Why have I not lost weight?

[MamanSparkles]

So, I've been counting 1400 calories a day (average) for 2 weeks now and have absolutely no change in weight at all! So fed up. I'm disabled so exercise is very hard and involves a carer to take me to a disabled swim session, and it's been really hard to cut my calories this low already! DH does so much for me and DD already, i don't want to ask him to add a swim session in too, so exercise is out.
Any ideas anyone? Do I need to look at the types of food I'm eating? This is restricted too as I have multiple allergies.

How many calories were you averaging before? How much do you weigh?

How tall are you?

I think about 2000? Maybe slightly less, 1800? Between those two. I'm 5 ft 3 and don't have that much to lose, post baby weight (except she's a toddler now), only half a stone or just over, but my nice clothes don't fit anymore and I want to get back into them. It also shows more on me because no muscle and sitting all the time so I'd like to get it down.

I think you probably need to go down to 1,300 if you want lose more quickly. Are you being very strict counting the calories?

I used a calculator and it estimates for your height and sedentary lifestyle your weight maintenance daily calorie allowance is only 1700. I'm shorter mine is only 1400 to maintain 😭

I read this article this morning, about fasting (i'm fasting this weekend) it makes sense to me..
www.dietdoctor.com/fix-broken-metabolism-exact-opposite

Have you tried changing the method you are using to count calories, OP? You might also want to check your BMR to see how many calories you are actually burning if you are exercise restricted/sedentary, because it may be that you are still eating enough to sustain your weight or only lose very, very slowly, and if that is the case any small mistakes in counting (ie, forgetting you had milk in tea, like I always do) could mean you won't see a change. Good luck - it's slow going but you can do it!

Here's the bmr calculator...
www.calculator.net/bmr-calculator.html

Thanks @RandomMess that's helpful to know. I'm being strict counting as in noting it down honestly, but looking back at MFP I've overshot my allowance more often than I've come up short so maybe my average is creeping up. Might just need to go for 1300 and summon up some more willpower. Anyone got any to spare...?
Thanks bio, not sure fasting is for me (I have to take medications with food) but I'll have a read. Good luck with yours!

Hmm I'm in similar position re exercise (arthritis in major joints). I've finally managed to get 7lb off by staying under 1,000 calories (800 if I'm feeling strong willed). At 1200 to 1400 I'd maintain. Over that I gain.

I do wonder if "sedentary" is still more movement than you are able to do?

I try to stick to under 1200 by only eating meals and no crap.

Are you having plenty of water? I've started slimming world and have therefore limited the amount of milk i'm having. I'm now just just having one coffee in the morning and water the rest of the time. I only drink socially so don't miss wine etc in the house. I do feel loads better for it as well.

Eat lots of veg, complex carbs and lean protein. Ready meals and the like are bad.
Eat as clean as possible and weigh your food.
My mum does massive portions and was eating this huge bowl of porridge and I weighed it and she was eating 800 calories for breakfast after all the porridge, milk and fruit!

2 weeks isn’t long enough, it takes a good 3-4 weeks of being consistent before you see anything near any proper results. Don’t get on the scales all the time, try to go by your clothes and how you feel. Get on the scale once a month.

Simply cutting calories does not work for me. Try taking out any sugar (in drinks, too) and refined carbs (flour-based) out of your diet. Stay away from anything processed. It is very hard not to lose weight when you hardly eat any carbs. Cheese, eggs, meat and fish, vegetables, nuts all good. Eat as much as you want of those (but you’ll find you cannot eat too much of them anyway. Nobody eats two blocks of hard cheese in one sitting, but it is quite commonplace to devour a whole packet of biscuits if you aren’t watching or to scoff nearly a whole loaf of bread). You will find that your mental load will be a lot less without always having to think how many calories in this, how many calories in that. Just stick to protein and good fats and veggies. And non-sugary drinks (especially fruit juice). That will do it effortlessly and nicely. Tried, tested and enjoyed the weight loss done this way.

I second the pp on only weighting yourself monthly. Weight can fluctuate a lot day to day and it is damaging to your moral reserve, determination and well-being to see the number going up occasionally. Spare yourself that and do the weigh-in monthly only. Good luck!

Thanks everyone. I think I need to drink more water, and I have to admit to giving in to sugar in my coffee at work...I work a really (mentally, obviously!) demanding job and long hours so do hit the coffee and occasional sugar hit to keep going after broken sleep with DD. I'll keep the coffee and buy some sweetener and see how the next 2 weeks go. Any recommendations for a good sweetener?

Honestly ditch the sweet tooth... craving sugar is just the worst!

With MFP are you sticking to the nutritional guidance or just tracking calories?

"Clean" eating makes it so much easier as you lose the cravings for carbs and wheat.

Get yourself off sugar in tea and coffee by going cold turkey rather than cutting down. I used to be a 2 teaspoon woman, but it only took 2 days for coffee and 3 for tea. After a week I couldn't bear sugar in either.

What would a typical day's food be for you?

I am afraid, for any weight loss to happen, you need to fix your sleep first and foremost. Also if your job is mentally taxing, consider regular meditation sessions before bedtime. Check out the free Headspace app. It is not wishy-washy, it would lower your cortisol. Cortisol drives the munchies and pushes you towards sugar and bad carbs. Proper sleep also facilitates the production of growth hormone (released only in deep sleep part of the sleep cycle). Growth hormone encourages muscle growth and cell rejuvenation which helps no end with your metabolism and consequently, weight loss.

@manmansparkles I’ve been using Stockwell &co sweeteners from Tesco, they’re around 90p for 850 and they taste quite good, I’m used to having 2sugars per tea but changed to these to cut out sugar and I’ve found them just as good, although I have two per drink rather than one. I cannot drink tea without sugar or sweetener, have tried a few times but I find it tastes too bitter and not enjoyable.

I’m similar to your height but massively bigger and even though I’m being super strict low carb&low cal, the scales aren’t moving, I think hormones have a lot to answer for as men seem to lose so much more so much faster! Water is key as well though, especially low carbing as the body isn’t retaining water weight, I aim for 2-3 Ltrs a day but usually end up around 1.5-2.

I think I'll give sweeteners a go first... I love my coffee and want to keep enjoying it. If things don't shift I'll go cold turkey on the sugar in a couple of weeks.
I'd love to fix my sleep, could you tell my toddler? We have tried everything we can think of!

To loose that last half stone, i have to reduce to 800 calories, no fat and only 20g of carbs, plus a 30 day shred workout per day. I gain if i eat over 1400 calories. Always been that way. It’s tough but at least i know id survive a famine!

So what have you been eating @MamaSparkles? What's a typical day's food like?

I hate sweeteners so stick with sugar but calorie count and low carb. I find that planning 3 meals means I don't snack in between and occasionally (when not on boot camp) I'll have a kitkat. Low carb has significantly reduced my sweet tooth.