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?

You are 9 stone and 5'1???

I thought you were actually overweight.

That is a BMI of about 23.5

@BroadDaylight has made it clear that she's not in the overweight category. Her BMI is 24, which is one point inside the healthy range.

Why are you so sure that she can't or shouldn't lose more?!

And @randomer are you a medic? Do you know more about the problems of visceral fat than posted here? It would be great to know why you're so dismissive of the OP's quite legitimate concerns.

And please explain what you mean about faux concern

I am not a medic, I just feel so sad and I fear all is not well. I think the visceral fat thing is utter bolloks tbh. There is no fat. It's about punishment and shame and the exectations of society. Susi Orbach and Naomi Wolf, worth a look.

One point inside the normal range...normal for who?
What is normal?

I think the visceral fat thing is utter bollocks tbh.

You don’t believe carrying visceral fat carries health risks? You really aren’t a medic...

@randomer you're sounding more and more ridiculous with each post you make.

Randomer sounds one of the most sensible here.

randomer the pp states one point inside the healthy range. It's you who called it normal. The advice for all people who are overweight or obese is that they should lose weight.

I believe in visceral fat, but i dont think a woman with a bmi of 23-24 ,who has been very very careful about what she eats for a long long time needs to worry about visceral fat. It is possible but she isnt going to be an obvious candidate for visceral fat.

@wowfudge

randomer the pp states one point inside the healthy range. It's you who called it normal. The advice for all people who are overweight or obese is that they should lose weight.

But she is not medically overweight or obese. I don’t know her frame size but unless she is very small framed she does not need to lose weight.

If it's helpful, I don't necessarily think I need to weigh less...just that I would benefit from less abdominal fat. Once the fat has reduced I can build muscle and my weight could then actually increase.

My weight as of this morning is 8.10 (2lbs down, something is working?!) but I'm only a shortie with an unfortunate apple shape. Having fat around my middle I can actually take in handfuls is not healthy.

You could try switching your diet plan around. Like, try intermittent fasting, or go keto for a month.

I'm no expert, but I hear it can kick-start your system again after a plateau.

I'm not sure if this has already been mentioned but just in case..

Do you lift weights? Target the big muscles...glutes, hamstrings etc. Targeting these big muscles will help to burn more calories as bigger muscle requires more calories to maintain. You need to try and lift as heavy as possible.

Also, hit your target protein macro every day. And fibre too. Protein requires more calories to burn off. I think it's approx 3 to 1 ratio against fat and carbs. And if you're hitting your fibre targets it will mean your gut is working at a good level with a healthy biome.

I have EXACTLY the same problem as you. It has required a complete shift in mindset, I've always been in to cardio...but now I have to do all of the above and I've started seeing changes. HTH

Afternoon, OP. We've moved this thread over to weight loss chat for you. There are loads of posters over here with all kinds of knowledge and experience about different eating and exercise plans so you should get some good advice here.

Are you sure you are actually a stone overweight? With all the exercise you are likely to have a decent muscle mass.

Have you tried intermittent fasting? Being hungry gives your body the cue to access stored fat, rather than using the fuel you just put in.

You might find you can eat more calories this way.

Thanks Hebe!

Easter, I'm guessing I have about a stone of fat to lose, but it could be less?

Eckhart, I was thinking about a fast day or two, I'm doing 800 cals today (eating in a short window) then back to 1200 tomorrow :) I'll do that two or three times a week maybe.

That’s not really how you do intermittent fasting. You shouldn’t eat that few calories unless you’re severely obese and on a doctor controlled diet.

Honestly. This is probably why you’re not losing weight, you’re probably not eating enough

@BroadDaylight

Thanks Hebe!

Easter, I'm guessing I have about a stone of fat to lose, but it could be less?

Eckhart, I was thinking about a fast day or two, I'm doing 800 cals today (eating in a short window) then back to 1200 tomorrow :) I'll do that two or three times a week maybe.

I think you're a bit muddled as that's now how you do intermittent fasting. There are a couple of popular methods.

5:2, where you eat normally five days per week, and then have 500 calories the other two days.

Or 16:8, where you eat normally, but only within an eight hour window each day. You can extend the fasting time if you want, and pick whichever eight hour window you want.

Man this thread is all kinds of fucked up. Also lol at the ‘no, a pound of muscle actually weighs the same as a pound of fat’. You get it every single time and it sounds equally dumb every time. I think the people saying it think they’re saying radical and novel but it just sounds ridiculous.

OP if you have lost 3.5 stone then I am pretty sure it’s loose skin on your belly, maybe with a bit of fat but it probably won’t just melt off. Surely if you have lost that amount of weight you feel thinner and fitter than you once were.

@Shedtheload

Man this thread is all kinds of fucked up. Also lol at the ‘no, a pound of muscle actually weighs the same as a pound of fat’. You get it every single time and it sounds equally dumb every time. I think the people saying it think they’re saying radical and novel but it just sounds ridiculous.

🤨🙄

Well, do you really think that people are confused about whether one measurement is the same as an identical measurement or do you think that maybe people are referring to the fact that someone who is muscular could weigh more than a person the same size but without the muscle? I wonder

As for the OP talking about how she wants to cut off her stomach fat, people telling her that a salad and soup is overeating and causing weight gain and people falling over themselves to say that extremely low calorie intakes are normal and healthy, yes this is a fucked up thread.

Lots of people have liposuction and tummy tucks to reduce belly fat...quite literally cutting it off...that's all I mean.

I dislike it so much i want to make it better, and I worry about potential belly fat risks, it really affects my self esteem and I don't want surgery.

I just want to do it naturally and if I can work out how to, then great :)

You need therapy and I mean that in total seriousness