Gaining weight in spite of counting calories!!

dubird

juliamittler46 wrote: »

I do use a scale so I'm logging just what I should and I also logged the two beers that night. As for yoga it depends on which style you practice - having a flowing vinyasa practice will consume more than a slow hatha practice. I'm taking this under consideration and adjust the numbers accordingly but it's nothing accurate for sure. It's better than nothing.
I'm 5'6 with 147.5 pounds. I want to come down to 130.

Based on those stats, my thought is that 1200 is too restrictive. Not that you're not losing weight because of that, but as active as you are, I would think that a bit higher would be healthier for you.

As for the rest, chances are you're not logging as accurate as you think you are (we all go through that, some of us more than others! ^_^;;) or you're over-estimating your calories burned. I don't know about yoga, so I can't give you advice on that, but I will say don't take MFP's estimates as fact. MFP, as well as gym machines, take average stats to provide you a calorie burn. The general suggestion is to only eat back 50% of the exercise calories if you let MFP calculate them. If you have a HRM that also has your personal stats, that's going to be the best way to get your calories burned. It's not 100% accurate, but it's much closer. If you're very sure you're weighing and logging EVERYTHING you eat and drink, then my next guess is that you're over-estimating your calorie burn.

mkakids

juliamittler46 wrote: »

The app actually offers yoga in the cardio section so I added it. Well, I had two rolls of sushi and two beers that night - that's what Germans do when they go out;)! So it was Saturday night that we went out and this morning I had the weight gain. However after one hour I had 0,4 kilos less although I had had coffee by then. Very weird.

My lowest weight of the day is nearly always 11am. Regardless of whether I have drank or ate anything. I'm always heavier right when I wake up. I know it goes against the whole "weight your self naked after using the bathroom each morning for your lowest weight", but its been like that for me for years. I weigh every day right after waking and using the washroom and again around 11am when I can. I'm nearly always lighter.

juliamittler46

mkakids wrote: »

juliamittler46 wrote: »

The app actually offers yoga in the cardio section so I added it. Well, I had two rolls of sushi and two beers that night - that's what Germans do when they go out;)! So it was Saturday night that we went out and this morning I had the weight gain. However after one hour I had 0,4 kilos less although I had had coffee by then. Very weird.

My lowest weight of the day is nearly always 11am. Regardless of whether I have drank or ate anything. I'm always heavier right when I wake up. I know it goes against the whole "weight your self naked after using the bathroom each morning for your lowest weight", but its been like that for me for years. I weigh every day right after waking and using the washroom and again around 11am when I can. I'm nearly always lighter.

So I just need to find the right time

juliamittler46

I feel that I'm not really willing to buy me additional devices to monitor myself. As for the calorie count I'm a very impatient person (I guess you've noticed that already ) - so I'm trying to fast efficiently to lose weight somehow faster. I get frustrated so fast.

peleroja

juliamittler46 wrote: »

I feel that I'm not really willing to buy me additional devices to monitor myself. As for the calorie count I'm a very impatient person (I guess you've noticed that already ) - so I'm trying to fast efficiently to lose weight somehow faster. I get frustrated so fast.

Unfortunately, weight loss is more of a marathon than a sprint, as is frequently said around here (along with "You didn't put on the weight overnight and it's not going to come off that quickly either.") 1-2 pounds per week is about as much as can be expected unless you're on a very low calorie diet (not recommended without medical supervision as it's very hard to get the appropriate nutrients once you drop your calories very low) or very obese (because very large bodies require more calories, so a larger deficit is possible to create.)

Patience, accuracy with logging your calories, and consistency is going to get you much further much faster than giving up or constantly trying new fad diets or whatever.

WBB55

You're already at a healthy weight. Losing more will be a slooooooooow process. If I were you, I'd set MFP to 0.5 lbs/week, log exercise, eat back half, and be patient.

dubird

juliamittler46 wrote: »

I feel that I'm not really willing to buy me additional devices to monitor myself. As for the calorie count I'm a very impatient person (I guess you've noticed that already ) - so I'm trying to fast efficiently to lose weight somehow faster. I get frustrated so fast.

Sustainable weight loss, weight loss that stays off, is a slow process. I understand getting frustrated, but if you do crash diets or fad diets, when you hit your weight range, you won't stay there. Instead of considering this a 'diet', look at it as a change of eating habits. If you can learn to adjust your eating habits to include things you like, but learn how to judge portion sizes and learn to listen to your body, you will be making changes that are sustainable.

Yes, it's hard and slow. *bow-chikka-bow-wow* It took me three years to lose 50lbs, but I've come out of it with the tools and knowledge I need to STAY at my range. Focus on the fact that you'll be changing your eating habits to last you the rest of your life. In that context, three years is a bargain for being able to keep myself healthy for the next several decades.

SingRunTing

WBB55 wrote: »

You're already at a healthy weight. Losing more will be a slooooooooow process. If I were you, I'd set MFP to 0.5 lbs/week, log exercise, eat back half, and be patient.

This. This is the crux of the matter.

Patience. Accurate logging (use a food scale). And more patience.

juliamittler46

I was wondering if this should be a whole new life style so should I keep having protein shakes for dinner for the rest of my life? That sounds odd. What about chocolate or cake? Do you guys have them occasionally?

vivmom2014

juliamittler46 wrote: »

I was wondering if this should be a whole new life style so should I keep having protein shakes for dinner for the rest of my life? That sounds odd. What about chocolate or cake? Do you guys have them occasionally?

Way more than occasionally, for me.

janejellyroll

juliamittler46 wrote: »

I was wondering if this should be a whole new life style so should I keep having protein shakes for dinner for the rest of my life? That sounds odd. What about chocolate or cake? Do you guys have them occasionally?

Do you like having protein shakes for dinner? Most of us wouldn't like that, so we don't. But if you like it, you don't have to quit.

Likewise, most of us have chocolate or cake (or whatever treat we prefer) as part of our lives. I had chocolate as part of my lunch just now. I'm maintaining, but I still had my favorite foods when I was losing weight.

nutmegoreo

juliamittler46 wrote: »

I was wondering if this should be a whole new life style so should I keep having protein shakes for dinner for the rest of my life? That sounds odd. What about chocolate or cake? Do you guys have them occasionally?

I will have a protein shake if I am short on time, or going to an early morning workout. I prefer to eat my food, it feels better in my stomach.

I have been eating a small serving of ice cream every night. It feels good to have a small treat at the end of the day, and it still fits in calorie goals.

I have tried to lose weight through depriving myself of treats. It sucked. I was miserable. When I got around "junk" foods, and I was in a bad mood, I would eat everything in site! Then, because I had "failed" at my diet, I would kick myself and then give up altogether. I learned nothing about balance.

bremingtonsteele

WBB55 wrote: »

You're already at a healthy weight. Losing more will be a slooooooooow process. If I were you, I'd set MFP to 0.5 lbs/week, log exercise, eat back half, and be patient.

This.

dubird

juliamittler46 wrote: »

I was wondering if this should be a whole new life style so should I keep having protein shakes for dinner for the rest of my life? That sounds odd. What about chocolate or cake? Do you guys have them occasionally?

I don't do protein shakes, though I do use the Boost protein when I'm sick. And yes, I eat chocolate and cake. I've learned how to control a portion of each, so I can still eat them. I can basically eat whatever I want, I just have to be careful how MUCH of it I eat. If I want the cookie, I have the damn cookie and allow for it in my daily calories. Now, I don't keep cookies and chips in the house; it's much to easy for me to open a bag and finish half of it without realizing since my big issue is habit snacking! But if I want chips, I go to the store and get a small 1-2 serving bag. I can fit it into my calories, I don't have a huge amount to pig out on by accident, and I still get to eat enough to satisfy myself. And I'm comfortable with doing that the rest of my life.

If you like protein shakes, there's nothing wrong with adding them as a supplement for life if you want. The key is to change your diet in a way you'll be happy living with for the rest of your life. That's like the low carb people. There are some that like a low carb diet, and are perfectly happy to stick with it for the rest of their life. And in that case, more power to them. I, however, could never do that. You'll pry the garlic bread out of my cold dead hands! XD Everyone has different likes and dislikes and things they are willing to do. Work out what you want to do, what works best for you, and work with that.