If you are struggling to lose...

tara_means_star

I just wanted to share my story for newbies in the hopes that it will encourage you and help you.

A few years ago I went to the doctor and realized there that I weighed 216 pounds. I was mortified. I decided to buckle down and lose weight. I was put on a med for anxiety (paxil) and at first it killed my appetite. At my follow up appointment I had lost like 7 pounds. I thought, man, I really need to keep this train rolling! So I started "counting calories" which largely meant eyeballing portions. But I stopped losing weight. I included exercise...but still didn't lose. After a year of this, and convincing myself that I should be losing because I was "only eating 1500 calories!" I went back to the doc and had her run a bunch of test...I don't have insurance so I spent $1000 and she told me that I was completely normal. I was sooooo frustrated. I spent money on beach body products...but stopped losing after the first week because I was still really bad to eyeball portions. But I was convinced I was doing it right. I started emailing a naturopathic doctor to see if they could look at my lab results and tell me that something was wrong. I realized I'd be spending a lot of money there too so before I went off spending more money I didn't have, I needed to be ABSOLUTELY sure that I was doing everything I could do to lose weight. I started weighing and measuring my food...and realized the problem.

It's been almost 2 months since then and I am still consistently losing weight. Before, I was offended at the feedback that I was eating too much. I was POSITIVE it was something else. I was SURE that I was only eating 1500 calories. But when it came down to it, eating too much really was the problem.

stevencloser

I know, right? Humans just generally suck at estimating calories by themselves. Congrats on being finally successful!

tara_means_star

Forgot to mention, I came off of the Paxil, despite my anxiety, because at one point I convinced myself that it was the reason I couldn't lose. That didn't help. Tried green extract...didn't help.

tara_means_star

stevencloser wrote: »

I know, right? Humans just generally suck at estimating calories by themselves. Congrats on being finally successful!

Thanks! I see it all the time...people with the exact same mindframe I had who are convinced that something is wrong with them. I felt so demoralized! But my hope is that in posting this it will help people see that maybe the 1500 they think they are eating is more like maintenance.

prettygirlstorm1

thanks for sharing. I need to buckle down and really start weighing and measuring i know that is my problem.

tara_means_star

vada44 wrote: »

thanks for sharing. I need to buckle down and really start weighing and measuring i know that is my problem.

It's easy to overestimate when you eyeball or even when you use just measuring cups. I've realized that. I will confess sometimes that old fear rears it's ugly head and I think I bet I'll stop losing soon, it's bound to happen! Then I lose more and breathe a sigh of relief

dhimaan

Good post.

healthy_hermione

Nice. I really need to get a food scale so I can measure my portions to see how much I'm eating.

sunandmoons

Bump^

queenliz99

Thanks for sharing. Weighing food on a scale, FTW!!

Liftng4Lis

Awesome recognition!

Kalikel

If you hadn't actually checked, why were you "SURE" it was 1500 calories? Could you walk me through that thought process?

ohmscheeks

< Doesn't have to weigh her food to realize eating too much causes weight gain *swag*

strong_curves

Get it gurl!

tara_means_star

Kalikel wrote: »

If you hadn't actually checked, why were you "SURE" it was 1500 calories? Could you walk me through that thought process?

I tend to be really obsessive and would underestimate things to keep the number from being in the red. I told myself it was on because there was no way I was eating that much over my calories. I stopped eating many carbs and deserts and such. The point is that I convinced myself, wrongly, that I was staying under my calories
. its only after I started being more strict that I was even able to admit to myself that I had been doing this.

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld

Well done, and thank you for your post. I hope it helps many people

tara_means_star

It was also easy to do because if I measured something it was with a spoon or cup and I fit as much as humanly possible in it. I also knew people who lost weight without doing any of that and thought that if it was that easy my measuring would make it a sure deal.

tara_means_star

ohmscheeks wrote: »

< Doesn't have to weigh her food to realize eating too much causes weight gain *swag*

I think most people know that but do what I did and convince themselves they aren't overeating so there must be some metabolic problem.

tara_means_star

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »

Well done, and thank you for your post. I hope it helps many people

Thanks, I hope so too.

AskTracyAnnK28

taracan25 wrote: »

It was also easy to do because if I measured something it was with a spoon or cup and I fit as much as humanly possible in it. I also knew people who lost weight without doing any of that and thought that if it was that easy my measuring would make it a sure deal.

I've been there!!! My 1/2 Tablespoon of peanut butter was more like 1/4 cup by the time I packed it all in there

strong_curves

taracan25 wrote: »

ohmscheeks wrote: »

< Doesn't have to weigh her food to realize eating too much causes weight gain *swag*

I think most people know that but do what I did and convince themselves they aren't overeating so there must be some metabolic problem.

That's right! I used to think I didn't eat a lot. Then I started using a food scale and realized I actually was. Kudos to those who don't have to use a food scale but for those who don't know what "eating too much" really is a food scale comes in handy especially for portion control.

tara_means_star

tracyannk28 wrote: »

taracan25 wrote: »

It was also easy to do because if I measured something it was with a spoon or cup and I fit as much as humanly possible in it. I also knew people who lost weight without doing any of that and thought that if it was that easy my measuring would make it a sure deal.

I've been there!!! My 1/2 Tablespoon of peanut butter was more like 1/4 cup by the time I packed it all in there

Ya! I swear..if I was being generous I would log 2 tablespoons but in all honesty it was more like 4.

mrsnazario1219

You're story sounds EXACTLY like mine. I was CONVINCED something was wrong with me. I KNEW I was eye balling correctly because there was no way that little food could be more than what I logged. I measured with cups and spoons and thought I was doing everything right. I also did the blood work and stopped my anxiety meds lol. Funny thing is I've had a food scale for years from when I did WW, but didn't think I needed it. Finally, after reading tons of MFP posts I said screw it, let me start weighing EVERYTHING. Lo and behold I've been steadily losing 1-2lbs a week since August. Something so simple and I thought I was above it all lol.

tara_means_star

strong_curves wrote: »

taracan25 wrote: »

ohmscheeks wrote: »

< Doesn't have to weigh her food to realize eating too much causes weight gain *swag*

I think most people know that but do what I did and convince themselves they aren't overeating so there must be some metabolic problem.

That's right! I used to think I didn't eat a lot. Then I started using a food scale and realized I actually was. Kudos to those who don't have to use a food scale but for those who don't know what "eating too much" really is a food scale comes in handy especially for portion control.

I have been overweight most of my life and so not keeping myself accountable doesn't result in weight loss. What I think is "good" enough, others who have more experience maintaining a lower weight would probably realize quicker that they were overdoing it.

tara_means_star

mrsnazario1219 wrote: »

You're story sounds EXACTLY like mine. I was CONVINCED something was wrong with me. I KNEW I was eye balling correctly because there was no way that little food could be more than what I logged. I measured with cups and spoons and thought I was doing everything right. I also did the blood work and stopped my anxiety meds lol. Funny thing is I've had a food scale for years from when I did WW, but didn't think I needed it. Finally, after reading tons of MFP posts I said screw it, let me start weighing EVERYTHING. Lo and behold I've been steadily losing 1-2lbs a week since August. Something so simple and I thought I was above it all lol.

Yay! I'm not the only crazy person on here! :lol

mrsnazario1219

taracan25 wrote: »

mrsnazario1219 wrote: »

You're story sounds EXACTLY like mine. I was CONVINCED something was wrong with me. I KNEW I was eye balling correctly because there was no way that little food could be more than what I logged. I measured with cups and spoons and thought I was doing everything right. I also did the blood work and stopped my anxiety meds lol. Funny thing is I've had a food scale for years from when I did WW, but didn't think I needed it. Finally, after reading tons of MFP posts I said screw it, let me start weighing EVERYTHING. Lo and behold I've been steadily losing 1-2lbs a week since August. Something so simple and I thought I was above it all lol.

Yay! I'm not the only crazy person on here! :lol

Haha!! No, not at all. I'm 5'2 and was almost 200lbs at one point. I got that way for a reason. I ate a lot more than I thought I was. I didn't know or didn't care what portion control looked like.

tara_means_star

mrsnazario1219 wrote: »

taracan25 wrote: »

mrsnazario1219 wrote: »

You're story sounds EXACTLY like mine. I was CONVINCED something was wrong with me. I KNEW I was eye balling correctly because there was no way that little food could be more than what I logged. I measured with cups and spoons and thought I was doing everything right. I also did the blood work and stopped my anxiety meds lol. Funny thing is I've had a food scale for years from when I did WW, but didn't think I needed it. Finally, after reading tons of MFP posts I said screw it, let me start weighing EVERYTHING. Lo and behold I've been steadily losing 1-2lbs a week since August. Something so simple and I thought I was above it all lol.

Yay! I'm not the only crazy person on here! :lol

Haha!! No, not at all. I'm 5'2 and was almost 200lbs at one point. I got that way for a reason. I ate a lot more than I thought I was. I didn't know or didn't care what portion control looked like.

I can relate! I started eating like my husband who started gaining weight once he left construction work and got a desk job... That was a bad idea.

mrsnazario1219

taracan25 wrote: »

mrsnazario1219 wrote: »

taracan25 wrote: »

mrsnazario1219 wrote: »

You're story sounds EXACTLY like mine. I was CONVINCED something was wrong with me. I KNEW I was eye balling correctly because there was no way that little food could be more than what I logged. I measured with cups and spoons and thought I was doing everything right. I also did the blood work and stopped my anxiety meds lol. Funny thing is I've had a food scale for years from when I did WW, but didn't think I needed it. Finally, after reading tons of MFP posts I said screw it, let me start weighing EVERYTHING. Lo and behold I've been steadily losing 1-2lbs a week since August. Something so simple and I thought I was above it all lol.

Yay! I'm not the only crazy person on here! :lol

Haha!! No, not at all. I'm 5'2 and was almost 200lbs at one point. I got that way for a reason. I ate a lot more than I thought I was. I didn't know or didn't care what portion control looked like.

I can relate! I started eating like my husband who started gaining weight once he left construction work and got a desk job... That was a bad idea.

Omg I remember a time when my plate of food looked exactly like my husband's. I shrugged it off. Looking back now I'm horrified.

Kalikel

taracan25 wrote: »

Kalikel wrote: »

If you hadn't actually checked, why were you "SURE" it was 1500 calories? Could you walk me through that thought process?

I tend to be really obsessive and would underestimate things to keep the number from being in the red. I told myself it was on because there was no way I was eating that much over my calories. I stopped eating many carbs and deserts and such. The point is that I convinced myself, wrongly, that I was staying under my calories
. its only after I started being more strict that I was even able to admit to myself that I had been doing this.

And you really never thought, "Well, I haven't actually checked, so maybe I'm not staying under 1500 calories"? Never, ever occurred to you that maybe you should check before being SURE? Ever?

tara_means_star

My husband and I are both losing now and I'm trying really hard to stay under his weight lol

tara_means_star

No. That's the point of this post. Its easy to convince yourself there's something else to blame. It isn't all that novel, look at the number of people who have said they can relate. I'm posting this thought process so that other people who may not be letting themselves believe they are overeating will see this and have the epiphany that it took me too long and too much money to come to.