What causes plateaus when dieting?

[mini_mouse]

susan, I just calculated my bmr using your equation rather than using the bmr I was given in my bodystat (screw that stupid bodystat, I don't trust any of the shit it said anyway) and that gives slightly more believable results for me too:

104lb x 11 = 1144 cals (bmr)

- 500 = 644 cals (for weightloss)

That would explain why I'm not losing on 600-800 then

 

[thin]

You should still lose at 800! That's a daily deficit of 200 calories or so or 1400 a week. (1/3 of a lb or so)

The BMR thing I gave dose not count exercise (including just doing office work which can be about 300 cal for a day)

That BMR number is for if you just stayed in bed all day long.

My guess is that you have not stuck with a higher cal program for long enough. I did 500 a day for many moth and when I came off Things were pretty screwy-- but after two to three weeks of eating more it got better.

Also (since I know you from TP) you BMI is really f*king low (14 right?) and when you are that tiny (and lean) it takes a loooooooong time to see change since your body is NOT happy about getting any leaner or thinner.

I'm hanging out here cus' I wanted some tips to get more muscle definition...

What is your goal? From your stats I'd think you'd just be trying to stay where you are?

-S

 

[rez]

all those cals are soooooo low!
why dont u guys rather concentrate on the grams of pro, carbs and fat your taking in..as long as your eating clean, u'll drop bf%

 

[KEL]

Since you've hit a plateau maybe it's time to “shock your system” - change up your diet.
Why not try carb rotation. Many of the ladies are doing this with great success.
It may take 3+ weeks to see a difference in your appearance. Be patient.

Now if I could bump your calories up to at least 1200 a day we'd really be in business! Maybe another day.


go read this thread it explains the carb cycling thing
http://209.11.101.244/forum/showthread.php?threadid=108917

 

[mini_mouse]

You should still lose at 800! That's a daily deficit of 200 calories or so or 1400 a week. (1/3 of a lb or so)

Hmm, yeah. I guess I haven't stuck with this intake for long enough. I wouldn't notice a 1/3lb drop on my scale anyway. I'm so impatient though! I had 100lbs as my goal for Feb 14th and now I realise that's gonna just be wishful thinking.

The BMR thing I gave does not count exercise (including just doing office work which can be about 300 cal for a day)

That BMR number is for if you just stayed in bed all day long.

Hehe, well I kid you not, I do just stay in bed all day long! It's driving my parents mad cos I'm either in bed or online all day ... so unless I burn shit loads with typing I'm not going to be expending energy through much other than my BMR. I keep planning to start up my power walking again (I used to do 10-20miles/day) but I keep putting it off cos it's so cold outside

Also (since I know you from TP) you BMI is really f*king low (14 right?) and when you are that tiny (and lean) it takes a loooooooong time to see change since your body is NOT happy about getting any leaner or thinner.

BMI of 14?! LOL, if only No, it's 16.3 at the moment. My fat % is meant to be low (although I have just read that the electric impedence testing - which is what I had done - isn't as accurate as I thought) so maybe that's got something to do with it. I'm not sure.

I'm hanging out here cus' I wanted some tips to get more muscle definition...
What is your goal? From your stats I'd think you'd just be trying to stay where you are?

I still have 84 as as my goal, but I'm trying to be less impulsive and take it slower . As for why I'm here: I want to educate myself better on how to start a light lifting regime, and I'm also always looking for more info on nutrition and diet aids. I definitely want more muscle definition too, but I want the no. on the scale to drop a bit more at the same time. So I guess I'm looking to maintain my lean mass while I lose. I want to work on my arms and stomach in particular. They're the 'leanest' part of me so I'm less concerned about them bulking than I am, say, my legs (which are the death of me ). I want to get rid of the icky bit at the top of my inner thighs too - still trying to figure out the best way to zap that!. Since coming here I've decided to buy some weights and am also considering joining the gym again for access to the weight machines and a consultant trainer.

Oh, hey, I bought one of your 'fa(s)t' hooded sweatshirts (and the :fightclub: mousemat and mug!) so when it arrives I can lift my pink fluffy dumbell in style

- mini

 

[mini_mouse]

carb rotation? I don't know much about how you do that. Is it possible to do it in terms of protein:carb:fat ratios rather than in terms of no. of grams? I'll go read up a bit about it on the search. I have actually found that I tend to lose the most weight when I cut out carbs completely. But I seem to swing between eating NO carbs and eating JUST carbs on an almost weekly basis. It seems like this week is one of the all-carb crap weeks . According to Fitday.com, today intake was 18% protein, 57% carb and (argh!) 25% fat. That's bad, right?

 

[thin]

When you eat that litte it matter much less how much comes from carbs...

But I'd like to know about this carb rotation stuff too.

BTW a BMI in the 16s is low IMHO

I'm f*ckn' 17.5



I've got the inner leg fat thing too-- the only thing I can think to do is keep trying to get my bf% down ... I mean spot work has no effect. right?

Also I'm thinking of building up my arms and back just a little so I can use the muscle to burn more fat.

-S

 

[mini_mouse]

kel, thanks for the link - spatterson's explanation of ratios and carb cycling were really helpful. I think I might try 45:45:10 and try it incorporated in my present cal allowance. If I have 800 cals then that would be made up of 90g P, 90 C, and 9g F - easy round numbers to remember! Takes a bit more advanced planning than just counting cals though - how do you guys go out for meals when you have to count grams so closely?

 

[Sassy69]

I still have 84 as as my goal, but I'm trying to be less impulsive and take it slower

OMG -- am I reading this right?? MM -- your goal is 84 lbs???? And you are 5'6"???

So I guess I'm looking to maintain my lean mass while I lose.

You want to continue to lose weight while maintaining lean body mass?? G/f - you have nothing left to lose EXCEPT lean body mass.

Do you have any interest in building some good quality lean muscle? I"m trying to find some sort of positive result out this discussion but its really hard.... If you eat some more calories and continue your plans to lift you can turn the skinny fat to lean.

There are many healthy, productive ways to manipulate your body -- oh well.

 

[thin]

okay, how do you get rid of inner leg fat-- I'm sick of my legs touching.