Why am I not losing weight?

[katiegreen]

Hi,

Basically I have been following a very strict diet of 500 calories a day combined with around 2 hours exercise a day for three weeks now. I do know this is very unhealthy, but just wanted to lose the weight quickly! I have not been cheating at all (in fact usually eat between 200-300 calories a day), and have been eating very low fat / no fat foods. The exercise is all good fat burning exercise, and I have also been drinking lots of water and green tea. Anyway, I have only lost a couple of pounds over the three weeks (which I assume is mostly water weight), and cannot understand how this is possible as I know when you eat very little weight loss suppossedly slows down, but I'm eating a lot less calories, than I'm burning, so surely scientifically I should actually be losing weight?? Any ideas would be much appreciated!! Also, I'm 5ft 7ins and 11 stone...so its not like I have no weight to lose!! Thanks

[coccinelle]

Your body has probably gone into starvation mode. I'm rather surprised that after 3 weeks of living on less than 500 calories per day you're not feeling weak after doing exercise. Up your calories to about 1000 calories and you'll probably see the weight fall off.

[another-view]

Unless you are building a bit of muscle up with the exercise? Then you will lose fat, gain muscle and stay the same weight.

[4getmenot]

yes I agree with coccinelle. your body has gone into starvation mode, storing fat. It is always best to eat a healthy diet

[LoftyLottie]

As soon as you start starving your body (and you are at only 300 cals) it will, as coccinelle and 4get say, go into starvation mode and will actually store fat for protection. You need a balanced diet of at least 1250 cals per day. Cut out fats and sugars and do regular exercise and you should start shedding the lbs. Crash diets never work. You may lose weight but as soon as you start eating normally again you will go back over what you were in the first place. Your metabolism will be completely out of sync.

If you carry on as you are you will be completely unhealthy, prone to infection tired and look dreadful.

[LoftyLottie]

Gravy/Pussy that's an incredibly low amount of calories per day for you. I presume you are a very skinny 4'6!!

[fruitsalad]

according to the bmi charts you are within a healthy weight for your height of 5ft 7

[slinky.kate]

eat regular small meals,especially breakfast to kick start your metabolism and you'll soon see the weight fall off,i have lost three stone since end of august

[Mamyalynne]

Thats why she`s slinky eh kay? Hiya!

[ELVIS68]

I have a diet that will lose you a stone in a week

[dizmouk2009]

I'm going to make my self clear when I say this, I hope people see what I write:
Regardless of what anyone says you have to be losing weight. Starvation mode doesn't work like everyone seems to say.... Yes your body does slow down metabolism but it also, if there is no carbohydrate intake, goes into ketosis. Your body will only go into starvation mode if the body has a lack of carbohydrates which in fact is called 'KETOSIS'. The best way to see if you are losing weight is to buy some 'ketostix' (they test the ketones in your urine). If there are ketones in your unrine it means that your body has insufficient carbohydrates. If you're only eating 300 calories a day then you have a medical problem. Do you take any medication?. I've done this diet before and it works (unhealthy or not, it works). The fact you're not losing weight makes me thing there is a medical concern. I've lost 18lb in 3 weeks on a 300cal diet a day. Listen to someone who has done this before....... get some help, you need to see a doctor because it sounds like you have a medical problem.

[dizmouk2009]

"go into starvation mode and will actually store fat for protection" - If you stick to 300 cals a day your body won't do that, and it doesn't. It burns it straight away. Take it from someone who has spent 4 years studying the effects of obesity and weight gain. The body will only store fat it can store. 300 cals of fat it won't store. If Katie took in 3000 cals then yes the body would store it.

[dizmouk2009]

For instance... My BMR (basal metabolic rate) is currently 2689kCals a day..
That means that my body needs 1920 calories as day before exercise. If I stay in bed all day and eat nothing then theoretically I have 'burned' 1920 calories. If katie is only eating 300 calories a day then this doesn't make sense.

In a month I can go from being called *fat b*st*rd to earth worm jim (or jim for short)*

[dizmouk2009]

Ignore " My BMR (basal metabolic rate) is currently 2689kCals a day.. " the 2689 is my over all required intake, my apologies, my BMR is 1920...

[ELVIS68]

my one sounds better

[flobadob]

KATIE READ THIS
I'M SERIOUS.
THIS WILL WORK
Avoid carbs and you will lose wait. Long story short, forget about calories.
The fact is you burn carbohydrates(CARBS) for your daily energy.
If you starve your body of carbs then it will start to use your fat for energy.
Katie, I'm serious, it takes a couple of weeks and it's awkward.
Look up the carbs of certain foods.
Basically AVOID bread, rice, potato, most veg, pasta.
You can eat meat, eggs.
Look it up, it will work, you can't fail.
Good luck.

[dizmouk2009]

flobadob it's not as simple as that....

[dizmouk2009]

flobadob I'm assuming you're refering to the ketogenic diet?

[flobadob]

Also Katie if you exercise, which you will really want to do after 3 days then it will feel even better. Stick to it for your own wellbeing and benefit.