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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

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Original poster

Eaten 1200 cals all week and not lost even one ounce - can anyone explain?

54 replies

Blondiebeachbabe · 05/05/2025 07:00

Just that really. In the last 7 days, I've only eaten 1200 cals a day, plus I've been walking loads. On 2 of the days I had some wine (but still stuck to 1200 cals on food). I haven't even lost one ounce. How can this be right?

In case it makes a difference, I'm 12 stone 3, and 5 ft 1.

OP posts:

TheAmusedQuail · 05/05/2025 20:09

I have to cut down to 800 cals a day to lose weight. I can lose 2 or 3lbs a week for a couple of weeks, but after that, my metabolism settles and I have to massively cut back. Even the 800 cals a day stops working after a stone or so. It's soul destroying.

Emma543 · 05/05/2025 20:15

qwertasdfg · 05/05/2025 20:03

Of course a week is nothing but the reason most diets work, be it low fat, low carb, or low whatever is because you are forced to ditch many pre-made foods in favour of homemade.
Given OP is at the beginning of her weight loss journey, we might as well give her a map and good directions.
You can totally lose weight by eating UPFs as long as calories are low enough . A packet of 25 g crisps for breakfast lunch and dinner, and a mini tube of smarties in front of the telly in the evening. You lose, because you are under 1000 calories with the wonder of food engineering.

I am not demonising food groups, I am demonising food-like groups. Totally edible, safe, loved by the masses, advertised on buses. You get more for your bucks in weight loss if you leave certain foods on the shelves.

UPFs are not food groups. You will never see them on any food pyramid , plate or other national guide. They are out, rightly so.

They work because you’re in a calorie deficit not because you’ve done everything homemade e.g. Twinkie diet or subway diet.
diets are far more sustainable for the general population with a moderation approach rather than thinking oh I can’t have this or this anymore rather than just working it into their diet.
hats off to anyone not eating UPFs that’s great but I feel on mumsnet it becomes a pile on to someone who just wants to lose a bit of weight by moving more and modifying their diet. Why over complicate things? If they ask about cutting UPFs then go ahead but otherwise it’s just a free for all of UPF diet, keto, vegan, low carb etc

Somanylemons · 05/05/2025 20:31

To my understanding there are 3500 calories in 1lb.

So if you eat under what you burn (BMR + exercise - can calculate it online) by 500 calories you should lose 1lb a week. 1000 calories would be 2lb a week.

With natural fluctuations in weight it could be that last week when you saw a 3lb loss you weighed low (dehydrated, empty stomach) and now this week you weighed high (holding on to water for some reason, full stomach.

If you carry on you may see that it evens out over all.

FumingTRex · 05/05/2025 20:35

Dont give up, perhaps you were a bit dehydrated or something the previous time you weighed. Or maybe you have built muscle with your extra activity, which will help you burn calories longer term.

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