completely frustrated - different results, same effort

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Replies

  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    And back on the "starvation mode" point, let's be clear: I'm not pro-eating too little. In fact, I'm pro-eating as much as you can while still making satisfactory progress towards your goals (for numerous reasons). I'm just also anti-broscience/myth/woo.
  • kate_baxter
    kate_baxter Posts: 7 Member
    Ellaskat wrote: »
    Please help. I'm 37, 5'6. On Jan 2, I weighed 150. I started a concerted and focused weight loss effort on Jan. 26. I've been eating 1000-1400 calories a day for the first 3 weeks, then dropped that to 1000-1300.
    you don't state what type of exercise you are doing, and you also only refer to weight and not body measurements. 1400 calories seems too low for your height, do you know what your maintenance level is? I'm 5'4 and my maintenance @ 130lbs is 1654 calories, so best to confirm your maintenance level first before tweaking the diet.
    You need to be doing resistance or strength training as muscle burns more calories than fat. So a program of weight training combined with HIIT will see you on your way to seeing measured changes in your body.

    I'd be recording my measurements (chest, waist, hips, thighs) weekly as it is more likely you will see the changes there prior to seeing something on the scale, often in the first few weeks of a new program the scale wont change but your clothes will get looser.
  • memacdonaldnz
    memacdonaldnz Posts: 1 Member
    Hello Ellaskat - I know what you mean, because I have been there. I'm still struggling, but I"m slowly improving. If you are doing the same things and it's no longer working for you, something has changed in your body chemistry or physical make up. It may be time to get some blood tests done by a doctor and see what is happening with your health. Some of these may include glycosylated haemoglobin levels, uric acid, liver function, diabetes, insulin, cortisol levels, and SHBG. The tests usually focus on hormones and liver function.
    Good intestinal health and good liver function are critical to a healthy weight. Perhaps look at your raw food consumption, fibre intake and intestinal 'food' such as yoghurt and kombucha. I am taking some 'women supplements' from my doctor to help with my problem and its helping alot. I also have found that kombucha twice a day has helped with my stomach fat (but not overall weight) and my mood. I feel happier when i drink kombucha daily. (I make my own).

    Take care of your health, the human body is very complicated.

    Don't give up. All the best.
  • GlaaneNithdall
    GlaaneNithdall Posts: 12 Member

    What if we show you, instead of tell you? Please, please, please watch this video, @ellaskat. It's only three minutes of your life. ;)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpHykP6e_Uk


    Thank you sooo much for that video.. I was already using a scale for some stuff but will be using it more now.. thanks a million!
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    What? Calories in/out isn't working perfectly? Colour me not a at all surprised.

    It's the FOOD, quality more than quantity. And it's your body. Hormones regulate all things to do with metabolism.

    OP says she hasn't changed anything. Why assume she changed her food choices?
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,328 Member
    This shows a comparison of measuring vs weighing and how they can look nearly identical, but can cause a HUGE difference in calories. At least watch the video, please.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjKPIcI51lU"

  • MommyMeggo
    MommyMeggo Posts: 1,222 Member
    Bump....honestly these videos need to be stickies!!
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    edited March 2016
    rpachigo wrote: »
    3 pounds...hmmm...something's rotten in Denmark

    Eh, I lost 3lbs between yesterday and this morning. Sodium Sunday will do that to ya.


    I lost 0.8 lb in about 5 minutes this morning. Just a trip to the loo, and off it came!
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    sanfromny wrote: »
    Ellaskat wrote: »
    ok, said I wouldn 't come back - but I guess I lied - here I am. I weigh daily, and take measurements daily too - to the person who would like to believe I made up inches lost. Really? You so crazy.

    Just wanted to say I've now lost an additional 3 pounds - that's from Saturday and Sunday.

    So you see, THAT's why I didn't want to hear about scales. I knew something else was going on, I just didn't know what. I still have no idea why it took so long to kick it into weight loss mode, but apparently, it just took my body longer this time.

    Yes scales work - I've never denied they do. I've only wanted to look for other potential ideas - because I was certain that was not what was going on with me. I ask the questions that I have. There are other possible responses than 'just use a scale'. Looking for different possibilities shouldn't make me a target. We're all looking for our own answers to our own questions - so why vilify mine? So silly.

    I don't think anyone vilified your question. It was more of wondering why you were so opposed to something. I've always been one to eyeball food until recently, now that I'm getting closer to my goal weight it's not as easy to see weight drop off anymore so trying something new doesn't seem ridiculous. When you begin by telling everyone what NOT to say you come off abrasive, unreceptive and put a target on your head. You could've easily posed the same question and silently sorted through what you felt was and wasn't reasonable or didn't pertain to your personal situation.

    Lastly- You never mentioned having a heart rate monitor so my question is how do you know you are putting in the same effort? Unless you have accurately tracked your heart rate then you really don't know if you are putting in the same effort. If you ran 1 mile last year and it took you 15mins and you ran a mile this year and it took you 15mins that does not mean that you put in the same effort. Your strides could be different, the amount of energy you exert could be different. You know, it's like the saying it's like riding a bicycle. The first time you learn is hard you have to put in a whole lot of effort, you wobble, you fall off, your body and muscles attempt to figure out it's balance until you get it, sometimes it takes hours, sometimes it takes days......... but if you don't ride a bike in 5 years when you do it again it's never like the first time. You're not as wobbly for as long, it'll only take a minute or 2......WHY? because you're muscles, well your body as a whole recognizes the activity and adapts quicker......I'm just saying...

    Anyway, good luck

    On that 2nd paragraph, you actually have it reversed. If someone runs 1 mile and they weigh the same they're doing essentially the same amount of work every time they run that mile (very minor differences for changes in form*).

    On the other hand, you could run that mile this month with an avg HR of 160 and an avg HR next year of 140 and it seemed easier. But you didn't do less work, you still burned the same calories, you just got better at handling the physical demands of running.

    It's important to know that greater perceived effort does not indicate more calories burned.

    A better illustration - is it harder to lift a 20 lb dumbbell one inch with just your pinky finger, or is it harder to lift a 20 lb child into your arms? I doubt you could do the first at all, and the second is pretty easy for most. It should be self-evident that lifting a 20 lb weight one inch will not burn as many calories that lifting the child several feet.

    * I'm assuming they're running 'normally' - OP is not disabled and learning how to run or in a similar situation as far as I know.
  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
    I am sure I've mentioned this far....far....faaaaaaaaaaar down thread. Actually, I asked the question:
    How is your sodium intake?

    3lbs down in a couple of days?
    Water. Weight.
    Boom.
    TR0berts wrote: »
    rpachigo wrote: »
    3 pounds...hmmm...something's rotten in Denmark

    Eh, I lost 3lbs between yesterday and this morning. Sodium Sunday will do that to ya.


    I lost 0.8 lb in about 5 minutes this morning. Just a trip to the loo, and off it came!

    But....what if one weights more after paying a visit to the porcelain god?
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    You're not supposed to drink from the bowl.
  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
    TR0berts wrote: »
    You're not supposed to drink from the bowl.
    *snort*
    But, it isn't full moon until the 22nd. Not buying it.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    I am sure I've mentioned this far....far....faaaaaaaaaaar down thread. Actually, I asked the question:
    How is your sodium intake?

    3lbs down in a couple of days?
    Water. Weight.
    Boom.
    TR0berts wrote: »
    rpachigo wrote: »
    3 pounds...hmmm...something's rotten in Denmark

    Eh, I lost 3lbs between yesterday and this morning. Sodium Sunday will do that to ya.


    I lost 0.8 lb in about 5 minutes this morning. Just a trip to the loo, and off it came!

    But....what if one weights more after paying a visit to the porcelain god?

    That happened to me. Out of scientific curiosity, I weighed myself before and after #2 and I weighed more after. I felt so cheated.
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
    zyxst wrote: »
    I am sure I've mentioned this far....far....faaaaaaaaaaar down thread. Actually, I asked the question:
    How is your sodium intake?

    3lbs down in a couple of days?
    Water. Weight.
    Boom.
    TR0berts wrote: »
    rpachigo wrote: »
    3 pounds...hmmm...something's rotten in Denmark

    Eh, I lost 3lbs between yesterday and this morning. Sodium Sunday will do that to ya.


    I lost 0.8 lb in about 5 minutes this morning. Just a trip to the loo, and off it came!

    But....what if one weights more after paying a visit to the porcelain god?

    That happened to me. Out of scientific curiosity, I weighed myself before and after #2 and I weighed more after. I felt so cheated.

    Perhaps you were so energetic in your motions that you ended up with greater carbon dioxide content in your blood stream?
  • aylajane
    aylajane Posts: 979 Member
    I havent read through all this, but you asked somewhere early on what could be different if NOTHING changed in the last year... The issue is that your body changes all the time - hormones up and down, etc. You are the right age for perimenopause to be coming around so that might be a possibility. Regardless, every year our hormones and metabolism change and decline - its not a perfect line change, its a "starts and stops" change. So possible it changed "more" in the last year than in previous years.


    And I agree with the buying a scale thing, just for the record. I can think I have the measurement thing down, but realize after awhile I am "packing" it more, etc. Its so gradual you think you are not doing anything different, but honestly - how well do you remember exactly how you filled a measuring cup on any given day a year ago?!

    But the bottom line is that if something is not working for you NOW, regardless of whether it ever did in your life, then you should do something DIFFERENT. No point looking into the past. Not sure why people want so badly to have an explanation - it would be nice to know WHY, but it wont change anything... knowing why wont make it work. So ... change something.
  • jackjackattck
    jackjackattck Posts: 117 Member
    edited March 2016
    I am not sure if you are against a food scale because of the money, and if you are this won't help you either. But my advice is to buy a body fat impedance calculator. I just ordered one on Amazon a few weeks ago for $40 and it has been a worthy investment. The reason I say this is that you keep stressing that you "are exactly the same weight" now as you were last year, however, you have NO WAY of knowing if your body composition is different between the two times. And the amount of muscle / fat you have plays a huge affect on your caloric burn, which could affect you losing weight.

    At my heaviest in college I was 160 lbs and a size 12. Now, I am 157 lbs and a size 6/8. The number on the scale is absolutely meaningless when it comes to your body composition and size, and you shouldn't be using only that number to compare two different times in your life. Not to mention as some others have said on here, you're now a year older which also affects your daily caloric burn.

    Edit: Here is a link to the body fat calculator I bought for your reference
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FYZMYK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    DIE, STARVATION MODE MYTH, DIE!!!

    :rage:



    *ahem*

    Sorry.

    Carry on.
  • blues4miles
    blues4miles Posts: 1,481 Member
    On top of that, you may be eating too little calories and your body is clinging on to some of the fat for fuel sources.

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  • Ellaskat
    Ellaskat Posts: 386 Member
    I'm not sure why i finally started losing weight, but I'm now down over 7 pounds, and my measurements are finally moving too. This is very unscientific, but it feels like my body was saying 'yeah right, you'll stop this diet nonsense soon,so might as well hold onto the weight'. It took a full 4-5 weeks before I lost more than 2 pounds, but in the last1-2 weeks I've lost 5-6 pounds and inches too. My weight loss is now looking more like what I have charted from last year, where I will lose 'big' meaning 1-1.5 pounds, and then another .2-.6 in another 2-5 days. That seems to be my pattern.

    This is not the right place, but as it's a popular thread, I thought I would ask - can anyone recommend a good app for women for strength exercises with dumbbells, and bodyweight? With running/walking 3 days a week, I think the fitstar workouts I do are too high impact; I need to find some workout routines that will help me continue to gain strength, but without all the high impact stuff in there.

    thanks for any ideas.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,941 Member
    The Mightly Woosh? My way of losing weight was via wooshs: not really losing for a week or two, and then suddenly I'd run to the toilet like crazy for one to two days, lose a lot of water weight and ended up lighter in the process. I think the explanation is that you lose fat and that the growing empty space in the fat cells gets filled up with water, which gets expelled all of a sudden. Thus it looks like you're not losing weight at first, while you actually are.
  • eric_sg61
    eric_sg61 Posts: 2,925 Member
    1000 calories is way too low. Your body will down-regulate your metabolism to hold onto body fat and up-regulate fat storage. It thinks you're starving and will protect you. Your body is your friend and wants to protect you. Now be your body's friend and promise your friend: "Friend, I promise I will never eat fewer than 1,200 cals per day because even that is pretty gd close to starvation."

    Fine. Now you and your friend have "made up." Next, fix your sleep. Bad sleep will make your body do the same thing. Bad sleep = stress. Your body-friend has a very old brain. And it's a one-track-mind brain. Your body-friend thinks stress = something bad is happening to meeeeeeee! I must conserve energy just in case!!! Fat storage and retention process: set to turbo mode. Engage.

    Then ... trust ... the ... process. If you are doing everything "right" the magic will happen. Tape it to your mirror, your fridge, and your dog's forehead. Trust the process.

    no,her body will not hold onto fat because it thinks its starving. it doesnt work like that when it comes to weight loss.she should have still been losing weight on a lower calorie diet. no its not safe to eat so little but,she would have still lost weight.

    True story bro: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/too-few-calories

    So all those prisoners of war hold onto fat? Does anyone ever starve to death?
    Critical thinking and elementary logic skills..................not even once
  • eric_sg61
    eric_sg61 Posts: 2,925 Member
    What? Calories in/out isn't working perfectly? Colour me not a at all surprised.

    It's the FOOD, quality more than quantity. And it's your body. Hormones regulate all things to do with metabolism.

    Nope, I pick the cookie crumbs out of my abz. Another aviless "expert"