Not gaining, not losing

chelsmaee7

I've lost around 7.5 pounds in 38 days by eating at a calorie deficit and light exercise (walking, body weight exercise, and exercise bike). I still have about 20 pounds to lose. For the first 25-30 days I was losing consistently but I seem to be stuck at 142 for about a week and a half now. I have my settings at 1lb/week and although I don't weigh my food, I always make it a point to overestimate. Does it come to a point where it's about more than just eating at a deficit to lose? Maybe trying to add in more exercise? Or does weight loss just occasionally slow down and I need to be patient?

Orphia

There are many reasons why it could be happening.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10084670/it-is-unlikely-that-you-will-lose-weight-consistently-i-e-weight-loss-is-not-linear

Kind regards.

chelsmaee7

Orphia wrote: »

There are many reasons why it could be happening.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10084670/it-is-unlikely-that-you-will-lose-weight-consistently-i-e-weight-loss-is-not-linear

Kind regards.

Thanks for the reply! It's good to know that plenty of other people go through the same thing. I've gotten to this point before and gave up but I was also trying to "eat clean" then but This time I eat better but still enjoying the things I like to eat so I'm willing to keep pushing. I do feel like upping my activity through the day will help, it's been extremely hot and rainy and I can't go outside without being eaten by Mosquitos this past week so I haven't been as active as normal!

Sydking

now you have lost weight re *kitten* your TDEE

ie eat less food.

Do weight training its a must

hearthwood

It's just the math of weight loss. You took off 7.8 pounds in 38 days which is very good, averaging about 2 pounds a week. The more you lose the slower it comes off. Only the super obese are capable of shedding several pounds in a week, but even they slow down the more weight they lose. They're accustomed to eating 4 to 7 thousand calories a day, so putting them on a diet of less than 1500 per day, makes them lose very quickly at first.

Since you are getting closer, and you're already eating at a deficit, there isn't a whole lot of calories you can cut out of your food intake to lose faster. Exercise will help speed things up, but don't overdo that. If you do start an exercise program, a good rule of thumb is to never eat back more than 1/2 of calories burned. MFP and other electronic devices and machines have a habit of overestimating calories burned, and you could end up overeating your workouts and actually gaining weight in the process.

I am at goal weight now, and it took me a long time (about 2 years) to take off 25 pounds. I learned to be very happy with a pound loss, then a 1/2 pound loss, and even a 1/4 pound loss in a week. Then the scale got stuck for quite a while, and I started hiking more and the scale finally gave in. Eventually I got to goal weight. Remember you didn't put on the weight overnight, so it's not going to come off overnight.

Just stick with it, and you'll get there. Good Luck on your journey to a lighter, healthier, happier you.

chelsmaee7

Sydking wrote: »

now you have lost weight re *kitten* your TDEE

ie eat less food.

Do weight training its a must

Eating less would be nearly impossible. Being set at 1lb/week still only gives me 1210 calories. I've been doing some reading on weight training this past week because it was suggested on here to help with body "shape" issues. I have been slightly less active than normal over the past week though which I'm sure isn't helping. I recently got a fitness tracker though which is helping me see how active I really am through the day.

PrizePopple

With 8 pounds to go you should likely set yourself at .5 lb per week loss goal. Also make sure you are accurately weighing your food. The closer you get to goal the more diligent you need to be since your caloric deficit should be lower to lose slower.

chelsmaee7

hearthwood wrote: »

It's just the math of weight loss. You took off 7.8 pounds in 38 days which is very good, averaging about 2 pounds a week. The more you lose the slower it comes off. Only the super obese are capable of shedding several pounds in a week, but even they slow down the more weight they lose. They're accustomed to eating 4 to 7 thousand calories a day, so putting them on a diet of less than 1500 per day, makes them lose very quickly at first.

Since you are getting closer, and you're already eating at a deficit, there isn't a whole lot of calories you can cut out of your food intake to lose faster. Exercise will help speed things up, but don't overdo that. Eventually the scale will start going in the right direction.

I am at goal weight now, and it took me a long time (about 2 years) to take off 25 pounds. I learned to be very happy with a pound loss, then a 1/2 pound loss, and even a 1/4 pound loss in a week. Then the scale got stuck for quite a while. Eventually I got to goal weight.

And remember you didn't put on this weight overnight, don't expect it to come off overnight.

Just stick with it, and you'll get there. Good Luck on your journey to a lighter, healthier, happier you.

It is so frustrating to be stuck but unless I'm stuck like this for months, Im not going to give up! With a goal of 1 pound per week I only have 1210 calories to eat per day. I started at 150 and I'm at 142 now. I did see 141 on the scale today!! But I also hadn't eaten and laid outside in the heat for awhile lol I haven't decreased my daily activity a ton but it has definitely gone down a bit because of the hot/rainy weather. It's always rainy outside and hot inside! My son only has 5 days of school left though so I'm sure when is home all day,everyday that he will keep me a little busier!!

I think I may be slightly impatient also and didn't expect my weight loss to start to slow down yet. This is the longest that I've been able to stick with keeping track of my calories and exercising. I just measured for the first time a few days ago also so I don't only have to go based on what the scale says. I think maybe I will try to find some exercises I can do in the pool for when it's not rainy but it's hot to add in a little more. I live in a place where we had snow just over a week ago so 80 degree weather is killing my motivation to move! Thanks for the reply!

chelsmaee7

PrizePopple wrote: »

With 8 pounds to go you should likely set yourself at .5 lb per week loss goal. Also make sure you are accurately weighing your food. The closer you get to goal the more diligent you need to be since your caloric deficit should be lower to lose slower.

I've lost nearly 8.. I have around 20 left to lose. When I get to around 15 more lost then I'm going to go based on how I look. I'm not currently weighing my food. I do overestimate everything I eat though unless it's something that is prepackaged. I really want a food scale but I live in a very small area with not a ton of stores and every place I looked had a limited selection of high priced scales. I found some online for good prices but I'm not sure how good they really are. I do plan to look for one when I take a road trip in a few weeks. I currently eating 1210 with my goal at 1lb/week.

BWBTrish

chelsmaee7 wrote: »

PrizePopple wrote: »

With 8 pounds to go you should likely set yourself at .5 lb per week loss goal. Also make sure you are accurately weighing your food. The closer you get to goal the more diligent you need to be since your caloric deficit should be lower to lose slower.

I've lost nearly 8.. I have around 20 left to lose. When I get to around 15 more lost then I'm going to go based on how I look. I'm not currently weighing my food. I do overestimate everything I eat though unless it's something that is prepackaged. I really want a food scale but I live in a very small area with not a ton of stores and every place I looked had a limited selection of high priced scales. I found some online for good prices but I'm not sure how good they really are. I do plan to look for one when I take a road trip in a few weeks. I currently eating 1210 with my goal at 1lb/week.

on Amazon a good scale only 9.99 dollar

And you really should weigh ALL your solid food.

chelsmaee7

TheOwlhouseDesigns wrote: »

chelsmaee7 wrote: »

PrizePopple wrote: »

With 8 pounds to go you should likely set yourself at .5 lb per week loss goal. Also make sure you are accurately weighing your food. The closer you get to goal the more diligent you need to be since your caloric deficit should be lower to lose slower.

I've lost nearly 8.. I have around 20 left to lose. When I get to around 15 more lost then I'm going to go based on how I look. I'm not currently weighing my food. I do overestimate everything I eat though unless it's something that is prepackaged. I really want a food scale but I live in a very small area with not a ton of stores and every place I looked had a limited selection of high priced scales. I found some online for good prices but I'm not sure how good they really are. I do plan to look for one when I take a road trip in a few weeks. I currently eating 1210 with my goal at 1lb/week.

on Amazon a good scale only 9.99 dollar

And you really should weigh ALL your solid food.

I looked on Amazon a bit but I was overwhelmed with the options. Would you happen to have a link?

BWBTrish

I have this one now

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0040MDD7G?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00

littlebit more than my old onme of 9.99

BWBTrish

this one looks my old one

http://www.amazon.com/Camry-Kitchen-Scale-Measuring-Things/dp/B003RPOTZM/ref=sr_1_41?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1432877083&sr=1-41&keywords=digital+food+scale

PrizePopple

http://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-Gurus-Glass-Digital-Scale/dp/B00HARZJFW/

That is the scale I use, and it's worked just fine for the 42 pounds I've lost while logging on MFP (and for the 8 pounds my husband has lost in the last 30 days too).

Your ticker on your profile said you have 8 pounds to go, that's where I got that from.

chelsmaee7

PrizePopple wrote: »

http://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-Gurus-Glass-Digital-Scale/dp/B00HARZJFW/

That is the scale I use, and it's worked just fine for the 42 pounds I've lost while logging on MFP (and for the 8 pounds my husband has lost in the last 30 days too).

Your ticker on your profile said you have 8 pounds to go, that's where I got that from.

Oh yeah lol I have a "first goal" set because it helps keep me motivated seeing myself getting closer to a goal faster. I can't wait to order a scale! It helps having some suggestions from people that have actually used them.

460mustang

hearthwood wrote: »

It's just the math of weight loss. You took off 7.8 pounds in 38 days which is very good, averaging about 2 pounds a week. The more you lose the slower it comes off. Only the super obese are capable of shedding several pounds in a week, but even they slow down the more weight they lose. They're accustomed to eating 4 to 7 thousand calories a day, so putting them on a diet of less than 1500 per day, makes them lose very quickly at first.

Since you are getting closer, and you're already eating at a deficit, there isn't a whole lot of calories you can cut out of your food intake to lose faster. Exercise will help speed things up, but don't overdo that. If you do start an exercise program, a good rule of thumb is to never eat back more than 1/2 of calories burned. MFP and other electronic devices and machines have a habit of overestimating calories burned, and you could end up overeating your workouts and actually gaining weight in the process.

I am at goal weight now, and it took me a long time (about 2 years) to take off 25 pounds. I learned to be very happy with a pound loss, then a 1/2 pound loss, and even a 1/4 pound loss in a week. Then the scale got stuck for quite a while, and I started hiking more and the scale finally gave in. Eventually I got to goal weight. Remember you didn't put on the weight overnight, so it's not going to come off overnight.

Just stick with it, and you'll get there. Good Luck on your journey to a lighter, healthier, happier you.

I second this. We get stuck sometimes. Try doing different exercises to challenge your body differently. It sounds like you are doing a variety of different exercises already which is good. Try something new that your body is not use to.

strong_curves

You could change your MFP setting to .5 lbs. You don't HAVE to keep it at 1 lb a week.