Failing miserably

Noomie2020

I don’t know what happened. I started on the first weighing 8 pounds lighter- the last two weeks I’ve weighed my food, ate less calories than normal, and have incorporated more fruits, yogurt and water and have even began eating breakfast (never was a breakfast person). Have also limited my coffee to once a day! I know it’s early but this is disappointing. Last thing I want to do is gain weight. Help!
Fat and Failing

SuzySunshine99

Losing weight is all about calories. While proper nutrition is important for your overall health, for the purposes of weight loss, all you have to do is create a calorie deficit. The specific types of food do not matter. Put your stats into MFP and try to stick to the calorie count the app gives you.

Eating breakfast does not matter one bit...if you didn't eat it before, there's no reason you have to start. And unless your coffee is adding an excess of calories to your day (with cream, sugar, etc), then there's no reason to cut back. Black coffee has virtually no calories.

Give it more time. 2 weeks is way too short of a timeframe to declare that you are failing.

nighthawk584

what do you have MFP set at to lose per week? Something has to be off with your calorie counting & logging to have gained 8 lbs in 2 weeks. Or you just might be retaining water. Don't give up. Be very strict and consistent and check the food database for errors. A lot of the entries are flat out wrong. Give it more time and have patience...

sgargus1111

I am becoming convinced that water is the key to weight loss. It is so hard to do, but try to drink as much as possible. It also helps with cravings. You can do this!! 😉

Lanamasha55

Hi Noomie,

First of all, you are not failing! From what you've described so far, you are persisting and working hard every single day on your journey. Plateaus are completely normal and they will happen. Don't forget that negative emotions and stress can stall your weight loss as well. Keep doing what you are doing, and enjoy yourself in the process, the results will come.

Nony_Mouse

Have you weighed in between your starting date and today? If so, has it been a steady increase, is is this a sudden jump? Where are you in your monthly cycle, could this be fluid retention from ovulation or TOM? Have you been eating higher sodium food prior to weigh in? Started or increased exercise (either duration or intensity)? There are loads of things that can cause water retention, sometimes quite substantial amounts.

As Nighthawk said, something would have to be very off with your logging for you to gain 8 lbs in a couple of weeks. My bet is on fluid retention.

Noomie2020

Thanks for all the positive messages. I’m guessing several things may be taking place (not enough water, not measuring every single thing I eat). I have to be accountable, it was just odd since I wasn’t eating as bad as I usually do. I’ve increased my fruits and veggies, ate breakfast (MD suggested I start to wake up metabolism), and was drinking 1-2 bottles of water daily. I have a way to go I just didn't think I’d gain!! Just ended cycle and possible that ovulation is effecting me as well (in the past have always gained and TOM always lost, so it evens out). I’ll keep plugging away. This week I begin exercising 3x/week and already know from past that I tend to gain when I begin any program. It’s like my body has to hold onto something before letting it go! However, I’m going to Marie Kondo this weight away 😂😂😂

NovusDies

sgargus1111 wrote: »

I am becoming convinced that water is the key to weight loss. It is so hard to do, but try to drink as much as possible. It also helps with cravings. You can do this!! 😉

A calorie deficit is the key to fat weight loss. Excess water may help you lose water weight by removing sodium. If you get too crazy with it drinking too much water will kill you.

There is no reason to flood yourself. Just drink enough to keep yourself hydrated.

NovusDies

Noomie2020 wrote: »

Thanks for all the positive messages. I’m guessing several things may be taking place (not enough water, not measuring every single thing I eat). I have to be accountable, it was just odd since I wasn’t eating as bad as I usually do. I’ve increased my fruits and veggies, ate breakfast (MD suggested I start to wake up metabolism), and was drinking 1-2 bottles of water daily. I have a way to go I just didn't think I’d gain!! Just ended cycle and possible that ovulation is effecting me as well (in the past have always gained and TOM always lost, so it evens out). I’ll keep plugging away. This week I begin exercising 3x/week and already know from past that I tend to gain when I begin any program. It’s like my body has to hold onto something before letting it go! However, I’m going to Marie Kondo this weight away 😂😂😂

Your MD is wrong. Waking up your metabolism is a very old myth. Your metabolism never goes to sleep.

Danp

Noomie2020 wrote: »

Thanks for all the positive messages. I’m guessing several things may be taking place (not enough water, not measuring every single thing I eat). I have to be accountable, it was just odd since I wasn’t eating as bad as I usually do. I’ve increased my fruits and veggies, ate breakfast (MD suggested I start to wake up metabolism), and was drinking 1-2 bottles of water daily. I have a way to go I just didn't think I’d gain!! Just ended cycle and possible that ovulation is effecting me as well (in the past have always gained and TOM always lost, so it evens out). I’ll keep plugging away. This week I begin exercising 3x/week and already know from past that I tend to gain when I begin any program. It’s like my body has to hold onto something before letting it go! However, I’m going to Marie Kondo this weight away 😂😂😂

Make sure you're keeping your eye on what really matters.

Eating more fruits and veggies is a good thing but if you're getting the same amount of calories (or more) from these new foods it won't help with weight loss.

Eating breakfast doesn't "wake up your metabolism" it's going just fine and in fact if you've added breakfast where there wasn't before without reducing the amount of food you're eating through out the day then you've actually added calories to your diet which will have the opposite effect than desired.

Eat food you like, when you like. Track your intake *kitten* accurately as possible and stick to your calorie target. That's the key.

As for gaining weight when starting an exercise program and the feeling that your body is holding on to something? Well, you're absolutely right. Often when starting a new exercise program your body will retain additional water to repair muscles not used to the strain. This extra water will show up on the scales and can definitely hide fat loss.

kris00

@Noomie2020 I just started a new support group. Join us. We can all help each other. https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/135589-2020-lets-do-this

Danp

Danp wrote: »

Noomie2020 wrote: »

Thanks for all the positive messages. I’m guessing several things may be taking place (not enough water, not measuring every single thing I eat). I have to be accountable, it was just odd since I wasn’t eating as bad as I usually do. I’ve increased my fruits and veggies, ate breakfast (MD suggested I start to wake up metabolism), and was drinking 1-2 bottles of water daily. I have a way to go I just didn't think I’d gain!! Just ended cycle and possible that ovulation is effecting me as well (in the past have always gained and TOM always lost, so it evens out). I’ll keep plugging away. This week I begin exercising 3x/week and already know from past that I tend to gain when I begin any program. It’s like my body has to hold onto something before letting it go! However, I’m going to Marie Kondo this weight away 😂😂😂

Make sure you're keeping your eye on what really matters.

Eating more fruits and veggies is a good thing but if you're getting the same amount of calories (or more) from these new foods it won't help with weight loss.

Eating breakfast doesn't "wake up your metabolism" it's going just fine and in fact if you've added breakfast where there wasn't before without reducing the amount of food you're eating through out the day then you've actually added calories to your diet which will have the opposite effect than desired.

Eat food you like, when you like. Track your intake *kitten* accurately as possible and stick to your calorie target. That's the key.

As for gaining weight when starting an exercise program and the feeling that your body is holding on to something? Well, you're absolutely right. Often when starting a new exercise program your body will retain additional water to repair muscles not used to the strain. This extra water will show up on the scales and can definitely hide fat loss.

LOL!

I think I might have accidentally mistyped and added an extra 's' the the word 'as' in this post which got picked up by the filter.

AS accurately as possible

mullanphylane

To lose weight calories out must be greater than calories in. But that is an over simplification

Life style - sedentary, active, etc., metabolic rate - how efficiently the body uses energy, diet - what is eaten & how it is eaten, motivation, and other factors all help determine weight loss or gain.

Don't try to eat the elephant at one meal. Make changes, but not all of them at the same time. Try the 2 for 2 change plan: change two things for two weeks before changing anything else. At the end of two weeks, a habit will start to form and another two changes can be implemented. Make one reduction and one addition to keep all changes from feeling negative. Example - reduce calorie intake by, say, 10% and increase exercise by 10 minutes (depending on how vigorous current exercise is).

You can't run from NYC to San Francisco in 15 minutes, but you can do it in small, measured increments over a period of time - if you keep at it.

And good luck on your journey.

Abby369852

Abby369852
I have @ 100 pounds to lose and have had a very difficult time getting started. ..I had so many changes to make to my diet ... first thing i did was to completely give up sugar...which i have been working on for several years to be honest.. so that alone took awhile for me .. had ups and downs..... but today i have to say that i have complete success there.. i do not add surgars to any of my foods or beverages.. I so not even eat sweets... Giving up soda was the most difficult change for me and even now if i do not keep a bottle of prepared water or tea with me at all times my inner weekness consumes me ( just too easy to drive by that burger king).....But even with all the changes mentioned above and others the weight just did not seem to be coming down to satisfy me... So I added water aerobics during the 2019 Thanksgiving holiday season and WALA!
I just stopped making up reasons for myself... i now record my foods, try to take in a class 3 times a week, limiting my carbs... ( and count those calories) I am realiziing eating out is not such a good idea either.... I am honest with myself...... overall from thanksgiving 2019 - jan. 16, 2020 i have lost total of 20 pounds.. Which is not much but it is a start..........
So YES, you do not have to make all the changes at once... Change , real change is a process and takes time.. In December 2019 I spent several days crying.. This all felt HOPELESS ( Learning how to lose weight) Sometimes i think that i was making this harder than it needs to be ...BUT Now when i get there i remember how i got HERE....

Sharon_C

I started my final cut on Jan 2. My weight bounced all around for the first ten days--up three pounds, down three pounds, up three pounds, etc. It finally evened out after about 10 days and I saw my first loss (1lb) today. So 16 days is what it took to see any weight loss.

And I'm pretty much an expert at this because I've been doing it for years. I weigh all of my food and log it in grams. I don't use the MFP database but enter all of my own food. So I know I'm accurate.

But our bodies don't always do what our minds want it to do.

Patience and consistency is the key.