Why aren’t the numbers on the scales moving?

[Stygimoloch]

Over the last year, I’ve put on around half a stone in weight. I’m going on holiday in a month and want to lose the weight so my summer clothes fit properly. I’m not overweight and my BMI is still in the healthy range but I’m aware of the extra half a stone and I want it gone.

I’ve been doing 16:8 fasting and also eating deficient calories for the last 2 and a half weeks and so far I’ve lost 2lbs in the first couple of days and absolutely nothing since!

I’ve been really careful. I eat a small snack at 11am and a small lunch and then my evening meal about 5pm. I’m snacking only on fruit. I’m counting the calories and averaging around 1400 a day. It’s killing me! And I’m so frustrated in the lack of results. What am I doing wrong? The numbers are stubbornly the same every single time I weigh myself. I maintained 2lbs heavier for over a year by eating whatever I wanted! How can I not be losing when I’m restricting myself so much?

I’m 45 and probably perimenopausal. I’m fairly active. Do yoga every day and run 5k a couple of times a week.

I put the weight on taking sertraline. I’m no longer taking it.

Thanks for any advice in advance!

@Stygimoloch I haven't tried your method however I do 5:2 (500 cals on FD). This is working for me. I get that you want to lose weight for your holiday but I think it's a long game. From what I can see 5:2 works for me but you need to give it time. It's taken me about 3 months to lose half a stone. I want to lose about another 1 1/2 stone. Maybe try it? You might respond better to it. I'm 57, post meno.

@Stygimoloch by the way how much fruit are you snacking on? It's very high in sugar. Try snacking on almonds in place of fruit. Or a really small piece of cheddar. I find these foods make you feel fuller.

@MrsTrefusis thank you for replying. Maybe I am just expecting results too quickly. I’m not snacking on that much fruit. Maybe an orange and banana. It really feels like I’m not actually eating that much food at all but am seeing no results.

Sounds like you’re having success on 5:2. What do you eat on fast days?

If you’ve got a 500ish a day calorie deficit then 2lbs in 2 weeks is about right for weight loss as there are 3500 calories in a pound of fat. Small fluctuations in how well hydrated you are and time in the cycle can mask weight loss too (a pint of water weighs about a pound, so your body doesn’t need to be retaining that much to make a big difference).

I’d give it a bit longer and see if the pattern continues?

@Stygimoloch on FDs I have so far eaten quorn & mushroom ragout with spiralised courgette, meatballs made with lean beef mince & spiralised courgette, variations on omelettes with veg in and a grilled turkey steak with veg. I often eat popcorn I make myself as a snack after dinner if I'm still hungry. For lunch I've been having a miso soup sachet. No breakfast. I do feel hungry on 500 cals particularly in the PM before dinner. I prefer to eat my main meal at night so that I'm not hungry when I go to bed.