I only lose weight if I starve myself!!

[Nowanextraone]

Hi everyone, I am 40 years old and have been working hard to lose weight.
I started off on Ozempic but now can't can't hold of it.

Anyway, during the first 6 weeks of ozempic I hardly ate and lost over 1 stone very quickly.

Now I can't get hold of it, I have been using my fitness pal and 100% stuck to my calories and I just don't lose weight. If I go for the odd meal out, I put on 3lbs and then it takes me a week to get it off again, and I just don't ever lose.

I guess its better than gaining it, but seriously, I'm so miserable.

I am 13 stone 13 so still have alot of weight to lose (I'm 5 foot 5). I stick religiously to 1500 calories a day and don't add any extra on for exercise.

I am going away in 6 weeks and really thought I'd be down another stone.

Is it my age?! When I only eat 800/900 calories a day, it falls off me. But that's not sustainable. Mind you, I'd be willing to do it if I have to

If you lose weight on 800/900 calories and don’t on 1500 then obviously the 1500 is too many , try 1000/1200 and see how that works .

I used to like watching those survival shows - there was once a Naked and Afraid (two people get dropped in the jungle or whatever with nothing but a bag and a chosen item like a pot or knife and have to survive for 21 days. The women stay weirdly hairless, but that's neither here nor there)

Anyway, on one of them, there was a Japanese woman. After barely eating anything at all (they caught some food, but not a lot) for 3 weeks, she'd lost 6lb. Because the fact of the matter is, as a small woman, she just doesn't take that much energy to run! If your BMR is 1600 (as mine is, I'm a shorty) then you're on what feel like starvation amounts to lose anything.

If you feel like trying something totally different and can afford it (kit can be in instalments) I would hugely recommend Zoe.
Its a lifestyle eating plan rather than weight loss plan, but many many people lose weight on it as they discover that food combining suited to them personally leaves them less hungry and less inclined to snack etc. It can help with a total mindset change around food.

Separate to this, at 1500 cals, fairly active and 14st there’s almost zero chance you wouldn’t lose weight. You are almost certainly underestimating your calorie intake

For what it's worth I thought I had the same problem. Then I religiously measured every single thing I ate over a few days period and realised I was underestimating the calories in many many things.

I had the same problem, switched to low glycemic and the weight has started to shift. I'm losing over a pound a week with very little effort. I also vary how many calories I eat each day, some days I do intermittent fasting and one day a week I do very low calorie.

boiled potatoes, porridge, tuna, fruit and veg with no fatty sauces will feel like starvation too but this is good real food

If you're losing weight at 800 cal but not 1500kcal then you don't need 1500kcal! You need to either increase the amount of calories you're burning and/or reduce the amount you're consuming.

1100 calories, with as little / no sugar at all, 30 mins exercise per day. Will fall off. If you feel at all dizzy / nauseaus / etc, more calories needed!!

Me too. It's just ridiculous. I've yo yo dieted the same two stone for the last ten years and now the only way to lose is to eat pretty much nothing, presumably I've fussed my metabolism. I had a week long sickness bug and I'd say ate around 1000 calories that week (four days nothing but water) and lost just over 3lb.

I had been feeling similar, im a low carber and it has worked in the past but not for the last couple of years, i would lose maybe 6lb then nothing for weeks then fall off the wagon, repeat.

I recently had my tonsils out and was unable to eat anything really for 2 weeks and lost a whole stone in that time. So obviously i can physically lose weight, im just eating too much still. I am planning to start including fasting days into my rutine and see if this makes a difference. I quite enjoyed the not eating tbh, and thats coming from a big foodie!

If you go on here it will calculate maintenance calories for you. https://tdeecalculator.net/result.php?s=imperial&g=female&age=40&lbs=203&in=65&act=1.2&f=2

At 14st even sedentary in an office job the maintenance intake is way over what you think you are eating. How about you don’t restrict too much or go hungry but weigh and record every single thing for one week.

A stone should take about 14 weeks to lose so just over 3 months, if you are expecting it to take less time than that then you are setting yourself unrealistic expectations and setting yourself up to fail.

You should be aiming for around 500 calories under your TDEE per day, and for that to be a balanced diet with plenty of veg, nutrients and all that good stuff because that will support your body in doing its job as well as possible. In addition to a good diet you need to be well hydrated and to do some exercise.

Combining all of that will result in weight loss at the pace of about 1lb a week but there will be ups and downs.

This is exactly the sort of stuff I have been eating for two weeks now and whilst I haven't weighed myself I have dropped a dress size and my huge belly has reduced significantly. I haven't eaten barely any processed food. Small porridge or eggs and avocado for breakfast, lunch is a fish or chicken salad with small amount of low fat mayonnaise. fruit as a snack. Evening meal is a tuna or salmon steak, sometimes some new potatoes or rice and salad or veg. No biscuits, crisps, cake, wine. Nothing to eat after evening meal.

Try fasting for two days a week.

Try this:
intermittent fasting
no UPF, sugar or refined carbs
no alcohol, fruit juices or sodas

Eat:
Brunch: 2 egg omelette incorporating 1-2 cups of vegetables (mushrooms and/or spinach, peppers, broccoli - whatever, including left over veg from last night's dinner), plus a cup of salad
Afternoon snack: a cup of fruit or half a cup of Greek yoghurt or a handful of nuts
Dinner: 120g protein (e.g. chicken breast of salmon fillet) plus LOTS of vegetables
Go easy on marinades and dressings, but add herbs for flavour (basil, parsley, dill etc)

You won't fill hungry, and if you don't cheat or drink calories you WILL lose weight. Especially if you also exercise most days. I'd recommend weight-based workouts, so you'll build muscle - try Caroline Girvan on YouTube.

Following as in the same situation. 5’5, measuring waist, could not shift from 36 inches eating 1400 calories a day. Think I’m probably about 10 stone 10 based on when I used to weigh and measure myself. In desperation last week I fasted for an entire day and walked 20,000 steps and it went down to 35.5 but fucking hell is that what I have to do to lose weight/inches now?? Then did a week of daily 1400 calories and walking between 10’and 15k steps daily and still 35.5. It’s so frustrating. I am 48 but not in menopause yet and just sick of my huge belly and big thighs!

I would guess your 800 calories is closer to 1500 thank you think it is and your 1500 isn't far off 2000. Nearly everyone under estimates every study on this subject shows it.

One day a week is slim fast day for DH and me. We just do this one day midweek when WFH. Also you may not lose weight unless under 1200 calories a day. Sadly that is what I have to do to lose any weight. Also do you think you can drink more water? You need between 2-3 litres every day just cold water. If you do this you pee more and less likely to be holding fluid on your body.

I’ll say this for the millionth time.

WHAT you eat is more important than HOW MUCH you eat. 1200 calories of quality protein and healthy fats is not the same as 1200 calories from rice cakes, low fat yoghurts and crisps.

So now you know that 1500 calls is your current maintenance requirement.

Im smaller than you but for me to loose weight I have to stick to 1200 calories and exercise 5/6 days a week for an hour.

1500 isn’t OPs maintenance, I think it’s more like 1800. Therefore she is sure to be underestimating calorie intake.

I weigh 5 stone less and my maintenance is 1450.

You won't keep the weight off eating so little, eat whole foods and cut down on processed food

You can say it all you want. It doesn't make it true.

I’m a clinical nutritionist. I know what I’m talking about. I’ve treated many many ex vegans with protein deficiency malnutrition