Menopause + Metabolically adapted to 1250 so trying Fast 800 1 day in 3

[xJoy]

Anybody else in a situation where their body has just adapted to lower rations

Diets used to work for me. Once I was in the zone I lost weight. No problem. Just had to put my mind to it.

Now, at 52, I'm making all the right food choices, I'm thinking of everything, low carb, water, fibre, gut health, minimal sugar (a bit in some yoghurt) and a couple of squares of 85 dark chocolate but that's it. I'm not having sweeteners as they can mess with your gut. Already in the habit of 18:6 and yet.......... I'm sleeping better the last month, but I have not lost a gram since the initial water loss in the first two weeks. I'm frustrated but also kind of marvelling at how my body has adapted to fewer calories than it would according the calculators need to just lie in bed all day.

I've done about 3 fast days (800, bit under) in the last 9 days so praying this works. But not so far still the same weight I was 9 days ago, and 5 weeks ago.

I'm reading labels, weighing, logging etc so it's not that I'm deluding myself.
Should I go to the doctor, it can't be normal to not lose a gram no matter what you do?

I don't think I have diabetes, but would you know?

I now feel like the only menopausal woman on mumsnet who cannot lose weight! plateau of 5 weeks now. I suppose there is no magic answer. I must need fewer calories. The calculators are wrong. people's metabolisms adjust after a life time of dieting (not obsessively, just fluctuating weight brough back in line with a 'diet' once every few years.

I know how you feel. I'm finding it almost impossible to lose weight. I even tried saxenda and after about two and half months I'd lost a grand total of 8lbs (all of which dropped off in the first week, then I plateaued). I was barely eating anything but I feel like I'd have to eat under 500 calories a day to see any movement on the scales.

I have a job that has a lot of manual lifting and movement as well, so I'm at a loss as to what to do next.

Oh thank you, It's a real thing. Club of two at least! If you search on youtube the only advice is read labels more careful, weigh more carefully. If you know you're doing that, what next.

Was you prescription for saxenda to reduce your appetite? Even on Saxenda you plateaud after a week. It's depressing! No point taking it if it does nothing for you.

I think I need a drug to speed up my metabolism! Is that called Speed! I wouldn't I wouldn't.

I used to skip breakfast or just a have yoghurt or a banana but after starting my new job which required me to be on my feet a lot, I started getting dizzy and feeling like I was going to pass out unless I had carbs for breakfast. Then I started getting intense hunger pangs later in the day, even if I wasn't working. I tried saxenda as I wanted to curb those really and that aspect worked. I was eating less than 1000 calories a day, but the weight still wasn't shifting and it was quite depressing tbh, especially hearing stories of other users who lost stones within weeks of being on sax 😕

'Just eat less and move more' unfortunately isn't working like it once did. I'm actually considering going to my drs for a thyroid test as my mum was diagnosed with it around this age. I'm at a loss with what else to do with my diet.

Are you having enough protein, how many grams a day?

Do you do any kind of resistance training? Adding muscle mass will increase your metabolism and strength training helps to maintain bone density through menopause.

Trying to eat 68 grams of protein as I'm 68 kilos. Just discovered those "protein puddings" quarks with a bit of flavour.
Have been doing weights for my arms but I should do more pilates. I walk to/from work every day so 5 hours of walking per week minimum.

Just about to have a veg curry with brown rice. Obviously being low carb rice is a massive friday night treat. I won't eat too much. Fast day of 800 tomorrow.
Keeping on keeping on!

Are you weighing and measuring everything and how are you doing that, by raw amounts and by 100g?

I'm your shoes I would try lifting heavier weights and incorporating compound excercises that use a lot of muscle groups (squats, deadlifts etc)
Maybe get an induction at a gym with a personal trainer to show you how.

I think it would help you eat more in the long run. There's a limit to how low you can go on calories and still meet your nutrient needs.

you're not alone :(
i'm 65 and struggling with weight loss.
however what i did want to add is the quality of your calorie counting app.
mfp is NOT very accurate
cronometer and the uk nutracheck are both much better
and sadly for me age post menopause and a sedentary lifestyle for the most part means i don't need or use many calories.

No real advice, but you are not alone.

after you plateau, it might be that exercise can get your weight moving again.

how tall are you? 68kg sounds like a dream weight to me - but I am v tall.

This is interesting as I was in similar situation. I cut my calories to 1500, did lots of walking ( fast) , even did low carbs but after about 5 weeks hadn’t lost weight.
what did it for me was HIIT.
I joined a local boot camp doing 3x 45 min sessions per week.
after 3 months, down from size 14 to size 10

It apparently boosts your metabolism so you burn fat faster even on your test days.

I'll have to do some HIIT tomorrow, that's only a few minutes isn't it! I do run for the bus occasionally! Thanks @Mojoyoyo

@Btjdkfnn I'm only 5'1 so I looked like a barrel, a weeble at 70 kilos. Lost two kilos in 10 days and felt a bit less enormous but since then.......... 😪

Oh yes, I think my accurate logging is part of the problem because 1200 really is 1200 so that is what my body has adjusted to.

@greenspaces4peace my food choices are good, no processed food. It's a shock when diets always used to work for me.

I'm hoping that my metabolism will reset soon. I think my body could adapt to 800 cals per day. I'm doing 5:2 at the moment, about 10 days in so have done 3 x fast800 days, still haven't lost a gram. 🤔
Not being alone does help a bit!!