900 calories a day

[BroadDaylight]

I run around 100 miles a month and do a 30-minute HIIT three times a week, and 15 minute dumbbell workout every morning.

I eat healthily, no junk food, nothing processed and cook from scratch. I log my food and my daily calories are between 1200-1500 a day but I'm just maintaining, even with exercise.

I am still a stone (maybe a little more) overweight and it's making me depressed. I can't shift it.

I've read that because of my height (5'1) I need to reduce my calories to 800-900 per day, has anyone had success this way?

That much excerise and that little calories... Your body is probably in starvation mode. Try eating more and exercising less for a week - then gradually reduce your calories and increase your exercise, but Id be aiming for 1700 calories a day on the current amount of exercise.

It’s nonsense that you can’t lose weight off your belly. I’ve done it myself after I had babies.

There are women who seem to genuinely believe they can’t be slim, exercise doesn’t work, eating less doesn’t work etc. None of it’s true.

Please do not reduce your calories anymore. I can’t actually believe you do that much exercise on only £1200. Is your body in starvation mode / clinging to what fat you have left to keep up with exercise. If you are doing HIIT sessions properly as well as running you must be in a massive calorie deficit. Reduce some of the cardio and add in weights. It will change your body shape completely.

No worries! I liked body pump too but always found the weights section really intimidating, as there's always loads of huge blokes on roids squatting 100+kg. I thought they would laugh at me, but no-one bothers you or even looks at you unless you ask for help, and then they are very helpful. With squats I started with the 10-15kg bars and worked my way up.

No probs @BIWI, I found it enlightening and motivational!

When I ran I just got fatter and fatter, it's like someone put padding on me, plus I was always starving so would out-eat the run every time

You got fatter because you out-ate the run. This is phrased as if you think the two are unrelated.

@HeyBlaby

*This whole thread is like a nutrition and exercise misinformation bingo. Christ, running is bad for your face and makes you fatter, 900 calories per day is sufficient for health, and you are not losing weight due to starvation mode. Just some of the absolutely ridiculous things with no basis in science that I have read on this thread.

Stop giving advice to people if you don't have a clue*

This, in spades. What the hell are people talking about?!

@TatianaBis

It’s nonsense that you can’t lose weight off your belly. I’ve done it myself after I had babies.

There are women who seem to genuinely believe they can’t be slim, exercise doesn’t work, eating less doesn’t work etc. None of it’s true.

How sympathetic is that?

Sometimes the truth isn't sympathetic.

@BeijingBikini

Your diet sounds really healthy to me, I have a lot more carbs than that

Hmm. No wonder you were gaining weight!

When I ran I just got fatter and fatter, it's like someone put padding on me, plus I was always starving so would out-eat the run every time

So you were probably eating too many carbs and not enough fat, but also compensating for your exercise by eating more. You can't outrun your fork!

The op has lost a lot of weight for her height. She is now a healthy bmi. It could well be excess skin. No amount of dieting would get rid of my apron or repair my damaged muscles. I’d need a pannculectomy.

I think I do have some droopy and skin that isn't going to snap back (it's wrinkly) but after a bit of research it's definitely a LOT of subcutaneous fat too, I can literally grab a handful. I don't think I have much fat anywhere else, the whole lot is a clinging on to my midriff for dear life.

I don't want to reduce calories more if I can help it but I like the idea of switching up my meals (maybe eating more frequently but smaller portions) a bit and make sure I'm reducing carbs, increasing protein. I think you're all right and I'm at a plateau I need to break free of.

I know stats wise my BMI is fine but honestly if you saw me you'd think I was chubby and a good stone overweight. Being short has so many disadvantages! Every lb of extra fat shows.

I'll also reduce my running a bit to focus on weights, well, not proper weights without a gym/PT but using the dumbbells I have, and strengthening my legs more. I think that's it?

You can use substitute weights too, for variation. Large bottles of water in a rucksack is a good one. There's no need at all for a gym. Bodyweight exercises are great too.

Good luck!

Oh brilliant! I would love to avoid having to go to a gym! I wonder if you would mind sharing any top favorite body weight exercises? I can have a good Google though :)

I will no doubt be removed for this but here goes, the OP is healthy and well with a BMI of 24. People are suggesting further cuts to an already stringent regime and running whilst carrying weights?

Internal organs? Mentruation? Alarm bells anyone?

Eckhart is the only one advising against anything else that most of us have learned either from doctors or personal trainers.

[quote BIWI]@BeijingBikini

Your diet sounds really healthy to me, I have a lot more carbs than that

Hmm. No wonder you were gaining weight!

When I ran I just got fatter and fatter, it's like someone put padding on me, plus I was always starving so would out-eat the run every time

So you were probably eating too many carbs and not enough fat, but also compensating for your exercise by eating more. You can't outrun your fork![/quote]
Nope, I meant I have more carbs than that now. My weight has been constant for years, BMI is 19. I ate a lot more than OP while lifting weights and the excess fat dropped off. Weightlifting also didn't make me constantly hungry, whereas running made me soooo hungry and I couldn't stop eating.

There is definitely some truth to "runners face", constantly pounding the pavement snaps the collagen fibres in your face. It's why marathon runners can be haggard looking.

Just cut out any sugar. Be strict with food intake. Bananas are quite high cal.

'There is definitely some truth to "runners face", constantly pounding the pavement snaps the collagen fibres in your face. It's why marathon runners can be haggard looking'

Just stop. There is no evidence for this at all, or most of the other rubbish spouted so far. So ridiculous.

Bloody hell, this is the most confusing thread ever!! So the OP has to restrict her calories, eat more calories, run more, run less, get all sorts of blood tests, do Pilates, but only if she already does Pilates, do loads of ab work, but it won't work because she hasn't lost the fat, join various online groups, get a PT, do low carb, but have some carbs, cut out salt, but don't cut out salt and lift weights. Is that all? Well crack on OP, you'll be sorted in no time!

I run (not loads, about 20 miles a week at present - I've got three children under five so time is limited) and do 16:8 most days but eat pretty much what I want outside of that. I'm 5'8 and weigh 9 stone 5. I'm pretty slim and toned enough but I still have a belly. Yes I've had kids (youngest is 7 months) but I had the belly before the kids and my bmi was 19. Sometimes it's your build. If I dieted enough to lose the belly then the rest of me would probably look awful.

Be proud of what you have achieved OP, you sound fit and healthy and you should appreciate that. I'd also say get off mumsnet because the answer isn't here. Or it is, but it's so buried under other answers that you'll never find it.

Someone suggested it

But carb cycling. Works for kick starting your metabolism

Also weight training needs to be added I reckon.

Not sure how you're not losing weight. Even with a screwed metabolism.

Hence why anorexics don't ever stay huge. Because eventually the fat drops off.

'I will no doubt be removed for this but here goes, the OP is healthy and well with a BMI of 24. People are suggesting further cuts to an already stringent regime and running whilst carrying weights?'

This, 900 and even less at one point I think.
There is clearly a learning need around health and diet in this country.

I am astounded some people agree that averaging calories per day, whilst running 100 miles per month, with added weight/and or alongside weighted exercise is in any way safe or healthy.

It isn't, not if you're 5ft5, not if youre 5ft2, not if you're 5ft.

The world has gone mad.

Eh? Just because someone's under the BMI 25 bracket doesn't mean that they now must shut up and be happy with their lot. People are allowed to want to improve themselves, anything between 18.5-25 is healthy and some people feel they personally look better at 19 than 22 or other way round. Doesn't mean you have a disorder.

Your post really made me smile mistermagpie, thank you!

Sounds like you've done incredibly well, and balancing that much running and keeping your weight in control, with all of family life going on, makes you pretty much superwoman. :)

I will try and think a bit more positively. DH says I don't see what I am now, he gets quite frustrated with me.

Hence why anorexics don't ever stay huge

What?