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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Why am I not losing weight?

    Related Topics
    Fitness and Sports Medicine Weight Management
    In fact this week I have actually gained a kilo.

    I have been exercising for at least half an hour 6 days a week. 2 of the sessions are weight training and the other 4 sessions are made up of high intensity interval training at 1 minute intervals.

    Food wise I am weighing and measuring everything and using the my fitness pal app and recording my food. I eat 6 times a day and am always within 100 calories of my 1200 calorie target.

    What am I doing wrong?
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  • 2

    Thanks

    Sarah Leung

    Dietitian

    I am a firm believer in being healthy means more than just a healthy diet. It also include a healthy mindset and a healthy lifestyle. … View Profile

    People who wants to lose weight seems to think that 1200cal for women is the magic number to diet on. In fact, 1200cal is the bare minimum a woman should consume as everyone has a basal metabolic rate and which usually is not lower than 1200cal. Basal metabolic rate is your resting metabolic rate or daily energy expenditure at rest.

    If you are very active and doing exercise six days a week, your body will require a lot more than 1200cal per day. If your body is not getting enough energy from food, your body will store what you eat as fat to protect you rather than burning it as fuel. 

    Rather than using 1200cal as a guide which can be dangerous and harmful for health in the long run, calculate your energy requirement according to your height, weight and level of exercise and tailor an eating plan that matches your energy expendiure. That is the safest and most sustainable way to lose weight.

    Sarah Leung
    Accredited Practising Dietitian
    www.healthyenergy.net.au

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    Thanks

    Kirsty Woods

    Exercise Physiologist

    Hi I’m Kirsty Woods,I would like to use my experience, expertise and passion to help you reach your weight, energy and health goalsI have been … View Profile

    First of all, thanks for posting. This shows that you are someone interested in taking control of your health and wellness.

    As Sarah attended to caloric equations are estimates only and as such should only act as a guide. Are you hungry lethargic and hungry? These are 2 key indicators that you may be under feeding and possibly starving your metabolism. Also what are you eating? Quality can also impact your weight loss efforts, metabolism and hormones.  

    Also although your weight hasn’t changed your body composition may have (fat vs muscle). This body composition change is what’s important for long term weight loss and disease risk reduction. This is why some people may feel differences in clothes and muscle tone without any changes on the scales.     

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