Alpacalia Posted December 28, 2020 Posted December 28, 2020 I am five pounds away from my goal weight. I have been in a calorie deficit for about a year now (with maintenance calorie breaks in between) and I exercise anywhere from 3-4 hours a week but I can't seem to lose the last five pounds. Thing is, I can't go any lower with my calories otherwise it would be unhealthy. Has anyone been in a similar position and been able to lose the last few stubborn pounds?
Wiseman2 Posted December 28, 2020 Posted December 28, 2020 Personality, I don't own a scale. If my belt feels too snug, I knock out any empty calories for a while. Judge how you feel and look. More important than just the scale. Eat healthy foods and stay active. 1
Author Alpacalia Posted December 28, 2020 Author Posted December 28, 2020 9 hours ago, Wiseman2 said: Judge how you feel and look. More important than just the scale. Eat healthy foods and stay active. Agreed. I don't really weigh myself that often and I eat relatively healthy it's just that those last few pounds are a real stinker. 1
poppyfields Posted January 7, 2021 Posted January 7, 2021 On 12/28/2020 at 7:14 AM, Alpaca said: Agreed. I don't really weigh myself that often and I eat relatively healthy it's just that those last few pounds are a real stinker. How many calories were you taking in to lose the weight that you have lost? To lose the last five, you need to take in less. I recently lost 5 by eating no more than 700 healthy calories a day, and I felt just fine, did my yoga, had plenty of energy. I wasn't on a diet, I just felt like I wanted to lose the 5. Drink LOTS of water, put some lemon in it, it tastes good and has health benefits as well.
alphamale Posted January 7, 2021 Posted January 7, 2021 2 hours ago, poppyfields said: I recently lost 5 by eating no more than 700 healthy calories a day... That’s not even enough for a small hamster... 1 1
Author Alpacalia Posted January 7, 2021 Author Posted January 7, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, poppyfields said: How many calories were you taking in to lose the weight that you have lost? To lose the last five, you need to take in less. I recently lost 5 by eating no more than 700 healthy calories a day, and I felt just fine, did my yoga, had plenty of energy. I wasn't on a diet, I just felt like I wanted to lose the 5. Drink LOTS of water, put some lemon in it, it tastes good and has health benefits as well. Thanks for sharing poppyfields. My daily calorie intake is 1,200 calories (a 500 calorie deficit) which is on the low end so I really don't want to take in less. I do a combination of exercise activities weekly but I just can't lose that last tiny winy bit of blubber . I drink about 90 ounces of water daily too. I think I'm going to give low carb a try and see if that works. If not, I'll probably consult with a nutritionist whenever I get around to it and see where that leads. Edited January 7, 2021 by Alpaca
poppyfields Posted January 7, 2021 Posted January 7, 2021 (edited) 12 hours ago, alphamale said: That’s not even enough for a small hamster... It was for me. I have a small frame and typically only eat 1200 calories a day on average anyway. That is plenty! 1200 is enough for me as long as they're healthy calories. Anyway, as I said since you asked, to lose the last 5, you should eat less calories than you've been eating. If it was 1500 calories, then cut down to 1200. Make sure they're healthy calories versus a Big Mac from McDonald's lol. Edited January 7, 2021 by poppyfields 1
poppyfields Posted January 7, 2021 Posted January 7, 2021 12 hours ago, Alpaca said: Thanks for sharing poppyfields. My daily calorie intake is 1,200 calories (a 500 calorie deficit) which is on the low end so I really don't want to take in less. I do a combination of exercise activities weekly but I just can't lose that last tiny winy bit of blubber . I drink about 90 ounces of water daily too. I think I'm going to give low carb a try and see if that works. If not, I'll probably consult with a nutritionist whenever I get around to it and see where that leads. Yes! Definitely low carb. . Try 1000 low carb. Lean meat (baked lemon chicken is my fav) fish (not fried), lots of veggies with EVOO (use a spray), fruits, yogurt, the occasional bag of chips for salty craving. You can do this! 1 1
Author Alpacalia Posted January 7, 2021 Author Posted January 7, 2021 18 minutes ago, poppyfields said: Yes! Definitely low carb. . Try 1000 low carb. Lean meat (baked lemon chicken is my fav) fish (not fried), lots of veggies with EVOO (use a spray), fruits, yogurt, the occasional bag of chips for salty craving. You can do this! Thanks, poppy! I shall give low carb a whirl 1
littleblackheart Posted January 21, 2021 Posted January 21, 2021 I have put a very, very unhealthy amount of weight on in the last year alone due to various stess factors, but mainly down to the pandemic, so I aspire to be in your situation! I am being followed by my GP and counselor as I have too much to lose on my own. I started a very low calory (600 calories/day) meal substitute programme last week, and it's going very well so far. I'm told my programme will be over by October. Obviously daunting but it's a step by step thing. Have you thought of trying replacing your meals with medically approved meal substitutes for a little while? If you only have 5 pounds to lose (that's less than 2.5 kgs, I think?), I don't imagine it taking too long? 1
Author Alpacalia Posted January 21, 2021 Author Posted January 21, 2021 12 minutes ago, littleblackheart said: I have put a very, very unhealthy amount of weight on in the last year alone due to various stess factors, but mainly down to the pandemic, so I aspire to be in your situation! I am being followed by my GP and counselor as I have too much to lose on my own. I started a very low calory (600 calories/day) meal substitute programme last week, and it's going very well so far. I'm told my programme will be over by October. Obviously daunting but it's a step by step thing. Have you thought of trying replacing your meals with medically approved meal substitutes for a little while? If you only have 5 pounds to lose (that's less than 2.5 kgs, I think?), I don't imagine it taking too long? Thank you. No, I hadn't considered a medically approved meal substitute plan. The 600 calories per day, is that your total caloric intake every day through October?
littleblackheart Posted January 21, 2021 Posted January 21, 2021 8 minutes ago, Alpaca said: Thank you. No, I hadn't considered a medically approved meal substitute plan. The 600 calories per day, is that your total caloric intake every day through October? Yes, with breaks every 12 weeks to stabilise the weight. I wouldn't do it without medical supervision, though. It's really not that bad once you get into the rhythm. I'd definitely recommend it, especially as it should be for a short while for you .
Author Alpacalia Posted January 21, 2021 Author Posted January 21, 2021 23 minutes ago, littleblackheart said: Yes, with breaks every 12 weeks to stabilise the weight. I wouldn't do it without medical supervision, though. It's really not that bad once you get into the rhythm. I'd definitely recommend it, especially as it should be for a short while for you . Right. That's drastically low so I can see how medical supervision would be necessary. Well, you've certainly given me more options to consider. What to do? I'll have to think it over. Thanks for the tip and good-luck on your weight loss journey, I am rooting for you! 1
littleblackheart Posted January 21, 2021 Posted January 21, 2021 33 minutes ago, Alpaca said: Right. That's drastically low so I can see how medical supervision would be necessary. Well, you've certainly given me more options to consider. What to do? I'll have to think it over. Thanks for the tip and good-luck on your weight loss journey, I am rooting for you! Thank you. Good luck to you too! 1
Wiseman2 Posted January 21, 2021 Posted January 21, 2021 (edited) On 1/7/2021 at 12:34 PM, Alpaca said: I shall give low carb a whirl Get rid of the scale. Judge by how you feel and your clothes fit. Lean body mass is important. I recently switched to seltzer for my fluid intake. Inadvertently dropped some flab from my waist. Extreme diets are for extreme situations. If you want to trim some fat, cut out some hidden empty calories. (Like sugar in beverages) Edited January 21, 2021 by Wiseman2 1
Author Alpacalia Posted January 21, 2021 Author Posted January 21, 2021 4 hours ago, Wiseman2 said: Get rid of the scale. Judge by how you feel and your clothes fit. Lean body mass is important. I recently switched to seltzer for my fluid intake. Inadvertently dropped some flab from my waist. Extreme diets are for extreme situations. If you want to trim some fat, cut out some hidden empty calories. (Like sugar in beverages) Thanks! No sugary beverages but maybe there are hidden empty calories lurking elsewhere in my daily food intake that I am overlooking. 1
Ellener Posted January 21, 2021 Posted January 21, 2021 43 minutes ago, Alpaca said: maybe there are hidden empty calories lurking elsewhere in my daily food intake that I am overlooking. I always gain weight if I eat 1. processed foods, I put that down to water-retention and 2. eating meat, I put that down to hormones in the meat! Today I finished the last of the Christmas treats and will be going back to my most basic diet for a few weeks- cucumber, overnight oats made with water, low carb Kroger yoghurt, eggs. And lots of water. Detox time! I can tell when I need it by my skin, just not glowing, and my mood- up and down! 1
Wiseman2 Posted January 21, 2021 Posted January 21, 2021 3 minutes ago, Ellener said: And lots of water. PS. Had to try a lot of seltzers/sparling water etc before finding one palatable enough. Some were too carbonated. Some tasted too weird/artificial. Finally found some fruit favored ones that go down well. (rather than up my nose and taste like cough drops) 1 1
lana-banana Posted January 21, 2021 Posted January 21, 2021 In cases like this the culprit is almost always calories you don't think about or might underestimate: sweetened beverages, high-calorie salad toppings, even just using more oil when cooking than you think. That's pretty common; it's hard to measure out every last drop! My suggestion would be to try pre-packaged meals with set calorie counts (like Splendid Spoon, or meal prep kits like Purple Carrot or Green Chef if you want to cook) for every meal for a two-week period so you know EXACTLY how many calories you're eating every day. If you don't see any variation at all then you may simply be at the weight that's best for your body. Women can do 1200 calories a day for a period, but it's not recommended long-term. 1400-1500 calories a day is usually sufficient to lose weight for most women, even those who are minimally active. And yeah, some people can do ultra-low calorie diets but don't try it without medical supervision! If you're already that close to your goal weight, that much of a calorie deficit will set you up for a rebound. 1 1
Author Alpacalia Posted January 22, 2021 Author Posted January 22, 2021 9 hours ago, Ellener said: I always gain weight if I eat 1. processed foods, I put that down to water-retention and 2. eating meat, I put that down to hormones in the meat! Today I finished the last of the Christmas treats and will be going back to my most basic diet for a few weeks- cucumber, overnight oats made with water, low carb Kroger yoghurt, eggs. And lots of water. Detox time! I can tell when I need it by my skin, just not glowing, and my mood- up and down! Right, certain foods cause bloating. I make sure to drink 80-90 ounces water/daily, more so when I have my "off-diet" days to help flush everything out. 9 hours ago, Wiseman2 said: PS. Had to try a lot of seltzers/sparling water etc before finding one palatable enough. Some were too carbonated. Some tasted too weird/artificial. Finally found some fruit favored ones that go down well. (rather than up my nose and taste like cough drops) I wish I enjoyed seltzer/sparkling water - pure water is so bland. 3 hours ago, lana-banana said: In cases like this the culprit is almost always calories you don't think about or might underestimate: sweetened beverages, high-calorie salad toppings, even just using more oil when cooking than you think. That's pretty common; it's hard to measure out every last drop! My suggestion would be to try pre-packaged meals with set calorie counts (like Splendid Spoon, or meal prep kits like Purple Carrot or Green Chef if you want to cook) for every meal for a two-week period so you know EXACTLY how many calories you're eating every day. If you don't see any variation at all then you may simply be at the weight that's best for your body. Women can do 1200 calories a day for a period, but it's not recommended long-term. 1400-1500 calories a day is usually sufficient to lose weight for most women, even those who are minimally active. And yeah, some people can do ultra-low calorie diets but don't try it without medical supervision! If you're already that close to your goal weight, that much of a calorie deficit will set you up for a rebound. I've been on 1200 calories for over a year but I do take breaks every month. My daily meal usually consists of protein in the morning, homemade protein shake for lunch, and then a healthy salad or other homemade meal at dinner and I track every calorie as much as I can. I'm just at a loss with how to lose these last 5 pounds but I may eventually say to heck with it. Thank you everyone for the comments! 1
Interstellar Posted January 22, 2021 Posted January 22, 2021 On 1/6/2021 at 10:37 PM, alphamale said: That’s not even enough for a small hamster... lol... 700 calories equals to almost 3 glazed donuts at Dunkin 1
alphamale Posted January 22, 2021 Posted January 22, 2021 16 minutes ago, Interstellar said: lol... 700 calories equals to almost 3 glazed donuts at Dunkin I would guess closer to 1,000 calories...
Ellener Posted January 22, 2021 Posted January 22, 2021 7 hours ago, Alpaca said: pure water is so bland. I was involved in fundraising for a project for building wells for pregnant women in places without running water and I still feel grateful I've never had to go without a cup of clean cold water when I need one, it changed my perspective! Tap water is horrible tasting here so I filter it, then it's fine, can add ice/lemon/lime/cucumber etc and there are all those squirty flavourings. https://www.eatthis.com/ has loads of food substitution ideas.
Author Alpacalia Posted January 22, 2021 Author Posted January 22, 2021 56 minutes ago, Ellener said: I was involved in fundraising for a project for building wells for pregnant women in places without running water and I still feel grateful I've never had to go without a cup of clean cold water when I need one, it changed my perspective! Tap water is horrible tasting here so I filter it, then it's fine, can add ice/lemon/lime/cucumber etc and there are all those squirty flavourings. https://www.eatthis.com/ has loads of food substitution ideas. You're right. I worked several years with non-profit organizations and water is something that we are fortunate to have. I don't mind tap water but thank you for the suggestion.
Wiseman2 Posted January 22, 2021 Posted January 22, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, Alpaca said: I don't mind tap water but thank you for the suggestion. True. Look for hidden unnessary calories. Avoid "diet" food . Better to reorient your palate. As rough guidelines. Your height in inches. That should be your protein intake in grams and your fluid intake in ounces. Don't skimp on fluids or appropriate protein intake. The biggest mistake people made is excessive yo-yo dieting and jerking thier metabolism around. The second biggest mistake is being dehydrated and not knowing it. Edited January 22, 2021 by Wiseman2 2
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