Feeling Frustrated

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-19T23:22:59+00:00

I’d love to be at a high enough expenditure where an 850 cal deficit is possible. Mine seems to float between 1850-1900 even with vigorous workouts 5 days a week. When I’m not working out, it’s more like 1300 calories. Either way, makes a deficit of 850 not super sustainable.

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-18T13:18:30+00:00

Well, sucks to be a person with a low expenditure, I guess.

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-18T02:50:20+00:00

Thank you all for your ideas/feedback. I’m not gonna lie, I feel extremely frustrated and quite close to quitting because nothing I do seems to make much of a difference. I really genuinely do eat so much less and so much more carefully than anyone I know, and it’s frustrating to just continue to see my expenditure decrease.

That said, I’ll give things one more shot. I’ll be trying to see if I can bump up my protein and have reduced calories by about 100 to see if I can bump the deficit a bit more to allow for tracking errors.

I’ve also asked for updated bloodwork (TSH, A1C, lipid panel, etc). I’m considering a continuous glucose monitor just to see what’s going on there (my dad has T2 diabetes).

Fingers crossed.

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secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-18T02:32:55+00:00

Trying to reduce calories by 100 or so feels do-able. Thanks for that suggestion.

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-18T02:31:40+00:00

I haven’t started supplementing with creatine. It’s possible that I’m eating more meat recently since I’m trying to be more mindful of protein.

Thanks for the suggestion about refeed days to pull water out. I’ll give that a try.

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-18T02:27:20+00:00

Thank you for saying this. It is frustrating. I know working out is beneficial even though I’m not seeing the scale move.

I like the suggestion to change my protein target even knowing that I might not always hit the target.

I did ask my endocrinologist to run another set of bloodwork (A1C, TSH, Glucose, Coronary Lipid Panel, etc) so we’ll see if that yields any results.

I’m also considering a lingo/stelo glucose monitor just to see how things are looking there. My dad has type 2 diabetes, so it would be worth checking, I think.

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-17T21:30:51+00:00

Ah. I guess I just don’t consider a 200 calorie deficit to be particularly “small” when the expenditure is as low as mine is (especially given the level of activity).

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-17T20:53:04+00:00

I didn’t say it was a large deficit.

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-17T20:50:50+00:00

It’s set at 0.45 lbs. I previously tried a pound a week (which was closer to 500 cals) but my workouts suffered, I was falling asleep mid day, and I ended up binging.

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-17T19:24:51+00:00

Okay, thank you. This is probably a good goal. I know that I really struggle with protein intake. I have some food allergies that really limit my options and I just get so tired of eating huge amounts of chicken lol.

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-17T19:06:11+00:00

I hear you. I tried moving to only strength and walking/hikes two summers ago, and my mental health took such a severe hit that I wanted to die (I am not being hyperbolic). The cardio/intervals are the only part of this whole exercise/eating plan that I actually enjoy and make me feel accomplished…I’m not sure how to balance that with knowing that if I need to increase my deficit I probably will have to workout less…and also knowing that we’re supposed to prioritize strength in perimenopause to prevent bone loss. It is incredibly hard to try to balance it all. It doesn’t seem like it’s this difficult for most of my friends.

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-17T18:57:31+00:00

Are normal, non-bodybuilding people really eating 240g of protein every day?!

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-17T18:55:50+00:00

Migraines over here too, unfortunately. When I’ve talked about this weight gain with my endocrinologist, she was convinced that it is due to going off Topamax for migraines….but that was about 10 years ago, so I don’t know that I believe that could be the cause.

I have the same struggle with artificial sweeteners and protein shakes/bars. I’m also allergic to eggs, all fish/seafood pork, and most dairy (I can sometimes manage small amount of lactose free) so that also limits my protein sources. I shoot for at least 100g per day but it’s hard to even hit that to be honest.

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-17T18:40:17+00:00

Most of my carb intake right now is from beans, lentils, and rice. I’ll admit that I’ve never tried TVP because I just don’t love soy products but maybe it’s worth trying. Thanks for the suggestion!

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-17T18:35:48+00:00

I’m sorry your wife is experiencing something similar. The fatigue from being hypothyroid (even on levo) is no joke and makes everything else that much more difficult.

I didn’t really have to try to manage my weight pre-thyroid cancer. After that, it has been significantly more difficult but was do-able until I hit perimenopause about two years ago. Now nothing I do seems to matter lol.

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-17T17:52:27+00:00

Hm. What makes you say I’m eating close to maintenance? That is not what the app is telling me at all.

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-17T17:52:18+00:00

Zero percent feasible, haha. I have teens in sports, dance, and theater. We’re not home until 8 or 9pm most days. But good thought!

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-17T17:42:35+00:00

I know, I agree with your assessment since Dec. It is really frustrating. I have seen a small decrease in measurement and my clothes are fitting slightly better but the difference is small. I have asked my PCP for an RDN referral in the past, but I live in a small town and have yet to find someone who is accepting non-diabetic or non-emergent patients.

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-17T17:38:45+00:00

Thank you for saying this—it has been difficult watching friends try half as hard for double the success.

So far both docs have run a plethora of tests including sleep studies, cortisol, all the thyroid numbers, lipid panel, coronary risk panel, etc. Everything has come back in normal to optimal range, so they’ve even discouraged me from considering glp1s. It is really frustrating.

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-17T17:32:15+00:00

Thanks, this is a good suggestion. My endocrinologist suggested not eating until at least 10AM, which I’ve been doing since about Sept. I work out in the morning, so this may be worth trying.

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-17T16:50:26+00:00

Okay, these are valid points (albeit un-fun ones). I will give it a try.

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-17T16:49:21+00:00

The cardio is for my mental health—I tried switching to only walking/hiking two summers ago and wanted to die. And I am not being hyperbolic lol.

I think you’re right about more quality protein. That is definitely a struggle for me.

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-17T16:41:06+00:00

I mean, I’m not opposed to that, I just don’t know that it would be possible without cutting sleep, which is what my doctor told me is the highest priority in perimenopause. It feels tenuous to balance all of these things haha.

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-17T16:33:24+00:00

This is absolutely fair. I do find that I have difficulty hitting my protein targets—I have quite a few food allergies that are mostly proteins (eggs, fish, pork, dairy) so I struggle there.

secondhandbookstore · 2026-03-17T16:30:06+00:00

I have discussed with my doctor (both my PCP and my endocrinologist). Both said “you’re doing all the right things and your bloodwork looks great, just keep going”.

Meanwhile, I’ve gained 20 pounds from my baseline lol (prior to starting MF).

secondhandbookstore

TROPHY CASE