1200 calories- not losing weight. How?!

[Caloriewoes]

So I need some help.

Baby is 6 weeks old and from about 2 weeks, I've been counting calories.
To start I was logging about 1400- felt this was a huge decrease compared to what I was consuming during the end of pregnancy . Did lose to start but slowed right down to 0.5 - 0.25 of a lb a week- so reduced again to 1200.

Despite this, I'm still only losing very little. To put into context, since 20th November I have lost 2/3s (that's two thirds!) lb

I'm at a total loss. I'm actually going to bed hungry and did a 5km walk this week. I am not the most active when I have my baby at home alone (doesn't sleep and I have a toddler at nursery so I do use some time to recoup) but I am active on the days I have them both and do all the housework, etc. I have never had this issue before and would normally lost weight on 1200 calories.

What do I do? It is really starting to get me down as I can't fit into my clothes so I'm rotating 2 pairs of jeans. Do I cut to 1000? I daren't go up as I wasn't losing much on 1400. Could it be my cycles stopping me losing (not had a period yet but not breastfeeding).
All help appreciated! I'm considering some sort of exercise boot camp but I'm so bloody tired!

I definitely need to increase the exercise (when it's not raining and I don't have my 2 year old). I'm just so tired!
Thanks all. I've decided to give myself a day off today as the fact I'm being so good and not losing is making me feel worse than not fitting in my clothes!

I also use the Nutracheck app. It's great. I definitely need more water and less caffeine.

Oh my god. As some with a dietetics qualification - and having lost a lot of weight personally - I have to say there is some shocking advice in this thread. Seriously shocking.

OP. 1200 isn't enough to keep you going. Go onto Google and type in TDEE calculator. That's how much energy your body burns on an average day. Go a couple of hundred below that, and add in some exercise - and you'll lose weight slowly and safely.

There are some decent comments about diet at least - lots of protein and veggies is good. Also making sure you're drinking plenty of water as this helps with pretty much everything your body does.

Do you have a slow cooker? Make a chicken stew with lots of veg. It's filling, tasty and doesn't take much effort whatsoever, just shove everything in and turn it on in the morning. Can freeze extra portions, too.

Exercise with a newborn is quite easy - wrap up warm and go for a walk with the pram. People often seem to forget that walking is exercise, and think they need to build in formal exercise sessions like the gym or a class.

Don't be too hard on yourself :).

Thanks for the tips.

Walking is great with the newborn (when it's raining- the buggy took 3 days to dry last time!). It is not so easy with the toddler but she goes to childcare for 2 days so that's definitely a possibility . I do walk round the shops a lot .

My TDEE calculator came out at about 1400 (can't remember off hand but I posted what it said I should be eating to lose weight- around 1200, which I have been following). I don't drink much water though so that's an easy fix.

I don't have a slow cooker as I am vegi and not a huge fan of lentil based recipes, but I do cook and count healthy meals in the evenings.

1. sleep deprivation massively messes up metabolism

2. some degree of thyroid swing is not uncommon postpartum

3. cut yourself some slack! Exhaustion + extreme calorie restriction + feeling down about yourself = a perfect storm for PND.

Not getting enough sleep can have a big effect on weight loss. I would you p pop the exercise and try to get more sleep, even if it’s a nap or two when the baby sleeps, or very early big hot for a while. Your hormones will also be out of whack. Just give it time op,

Thanks all. At the moment, baby only sleeps on one of us so hard to catch up on sleep in the day. Hopefully that changes soon.

I don't have a slow cooker as I am vegi and not a huge fan of lentil based recipes
What are you on about🤔
I've been a veggie for 25 years and only tend to have lentils in the summer yet use my slow cooker several times a week fro autumn until the end of spring.
That's the second daftest comment I've seen on MN today!

@Caloriewoes Being a woman trying to lose weight is so hard especially after a baby, sleep effects weight loss a LOT, have you actually calculated your calories? you could be consuming to little and your body is holding on to what your giving it, 1200 calories is what a child needs to grow. NO adult should eat below this then your looking at hair loss, periods stopping serious effects on your body!

If your in a healthy calorie deficit you will lose weight.

www.jamessmithacademy.com/macro-calculator/

This is the best calculator for a health CC diet

@notacooldad

I don't have a slow cooker as I am vegi and not a huge fan of lentil based recipes What are you on about🤔 I've been a veggie for 25 years and only tend to have lentils in the summer yet use my slow cooker several times a week fro autumn until the end of spring. That's the second daftest comment I've seen on MN today!

Throw some recipes my way! I'm all for making life easier.

According to the calculator I had early I should be losing 1lb a week on 1200 but it's just not happening. It's the first time in my life I've restricted and not had a decent weight loss. It's baffling!

Or aubergines. (not envy!)

I could have written similar myself. I've got a 9 week old + 2 other children. I've done calorie counting in the past & it worked great till getting pregnant again. I've been counting since he was a week old & managed to loose a stone but now I can't loose anything, doesn't matter how many calories I eat or don't eat or how much exercise I do or don't do. I still have 3½ stone to go to get back to pre pregnancy weight & like you I'm rotating the same couple of outfits & even they are a bit tight. I just can't afford to buy new clothes so need to shift this weight ASAP.

@Chocolatemushrooms

I could have written similar myself. I've got a 9 week old + 2 other children. I've done calorie counting in the past & it worked great till getting pregnant again. I've been counting since he was a week old & managed to loose a stone but now I can't loose anything, doesn't matter how many calories I eat or don't eat or how much exercise I do or don't do. I still have 3½ stone to go to get back to pre pregnancy weight & like you I'm rotating the same couple of outfits & even they are a bit tight. I just can't afford to buy new clothes so need to shift this weight ASAP.

I'm sorry you're in the same boat. It's really awful isn't it and I can Ill afford new clothes.

All I read online is that you're likely to not lose weight as you neglect yourself etc. It sucks! I'm worried I'll never get back to my pre- pregnancy weight

Throw some recipes my way! I'm all for making life easier
Ok I'm currently making a rota cauliflower chickpea and apricot tagine in a slow cooker.
In the last two weeks I've made a mushroom bolognese, sag also paneer, coconut Dahl served with flat breads, potato, fennel and celeriac gratin, ratatouille bake with ciabatta crust pumpkin, brie and sage lasagne and creamy orzo with green veg.
I usually prepare in the morning and put the slow cooker on a timer for later in the day.
I also make Bombay potatoes, loads of different types of curries and cheese mac and jams.
Just experiment and have fun. I'm pretty confident now but I've had a few misses in the past so don't be put off.
The advantage of the slow cooker is that it re_allocates time. I prep when things aren't too busy and use things like frozen chopped onions, frozen cauliflower and also frozen mixed veg. Make more than you need to freeze.

I'm worried I'll never get back to my pre- pregnancy weight
You will.
It's easier to read the rules than do them but plenty of water, exercise ( fast pram walking to get your heart rate up) eat plenty but not highly processed food. You'll get there!

@Caloriewoes

Thanks.

I had no idea I'd need to do so many steps too. I am just so tired as baby won't be put down overnight but I do need to be stricter and get out walking more. The cold is very unappealing!

If I cut to 1000 would I still need the steps? I feel so fed up.

You can lose weight without any exercise at all.

When I lost 3 stone I was actually pretty much living between the bed and the sofa following surgery. I just weighed and logged my calories in My Fitness Pal to keep track.

@Chocolatemushrooms

I could have written similar myself. I've got a 9 week old + 2 other children. I've done calorie counting in the past & it worked great till getting pregnant again. I've been counting since he was a week old & managed to loose a stone but now I can't loose anything, doesn't matter how many calories I eat or don't eat or how much exercise I do or don't do. I still have 3½ stone to go to get back to pre pregnancy weight & like you I'm rotating the same couple of outfits & even they are a bit tight. I just can't afford to buy new clothes so need to shift this weight ASAP.

So you lost 14lbs in less than 8 weeks, because now you say you can't lose anything, so it must be a couple of weeks since you haven't lost at lease. That's loads to lose in such a short space of time! It's really quite sad that people are so obsessed and pressures I to thinking they have to shift the weight they gained while growing a human being, that they are counting the 3 calories in diet juice.

Thanks all. I'm wondering if I need to stick to 1200 exactly. Some days I'm under (confident I'm not over but I could buy some new kitchen scales?).

I know this sounds a bit silly, but when you say no processed foods, can you give me some quick meals ideas? Ideally needs to be toddler friendly and quick to prepare. I'm thinking it might be worth shaking up our meals.

Weather is not looking great next week.

How about a bean chilli, tofu pad thai, miso soup with veg?

Mist if tbe ones I suggest to you are suitable. They just need to be pureed with no added salt

Veggie and quick meals
Butternut and sage risotto
Garlic mushrooms with polenta
Vietnamese noodle salad
Mange tout pad thai
Courgette carbonara
Bibimbap Bowls
Spinach, chickpea and lemon pilaf
Stir fries
Winter salads

Thanks so much for the recipe ideas.

So either my scales are out and I'm eating more than 1200 or my hormones are stopping me losing weight.
I'm going to drink more water, up my exercise, try some different meal ideas and update this to see if it makes a difference. I just checked MFP for my previous child and I was definitely losing by this point (I did go to WW- maybe I should join again!?).

Honestly op save your money from WW.
You can buy the Veggie lean in 15 cook book which has some of the recipes I suggested in as well as exercise routines
The weather is rubbish so do some workouts from YouTube if you are feeling up to it.
Keep your meals rich in veg and protein and as I've said before where you can cook extra to freeze to make life easy.
It'll come together.

Thank you. Definitely feel well enough to do some home workout videos. Fab idea. I have ordered some new scales from Amazon so should be here tomorrow.