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To think I’ll be stuck at 16 stone forever

762 replies

justmeandthedogs · 23/04/2026 06:45

I’m in the process of losing weight and since the start of the year I’ve lost about 13lbs.

But I seem to be in a loop. I’ll hit 16 stone 0.3 on the scales and then go back up to 16 stone 4, then go back down, then back up. It’s like an annoying cycle.

I eat well:

breakfast - yoghurt with berries and sometimes a drizzle of honey. On low protein days I’ll add some skyr.

lunch - something from home. Usually soup, a salad or a bit of meat with some veg.

dinner - again something prepped. Can be another big salad, cottage pie, pasta bake.

I eat 1550 calories a day, which is a deficit for my height and weight. I go to the gym twice a week (under the direction of a PT, to lift weights), try to run 3 times a week but I’m waiting on some new running shoes, and the other two days a week I’ll walk 10k steps minimum. I try to drink 4 litres of water a day at least.

my clothes fit better but the scale just won’t change 😥 do I just accept I’m stuck here?

OP posts:
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Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 23/04/2026 07:08

You could add protein in the form of eggs with salad (hard boiled) and cottage cheese. And try maybe having eggs for breakfast at weekend. Scrambled with mushrooms on toast is a good choice. Don’t butter toast!

justmeandthedogs · 23/04/2026 07:07

Loadsapandas · 23/04/2026 07:04

Bloody hell, people are being really snipey OP.

well done on the weigh loss!

I’ve no advice I’m afraid, I’m struggling with eating/weigh loss myself at the moment.

I’m guessing it’s because of my weight. Used to it to be honest. It’s just really frustrating because I know I am doing everything right but the scale just will not budge! Clothes that were bordering on too tight on me a few weeks ago now fit me really well so it’s obviously moving, just not on the scales

OP posts:
SheSaidHummingbird · 23/04/2026 07:06

Tellmetomorrow57 · 23/04/2026 07:04

I don't know why posters are so quick to disbelieve you about calorie counting!

It's not that people disbelieve she is counting, but that people make errors in weights, in food types (e.g coconut milk, the cooking kind vs the drinking kind), and people always overestimate calories burned in exercise and TDE

GiddyHam · 23/04/2026 07:06

Intermittent fasting?

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 23/04/2026 07:06

justmeandthedogs · 23/04/2026 06:55

Because I’ve tried lower calories before and it spirals into a place where I end up with very unhealthy habits. Carbs are nothing to be afraid of and needed if you’re doing a lot of cardio and exercise. I mainly eat wholewheat pasta and lots of lovely wholemeal sourdough

It’s the portions of carbs which are doing it. At Weightwatchers where I used to go bread especially was definitely in moderation. Maybe try pumpernickel or Ryvita. And wholemeal pasta. Weightwatchers used to do pasta too.

CrazyCatMam · 23/04/2026 07:06

Have you been taking your measurements? Photos?

Because though your weight might be the same, your body composition could be changing.

I'm 45 now and the scales just don't move like they used to. Rather than consistently eating 1550 daily, you could have a couple of days at 2000 and a couple of days at 1000. I find that my metabolism jolts into action when I keep it on its toes.

Backawayfromthesausage · 23/04/2026 07:06

No one is a medical marvel. And there are so many people who claim to be, that their bodies fuel themselves on air.

taken over an average week you are not consuming an average of 1500 a day. It is not humanly possible op. They’d be studying you,

whoopwhoo · 23/04/2026 07:06

I would suggest fasting. So I only eat between 12 and 8pm. Eat in two or three blocks. Read about intermittent fasting. The science really makes sense.

Loadsapandas · 23/04/2026 07:04

Bloody hell, people are being really snipey OP.

well done on the weigh loss!

I’ve no advice I’m afraid, I’m struggling with eating/weigh loss myself at the moment.

Tellmetomorrow57 · 23/04/2026 07:04

I don't know why posters are so quick to disbelieve you about calorie counting!

SheSaidHummingbird · 23/04/2026 07:03

justmeandthedogs · 23/04/2026 07:03

I’m not. I weigh everything using an app.

Then science is wrong, I guess.

justmeandthedogs · 23/04/2026 07:03

SheSaidHummingbird · 23/04/2026 07:02

Then you are miscalculating something or a few things.

I’m not. I weigh everything using an app.

OP posts:
SheSaidHummingbird · 23/04/2026 07:02

justmeandthedogs · 23/04/2026 07:01

Okay that’s all well and good but I track my calories. I am aware that it can spike hunger which is why I save my dinner for after, but I find that after my gym sessions I’m usually not that hungry.

Then you are miscalculating something or a few things.

SoSoLong · 23/04/2026 07:02

You've reached a plateau. It's fine, keep doing what you're doing and you will start losing again.

Tellmetomorrow57 · 23/04/2026 07:01

justmeandthedogs · 23/04/2026 07:00

I do 2 seasons a week at the gym with weights, the lessons don’t really line up with my work schedule unfortunately 😕 I think I might just set myself a running goal as running has felt a lot easier since I started with my PT.

That's fair enough, I just know I'm more accountable with someone there to watch me 🤣

pushontheswings · 23/04/2026 07:01

Thing is, it’s hard to exactly calculate the number of calories you have unless it’s only prepackaged food which obviously isn’t ideal. So I do think you must be having more than you think somewhere!

justmeandthedogs · 23/04/2026 07:01

SheSaidHummingbird · 23/04/2026 07:00

Exercise matters little for weight loss; negligible calories burned which people think gives them license to overeat to compensate, and it spikes hunger, again, contributing to overeating.

Okay that’s all well and good but I track my calories. I am aware that it can spike hunger which is why I save my dinner for after, but I find that after my gym sessions I’m usually not that hungry.

OP posts:
justmeandthedogs · 23/04/2026 07:00

Tellmetomorrow57 · 23/04/2026 06:59

It can be so frustrating when the scales don't shift!

Some people take longer to lose weight. It's great that your clothes are fitting better.

My advice would be 10k steps everyday minimum (this made the biggest difference to me)

Could you go to the gym for classes, maybe rather than running? I just think they prompt you to be more activated in a concentrated period of time.

Eat all the fish and veg you can! It's much better than meat I find. Oh and boiled eggs too. I take it alcohol has gone?

You're doing great 💐 don't give up!

I do 2 seasons a week at the gym with weights, the lessons don’t really line up with my work schedule unfortunately 😕 I think I might just set myself a running goal as running has felt a lot easier since I started with my PT.

OP posts:
SheSaidHummingbird · 23/04/2026 07:00

Exercise matters little for weight loss; negligible calories burned which people think gives them license to overeat to compensate, and it spikes hunger, again, contributing to overeating.

Tellmetomorrow57 · 23/04/2026 06:59

It can be so frustrating when the scales don't shift!

Some people take longer to lose weight. It's great that your clothes are fitting better.

My advice would be 10k steps everyday minimum (this made the biggest difference to me)

Could you go to the gym for classes, maybe rather than running? I just think they prompt you to be more activated in a concentrated period of time.

Eat all the fish and veg you can! It's much better than meat I find. Oh and boiled eggs too. I take it alcohol has gone?

You're doing great 💐 don't give up!

Tusktusk · 23/04/2026 06:59

Please ignore the posters who want to tell you you’re lying about your calories. I believe you.

Also totally agree with the above poster about my calorie needs being less now I’m over 50.

justmeandthedogs · 23/04/2026 06:57

SheSaidHummingbird · 23/04/2026 06:56

Calories in, calories out. You can't argue against science.

That’s why I track everything I eat

OP posts:
SheSaidHummingbird · 23/04/2026 06:56

Calories in, calories out. You can't argue against science.

mrsjackbauer87 · 23/04/2026 06:56

Occasionally if I've had a stall I find the only thing that breaks it is a day or two eating more calories than what I have been. Sounds counterintuitive and if you've been dedicated even a bit scary but it has worked for me.

justmeandthedogs · 23/04/2026 06:55

AuntChippy · 23/04/2026 06:54

Why not cut the calories for a few weeks? I wouldn’t lose a pound on 1550 a day. I’d also be swapping pasta bakes or cottage pies for something without carbs.

Because I’ve tried lower calories before and it spirals into a place where I end up with very unhealthy habits. Carbs are nothing to be afraid of and needed if you’re doing a lot of cardio and exercise. I mainly eat wholewheat pasta and lots of lovely wholemeal sourdough

OP posts:
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