Enigma about weight loss

Nutrition Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hello Dr. Feigenbaum.

I was wondering if You could please help me with something I have named “enigma weight loss” (terrible name I know :roll_eyes:).

Currently I am training a women who is 73 kg and tall approximately 170 cm. Her goal is go get under 70 kg. Based on hers information about her previous levels of activity (non existing - desk job :smile:) I have calculated that she should eat around 1300 calories to lose weight. We are currently doing training 3 times per week (twice strength and one cardio). I have advised her to be more active on days we are not having training and she started to walk for 30+ minutes a day + whenever she is at her house when she remembers she will do certain exercises for certain amount of reps, for example when she walks by her bedroom she will do 10 squats or 10 burpees). We have been working for almost 3 months now and she isn’t loosing weight which is really odd to me - hence the enigma :hushed:. On every training session I asked her what was she eating on prior days and current day and by what she tells me she isn’t even eating 1000 calories and yet she isn’t loosing any weight. Also, I have made her a meal plan and she says she is even eating smallerportions then what I have wrote her and again she isn’t loosing any weight. Today she reminded me that during pregnancy she gained 25 kg and before she got pregnant she was 68 kg and was eating junk food all day long and by her words - “I ate like a pig and I didn’t get fatter”.

What are Yours thoughts on this? What would You do in this situation? I am completely puzzled. Could she be having certain hormonal disorders caused by pregnancy or something like that?

Thank You in advanced.
Ivan

2

She’s eating substantially more Calories than what you have recommended and what she’s reporting on average. Her maintenance Calorie level is probably ~ 2000 Cal/day and she’s likely meeting or exceeding that on average.

It is unlikely she has a hormone or other metabolic disorder from pregnancy (or other cause) with no other symptoms that has never been described in the scientific literature.

1 Like
3

Thank You for answering.

Could You please tell me how did You calculate hers 2000 cal per day maintenance? I use Eric Helms method (from his book) where one multiplies his bodyweight in kilograms with number 22 to get BMR. Then that number is multiplied with certain activity multiplier. Is this “valid” method or should I use another one?

Once again, thank You for taking time of your day to answer these questions.
Ivan

4

I used the NIH bodyweight planner, which I think is probably the most accurate calculator - though they’re all just educated guesses.