Calories in vs calories out is just not working !

[noseriouslyguys]

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 ).

You would burn about 2000 calories plus running a marathon. Two twinkies is about 200?

Oh I just measured my body and have found very interesting results.

i used to obsessively measure myself when I was pregnant with my first and when I lost the weight after my first. I didn’t do this after my second.

anyway so I was 5-7 kg lighter than I am now. As you’d expect I was smaller. But what’s shocked me is that my waist was 2-3 inches smaller, but my legs are way smaller now ! And my hips are the same as they were.

so essentially my waist is bigger but my hips are the same circumference and my legs are smaller now than they were when I was 7 kg lighter 5 years ago.

i gather two things from that- middle age spread maybe and also, second pregnancy absolutely wrecked my abdominal muscles and I have a lot of muscle separation ( I saw a surgeon about it who confirmed it’s severe ).

so there you have it. When I lost the weight after my first baby I didn’t exercise. So I think I’ve been shrinking in circumference actually ( legs and hips ) and not so much in weight recently.

Hi OP, sorry some people are being dicks. I was just coming on to suggest Weigh watchers or similar. The structure was really helpful for me when trying to shift the weight after DC2 (early 40s). Alternatively Noom is really good if the idea of points or Syns doesn’t work for you. It has a more psychology based approach. Combined with your WLI I’d say that could really help. Exercise is great obviously but for me it makes little or no difference to weight loss. I’m currently training for a half marathon but since coming offWLI I’ve definitely gained weight again despite all the bloody running and gym work!

@popcornandpotatoesthey are working. I’m in a plateau. I’ve lost a considerable amount already. So yes they are working.

I’m 49, menopausal, 5ft 3in, 56kg and my tdee is 1900-2000 and I lose on 1700. Something very hunky going on here. I might have missed it but have you seen your GP to rule out anything medical going on? The more someone weighs the higher their tdee because it takes more energy to move that extra weight around. if you’re on WLI too and then you must be really pissed off and spending all that money and getting nowhere fast. It sounds like you’ve made some great progress and your attitude is commendable.

@noseriouslyguys this is it with me - I have lost weight , 11kg in 6 months so nothing stupendous ( but without WLI) however my legs are much slimmer, particularly lower legs as is my face and armed, especially wrists — tummy and backside though resolutely hanging on there !! Mind you I am 63

Do the people who say things like 'i need to eat below 1000 cal to lose weight' actually so that?

It's so unhealthy, there's no way you're getting the nutrients you need. I would rather be a bit fat tbh

Yep we’re all different sizes, builds, heights, different hormone levels and metabolism so the one-size-fits all mentality just doesn’t work.

I have about 800cals now and I’m maintaining a healthy size/weight for my height. I was eating way more than this and can now see why I was overweight.

Thank you so much. It’s so kind of you to recognise just how hard I’m working / have been working. I just really hate my body when I’m big. It affects every aspect of my life. So I’m very determined.

I know compared to others I have lost very slowly on the injections. But still. I am 18 kg lighter than I was ! That’s a lot. I’m still not where I want to be but if you told me a couple of years ago that I would be where I am now, I would have been so happy. I was trying and failing, every fucking time. So yes. 1kg max 2kg a month is really slow. But what’s the alternative- staying the same or getting bigger ?

that’s where the jabs have helped. I know it doesn’t seem worth it but it has been to me, compared to where I started. I’ve had thyroid checks before, not for a while. Apparently all is normal. Maybe I should do another one.

Op, I've recently lost 5 stone and I only managed it by going on MJ and eating 800 to 1,000 calories.

If I ate any more, I didn't lose weight. I'm mid 50's and noticed I just have to eat less now.

To maintain I eat 1,500.

All the TDI calculators in the world don't change my reality when it comes to losing weight.

And 100% agree. There is no such thing as starvation mode. Chances are, you just need to eat less than what you are doing.

I'm not sure if you've said, but I wouldn't eat any exercise calories.

I'm on Mounjaro and I've never lost more than 1lb a week - I've lost 7lbs since January! You shouldn't be viewing your loss as slow or less effective than others'. All loss is good loss. Don't put pressure on yourself. What's your BMI now?

Yes but I can't do it safely with just food so it means introducing things like protein shakes into your diet so your getting all your vitamins and minerals etc

Sorry to hear all this op.

Society can be really hard on people who struggle to lose. I remember myself crowing to a post-partum lady that " Oh if i miss a few meals i lose a few kilos." It was true, I did, but I had no baby to care for when I was skipping meals. But I've now watched a couple of close friends genuinely struggle. Sometimes people are just clueless.

What I would say is you have definitely done the most important bit. Your weight is now in the overweight category and there is some research to suggest that can be a category that has better longevity than others. So don't give up and slide back is the main thing. If it's taking a bit longer now, well, you're in a much better place for it to take longer. Take heart op.

OP, I don't actually believe in the CICO model. I believe in hormones.

Fast! Fast fast fast. Only eat within a short period of time, 6 hours, 4 hours. See what happens. There are studies of people losing more weight eating the same calories across a time restricted window compared with the same calories over the course of the day. Simply because your insulin isn't spiking every 3 hours. High insulin blocks lypolysis (fat breakdown). So get this low and your body is forced to use it's fat stores.

This doctor explains it much better than me but I've lost 6 stone and only once I started fasting (despite eating the same number of calories) did the weight truly fall off.

I do that already.

If you are losing 2kg a month that’s a pound a week and a normal rate of weight loss particularly for someone that has already lost a lot of weight.

And after the initial loss on MJ, I dropped to 1lb a week and I think that's pretty much normal.

I think the media hype that the fat just drops off in huge losses each week isn't the reality of MJ.

It's a consistent loss of small amounts that add up over time.

I have to eat a ridiculously low amount of calories to lose weight, and that was true even when I was on mounjaro.

What is important to remember is water retention after excercise can make it seem like you're not burning fat, but you are!

I am 4'11, and I didn't see much weight shift unless I was eating 800-900 calories a day religiously.

OP, just seen you are using WLI. I also am. I also have been weight lifting for years. I can lift moderately heavy weights eg deadlift 1.5 bodyweight, squat 1.25 bodyweight etc. I can do pull ups. I have very good muscle mass.

I’m taking thyroxine (get this checked) for an under active thyroid, and HRT (I am 50) including testosterone (it’s worth getting hormones checked, my testosterone was very low).

since starting WLI I have increased my cardio, and I am still lifting. I’ve managed to get down to a BMI of 22.5 and bodyfat of circa 19/20%.

I religiously eat 120g + protein a day (can be as much as 160g) and 30g + fibre. I eat very little grains or fruit. Carbs mostly fibrous veg and some pulses. The WLI are enabling me to eat circa 1,000 - 1,200 calories a day but not all calories are equal.

Keep up with the measurements OP and keep doing what you're doing! Ditch the scales and try to be consistent with calories consumed everyday and see if your measurements are changing future. You have done really well so far so please don't forget that!