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1317224 tn?1378705134

Slow Loss---Too Few Calories?

I've been eating in a more healthy way, 1100-1400 calories a day (less than half what it would take for my weight to remain where it is) for 3 months now. I had a heart procedure which jumpstarted my loss and lost 17 pounds in the first 5 weeks. But in the past 7 weeks, I've only lost another 11 pounds even though I am eating way below what the charts on MedHelp Weight Loss say I can.
I'm eating healthy and feel good, my loss is just so small for what I'm doing it's a little frustrating. I know slow loss is best, but I have another 100 pounds to lose. I haven't been exercising regularly and think this is probably the key.
Any ideas? Thanks in advance folks...
9 Responses
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1317224 tn?1378705134
Thank you for the great information!
My appetite has shrunk since my ablation and some days it's hard to even get to 1,000 calories. But I will eat more food and see if adding 2-300 calories helps!
Thanks again!!
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
Great post, skydivediva.  

The only thing I might add is for everyone to calculate their own individual calorie needs.  Some of us may need only 1000-1100 calories/day, while others who are taller, heavier, might need as many as 1800-2000 calories/day, or more.  

We are all very different; therefore, you must calculate what YOUR body requires to function properly.  Don't forget that we all need a certain amount of food  just to stay alive.  That is our Basic Metabolic Rate (BMR) and is the figure we all need to know and make sure we don't ever go below that; otherwise we risk not getting enough calories to sustain our bodily functions, which is not only unhealthy, but can be downright dangerous.  

As we control our diet and lose weight, our calorie needs will change, so you must constantly be aware of your own needs.  There is no "across the board" magic number.

If anyone needs help calculating calorie needs, please feel free to ask.

Best of luck to all.
Helpful - 0
1339332 tn?1329854366
Hi MaryLL. I can soooo understand your frustration. I do think that exercise is the key for you here. Just walking at first (with your doctor's okay)...in the cooler part of the day, flat ground, at a comfortable pace; some malls have walking programs where you can walk inside in the A/C and have the companionship of other walkers. Then, GRADUALLY, as your tolerance improves, increase your walking: the pace, the distance, the inclusion of hills. I, too, HATE exercise---but as you do it, you will gain cardiovascular fitness and lose weight which will make it progressively easier and less onerous. I HATED exercise, but once I got serious about it, I wound up LOVING it and missing it terribly on the days I didn't work-out. (Though I'll admit, I NEVER got any of those "endorphin rushes" that the gym rats and runners claim exist.) I stopped exercising after injuries, lost both muscle and cardiovascular strength and gained fat, so I'm now back at the "It's too hard & I hate it" view of exercise. BUT, if you can start, it DOES get easier! The starting is the key! I don't know your height or other statistics you need to calculate out your maintenance and weight loss calorie profiles. I did post a "Some references you may find helpful" post in this (or the Weight Loss Journeys) forum a while back with links to several sites (a dietician's site on the list was my favorite) where you plug in your stats & it calculates the number of calories you need to maintain/lose weight as well as other info re: your nutritional needs. I do think 1100 is too low; Weight Watchers and most reputable diet programs won't go under 1200 or so. As for your "slow" weight loss. The initial 17 lbs. loss likely included some water weight; this is true for ALL dieters, but especially for those who have heart rhythm disturbances or other heart issues. When the heart is not pumping in a strong, organized fashion, the body tends to be less efficient in circulating blood to the kidneys & we retain water. By comparison your later weight loss appears too slow to you compared to the initial drop and I'm sure that is frustrating to you when you are being "so good" diet wise. In truth, however, the slower weight loss was likely mostly fat---11 lbs. of FAT---GONE! That is AWESOME. AND, while it SEEMS slow, it is actually at a pace 1.57 lbs. per week---the amount experts say is a reasonable pace that leads to a LASTING weight loss. (My own goal, which I've fallen behind, was to lose 1.5 lbs. per week.) Please don't grow discouraged. I know it is painfully, frustratingly slow! But losing it slowly is better than NEVER losing it. And losing it slowly but permanently is better than losing it fast & regaining it. At 1.57 lbs. per week, you could lose your 100 lbs. in 441 days---63.694 weeks. Start saving for an elegant holiday dress---or an exotic jaunt to a tropical island---or a piece of jewelry---whatever gives you joy----'cause on November 13, 2011, you're going to need something to celebrate reaching your goal weight.
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
I do not recommend gaining and losing a lot of weight over and over. That is called "yo-yo dieting" and is not good for your body at all.   I'm not sure why anyone would want to do this.  


Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
And yes you may have to few calories. Once you start getting lower you may decress it that low when you get to a lower weight. Depends on how tall you are, activity level, and other factors. Try increasing it too 1,600-1,900
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Weight is lost in a wave pattern. There will be times when you loose it fast ad times when it goes slower or not at all. I kept track over 3 months and I had about 4 times that I stoped loosing. Yes walking 6 days a week will help but that too will stop loosing weight as fast as your body gets ussed to it. I suggest that when your body dose stop loosing weight with just walking, trade walking for bikeing or some other thing. Haha then later you can walk after you run out of other things to do.

Also don't get stressed about not loosing it as fast as you want to. Staying cool about it will greatly help. I'm donating my body to experimenting weight loose plans, (gain tons of weight and loose it, gain more weight and try loosing it differently) so if you got any questions for me, feel free to ask. Or if you got a idea I should try that could help me. Lolz I don't bite!

~libby
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Weight is lost in a wave pattern. There will be times when you loose it fast ad times when it goes slower or not at all. I kept track over 3 months and I had about 4 times that I stoped loosing. Yes walking 6 days a week will help but that too will stop loosing weight as fast as your body gets ussed to it. I suggest that when your body dose stop loosing weight with just walking, trade walking for bikeing or some other thing. Haha then later you can walk after you run out of other things to do.

Also don't get stressed about not loosing it as fast as you want to. Staying cool about it will greatly help. I'm donating my body to experimenting weight loose plans, (gain tons of weight and loose it, gain more weight and try loosing it differently) so if you got any questions for me, feel free to ask. Or if you got a idea I should try that could help me. Lolz I don't bite!

~libby
Helpful - 0
1317224 tn?1378705134
No, I need to start walking...I know the loss will increase when I do this. I just have so much resistance to exercise but I need to GET OVER IT!! or, JUST DO IT!
thanks for the reassurance...
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
Your body requires a certain amount of food, just to stay alive - that's for breathing, heart beat, kidney and other organ functions, etc.  If you don't eat enough to sustain those functions, your body will hang onto existing fat because it doesn't think there is enough food coming in to sustain it. This is called "starvation mode".  The heavier you are, the food you will need to sustain your body; as you lose weight, you would drop your calorie count.  It sounds like you need to increase your calorie intake.

Are you getting any exercise in addition to cutting your calories?  
Helpful - 0
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