{"id":284,"date":"2023-07-14T17:06:37","date_gmt":"2023-07-14T17:06:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baydari.com\/?p=284"},"modified":"2025-05-05T10:49:43","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T10:49:43","slug":"help-my-clients-not-losing-weight-despite-claiming-to-follow-a-low-calorie-diet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baydari.com\/index.php\/2023\/07\/14\/help-my-clients-not-losing-weight-despite-claiming-to-follow-a-low-calorie-diet\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cHelp! My client\u2019s not losing weight despite claiming to follow a low calorie diet!\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reviewed by Brian St. Pierre, MSc, RD, CSCS<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cMy client says they\u2019re eating a super low calorie diet, but they\u2019re not getting results\u2026 What should I do?!\u201d<\/h2>\n

We see variations of the above \u201clow-calorie-no-results\u201d question in our Facebook coaching communities all the time. (\u201cMy client says they\u2019re following 1200 Calorie diet, but\u2026\u201d or \u201cMy client\u2019s weight hasn\u2019t budged despite claiming to eat only 800 Calories per day\u2026\u201d)<\/p>\n

Usually, about half of the respondents suggest the client is simply mistaken. \u201cNobody who says they\u2019re eating that little actually is,\u201d they say.<\/p>\n

The other half center on biological problems that can slow someone\u2019s metabolism: \u201cYou might suggest they visit their doc for a thyroid check-up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both sides can<\/em> be right.<\/p>\n

But as a coach, how do you know how to proceed?<\/strong> What can you do if you or one of your clients is stuck in the low-Calorie-no-results cycle?<\/p>\n

(And if your client really is<\/em> eating more than they\u2019re telling you: How do you bring it up\u2014without calling them a liar?)<\/p>\n

How to talk to clients about the \u201clow-calorie-no-results\u201d problem<\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s start with a benchmark: For most women, a 1200 Calorie daily limit would create enough of a deficit to result in weight loss. For men, that number is about 1500 Calories.<\/p>\n

This is true even if someone\u2019s metabolism is running more slowly due to adaptive thermogenesis (or colloquially, \u201cthe starvation response\u201d). It\u2019s true for folks with thyroid issues as well.<\/p>\n

Though there are health conditions that can theoretically slow someone\u2019s metabolism enough to stop a 1200-Calorie diet from working, they are exceedingly rare, says Precision Nutrition Director of Nutrition Brian St. Pierre, MS, RD.<\/p>\n

In other words, if your client is eating at or below the above calorie limits and still <\/em>isn\u2019t losing weight, a medical problem likely isn\u2019t<\/em> behind your client\u2019s lack of results.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Much more likely, is this: Your client is eating more than they think they\u2019re eating.<\/p>\n

(Read more: Is a 1200-Calorie diet realistic?<\/a>)<\/p>\n

But your client isn\u2019t \u201clying\u201d to you.<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s difficult to count calories with precision. On top of that, very low calorie diets are tough to follow consistently.<\/p>\n

What happens is this:<\/p>\n

Most people follow them consistently some<\/em> of the time\u2014and not at all at other times.<\/p>\n

They might consume their intended calorie amount Monday through Wednesday.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, they might get a little relaxed about their food choices, and unknowingly clock a few hundred extra Calories.<\/p>\n

Then Friday hits and they go out to eat. A burger, some fries, and two beers later and they\u2019re at well over 3000 calories\u2014just for that day<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Splurge a little on Saturday too and there goes the weekly deficit.<\/p>\n

From the client\u2019s<\/em> perspective, they\u2019re following their intended diet.<\/p>\n

They carefully limited calories Monday through Thursday-ish, and they also went to battle with many uncomfortable sensations, including hunger, cravings, and maybe some irritability.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, they\u2019re providing you with false information, but they\u2019re not doing it maliciously,\u201d says Precision Nutrition Super Coach Kate Solovieva.<\/p>\n

Instead, they might be afraid or ashamed to reveal what they\u2019re eating, especially on those indulgent days when they go way over their target. Or, they may truly not remember those indulgences.<\/p>\n

And yet, they\u2019re still looking to YOU to solve what to them looks like a total mystery.<\/p>\n

As you can imagine, this can require a tricky, sensitive discussion. Which is why we\u2019ve created this 5-step process to help you through it.<\/p>\n

(And if you\u2019re still hungry for more communication strategies you can use to have better conversations with clients, read: Effective coach talk: What to say to clients and why it matters<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Step #1: Offer some validation.<\/h3>\n

Build trust and rapport by agreeing with your client\u2019s perceived experience.<\/p>\n

The opposite\u2014calling them out on their math errors or high-calorie indulgences\u2014might just make them feel defensive and even less likely to share openly with you.<\/p>\n

You might say:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s definitely unpleasant and uncomfortable to eat so little. It must be so frustrating to go through all of that and not see the scale move.\u201d<\/p>\n

Step #2: Create a \u201cwe\u2019re in this together\u201d vibe.<\/h3>\n

Forget the thought of dragging your client forward with a long lecture about how \u201cthere\u2019s no way you\u2019re eating 1200 Calories because\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead, try to see yourself at the same level as your client by using \u201cwe\u201d and \u201cus\u201d instead of \u201cI\u201d and \u201cyou.\u201d This simple language shift will prevent you from saying resistance-triggering things like \u201cyou should\u2026\u201d and \u201cwhat you need to do\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

You might say:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s put on our detective hats and figure this out together. To solve this mystery, we\u2019re going to need to gather some data. This will help us see what\u2019s impeding fat loss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Step #3. Gather some data.<\/h3>\n

Ask your client to track everything they eat for two weeks.<\/p>\n

But before you start, remember that most clients want to impress their coaches<\/strong>. As a result, many people don\u2019t track when they feel guilty or ashamed about what they\u2019ve eaten, explains Solovieva.<\/p>\n

So, encourage your client to consider any data they record as just that: data. <\/em>Not a proxy for their value as a person, or as a measure of their \u201cgoodness.\u201d<\/p>\n

You might say: <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you feel about keeping a detailed food diary for two weeks? I\u2019m suggesting this because it\u2019ll help us determine what\u2019s up. And I know this is uncomfortable, but it\u2019s also really important to track the things you don\u2019t want me to see. I promise: I won\u2019t judge. Eat a whole pizza? Four margaritas? No judgment. If we gather accurate information, then we can have a better idea of what to do next.\u201d<\/p>\n

Step #4: Look at the numbers together.<\/h3>\n

After two weeks of tracking, you\u2019ll likely notice one of the following trends.<\/p>\n

\"\u25b6\" Outcome A: The scale is moving. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Because they knew you\u2019d be looking at their log, your client felt more accountable. As a result, they ate their intended calorie intake consistently<\/em>, seven days a week.<\/p>\n

Ask your client how they feel.<\/p>\n

If they report unbearable hunger, fatigue, and cravings, you might say, \u201cOkay, that\u2019s telling me that your body will<\/em> lose fat on a 1200-Calorie diet. That said, it\u2019s also telling me that this might not be a good strategy long-term.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then proceed to step 5.<\/p>\n

\"\u25b6\" Outcome B: There are<\/strong> gaps in your client\u2019s food log. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s say Monday through Wednesday are complete. But Thursday through Saturday are blank.<\/p>\n

In this case, you might say, \u201cI see you didn\u2019t fill out your log for a few days. What was happening on those days?\u201d<\/p>\n

As your client talks, avoid jumping in with your own<\/em> conclusions. Instead, gently ask questions\u2014being curious and non-judgmental\u2014to help your client reveal the full story.<\/p>\n

If your client does indeed tell you they might\u2019ve eaten a bit more on those days, you can simply say, \u201cSure, it\u2019s really tough to maintain such a big calorie deficit. Given what you told me though, how do you think we should interpret our data this week?\u201d<\/p>\n

Then move to step 5.<\/p>\n

Step #5: Try an experiment.<\/h3>\n

Here\u2019s a great coaching trick if you feel like your client is rebelling against or just struggling with an advanced dietary strategy\u2014like following an ultra low-calorie diet:<\/p>\n

Frame whatever you try as an \u201cexperiment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Say, \u201cLet\u2019s look at what we can do to make this easier and most sustainable. How do you feel about trying an experiment? It would just be for two weeks. If it doesn\u2019t work, we can try something else.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then suggest one of the experiments below.<\/p>\n

\"\u25b6\" Experiment #1: Eat more.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Instead of 1200 Calories, suggest your client consume 1500.<\/p>\n

(If they\u2019re not starting at 1200 Calories, just add a few hundred calories to whatever their original intended caloric intake was.)<\/p>\n

You might say, \u201cWhat if we try eating a little bit more? It\u2019s just an experiment, so if it doesn\u2019t work, we can always go back. But you\u2019ll still be in a deficit, so you should still make progress. It\u2019ll just be more tolerable.\u201d<\/p>\n

No matter how you word things, some clients will still say, \u201cNo way.\u201d In that case, follow up with, \u201cHow about we meet in the middle. How does 1350 Calories sound? Let\u2019s just test it for two weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\u25b6\" Experiment #2: Track calories\u2014but without a calorie target.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This experiment helps to build the skill of tracking accurately<\/em>, says Solovieva.<\/p>\n

Tell your client:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t about changing what or how much you eat. Instead, all I want you to do is write down what you eat. What we\u2019re trying to do is build the skill of tracking accurately and consistently. Know that there will be times when you\u2019ll want to avoid tracking\u2014possibly because you don\u2019t want me to see what you ate\u2014but that data is important. And remember, I won\u2019t judge.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a couple of weeks of doing this, your client will probably have some revelations: like how many calories are really <\/em>in that scoop of peanut butter, how many times they tend to \u201csneak\u201d food and pretend it doesn\u2019t count, or how much food they tend to eat when they\u2019re not trying to control or limit their intake.<\/p>\n

With this information, clients can then better assess how many calories they\u2019re willing to cut, and where pitfalls might happen.<\/p>\n

\"\u25b6\" Experiment #3: Forget calorie tracking.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sometimes you have to completely step away from one strategy to create the time and energy for a more effective one, says Solovieva.<\/p>\n

If calorie-tracking isn\u2019t working, stop doing it\u2014and try something else.<\/p>\n

You can say, \u201cYou know, maybe the calorie tracking thing isn\u2019t working right now. How do you feel about a different approach?\u201d<\/p>\n

Then suggest a\u2014hopefully more manageable\u2014action such as tracking:<\/p>\n