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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 am I doing wrong?

6 replies

Damnthat1sTaken · 14/04/2025 15:51

hi just hoping someone much smarter than me could tell me what I’m possibly getting wrong. Started a calorie deficit of 1600 cals a day at a weight of 11st 4lb around a 7 weeks ago. At the same time I went into a deficit I started strength training at the gym 3-4 times a week, and average about 5k steps a day. After the first two weeks I got down to 10st 12, very happy with the progress but ever since then I’ve been completely stuck at this weight. No cheat days but I did eat at maintenance for one day in that time. I’m tracking as perfect as I can with a food scale, adding absolutely everything into my app and I’m just getting so down that the scale isn’t moving. Has any one else had a plateau this early in a weight loss journey? How do I get back to losing, I’m seeing so many conflicting things online about reverse dieting, or it’s muscle weight ect

OP posts:
SilenceInside · 14/04/2025 15:54

Have you recalculated your TDEE for your new lower weight and what deficit are you in if you’re at 1600 cals?

Original poster
Damnthat1sTaken · 14/04/2025 15:59

Hi @SilenceInsidei used a calculator online and it said my new maintenance is 2186 so I just kept it at 1600 as I thought it would still be a decent deficit. But I’m wondering if I should take it down to 1500 now

OP posts:
SilenceInside · 14/04/2025 16:12

That TDEE seems quite high, I guess it depends on what you described your activity levels as. I would try a week of reducing calories to 1400 and see if that produces any weight loss.

LivingLaVidaBabyShower · 14/04/2025 16:15

How tall are you.

I'm 11stone 5"3 and my maintenance is about 1700 and I dont have poor muscle tone particularly...

I'd be waiting a while to lose a lb on a 100 cal per day deficit

are you sure tdee is right? Your lifestyle is very sedentary at 5k steps per day so over 2000 cal seems high

Original poster
Damnthat1sTaken · 14/04/2025 16:25

i just put my activity as 3-4 moderate workouts a week, I’m 5’5. And yeah, other than the gym I really don’t get walking as much as I’d like but do plan on trying to up my steps. I think I am going to reduce my cals and see how I get on

OP posts:
Original poster
Damnthat1sTaken · 14/04/2025 16:26

I’m thinking the maintenance I thought I had was way off, going to try some other calculators and see what I get

OP posts:
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