Share your Numbers
Replies
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I'm also wondering if I've been feeling more hunger the past two weeks because I can't exercise right now. I live in Portland, air quality has been hazardous since Labor Day - even indoor exercise is not advised. I'm not burning as much, so I'm not eating as much either.
At any rate, as depressing as it is to live in smokeland, this is good practice for eating at maintenance without exercise. Because you know down the road, something like this is going to happen again. An injury, an illness will stop me from being able to exercise and I need to learn to adjust my calories accordingly. In the past, that was what always started a regain. I would be doing great - not really monitoring anything because I was burning so much and then boom - injury took me out of commission, but I kept eating like I was burning 2700 calories a day. Then when the injury healed, I'd gained weight and it was harder to get back to it so I threw in the towel.
Lots of lessons there: "not monitoring anything", "harder to get back to it", "threw in the towel". These are pitfalls I need to watch for the rest of my life.4 -
Hooray, it is the one week of the month when my scale weight drops! I was down to 194.8 yesterday (195.2 today). I expect to see another pound or so drop this week, then back to the water weight game until next month. The slow scale progress has been annoying me, and also giving me an excuse to eat closer to maintenance (I won't see a drop on the scale this week anyway, so why not...), so I'm trying to re-focus on hitting my calorie goal as my measure of success, instead of the scale number. This worked for me all spring, when I didn't weigh for 3 months because I was out of scale batteries, so I know I can get back in that mindset.
@speyerj - I have had that exact same issue, and I was really worried about adding in exercise when I finally started that this spring. Of course I did manage to injure myself (though the plantar fasciitis is finally improving!), and it was the first time I consciously matched my calories to my sudden decrease in activity. That being said, it was NOT easy! Good practice, but certainly not fun. Hope you are staying safe!3 -
Age: 45
Height: 5’1
SW: 307.8 lbs
CW: 300.8
GW: 125
I have not eaten over my calorie daily limit so I’m hopeful that it’s water weight or hormonal issues that has my scale going in the wrong direction.
It went up a pound mid week then down again. I’m going to try not to weigh again until next Monday.2 -
I’m in that super impatient time. I am so close to one of my major goals and it just can’t get here fast enough. Slow and steady wins this race but dang if I don’t want to kick that turtle on the behind! 1.5 lbs to onderland.
On a brighter note the completely made up “of everyday were like today in 5 weeks you will weigh” part of my day had my end goal weight on it. If only. Lol.5 -
Weigh-in Day...
Age:52
Height: 5'10"
Starting weight 9/1/20: 324.1
Goal weight - under 200 (-125 lbs)
Weight as of today 9/15/20: 316.4
Sept 1-8: 320.3 (3.8 lbs)
Sept 9-15 316.4 (3.9 lbs)
Sept 16-22 315.4 (1 lb)
Total Weight Loss: 8.7 lbs
Tough week of yoyo-ing. I got off to a great start and then the wheels really came off this week. "Just keep swimming..."1 -
Today is the end of Week 9 since I started my ~lifestyle change~ and I'm pretty happy with the results I'm seeing. 16.4 pounds down and -2" on each of my bust, waist, and hip measurements.4
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Yup! 😘
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27804272/
The "easy version" of the above (converted to actionable advice) sounds remarkably CLOSE to what I advocate: it's the **long term sustainable process** that should eventually lead to the results that we actually want that we want to try and nail---not fixate on the results directly!
It can be found near the end of this "interview": https://www.nutritionaction.com/daily/diet-and-weight-loss/a-leading-researcher-explains-the-obesity-epidemic/
On the good news side, the anecdotal evidence is that as long as things have not been too extreme after a long enough time at maintenance things tend to normalize.
I was definitely way more hungry and fixated on food at the tail end of faster weight loss 5 years ago, and had I not been pushing for continued slow loss over the next year I would have been much more likely to have rebounded. It took 2+ years post faster weight loss for things to start feeling easier.... Easier enough that I stopped looking at my data on a monthly basis (or even at all) unless I wanted to write a post about something!!! 😹
Btw, I am NOT confirming the calories per lb he discusses. In my experience the effect was, I would argue, smaller. It could, of course, be luck of the draw, but in general, I've proven quite... average!!!
I have not had a persistent hunger issue (yet). I have had some minor spells and a few major spells. Volume eating serves me pretty well during the minor ones. A few extra maintenance days or a full break helps with the major ones.
I am a big fan of compromise and controlling hunger through food but it is worth pointing out, again, that once enough calories are consumed hunger does not need to be satisfied at all. It is not an emergency and treating it that way is a slippery slope. I have a bad habit of eating too fast and trying to abate unnecessary hunger without restraint will often end with me overshooting the mark.
4 -
Yup! 😘
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27804272/
The "easy version" of the above (converted to actionable advice) sounds remarkably CLOSE to what I advocate: it's the **long term sustainable process** that should eventually lead to the results that we actually want that we want to try and nail---not fixate on the results directly!
It can be found near the end of this "interview": https://www.nutritionaction.com/daily/diet-and-weight-loss/a-leading-researcher-explains-the-obesity-epidemic/
On the good news side, the anecdotal evidence is that as long as things have not been too extreme after a long enough time at maintenance things tend to normalize.
I was definitely way more hungry and fixated on food at the tail end of faster weight loss 5 years ago, and had I not been pushing for continued slow loss over the next year I would have been much more likely to have rebounded. It took 2+ years post faster weight loss for things to start feeling easier.... Easier enough that I stopped looking at my data on a monthly basis (or even at all) unless I wanted to write a post about something!!! 😹
Btw, I am NOT confirming the calories per lb he discusses. In my experience the effect was, I would argue, smaller. It could, of course, be luck of the draw, but in general, I've proven quite... average!!!
I have not had a persistent hunger issue (yet). I have had some minor spells and a few major spells. Volume eating serves me pretty well during the minor ones. A few extra maintenance days or a full break helps with the major ones.
I am a big fan of compromise and controlling hunger through food but it is worth pointing out, again, that once enough calories are consumed hunger does not need to be satisfied at all. It is not an emergency and treating it that way is a slippery slope. I have a bad habit of eating too fast and trying to abate unnecessary hunger without restraint will often end with me overshooting the mark.
This really stood out to me (the whole last paragraph, actually). I definitely tend toward "hanger", but as I've gone through this weight loss process, I've started to figure some things out. I think I misunderstood hunger as anxiety for a long while. Hunger felt like an emergency - one to be fixed as soon as possible - and that emergency/panic type feeling is very anxiety-like. Since I fight with anxiety on a daily basis anyway, eating became an easy way to make that one specific anxious-type feeling go away. I also tend to eat too fast and too much and overdoing it.
Through July and August my hunger was quite a bit higher than normal, and I started to feel anxious about being hungry again - like I had to eat right away to fix it. I've been adjusting my diet to get the hunger under control, but also trying consciously just sit with my hunger sometimes. I'm absolutely getting enough calories to function and be healthy, so I've tried doing almost some exposure therapy on myself. Sit with the hunger for 10 minutes, then I can eat. Then sit with it for 20, 30 minutes. I found pretty quickly that once I sit with it, the anxious feelings subside, and I'm left with just plain, normal hunger. Which, turns out, isn't an emergency after all! But it is such a hard habit to break. I had worked past it at one point already, so it definitely is something I'm going to have to remain vigilant about going forward.3 -
200.8. For the love of God come on!! Lol trust the process and it will happen but come on already!6
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]Age: 45
Height: 5’1
SW: 307.8 lbs
CW: 300
GW: 125
I am very disappointed in these numbers. I weigh my food and stay under my goal all but one day. I am in that time of the month so hopefully I will see better results soon.
I have to remember a lot bit down is better than a little bit up!
3 -
_inHisGrace wrote: »]Age: 45
Height: 5’1
SW: 307.8 lbs
CW: 300
GW: 125
I am very disappointed in these numbers. I weigh my food and stay under my goal all but one day. I am in that time of the month so hopefully I will see better results soon.
I have to remember a lot bit down is better than a little bit up!
Do you stay on track all but one day a week or did you go over one day?0 -
_inHisGrace wrote: »]Age: 45
Height: 5’1
SW: 307.8 lbs
CW: 300
GW: 125
I am very disappointed in these numbers. I weigh my food and stay under my goal all but one day. I am in that time of the month so hopefully I will see better results soon.
I have to remember a lot bit down is better than a little bit up!
As long as you are tracking accurately, that loss is coming! It might not show on the scale yet, but it is definitely happening. It will show up sooner or later!
1 -
conniewilkins56 wrote: »_inHisGrace wrote: »]Age: 45
Height: 5’1
SW: 307.8 lbs
CW: 300
GW: 125
I am very disappointed in these numbers. I weigh my food and stay under my goal all but one day. I am in that time of the month so hopefully I will see better results soon.
I have to remember a lot bit down is better than a little bit up!
Do you stay on track all but one day a week or did you go over one day?
I went over one day since August 24
1 -
I hope so! Thank you for the support!_inHisGrace wrote: »]Age: 45
Height: 5’1
SW: 307.8 lbs
CW: 300
GW: 125
I am very disappointed in these numbers. I weigh my food and stay under my goal all but one day. I am in that time of the month so hopefully I will see better results soon.
I have to remember a lot bit down is better than a little bit up!
As long as you are tracking accurately, that loss is coming! It might not show on the scale yet, but it is definitely happening. It will show up sooner or later!
1 -
Yup! 😘
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27804272/
The "easy version" of the above (converted to actionable advice) sounds remarkably CLOSE to what I advocate: it's the **long term sustainable process** that should eventually lead to the results that we actually want that we want to try and nail---not fixate on the results directly!
It can be found near the end of this "interview": https://www.nutritionaction.com/daily/diet-and-weight-loss/a-leading-researcher-explains-the-obesity-epidemic/
On the good news side, the anecdotal evidence is that as long as things have not been too extreme after a long enough time at maintenance things tend to normalize.
I was definitely way more hungry and fixated on food at the tail end of faster weight loss 5 years ago, and had I not been pushing for continued slow loss over the next year I would have been much more likely to have rebounded. It took 2+ years post faster weight loss for things to start feeling easier.... Easier enough that I stopped looking at my data on a monthly basis (or even at all) unless I wanted to write a post about something!!! 😹
Btw, I am NOT confirming the calories per lb he discusses. In my experience the effect was, I would argue, smaller. It could, of course, be luck of the draw, but in general, I've proven quite... average!!!
I have not had a persistent hunger issue (yet). I have had some minor spells and a few major spells. Volume eating serves me pretty well during the minor ones. A few extra maintenance days or a full break helps with the major ones.
I am a big fan of compromise and controlling hunger through food but it is worth pointing out, again, that once enough calories are consumed hunger does not need to be satisfied at all. It is not an emergency and treating it that way is a slippery slope. I have a bad habit of eating too fast and trying to abate unnecessary hunger without restraint will often end with me overshooting the mark.
This really stood out to me (the whole last paragraph, actually). I definitely tend toward "hanger", but as I've gone through this weight loss process, I've started to figure some things out. I think I misunderstood hunger as anxiety for a long while. Hunger felt like an emergency - one to be fixed as soon as possible - and that emergency/panic type feeling is very anxiety-like. Since I fight with anxiety on a daily basis anyway, eating became an easy way to make that one specific anxious-type feeling go away. I also tend to eat too fast and too much and overdoing it.
Through July and August my hunger was quite a bit higher than normal, and I started to feel anxious about being hungry again - like I had to eat right away to fix it. I've been adjusting my diet to get the hunger under control, but also trying consciously just sit with my hunger sometimes. I'm absolutely getting enough calories to function and be healthy, so I've tried doing almost some exposure therapy on myself. Sit with the hunger for 10 minutes, then I can eat. Then sit with it for 20, 30 minutes. I found pretty quickly that once I sit with it, the anxious feelings subside, and I'm left with just plain, normal hunger. Which, turns out, isn't an emergency after all! But it is such a hard habit to break. I had worked past it at one point already, so it definitely is something I'm going to have to remain vigilant about going forward.
That last sentence could not be more true and I am willing to bet it is true for all of us. Maybe when it is has been years it won't be as much of an issue but those old habit grooves run deep and my new habits run shallow. It is easy to slip back into the old grooves because they are so stinking automatic. Logging daily without fail brings me back to a state of awareness even if it is too late for the day I do not often repeat less aware days anymore.
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Haha it doesn't feel fair. I already fixed this habit once, can't I just move on and do it forever now?
Logging daily has been so helpful for me as well, especially the mindset around it. In previous weight loss attempts, I logged daily, but I only used it as a tracking tool, not a learning tool. When the goal was "hit your calories every day and your goal weight on schedule," I'd feel like I failed if I missed either (which I did frequently). But when the goal became "log your food, be close to your calories most of the time, and figure out how to make it easier," the only way to fail now is to quit. The fifteen months and 63 lbs of (relatively easy) success so far still shocks me.4 -
Haha it doesn't feel fair. I already fixed this habit once, can't I just move on and do it forever now?
Logging daily has been so helpful for me as well, especially the mindset around it. In previous weight loss attempts, I logged daily, but I only used it as a tracking tool, not a learning tool. When the goal was "hit your calories every day and your goal weight on schedule," I'd feel like I failed if I missed either (which I did frequently). But when the goal became "log your food, be close to your calories most of the time, and figure out how to make it easier," the only way to fail now is to quit. The fifteen months and 63 lbs of (relatively easy) success so far still shocks me.
Testify!!
It is amazing how much easier it got when I decided to get out of my own way. There was still unpleasantness and bad days but there was a lot of just normal days. They were an adjusted normal but normal enough.3 -
Been a weird scale time for me over the last little bit. I have yet to see all the rest of my water weight go from vacation/maintenance. Very unusual and annoying since I still haven't seen onederland yet even though I have been projected there for over 2 weeks.3
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ONEDERLAND!!! Finally hit 199.1 this morning. It’s about dang time. Lol10
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Scale was down to 221.8 lbs this morning, which is 1 lb down from my all time low at the end of August, which means for the entire month of September, I lost 1 actual pound. Measurements did not change this month, either. I'm frustrated but learning to live with it because I can't do anything about it - I'm not going to make the goal I set for myself to be at 220 lbs by my Monday appointment to see my doctor.
So I'm holding true to my pattern - lose really well in spring, slow down in summer, stall out by start of Autumn *sigh* Here's hoping that this time around on that merry go round that I at least can recognize what is happening and prevent the regain cycle that usually follows next. We'll see - you'd think after 3 years and 150 lbs that I'd have gotten some kind of control, but apparently not......6 -
bmeadows380 wrote: »Scale was down to 221.8 lbs this morning, which is 1 lb down from my all time low at the end of August, which means for the entire month of September, I lost 1 actual pound. Measurements did not change this month, either. I'm frustrated but learning to live with it because I can't do anything about it - I'm not going to make the goal I set for myself to be at 220 lbs by my Monday appointment to see my doctor.
So I'm holding true to my pattern - lose really well in spring, slow down in summer, stall out by start of Autumn *sigh* Here's hoping that this time around on that merry go round that I at least can recognize what is happening and prevent the regain cycle that usually follows next. We'll see - you'd think after 3 years and 150 lbs that I'd have gotten some kind of control, but apparently not......
I think you have more control now. You added a lot of activity and that throws a wrench into things. I should know.
I have known for some time that my body really wants to slow down to 1/2 pound per week even though my weight still allows for 1. The problem is all the weight I have lost and the sudden surge in activity. That surgery did me so much good but it also unlocked the active person that was dying to get out. If I hadn't needed the surgery my activity would have ramped up over time. Since I did need it, I became this wild animal that had a leg stuck in a trap and once released started running away as fast as possible.
Since I planned to stop in November anyway I keep pushing forward at 1. If I drop to a 250 calorie deficit I will have to tighten my logging and that seems like a PITA thing to do for just a few more weeks. The whole thing is kind of a mess and it is probably going to end with me not hitting my target by November 20th which is supposed to be my end date. I don't have to hit 193 but it would have been nice. I find it frustrating that my body won't play ball for just a little longer but I think it is done for this chapter and I probably should have already exited into maintenance for the year I plan to do it.
I would have advised someone else not to do what I have done. What can I say? I am a moron sometimes. I can probably limp along and "handle it" because it is such a short time but I am going to need to play it a little smarter. I may need to do what I suggested to you and add a second maintenance day each week. If that doesn't work I probably do need to exit. If I choose to lose weight after I have recomped for a year I believe it will be easier.
You need to always remember that you make the rules and you can change them as needed. If you have no pressing medical issue then there is no hurry. You do not have to lose 12 months a year. You can lose for half and eat maintenance for half. I am not saying to do that I am just saying you could. I do believe if you see a skid coming you should steer into it. We have to keep reminding ourselves that 95 percent of everyone out there is failing to get all of their weight off or failing to keep it off. Do not let what is conventional thoughts among the 95 percent infect your brain. We want to be the 5 percent and it will almost certainly require some unorthodox behavior.1 -
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@NovusDies
The energy thing is what I can't figure out - by all accounts, I ought to be brimming with energy but I'm not. That's part of my struggle right now, I think; I'm not nearly as active now as I was back in the spring. My brain apparently wants to still eat like it is that active, but before I was getting the elliptical in at least 30 minutes, then a 30 minute cardio, than at least an hour to hour and a half walk 5 to 6 days a week, and was mowing grass, getting the yard ready for spring and summer, etc. But as summer wore on, my energy levels seemed to plummet, not increase, and now I might get a good 6 mile walk in one or twice a week and no elliptical or cardio sessions at all. I am getting some good activity in once in a while, such as my 10 mile hike that one day, and a few hours here and there wood cutting, but those are once in a great while things and not consistent; I'm having a great deal of trouble keeping consistent activity going. I know my step count is way down from what it was; I'm definitely no longer in the "very active" category, and I'm seeing it in my fight with the scale.1 -
bmeadows380 wrote: »@NovusDies
The energy thing is what I can't figure out - by all accounts, I ought to be brimming with energy but I'm not. That's part of my struggle right now, I think; I'm not nearly as active now as I was back in the spring. My brain apparently wants to still eat like it is that active, but before I was getting the elliptical in at least 30 minutes, then a 30 minute cardio, than at least an hour to hour and a half walk 5 to 6 days a week, and was mowing grass, getting the yard ready for spring and summer, etc. But as summer wore on, my energy levels seemed to plummet, not increase, and now I might get a good 6 mile walk in one or twice a week and no elliptical or cardio sessions at all. I am getting some good activity in once in a while, such as my 10 mile hike that one day, and a few hours here and there wood cutting, but those are once in a great while things and not consistent; I'm having a great deal of trouble keeping consistent activity going. I know my step count is way down from what it was; I'm definitely no longer in the "very active" category, and I'm seeing it in my fight with the scale.
Well your auto-pilot would want to eat like you are very active x 5 if you let it. Remember that is just habit. The only way to break it is maintain awareness.
The "I don't cares" slip in there from time to time and they will stick around if you don't kick them out. That is the point where you decide you don't want to fight the auto-pilot and you give up control.
What we are doing is worth doing no matter what the scale is doing. Remember that this is a lifetime goal. We do what is right for ourselves most of the time because it is an investment in our future and a protection of the ground we have covered. Even if we are just holding the line for a time we have to stand firm.
Weight management is no different than any other chore. We clean the house because we do not want to suffer the consequences of it being unsanitary like disease, bugs, vermin. Sometimes it can feel like there is a reward but sometimes it is just something that has to be done for the sake of doing it.
I like the privileges of being at a healthier weight but I would certainly make the process involve a lot more steak and potatoes if I could. Adulting sucks but I had to grow up eventually I guess.1 -
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Today marks 5 months (and 22 weeks!) since I decided to reevaluate my relationship with food and exercise and I've been doing a little bit of math about it.
My initial weight was 348 on the nose and this morning I weighed in at a low of 287.3. My initial big drop was about 10 pounds so that means my average weekly loss, not including That Big Drop, is between 2.2 and 2.3. MFP tells me that I burn a couple hundred calories a day through my daily yoga and much more through 2-3x weekly cardio workouts. I never eat back my yoga calories but I usually take a little of the latter.
What this tells me is, mathematically, these last 5 months of counting calories has done exactly what MFP said it would on the tin. Even though I had weeks with no loss, even though there were multiple days where my dinner was 4 slices of pizza, and even though I regularly still eat moderate amounts of chips, ice cream, and candy. (It also tells me I could have probably eaten back a few of those yoga calories, haha.)
I just thought that was pretty cool. I'm really happy to have all of this data to crunch!1 -
emmyjaykay wrote: »Today marks 5 months (and 22 weeks!) since I decided to reevaluate my relationship with food and exercise and I've been doing a little bit of math about it.
My initial weight was 348 on the nose and this morning I weighed in at a low of 287.3. My initial big drop was about 10 pounds so that means my average weekly loss, not including That Big Drop, is between 2.2 and 2.3. MFP tells me that I burn a couple hundred calories a day through my daily yoga and much more through 2-3x weekly cardio workouts. I never eat back my yoga calories but I usually take a little of the latter.
What this tells me is, mathematically, these last 5 months of counting calories has done exactly what MFP said it would on the tin. Even though I had weeks with no loss, even though there were multiple days where my dinner was 4 slices of pizza, and even though I regularly still eat moderate amounts of chips, ice cream, and candy. (It also tells me I could have probably eaten back a few of those yoga calories, haha.)
I just thought that was pretty cool. I'm really happy to have all of this data to crunch!
You are doing great!....I am going into my 17th month of being on MFP....of course the weight came off faster the first few months....I really stalled out over the summer....not sure why...I started swimming 5 days a week and all I can think is that I was building muscle....I only eat back 25% of the calories that MFP says I burned...I have also carried most of my weight for a long time and also I am 69.... I envy you younger women that you have the good sense to lose weight NOW instead of when you get older...I have lost 95 lbs and I am planning on losing 10 to 15 more before I take my next diet break at the end of the year....hopefully by my two year anniversary in May 2021 I will have hit my goal weight and be on maintenance....I am trying to find another low impact exercise that I enjoy...
Best wishes for the rest of your healthy eating plan!1 -
emmyjaykay wrote: »Today marks 5 months (and 22 weeks!) since I decided to reevaluate my relationship with food and exercise and I've been doing a little bit of math about it.
My initial weight was 348 on the nose and this morning I weighed in at a low of 287.3. My initial big drop was about 10 pounds so that means my average weekly loss, not including That Big Drop, is between 2.2 and 2.3. MFP tells me that I burn a couple hundred calories a day through my daily yoga and much more through 2-3x weekly cardio workouts. I never eat back my yoga calories but I usually take a little of the latter.
What this tells me is, mathematically, these last 5 months of counting calories has done exactly what MFP said it would on the tin. Even though I had weeks with no loss, even though there were multiple days where my dinner was 4 slices of pizza, and even though I regularly still eat moderate amounts of chips, ice cream, and candy. (It also tells me I could have probably eaten back a few of those yoga calories, haha.)
I just thought that was pretty cool. I'm really happy to have all of this data to crunch!
Nice.
This has been my experience exactly. I have had week of gaining, losing, and hovering but my weight loss has always caught up with my deficit eventually. What I have eaten has never changed the eventual results outside of the normal fluctuations.2
