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Old 04-12-2008, 11:13 AM   #1  
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Default Am I losing slower than everyone?

So when I calculate my weight/height/age/activity into the online calorie calculators it says that to lose 2 lbs a week i can/need anywhere from 3,000-4,000 calories! I try and stay around 1,600 right now and i am only losing 1 lb a week and sometimes not even that. I go to the gym 5 times a week and stand on my feet all day so i guess i might be just a little discouraged. Am i eating too little and sending my body into "fat saving" mode? or should i just keep losing at this pace and just deal with the fact that I am a "slow" loser? any ideas? THANKS!!!!
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Old 04-12-2008, 11:20 AM   #2  
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Those calculators aren't accurate for everyone. For me, I am about your weight and if I eat 1600 calories a day I do not lose ANY weight. I maintain. I bike 3-4x a week 25 min, and strength train 25 min 3x a week. I have tried out the "starvation mode" theory and upped my calories and when I eat 1800 calories a day, I gain weight! SO I know my calories are not too low. For me, to lose I have to stay under 1500. 1300-1400 gets me better results. 1200 or below and I don't lose any faster at all or my weight stalls.

I've been at this for awhile and got my calorie level by trial and error. I think if I were you, I would cut back to 1500 and see what happens. But if you want to try upping it for a week or two, you will find out for sure what happens. But honestly a pound a week is a good respectable weight loss. Losing at a moderate rate means you're more likely to keep it off. Just keep at it! If you are not doing any cardio, (walking, biking, getting the heart rate up for a solid 20+ minutes) I would definately add that in first.

Last edited by Lyn2007; 04-12-2008 at 11:21 AM.
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Old 04-12-2008, 11:21 AM   #3  
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Sounds like you're losing, and that's great! We all lose at a different pace. You don't say how long you've been doing this. Sometimes we need to give it some time.

As for the 3,000-4,000 calorie estimate to lose, that sounds way off.

Just keep it at 1600 and see what happens. One pound a week is GREAT!!!
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Old 04-12-2008, 11:24 AM   #4  
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I am a slow loser as well. I have been at this for 4 years! So, I understand. Give it time though, the numbers do add up each week.
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Old 04-12-2008, 12:52 PM   #5  
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Have you thought about flexing your calories? 1600 calories x 7 = 11,200. So you could have 2 1400 calorie days, 2 1600 calorie days and three days of 1733 calories. Sometimes, flexing your calories keeps your body from plateauing and slowing down. Also, you mention that you go to the gym 5 days a week. What kind of workout are you doing? Are you doing a good amount of cardio exercise....the kind that raises your heart rate and makes you just a bit breathless? The cardio will really help you to burn the calories.

I know you'd like to lose quicker...and you might be able to...but, a consistent pound a week loss is amazing progress. Congratulations!
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Old 04-13-2008, 12:11 AM   #6  
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I think you must be vastly overestimating your activity levels (assuming you aren't running marathons you haven't told us about ). I don't think you are going to find many women at your height, or probably any height, who will lose 2 lbs. a week at 3000-4000 calories a day. That's what most of us ate to get ourselves in this predicament.

1600 a day sounds very reasonable to me. Stick with it and give your body some time. Are you estimating calories or weighing and counting every single thing? Lots of people severely underestimate what they are eating and how big the portions are. It can add up pretty fast and be very discouraging.
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Old 04-13-2008, 02:37 AM   #7  
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A pound a week is excellent. I understand it is probably discouraging considering the calculator you used indicated you would have a MUCH greater loss doing what you are, but you are losing at a comfortable consistent rate and that is what is important. Keep doing what you're doing or switch things around and see what happens, but I certainly can't imagine you would have any success following the advice of your calculator program.
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Old 04-13-2008, 02:31 PM   #8  
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When I complained to my doctor that the weightloss now is so much slower than ever in my life before (in part due to my health issues reducing my activity level, and in part due to medications that slow metabolism and increase hunger), he told me not to worry about slow, and said that if I could manage an average of 1/4 pound loss per week (4 lousy ounces), and keep it up, I would be at the head of my class -- and, doing better than most people, of any weight, who try to lose weight.

Why? It isn't that losing 4 ounces in a week, is "fast" weight loss, but that consistency is the harder part (the part that most people can't manage), not the amount of weight that can be lost in any given week. And I think part of it is the misconception that "most" people can lose 2 lbs a week, and it's easy to get discouraged if your weight loss is slower than that. The thing is a consistent 1/4 lb loss within a couple months would have you at the head of the pack. It's really a case where the tortoise can beat the hare.
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Old 04-13-2008, 07:32 PM   #9  
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Just remember that slow and steady wins the race.
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Old 04-14-2008, 11:48 AM   #10  
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Like fiberlover, I have also been at this for 4 years. 1 lb a week is VERY steady... I have kept at this, and except for a short period of time, i have been pretty much on plan for all of that time. These days, I am *lucky* to lose 1lb in a month... be patient. I'm a slow loser, but I also lose in "spurts" where it seems like overnight I will have lost 5 or 8lbs and then nothing for another 2 months.
I weigh often because it does keep me accountable, but even though this is taking forEVER, I know I'm making the healthy choice for me for the long term.
I know it gets frustrating, but hang in there! It all works out in the end!

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Old 04-14-2008, 12:49 PM   #11  
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If you are losing you are ahead. It sucks when you see people that lose weight faster than you and you want to know why that can't be you. (I know I was that way in the past.) Look at all the great habits you are learning while losing at a slower rate. Just one pound a week is 52 in a year and 104 in two years. Time is going to pass by no matter what you do.
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Old 04-14-2008, 01:01 PM   #12  
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It has taken me 10 years (yes, years) to lose 50 pounds! So, don't feel bad. The good news is, the slower you lose it, the less chance you have at gaining it back.
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Old 04-14-2008, 01:04 PM   #13  
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I agree with everyone else. 1 lb a week is fine. It is hard to look around and see everyone else shedding more, but we are all different.

If you are truly not happy with 1 lb a week, you can start to adjust things, but keep in mind, it is gong to be for life, so don't make any changes you are not willing to live with.
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Old 04-14-2008, 02:24 PM   #14  
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I'm in agreement with all, 1lb a wk is great, you should be so proud of yourself, sounds like you are doing exactly what your body needs, too much or too little will only defeat all your hard work.
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Old 04-14-2008, 03:23 PM   #15  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GirlyGirlSebas View Post
Have you thought about flexing your calories? 1600 calories x 7 = 11,200. So you could have 2 1400 calorie days, 2 1600 calorie days and three days of 1733 calories. Sometimes, flexing your calories keeps your body from plateauing and slowing down. Also, you mention that you go to the gym 5 days a week. What kind of workout are you doing? Are you doing a good amount of cardio exercise....the kind that raises your heart rate and makes you just a bit breathless? The cardio will really help you to burn the calories.

I know you'd like to lose quicker...and you might be able to...but, a consistent pound a week loss is amazing progress. Congratulations!
I love it! I always for get about scattering the cals but it really does work. Good luck hun!
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