough information already. You know my TDEE. Why do you need to know more ?

Because you’re asking why it’s not working and people are trying to find out. You have either got something very wrong or you need to see a doctor.

childofthe607080s · 19/09/2025 18:58

You are saying at 1500 calories you are up to 1000 calories a day short implying 2500 as your normal

thata rather a lot for a woman

Sundaymorningcalla · 19/09/2025 18:56

Based on your progress you've got it massively wrong.

Original poster
noseriouslyguys · 19/09/2025 18:55

why should I post everything about myself ? I’ve given enough information already. You know my TDEE. Why do you need to know more ?

OP posts:
Sundaymorningcalla · 19/09/2025 18:54

noseriouslyguys · 19/09/2025 18:52

I’m not lying to myself !! For fuck sake !

Everyone in denial says this, post your height, weight and age and I'll tell you your TDEE.

RH

Zanatdy · 19/09/2025 18:53

I always work out my TDEE as sedentary, even though i’m not. I have a desk job but make sure I do 15k steps a day. Even if walking up and down the living room. Hard to know if your calories are correct as you’ve not said weight / height but i’m short (5ft 1) and only currently 2lbs over into overweight at 9st 7 when I started dieting and can’t eat more than 1100 if i want to lose. My most successful weight loss was covid, and I lost 24lbs. Then I was walking 20-25k steps a day, lots of home work outs. 50 miles a week equivalent. I can’t survive on 800 calories, so up my exercise. But I don’t trust the amount my Fitbit says i’ve burned and never eat back the calories burned through exercise.

Original poster
noseriouslyguys · 19/09/2025 18:52

I’m not lying to myself !! For fuck sake !

OP posts:
Sundaymorningcalla · 19/09/2025 18:52

noseriouslyguys · 19/09/2025 18:50

That’s nice of you.

I am not lying to myself at all. I’m doing a lot.

Show quote history

Clearly not, otherwise you'd see results on the scales.

LaughingAloudAsWeGoInsane · 19/09/2025 18:50

noseriouslyguys · 19/09/2025 18:49

I used my Apple Watch down to a T a few years ago to lose weight and it was absolutely fine. I think it’s probably off by 20 percent max. Nothing extreme. Like I said, it worked fine before when I lost weight and estimating my activity levels. I’m very active at the moment. I also walk a lot.

So you actually believe you are in 1000 calories per day deficit and not losing weight? If so, you need to see a doctor.

Woompund · 19/09/2025 18:50

Fleur405 · 19/09/2025 18:48

Maybe check out the book “Why Calories Don’t Count” or listen to a podcast where the author explains his view. He is a doctor who specialises in studying obesity.

Calories do count 😆 a human body will always lose weight in a calorie deficit. They won't necessarily maintain their muscle or keep the weight off if they don't focus on macros and health, but calorie deficit will always cause weight loss.