1200 Calories and my weight won't budge.

Hello, I'm 5'2 and 167 pounds on my frame = not so great.

I am eating  about 1200 calories (1100-1250 give or take depending on hunger), I lost about 5 pounds in 2 weeks, and then my weight wouldn't budge for 2 weeks, and I hung in there as long as could without getting depressed about it.

Now this is kinda personal but worth mentioning, I'm on a new medication, and I think its been making really umm bound up, I haven't used the loo in days. Could this be affecting weight loss?

It been 4 weeks nows and well, I'm still at 167. LOL I don't know what to do. I'm not going back to bad eatings habits, that's for sure.

Good for you! You aren't letting discouragement get to you. Don't give up! It'll come off eventually!

One thing you might think about: My daughter was having the exact same problem, and she did one of those 'detox' liquid vitamin programs for 3 days and she dropped 6 pounds! You might be holding water, too. Just go to Vitacost and look at their weightloss/detox stuff.

Also, I found I wasn't losing until I started measuring everything, and discovered I really was eating more calories than I thought! Us short people don't have much wriggle (?) room in the calorie department!

good luck!

Deb

To reply to both you. I walk my dog, and ride my bike regularly because I am without a car right now. I wouldn't say I'm completely sedertary.

And yes. I should really do a detox things, and I have before but these things are not permanent, and can't cure CC (chronic constipation) I have done them before and they work, but not forever.

Oh and I measure everything with a digital scale, I'm a freak about it. Not a problem there. ^^

If you're only eating around 1200 calories a day you may not be getting enough fiber, which helps you, you know, go. lol

Definately do the fiber thing or maybe even a stool softener.  Alot of medications cause that effect in people.  Really measure your intake for a few days and see what your getting.  Then add either a suppliment or more fiber containing foods.  Colace is a really good stool softener to take with the fiber as well.  Hope this helps and keep truckin'.  You'll start loosing again! 

I've gone to a mostly raw diet. It's helped a lot and I haven't changed anything else in my lifestyle yet. 

Regarding the bound up issue: Yes, extra poop can make you gain weight. Drink more water. Eat more raw apples. If that doesn't help, one thing that has helped me and others I know is Formula #1 by Dr Richard Schulze. It's a miracle pill. 800herbdoc.com  He sure knows a lot about getting the bowels moving again.

And remember that your doctor is a great resource for these things.

Good luck!

you're not eating enough.  eating too little can hinder your weight loss.  i searched for free bmr calculators and using the stats you gave on this post, the birthdate on your page, and using an activity level of Lightly Active... the average amount of calories you should be eating is around 1500-1600 calories a day.  as you lose, that number will go down.  but for right now, you are eating too little.

First off, congrats on losing 5 pounds!

My weight has fluctuated as much as 1.4 pounds before/after going to the loo.  So this could definitely be an issue.  Try some prunes and, like another poster said, maybe consider a stool softener.  Avoid cheese.  You've got to keep things moving, and some medicines will definitely cause you to get backed up.

Also, you might be surprised to find that going up to 1400-1500 calories for about a week might make the scales move.  1200 calories is pretty low for your weight and height.  You could add an extra 120 calories just by stir-frying your veggies in 1 tbsp of olive oil (which might also help with the other issue).  Have an extra bowl of high fiber cereal or oatmeal.

Good luck, and hang in there!

Don't want to sound simplistic after reading all the good advice here--but why not check with your doctor?  If things were moving along ( pardon the pun) with the weight loss and your digestive tract before the meds change--could be you need a change in medication dosage ( or a change in meds again).

Here's some information from our Ask Mary Advice, that might shed some light on what's happening

Well, while I know everyone will probably tell you to increase your cals, idk... I ate at 1200-1250 for a long time and I find that the cleaner the cals (you know like the better the food is) then yeah you will continue to drop weight quickly... then maybe taper off to a 1300 cal and slowly increase it up to 1500 when you get closer to your goal weight/look.

For your bowels, I had the same prob. Lotsa protein = no potty. I found that fiber kept at a minimum of 25g and at least 50g of fat in my diet has helped tremendously. Remember to drink a good amount of water though if you plan going the fiber route. Otherwise it can make it worse.

And as for the stopped weight gain? Well, the blockage will make it totally worse... and I usually gain or stay neutral when I can't go. Walking, running, and sleep helps. Sometimes even a good strong espresso too.

G'Luck!

hi small sushi. i dont really have any advice for you but i am in the exact same situation as you! basicaly the same stats, i'm just about 5'2", started at 175, lost 5 lbs in a couple weeks, and now ive been stuck around 170 for a couple weeks :( i've been eating 1200 cals/day also and i guess maybe i'll try upping mine like everyone seems to be suggesting.

regarding your going problem... maybe try some extra fiber? adding a bowl of kashi go lean crunch to my diet every morning for breakfast has made me more regular than i've ever been, lol :P

At the risk of being jumped on for this answer I will say that this is just an idea that works for me.  It is not intended to be a medical answer to anything.  My suggestion is to supplement magnesium for the bathroom issues or I highly suggest chia seed, it is a great source of omega 3 fat and fiber all good if you ask me but that is just me and a few thousand or more who feel this way.

Good luck and don't let the not going go on for too long it can cause all kinds of problems other than lack of weight loss.

I'm in a similar situation to smallsushi: 5', 158 Lbs (started at 170 on June 15th).

I lost 12 lbs between 6/15 and 8/2 and have been stuck @ 158 for two weeks.

I try to stick to 1200 calories, but the average over, say, a week is more like 1300. I measure everything (really - it's become kind of an obsession) on a digital scale and average 33 grams of fiber a day (when I started CC I was averaging 12 grams of fiber a day).

I've yo-yo'd my entire life (I was an amature athlete and weird-o about weight) so I've chalked it up to a waiting game ... like waiting for my body to get a clue :)

I HATE to exercise, but do get about 2 miles per day in walking (about 3/mph).

I don't measure myself - do you guys think that is important? Really I do feel lighter and healthier and (most importantly) MORE COMFORTABLE in my clothes - so, maybe I am trimming down but it is not coming out in the scale weight?

Your thoughts/feedback will help me. And, maybe SmallSushi as well.

Thanks!

Dear memebers!

Wow look at all these great responses. Some of them, I'm not sure, someone said I should be taking in 1500-1600 Calories? Ouch. You put my at lightly active, when actually for the most part I'm sedertary, I'm on the computer way to much. It says I burn ABOUT 1800 calories a day, so I guess anything under that is plus, so I am not too worried about it. I was really freaking out about this, but oh well, all you can do it keep truckin' right?

I talked to a personal trainer that I am a huge fan of online, and I think this response helped me the most. He recommended that I walk/jog everyday no excuses, and I think he is right. He said, eating 1200 - 1300 calories a day is great, but I will lose slowwwwwly, and he said the only way to help it along is to wallk walk walk, jog, 20-30 minutes everyday.

If you are interested in learning about Steve Turano. Just search his name at Youtube. He really tells it like it is, and he has helped me alot.

Now the big C. I have actually had sotmach problems all my life. I think I have IBS, I talked to my doc about it just the other day, but he kinda blew me off, and said it was probably the medication I was taking to help me get a better sleep at night, and he just took me off of it.

Before this, I have done colon cleanses, I recommend that. I tried fiber solely, 50g a day, nothing moved still. Colace is okay, I pop those regularly, still takes aobut 2 days for anything. I used to take Mag every night, and that worked okay for awhile until I started getting blood in my stool, so I quit that right away. The other thing that EVER worked, is, I went to this herblist. She gave me digestive enzyemes and probotic bactactia, as well as one more for digestion, I was regular everyday with that, and she was a miracule. The down fall on that? All those herbs cost me 100 dollars +

Can I get some insurance on herbs? XDXDXD

So no worries, I have a bit of those herbs left over. I will start those today.  What is amazing about those herbs, is you can go for months without taking them and be regular. I really believe were healing. First thing tomorrow, is my new regime, I hate exercise, but for some reason, I'm looking forward to it. ^^

Thank you all for helping me, I'd like to join some group for motivation, post some suggestions for me? Thanks!!!

Danielle

Before this, I have done colon cleanses, I recommend that. I tried fiber solely, 50g a day, nothing moved still. Colace is okay, I pop those regularly, still takes aobut 2 days for anything. I used to take Mag every night, and that worked okay for awhile until I started getting blood in my stool, so I quit that right away. The other thing that EVER worked, is, I went to this herblist. She gave me digestive enzyemes and probotic bactactia, as well as one more for digestion, I was regular everyday with that, and she was a miracule. The down fall on that? All those herbs cost me 100 dollars +

       many kinds of yogurt have probiotic bacteria, if dairy doesn't bother you.  i don't have any digestive probs but i still LOVE this yogurt-like drink called kefir made near chicago where i live.  it's carried nationally, the brand name is lifeway, but it could be tough to track down.  it is low fat, contains fiber, and like 7 different kinds of bacteria to help keep your intestines healthy.  and it's yummy in flavors like raspberry and straw-banana.  real fruit, not b.s.  all that protein, great use of my calories!

Safeway has some new products that are crispy chocolate bars that are 100 cals and have the whole days worth of probiotics so even if you can't/don't wanna do dairy you have that as a choice too :)

 

Original Post by beckycooks:

Before this, I have done colon cleanses, I recommend that. I tried fiber solely, 50g a day, nothing moved still. Colace is okay, I pop those regularly, still takes aobut 2 days for anything. I used to take Mag every night, and that worked okay for awhile until I started getting blood in my stool, so I quit that right away. The other thing that EVER worked, is, I went to this herblist. She gave me digestive enzyemes and probotic bactactia, as well as one more for digestion, I was regular everyday with that, and she was a miracule. The down fall on that? All those herbs cost me 100 dollars +

       many kinds of yogurt have probiotic bacteria, if dairy doesn't bother you.  i don't have any digestive probs but i still LOVE this yogurt-like drink called kefir made near chicago where i live.  it's carried nationally, the brand name is lifeway, but it could be tough to track down.  it is low fat, contains fiber, and like 7 different kinds of bacteria to help keep your intestines healthy.  and it's yummy in flavors like raspberry and straw-banana.  real fruit, not b.s.  all that protein, great use of my calories!