Lowering the default calorie goal?

ValBravo42

When I answered the questions, the app recommended a calorie goal of 1800, which seemed high. I've tried it for a week, along with starting a couchto5k for exercise but I GAINED a pound this week. I've been under my daily calorie allowance by less than 100 calories every day. Should I lower my calorie count? My energy and stamina are improving but I want the scale to move, dammit. I feel frustrated.

DeguelloTex

Weight loss isn't linear. A week is too soon to tell. Could be water retention from the exercise. Be more patient.

maillemaker

When I answered the questions, the app recommended a calorie goal of 1800, which seemed high. I've tried it for a week, along with starting a couchto5k for exercise but I GAINED a pound this week. I've been under my daily calorie allowance by less than 100 calories every day. Should I lower my calorie count? My energy and stamina are improving but I want the scale to move, dammit. I feel frustrated.

Normally when I start a diet I lose pretty quickly. So I think it's unusual your first week to have gained rather than lost.

Are you accurately measuring your food? The usual culprit when actual weight loss does not match expected loss is you are eating more than you think you are.

DemoraFairy

I agree a week is too early to tell, but it's worth asking how you're measuring your food. If you're estimating and not using weighing scales, it's easy to underestimating what you're eating. If you're not using scales and you choose to continue not using them and you carry on without losing for a few more weeks, the first thing to do is get a set of digital scales and be absolutely sure about your logging.