program not working for me :(
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I ak 51 years old, just like you. I've been using MFP for almost 8 months. I eat 1200 calories, (I know, I know, I am ruining myself) I exercise three times a week. I look at calories in/out only, not carbs protein etc. I have lost almost eighty pounds. It does work, you just have to stick with it and be patient. You have already lost a great deal and thats wonderful, but the weight took a long time to put on and takes a long time to take off. You HAVE to stop looking at it as though you are in a hurry. Take the time to do it right, so you can stay healthy for the rest of your life. This is not a race. I still have a good forty pounds to go. It it takes six months great, if it takes a year thats fine too. The point is I am not in a rush, this is a life change.0
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Also I looked at your diary. Two days ago you had Red Lobster, which is very high in sodium. Your 2 lb gain is water retention. Relax. And be patient.0
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I ak 51 years old, just like you. I've been using MFP for almost 8 months. I eat 1200 calories, (I know, I know, I am ruining myself) I exercise three times a week. I look at calories in/out only, not carbs protein etc. I have lost almost eighty pounds. It does work, you just have to stick with it and be patient. You have already lost a great deal and thats wonderful, but the weight took a long time to put on and takes a long time to take off. You HAVE to stop looking at it as though you are in a hurry. Take the time to do it right, so you can stay healthy for the rest of your life. This is not a race. I still have a good forty pounds to go. It it takes six months great, if it takes a year thats fine too. The point is I am not in a rush, this is a life change.
Spot on.0 -
I think it's your expectations that are not working for you. MFP seems to be doing just fine. You weigh less than you did at the beginning of your time here - how is that not working?
Realistically - do a bit of research. It's your body and you can't expect everyone/thing else to do all the work and research for you. Everyone's body is different and works in different ways - some people do well on 1200 calories, others feel like they're being starved. This isn't an exact science - if it were the diet industry wouldn't exist.
I hope you lose your 80lbs and well done on the 120lbs lost so far, you clearly want this. Maybe it's just time to put in a bit of work in the research side of things, too.0 -
a pound equals a pound:) muscle is more dense than fat.don't forget that going to gym 5 plus times a week actually puts on muscle size which weighs more!! I would be tempted to go by the tape measure and not the scales for a while you will be surprised of the transformation of body shape etc.. don't give up it WILL happen ... good luck and keep yer chin up xx...............carbs and protein should be eaten together as one works with the other to make it more beneficial hope this helps .......0 -
OP please don't listen to this advice! That is a quick fix with the possiblity of health complications.YOUR EXPECTATIONS ARE UNREALISTIC!!!!!! You are too grown for this. Just go back to your original plan and get the Lap Band and deal with those side effects rather than the ones that you are getting here. The answer here is real simple. This is just my opinion!0 -
Here's what I see by looking at a few days of your diary. Your vegetables are great! First, you are not drinking, or logging, enough water. When you don't drink enough your muscles hold onto water. I drink at least 11 cups a day and try for a gallon and I see a huge difference when I get closer to the gallon. Second, your carbs far out number your protein so you need to cut carbs and increase protein. Plus you want the majority of your carbs to come from natural sources such as fruit and vegetables, not processed foods. You need carbs for energy so you don't want to completely cut them out.
I would recommend you figure out your BMR and eat at least those calories so over the long run you don't slow your metabolism, unless you want to eat 1200 calories for the rest of your life. Also, you need to try and get more exercise, walking is one of the best things you can do. If you can, join a gym and see about working with a trainer to start lifting. Every 10 lbs of muscle you add burns 3500 calories a week, that right there is 1 lb a week.
Look into TDEE and see if maybe TDEE-% might be more appropriate for you. You can learn about it on Scooby's workshop or IIFYM (if it fits your macros). I would try setting your macros to 40% protein, 35% carbs and 35% fats and see what happens.
Give this some time, depending on how long you have been eating at 1200 calories will somewhat affect your weight loss. You are not in starvation mode, that takes months to occur on very, very low calories, or weeks on zero calories. But because your body needs a certain amount to maintain your vital organs it may be holding onto everything you put into it.
Finally, be sure you measure and weigh absolutely everything that you put into your mouth. The little things add up very quickly.
Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. As you get closer to your goal your weight loss should slow down or you have a higher likelihood of gaining it back. Look at how far you've come already, 120 lbs, that's awesome and you should be happy about that. The rest will come off but you need to give it time and tweek some things.
Your friend that is crash dieting will probably gain all of the weight back she's lost, that's not healthy.
Good luck0 -
What I recommend is configuring your own BMR and then your TDEE. Than take a deficit of 15-20 percent off this or 500 calories:)
http://www.matthewscaloriecounter.com/calorie_calculators/daily_calorie_limit_calculator.aspx
or google the Harris Benedict equation. Now this may not be the most accurate because that happens in a lab. You may have to play with the numbers!0 -
I agree with Mamadon, focus on calories for now, let the protein, carbs, etc. sort themselves out in time. By they way, Mamadon you are my inspiration today! I was struggling with whether to keep on with MFP too, or going back to Weight Watchers. The beauty of WW is the points system is to simple. But in deciding to focus on doing things that are healthier overall, and being able (and ready, mentally) to look at the big picture and not just the scale, I gave MFP a try. Now I'm thinking some days, if the exercise calculator doesn't figure my activity accurately, and I have to go off site to verify them someplace else, and alot of the calories in
the database aren't accurate either, then what am I here for? Yes it's a good tool to figure it up for me, do the math that I'm not willing to do, but I find myself chasing around other sites for more accurate information just to come here and log them into my diary.
Sorry, OP, not much help here, lol. Except to say you've done AMAZING so far and not that you asked but in my opinion I would rather keep trying on my own than to go the lap band surgery route. That's just me. You know you can do it, you've been doing it. Accept that the last weight to lose will be the hardest (at WW we call it the Hard Lard) and enjoy the journey.0 -
5 lbs in a month is pathetic
er, what?
I know right. 5 lbs is amazing. Wanna know what I lost in 5 months... 1 freaking lb. I will trade you if you don't like your 5lbs.0 -
I don't think fats make you fat (I think that was just another fad diet) so drop any low fat products you're eating to up your cals and don't worry about going over a bit. You need good fats in your diet to be healthy.
Also when I'm working out regularly I find the scale often doesn't move at all and its not until I take a week off from the exercise that my weight drops fast so my body make up must be changing through exercising. The scale can be your worst enemy so use a tape and go by how your clothes feel.
You've come too far already to give up so just be patient. Losing over a lb a week is awesome progress btw. The slower the weight comes off, the longer you have to learn your new lifestyle and this will make it easier to maintain once you reach your goal.0 -
My advise is the same as many others on here, muscle weighs heavier than fat.
Protein from foods are termed “complete proteins because they contain a balance of all the amino acids for the growth and maintanence of muscle. The more muscle you have the more calories you will burn. Also drinking water helps with weight loss. Don’t give up & just take it one day at a time you will get there.0 -
Time???? Don't dwell on the time factor. I'll bet that you did not get overweight in just a few weeks, none of us did. You are losing over a pound a week, that is good. You will probably keep the weight off with a slow loss. Crash diets and quick weight loss always have a way of coming back to us. Try to continue to eat your calories and your exercise calories, you will feel better, have more energy and the weight will come off, gradually. I sympathize with you, we have all felt just like you do. Please don't give up, hang in there. Feel free to send me a friend request.0
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YOUR EXPECTATIONS ARE UNREALISTIC!!!!!! You are too grown for this. Just go back to your original plan and get the Lap Band and deal with those side effects rather than the ones that you are getting here. The answer here is real simple. This is just my opinion!
What is "too grown" when it is at home??
If you mean the OP is "too old", don't be ridiculous, 51 is not too old, in fact, NO age is too old.
Also, please can you go into more detail regarding WHAT side effects the OP is apparently getting from here.0 -
I ak 51 years old, just like you. I've been using MFP for almost 8 months. I eat 1200 calories, (I know, I know, I am ruining myself) I exercise three times a week. I look at calories in/out only, not carbs protein etc. I have lost almost eighty pounds. It does work, you just have to stick with it and be patient. You have already lost a great deal and thats wonderful, but the weight took a long time to put on and takes a long time to take off. You HAVE to stop looking at it as though you are in a hurry. Take the time to do it right, so you can stay healthy for the rest of your life. This is not a race. I still have a good forty pounds to go. It it takes six months great, if it takes a year thats fine too. The point is I am not in a rush, this is a life change.
Spot on.
Yes. And, not to put too fine a point on it, this isn't a "program" as you keep referring to it. This is about changing your life by changing your choices about what you eat, how much you move and the way you think about food. It's not a quick fix and it is hard work.0 -
Okay maybe you can shed some light on something that I have been asking around for 2 weeks now, but no one seems to know the answer. I knew I was eating too few calories, but I can't seem to get more calories in without going over on my carbs, and fats, do I ignore that and just go for the calories, I have been eating so many veggies and only carbs with 1 meal a day, no processed foods and everything is fat free or low fat I cook very healthy I am such at a loss here.
how did you get obese/overweight but now you can't eat 1200 calories in a day? Sounds weird to me..
Also, five pounds in a month is 1pd per week loss which is considered normal and healthy weight loss.
It did not take a month to get overweight, and it is not going to take a month to get fit...0 -
Hi
5lb is a great loss, it took a long time for the weight to go on and its going to take a while to come off. Using MFP is a way of you tracing what you put into your mouth, and what you do to burn off calories. It is a wonderful tool, and people use all sorts of different ways to get healthy / lose weight. Depends what works for you.
Please don't go down the lab band or shakes road - it can be done just by sensible eating and exercise - go and read the success stories. See what worked for them - most ate well and plenty of calories, got some exercise, and took time and perseverance.
I looked at your diary and to be honest it looks pretty damn good! Maybe instead of fat free yoghurt you could try low fat, that will give you some more calories without trying to stuff more food in. A lot of those "low fat" etc type foods are actually loaded with sugar or sodium instead. Read labels!
This is a learning curve and for life, you will learn what suits you, what is better for you, what works, what doesn't.
Make sure you put in all your statistics properly - height, age, current weight, activity level - and good on you getting into exercise, that's great! and aim for a weight loss of say 1 lb a week. Sometimes you will find your fat etc goes over, but whilst you are getting used to this I would worry more about the total calories, and tinker with "macros" once you know more. One thing I watch is sodium - if I have too much my weight shoots up so I have that as one of my tracking things. I guess what you could do is just turn them off and just have calories for a while if the other things bother you?? You can fiddle around and have a lot of fun!
Maybe check out these threads, these have a lot of information and it can be overwhelming, but try and get your head around it.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/952996-level-obstacles-lose-weight-target-fat-easy
Good luck!
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OP - I do not mean this in an aggressive or harsh way, but you are allowing yourself to spin out of a control a bit. Relax, step back, and take a critical look at where you are and what you have done.
Losing weight is a simple, but difficult, process. Let me repeat that: losing weight is a simple, but difficult, process. There are no magic formulas or special diets that will work long term, other than a balanced diet and eating at a calorie deficit.
(1) You lost 5 pounds in a month. Pat yourself on the back.
(2) Know that others on MFP have lost hundreds of pound and avoided surgery by doing so, but that they did it with perseverance and patience. Be willing to listen to them and learn from them.
(3) Set your calorie goal at a reasonable deficit so that you are targeting losing a pound to 1 1/2 a week.
(4) Weigh and measure all of your food.
(5) Make sure you get .8 grams of protein per pound of body weight (easier right now than calculating your lean body mass), and get .35 grams of fat per pound of body weight. Fill the rest with carbs and forget the carbs/fat/protein ratios. Just get enough protein and fat in terms of absolute numbers.
(6) Be patient.
(7) Join the Eat, Train, Progress group for serious help and serious discussion.0 -
Sorry you feel that way. I listened to everyone as well and at first did what it "TOLD" me to, BUT then I didn't do so good after a few weeks. Sooooooooooooo---I changed it all up myself. I NEVER but NEVER eat back the calories and only count 2/3 of the exercise calories as REAL calories. They tend to over estimate them here. I keep my intake food to between 700 and 800 and I always keep at least a negative balance between 200 to 300 daily and I never go over. I maintain my weight after losing each 15 lbs and then start losing again. My trainer told me this is not a diet, this is a lifestyle change and THIS is your life. So that is how I view it. I have a niece who had the lap band and had to have it removed after 8 months when she developed a blockage, She is back to eating healthy now and feels so much better since I have her into a "lifestyle" change and not a diet. The choice is up to you. This will not be an easy road and anything accomplished takes work. Don't give up. If you choice to have your surgery, then have it, BUT we will still be here to back you up. Take a deep breath and decide what is best for YOU. God Bless0
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I am just so upset I really liked this program but not getting results.
You're not following the program which is why you're not getting the results. I can understand how you're feeling, when you've been heavy for awhile and finally come to your senses and decide to drop weight it can make you frantic, you really don't want to be that way any more. However your approach of eating less than 1200 cals a day whilst exercising is setting yourself up for failure. Read the stickys educate yourself and make a lifestyle change that will stick with you for life that way you will have life long results. You CAN do this but you need to take a step back and rethink your approach.0 -
5 lbs in a month is pathetic
er, what?
Exactly my reaction!!!
what r u talking about? That's 60 pounds a year!!!!0 -
I haven't lost a lot with MPF but when I first joined I had my calories at around 1500, trying to lose 2 lb per week. Most days I went over the 1500 (I love food). I quit for a while, then rejoined and changed to 1 lb per week. Now I can have like 1800/day. This totally works for me, because it's a mental thing. I have most days been under the 1800. I don't watch the details, like the fat/protein/etc. But I try to eat healthy while being happy at the same time (deprivation is disaster for me). Last week I lost 2.6 pounds. I drink lots of water. The thing is you have to find what works for you. I have the same thing for breakfast every day, which seems like a lot of calories, but then I have a light lunch. And I usually have close to or over 1000 calories to save for the rest of the day. Now I can make dinner for my family and eat whatever they are eating and not feel guilty. And usually still have a snack at night. It works for me, I'm happy and healthier without depriving myself.0
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One pound of muslce is the same as one pound of fat! It is more dense:)My advise is the same as many others on here, muscle weighs heavier than fat.
Protein from foods are termed “complete proteins because they contain a balance of all the amino acids for the growth and maintanence of muscle. The more muscle you have the more calories you will burn. Also drinking water helps with weight loss. Don’t give up & just take it one day at a time you will get there.0 -
Ok I have read enough including the comments - really listen to this advice! I can say from someone who was scared of eating more to lose more - it does work. This isnt a programme - this is most definitely a change in lifestyle (one I am about to post on myself!). MFP is like a secret that those who dont have dont know and never will. It basis is calories in v's calories out. With an additional 80lb to lose - dont worry about your macros yet! Worry about getting your calorie balance right - the macros will follow and as you get fitter and leaner, and the longer you log on to this site and learn, you will automatically start to understand the macros more - but I would strongly recommend not sweating it over these things until you are at a more comfortable level.Okay thanks I was eating more protein until I came on this program in fact I removed the protein off my menu because I was eating too little amount in the beginning had horrible headache for 14 days, but was trying to follow this to a tee. Okay maybe I will keep trying this because I really do like it and don't want to give it up I'm just so discouraged. And this is the first time in my life that I actually exercised I lost alot of weight without it but now I really like going to the gym. Okay I will give it more time and I will eat more protein Thanks
I cannot imagine a time now where I wont use MFP - I have been using it since June this year prior to which I had alrealy lost 14lb - I have since lost 8lb and that is just perfect! I have not lost any weight for the last 6 weeks - and I dont care - even though I still have 30lb to lose. The reason I dont care? because for the last six weeks - I have increased my exercise, I have continued to eat relatively clean, with the occasional indulgence (which is not only allowed but encouraged - the day I feel I am on a diet again is the day this will fail) but most of all I have had comments continuously over those weeks about how much weight I have lost! Even the same person commenting within 48 hours of the last to say I looked like I had lost more! It made me realise it was time to check the tape measure not the scales and low and behold - I have lost 4 inches off my waist - 3 inches from my hips and 1 ince from my neck. My waist to hip ratio is now in the very healthy range (it was obese) and i feel amazing.
I think its about getting your head around eating more (I ave. about 2000 cals on a day wiht good exercise i.e. 500cals in 1 hour, and 1500 on rest days.) but eating more providing its in moderation makes all the difference and is strongly advised. It also means you are less likely to fail your goals as teh changes you make are more subtle! the quick diets mean you deprive yourself, so 'falling off the wagon' leads you to gorge on cr*p. The subtle changes required to follow this effectively means you are less likely to 'fall off'. If you are struggling to eat all of your calories - then have a small portion of high calorie food. For the first time ever I have actual chocolate in my fridge! I eat it! at least every other day - but my body continues to change for the better..
Serioulsy stick with this - its sooo much easier than slimming world or WW (I am a gold member twice over with significant weight gains afterwards) this is by far the easiest and most realistic and definitely the most relaxed I have ever been about food without the normal side effects ! Best of luck! xx0 -
Eat more and stop expecting "The Biggest Loser" results from killing yourself at the gym without fueling your body properly.0
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Your problem is you are too impatient.0
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You can't hit your calorie goal because you're eating all low fat and fat free crap. Fat is a necessary nutrient, required for proper hormone production and maintenance. Lack of calories screws up your metabolism, lack of fat screws up your metabolism.
Get rid of all the fat free crap and eat real food. All problems solved.0 -
Try not to look for rapid weight loss. Try 1500 calories food and 500 calories exercise. Probably holding on to water too, hell I *kitten* at least 2lbs a morning so looking at a tiny up and down of that isnt worth worrying about. Bearing in mind a litre of water weighs 2.2lbs and I can easy drink that within half an hour on some days. Quit stressing and give your body time to adapt and be less extreme.
If you're truly in it for the long run, you won't give up at 1 month - I've been here for nearly 2 years anbd been up and down the whole time... I know exactly why i have gained when i have and i know not to worry over 5lbs... and i know i can get back to where i want to be with hard work and dedication.
No-one said it would be easy. There is no easy... and surgery? Really? It'll change your life...and not in a good way...plus all the associated risks... and after it, will you REALLY change? MFP makes oyu change yourself mentally and think more about what you're putting in and out of your body and consider all your lifestyle choices. I'd stick with it and deprive myself of my gluttony rather than risk surgery.0 -
Lose the carbs for even one meal. Give it a week and see if there's a difference.0
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I think that you are looking at eating healthy in a wrong way. We need a certain amount of carbs and fat to have energy. You should not limit it to only once per day. There are good carbs and bad carbs. Bag of chips bad carb...english muffin good carb...special k good carb. All things are OK in moderation. Losing 5 lbs in one month is considered a realistic goal. I was stuck at no weight loss for almost 3 wks straight but, never gave up. Then this wk, dropped 3 lbs. Try adjusting your cals to 1200 a day. You can do this by just eating fruit, more veggies or a nonfat yogurt.0
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