Cheer me up a bit? Where am I going wrong?

[fat13]

I was 17 and a half stone at Christmas and have worked really hard to lose it. I lost a stone and a half pretty much without trying at the start of the year and when I saw February 1 was a Monday decided to go for it (logical, right!?) I know I weighed exactly 16 stone then.

Obviously the losses have slowed down and I’m now hovering around the 12 and a half mark but the scales just aren’t bloody moving and it’s driving me nuts!

I am on an 800 calorie a day plan, it’s those prepackaged shakes/soups etc so I know I’m not overeating.

I am active, I walk usually around 15,000 steps a day.

I just can’t think where I’m going wrong. Last week I made DH hide the scales as I was getting obsessive. That was Wednesday. I just got on the scales at the gym (yeah I know!) and I haven’t lost a pound!

I know I’ve done really well but it’s frustrating because the end is in sight now but it’s taking forever to get there!

It's not healthy to be on 800 calories a day for 6 months.

Give your body a rest from that and aim to stay at 12.5 stone for a while, whilst adjusting your diet to something more sustainable and healthy.

800 calories?
Your body has got used to it and gone into starvation mode. You need to increase your calories.

I think a few years ago it was generally considered to be unhealthy, so I understand why you think that, but advice has changed. Either way, I was definitely very unhealthy at 17.5 stone. While I’m not at my target the difference in my physical and mental health is indescribable and I have no intention of coming off it, tbh. I just feel a bit frustrated that my hard work isn’t showing on the scales.

Starvation mode is a myth, do people still believe that?!

My GP suggested an 800 calorie diet to me recently and was very clear that it should be done under medical supervision and for no more that 12 weeks. So I think maybe it’s time to change what you’re doing.

I also think you might now benefit from upping your calories so this this push also merges into something you can sustain for life. Either way, try to concentrate your eating into 6-8 hours a day so that your body has time periods when it is in a fasted state and able to access the stored fat.

Whether you believe it or not, 800 cals is not sustainable long term. You need more calories the more weight you have to lose. Your weight loss has plateaued as your body has got used to having hardly anything to eat.

800 cals should be a short term diet.

That will be good advice when I’m at target pineapple but right now it isn’t what I’m looking to do.

Besides, I am no saint and I haven’t stuck to it totally religiously! During February I did and went from 16 stone to around 14’10. I stuck to it throughout most of March (I think there ended up being three non consecutive days where I cheated) then there was about a week in April when we went on holiday and about ten bad days in May! But overall I’ve managed to come out at a loss which is what’s important.

I am very keen to go into the next stone bracket as I’ll be out of the obese category for the first time in many years so that’s important to me.

I also follow a VLCD so I know it's not unhealthy as I'm getting all the vitamins & minerals my body needs plus o drink around 3 litres of water a day.

It sounds to me like you need to move up a step, I follow Cambridge Weight Plan, I'm following Step 3 as I'm just over a stone away from my target, I have 2 x 200cal products and a 600cal meal. You may need to start introducing food into your diet following the guidelines of whichever plan your following.
Hope that helps

I’m short so I’m a good 2.5/3 stone away from target, though!

You're right OP, starvation mode is a load of rubbish.
Well done on the loss so far, that's amazing.
I'd suggest upping your calories/calorie cycling to give your metabolism a boost.
Example; 1200 x 4 days per week and 800 x 3 days per week.
This along with intermittent fasting (16:8 is a good one) should help get things moving again.
Best of luck!

Hmm … I’m a bit anxious about this, put my mind at rest and reassure me!? How does eating more cause weight loss?

@fat13

Hmm … I’m a bit anxious about this, put my mind at rest and reassure me!? How does eating more cause weight loss?

Basically your body gets used to a smaller amount of calories when you're eating a VLCD, therefore your metabolism slows down as it's not got as much energy to burn. Eating little and often (especially healthy fats & high protein foods)keeps is a sure fire way of boosting your metabolism as it's constantly working to burn the energy you've consumed. I've probably not explained it very well, but that's gist. I'm sure Google can explain it better than me.

Ok I shouldn't have used the term starvation mode but you know what I mean. The body gets used to what calories you're on and your metabolism slows.

That’s helpful - thanks. I’ll get to the weekend and weigh again. But surely the laws of science demand id lose weight sooner or later this way?!

It's normal to have plateaus. I'd put the scales away for another week or two and keep going as normal. It should start moving again.

The problem is if you've dieted on 800 cals unfortunately the only way to keep losing is to reduce calories. That's why when you're larger you need to reduce gradually cos you can't really reduce from 800. Obv you've done abs amazing but it's not sustainable long term. As soon as you start to eat again the weight will creep back. I agree with pp in that you need to try and stay at current weight for a while and try and up your cals a bit. Do you do much exercise? That might help too

See I’m not sure about this at all - obviously if I go back to chicken kebabs and McDonald’s and endless snacks I’ll gain weight. But on a calorie controlled maintenance plan, surely I won’t gain weight! Especially with exercise incorporated!

Well I’ve just caved and I’m exactly the same weight I was a week ago despite 800 calories a day

What’s the point

Probably not eating enough as your body has got used to 800 calories.

Come and join us in the Lose It! June 2021 thread. We're a good bunch and all doing well.

I wouldn’t fit in then as I’m not doing very well

For example, I did diet chef. Got fed up with it as stuck at lost a stone then nothing for ages. Took a week off and did what I wanted. Lost five pounds..

@fat13

I wouldn’t fit in then as I’m not doing very well

Of course you would. Join in. We are doing well as we are all supporting each other. I had mega tantrums last year as felt I was the only one not losing and I was still supported and helped. Come and find us. They all got me feeling better.

I know and I’m genuinely pleased for you but at the moment everyone losing would just make me feel like absolute shit. I’m really sorry if I sound ungrateful! It’s not like I’m saying oh, I ate a load of crisps and get support getting back on it. I have stuck to it but just isn’t working and I don’t really understand why!

You’ve lost five stone very quickly. Is it possible some of what’s left is loose skin?