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 don't mention your age or waist measurement or weight

In my mid 30s, narrowest part of my waist is 29", hips 36" but the clinging-on-for-dear-life fat around my mid section (sort of below belly button area) measures 34/35 inches and my weight is just under 9 stone. Not sure if that helps; some will likely now say I'm clearly obese and should loose 5 stone immediately.

You could definitely benefit from Pilates and or yoga and 2 sessions with a PT.

Sadly I can't afford a PT (I did look into it...) but lovely idea. I can try YouTube-ing Pilates, I do Adrienne's yoga once a week or so.

I found Yoga/Pilates the only effective way of hitting that tummy fat. Although completely eliminating alcohol and running 3-5k daily did give me a flat tummy (1 c-section).
Alcohol is a bastard.
As is salt.

@BroadDaylight

I think it should be 6 stones, at least ...

@GimmeAy

You can't spot reduce fat, so ab workouts won't specifically shift abdominal fat. OP is better to work on larger muscles. You can't see toned abs through a layer of fat.

Salt is really important. Think how much you lose in sweat when you go for a run. If you don't replace it, it can be dangerous. It's one of the things that makes marathon runners collapse and sometimes die. They over-hydrate, so they dilute their body salts too much.

Don't stop eating salt. Especially as a regular runner. Especially in the summer.

Yes, absolutely - ignore the advice to give up salt. That's stupid. It's a key electrolyte.

I think you need to reset your metabolism. Have a read of Team RH on Facebook (I'm not connected to them). You can't survive on 900 calories a day especially with that level of exercise.

What weight dumbells are you using on your workouts? Have you tried increasing the weight of them?

I did the bodycoach plan last year and year before (90 day plan then the graduate plan) and I started on using 2kg dumbells and ended up using 12kg dumbells by the end. Gradually increasing the weight. I was also on around 2000 calories a day.
I lost 8kg over 6 months but also lost 27 inches and 2 dress sizes.

I would not survive on 1200 calories a day let alone 900, my bmr is around 1700

So you're about 8 stone 11ish and you want to go down to 7 stone 11ish?

I think there's the reason for the plateau, you are already tiny!

I don't drink (wish I did so I could cut it out!) but I'll def cut out salt and try Pilates, and/or increase the yoga. And ab workouts. And cut carbs. And look onto the other suggestions too.

To be honest I'm not aiming for a flat tummy, I just want some of the big bulk of it to go.

www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-dangers-of-sodium-restriction#TOC_TITLE_HDR_7

Number 6 is the one I'm talking about.

Yes, absolutely - ignore the advice to give up salt. That's stupid. It's a key electrolyte.

Ah okay, really good point.

You sound fine to me with those measurements. Don’t beat yourself up, slow and steady wins the race if you want to make changes just tweak your intake a little bit, not down to 900 though, that’s not healthy.

[quote Eckhart]@GimmeAy

You can't spot reduce fat, so ab workouts won't specifically shift abdominal fat. OP is better to work on larger muscles. You can't see toned abs through a layer of fat.

Salt is really important. Think how much you lose in sweat when you go for a run. If you don't replace it, it can be dangerous. It's one of the things that makes marathon runners collapse and sometimes die. They over-hydrate, so they dilute their body salts too much.

Don't stop eating salt. Especially as a regular runner. Especially in the summer.[/quote]
This definitely!!!

How much are you drinking a day?

I generally drink 4+litres of water a day. If I am cycling a lot I add in electrolytes as well

Thanks very much, Eckhart.

I wouldn't cut carbs but honestly look at carb cycling. It's about having high, moderate and low carb days. And doing specific work outs depending on what day you are on. It boosts your fat burning.

I recommend having a look here: www.reddit.com/r/loseit/

Mumsnet is really not great on the subject of weight loss. Some good advice hidden among a LOT of pseudoscience and accusations of eating disorders. That Reddit page has been very helpful for me. Good luck, whatever you decide to do!

Ask your GP for a full liver function test and full blood count. Also include kidneys. It may be that you're deficient in something or that your liver/kidneys aren't doing something as well as they should be.

Claire your achievements are amazing, honestly!

My dumbbells are adjustable, I have 1.25kg x 2 disc things plus the 1.35kg bar, so 3.85kg per one, I can get through a 15/20 min routine but when I tried adding weight, mega fail and I was worried about injuring myself so stuck to what it is now.

@GiraffeWithSwag thanks for all your help and kind words.

@Eckhart, No, I don't think that. But when she was down the well she would be burning calories at a resting rate. That's not what she's doing right now so it's not the same thing. Amazingly, eating 0 calories and burning at at a resting rate is not the same as eating 900/1200/1400 calories at a 300/600/900 calorie exercise 'deficit'. Just as the rate you lose weight at varies according to person/metabolism/starting weight. Hence why people lose weight to start with when dieting then it plateaus (the OP's exact issue) as your weight changes.

OP, you're not overweight, your body is fine. Try working on your mind rather than obsessing over getting smaller and smaller

Thank goodness someone finally talking sense. Hardly anyone on here has suggested what is by far the most obvious solution. OP with a BMI of 24 You are not overweight , you sound pretty fit and your life would be.much much happier if you could learn to like yourself and your body as it is .Maybe expend some time on that rather than trying to literally disappear

How quickly have you lost that first 3.5 stone?

If it's within the last year honestly I would just keep on with the 1200-1500 calories and your exercise

That last bit might just be really stubborn because you've already utterly transformed your body and you've done amazingly

Your body just might be in a bit of shock

be kind to yourself, that’s all glad to help

@BroadDaylight

Claire your achievements are amazing, honestly!

My dumbbells are adjustable, I have 1.25kg x 2 disc things plus the 1.35kg bar, so 3.85kg per one, I can get through a 15/20 min routine but when I tried adding weight, mega fail and I was worried about injuring myself so stuck to what it is now.

@GiraffeWithSwag thanks for all your help and kind words.

Thank you 😀 I've mostly stayed the same size, a little more wobbly than I was but I had the winter off and HD a 2 week Caribbean cruise over Christmas.

I mostly eat what I want as long as its on track for calories and I cycle when I can

Bodycoach is by no means perfect but it kick-started me.

Try increasing by 1kg per dumbell (if possible). Do less reps slower if necessary, quality is better than quantity. You need to keep your form, losing it will mean hurting yourself.