Why am I not losing weight?

[FknOmniShambles]

Wondering if anyone would mind giving me their thoughts as I'm feeling a bit deflated.
I've been using 2.5ml of MJ for three weeks with a SW of 25 stone. In the first week, I stayed the same all week until weigh in day when the scale oddly showed 24 st 1lb.
I thought that was a bit strange to plummet so suddenly and wondered if the scales were dodgy. I have not moved from this weight since that day 2 weeks ago but I am 100% I have lost a good chunk of weight - I can see and feel it. In terms of lifestyle changes I have dropped from about 3500 calories a day to 1400 and gone from approx 60 units of alcohol a week (I know) down to 15. Additionally I'm doing 30 mins brisk walk every evening on the treadmill. I feel absolutely fantastic and am super motivated - literally no desire to "cheat" or quit.
Any thoughts?

Your scales need new batteries or your floor is not flat.

I lost 4 stones this morning, unfortunately, I nudged the scales back to the flatter part of the floor and gained 4st1lb

Thanks @Frequency i should have said I replaced the scale batteries in the first week and have moved their location onto a firm hard floor. Sorry about your rapid gain! 😂

Why are you eating only 1400? That's far too low. You need better scales. If you're in that much of a calorie deficit you will 100% have lost weight but you need to fuel your body properly which 1400 is NOT doing

I'm not taking weight loss injections. But when ever I lost weight in the past, I'd lose inches before pounds. I have no idea how that works, but I'd lose and inch and then a few weeks later, the scales would drop by 4-7 pounds!

Also, it's still early days for you, so don't panic!

@InkHeart2024 To be honest, I've just not felt I needed more than 1400 - the thought of it not being enough hasn't even occurred to me. Could it be preventing me losing weight?!
In terms of diet, I've been eating a really rounded diet of lean meat, loads of veg, fish, rice, etc.

@BobbyPeruLikeTheCountry thanks, feel I may be the same!!

No of course it’s not preventing you losing weight and it’s not far too low either, it’s fine. Honestly some of the nonsense on here, yes you can eat more but 1400 is totally fine.

if you’ve lost 13 pounds in 2 weeks it’s a huge amount,

Sorry 3 weeks.

Can I ask you a bit more about this? My scales have not shifted in 3 weeks yet my clothes are looser and I look and feel slimmer when I look in the mirror. I only checked my waist and it has half an inch off so not loads but surely the scales would drop, even by 1/4 of a pound! But nothing! I’m not on weight loss jabs either but I’m only 5’ 2’’ and have about 10lbs to lose.

If what you said in your original post is correct I would strongly reccomend getting some new scales, if you eat less calories and have started walking and dropped alcohol you definalty will see a drop in numbers.. maybe your starting weight is wrong too..
Can you pop to a doctors surgery they have scales in waiting room?? .
If not amazon prime or click and collect argos maybe..

I'm not sure there's much I can add. I have absolutely no idea how or why it's possible, but I was measuring my waist, etc., and I was definitely getting smaller, but the scales took up to a month to catch up, and the loss was usually a big one.

This happened even when I wasn't exercising, so I don't think it was muscle gain/toning up or anything. It's a mystery!

No it won't prevent you losing weight - how could it? Your body will use an amount of energy daily, you can work that out using a TSEE calculator. If you eat less than that amount you will lose weight. But your TDEE will be fairly high so cutting calories too far will result in hunger, fatigue, muscle loss and the risk of bingeing. Much better to reduce your TDEE by a sustainable amount, no more than 1000 per day, and lose in a healthy way.

Thanks, I’ll hope for the same then! I’ve worked out that over 3 weeks I’m in approx a 7500 calorie deficit, I’ve been exercising as well. So I would have expected 2lbs to have come off. I’m going slow and steady so that it’s sustainable. I’m calorie counting, exercising, have upped protein and lowered carbs and sugar. Fingers crossed for a drop soon!

Her TDEE is probably 2800-3000. Why would you recommend she eats 1400 a day? And as you point out, 13 pounds in 2 weeks is a huge weight loss and not healthy! Therefore she's eating too little...

Bodies are weird things. I'm sure if you've been doing all the right things, you'll start seeing progress soon!

My scales give random readings sometimes. I have a weigh in before the shower and one after (completely dry) with a few lb’s out!

Eh? You've lost a stone in 3 weeks. Surely that's not, not losing weight?
I imagine you've had a big woosh of water retention in the first week so not a "true" 1lb. Over the next couple of weeks your body has probably settled and balanced out to be a higher weight at some point and now you've lost actual fat and not just water.

I suppose the only way to know this would be if you had being weighing everyday and seen a daily fluctuation.
How frequently have you weighed?

Anyway, well done on the huge calorie and alcohol reduction.

The alcohol will be stopping you from losing weight. Stop the alcohol for 2 weeks and drink 3 litres of water a day. You will lose another stone I promise.

Alcohol doesn't stop you losing weight and how can you possibly promise she will lose another stone? FFS

Please read comments properly, it is quite clear from the quote I didn’t recommend it, I said it was fine, which is totally different, and it is fine.

I'm going on personal experience, so stop your eye rolling.

Alcohol is a diuretic and your body needs to be able to flush out the toxins. I believe that OP has plateaued because she isn't allowing her body to get rid of the fat.

I highly recommend Renpho scales and a good old fashioned measuring tape. Weeks where I’ve lost a small amount it’s great to see the minor changes in my actual shape.
wish I’d taken more body measurements from the very beginning instead of the 6 I started with but it’s what I’m working with now!

I always find it helpful to go back to basics when trying to figure out why weight loss has stalled or gone backwards so.

Calories - calculate your TDEE and aim for 500 below that as your maximum number per day. That will put you in a deficit and you should lose weight. Composition does matter too, refined carbs can cause bloating, water retention and excess sugars, if you are insulin resistant/insensitive then sugar is more likely to store as fat.

Water - you need lots of it, if you don't have enough then your body will retain it, it's also used in the process of breaking down and disposing of fat (lipolysis) so if you don't drink enough that process won't happen, aim for about 2lts of water/clear fluid a day.

Sleep - it regulates your blood sugar and hormone levels, if you don't get enough it will bugger up your weight loss

Exercise - not excessive but some is helpful, it won't make you lose weight but does help build muscle, improve posture, increase metabolism, break down sugars in your blood to prevent them storing as fat. Every other day and up you water on those days because sore muscles means you'll retain water to heal them.

Thanks all, I really appreciate the insights and recommendations. I'm going it get myself decent scales and a tape measure for sure, and plan what I'm eating better to ensure the right balance. I'm almost entirely UPF free and logging everything on MyFitnessPal, so think I'm onto a good start.
I take the poster's point about the alcohol but having dropped all weeknight drinking, I'm afraid my bottle of wine over the weekend is a non-negitiabke to get me through the week!!!

She's been on WLI for 3 weeks, she hasn't plateaued. And what you've said is just not how bodies work.