To think I don't need to eat more

[user1489592537]

I am on a journey to losing weight, I have been eating between 1,200-1,400 calories with everything tracked and written into my fitness pal (including oil and cooking prep). I work out three times a week at the gym and walk a lot and have an active job. I drink two litres of water a day, all my meals are healthy and I've been doing this for about one and a half months. I have not lost any weight and seemed to have gained this week, my DH says it's because I'm not eating enough and need to eat over 1600 calories a day but at my height (5ft) and weight (11st) I would just be gaining rapidly?! He's now in a mood with me because I said I wouldn't do it.

pseudo science But that is the problem for mere mortals like me trying to lose weight. I actually have no idea how to do it - do I calorie count, low fat, low carb, fast, no sugar?
There are so many bits of advise that I fail to sustain any plan as I get confused about the 'right' way.

Out of curiosity, have you noticed a difference since getting the implant? Since I had mine put in I'm finding I gain weight more quickly and have a harder time shifting it - much like you, restricting to 1200 calories a day and exercising every day and not seeing much of a change. I don't know if I'm just clutching at straws for an excuse as to why I'm struggling though!

I know for me if I eat 1200 calories of high protein and fat and low carb I lose weight better than if I eat 1200 calories of bread, pasta etc.

I have lost 9lbs and 13 inches in last 2 months. I eat protein at each meal. Porridge ..big bowl..with added chopped nuts..2 slices of brown bread with very thin slice of cheese and tomato for lunch and regular dinner with less carbs than usual. Handful of nuts here and there and apples .
Gym 3 times a week where l was measured. I am mid 50s.
I think your dh is right. Eat a bit more and keep spaces a bit smaller. So healthy snack in between.
Measure yourself. What about your jeans? Are they looser? I can take mine off now without opening them.

I agree with NC4now. My diet is very high in protein and fat but I got to my target weight.
I do feel that by dismissing out of hand. cutting out bread you could be doing yourself a disservice.
You say you have a very active life, but are not happy with your weight loss, so you must be doing something wrong.
Why not give it a try for a month? After that if there is no change you can have the satisfaction of saying "Simon50 I told you, you were talking rubbish!"

As a pure boast... Since I was told I had COPD (a progressive disease) and started down the gym, I have improved my lung function by 7%, at the same time I was told I was pre diabetic and I am no longer !

Notmybag, if you eat a deficit of 3500 calories you will lose a pound. If you figure out how many calories you use per day and eat less than that figure, you will lose weight. Don't let other stuff confuse you, calorie counting is free, doesn't limit the types of food you can eat and is sustainable. Once you've lost a good bit, then maybe look into tracking macros, but you can become slim without doing that.

MN probably isn't the best place for advice on this, there are tons of fitness and physique / bodybuilding websites and forums out there where people will give you the facts.

I believe in 'starvation mode' from my own personal experience when dieting as an athlete. It wasn't so much that I didn't lose weight eating very little. More that after a period of 'starvation', a normal day/week of food made me put on weight much faster than it would usually. Like it saw food and stored it much more than normal. It was very noticeable.

I am so sick of this 3,500 calories = 1lb business. Fine if it helps folks to have a rule of thumb for what deficit to aim for, but it is an absolutely ancient old wives' tale based on precisely nothing. I think it's propagated so widely because it works out so neatly at 500 a day over a week.

Here are some facts.

1. If you eat fewer calories than you consume you will lose weight. The Newcastle diabetes study put the obese on 800 calories a days and whether they were on shakes or a h ealthy set of 800 calories they all lost weight sticking to that limit and their diabetes hugely improved.

So if you want to try the Parisian coffee, cigarettes, chocolate bar for lunch, and one small meal at dinner all under 800 cals you would probably lose weight but not a great idea and not healthy.

1. Many many people find that eating higher fat and fewer carbs is both healthy and if they are taking in lower calories they will lose weight. that is not because fat is some magic potion but just that it tends to fill you up so you eat less but it still comes down to the same thing - fewer calories. It tends to be sustainable longer term and is how I tend to eat,. However my vegan sons would rightly be able to make a case for weight loss and veganism too - there are lots of ways to skin a cat (pun intended).....

1. Most people unless very over weight tend not to lose more than half to a pound a week when eating fewer calories. In the first week or two you might lose more and if you are grossly obese you may lose more but not the rest of us. So if each month you are about 2 pounsd lighter that is not at all unusual and better than being 2 pounds heavier. Nor is it all linear. Most people put on weight before their period and sometimes you feel lighter but haven't yet lost weight and it comes off the next week.

So just keep it up and all will come good. I would try to ensure perhaps the following:-

1. No breakfast so you intermittent fast from dinner to lunch. No snacks.
2. I go for as late a lunch as I can manage and today it will be salmon (or possibly steak) friend in olive oil with lots of veg.
3. My dinner tends to be a plate of prepared salads with a tin of sardines.

(I am trying to lose 7 pounds).

At the OPs height and weight 1200 calories is probably below her basal metabolic rate and so her husband is rightly concerned. I'm a similar height and weight and lose weight rapidly on 1700 a day (age 45).... maintenance is some 2500 and if im being particularly active will need over 3000.
It's difficult to get all the nutrients you need on so little food and doubtless leads to feeling hungry and miserable.. .

@festivecheer I was 8stone5 when I got the implant, had been that since 16. Then in two months after getting it I gained 3 stone without really changing what I ate

If you eat fewer calories than you consume you will lose weight

I'd ask for the implant out and see if that changes anything.

I'd also add in some extra veg to your diet for fibre. I would be bloated and not going to the loo enough on what you've listed.

The 3500 thing is technically correct if you were to do a lab study and burn a pound of flesh, but you're right, it isn't bang on correct in real life. It's close enough to be a good guide to losing a pound a week though, despite the eventual diminishing returns from the 500 per day deficit.

But the OP will lose weight if she eats at a deficit. That will happen. We don't need to make it seem harder than it is. Keep it simple and it's easier to stick to.

I think you look amazing. I lost 2 stone eating 800 calories for six months and I would never do it again. My hair started falling out. Was awful. I go to slimming world now it's great.

Sounds like you've not found the right good combo for you. I can eat the same calories on a high carb, low fat (hclf) diet as on a high protein, high fat diet (hphf). On the high carb low fat diet I won't lose a lb, on the hphf diet I'll lose steadily. My friend is the opposite. Different diets work for different people.

I actually have exactly the same figure and it's quite deceptive as it looks 'in shape' thanks to the tiny waist but is actually 'skinny fat'. Frustratingly, if I want to slim down, the weights rarely comes off my hips or breasts until the very end.

I've found the best thing is HIIT a few times a week plus lifting weight. Foodwise I tend to avoid anything processed and get most of my carbs from leafy greens and vegetables. Protein at every meal is a must, and breakfast is usually eggs - I don't think you're eating enough protein or fat which is the problem. I'd also suggest ditching the pasta for a few weeks along with any other processed carbs like it and eat eat brown rice or sweet potatoes instead. Maybe have porridge for breakfast one day and eggs the next. I think you need to up your water intake by another 500ml at least.
Lastly, try to eat something smaller in the evening. Eating a large breakfast or lunch is far better. I'd recommend trying intermittent fasting too. (I do this and do 18:6 which means I eat between 10am - 6pm, although the eating window changes some days, particularly if I'm going out for dinner!

Why don't you change what you're eating for the next six weeks and see if it makes a difference. I bet it does!

Good luck

At 5 foot 1300 is probably about your maintenance calories you want to be eating 1100 to lose weight

And yeah, at 5ft7 I eat 800-1000 cals to lose. Your DH is being unreasonable to suggest eating more.

It would be useful for us to know what your work out consists of, is it all cardio?

You have told us about your diet but little about your work out regime.

Due to my COPD I can warm up on a tread mill by walking (but no running and or cycling) I try to do a gentle bit on the Veras climber, then a session with my trainer, bit of boxing then weights, prowler, even pulling her on a sled the length of the gym.

Good advice from Stella above.

Oops. I meant "If you eat fewer calories than you expend....you will lose weight".
I agree that more good fats and fewer carbs tend to fill people up and make them eat less.

He may be right. Google Basal metabolic rate calculator and see what you think.