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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

Fed up

31 replies

superplumb · 07/09/2023 06:59

I've worked out my tdee and I'm on 1200
I track everything and drink lots of water.
I started as 13.2. On 4th Aug. My nutracheck app says my 1200 calories will mean 1.5 to 2lb loss a week. I lost 1st week ad expected, then gained a 1lb then lost the lb again but today the 7th sep I'm 12.9 having put on a 1lb this week. I'm pissed off. I average between 6-9k steps a day, gym 3 x a week which only consists of light weights due to injury recovery. I've done very low calorie diets before and they worked really well but I wanted to eat this time but this isn't working. I'm mid 40s, 5ft 6.
Any advice? I don't see how increasing my calorie will work before anyone suggests that. As I say, my tdee says otherwise.

OP posts:
Strawberryboost · 07/09/2023 07:03

Bloomin heck

that is v low calories
high exercise
and you’ve gained?? Op are you being honest with yourself?

Strawberryboost · 07/09/2023 07:05

If that is the case, then you’re right to feel fed up

id be shedding weight on that regime

Whawillthefuturebring · 07/09/2023 07:06

Are you consistently calculating all calories and no having any cheat day?

To be honest following tdee doesn’t help me lose weight. I wouldn’t say 1,200 is very low calories for the amount of exercise the OP is doing.

hylian · 07/09/2023 07:06

Well you've lost 3lb overall, which is a loss, just a bit less than you wanted.

So keep going. It's going in the right direction.

iloveeverykindofcat · 07/09/2023 07:09

If you are counting correctly, as in weighing your food, it is impossible that you've gained fat. We're talking about a couple of pounds right? That's easily within the realms of water weight, undigested food etc. The bowels alone can hold several pounds of stool. If I were you I'd just keep doing what you're doing and I predict in a few days the scale will drop. Its the same when you're trying to gain weight. It doesn't respond in a linear fashion to your efforts.

hylian · 07/09/2023 07:09

Sorry it's actually more than 3lb you've lost, I calculated that wrong.

I don't know if you mean 12.9 stone or 12 stone 9lbs.

Still, either way you've lost at least 4lb? Which is not bad. Just keep going.

hermioneee · 07/09/2023 07:13

I think you're focusing too much on the fluctuations and not on the overall loss. You are losing weight, just not 2lbs a week.

You're right to be fed up. 20 years ago it would fly off wouldn't it!!

Divebar2021 · 07/09/2023 07:16

You haven’t gained a 1lb…. Your body isn’t a machine. It’s going to fluctuate as a PP has said. What’s important is the general trend is down.

( Nutracheck just seems to churn out 1200 calories for everyone regardless of starting weight.)

Gensola · 07/09/2023 07:18

Surely if there are 14 pounds in a stone OP has lost 7 pounds or half a stone … that’s loads? I am confused

Original poster
superplumb · 07/09/2023 07:35

I promise I track and weigh everything. I've stopped alcohol, any mini chocolate bars are added ( I've even saved them as a favourite) I even add things like 1/4 pepper for instance when I'm cooking a receipe.
So fed up.im hoping my period is due which may account for it. I do feel like I'm on a diet which is why I'm annoyed. Maybe my age who knows but yes to the poster had I been 20s I'd be a size 8 by now!

OP posts:
Original poster
superplumb · 07/09/2023 07:36

Gensola · 07/09/2023 07:18

Surely if there are 14 pounds in a stone OP has lost 7 pounds or half a stone … that’s loads? I am confused

Yeah but that's starting 4th August so isn't 2lb a week. I stayed the same last week.

OP posts:
Original poster
superplumb · 07/09/2023 07:38

Divebar2021 · 07/09/2023 07:16

You haven’t gained a 1lb…. Your body isn’t a machine. It’s going to fluctuate as a PP has said. What’s important is the general trend is down.

( Nutracheck just seems to churn out 1200 calories for everyone regardless of starting weight.)

It asked me how much I wanted to lose.
Then I checked my tdee on another site and based on my job ( desk all day) nutricheck was about right with the number

OP posts:
Original poster
superplumb · 07/09/2023 07:39

Strawberryboost · 07/09/2023 07:03

Bloomin heck

that is v low calories
high exercise
and you’ve gained?? Op are you being honest with yourself?

It isn't high exercise honestly just plodding around walking, not fast and wright's are quite light due to injury. But I didn't want to overdue cardio due to calories being quite low

OP posts:
bellac11 · 07/09/2023 07:40

You've lost a lot of weight as a percentage of your body weight so be pleased about that.

You need to view the loss over a much longer timeframe, each month for example. Put the scales away and only get them out monthly. Log and weigh every single thing per 100g, dont use cups or 'serving sizes' to calculate the calories, double check everything from the packet, dont use entries already on the app you use, people can input them incorrectly.

Im on less calories than you and am only losing about half a pound a week, but its regular and consistent so it will happen. It doesnt 'fall off' some of us.

Original poster
superplumb · 07/09/2023 07:40

Whawillthefuturebring · 07/09/2023 07:06

Are you consistently calculating all calories and no having any cheat day?

To be honest following tdee doesn’t help me lose weight. I wouldn’t say 1,200 is very low calories for the amount of exercise the OP is doing.

Do you think I should lower it? Can't do more exercise until I recover

OP posts:
Original poster
superplumb · 07/09/2023 07:43

bellac11 · 07/09/2023 07:40

You've lost a lot of weight as a percentage of your body weight so be pleased about that.

You need to view the loss over a much longer timeframe, each month for example. Put the scales away and only get them out monthly. Log and weigh every single thing per 100g, dont use cups or 'serving sizes' to calculate the calories, double check everything from the packet, dont use entries already on the app you use, people can input them incorrectly.

Im on less calories than you and am only losing about half a pound a week, but its regular and consistent so it will happen. It doesnt 'fall off' some of us.

Wasn't aware about the saved searches. I usually scan the barcode on packets. Are random people adding the the details?

OP posts:
bellac11 · 07/09/2023 07:48

If you're using the packet yourself thats fine, I usually use a laptop to enter my food, on MFP so I double and triple check

And when using the bar code be sure that the amount is per 100g and you calculate what you used, so you might have had 33g or 150g of something for example even if the 'serving size' is 80g

Allschoolsareartschools · 07/09/2023 07:57

7lb in a month is pretty good going isn't it??
1200 is too low & unsustainable though.

nov1ce · 07/09/2023 08:06

In short, muscle mass, my old approach to keep weigh off doesn't work, this article is good at explaining why and what to do. Spoiler alert, probably a tweak in your exisiting regime, so good for you. :)

www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/a30555304/losing-weight-after-40/#

Original poster
superplumb · 07/09/2023 08:18

Allschoolsareartschools · 07/09/2023 07:57

7lb in a month is pretty good going isn't it??
1200 is too low & unsustainable though.

I don't plan to keep it forever, jist to get weight off then ill maintain

OP posts:
Original poster
superplumb · 07/09/2023 08:20

Allschoolsareartschools · 07/09/2023 07:57

7lb in a month is pretty good going isn't it??
1200 is too low & unsustainable though.

It's 6 weeks though and meant to be approx 8lb a month. I'm prob being impatient but when I am strict and the scales haven't gone down and gone up instead it's annoying to say the least.

OP posts:
Pitstop1986 · 07/09/2023 08:31

I'd keep at it. As pp have said, water weight, water stored in your muscles after exercise, food and poop weight in your bowel and hormones effecting your period can all add weight, but it isn't fat. You've already lost some weight, so you know this method works, fluctuations are normal.

You could start measuring yourself as well, so that if you don't see the number on the scales change, you can see actual inch loss around your tummy or thighs.

Carry on tracking calories, have a look for new, lower calorie meal recipes to keep things exciting, maybe a low cal "fakeaway" so that you don't feel like you're missing out. Just remember, if you lose slowly, it's more likely to stay off, rather than losing weight quickly on a fad diet, which will create a yo-yo effect.

And remember the health benefits of what you're doing. It's not just the fat loss, it's other health benefits that come with a healthier way of eating with exercise. You're doing great!

Original poster
superplumb · 07/09/2023 09:01

Pitstop1986 · 07/09/2023 08:31

I'd keep at it. As pp have said, water weight, water stored in your muscles after exercise, food and poop weight in your bowel and hormones effecting your period can all add weight, but it isn't fat. You've already lost some weight, so you know this method works, fluctuations are normal.

You could start measuring yourself as well, so that if you don't see the number on the scales change, you can see actual inch loss around your tummy or thighs.

Carry on tracking calories, have a look for new, lower calorie meal recipes to keep things exciting, maybe a low cal "fakeaway" so that you don't feel like you're missing out. Just remember, if you lose slowly, it's more likely to stay off, rather than losing weight quickly on a fad diet, which will create a yo-yo effect.

And remember the health benefits of what you're doing. It's not just the fat loss, it's other health benefits that come with a healthier way of eating with exercise. You're doing great!

Thank you so much. I've checked my period app and in a few days late so that may have caused it. I do tend to bloat during totm

OP posts:
Vegetus · 08/09/2023 06:18

superplumb · 07/09/2023 07:38

It asked me how much I wanted to lose.
Then I checked my tdee on another site and based on my job ( desk all day) nutricheck was about right with the number

Show quote history

But you're not sedentary if you average 6-9k steps and go to the gym 3x a week are you?

Zanatdy · 08/09/2023 20:51

When I lost 24lbs in 2020-21 I didn’t lose much at all for the first month, then it started coming off. So I say stick with it for a bit longer whilst your body adjusts.