Not Losing Weight OR Inches

slp51

Since rejoining MFP about a month ago, I set my weight loss goal to 1/2 lb a week. I measure my food, try not to eat back my calories, and work out, including weight lifting, six days per week. So I reset my weight loss goal to 1 lb per week, which, of course, reduces my available calories. No big deal; for the most part I've under eaten them anyway. We will see where this gets me.

Any thoughts or suggestions on how to jump start my metabolism would be appreciated. I'm 64, weigh 122 and am 5'4". Thanks!

slp51

I just exposed my diary to all on MFP.

healthygreek

You are already at a very healthy weight, but if it's a couple of vanity pounds you want to lose, you need to weigh all your food and measure caloric liquids.
It's a slow process for those who only want to lose a little more.
Also, at our age, it's not advisable to go down too low.

slp51

Lastly, I should mention that I've lost a total of 23 lbs in the last 16 months. The 6 lbs shown in my diary is part of that.

Liftng4Lis

I seriously can't tell what your base calories are, as it appears they change. (NO, I'm not forgetting exercise). I see days not logged and days over. The last few pounds, logging needs to be tight.

jemhh

slp51 wrote: »

Since rejoining MFP about a month ago, I set my weight loss goal to 1/2 lb a week. I measure my food, try not to eat back my calories, and work out, including weight lifting, six days per week. So I reset my weight loss goal to 1 lb per week, which, of course, reduces my available calories. No big deal; for the most part I've under eaten them anyway. We will see where this gets me.

Any thoughts or suggestions on how to jump start my metabolism would be appreciated. I'm 64, weigh 122 and am 5'4". Thanks!

With 5 pounds to lose, a 1000 calorie per day deficit is too much. My suggestion would be to fill out your MFP profile accurately, weigh/measure/estimate & log your food accurately, log your exercise and eat at least 50% of the calories from it, and be patient. MFP's calories are best estimates. By fiddling with your variables (switching weight loss goals, exercising but not eating the calories, etc.) too often, you have left yourself in a situation where you don't know which one(s) are affecting your weight loss or if it is just you not being patient enough. As Ron Swanson once said, don't half *kitten* two things, whole *kitten* one. Do the program the way the program was set up and then if you need to tweak it, tweak it one variable at a time.

wkwebby

At 5'4" and 122lbs, you are at an ideal weight. If you think you need to change things up because of your body composition, then start to add in weight training. This will take a skinny fat person and sculpt your body into what you want. You've lost all the weight you need to (you're in a healthy BMI range if not on the low side) so you can probably add muscle to lose those extra inches that are vanity. Stick to a small deficit and change up your workout routine. This will either start you losing weight again or even gain, but your body measurements and body fat composition will shrink.

slp51

jemhh wrote: »

slp51 wrote: »

With 5 pounds to lose, a 1000 calorie per day deficit is too much. My suggestion would be to fill out your MFP profile accurately, weigh/measure/estimate & log your food accurately, log your exercise and eat at least 50% of the calories from it, and be patient. MFP's calories are best estimates. By fiddling with your variables (switching weight loss goals, exercising but not eating the calories, etc.) too often, you have left yourself in a situation where you don't know which one(s) are affecting your weight loss or if it is just you not being patient enough. As Ron Swanson once said, don't half *kitten* two things, whole *kitten* one. Do the program the way the program was set up and then if you need to tweak it, tweak it one variable at a time.

I'm not sure what you mean about 1000 calorie per day deficit. Also, your comment about filling out my profile accurately. I'm confused about that, too. Could you please explain?

Yesterday I decided to switch up my original goal of .5 lbs per week to 1 lb per week. Sorry if I confused some.

slp51

Obviously I'm dense when it comes to including quotes! LOL! The last two paragraphs quoted above are mine.

slp51

Wkwebby, I do weight train, 3-4 X per week and gradually increase the weights as I build strength.

Liftng4Lis, sorry...I'm confused by your post as well. Would you mind explaining? Thanks.

wkwebby

Your diary has a lot of volumetric measurements and not weight measurements for food. If you don't have a lot to lose, that will be where your error lies. Since your deficit is slight on a daily basis, not weighing your food could easily wipe out the 250 calorie deficit for the day and then you're at maintenance.

Liftng4Lis

slp51 wrote: »

Wkwebby, I do weight train, 3-4 X per week and gradually increase the weights as I build strength.

Liftng4Lis, sorry...I'm confused by your post as well. Would you mind explaining? Thanks.

Some days you have your calories at 1490 (non exercise day) and some you have them at 1290. What is your base?

slp51

Just yesterday I changed my weight loss goal from .5 lbs per week to 1 lb per week, thus the recent reduction in calories.

slp51

Ah! I see the problem in my recommended calorie intake! Yesterday I switched my weight loss goal from .5 lbs per week to 1 lb per week, which reduced my recommended calorie intake from 1490 to 1240, which means it LOOKS like I have over consumed calories all the while! In fact, I have under eaten most of the time since I've been logging. But now the diary is showing a lot of calories in the negative.

To me, that's a flaw in the program. I would have liked to have kept the record of my CICO prior to changing in weight loss goal. Or is there something in settings to fix this?

Liftng4Lis

slp51 wrote: »

Ah! I see the problem in my recommended calorie intake! Yesterday I switched my weight loss goal from .5 lbs per week to 1 lb per week, which reduced my recommended calorie intake from 1490 to 1240, which means it LOOKS like I have over consumed calories all the while! In fact, I have under eaten most of the time since I've been logging. But now the diary is showing a lot of calories in the negative.

To me, that's a flaw in the program. I would have liked to have kept the record of my CICO prior to changing in weight loss goal. Or is there something in settings to fix this?

It was 6 a.m. and way to complicated for me to think about until I was coffeed. It's a flaw.
Also, remember that while your muscles are repairing, you retain water that can mask weight loss.

slp51

Liftng4Lis wrote: »

It was 6 a.m. and way to complicated for me to think about until I was coffeed. It's a flaw.
Also, remember that while your muscles are repairing, you retain water that can mask weight loss.

I did not know about retaining water when muscles are repairing! Thanks for the tip!