Does it count as weight loss if...

aimeemanninghunter

Give it time, girl! You only JUST started. --July 4th?? That hasn't even been two weeks! Patience, patience!

You didn't put on several pounds a week, it makes no sense to expect it to come off that fast, either.

Also, I highly recommend NOT upping your deficit to anything past 20%. I'm assuming one of the reasons you want to lose weight is to look nicer, right? There's nothing nice-looking about excessively saggy skin, which is a direct result of losing weight too fast. Going slow gives your skin time to keep up and shrink back normally. You can also risk losing lean muscle mass, which compromises future weight loss, and generally overall makes you feel like crap. I speak from experience, here.

You'd be surprised...I have gained several pounds a week before. Maybe I just need to head back into low carbsville....I don't know. I lose faith quickly....

I have, too...It's called weight fluctuations, and being a woman. :laugh:

I meant you didn't gain several pounds of actual FAT in a week. It's almost impossible. You'd almost have to TRY to get the necessary amount of calories for that to happen.

I just mean I have gained several pounds a week for several weeks...not up and down weight flunctuations...I can gain a lot of weight very quickly and easily which is unfortunately why my body is in the state it is now....I've thought about having my thyroid checked but last time I asked a doctor she kind of laughed at me. I lost a lot my first month but that's not atypical...

RAEQ127

See what this says your TDEE is. I find it to be more accurate for me.

http://www.cordianet.com/calculator.htm

aimeemanninghunter

I am by no means a guru when it comes to this stuff - but I'm around your height and weight and I am only taking in about 1600 calories a day, sometimes a little more. Granted I'm not doing the same amount of exercise that you are, but I do eat back some of my exercise calories. I am losing steadily about 1-1.5 pounds a week. When you mentioned 2000-2300, it was seemed high to me - but don't take what I say as gospel. Just offering a little bit of a different picture for you.

Edited to add: the 1600 calories is what MFP has suggested for me.

Yes, I did the MFP calories for a while and lost but then I stalled all the same...When I increased my intake I dropped like another 7-8 pounds. I'm still eating at a deficit. MFP just puts you are a much larger deficit which from what I understand can slow down your metabolism....plus the higher calorie count gives me more room to decrease calories as I lose weight.

micheleb15

I am by no means a guru when it comes to this stuff - but I'm around your height and weight and I am only taking in about 1600 calories a day, sometimes a little more. Granted I'm not doing the same amount of exercise that you are, but I do eat back some of my exercise calories. I am losing steadily about 1-1.5 pounds a week. When you mentioned 2000-2300, it seemed high to me - but don't take what I say as gospel. Just offering a little bit of a different picture for you.

Edited to add: the 1600 calories is what MFP has suggested for me.
And also to take out a typo - ugh

To offer another side, I am 5'2 151lbs and also eat 1600 calories a day minimum. So eating around 2000 calories for her seems like it's a healthy range. That's just my opinion.

aimeemanninghunter

See what this says your TDEE is. I find it to be more accurate for me.

http://www.cordianet.com/calculator.htm

Wow...that's a huge difference....I wonder why so different?

Bigjuicyhog

You may not be tracking correctly too. Are you measuring everything exactly? Is a tablespoon of butter an actual tablespoon? Is the tablespoon of peanut butter evened or a scoop? I notice yesterday you ate 0 cups of Broccoli with dinner. I imagine that is a typo?

If you are having trouble, measure and track everything EXACTLY. Food scale and measuring equipment is a must. No eyeballing it.

aimeemanninghunter

You may not be tracking correctly too. Are you measuring everything exactly? Is a tablespoon of butter an actual tablespoon? Is the tablespoon of peanut butter evened or a scoop? I notice yesterday you ate 0 cups of Broccoli with dinner. I imagine that is a typo?

If you are having trouble, measure and track everything EXACTLY. Food scale and measuring equipment is a must. No eyeballing it.

Lol...the zero cups of broccoli is just because I haven't figure out how to delete something from my phone. Thought I had broccoli but I was out so I ate green beans instead. but yes, I do measure, count...whatever. I put my peanut butter in a tablespoon and level it out and everything...no guessing.

tatasmagik

Seems legit to me. Maybe a nice hair cut?

Exactly. Also, remember to remove all clothing, poop, and spit before weighing.

Bigjuicyhog

You may not be tracking correctly too. Are you measuring everything exactly? Is a tablespoon of butter an actual tablespoon? Is the tablespoon of peanut butter evened or a scoop? I notice yesterday you ate 0 cups of Broccoli with dinner. I imagine that is a typo?

If you are having trouble, measure and track everything EXACTLY. Food scale and measuring equipment is a must. No eyeballing it.

Lol...the zero cups of broccoli is just because I haven't figure out how to delete something from my phone. Thought I had broccoli but I was out so I ate green beans instead. but yes, I do measure, count...whatever. I put my peanut butter in a tablespoon and level it out and everything...no guessing.

Your calories seem a bit high as well, but that is just me.

micheleb15

Also, look up In place of a road map. Dan is awesome and can be very helpful.

aimeemanninghunter

Yeah, idk....I did it at the suggestion of others. Now I'm concerned because it seems all the TDEE calculators say something different...

Dragonwolf

Give it time, girl! You only JUST started. --July 4th?? That hasn't even been two weeks! Patience, patience!

You didn't put on several pounds a week, it makes no sense to expect it to come off that fast, either.

Also, I highly recommend NOT upping your deficit to anything past 20%. I'm assuming one of the reasons you want to lose weight is to look nicer, right? There's nothing nice-looking about excessively saggy skin, which is a direct result of losing weight too fast. Going slow gives your skin time to keep up and shrink back normally. You can also risk losing lean muscle mass, which compromises future weight loss, and generally overall makes you feel like crap. I speak from experience, here.

You'd be surprised...I have gained several pounds a week before. Maybe I just need to head back into low carbsville....I don't know. I lose faith quickly....

1. Go talk to your doctor and see about getting some bloodwork done (specifically, insulin, but cholesterol and whatnot are good, too). Not only will this provide you a baseline, but it can also help make sure you're not fighting against a medical condition, and can help you get your macros right.

2. Adjust your macros. MFP is notorious for being off on their macros, and low-fat diets are extremely carb heavy (this can be especially detrimental if your bloodwork comes back with a high fasting glucose level). Additionally, it looks like you might be trying for too much protein. Since you're lifting, you'll want about 1g per pound of lean body mass - so about half of what you have it set for. If your bloodwork comes back and indicates insulin resistance (which you're at high risk of due to your weight and being female), then you'll want to work on decreasing your carbs to a goal of around 100g (give or take, depending on how you feel) and focus on getting them from veggies. Then, fill the rest in with fat, and learn to love dietary fats - believe it or not, they are very good for you! At the basic level, anything but trans fats are good for you. Saturated fats and monounsaturated are better than polyunsaturated. Things like olive oil and coconut oil are awesome oils to keep around.

2a. Even if you don't come back insulin resistant, it might be a good idea to lower the carbs a bit. Lots of carbs tends to promote water retention. Try aiming for under 200g, and again, getting most of it from veggies and the remainder from whole grains.

2b. Look at your carb limit as an upper, and your protein and fat as minimums. You don't want to go over on carbs (especially sugary carbs), but protein is generally good to go over (unless you're doing something like doubling your goal), and healthy fats are good to go over as well (again, barring going WAY over).

3. Be patient! You're looking at too small a time. As someone else said, you didn't gain overnight, so you won't lose overnight. Also, the body starts holding onto water as soon as you start lifting. So even though you just started Saturday, you might even see your weight go UP for a short time. Give it a little more time and see how your body responds. Additionally, you're a woman. For better or for worse, you have to deal with the monthly cycling of hormones and everything that goes with it, including water retention that hides weight loss. Yes, that happens even not during your time of the month (ovulation triggers it, too).

4. Ditch the processed crap and Taco Bell level eating out. I've noticed that there's a number of times where you've eaten out at places like Subway and Taco Bell, and even when you don't eat out, most days see at least some chips or one or more Snicker's Power Bars, or something similar. Ditch them for real food. The Power Bars are little more than glorified candy bars (seriously, there's probably less sugar in a regular Snicker's), and most of that stuff is largely empty calories. When you eat out, go for places that cook with real food (which is pretty much anywhere but Taco Bell). Want a taco? Go to Chipotle and get a burrito bowl. You can actually identify the ingredients, and even watch them cook the stuff. It's probably more filling, too. If you want to avoid sodium, too, try to go above any fast food (even Chipotle and Subway tend to be high in the sodium department). Ideally, you should cook all your meals at home, but sometimes eating out is a part of life, but you can still try to go for the best you can.

Dragonwolf

Give it time, girl! You only JUST started. --July 4th?? That hasn't even been two weeks! Patience, patience!

You didn't put on several pounds a week, it makes no sense to expect it to come off that fast, either.

Also, I highly recommend NOT upping your deficit to anything past 20%. I'm assuming one of the reasons you want to lose weight is to look nicer, right? There's nothing nice-looking about excessively saggy skin, which is a direct result of losing weight too fast. Going slow gives your skin time to keep up and shrink back normally. You can also risk losing lean muscle mass, which compromises future weight loss, and generally overall makes you feel like crap. I speak from experience, here.

You'd be surprised...I have gained several pounds a week before. Maybe I just need to head back into low carbsville....I don't know. I lose faith quickly....

I have, too...It's called weight fluctuations, and being a woman. :laugh:

I meant you didn't gain several pounds of actual FAT in a week. It's almost impossible. You'd almost have to TRY to get the necessary amount of calories for that to happen.

I just mean I have gained several pounds a week for several weeks...not up and down weight flunctuations...I can gain a lot of weight very quickly and easily which is unfortunately why my body is in the state it is now....I've thought about having my thyroid checked but last time I asked a doctor she kind of laughed at me. I lost a lot my first month but that's not atypical...

Get a new doctor.

PikaKnight

You may not be tracking correctly too. Are you measuring everything exactly? Is a tablespoon of butter an actual tablespoon? Is the tablespoon of peanut butter evened or a scoop? I notice yesterday you ate 0 cups of Broccoli with dinner. I imagine that is a typo?

If you are having trouble, measure and track everything EXACTLY. Food scale and measuring equipment is a must. No eyeballing it.

Lol...the zero cups of broccoli is just because I haven't figure out how to delete something from my phone. Thought I had broccoli but I was out so I ate green beans instead. but yes, I do measure, count...whatever. I put my peanut butter in a tablespoon and level it out and everything...no guessing.

You say measure and count...but do you weigh what you eat? Do you use a food scale?

aimeemanninghunter

Give it time, girl! You only JUST started. --July 4th?? That hasn't even been two weeks! Patience, patience!

You didn't put on several pounds a week, it makes no sense to expect it to come off that fast, either.

Also, I highly recommend NOT upping your deficit to anything past 20%. I'm assuming one of the reasons you want to lose weight is to look nicer, right? There's nothing nice-looking about excessively saggy skin, which is a direct result of losing weight too fast. Going slow gives your skin time to keep up and shrink back normally. You can also risk losing lean muscle mass, which compromises future weight loss, and generally overall makes you feel like crap. I speak from experience, here.

You'd be surprised...I have gained several pounds a week before. Maybe I just need to head back into low carbsville....I don't know. I lose faith quickly....

1. Go talk to your doctor and see about getting some bloodwork done (specifically, insulin, but cholesterol and whatnot are good, too). Not only will this provide you a baseline, but it can also help make sure you're not fighting against a medical condition, and can help you get your macros right.

2. Adjust your macros. MFP is notorious for being off on their macros, and low-fat diets are extremely carb heavy (this can be especially detrimental if your bloodwork comes back with a high fasting glucose level). Additionally, it looks like you might be trying for too much protein. Since you're lifting, you'll want about 1g per pound of lean body mass - so about half of what you have it set for. If your bloodwork comes back and indicates insulin resistance (which you're at high risk of due to your weight and being female), then you'll want to work on decreasing your carbs to a goal of around 100g (give or take, depending on how you feel) and focus on getting them from veggies. Then, fill the rest in with fat, and learn to love dietary fats - believe it or not, they are very good for you! At the basic level, anything but trans fats are good for you. Saturated fats and monounsaturated are better than polyunsaturated. Things like olive oil and coconut oil are awesome oils to keep around.

2a. Even if you don't come back insulin resistant, it might be a good idea to lower the carbs a bit. Lots of carbs tends to promote water retention. Try aiming for under 200g, and again, getting most of it from veggies and the remainder from whole grains.

2b. Look at your carb limit as an upper, and your protein and fat as minimums. You don't want to go over on carbs (especially sugary carbs), but protein is generally good to go over (unless you're doing something like doubling your goal), and healthy fats are good to go over as well (again, barring going WAY over).

3. Be patient! You're looking at too small a time. As someone else said, you didn't gain overnight, so you won't lose overnight. Also, the body starts holding onto water as soon as you start lifting. So even though you just started Saturday, you might even see your weight go UP for a short time. Give it a little more time and see how your body responds. Additionally, you're a woman. For better or for worse, you have to deal with the monthly cycling of hormones and everything that goes with it, including water retention that hides weight loss. Yes, that happens even not during your time of the month (ovulation triggers it, too).

4. Ditch the processed crap and Taco Bell level eating out. I've noticed that there's a number of times where you've eaten out at places like Subway and Taco Bell, and even when you don't eat out, most days see at least some chips or one or more Snicker's Power Bars, or something similar. Ditch them for real food. The Power Bars are little more than glorified candy bars (seriously, there's probably less sugar in a regular Snicker's), and most of that stuff is largely empty calories. When you eat out, go for places that cook with real food (which is pretty much anywhere but Taco Bell). Want a taco? Go to Chipotle and get a burrito bowl. You can actually identify the ingredients, and even watch them cook the stuff. It's probably more filling, too. If you want to avoid sodium, too, try to go above any fast food (even Chipotle and Subway tend to be high in the sodium department). Ideally, you should cook all your meals at home, but sometimes eating out is a part of life, but you can still try to go for the best you can.

Thanks....I haven't had insulin or thyroid checks but all my other bloodwork is normal.

I'm not a good planner so sometimes I hit up a fast food place but not generally. I do like to go to subway though.

I plan to go to more whole foods when my financial situation levels out a bit (husband wasn't employed for about a month and a half so kind of catching up right now) and unfortunately, the stuff that is good for you is more expensive. Actually planning to go on a 21 day cleanse of only whole organic foods soon to get rid of toxins in my body and then go to a mediterranean diet as it is beneficial for PCOS. I don't believe I have the insulin resistance associated with PCOS though as my sugar never gets high and I level out to normal within 2 hours of eating (usually with insulin resistance you get hypoglycemic due to insulin overload)

aimeemanninghunter

Give it time, girl! You only JUST started. --July 4th?? That hasn't even been two weeks! Patience, patience!

You didn't put on several pounds a week, it makes no sense to expect it to come off that fast, either.

Also, I highly recommend NOT upping your deficit to anything past 20%. I'm assuming one of the reasons you want to lose weight is to look nicer, right? There's nothing nice-looking about excessively saggy skin, which is a direct result of losing weight too fast. Going slow gives your skin time to keep up and shrink back normally. You can also risk losing lean muscle mass, which compromises future weight loss, and generally overall makes you feel like crap. I speak from experience, here.

You'd be surprised...I have gained several pounds a week before. Maybe I just need to head back into low carbsville....I don't know. I lose faith quickly....

I have, too...It's called weight fluctuations, and being a woman. :laugh:

I meant you didn't gain several pounds of actual FAT in a week. It's almost impossible. You'd almost have to TRY to get the necessary amount of calories for that to happen.

I just mean I have gained several pounds a week for several weeks...not up and down weight flunctuations...I can gain a lot of weight very quickly and easily which is unfortunately why my body is in the state it is now....I've thought about having my thyroid checked but last time I asked a doctor she kind of laughed at me. I lost a lot my first month but that's not atypical...

Get a new doctor.

I don't see her anymore...I moved out of that area and actually draw blood now and it seems like EVERYONE around here gets their thyroid checked....I just need to find a doc I want to go to.

aimeemanninghunter

You may not be tracking correctly too. Are you measuring everything exactly? Is a tablespoon of butter an actual tablespoon? Is the tablespoon of peanut butter evened or a scoop? I notice yesterday you ate 0 cups of Broccoli with dinner. I imagine that is a typo?

If you are having trouble, measure and track everything EXACTLY. Food scale and measuring equipment is a must. No eyeballing it.

Lol...the zero cups of broccoli is just because I haven't figure out how to delete something from my phone. Thought I had broccoli but I was out so I ate green beans instead. but yes, I do measure, count...whatever. I put my peanut butter in a tablespoon and level it out and everything...no guessing.

You say measure and count...but do you weigh what you eat? Do you use a food scale?

Yes

KAS0917

OP - I know you said you try to walk around at work as much as possible, but do you have a desk job? If you do, you would be similar to what I do. In those cases, I don't hit my basic calorie burn without extra effort. If you just add a 40 minute walk, it would probably get you to the base level. I think you may be over-estimating your workout calories. I'd put in as sedentary or lightly active at most.

aimeemanninghunter

OP - I know you said you try to walk around at work as much as possible, but do you have a desk job? If you do, you would be similar to what I do. In those cases, I don't hit my basic calorie burn without extra effort. If you just add a 40 minute walk, it would probably get you to the base level. I think you may be over-estimating your workout calories. I'd put in as sedentary or lightly active at most.

No, I dont' have a desk job...

Dragonwolf

Give it time, girl! You only JUST started. --July 4th?? That hasn't even been two weeks! Patience, patience!

You didn't put on several pounds a week, it makes no sense to expect it to come off that fast, either.

Also, I highly recommend NOT upping your deficit to anything past 20%. I'm assuming one of the reasons you want to lose weight is to look nicer, right? There's nothing nice-looking about excessively saggy skin, which is a direct result of losing weight too fast. Going slow gives your skin time to keep up and shrink back normally. You can also risk losing lean muscle mass, which compromises future weight loss, and generally overall makes you feel like crap. I speak from experience, here.

You'd be surprised...I have gained several pounds a week before. Maybe I just need to head back into low carbsville....I don't know. I lose faith quickly....

1. Go talk to your doctor and see about getting some bloodwork done (specifically, insulin, but cholesterol and whatnot are good, too). Not only will this provide you a baseline, but it can also help make sure you're not fighting against a medical condition, and can help you get your macros right.

2. Adjust your macros. MFP is notorious for being off on their macros, and low-fat diets are extremely carb heavy (this can be especially detrimental if your bloodwork comes back with a high fasting glucose level). Additionally, it looks like you might be trying for too much protein. Since you're lifting, you'll want about 1g per pound of lean body mass - so about half of what you have it set for. If your bloodwork comes back and indicates insulin resistance (which you're at high risk of due to your weight and being female), then you'll want to work on decreasing your carbs to a goal of around 100g (give or take, depending on how you feel) and focus on getting them from veggies. Then, fill the rest in with fat, and learn to love dietary fats - believe it or not, they are very good for you! At the basic level, anything but trans fats are good for you. Saturated fats and monounsaturated are better than polyunsaturated. Things like olive oil and coconut oil are awesome oils to keep around.

2a. Even if you don't come back insulin resistant, it might be a good idea to lower the carbs a bit. Lots of carbs tends to promote water retention. Try aiming for under 200g, and again, getting most of it from veggies and the remainder from whole grains.

2b. Look at your carb limit as an upper, and your protein and fat as minimums. You don't want to go over on carbs (especially sugary carbs), but protein is generally good to go over (unless you're doing something like doubling your goal), and healthy fats are good to go over as well (again, barring going WAY over).

3. Be patient! You're looking at too small a time. As someone else said, you didn't gain overnight, so you won't lose overnight. Also, the body starts holding onto water as soon as you start lifting. So even though you just started Saturday, you might even see your weight go UP for a short time. Give it a little more time and see how your body responds. Additionally, you're a woman. For better or for worse, you have to deal with the monthly cycling of hormones and everything that goes with it, including water retention that hides weight loss. Yes, that happens even not during your time of the month (ovulation triggers it, too).

4. Ditch the processed crap and Taco Bell level eating out. I've noticed that there's a number of times where you've eaten out at places like Subway and Taco Bell, and even when you don't eat out, most days see at least some chips or one or more Snicker's Power Bars, or something similar. Ditch them for real food. The Power Bars are little more than glorified candy bars (seriously, there's probably less sugar in a regular Snicker's), and most of that stuff is largely empty calories. When you eat out, go for places that cook with real food (which is pretty much anywhere but Taco Bell). Want a taco? Go to Chipotle and get a burrito bowl. You can actually identify the ingredients, and even watch them cook the stuff. It's probably more filling, too. If you want to avoid sodium, too, try to go above any fast food (even Chipotle and Subway tend to be high in the sodium department). Ideally, you should cook all your meals at home, but sometimes eating out is a part of life, but you can still try to go for the best you can.

Thanks....I haven't had insulin or thyroid checks but all my other bloodwork is normal.

I'm not a good planner so sometimes I hit up a fast food place but not generally. I do like to go to subway though.

I plan to go to more whole foods when my financial situation levels out a bit (husband wasn't employed for about a month and a half so kind of catching up right now) and unfortunately, the stuff that is good for you is more expensive. Actually planning to go on a 21 day cleanse of only whole organic foods soon to get rid of toxins in my body and then go to a mediterranean diet as it is beneficial for PCOS. I don't believe I have the insulin resistance associated with PCOS though as my sugar never gets high and I level out to normal within 2 hours of eating (usually with insulin resistance you get hypoglycemic due to insulin overload)

You might want to check out the research on Mediterranian vs Paleo for insulin resistance. I don't know if there's been anything for PCOS, specifically, but the research that is there is pretty fascinating.

As for the whole foods thing - it often works out to be less expensive if you know where to look. Eating a whole food diet doesn't require shopping at Whole Foods. Look around for local co-ops, farmer's markets, and farms. (For that matter, even when we were broke, when I was without a job, we actually ate better, because we weren't eating out.)