What am I doing wrong?

[Plankingplanks]

I have always been slim. The week after giving birth to my middle child I was the heaviest I've ever been at 11st 4lb.

Last October I was 9st 6lb which has always been my natural weight without trying, however lack of exercise and excessive drinking over the winter saw me reach 10st 11lb a few months ago. I've since cut back on my alcohol and have been weighing in every few days to keep and eye on it. I've also started cycling a lot more and I'm currently doing approx 60 miles a week of mountain biking - something I've not done before.

I just cannot lose weight. I literally don't think I can cut anything more out. A typical day I do this:

0700 ish No breakfast but a cup of coffee with semi skimmed milk and 1 sugar,

1300 ish Lunch- green vegetables with about 10g of butter melted on them.

1730 ish Dinner- a salad with some protein (chicken/ a pork chop/fish.
I also use a much smaller plate than the rest of my family to make sure that my portions are not out of control.

I may then have a rich tea biscuit at around 2200.

In addition to all of this I drink plenty of water and about 4 mugs of tea a day with semi skimmed milk but no sugar. I also sometimes have an ices skinny latte (92kcal)

This is exactly the same diet I always used to follow for about 15 years when my weight was maintained.

On days I go cycling I will also have 40g of bran flakes with sultanas in them - I need this for energy.

My diet hasn't changed, I'm exercising more than I have for years and I'm stuck at a stone heavier. I am 44 so may be perimenopausal.

Anyone any ideas? my BMI (for what it's worth) is 23 so I know I'm not overweight but none of my clothes fit and I feel generally quite miserable about it.

You're not fuelling your body. If you don't eat enough calories for your body to function normally (your basal metabolic rate) then you cannot lose fat, gain muscle, whatever your aim is.

Its explained well in this article https://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/g20451681/not-eating-enough-for-weight-loss/

Start eating more, aim for protein with every meal and take more carbs but not overboard. With the amount you're cycling thst should do it.

Maybe you should focus on toning up rather than losing weight? My body looks different after children not because I weigh more but because I don't have time to do the strength training and reformer pilates that I used to do.

Rather than just cardio to the max, why don't you see a personal trainer who can help you focus on toning and gaining definition. Better core strength makes your stomach look flatter for example, like squats lift your bum cheeks.

I don't really care about my weight any more but I do want to look toned and feel strong.

How little are you eating
70calories in the butter
200-300 in the chop
Less than 100 for the biscuit
No carbs ?
Less than. 500 calories in a day

You are lying to us or you have seriously messed up your body

We naturally change shape as we get older and our hormones change. I came on the say lower your carbs as that’s what I’ve done and it’s worked for me however you don’t have any in your diet and the amount you’re eating isn’t healthy. Your body is probably trying to preserve all the fuel you are putting in which isn’t enough.
I think you need to see a dietician - they can advise you properly on what you should be eating.

You’re not eating enough.
Your body needs fuel to burn calories

Yeah adding in the milk I make it about 500 calories. Your metabolism must be at an absolute stand still

There's no such thing as not eating enough. If you're in a calorie deficit you'll lose weight. Otherwise anorexics would all be huge.
Having said that your diet is not healthy. And does suggest disordered eating. I have a feeling that you're not being entirely honest and this doesn't reflect a 'typical' day.

Science says differently. You can eat just enough to stay the same and not enough to lose weight as many of us know.

I have been anorexic. In recovery I would often go through periods of severe calorie restriction and not have a change in weight.

@Natty13 how is it possible to be in serious calorie deficit and not lose weight?

No it doesn't. Your body will adapt to whatever situation it finds itself in order to try and keep you alive. If that means metabolising muscle it will do it which is what wrecks people's BMR.

Both are true. You can eat just barely enough to not be in ketosis but not to sustain birmal metabolic processes.

What you're referring to will happen if you starve yourself completely which she obviously isn't.

You guys seem to have your calorie counts wrong.

Coffee with milk and sugar 40 kcal
Iced latte 92 kcal
Green veg with butter 220 kcal
Chicken breast with or without marinade 250-380 kcal
Large salad with avocado, strawberries, tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, onions and a salad dressing 250kcal
Cups of tea 20 kcal x 4 80kcal
Rich tea biscuit 40 kcal

That is a total of around 1200 kcal and is and honest depiction of what I have in a day (apart from the last 9 months) and I have never really had any problems re my weight.

I have never really been a big eater at all. I had an illness (not an eating disorder) until I was 26 that meant I was under 6. 5stone for years which may mean I just got used to eating less.

How old are you?

I am definitely not in ketosis. If I eat more I just put on weight.

I never deny myself anything. If I go put I will eat whatever. I don't have an eating disorder I just never have had to eat much.

44

God you must be starving

I haven't read the full thread so someone may have already suggested this, but possible underactive thyroid? I put on loads of weight and couldn't work out why and it was that. I didn't have the classic symptom of hair falling out until a bit later, after I'd already started thyroxine treatment (it grew back).

I think you've got your calorie count wrong. A plate of vegetables with the 10g of butter you mentioned will not be 220 calories. A salad won't be 250 calories. Not unless they are unimaginably large portion sizes.

And even if your estimates are correct they only come to 970 not 1200

An avocado alone is over 200 kcal, so I don't think my sums are wrong.

Ah, didn't realise the salad contained an entire avocado.

I have one of these or similar every day and add butter (because I love butter) :https://www.ocado.com/products/m-s-green-vegetable-medley-with-lemon-herb-butter-516846011?ds_rl=1290893&ds_rl=1291426&gclid=CjwKCAjwv8qkBhAnEiwAkY-ahti_E1gKeV7LejDbCZQfgsv2fIWu2dSS6TqS8u2OeG2yCk9TNBk-VRoCKVIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

So it true, I'm not here to defend my calorie intake-I agree it is low, my DH has, for 7 years commented that I seem to hardly eat. The fact is something I've done for nearly 20 years has suddenly stopped working and I'm asking for reasons why that might be.

Has it just been since you gave birth @Plankingplanks ?

I'm sorry but you spend £3.40 a day on a plate of peas?

I think this thread is a wind up 🤣

@Peacepudding people spend £5 a day on meal deals, so I don't see how this makes what I'm saying untrue. Just because you wouldn't doesn't mean I can't. I'm not sure that is the point (although I'll often buy a bag of veg from somewhere else and add the butter and seasoning). The point is that is what I eat.
@TangoShoes no just since October when I started eating more and put on 1st. The past 2.5 months I've reverted back to how I used to eat but not lost any weight
@MujeresLibres i hadn't thought of that. If anything I thought it might be perimenopause affecting me.