Posts by allcreaturesgreatandsmall

Thank you to everyone for the replies. I should've clarified, when I said I probably eat around 1,200, that is very, very rare - and usually not intentional, only on those days that I just don't have an appetite. I usually eat much more in the 1,700-1,800 range. 

Ok. So if my BMR is 1,400, and on average I burn around 500 calories with exercise, plus maybe 200-300 with other activity throughout the day, I should be able to eat up to approximately 2,100-2,200 calories and not gain weight. So on days I don't exercise, I should decrease to around 1,600-1,800. Does that sound correct?

I agree, it would be wise for me to eat at maintenance for a while. That's what I've been told countless times, but obviously that scares me, and I often regress into eating less. 

I have been trying to focus more on body composition, and it's not necessarily weight loss that I want per se, it's just a flatter stomach area. But to do that I need to lose a bit of fat, ie weight. I feel that no matter what I do, it's a flabby mess compared to the rest of my body. 

And I do realize I still have some ghosts of my ED haunting me. If you've ever suffered from one, you know it doesn't just go away. It's really hard to forget. I exercise so much because a) I love it, and b) it helps me feel strong, which is something I have never felt before. I do have some obsessive tendencies about it, but I'm trying to work on it. It's a day by day thing. 

I do wonder if I eat below what I need, but it seriously scares me to eat more - and I'm trying to eat when I'm hungry, and stop when I'm not. My calorie intake is much higher now than it was a few years ago. I have an odd appetite - I get full very quickly but then become hungry again very quickly, so I kind of feel like I'm always eating, haha. Which sometimes makes me think I eat too much.

I had my BMR tested by a medical professional with a breath test, so I do trust the result of 1,400 BMR. 

As far as my goals, I really would just like to lose a few pounds. Nothing crazy. Maybe 5. I'm more than fine, and in some cases happy, with the rest of my body - but I know there's more fat on my stomach than in proportion to the rest of my body. And like you said, I can't spot reduce. So I have to lose a bit of fat/weight in order to achieve my goals. It's just shocking to me that with my current level of exercise and my gluten-free-vegan diet, I haven't lost weight, and have maybe even gained. 

I've felt very bloated lately, so if I'm just retaining fluid, that might be great. I do feel that my stomach is a little looser, though. 

I just wish I knew why. I should definitely not be GAINING with my current routine. 

Thank you for all the kind words - but I really don't want to hear that I'm at a
"set" weight. That's incredibly discouraging.

I want to know why, after all this CONSISTENT hard work and clean eating, I have been unable to make ANY changes in my body. Is it truly because I'm "not eating enough"? Does anyone have examples of how eating more actually DID help them lose weight?

I need someone to tell me if I do need to eat more. And if so, how much? Will I gain weight? How do I prevent that?

Bottom line, why am I not losing weight, and how can I lose weight?

No, I'm not anywhere near being underweight. I'm 5'9'' and between 140-145lbs. That puts my BMI at 21, I believe. So, no, not underweight!

I don't think my "maintenance" would be lower, as I just had my RMR tested and the result was 1,400. Even if I only lead a sedentary lifestyle, maintenance should be about 1,600. And I'm not even close to sedentary.

Are you joking?

But that's the thing, it wasn't an incredibly HARD weight session, just an incorporation of a few different routines/circuit training....and it's the week AFTER and I'm still increasing. The majority of the weight gain occurred gradually (1 lb by 1 lb) too... I don't understand :(

Sorry for sounding so pathetic, I'm just so frustrated.

Thank you, but first of all, if you're my height, 115 is way too low. Don't even think about going there. Just don't.

And I'm not looking for motivation to "lose weight." That's the complete opposite point of my little rant here...I'm in need of help to find a healthier life perspective.

Message me if you'd like to talk more.

Thank you to everyone that has responded. I really appreciate the comments.

But there's been no real general consensus here...so is it that my body is at a set weight, and I should abandon all hope of ever being smaller? That seems awful.

In terms of my diet, I DO eat extremely clean foods. No processed junk, TONS of fresh fruit and veggies (like 6-7 servings a day) and lean vegetarian protein. I've started new forms of exercise in the past few weeks, and I usually take one rest day a week.

So should I focus on strength training, and stop trying to lose weight? I don't even know where I would start with that....