MadisonMarie.'s Journal, 11 August 2014

your metabolism has just lowered. Maybe you should start eating AND exercising more - that'll handle the process of gaining more muscle while also providing nourishment for them. 

I usually find that if I try to follow my diet 100% my metabolism either lowers or I subconsciously overestimate my calories- this is why aerobic + anaerobic exercise is the best pill :) 

Well everything that I have read says that as long as you are eating at least 1200 calories (for women) and making sure your body gets nutrients you should be fine. I am only 23, could it just be that I was eating so bad before that it resulted in too huge calorie change too fast? I typically eat more than my boyfriend at meals and we eat a lot of pasta and bacon..... I just have never gained weight too fast, I gain it, don't get me wrong, it just takes some time. This also makes me think that my metabolism is actually pretty fast. Maybe I just have absolutely no idea what I am talking about since I had it easy in the past haha.  

I've experience the same issue but I hope my weight increase is due to muscle gain. At least that what I want to believe.  

well 1200 calories is more of a stabilizer. Right now you are in a plateau. 1200 calories shouldn't really be the breaking point of fat loss - that's measured by your calorie deficit which is more directly related to your personal metabolism, which can be altered by exercise in your case since you're already at the bare minimum. This is normal for people who aren't overweight, usually weight loss is slow and plateaus can seemingly pop up out of nowhere. 

Okay, doing more research now. Thinking about it you are definitely right, I just want to believe that I am immune to that like I was as a teenager. I also need to eat breakfast and snack throughout the day more since I have been sitting @ my desk not eating until 2:00 and certain days I have been under my calorie limit. I tried exercising the other night and I felt like I might pass out, I even broke out in a rash after. Maybe that is unrelated but who knows? That was after one of those bad days when I didn't really eat much and what I did it was completely empty. I think in the past it was easier because I was not working a desk job and I couldn't stop myself from snacking throughout the day even if I tried. I am going to boil some hard boiled eggs for the mornings so I don't have an excuse and pair that with a protein shake I think. I will also get back into working out in the mornings. I am not in great shape and get very out of breath and weak doing aerobic exercises so I am going to need to start with 10 minute workouts and then try to move my way up. Will 10 minutes even make a difference if I sit at a desk most of the day? 

It happens. Stick with it and keep going. The scale will catch up. Many factors can cause bloat and mask our losses so it looks like we are staying the same (hormones, sodium, exercise, inflammation, medication,etc.) You can also lose fat and not see the scale move. It doesn't mean things aren't happening inside your body. Just keep going. 

10 minutes is a start. just do what you can and you'll find it easier to do more eventually. 

even just walking gets your heart rate moving...add some nice long walks. depending on your size should dictate your calorie intake. a lot of people think 1200 is needed to live... but I maintain at 1100-1200 because im under 5 feet and I have small bones.. so when I want to LOSE weight - I actually do 1000 and I lose at a steady pace. you just have to find your numbers. but adding some light exercise will def help. 

quick look at your food diary and you probably arent getting enough protein. Also read up on TDEE and why you shouldnt cut below 15-20% when trying to lose weight... you may not be eating enough which can also sabotage fat loss. here are some good sites to calculate how many calories and how much of each macros you should comsume http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/ http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/ 

Definitely start slow with the exercise. Measure intensity by your heart rate, also if you feel like passing out it could be hypoglycemia (from not eating for a long time) or even worse- a personal heart problem. I can't do more than 15 minutes for example due to a genetically thick/asymmetrical heart (myopathy). Best thing to do when making changes is trusting your instincts - rationally, of course. 

I agree with Ninjaaa9. You need more protein and fat, and less carbs. Carbs cause insulin to increase, which signals your body to store fat. That in combination with the low calories is causing your body to try to hold on to what it does have. You should consider the free advice at MuscleHack.com. I'm on his Total Six Pack Abs diet & workout plan. That you have to purchase, but he has 2 diets for free which are here: http://www.musclehack.com/best-bodybuilding-diet-plan-revealed/ and http://www.musclehack.com/the-new-bodybuilding-diet-glad/. The GLAD diet is a glycemic load diet and MANS is a low-carb diet. The MANS diet is a variant of the TSPA plan I'm on. Mark's advice is scientific and has been proved out by thousands of people using his site. Check out his forums. 99% of his stuff is free to the public. 

But to lose fat effectively and steadily you probably need at least 30 minutes a day of moderate. 10 minutes will set you off to a slow start - but it's the most effective for you to reach your goal of at least 30 minutes. Plateaus are a good sign you also need strength training (anaerobic exercise). 

you can't just eliminate Carbs. Refined carbs are bad, but unrefined ones are actually very healthy, at least for women who don't have a dire need to bulk up. They are also beneficial for your brain. Most body builders suffer from stinky pee and kidney problems - from too much toxic ammonia production after overconsumption of protein!! Everything should be in moderation. Most people in the world (and for most of history) people have lived off of carbs and guess what? They don't suffer from overweight problems. It's all about HOW you go at it not so much about regulating WHAT it is. Fat loss = calorie deficit, nothing more nothing less. everything else is just defense... 

Wow some awesome advice on here. Thanks everyone! After reading your comments and some more stuff online I do feel a lot more optimistic that I will be able to break through the plateau and learn more about my body while doing it. I do FEEL like I am losing weight, I can usually tell by weather my thighs touch each other and how much space is in between so I was surprised by the scale although I have not been exercising so I highly doubt I have gained muscle causing me to read the same number while actually losing fat. I was reading Jillian Michael's post about plateaus and she mentioned that if you are losing "vanity pounds" (less than 25)then your body does tend to hold on to fat and your metabolism slows as some of you suggested. She recommended eating more calories and alternating my numbers for a few days then get back on my regular diet. Seems legit. Also, about the carbs thing, yes I have been eating frozen corn dogs...which are full of empty carbs but I am lazy sometimes when I get home from work and when I am off of work I am usually too busy doing other chores around the house to have time to cook. Any recommendations on healthy quick meals? One of the massage therapists at my work recently found out she was allergic to a whole bunch of stuff she loves (including some of her food) - she gave me what she had in her fridge (some vegetarian sausage, cheese, burgers, "crumbles".) all are pretty simple, healthy and taste very good but the are a little expensive for me to buy all the time... 

hardboiled eggs super easy high protein. just boil a dozen and snack on throughout the week. i make a big batch of scrambled eggs and ground turkey every week then every morning just microwave some of each in a tortilla and add hot sauce. tuna is nice and simple and packs a lot of protein. i eat mine with cucumber and carrots. granola is a good carb to snack on that keeps you feeling full. same with oats. i love me some bacon so i have 2-4 pieces a day. (protein and fat) quest bars are a little expensive but i love them and they are sweet without the added sugar so its like a little treat everyday but has good amount of protein and carbs (i eat them pre workout) if you need more fat in your diet make your own trail mix with raw nuts.