a brief period before losing weight???

Dancing Paws started this discussion · 3/11/2012

Hey all! So like i mentioned earlier, I've been really diligent about dieting and exercising to get my butt to lose weight. It's been a week (I know, not that long yet). I am aiming calorie and exercise-wise to lost 1 lb a week (nice and slow.) I'm eating all 1,200 calories a day (actually a litte more, but I burn the rest off exercising.) I have not seen any budgin on the scale. Not even a fraction of a pound. My question is, is it possible that my body is going to hang onto the weight in this beginning phase since i've cut calories? Is it going into "Oh no" mode initially? Is that typical?

18 replies

Masked Loopy II · 3/11/2012
I'm not an expert, but a while back I read some information about Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR), it's the minumum calories you need for your basic body functions (not including exercise) and when you eat below this amount (which is unique to each person), you could have great difficulty losing weight. Here's some links that describe it: http://www.caloriesperhour.com/tutorial_BMR.php http://www.shapeup.org/atmstd/sud10v3/sud10s7.php
Dancing Paws · 3/11/2012
I'm 500 cal per day below my BMR. I calculated it on livestrong.com as "lose 1 lb per week." Not sure if that is affecting things or not. I heard you are suppose to decrease your caloric intake by 500 cal per day in order to lose 1 pound a week (3500 calories.) Maybe I'm doing it wrong?
Rachel12345 · 3/11/2012
You need to add your BMR to calories burned and eat 500 less than that amount to lose 1lb a week. As long as you calculated exercise into your BMR result then there is no reason this will harm your weight loss.
Dancing Paws · 3/11/2012
That's what it's doing. If I eat over the recommended 500 less, I still take into account exercise. I'm supposed to eat just ove 1,200 cals a day. If I eas 200 more, but burn 200, I'm still supposed to be good. Hmmm.
Rachel12345 · 3/11/2012
But it's only been a week, when I went on a diet a few months ago I lost nothing to start with. Then I ignored the scales for a month and lost half stone. I don't even own scales now, I go on how my clothes are fitting (unfortunately they're tighter but that's student life). I wouldn't worry about it just yet, these things just take time. How hard has it been to eat 1200 calories? I want to try again, last time I gave up after 2 days :(
PixiLouBell · 3/11/2012
it is SUPER hard for me to eat 1200 calories, i stuck to it for a few weeks and lost 5 lbs BUT i cudnt keep it up lol im a volume eater big time, eat till im sick, if i cud get that under control id b ok but im having no luck. haha ya sensual i wid give it some more time, a week hasnt been that long really, u can do it! :)
PixiLouBell · 3/11/2012
i also hear bodies will go into starvation mode when calories are drastically cut and the body will hold onto fat for as long as it can...?? dont kno if this is true for everyone tho.
aweagle · 3/11/2012
How much protein are you getting? Figure .5 - 1 grams per pound of body weight for weight loss. Protein is fuel for your muscles. For a 150 pound person that would be 75-150 grams a day. Protein to your diet is like black to your wardrobe ... Slimming!
Dancing Paws · 3/12/2012
aweagle - I ate 72 grams of protein yesterday. Weird cuz it wasn't on purpose. I've been eating quinoa, lentils, and a meat for dinner. Rachel - It's not so hard to eat that if you eare eating the correct stuff. I have been eating quinoa, rice, lentils, green beans, and meats. I actually eat a little over 1,200 cals, but i am exercising dailiy to burn it off. I'm either hooping or freestyle dancing for 30 minutes (monitoring my heart rate to get into the burn zone.) I usually stretch for 30-60 minutes, which also burns more calories that just sitting. I ALSO have some light calisthenics I hae to do for physical therapy. It all adds up. I'm thinking I may be in a brief period where my body is hanging onto the weight until it realizes I'm not starving it, just cutting cals. Rixi - OMG, I have PMS right now. It was sooo hard for me to resist the "banana split" ice cream sandwhiches at walmart!
PixiLouBell · 3/12/2012
LOL i kno i always eat chocolate or sweets at that time of the month!!
Dancing Paws · 3/12/2012
So I found this. http://www.mikesfitness.com/content/how-to-lose-fat It says to ignore the first week or two in diet and exercising as it is an adjustement period for your body. That's encouraging at least. :) My fiancee said that he heard you are supposed to have a cheap day so your body doesn't freak out and hold onto your fat. Has anyone heard of this? I haven't...
mikesfitness.comHugeDomains.com
Dancing Paws · 3/12/2012
According to this you ARE supposed to have a cheat day. Interesting... http://caloriecount.about.com/forums/weight-loss/cheating-diet-increase-fat-loss Does that mean I can have the ice cream sandwiches??
PixiLouBell · 3/12/2012
yes!!! lol
mystical · 3/12/2012
I was reading this thread and if you cheat make it a small serving cause you dont will gain all the weight back and if you can make it a as healthy as you can
dancing in the gray · 3/15/2012
When I was on weight watchers, my rough calorie intake was 1200/day, plus they give you extra weekly "points" that would be roughly 1500 calories for the week. If you're exercising, you might want to bump up your calories to 1500-1600 a day, more fuel for your body. As long as you're fueling with good food, and it sounds like you are, it should all balance out
Dancing Paws · 3/15/2012
My gross cal intake is definitely above 1200, but with exercise my net intake is around 1200.
JeHanne · 3/15/2012
There is a free web service and app called myfitnesspal.com. I really like their calorie counter and phone app. Calorie counting and weight loss is huge trial and error and I do not feel there is a 'one size fits all' approach. My personal experience was It takes a bit of time to find out what works for you. I learned the hard way that for me to lose weight I have to stay on the high end of my calorie budgets to lose weight. If I stay at the low or moderate end I will not lose weight and I will gain. So that means if my daily calorie range was 1500... I need to eat 1500. If I ate 1200 or 1300 etc... I would hold or gain. I would do one cheat meal a week. I ate whatever I wanted and it was normally unhealthy foods... After a week of salads and lean proteins and kale... I felt entitled. Experiment and allow yourself some time to find what will work for you. It can be very VERY difficult... At the very least the focus on your food choices and healthier choices will benefit you. : )
Dancing Paws · 3/15/2012
I am starting to let my self play around with it. I had my cheat day this week with a pulled bbq pork sandwich (OMG I was craving it sooo bad!)