Is it just my age? Too many calories? What gives?
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Menopause has not stopped me either. I have been trying my whole life to lose twenty pounds and until I discovered MFP I never had success. Thanks to all the awesome people of MFP
I did this at 55. Yay me!! 0 -
Calorie cycling seems to just naturally be the way that I eat. Some days I am hungry...some days I am not. I don't worry about the low days because I know that maybe the next day I might eat more and it will balance out. Because of this I have started tracking my calories on a weekly basis.
I think...at least IMO...this is life...we just don't eat the exact same calorie level each day. We need to be able to balance out our diets from day to day.0 -
Calorie cycling seems to just naturally be the way that I eat. Some days I am hungry...some days I am not. I don't worry about the low days because I know that maybe the next day I might eat more and it will balance out. Because of this I have started tracking my calories on a weekly basis.
I think...at least IMO...this is life...we just don't eat the exact same calorie level each day. We need to be able to balance out our diets from day to day.
This is a good way to put it. 0 -
editorgrrl wrote: »I've always found these comments about menopause stalling weight loss interesting, because it's still about calories in/calories out. I lost and gained weight while pre-menopausal, and I lost 44 pounds while in menopause and had not problem because I ate less than I burned.
^This. I'm 47 and hypothyroid (double whammy), yet I lost the weight by eating fewer calories than I burn.
Yup, this. I'm also hypothyroid, 59, and in menopause since chemotherapy (!) brought it on at age 45. Oh, and losing weight - around a pound a week now, which is my target.
And this:Calorie cycling seems to just naturally be the way that I eat. Some days I am hungry...some days I am not.
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I think...at least IMO...this is life...we just don't eat the exact same calorie level each day. We need to be able to balance out our diets from day to day.
I'm pretty much following the MFP religion: Get a net-calorie target (1200, for me), eat back a good-ish chunk of exercise calories. My daily gross consumption varies across a typical week from 1200-ish to 1800-ish, occasionally more . . . with numbers in between in just about the same frequency distribution as OP's formal cycle, ironically enough.0 -
Calorie cycling seems to just naturally be the way that I eat. Some days I am hungry...some days I am not. I don't worry about the low days because I know that maybe the next day I might eat more and it will balance out. Because of this I have started tracking my calories on a weekly basis.
I think...at least IMO...this is life...we just don't eat the exact same calorie level each day. We need to be able to balance out our diets from day to day.
Agreed with that. But a lot of people do it the extreme way, with 500 calorie days, and that's what I find completely unnecessary if it makes them miserable those days. I actually assumed that it's what 'calorie cycling' meant, that it included very low calorie days... hence my comments.0 -
Another name for it would be the Zigzag Diet. Here is the link for the calculator.
http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm
My calories would be...
Maintain- Fat Loss- Extreme Fat Loss
Monday 1955 1564 1497
Tuesday 1564 1497 1497
Wednesday 2346 1877 1796
Thursday 1955 1564 1497
Friday 1760 1497 1497
Saturday 2151 1721 1646
Sunday 1955 1564 1497
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Calorie cycling seems to just naturally be the way that I eat. Some days I am hungry...some days I am not. I don't worry about the low days because I know that maybe the next day I might eat more and it will balance out. Because of this I have started tracking my calories on a weekly basis.
I think...at least IMO...this is life...we just don't eat the exact same calorie level each day. We need to be able to balance out our diets from day to day.
Agreed with that. But a lot of people do it the extreme way, with 500 calorie days, and that's what I find completely unnecessary if it makes them miserable those days. I actually assumed that it's what 'calorie cycling' meant, that it included very low calorie days... hence my comments.
I think what you are referring to is the 5:2 diet. 2 days of 500 and 5 days at maintenace. I do that on occasion (not often) but never at 500 calories. I eat around 800 calories those two days.
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Heck 6lbs in 26 days is awesome considering you really don't have much to lose!
It's all about the overall calories and being in deficit - thats why you lost and will continue to lose... although 1lb a week would be a healthier amount to aim for so you don't lose muscle as well as fat...
Losing fast isn't ideal and hasn't worked for you in the long run...
I lost all my weight slowly and have been maintaining that loss easily for 2 years now.
I also had 20lbs to lose and it took me a year to do it, I never felt deprived or that I was on some diet.
It's all about making changes for life 0 -
queenliz99 wrote: »Why would you consider calorie cycling a fad diet? It is a calorie deficit with healthy habits.
But it is not working for you. Select .5 pound a week for weight loss, use a food scale, select the right foods from the data base and lift weights add a little cardio. Lots of successful people using this method.
Why do you say it's not working? She's losing weight just fine. It's not necessary but it's not hurting anything either.
it is not working when one yo-yo s up and down. Working means hitting the goal and maintaining it long term.0 -
allenpriest wrote: »queenliz99 wrote: »Why would you consider calorie cycling a fad diet? It is a calorie deficit with healthy habits.
But it is not working for you. Select .5 pound a week for weight loss, use a food scale, select the right foods from the data base and lift weights add a little cardio. Lots of successful people using this method.
Why do you say it's not working? She's losing weight just fine. It's not necessary but it's not hurting anything either.
it is not working when one yo-yo s up and down. Working means hitting the goal and maintaining it long term.
She didn't yo-yo from counting calories. She said she did WW and low carb in the past. This time she's counting calories, just varying the amount each day, and she's lost 6 pounds. I still don't understand why anyone is saying it's not working. Of course it is.0 -
I do appreciate all the responses. I do have to say I feel a lot of people here are quick to judge or don't read all the information given. I am a bit disappointed about that. I assumed most would be encouraging. Thanks for those that were.
I used a cycle from the free dieting website, none of which include a fasting day or 500 calorie day. I do think I have had success whenever I have dieted, most often being very healthy. When I gained weight it is because I fell off the wagon of being healthy.
The age thing is an honest question. Women lose muscle mass starting in their 30s, unless they are strength training to keep it. I have never been one to "work out" as exercise was incorporated in my every day. I taught dance for years and danced 5 days a week- 28 classes a week. Since I don't teach anymore, I have lost muscle and also assumed I have age working against me here. I am strength training now and have added muscle.
I also have never started a diet and exercise regimen together so I wondered if that could be slowing the loss on the scale. I have always had success with changing my diet alone. (Again not adding exercise)
I am not an idiot. I am not a newbie to dieting. I have fallen off the wagon a few times. I am experiencing new, slower loss and had questions.-1 -
I do appreciate all the responses. I do have to say I feel a lot of people here are quick to judge or don't read all the information given. I am a bit disappointed about that. I assumed most would be encouraging. Thanks for those that were.
I used a cycle from the free dieting website, none of which include a fasting day or 500 calorie day. I do think I have had success whenever I have dieted, most often being very healthy. When I gained weight it is because I fell off the wagon of being healthy.
The age thing is an honest question. Women lose muscle mass starting in their 30s, unless they are strength training to keep it. I have never been one to "work out" as exercise was incorporated in my every day. I taught dance for years and danced 5 days a week- 28 classes a week. Since I don't teach anymore, I have lost muscle and also assumed I have age working against me here. I am strength training now and have added muscle.
I also have never started a diet and exercise regimen together so I wondered if that could be slowing the loss on the scale. I have always had success with changing my diet alone. (Again not adding exercise)
I am not an idiot. I am not a newbie to dieting. I have fallen off the wagon a few times. I am experiencing new, slower loss and had questions.
You're not getting what I was saying.
Your diets failed because you didn't learn how to sustain your diet change. But instead of trying to do something that is actually sustainable for once, you try and follow some random diet you've found on a diet website... again.
Why calorie cycling? I mean, I do that too, to an extent, but I follow MY appetite, not what some random site is telling me I should do.
What's wrong with just counting calories, and aim to be under your weekly calories? At least that way you have more control and you're more likely to stick to it... whether you actually eat more or less some days or stick to a constant calorie goal. But it's YOUR choice. If I had to eat less one day because some random website tells me to, I'd just never stick to it. What if I'm particularly hungry that day? What if I'm not hungry the day I'm supposed to eat more? It makes no sense to me.
Bottom line, you're once again making losing weight more complicated than it has to be. You want it to be sustainable, so find something sustainable and stop following random diets that you find online.
And no, I don't consider a diet successful if you lost weight but regained it all later.0 -
Calorie cycling can be a good way to allow yourself high vs low days. Which can help you fit in 'treats' and not feel deprived, or handle it if you have some days that are more intense activity than others. Overall its the calorie deficit that counts. Many people do 'calorie cycling' to some extent and don't have a name for it. They'll just consider that they're 'saving' calories some days to use on others.
As to the OP and original questions: I would say you're not losing slowly. You might be losing more slowly than you have in the past, but you're also more likely now to have sustainable results. Sure its an adjustment if you were expecting to see 5-6 more more pounds a week. But in the days of WW/low carb you likely lost alot of water weight early on were following things that were not realistic to do indefinitely.
You're working out now for the first time. In addition to having many benefits for your body, this can lead to temporary water weight. As can hormones/TOM/sodium/etc. There will be weeks that your scale doesn't reflect much of a loss, may even show a gain, but try to trust the science and realize that water weight is temporary. If you are consistently eating at a deficit, then over time you will lose weight. And ultimately being aware of how many calories your body needs (to lose and later maintain) is a great life lesson.0 -
"Your diets failed because you didn't learn how to sustain your diet change. But instead of trying to do something that is actually sustainable for once, you try and follow some random diet you've found on a diet website... again."
Actually, I did learn to maintain and sustain my diet changes. I just didn't do it. Life got in the way.
I maintained for years until I got pregnant. Cycling is not a random diet I found online. It was something introduced to me years ago at Weight Watchers (except we cycled points)
I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. I know myself and you do not. What is good for you won't work for me. I enjoy he variety of eating more one day and less the next. I also switch it up bases on my needs for that day.
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I usually lower or raise my calorie intake, because of special events, increase or decrease in activity or hunger levels. I would not consider this calorie cycling. Calorie cycling would seem to imply a calorie level adjustment where the only goal is to maximize weight loss. I have not seen science nor had a desire to adjust my calorie intake simply because of a day or date on a calendar. If it works for you great.0
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queenliz99 wrote: »Why would you consider calorie cycling a fad diet? It is a calorie deficit with healthy habits.
But it is not working for you. Select .5 pound a week for weight loss, use a food scale, select the right foods from the data base and lift weights add a little cardio. Lots of successful people using this method.
It is working for her though, she's had pretty impressive results.0 -
"Your diets failed because you didn't learn how to sustain your diet change. But instead of trying to do something that is actually sustainable for once, you try and follow some random diet you've found on a diet website... again."
Actually, I did learn to maintain and sustain my diet changes. I just didn't do it. Life got in the way.
I maintained for years until I got pregnant. Cycling is not a random diet I found online. It was something introduced to me years ago at Weight Watchers (except we cycled points)
I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. I know myself and you do not. What is good for you won't work for me. I enjoy he variety of eating more one day and less the next. I also switch it up bases on my needs for that day.
Life gets in the way means unsustainable plan which means you didn't learn how to maintain.
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Seriously people! Knowing and doing are two different things. I could have easily chosen to sustain my eating habits. I didn't do it. I didn't want to. There, I said it. I didn't want to. Now I do.
Just because someone gains some back does not make the program a failure. The person may have failed at the program.
The plan that worked extremely well for me was WW and it is doctor recommended. It is not an unsustainable plan. They have maintenance worked right in the program....
Trying calorie counting now as I just don't feel like paying or going to meetings. Again, I don't want to. My choice.0 -
Seriously people! Knowing and doing are two different things. I could have easily chosen to sustain my eating habits. I didn't do it. I didn't want to. There, I said it. I didn't want to. Now I do.
Just because someone gains some back does not make the program a failure. The person may have failed at the program.
The plan that worked extremely well for me was WW and it is doctor recommended. It is not an unsustainable plan. They have maintenance worked right in the program....
Trying calorie counting now as I just don't feel like paying or going to meetings. Again, I don't want to. My choice.
WW makes its money on repeat business.0 -
The age thing is an honest question. Women lose muscle mass starting in their 30s, unless they are strength training to keep it. I have never been one to "work out" as exercise was incorporated in my every day. I taught dance for years and danced 5 days a week- 28 classes a week. Since I don't teach anymore, I have lost muscle and also assumed I have age working against me here. I am strength training now and have added muscle.
You have at least 20 years before you can start using your age as an excuse for anything. The reduction in calorie requirements with age is really quite small.
You are on the right track with strength training--you only lose muscle if you stop using it. You certainly don't have to quit dancing either just because you no longer perform or teach--there are all kinds of dance fitness and social dancing options available these days. One of the reasons why I love Latin dance is because it is something that one can potentially do forever. I know several very active social dancers and teachers who are pushing 60, plus a few people who are much older who still dance. Flamenco dancers often perform well into their 80s.
Instead of giving up, keep exploring new things.0 -
SingRunTing wrote: »Seriously people! Knowing and doing are two different things. I could have easily chosen to sustain my eating habits. I didn't do it. I didn't want to. There, I said it. I didn't want to. Now I do.
Just because someone gains some back does not make the program a failure. The person may have failed at the program.
The plan that worked extremely well for me was WW and it is doctor recommended. It is not an unsustainable plan. They have maintenance worked right in the program....
Trying calorie counting now as I just don't feel like paying or going to meetings. Again, I don't want to. My choice.
WW makes its money on repeat business.
I guess WW is very disapointed in me then, because I've been a Lifetime member for 16 years and the only thing they got out of me in that time is about $28 due to missing a monthly weigh in once or twice. The leaders definetly don't like it that I'm 17 pounds below the goal that "they" set, lol.0 -
Seriously people! Knowing and doing are two different things. I could have easily chosen to sustain my eating habits. I didn't do it. I didn't want to. There, I said it. I didn't want to. Now I do.
Just because someone gains some back does not make the program a failure. The person may have failed at the program.
The plan that worked extremely well for me was WW and it is doctor recommended. It is not an unsustainable plan. They have maintenance worked right in the program....
Trying calorie counting now as I just don't feel like paying or going to meetings. Again, I don't want to. My choice.
Did you say in one of your posts that you are a Lifetime member? If so, you only have to pay to get weighed in once a month, because you are more than 2 pounds above your goal. It isn't a requirement to go to their meetings. Maybe logging your calories here on MFP and just going to WW once a month to weigh in will help you get back on track again.... That is what I do now and is what has kept me way below my goal weight. I feel like there is more support here on MFP for maintainence (lifetimers) than there is at WW. Perhaps that is because they don't make money on their LT that are at goal.
I just want to say that no matter what method you choose to lose or maintain your weight, it has to be something that you can stick to and make it work for you. Best wishes in whatever method you choose. 0 -
OP, you mentioned earlier about "eating garbage." It's really counter-productive to vilify food. Just sayin.0
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allenpriest wrote: »queenliz99 wrote: »Why would you consider calorie cycling a fad diet? It is a calorie deficit with healthy habits.
But it is not working for you. Select .5 pound a week for weight loss, use a food scale, select the right foods from the data base and lift weights add a little cardio. Lots of successful people using this method.
Why do you say it's not working? She's losing weight just fine. It's not necessary but it's not hurting anything either.
it is not working when one yo-yo s up and down. Working means hitting the goal and maintaining it long term.
But, the point is that it's working now, and it seems the OP is looking for ways to change her habits due to her yo-yo dieting past. I was there before I started using the MFP tools.0 -
Seriously people! Knowing and doing are two different things. I could have easily chosen to sustain my eating habits. I didn't do it. I didn't want to. There, I said it. I didn't want to. Now I do.
Just because someone gains some back does not make the program a failure. The person may have failed at the program.
The plan that worked extremely well for me was WW and it is doctor recommended. It is not an unsustainable plan. They have maintenance worked right in the program....
Trying calorie counting now as I just don't feel like paying or going to meetings. Again, I don't want to. My choice.
I can relate to this. About ten years ago, I lost a total of 80 pounds from my highest weight; a trainer had taught me about logging food, calorie counting, and was working with me on weight lifting. I felt great, did great, but then I made the choice not to use those tools anymore, even though I continued to exercise. Because of that, I put about 30 pounds back on in about five years.
I agree with the bold statement above because we will lose weight on any diet if we eat at a calorie deficit, and will gain weight on any diet if we eat more than we burn. It's simple science.0 -
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You have lost an average of 1.5 lbs per week. That's great weight loss! Keep it up!0
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As we mature, weight loss slows down. You are also retaining water in your muscles because of the workouts. When you did not work out, you probably dropped water faster. I don't think you're doing anything wrong, just know that the process can be slow, but will work. You'll keep more muscle this way too, which makes you look much better than if you allow it to be burned away for energy. 0
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Thanks for all of the serious and helpful responses. It is much appreciated.0
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