Need Help / Have Questions

sreavis

I have been using My Fitness Pal for about 6 weeks. I have lost 4 pounds. I am a little frustrated and I don't understand what I am doing wrong. I am always under my recommended daily calories and I work out for one hour, five times a week burning between 400 - 700 calories. What am I doing wrong? I feel like I should have lost a little more. Do I need to eat the recommended daily calories plus the calories I burn during workouts?

dacspace

Are you under the recommended daily calories prior to the exercise calories? If so, then I suggest eating at least the minimum calories that MFP is suggesting based on the information you gave it. Undereating can actually hinder your progress instead of move it forward. As far as eating back exercise calories, there are varying thoughts on this... I personally try not to eat them back but I know others who do. I think it's more about trial and error based on your specific body.

diannethegeek

Yes, MFP is designed for you to eat up to your goal and then extra calories when you exercise. Your diary is closed so we can't see what you're doing already. How far under your goal are you? How many calories are you netting a day?

Also, it looks like you only have 20 pounds to go, is that right? If so, 4 pounds in 6 weeks really isn't bad progress. Weight loss takes time and it gets slower as you get closer and closer to goal.

MoreBean13

Yes eat back your calories. You should aim to be at 0 at the end of the day with your exercise logged, not with cals leftover.

4 lbs in 6 weeks isn't bad though. My first 6 weeks here I lost zero pounds. How are your clothes fitting? Are you taking body measurements?

MinnieInMaine

With the amount of weight you have to lose (per your ticker), 1/2 a pound per week is reasonable so you're actually right on track. Only people who are very overweight/obese can lose 1-2 pounds per week and even then it still takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Stop being so hard on yourself!!

Your calorie goal is just that, a goal, not something to try to come in under. Once you reset your weekly weight loss goal to 1/2 pound per week, make sure you are meeting that goal every day. Going over by 100 calories now and then is not a "cheat, it's just an extra snack. It takes 3500 calories over goal to gain a pound so a couple hundred over now and then isn't going to make you stall or gain. Also eat back at least half of your exercise calories. This is how MFP was intended to work. You need to fuel the body to make it work the way you want it to. Starvation is old school and unhealthy.

Take body measurements and progress pics. With less to lose, the scale may not reflect much of a change but you may be losing inches and "reshaping", especailly with regular exercise.

sreavis

Thank you for all the quick responses! I was under my daily recommended calories before exercise calories. I will definitely try getting closer to my daily recommended calories. Then I will have to play around with my exercise calories. MinnieInMaine, you are right, I am really hard on myself and need to be more positive. My clothes are definitely looser. I need to take measurements so that I won't feel so disappointed.