I've hit "the plateau" after losing 65lbs in 9 months..dun dun dun! HELP ME!
meganashlyelizabeth
Posts: 4 Member
Hello everyone in the MFP community! Backstory: I downloaded MFP with no knowledge of how to lose weight and never being on a diet before..I began at 249lbs after getting to my very heaviest because of the break up of a long term relationship and quitting smoking. I religiously used MFP and wouldn't eat a single thing without logging it. I actually have maybe only went on a few walks since i started usinf MFP. Although it sounds like an excuse..which it is..being that overweight and out of shape, exercise hurt, and I'm just lazy. 
So! Fast forward to today: I am 183lbs, at a new slower paced but better paying job, and in a new relationship. I admittedly am slacking on MFP..i forget to log anything anymore but keep track of calories in my head. I was staying at 1,100 calories or less a day, right now i'm eat about 1,600 a day. I am just disappointed in myself, I still plan on losing 30 more pounds and at this rate that will not happen. I DON'T KNOW WHERE MY WILLPOWER WENT! My biggest issue is never-ever being full and after 9 months of being hungry i couldn't take it anymore. PLEASE GIVE ME SOME TIPS TO GET BACK ON TRACK! HELP ME!
So! Fast forward to today: I am 183lbs, at a new slower paced but better paying job, and in a new relationship. I admittedly am slacking on MFP..i forget to log anything anymore but keep track of calories in my head. I was staying at 1,100 calories or less a day, right now i'm eat about 1,600 a day. I am just disappointed in myself, I still plan on losing 30 more pounds and at this rate that will not happen. I DON'T KNOW WHERE MY WILLPOWER WENT! My biggest issue is never-ever being full and after 9 months of being hungry i couldn't take it anymore. PLEASE GIVE ME SOME TIPS TO GET BACK ON TRACK! HELP ME! 1
Replies
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Eating more is not a plateau. A plateau is no weight loss for at least 6 weeks while doing everything else the same! 1100 was too low and you did not follow MFP recommendation because MFP won't go below 1200. That's why you were always hungry. I've lost 147 lbs eating at 1700 for 2 years, so you should be able to lose on 1500-1600. Get back on track by weighing and logging everything. Start with eating the same, then drop it by 100 cals per day each week if you need to get to a lower number. Make sure you are getting MFP recommended macros for protein & fat as this will keep you fuller than carbs. With 30 lbs left to goal you should be aiming for 0.5 to 1 lb per week. Read the sticky posts at the top of each MFP forum because they give you tons of advice & tips on how to make this work. Walking is a great exercise, so keep doing it, and add to your time a bit each week.8
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meganashlyelizabeth wrote: »My biggest issue is never-ever being full and after 9 months of being hungry i couldn't take it anymore.
Being hungry all the time is not a lifestyle you can sustain.
I don't know what you're eating, but here are my tips:
Make some meals ahead of time. Even if you like to cook, always have salads or other food ready so you can grab them when you're busy or feeling lazy.
For example, some filling food:
Eat steel cut oats with sliced apple or other fruit for breakfast. Cook a big batch and just heat up a portion.
Try eating lentils (fiber and lots of protein) with stir-fried vegetables and steamed greens. Fiber, volume, protein.
You said you are in a new relationship. A lot of times that means sharing meals or eating out. Does your new person understand and support your health/weight goals?
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Eating more is not a plateau. A plateau is no weight loss for at least 6 weeks while doing everything else the same! 1100 was too low and you did not follow MFP recommendation because MFP won't go below 1200. That's why you were always hungry. I've lost 147 lbs eating at 1700 for 2 years, so you should be able to lose on 1500-1600. Get back on track by weighing and logging everything. Start with eating the same, then drop it by 100 cals per day each week if you need to get to a lower number. Make sure you are getting MFP recommended macros for protein & fat as this will keep you fuller than carbs. With 30 lbs left to goal you should be aiming for 0.5 to 1 lb per week. Read the sticky posts at the top of each MFP forum because they give you tons of advice & tips on how to make this work. Walking is a great exercise, so keep doing it, and add to your time a bit each week.
MFP lets me log as low as 1,000 calories?0 -
amyrebeccah wrote: »It sounds like a planned diet break for a specific period of time would be a good idea for your mental well-being.
Agreed.2 -
seaniepoohbear wrote: »Eating more is not a plateau. A plateau is no weight loss for at least 6 weeks while doing everything else the same! 1100 was too low and you did not follow MFP recommendation because MFP won't go below 1200. That's why you were always hungry. I've lost 147 lbs eating at 1700 for 2 years, so you should be able to lose on 1500-1600. Get back on track by weighing and logging everything. Start with eating the same, then drop it by 100 cals per day each week if you need to get to a lower number. Make sure you are getting MFP recommended macros for protein & fat as this will keep you fuller than carbs. With 30 lbs left to goal you should be aiming for 0.5 to 1 lb per week. Read the sticky posts at the top of each MFP forum because they give you tons of advice & tips on how to make this work. Walking is a great exercise, so keep doing it, and add to your time a bit each week.
MFP lets me log as low as 1,000 calories?
You can log that low, certainly, but not close out the diary for the day. You get this statement and a button to add more entries.
Based on your total calories consumed for today, you are likely not eating enough.
For safe weight loss, the National Institutes of Health recommends no less than 1000-1200 calories for women and 1200-1500 calories for men.
Completing your diary with fewer than the minimum calories noted above will not generate a news feed post for that day, or show a five-week weight projection.
Even during weight loss, it's important to meet your body's basic nutrient and energy needs. Over time, not eating enough can lead to nutrient deficiencies, unpleasant side effects & other serious health problems.
To safely meet your goals:
•Focus on consuming nutrient-rich foods and beverages
•Check your progress in MyFitnessPal throughout the day
•Add nutritious snacks between meals as needed1 -
meganashlyelizabeth wrote: »Hello everyone in the MFP community! Backstory: I downloaded MFP with no knowledge of how to lose weight and never being on a diet before..I began at 249lbs after getting to my very heaviest because of the break up of a long term relationship and quitting smoking. I religiously used MFP and wouldn't eat a single thing without logging it. I actually have maybe only went on a few walks since i started usinf MFP. Although it sounds like an excuse..which it is..being that overweight and out of shape, exercise hurt, and I'm just lazy. So! Fast forward to today: I am 183lbs, at a new slower paced but better paying job, and in a new relationship. I admittedly am slacking on MFP..i forget to log anything anymore but keep track of calories in my head. I was staying at 1,100 calories or less a day, right now i'm eat about 1,600 a day. I am just disappointed in myself, I still plan on losing 30 more pounds and at this rate that will not happen. I DON'T KNOW WHERE MY WILLPOWER WENT! My biggest issue is never-ever being full and after 9 months of being hungry i couldn't take it anymore. PLEASE GIVE ME SOME TIPS TO GET BACK ON TRACK! HELP ME!
If you were eating 1100 calories I'm not surprised you were always hungry. 1200 is the minimum MFP will recommend. I'd have difficulty finding the willpower to eat less than that on a long term basis.
It's better to eat more, lose more slowly and be successful long term than to starve yourself until you burn out and quit and either not reach your goal or, worse, gain the weight back that you lost by starving yourself.
I'm actually surprised that you aren't losing weight at 1600 calories per day at your current weight. Are you sure you're really eating that amount if you aren't logging everything? My guess, going by the bolded statement above, is you're eating more than you think.
My advice would be to reset MFP with your current information. Pick a reasonable rate of loss like .5 or 1 pound per week. Log everything you eat, weigh your food to ensure accuracy. Eat the calories that MFP recommends within 50 calories, either way. If you exercise, underestimate those calories, enter them into MFP and eat most of them back. You should find you're able to eat more and stay satisfied while still losing weight. Remember, the end goal is to reach your weight and health goals and keep off the weight for the rest of your life. There is no finish line to cross so there's no reason to hurry to get there.2 -
Weigh all your foods. Log accurately each day. If you feel like you are burned out....then switch your calories to maintaince. Try to get in a little more walking. Motivation comes from within...how bad do you want to lose the weight? It is a choice, pick one.1
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amyrebeccah wrote: »It sounds like a planned diet break for a specific period of time would be a good idea for your mental well-being.
^This1 -
seaniepoohbear wrote: »Eating more is not a plateau. A plateau is no weight loss for at least 6 weeks while doing everything else the same! 1100 was too low and you did not follow MFP recommendation because MFP won't go below 1200. That's why you were always hungry. I've lost 147 lbs eating at 1700 for 2 years, so you should be able to lose on 1500-1600. Get back on track by weighing and logging everything. Start with eating the same, then drop it by 100 cals per day each week if you need to get to a lower number. Make sure you are getting MFP recommended macros for protein & fat as this will keep you fuller than carbs. With 30 lbs left to goal you should be aiming for 0.5 to 1 lb per week. Read the sticky posts at the top of each MFP forum because they give you tons of advice & tips on how to make this work. Walking is a great exercise, so keep doing it, and add to your time a bit each week.
MFP lets me log as low as 1,000 calories?
You can log that low, certainly, but not close out the diary for the day. You get this statement and a button to add more entries.
Based on your total calories consumed for today, you are likely not eating enough.
For safe weight loss, the National Institutes of Health recommends no less than 1000-1200 calories for women and 1200-1500 calories for men.
Completing your diary with fewer than the minimum calories noted above will not generate a news feed post for that day, or show a five-week weight projection.
Even during weight loss, it's important to meet your body's basic nutrient and energy needs. Over time, not eating enough can lead to nutrient deficiencies, unpleasant side effects & other serious health problems.
To safely meet your goals:
•Focus on consuming nutrient-rich foods and beverages
•Check your progress in MyFitnessPal throughout the day
•Add nutritious snacks between meals as needed
No that's what I mean, a few days I only hit 1,000 and it lets me CLOSE my diary and will tell me the weight prediction for 5 weeks if everyday were like that etc. it won't let me log anything lower but it will always close out at 1,000. I don't eat like that everyday but some days it's just hard for me to eat more depending on what I am doing.0 -
PennWalker wrote: »meganashlyelizabeth wrote: »My biggest issue is never-ever being full and after 9 months of being hungry i couldn't take it anymore.
You said you are in a new relationship. A lot of times that means sharing meals or eating out. Does your new person understand and support your health/weight goals?
Yes he does but I'm worried to be a hassle to everyone around, i didn't mind when it was just me but i hate to be that person with a special order or even the person that cant find anything to eat at a restaurant. I'm from the Midwest..there's many restaurants in town that down have a single thing that i should or can have to eat.0 -
meganashlyelizabeth wrote: »
If you were eating 1100 calories I'm not surprised you were always hungry. 1200 is the minimum MFP will recommend. I'd have difficulty finding the willpower to eat less than that on a long term basis..
Thank you so much for the advice. I, however, am positive that I am not eating more than i should, at this point I never ever ever go over 1,300 calories. For a solid two months i took a break and didn't log a single thing, and gained 3lbs. I'm slowly getting back into the swing of logging everything again, I'm definitely going to take your advice and revamp my goals and all that good stuff.
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I have taken a diet break..but it's just made me feel like a failure. It wasn't a planned break and I've gained 3lbs in the 2 months i took a break. I'm trying to get back on the wagon now, not take a break for any longer.0
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I don't know for sure without all the numbers, but 1100 or so calories a day doesn't seem sustainable over the long term. Perhaps it is, if you include periodic higher calorie days, for your sanity and to avoid feelings food of "deprivation". I tell several people I work with that seem to constantly be on restrictive calorie diets that make them avoid all the "good" stuff - you'll go crazy if you never eat things you like and then you'll abandon your "diet" completely. Also, if you are not, you probably want to mix up the kind of exercise you do. Our bodies become more efficient over time at the same exercises and burn less calories. If you mix it up, then you'll use different muscles and you'll burn more calories as your body adapts. My personal perspective - I lost 65 lbs, and have put 15 lbs of muscle back on since then. So I was pretty overweight, actually lost too much, and have gotten to a very good fitness level by now (the long way LOL).0
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