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Survival mode confusion!
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happy85
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Joined: 27 September 2009
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Posts: 3
 Posted: 27 September 2009 05:33 pm
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Hi, well I have been dieting for about 3 months and I did manage to lose a total of 16 lbs, but the last few weeks I have stopped losing weight and have even gained three lbs. Ugh. This is all so confusing.

I'm 5'6", weight 216, and am a 22-year-old female. In the beginning, I was eating about 1200 calories a day (I know that it's low, but I am taking supplements and making sure I get all the nutrients), and I lost 10 pounds my first month. Without exercise. The next month I slowly lost more, and began exercising for about 45 minutes (high intensity cardio) 4-5 times a week, and weight lifting 15 min about 3 times a week. But now, this month I stopped losing weight and even gained 3 lbs in the last two weeks! I don't understand. Because even though I am not eating a lot, I eat until I am full, then I stop.

The only thing I can think of is that I somehow put my body into survival mode. I did the RMR calculator and I guess to lose 2 lbs a wk I need to eat 1750 calories, but that seems like a lot of calories. I am so frustrated, because my body puts weight on SO easily. Please help me.

OnceUpon-A-ThinGirl
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Joined: 7 April 2006
Location: Willits, California USA
Posts: 1300
 Posted: 27 September 2009 09:21 pm
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Keep track of what you are eating, you may be eating more calories then you think.  And the numbers are general guidelines, if I eat what I'm supposed to be eating I gain too.

Nir
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Joined: 17 January 2006
Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
Posts: 5741
 Posted: 28 September 2009 10:30 pm
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In addition to the other suggestion, I'd like to put forward the suggestion that you might be gaining muscle weight from your exercise.

At your BMI (around 35) you should be able to eat as low as 75% of your unadjusted RMR (75% of 1757 is 1318) without event so it seems unlikely you're experiencing a problem due to not eating enough. The reason why that guideline exists is because the RMR formulas do unfortunately constitute over-estimates for heavier people (say BMI>30) and you'd come under that category.

Though ultimately if you remain stuck (after a few more weeks of no progress), and certainly if you're experiencing other symptoms relating to not enough calories (tiredness / lethargy) do experiment with raising calories a little.

happy85
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Joined: 27 September 2009
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Posts: 3
 Posted: 29 September 2009 06:13 am
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Ok, thank you both so much. I really appreciate your help. I will try and keep it at 1300, and to be patient and see if I stay stuck. I thought it might be muscle mass I am gaining, but was still worried about the whole survival mode thing. I am never really sure about it all, because I am naturally very muscular. Thanks again!

Hellrazor
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Joined: 6 July 2008
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Posts: 734
 Posted: 1 October 2009 05:22 pm
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Personally I think you might be under eating with that amount of exercise

cportwine
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Joined: 24 March 2008
Location: Muscoda, Wisconsin USA
Posts: 4433
 Posted: 5 October 2009 07:11 pm
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I think it is muscle weight as well. Since it started when the exercise did, it only makes sense.

cwalker3
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Joined: 25 July 2007
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 9
 Posted: 16 October 2009 01:30 am
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Keep in mind that the same workout you did in the past will not be as effective.  As your body adjust it will not respond.  Change your routine and they should help with some of the slower results.


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