Why am I still so heavy?!
Options
Replies
-
I hear ya! I've hit a plateau and not seen any movement on the scale since Christmas! It's driving me spare. I'd love your 2lb loss please!
Do you measure? Sometimes the scales are just being mean but actually other things are telling you more. Measurements can change noticeably while the scale stays resolutely stuck. Or your trousers feel looser. Or your colleagues suddenly start to notice.
If you're getting married in July you'll be down another stone at that rate, that's not bad at all!
Keeping on going is the biggest hurdle.
Good luck!3 -
There are not "types of calories" any more than there are "types of inches". How many calories you eat is the key for weight loss.
So you are saying if a person consumes say 1400 calories as as chocolate bars versus 1400 calories as vegetarian food they will still lose weight? At what cost to the body?
Carbohydrate calories definitely effect the way the body stores or burns fat. It's even posted on the MFP blog
https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/ask-the-dietitian-is-a-calorie-a-calorie-2/
I am saying that if someone speaks of "types of calories", they are either (1) intentionally using a synecdoche (one that creates confusion in readers), (2) not communicating clearly, or (3) not thinking clearly . . . or perhaps all three.
Calories are units for measuring energy content. That's it. They're like inches. There are not "cloth inches" and "boulder inches". There's only one type of inches, and the inch measurement is just one property of something (like cloth or a boulder), that has other properties. (For example, I'd prefer to wear something made of cloth vs. boulders.)
Similarly, calories measure one (and only one) property of food, the energy content. One would get different nutrients from chocolate bars than broccoli, of course. (Most chocolate bars are vegetarian: Trust me, I've been been vegetarian for 45 years now. Your original comparison of chocolate bars vs. vegetarian food makes zero sense. Not only are many chocolate bars vegetarian, but you're comparing a mono-diet to a balanced diet.)
Also, as someone else pointed out, the very next paragraph in my PP, from which you selectively snipped the passage you quoted, was:Nutrition is relevant to weight loss via how your food choices affect satiation (so compliance with calorie goal) or energy level (so you don't become fatigued and less active in daily life, burning fewer calories).
. . . and they're both short paragraphs, so that was hard to miss, I would think.
I didn't comment on nutrition and health at all, but obviously chocolate is nutritionally different from broccoli is different from skin-less steamed chicken breast is different from walnuts. Depending on one's day, any of those might be suitable, or even preferred.
The very first paragraph of the blog you link says "according to the laws of thermodymanics, yes, all calories are created equal", then goes on to explain that different macronutrients follow different biochemical pathways to be converted to usable energy in the body, and that each macronutrient has a different effect on the body, as do different individual foods. Unfortunately, the blog post - while largely factually correct - is using "calories" as a synecdoche, metaphor or metonymy, creating unnecessary confusion.
I don't know the effect of consuming all one's calories from chocolate bars vs. vegetarian food (still an absurd comparison, BTW), because the "all chocolate bars" diet is a really stupid idea that no one has proposed. I believe that either of those two diets (at 1400 calories) would have approximately the same effect on bodyweight in the short run, if all other things could be held equal (like activity level, especially). In the longer run, "all chocolate bars" would have a deleterious effect on health and energy level, possibly causing nutritional deficiencies, which could result in wasting or excess fat storage - I'm not sure which. But again, no one has proposed such an idiotic thing (except your post).
None of that means there are different types of calories, for the same reason there aren't different types of inches, or degrees centigrade, or any other measurement unit, because they're just measurement units.18 -
Weigh all of you food.
I am 5'10" and 14 stone 5 pounds. I use my Fitbit to figure out my calorie intake. I found I lost better eating 2400 calories than when I ate 2000. I lost 1lb a week and didn't plateau.1 -
There are not "types of calories" any more than there are "types of inches". How many calories you eat is the key for weight loss.
So you are saying if a person consumes say 1400 calories as as chocolate bars versus 1400 calories as vegetarian food they will still lose weight? At what cost to the body?
Carbohydrate calories definitely effect the way the body stores or burns fat. It's even posted on the MFP blog
https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/ask-the-dietitian-is-a-calorie-a-calorie-2/
Yes. They will. Probably the same cost to the body as if they ate 1400 calories of tuna or kale or apples. You can't meet your nutritional needs on a monodiet. Depending on the chocolate bar (The nuts in Snickers or Almond Joy add some protein), it might be a healthier choice. I mean, Snickers or Iceberg Lettuce... which one's got more nutrients? PS: I ONLY eat vegetarian food. Which chocolate bars are you eating that contain meat/fish/poultry?
Most vegetarian food is high carb, btw. Which stands to reason. Fruits and veg are mainly carbs. Even the ones that are also good sources of fat or protein.3 -
estherdragonbat wrote: »PS: I ONLY eat vegetarian food. Which chocolate bars are you eating that contain meat/fish/poultry?
Excuse my ignorance here. Wouldn't the milk products be considered non-vegetarian? Or are they just non-vegan?
Just curious.
0 -
Tacklewasher wrote: »estherdragonbat wrote: »PS: I ONLY eat vegetarian food. Which chocolate bars are you eating that contain meat/fish/poultry?
Excuse my ignorance here. Wouldn't the milk products be considered non-vegetarian? Or are they just non-vegan?
Just curious.
Just non-vegan.0 -
Tacklewasher wrote: »estherdragonbat wrote: »PS: I ONLY eat vegetarian food. Which chocolate bars are you eating that contain meat/fish/poultry?
Excuse my ignorance here. Wouldn't the milk products be considered non-vegetarian? Or are they just non-vegan?
Just curious.
Just non-vegan.
Exactly. I'm ovo-lacto.1 -
estherdragonbat wrote: »There are not "types of calories" any more than there are "types of inches". How many calories you eat is the key for weight loss.
So you are saying if a person consumes say 1400 calories as as chocolate bars versus 1400 calories as vegetarian food they will still lose weight? At what cost to the body?
Carbohydrate calories definitely effect the way the body stores or burns fat. It's even posted on the MFP blog
https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/ask-the-dietitian-is-a-calorie-a-calorie-2/
Yes. They will. Probably the same cost to the body as if they ate 1400 calories of tuna or kale or apples. You can't meet your nutritional needs on a monodiet. Depending on the chocolate bar (The nuts in Snickers or Almond Joy add some protein), it might be a healthier choice. I mean, Snickers or Iceberg Lettuce... which one's got more nutrients? PS: I ONLY eat vegetarian food. Which chocolate bars are you eating that contain meat/fish/poultry?
Most vegetarian food is high carb, btw. Which stands to reason. Fruits and veg are mainly carbs. Even the ones that are also good sources of fat or protein.
Just for the record, it's a thing.
No sure what the PP would think about "bacon chocolate bar calories". I know what I think (I'm ovo-lacto veg, too).3 -
estherdragonbat wrote: »There are not "types of calories" any more than there are "types of inches". How many calories you eat is the key for weight loss.
So you are saying if a person consumes say 1400 calories as as chocolate bars versus 1400 calories as vegetarian food they will still lose weight? At what cost to the body?
Carbohydrate calories definitely effect the way the body stores or burns fat. It's even posted on the MFP blog
https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/ask-the-dietitian-is-a-calorie-a-calorie-2/
Yes. They will. Probably the same cost to the body as if they ate 1400 calories of tuna or kale or apples. You can't meet your nutritional needs on a monodiet. Depending on the chocolate bar (The nuts in Snickers or Almond Joy add some protein), it might be a healthier choice. I mean, Snickers or Iceberg Lettuce... which one's got more nutrients? PS: I ONLY eat vegetarian food. Which chocolate bars are you eating that contain meat/fish/poultry?
Most vegetarian food is high carb, btw. Which stands to reason. Fruits and veg are mainly carbs. Even the ones that are also good sources of fat or protein.
Just for the record, it's a thing.
No sure what the PP would think about "bacon chocolate bar calories". I know what I think (I'm ovo-lacto veg, too).
I'm also strictly kosher
No WONDER I didn't know about this! 2 -
Blimey that escalated! 🤣
Sorry for the “different types of calories” comment. I don’t deny I don’t know anything about nutrition. I’m learning. Lost 1 this week and actually ate a few more calories than last week.
2 -
@angelb1983 I don’t ever have cheat days. They make me feel rubbish! However I did this week and evens ate a few of my calories from exercise. Lost 1 this week (usually use 1/2) so I’m delighted!2
-
PrincessTwista wrote: »@angelb1983 I don’t ever have cheat days. They make me feel rubbish! However I did this week and evens ate a few of my calories from exercise. Lost 1 this week (usually use 1/2) so I’m delighted!
Going forward, know that you will have weeks when you didn't overeat, yet the scale doesn't reflect that success. That's because when you weighed yourself, the number only reflects what you weighed at that precise moment and can be influenced by temporary water weight gain from your menstrual cycle, exercise or a meal the previous day that was high in sodium.
Tl;dr: The scale will eventually reflect the weight you deserve. Just not necessarily on the day you think you deserve it.
5 -
PrincessTwista wrote: »Hi all, I’m 5ft 10 and just over 15 stone. I’d like to loose 2 n a half stone. I’ve lost 5 1/2 stone using slimming World/ weight watchers over the past 3 years but haven’t really lost any weight since November.
I’ve been using my fitness pal for 18 day and only lost 2 pound. I know everyone keeps saying “a loss is a loss! Better than a gain” but seriously. I’m seriously overweight. Why is it so slow?!
I have 1800 calories a day. I should lose 2 pound a week on that deficit. I count every single thing that passes my lips. I was even weighing some broccoli last night as I wasn’t sure how much a cup was! I work out 5 times a week and never, ever eat back them calories. I’ve just finished an 11km run and do HIIT sessions and cardio core session with a small group- it’s not like I’m just doing yoga!
I feel like I’ll never get to my desired weight. I was going to reduce my calories more but was advised against it as I’m active all day and do exercise.
I feel like peope see I’m fat and just assume I lie about what I eat. Any advice?!
What I want to know is why everyone is such a jerk about yoga?0 -
Weigh all of you food.
I am 5'10" and 14 stone 5 pounds. I use my Fitbit to figure out my calorie intake. I found I lost better eating 2400 calories than when I ate 2000. I lost 1lb a week and didn't plateau.
I’m a similar height/weight and I have found the exact same thing. Too few calories/heavy exercise = agonizingly slow weight loss. Slightly higher calories/heavy exercise = steady weight loss of about 1 pound/week. Too few calories and my resting heart rate drops to 48 (I’m not that fit!), I’m constipated and tired. At about 1900-2000 calories (+ exercise) I lose weight, my heart rate rebounds to its normal 60 bpm, and I have energy. So OP, given how hard you’re working out, you might want to try going up just a little in calories. Then re-evaluate after a few weeks.1 -
There are a number of factors to consider. First, if you weigh yourself everyday, stop! Weight can fluctuate rapidly through the day just like blood pressure. Once a week is sufficient.
I disagree. Weighing yourself every day will give you data on how your body holds sodium, water fluctuations, what your body does at that time of the month.
You will see trends and be able to see why you are up a few pounds and realize that it is not fat, but rather some other fluctuation.
Weighing once a week will give you your weight for that day and that particular time only. It won't show you that you were down two pounds a few days ago and that the trend is heading downward, rather than staying stagnant or even going up.
I recommend downloading an app like Libra or Happy Scale and recording your weight every day to see your trends.
I weigh everyday to see my ranges. Last month was 216 to 219; this month 209 to 212; I’m trending down. If I have a weird spike I can examine what happened, sodium, need more water etc.... I started in Nov at 236, and I weigh 3-4 times a day....keeps me honest.2 -
So you can weigh more because of sodium? What are the reasons for your body holding water? X0
-
Often it has to do with healing/tissue repair. Up your exercise and expect a temporary uptick in weight. Most women experience water retention at a certain point in their cycle, too. (I generally retain more water shortly before my period starts and lose it during. I know there are some people who retain water during and lose it after.) I know when I had surgery, I took on about 8lbs of water weight while I healed.
One thing you can do to shed water more quickly, though it sounds counter-intuitive, is increase your fluids. As I had it explained to me, your body needs water to repair itself. So it starts hanging onto it. When you drink more, a message goes out to your kidneys, "Hey, we actually don't have a fluids shortage; there's plenty coming in. So go ahead and release those reserves."0 -
So you can weigh more because of sodium? What are the reasons for your body holding water? X
Fluctuations in water retention are just part of how healthy bodies operate:
More sodium consumed than normal, more carbs consumed than normal (even when perfectly sensible amounts of either, within calorie goal); inflammation from healing or illness, including the micro-healing involved with a new workout; hot weather; hormonal changes (menstrual cycle related for women, but there are also other similar causes); stress/cortisol; . . . and I'm sure I'm forgetting some.0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 391.3K Introduce Yourself
- 43.4K Getting Started
- 259.6K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.6K Food and Nutrition
- 47.3K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 387 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.7K Motivation and Support
- 7.8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.2K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.2K MyFitnessPal Information
- 22 News and Announcements
- 911 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.3K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions