I only lose weight when I go over my calorie limit, I don't understand?

Thatonechickoverthere

I've eaten bad my entire life and as a result gained a lot of weight. I started eating better and exercising and lost a lot of water weight in the beginning. Now it seems that on the weeks where I cheat, I lose a few pounds. But on the weeks where I eat really well, I don't lose anything. I'm really confused. When I see my calories left for the day go into the negative I think it's a bad thing. But that happened a few days this week and I lost more weight this way. Should I keep doing this? I doesn't seem healthy to eat too many calories.

brynnsmom

I'm no expert and it could be a fluke for sure; but, I know from experience I've lost weight just as efficiently on 1400 calories as I have on 1200. Even if you see red numbers you are still likely in a deficit. I would stick with what appears to be working!

nordlead2005

I lose 1lb every time I drink alcohol and go over my calories (sample size of n=1).

Ok, serious answer, is water weight. It fluctuates and you can't really control it too well. Also, going into the red you are still in a deficit and still losing weight. If I eat 1860 calories (my goal), I lose at a rate of 1.5lb/week. If I eat 1900 calories I'm not going to magically stop losing weight. Instead I'll lose at a rate of 1.49lb/week. I can even eat up to 2400 calories and still lose ~0.5lb/week.

You can link MFP to FitBit and then FitBit to trendweight.com. Do that and follow the trend instead of the constantly fluctuating scale reading.

shadow2soul

How much are you going over and what is your goal?

Is it possible that when you have these "over" days, you have more energy; this can equal more fidgeting and increased intensity during workouts which would equal more energy being used.

Karen_can_do_this

If I've been really on track for weeks and not seeing any difference, I have a cheat meal. Guaranteed I'll start losing regularly again. Why is this? I've got no idea.

Thatonechickoverthere

nordlead2005 wrote: »

I lose 1lb every time I drink alcohol and go over my calories (sample size of n=1).

Ok, serious answer, is water weight. It fluctuates and you can't really control it too well. Also, going into the red you are still in a deficit and still losing weight. If I eat 1860 calories (my goal), I lose at a rate of 1.5lb/week. If I eat 1900 calories I'm not going to magically stop losing weight. Instead I'll lose at a rate of 1.49lb/week. I can even eat up to 2400 calories and still lose ~0.5lb/week.

You can link MFP to FitBit and then FitBit to trendweight.com. Do that and follow the trend instead of the constantly fluctuating scale reading.

It's not really fluctuating. I don't gain, I either lose or stay the same. But still, it's weird.

Thatonechickoverthere

shadow2soul wrote: »

How much are you going over and what is your goal?

Is it possible that when you have these "over" days, you have more energy; this can equal more fidgeting and increased intensity during workouts which would equal more energy being used.

My settings here is 2 pounds a week. Most weeks I don't go over at all and stay the same weight. But for the past few days I've been going over and I lost weight this past week. Going over maybe a few hundred. My workouts don't change though, so even after I work out my calories are still in the negative for those days. I haven't noticed an energy change, I'm usually fatigued but I force myself to work out anyway.

StaciMarie1974

You may be comparing results over the short term. In reality the deficit you have today does not necessarily show on the scale tomorrow. Our bodies are not that efficient.

PinkPixiexox

brynnsmom wrote: »

I'm no expert and it could be a fluke for sure; but, I know from experience I've lost weight just as efficiently on 1400 calories as I have on 1200. Even if you see red numbers you are still likely in a deficit. I would stick with what appears to be working!

This!

lindsey1979

tiffanymariearpaio wrote: »

I've eaten bad my entire life and as a result gained a lot of weight. I started eating better and exercising and lost a lot of water weight in the beginning. Now it seems that on the weeks where I cheat, I lose a few pounds. But on the weeks where I eat really well, I don't lose anything. I'm really confused. When I see my calories left for the day go into the negative I think it's a bad thing. But that happened a few days this week and I lost more weight this way. Should I keep doing this? I doesn't seem healthy to eat too many calories.

The only explanation I've seen for this is the water weight fluctuations. Some find that refeeds (especially carb refeeds) or even alcohol will create a hormonal response that releases extra water. So it's an illusory thing. It's not that you're actually losing more fat, but that your body releases water it's holding onto during the fat loss process.

I think Lyle does a good job of explaining it in his squishy fat article:
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/of-whooshes-and-squishy-fat.html/