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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. 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

Cut calories, upped exercise & still no weight loss 😟

28 replies

Longtimebrowser · 07/04/2019 12:17

I started this weight loss mission 4 weeks and have carefully counted calories (through MFP), doing 16:8 fasting and started an exercise regime 3 times a week. I aim to consume 1200 calories a day (allowing more on exercise days) but realistically I am consuming more like 1500. I’m 185cm and started off at 78.3kg and after 4 weeks I’ve only lost 0.8kg... what am I doing wrong?! Even my boyfriend thinks I’m hardly eating at the moment!

OP posts:
BillywilliamV · 07/04/2019 12:25

Are you sure you’re not awarding yourself too many calories on your exercise days? If you burn more calories than you consume then you have to lose weight, that’s basic physics.

WhoAteMyNuts · 07/04/2019 12:28

I can feel the difference in my clothes but the scales hardly budge for weeks and vice versa.

Are you sure you are eating much less than before?

Bringbackthestripes · 07/04/2019 12:30

Are you actually weighing everything before logging it into MFP? Also some calories listed aren’t actually accurate. I had been happily logging something as 80 cals because another user had inputted it as that and I just clicked add but when I actually bothered to type in the recipe and it worked the calories out for me it was actually 277 calories Blush

frenchonion · 07/04/2019 12:31

You don't need to eat back your calories on exercise days. Also what sort of thing are you eating for 1200 to be hardly anything? You could load a plate with veg and some meat and would be a totally hearty meal. Don't forget that exercise may be in flaming your muscles which retain water, and you may be gaining muscle. Are you doing a mix of cardio / resistance / weight training?

frenchonion · 07/04/2019 12:33

Forgot to say, drink a ton of water too,l. How do your clothes feel? Its better to work on inches lost rather than the number on the scale when you're eating well and exercising.

Original poster
Longtimebrowser · 07/04/2019 12:35

By eating more on exercise days I meant that MFP shows how many calories you have left to consume. I’m eating a lot less than before - have cut out carbs (e.g had home made curry last night and just had curry with no rice or naan like I normally would). I do think @bringbackthestripes has a point as I’m relying on MFP accuracy with calories... most meals are homemade so I there is some guesswork in the nutrition of them.

OP posts:
Original poster
Longtimebrowser · 07/04/2019 12:40

I’m doing a mixture of HIITS and weight training. I don’t know about clothes feeling looser... they kind of feel the same I think! Looking at inches lost is a good idea... I definitely need some motivation! I think I was just hoping for a speedier weight loss and should just be patient!

OP posts:
Mumofboys95 · 07/04/2019 12:46

I've been using MFP the last 4-5 weeks ish and have cut out crisps and fizzy juice etc. I've also started C25K and it is hard! 😫 also doing some Zumba and I've lost 8ish lbs 😁 also starting drinking loads more water and really pushing myself when i run.. but even on my run days I still only eat 1200 calories and I think that's helping me shift the weight. Hopefully you start to see some results soon.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 07/04/2019 13:01

Definitely don't trust MFPs calories. Always scan packets or input things yourself. They can be WILDLY out which then makes tracking pointless Sad

m0therofdragons · 07/04/2019 13:07

I never eat back exercise calories and fill up on veg and protein, creating recipes I often make in mfp so it's accurate.

If you're 6ft tall then check your tdee. I'm 5foot 5 and 1200 is my weight loss max so you'd be able to have more. What type of stuff are you eating as on 1200 I have 2 good meals a day and one snack. I'm low carbing.

whitehalleve · 07/04/2019 13:08

Maybe 1500 is too high.

Bringbackthestripes · 07/04/2019 13:20

tdeecalculator.net

Put your info in the TDEE calculators, it will tell you if you are eating too many calories to lose weight. My maintenance cals are around 1500. I have to eat a lot less to lose Sad

Original poster
Longtimebrowser · 07/04/2019 13:23

Checked my TDEE and it’s 1750... that seems a lot!
I’ve cut out bread, pasta and rice but must be under estimating calories on my recipes... will spend more time inputting and hopefully that will help give me insight into what I’m actually eating.
At the moment I have no breakfast, about 400 calorie lunch and snack (I know this as they are prepackaged) and then remaining calories for dinner (e.g. a bean chilli).

OP posts:
OliviaBenson · 07/04/2019 13:57

Don't eat back your calories- I was doing the same and as soon as I stopped I lost the weight. MFP is known for over estimating exercise calories.

joggingon · 07/04/2019 14:02

Never count exercise calories. If you do a 500 cal workout that includes the 100 calories you would have burned watching daytime TV. unless you're trying to build muscle and bulk don't eat it. It's overestimated. X

Snowflake9 · 07/04/2019 14:02

How about following the Joe wicks shift shape and sustain plan? You haven't got to slog out working out for hours and the food is really good. Just buy the first book and see how you get on.

Are you drinking plenty of water? Are you snacking through the day?

Calorie counting IMO is a short term solution, most people then lose the weight they want to and go back to their diet before hand as calorie counting can seem like a chore.

The SSS plan is about changing what you eat not how much you eat and logging numbers.

Snowflake9 · 07/04/2019 14:04

Do not skip breakfast! This is the most important meal of the day.

m0therofdragons · 07/04/2019 17:10

@Snowflake9 that's been rubbished for people who naturally aren't morning eaters. I'm one of them. I have early lunch, dinner and evening snack as I'm a night owl.

The ideal diet is one than fits what your current eating patterns are and slightly alters them without massive change as you'll find it hard to make that big a change long term.

nutellalove · 07/04/2019 17:19

I'm in same boat. Feel like I've not lost much (1kg over 5 weeks) - 1200-1400 cals a day. Exercise every day. people have told me you really have to give it a chance and a few months down the line you will start to notice. Here's hoping.

WhoAteMyNuts · 07/04/2019 17:29

Slow weight loss can be demotivating especially if you want big and fast but I find apps like 'happy scale' on my phone good as they show the trend so when you have a slow loss it helps to remind you that the trend is still down.

I have lost weight really slowly but since end of last year I have lost 5.5kg overall. Yes it's slow but I am still going down despite having several weeks when the scales didn't change.

Keep doing and don't give up as weight loss is not linear.

Babygrey7 · 07/04/2019 17:44

You are a healthy weight, so then it is harder to lose, isn't it?

I am a similar height and weight to you (1.83 and 76kg) and the 76kg seems to be my "set point"

I can eat 2500 cals a day without gaining weight, so 1200 sounds very low to me tbh

Do you actually have any weight (fat) to lose?

Loopytiles · 07/04/2019 17:47

By far the most likely explanation is that you’re underestimating calories consumed, and/or overestimating calories burned off.

ivykaty44 · 07/04/2019 17:47

You may be overestimating your calories, easily done.

What are you eating?

ivykaty44 · 07/04/2019 17:48

Loopytiles has it the correct way around..