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Calorie-counting

Discuss calorie counting, including tips, challenges and real-life experiences. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

What is going on!???!!!

30 replies

Pikaso · 22/01/2022 07:20

I’m 5ft 10in and weight 11st 4lbs. Therefore I’m not massively overweight but I’m a stone heavier than I was 3 years ago. I’m 40.

I’ve been doing Slimfast for 3 weeks. I never eat breakfast so don’t have a morning shake. I have one shake at lunch time and a 600 calorie meal on an evening. With tea and coffee throughout the day I’m consuming around 1000 calories a day. I’m doing at least 10,000 steps a day and going to gym 3 times a week.

I lost 2lbs in the first week and have been stuck on 11st 4lbs ever since!!! In fact this morning I’m nearly 11st 5lbs!!!

This isn’t logical!? I don’t believe in starvation mode. How the hell am I maintaining on 1000 calories a day? I’m certainly burning off more than I’m taking in! Doesn’t make sense and I’m getting so frustrated.

Only other thing is I’m constipated. But surely inff sad hound still be losing at least 1lb a week??

OP posts:
Mammyloveswine · 22/01/2022 07:24

Up your fibre and water intake and also look up how many calories you need to lose weight! You are likely having too few!

Team RH is good or jason manford set up a facebook group which is full of helpful advice!

GiantSpider · 22/01/2022 07:32

When is your period due? I always gain weight before my period, which this could be masking / offsetting your weight loss. If so you should see the loss eventually.

Pumpkin2901 · 22/01/2022 07:43

It's probably the constipation. There are many reasons the scale might not be moving... water retention from totm or more salt than normal. It could also be stress (from the scales not moving!) or a bad night's sleep. I know it's hard, I'm struggling with this too at the moment, but try to be patient and consistent. Also think about how low your calories are, can you keep up this way of eating for life? If not, when you go back to your normal way of eating you're likely to put the weight back on. Slow and steady wins the race.

eurochick · 22/01/2022 07:46

I found as I hit around 40 weight came off very unevenly so the scales wouldn't shift for a while then I'd lose a couple of pounds. Stick with it - with that calorie deficit it will have to come off.

Hmum0fthree · 22/01/2022 07:48

Toddlers need 1200 calories, you say you don't believe in starvation mode but your literally starving your body. Id cut the shake and have a proper meal at lunch if you don't eat breakfast with fibre and protein and drink more water.

Smorgasborb · 22/01/2022 07:54

Weight loss isn't linear
Weight loss isn't linear

Seriously years of tracking have shown me that this holds completely true. If you are eating less than 1000 calories then it can't not come off. I one had a 3 week stall and the following week had a 6lb loss.

Likely water retention. Up your water. 3 litres a day if you can and have a serious look at whether other calories are slipping in. Alcohol?

Also slim fast is truly disgusting. Full of artificial stuff, sucralose, canola oil. Nasty. Can you not have a low calorie lunch of fresh stuff instead? A tuna salad? Baked potato? Cream cheese in celery. Houmois and carrots etc.

The only thing that worked for me after 40 was either low carbing or a form of fasting (eg one meal a day which works for me as I don't have breakfast either.)

Original poster
Pikaso · 22/01/2022 07:58

No alcohol as I’m tee-total (as of New Year’s Day, currently 20 days sober after borderline alcoholism, could this be a factor?)

Science dictates that the weight must come off on these figures so I don’t get it. I’ll up my water intake to see if that is the problem. I do feel very bloated.

OP posts:
Smorgasborb · 22/01/2022 07:58

Also are you having those slim fast snacks? Check them. I also don't need to tell you they are also grim in terms of ingredients. You can have so much lovely stuff in a 500 calories lunch that isn't a gloopy concoction of artificial stuff that you will get bored of in days.

Original poster
Pikaso · 22/01/2022 07:59

@Smorgasborb

Also are you having those slim fast snacks? Check them. I also don't need to tell you they are also grim in terms of ingredients. You can have so much lovely stuff in a 500 calories lunch that isn't a gloopy concoction of artificial stuff that you will get bored of in days.
No snacks. I don’t have any appetite so I’m managing fine on one shake and one meal a day
OP posts:
Smorgasborb · 22/01/2022 08:01

@Pikaso

No alcohol as I’m tee-total (as of New Year’s Day, currently 20 days sober after borderline alcoholism, could this be a factor?)

Science dictates that the weight must come off on these figures so I don’t get it. I’ll up my water intake to see if that is the problem. I do feel very bloated.

You probably aren't used to the ingredients in slim fast. Your body is protesting. Ever noticed if you make a slim fast and drink half of it, leave it for a while it's now grown to a full glass? It has expanding ingredients that make you feel full. No wonder you feel bloated!

And I know TMI but are you pooing less frequently?! Also probably a bit of constipation

Michellebops · 22/01/2022 08:03

You're not consuming enough.
For slimfast to work, it's needs to be 3/2/1

3 small snacks, 2 shakes and 1 low cal dinner (400cal I think)

Original poster
Pikaso · 22/01/2022 08:05

@Smorgasborb yes I think you’re right. I’m wondering if it’s the milk and ingredients making me bloat. Even though I’ve lost 2lbs my jeans actually feel tighter than before I started dieting.

I’m also on iron tablets so my poo is very dark and comes out in little hard balls. (Sometimes I have to help it out it’s that bad). I took two dulcolax last night and so far no result 😭 going to buy some stool softeners today (laxido)

OP posts:
NutellaEllaElla · 22/01/2022 08:06

God knows why you're eating so little and slim fast of all things but anyway. My husband is 40 and loses weight once a month. Literally. He can be in a significant deficit for 4 weeks and the scales don't shift more than once but when it does, it's a "whoosh" as they say. Fat cells like to hold on as long as they can.
I'm the same height, started out at 11.7 in 2020 and have basically maintained at 9.7ish since, eating that little at our height is not very sustainable, I'm surprised you're not finding yourself to be tired and low on energy. If you haven't already, go to tdeecalculator.net and figure out how many calories you would burn laying in bed all day (that's your BMR, 1467 for you), do yourself a favour and don't eat less than that.

SecretDoor · 22/01/2022 08:07

You mention borderline alcoholic -Is your liver ok?

GiantSpider · 22/01/2022 08:08

I think giving up the booze could be relevant here. It sounds like you've made a lot of changes all at once and your body is struggling to adjust. You say "science dictates" but these days weight loss science acknowledges that it's not quite as simple as we used to think (calorie deficit = weight loss). However I do think you'll find it comes off everntually.

Original poster
Pikaso · 22/01/2022 08:10

@NutellaEllaElla

God knows why you're eating so little and slim fast of all things but anyway. My husband is 40 and loses weight once a month. Literally. He can be in a significant deficit for 4 weeks and the scales don't shift more than once but when it does, it's a "whoosh" as they say. Fat cells like to hold on as long as they can. I'm the same height, started out at 11.7 in 2020 and have basically maintained at 9.7ish since, eating that little at our height is not very sustainable, I'm surprised you're not finding yourself to be tired and low on energy. If you haven't already, go to tdeecalculator.net and figure out how many calories you would burn laying in bed all day (that's your BMR, 1467 for you), do yourself a favour and don't eat less than that.
You weigh 9st 7lbs at 5ft 10?
OP posts:
NutellaEllaElla · 22/01/2022 08:10

Sorry if the tone of my post comes off as harsh, I don't mean it to.

Join us at www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/4440526-Jumping-January?msgid=114421586#114421586 for support if you like.

NutellaEllaElla · 22/01/2022 08:12

Within a few pounds of that yes, it fluctuates.

cunningartificer · 22/01/2022 08:14

I always had trouble losing weight and have now been on Noom for over a year and lost five stone. Its the daily weighing and tracking that made me realise weight loss doesn't work as I expect (plenty of long plateaus) and over time I've realised if I eat very little it's counter productive. What really shifted it for me was changing what I eat and having lots of fruit and vegetables which fill you up but in my case also really help with indigestion and bloating. I also drank too much and I think my body had got used to 'easy' calories so slim fast wouldn't have been helpful I suspect. I needed to change my tastes and I have! Still not there but so so much closer Smile

HalfShrunkMoreToGo · 22/01/2022 08:18

Water is the key, just keep sipping all day. You'll be peeing like a racehorse for the first few days but your bladder will get used to it and it will settle down.

The act of breaking down fat (lipolysis) and expelling it uses water, so if you aren't hydrated you can't break down the fat as efficiently.

I have 500ml bottles that I fill and keep in the fridge door so I can just grab one as soon as the other is empty and switch them out. You can get the bottles with a mesh column down the middle that you fill with fruit if you prefer a fruity water, or you can add a fruit/herbal tea bag and let it infuse. Something like peppermint to help digestion if you're feeling bloated might be good.

hanketypankety · 22/01/2022 08:37

When you go on a restricted diet your body will first break down its glycogen stores which takes with it a lot of water. Hence big weight loss to start with. With constant restriction, your body goes into starvation mode and slows your metabolism and tries to hold onto fat stores. Your body doesn't want to be starved and will do everything it can to stop this. You need to eat regularly with 3 balanced meals a day with a couple of healthy snacks. Plenty of protein, whole grain fibre and fruit and veg. My fitness pal can help you to work out a sensible calorie deficit to help maintain a sensible weight. It's usually a deficit of a couple hundred calories a day. Not 1000. If you are a big drinker then your liver will not work well and this affects metabolism, fat stores etc. any dramatic weight loss achieved through restrictive diets will always backfire eventually as it's just not sustainable. Your body will make you crave food as when your fat stores deplete your body releases hormones to make you feel hungry so your body doesn't feel it's starving anymore. Healthy balanced diet will resolve this. Hydration is important for this and for bowel health

WouldBeGood · 22/01/2022 09:31

Iron tablets are notorious for causing constipation. You need to drink prune juice or something to help!

Your calories sound far too low tbh. Look at the Fitness Chef or James Smith for sensible dietary advice.

WouldBeGood · 22/01/2022 09:36

Oh, and if you go to the gym, maybe speak to a PT about an exercise and eating plan?

isabelle81 · 22/01/2022 11:18

I'm 5'9 , pretty active and and my recommended calories for weight loss is between 1700-1850. You're eating way too little and I know from experience you can stall things that way or burn off lean tissue. 11st 4 still falls into the normal weight range for your height but if you're uncomfortable at that weight, you could be carrying more fat (which we do as we get older) it could be that you need to work on building more lean tissue through resistance training

Itiswhatitis21 · 23/01/2022 09:01

I personally dont think these shakes are sustainable, or enjoyable.
For the calories in a slim fast shake (227 in vanilla)
I can have a cod fillet or basa with a tonne of veg and a bit of sweet chilli sauce.
And much healthier than a shake and i can imagine is alot more filling and satisfying.
I am 5ft 4 and 159.8 lbs (same weight as you) and on 1400 calories for weight loss, that is at the lower end of my TDEE.
Do some calorie calculators and work out how many you should be on.
I would be absolutely miserable on your diet.