Help..please..not getting anywhere.

TonyaLeeC

Hello all..If I may, I would like to ask for guidance. I lost 10 lbs last year by logging food and exercising.I was happy with that.. and gained it all back..this time I am having an awful time losing. Now, I have been taking collagen protein and love it..I have no more aches and pains..I also started taking a fiber supplement for constipation..I log food and exercise, just like before..I am not losing weight..it has been a month.. I am up a lb or two..but my measurements have not changed..maybe 1/2 inch in the waist...I just don't get it...discouraged..any help much appreciated..

quiksylver296

Do you use a food scale to weigh your food?

Panini911

quiksylver296 wrote: »

Do you use a food scale to weigh your food?

this. how accurately are you measuring and logging. and are you being accurate and logging EVERYTHING.

TonyaLeeC

I have not used a food scale...I never did the first time either..and lost weight then...perhaps I should get one...I do think I am logging everything....thank you

TonyaLeeC

So strange that I am doing the exact same thing as first time around and no progress..wondering if the collagen and fiber is adding bulk..since only the weight changes, not my measures...

quiksylver296

Here are a couple good threads to read through, reference a food scale:

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10697068/how-i-stopped-kidding-myself/p1

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10634517/you-dont-use-a-food-scale/p1

funjen1972

We might be able to help more if we knew your stats -

Current weight
Goal weight
Current calorie consumption
Set rate of loss
Exercise calories total/eaten

garystrickland357

I'm pretty sure I have money in the bank. I haven't checked the bank statement - but I know I didn't spend much.
I'm pretty sure I have gas in the car. The gauge is broken - but I keep track of how far I drive.
I have a great pharmacist - he can just eyeball how much medicine to put in my bottle. He's been at this a while.
Silly statements, huh?

If you eat at a calorie deficit then over time you will lose weight.
If you don't weigh your food then you don't know how much you are eating.
If you are not losing weight over time - you are not at a calorie deficit.

There endeth the lesson.

cheryldumais

A lot of things affect our rate of loss, age, activity level and the biggest one of course is calories. Last time you might have been more active? Or you are miscalculating your calories somewhere along the line. Double check the items you use from the database as some are miles off. If you are suspicious of an entry check the USDA website to see if it is reasonable.

I would get the food scale it might surprise you. I don't always weigh everything but when I do I find I often underestimated how much I was eating. I'm at maintenance but if my weight starts to creep up I start using it more to ensure I truly know how much I'm eating.

You did it once you can surely do it again but it might take some time. Just keep plugging along.

OldAssDude

Are you taking protein to build muscle?

If you are building muscle, that could be the reason.

successgal1

I restarted a month ago too. Last time too I lost weight faster in the beginning. This time my body chose to retain more water than ever from cycling, newbie gains too, but my clothes were fitting better. It was a full 4 weeks before the scale finally budged. My legs have finally adapted a bit to the workout and aren't hanging on to as much water.

AnnPT77

OldAssDude wrote: »

Are you taking protein to build muscle?

If you are building muscle, that could be the reason.

Sadly, no. Just taking protein is not a way to gain measurable muscle. And all the actual, real ways to add muscle mass are really, really slow . . . like, a quarter pound of muscle mass added per week would be a stellar result for a woman, and would usually require a calorie surplus *and* a well-designed proressive weight trainung program.

Unfortunately, something else is going on, for OP.

kimny72

TonyaLeeC wrote: »

So strange that I am doing the exact same thing as first time around and no progress..wondering if the collagen and fiber is adding bulk..since only the weight changes, not my measures...

There's a thing called "portion creep". Many of us find that if you aren't accurately measuring portion size, what we see as a portion gets subtley larger and larger over time, you don't even notice it. So you might think you are logging the same amount, but you are stuffing a tiny bit more into the measuring cup. It's also possible your lifestyle was just a smidge more active the first time, and that little extra activity that you wouldn't even notice was evening out any out of whack portion sizes you were logging.

Even if you only use the food scale for a couple of weeks, I bet it will shine a light on the problem. Good luck!

Seffell

garystrickland357 wrote: »

I'm pretty sure I have money in the bank. I haven't checked the bank statement - but I know I didn't spend much.
I'm pretty sure I have gas in the car. The gauge is broken - but I keep track of how far I drive.
I have a great pharmacist - he can just eyeball how much medicine to put in my bottle. He's been at this a while.
Silly statements, huh?

If you eat at a calorie deficit then over time you will lose weight.
If you don't weigh your food then you don't know how much you are eating.
If you are not losing weight over time - you are not at a calorie deficit.

There endeth the lesson.

I luv u

AnvilHead

Best, most thorough and detailed article I've ever read on the topic - every possible reason in the world that you're not losing weight. Well worth a read: https://www.aworkoutroutine.com/why-am-i-not-losing-weight/

TonyaLeeC

Thank you all...it is nice to hear from others in the same boat so to speak...I mentioned it to a person and got a lecture on how "we should not be in an adversarial relationship with our bodies" LOL bless her I need support not a lecture!! I will get a food scale ..all your points have been taken and I will do this!! Not feeling quite so depressed now..

countcurt

TonyaLeeC wrote: »

Thank you all...it is nice to hear from others in the same boat so to speak...I mentioned it to a person and got a lecture on how "we should not be in an adversarial relationship with our bodies" LOL bless her I need support not a lecture!! I will get a food scale ..all your points have been taken and I will do this!! Not feeling quite so depressed now..

I gotta have that put onto a bumper sticker. What the eff does that even mean?

In the meantime, the food scale is a great step. It’s a very helpful tool in getting those caloric counts accurate. Also keep in mind that those supplements can contain calories and just ‘cuz they’re medicinal they still have to be counted.

PAV8888

AnvilHead wrote: »

Best, most thorough and detailed article I've ever read on the topic - every possible reason in the world that you're not losing weight. Well worth a read: https://www.aworkoutroutine.com/why-am-i-not-losing-weight/

You know... that article probably takes care of half the forum posts!

AnvilHead

PAV8888 wrote: »

AnvilHead wrote: »

Best, most thorough and detailed article I've ever read on the topic - every possible reason in the world that you're not losing weight. Well worth a read: https://www.aworkoutroutine.com/why-am-i-not-losing-weight/

You know... that article probably takes care of half the forum posts!

He really did a good job on that one. It’s a very solid contribution to the nutrition/weight loss arena. It’s long, but worth a read for anybody who wants to know how things really work, without all the woo and pseudoscience.