Not losing weight via low cal fasting, what to try now!

[Ratchula]

Looking for some wisdom! I recently came off antidepressants (sertraline) as I was feeling stable again after a difficult period, but also because I had put on a stone in weight. Withdrawal went well, and I'm now trying to lose the extra weight via a low cal diet (1000 per day) combined with fasting (basically skipping breakfast and only eating between 11 and 7). But six weeks on and I've not lost anything - I'm exactly the same weight (9st 7)!

I'm not sure what to do now, I've always had success counting calories in the past, but I'm 39 now and have had two kids in recent years so perhaps my metabolism has been affected. Not sure what I should try next - anyone got any advice or personal experience? I just want to fit back into all my clothes again!

Best advice: get hold of a copy of this book

Written by Dr Andrew Jenkinson, who is a bariatric surgeon. He explains why calorie counting really doesn't work.

I wrote a similar post to yours about 6 weeks ago OP. I'm about half stone heavier than you at 5ft. I'm not sure how tall you are but I think smaller people are able to maintain their weight on far fewer calories unfortunately. There are some calculators online but I think my base metabolic rate is only about 1300 calories a day!

I'm eating 1000-1200 a day with a little leeway at weekends.
For me that means no breakfast. A salad or similar at around 200 cals max, dinner is about 600-700. I switch out pasta in bolognaise for tenderstem broccoli or green beans, rice for cauliflower rice, fajhitas - I'll have the chicken etc with salad instead of a wrap. You get the idea.
It is coming off very slowly, about half a pound a week. I've lost about 3lbs altogether which doesn't seem much considering the effort I'm putting in!
It would have melted off in my 20s after a few weeks without barely trying so age is definitely a factor.

My only advice is to remember the milk in tea/coffee needs to be included in your calories counting and will break your fast.
Exercise if you can as it will increase your calorie deficit.
Lastly, maybe consider switching to a different type of diet. I'm not sure lowcal is the best option for people like us who need very few calories to maintain.

Follow RH fitness. No matter what if you’re eating 1k calories you should be losing weight x

I agree with @MissAtomicBomb1 re: short people. I am 5 ft, mid-50s and finding it very difficult to lose weight. I seem to be able to survive on very few calories without getting too hungry.

I have now resorted to 5:2 and 16:8. 2 days fasting (almost no food) and 16:8 on other days as much as possible. I only break fast on days I have team or work lunches or family special occasions. It comes off very slowly only to bounce back up on non-fast days 😔

Now incorporating more exercise as well.

I switched to keto last week and have lost 3lb so far, not a bad start! And it's nice to not be focusing on cals all the time, I'm enjoying meals again after six miserable weeks. Fingers crossed the weight keeps dropping.

This, exactly.